CHAPTER XVII
THE _Gitchie Manitou_ WINS A RACE
Norman and Roy soon became restless and after a few days' idleness askedColonel Howell for permission to make their delayed visit to the Pointeaux Tremble Indian camp. The day set for this second relief expeditionpromised a continuation of clear dry weather. Almost duplicating theirlast provisions, the monoplane got away at dawn. At the last moment, Paulwas substituted for Roy, and he and Norman made an uneventful flightdirectly up the river. This time a landing was made at the foot of thebluff on the smooth ice of the river. The provisions were distributed andthen the two boys visited the cabin of the paralytic Indian.
"Chandler probably will be out running his trap line," suggested Norman,"but he may be at home."
Within the cabin they found only the Indian. To Norman's surprise, therusty traps still hung on the wall, with no sign of having been touchedsince he and Roy visited the cabin. Norman's observing eye at onceexamined the other parts of the room.
In the bunk corner there was absolutely no change. He would have swornthat Chandler had not slept in the place since he returned. A suddensuspicion coming into Norman's mind, he walked to the bunk corner of theroom and pointed to the crevice from which they had taken the letter. TheIndian grinned. Then Norman pointed to the curing boards, made motionswith his hands to indicate a man of about Chandler's build and otherpantomimes of inquiry. The Indian responded with his usual grin, thenshook his head. Norman's jaw dropped.
"Paul," he exclaimed, "we're a lot of chumps. Chandler never came back tothis camp. He hired the best dog team in this part of the world and whilewe were all asleep he's been hurrying to Edmonton. He's had seven days'start, and the way these dogs travel, he'll cover that distance in jigtime. Come on," he almost shouted, "we've got something to do now besidesfeeding lazy Indians. The hunters are back, anyway, and there won't beany starving around here. We've got to get back to Colonel Howell as fastas the airship'll go."
Philip's supper was awaiting the return of the _Gitchie Manitou_, but itsserving was long delayed. For an hour the conference that took placeimmediately upon the safe housing of the monoplane continued while eachparticipant contributed his views. The conclusion was inevitable. ColonelHowell must proceed to Edmonton at once. There was a discussion as towhether this perilous flight should be made to Athabasca Landing, whereColonel Howell would have to make the last hundred miles of journey bytrain, or whether the trip through the Arctic skies should be made bycompass directly to Edmonton.
Finally it was decided, in view of the comprehensive charts that they hadof the intervening country, that the latter should be the program, evenif it were necessary to make a landing on the way.
"The trains from Athabasca Landing," concluded Colonel Howell at last,"run only three times a week, and I'm not sure of the schedule."
"Then," announced Norman, "we'll do it by _Air Line_. We can make it, ifyou want to trust me."
"I think it's worth while," laughed the colonel.
"You haven't much time," broke in the excited Roy. "They've had good hardsnow, and this half-breed's got a great team, I understand. If they madeforty miles a day, and I've heard o' them doing that, you'll have to geta hustle on you."
"We leave to-night," announced Norman, springing to his feet. "Philip!"he called.
Colonel Howell, with a disturbed look on his face, interrupted:
"Couldn't we leave in the morning--early?" he suggested. "I think I'drather ride by daylight."
"You'll feel more comfortable by night," laughed Paul, "and you don'tneed to miss your sleep. Norman won't have any use for you."
The discussion did not close for some time after this and when supper wasfinally served, the last detail had been arranged. The meal proceededwithout any sign of the momentous event to follow. At its conclusion,Colonel Howell turned to Ewen and Miller and said, almost nonchalantly:
"Boys, I'm going to leave you for a few days. Your friend Chandler is onhis way to Edmonton to make trouble for me."
Both men looked startled and Ewen exclaimed:
"What's that?"
"The same thing he wanted you boys to do and in which you wouldn't joinhim."
"What do you mean?" Miller managed to ask.
"What you wrote him a letter about," answered Colonel Howell calmly. "Iread that. But," he went on, as both men gave new signs of alarm, "I'mgoin' to forget it. Do you men want to go on working for me as you havein the past?"
