arly suggested once. But inquiries of
the Crane family proved that was not so. It was the very one Julie had
given her brother, she was sure of that.

And so that mystery remained unexplained, save by the acceptance of a
miracle.

A very material result of the success of Crane's book was a large amount
of money that came to him from its royalties. Some of this he decided to
use in fitting out an expedition to recover his son's body.

This, he decreed, was to be under the direction of Shelby and Blair, who
knew just how it should be conducted. With his usual efficiency, Crane
made all the arrangements and then told the young men about what he had
done.

They agreed to go, but Shelby advised first that he write to Joshua,
their old guide, as to their reception.

This was done, but the reply received caused a halt in the preparations.

For the letter, which Shelby brought over for Crane to read, ran thus:

"DEAR MISTER SHELBY:

"I think youd better not try to take back the boddy of Mister
Peter. We berried it verry deep and it better remain here. Anny
way, you cant mannage it till late summer. Say about August or
so."

"However, Mr. Crane," Shelby said, "if you say so, we can go ahead in
spite of Joshua's letter. He's a good guide, but he always was a bit
dictatorial."

"No," Benjamin Crane said, "I believe in taking advice from one who is
undoubtedly good authority. We'll postpone the plan until August."

When Blair was told of it he was rather relieved, for he was busy with
his prize drawings and he didn't want to leave town.

"Let's see the letter," he said to Shelby.

"I haven't it, Blair. I left it with Mr. Crane. But I've told you the
gist of it."

"All right, Kit," and Blair went on with his work.

It was the next night at the Crane house that Mr. Crane again spoke of
his disappointment at not putting through his hoped-for expedition.

"You see, Kit," he said to Shelby, "I want to write another book, and I
want it to be about the recovery of Peter's body."

"Oh, don't do that, Mr. Crane," Shelby said, impulsively; "it would be
anti-climax. You've done a big thing, and scored a success. Another book
would spoil it all."

"I don't think so," said Crane, not at all annoyed at Shelby's attitude.
"Anyway, I hate to give up my plan. See here, Shelby, are you sure that
man Joshua wrote the letter you got?"

"Why, yes. What makes you ask that?"

"Only because it's in a big