y stopped
frequently to rest during the morning. The sled, too, proved to be a
burden; but they held on to it.

Finally they reached a plateau, obstructed with heavy timber, scrub and
rocks. Pushing across it, they emerged into a glare of light on the
brow of a mountain side.

As far as the boys could see, was a rolling, wintry landscape of woods
and hills. At a possible distance of eight or ten miles several wreaths
of brownish smoke were stamped faintly against the horizon.

"Look," exclaimed Hamp. "That must be Kingman or Wytopitlock. I'm sure
of it. We're on the right track, old fellow."

"With a big tramp ahead of us," added Brick. "I'm so tired I could drop
right down and go to sleep. Say, wouldn't this slope make an elegant
toboggan slide?"

"Well, I should say so," replied Hamp, in a tone of great enthusiasm.

The boys were right--at least, as far as appearances went. From some
natural cause the mountain side was bare of timber and rocks. Its smooth
surface of crusted snow fell at a steep but regular angle, and seemed to
be unbroken until it was merged with the timber of the bottom of the
valley.

As the boys looked, the same idea took root in the mind of each.

"Do you think it would be safe to shoot down on the sled?" asked Brick,
doubtfully. "It would save an awfully long walk."

There was a moment of silence and hesitation. Then all choice was
summarily taken out of the lads' hands. The heard a snapping of twigs
behind them, and, when they wheeled around to look, there stood Kyle
Sparwick. A rifle was strapped over his shoulder, but he made no
attempt to use it.

"I've got you ag'in," he cried, harshly. "Up with your arms, now. I'm
a-goin' ter tie them, an' then we'll start for the meetin'-place. It was
purty smart of you lads ter travel in the right direction."

Sparwick enjoyed the consternation of the lads. He watched them with
keen satisfaction. The certain prospect of the ransom money made him
more lenient and good-humored than he would have been under other
circumstances.

"Well," he said, finally. "Are you goin' ter lift your arms?"

It was just then that Hamp remembered the sled, and the long slope of
frozen snow. No thought of danger entered into his calculations now.
Like a flash, he jerked the sled forward to the verge of the descent.

"Jump on, Brick!" he yelled. "Jump, quick!"

The command was hardly spoken when Brick threw himself flat on the long
sled, and clung tightly to t