Flushed faces made any other answer unnecessary.
"All right," continued Colonel Howell, "then that's settled. But I wantyou to get Chandler out of your systems. You can stay here. To show youthat I trust you, I'm going to leave you in the camp again."
Immediately, activity began; Norman and Roy working on the _GitchieManitou_, the half-breed preparing supplies, and Colonel Howell makingnotes and getting papers together on the still littered table.
On an air line, the young aviators estimated the distance across countryat about two hundred and seventy miles. After a consultation it wasdecided to proceed at the rate of about thirty-five miles an hour. Thismeant eight hours in the air. As there was no need of reaching thedistant city before eight o'clock, it was agreed to start at midnight. Atseven o'clock, all preparations having been made, Norman turned in for afew hours' sleep.
Colonel Howell devoted some time to his private arrangements and spentthe remainder of the evening discussing the flight with the otheroccupants of the cabin. Norman being sound asleep at twelve o'clock, theothers agreed not to arouse him for another hour, considering the work hehad done that day. But at one o'clock new activity began.
A match was again applied to the gas well and the monoplane was whirledout into the spectacular illumination. There could be only a briefhandshake all around. Then, without a slip, the monoplane was off in thelight of the waning moon.
Least of all did the voyagers suffer from the keen cold. With a plentifulstore of gasoline, the heaters were at once started but in a short timeColonel Howell asked Norman to shut off one of them. The passenger hadbeen assigned the duty of watching the engine gauge and recording it,together with the chronometer record. Norman did not find this necessarybut it was a check upon his own observations and a safeguard againsterrors in noting their progress.
It was too dark for the colonel to feel any sense of apprehension. Asthere was no wind, the conditions were ideal for an aerial flight, andNorman having once shaped his course, the powerful car sped on its way asif sliding downhill. In time the monotonous whir of the propellersappeared to have its effect upon Colonel Howell, and Norman caught himdozing more than once. He then explained to his passenger that hisobservations were no longer necessary and persuaded Colonel Howell towrap up in his blanket and go to sleep.
When the passenger aroused himself, about five o'clock, Norman asked himto make some tea and see what Philip had prepared in the way of food. Itwas his only way of relaxing under the strain and he ate heartily. Later,Colonel Howell again pulled his blankets about him and did not stir untilthe gray of the winter dawn was in the air. The moon had long sincedisappeared but the stars were brilliant.
When the land beneath came into view, the oil prospector took his placein front of the port section for his first view of the world from theclouds. Then day came and the east grew red. No settlement was yet insight, but as the golden sun began to glisten on the snow-weighted trees,Colonel Howell gave an exclamation.
"There's the railroad!" he shouted. "We're crossing it."
"Just after eight o'clock," muttered Norman, as he craned his neck tomake out the land beneath. "We're certainly this side o' the town andwe'll take to the tracks."
With this, he brought the steady airship about and began to follow therails, which were now plain enough below. For another quarter of an hour,the monoplane made its way steadily to the south and then a sudden blurbroke the landscape in the distance.
"There she is," remarked Norman, almost casually. "Don't forget yourpackages and bundles."
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At nine o'clock Colonel Howell and Norman were eating breakfast at theRoyal George Hotel. At half past ten they were leaving the big newProvincial Capitol Building. The colonel had filed his claims and had hispapers safely in his pocket. A little later, entering the busy hoteloffice once more, Norman hastily caught his patron's sleeve. Seated infront of the hotel fireplace, as if gratefully drinking in its warmth,was the worn and emaciated Chandler. By his side was Fosseneuve thehalf-breed, already far gone in intoxication.
Colonel Howell stepped forward, as if about to speak to the defeated man.Then he paused.
"Can't do any good," he exclaimed in an undertone to Norman. "We gotthere first. And he might have beaten us at that if he hadn't stoppedhere in the hotel too long. We'll take the afternoon train down toCalgary for a day's visit. Then, when you're ready, we'll go back to theboys."
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