every reason to expect
that this latest enterprise would be along the same order, and that the
little party of explorers might return again to the metropolis, bearing
with them such a concise and complete report, that Mr. Bosworth, and
those interested in the proposed new mine, would have all the
information required in order to know just how to act.

Most of the scouts were by this time beginning to look ahead with the
idea of being the first to discover the big water that they knew must
lie near by. Ned could have undoubtedly made the discovery some time
back, because he carried his field glasses slung over his shoulder, by
means of a strap; but he preferred to let one of his chums enjoy the
sensation.

Jimmy was craning his neck more or less, for being shorter than any of
his companions he felt that he labored under a disadvantage. The growth
of trees was of a nature to hide what lay beyond, yet all of them could
actually feel the presence of salt water. Besides, if other evidences
were lacking, their ears told them of waves running up on the shore, to
gently break there; though the breeze was from a poor quarter to carry
these sounds to them.

All of these lads, living in New York, were accustomed to seeing the
ocean, and familiar with the "tang" that usually accompanies the
presence of an arm of the sea. For weeks now they had been moving over
the interior, and the prospect of sighting this Northern sea, that had
ever been the home of mystery to all mariners, thrilled every boyish
heart.

In the course of their various travels they had gazed upon strange
scenes. Once not so very long before, fortune had been kind enough to
take them to the regions of the Polar ice, in carrying out a mission
entrusted to their charge; so that this would not be their first
introduction to the Northern ocean. But they had heard so much about
the unexplained things that took place in Hudson Bay, that one and all
grew more anxious, the nearer they drew to their destination.

Ned had already made a discovery that gave him a thrill. He had found
that some of the landmarks set down in the description of the wonderful
mine were right before his eyes, and this fact gave him renewed
confidence in his plan of campaign. The climax must be close _at hand_.
Before many hours had passed by, he would be in a position to know the
truth; whether this affair were a gigantic swindle gotten up and
engineered by the combine, with the idea of loadi