cause a shiver or a feeling as of being put in connection with a
galvanic battery.

"Seems like we've left that crowd in the lurch," Teddy remarked, a few
minutes later, as they began to reach more regular ground, where the
going promised to be considerably easier.

"Yes," added Jack, "and the most we have to fear after this is meeting
up with the other lot that waited for us on the lower river. They may
have grown tired of laying around, or else got wind of our change of
plans, so that right now they are crossing to the mine!"

"Look!" said the Cree guide, pointing backward; and immediately the
scouts saw three columns of very black smoke ascending straight toward
the sky.

CHAPTER XII.

THE TALKING SMOKE.

"Well, I declare if they don't use the same sort of signals the scouts
do down our way!" exclaimed Jimmy, looking rather disgusted, as though
he had caught some one stealing his thunder.

Ned had to laugh at the blank expression of his assistant's face.

"Why, Jimmy," he said, "you forget that the scout movement is only half
a dozen years old. It began after the Boer war, when General
Baden-Powell saw what a great thing it would be for the whole British
Nation, if every boy learned a thousand things about all creation,
useful things at that. And, Jimmy, don't forget that smoke was used to
signal with for hundreds of years before ever the white man landed on
the shores of America."

"Say, that's right, Ned, they always made fires with their flints,
didn't they? And these men up here, hunters, trappers, or whatever they
may be, inherited the Injun way of sending messages. Sure, I knew it all
along. The only trouble with me is I go and forget things. But what
d'ye think they are doin' sending out that old smoke signal?"

"They've got friends within seeing distance, because smoke can be
sighted many miles away, especially when it rises as straight as it's
doing now," Jack ventured to interpose.

"The crowd over on the Harricanaw River, you mean?" demanded Jimmy.

"Yes."

"Then they'll be apt to know we gave 'em the slip, won't they?" the
freckled faced scout continued.

"I suppose they will, because you notice that every now and then the
smoke seems to stop," Ned answered. "As a scout in good standing, Jimmy,
you ought to know how that's done."

"Two fellers swing a blanket over the smoking wood and smother it for a
bit, to send up another big puff. Yes, that's what they call talking.
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