CHAPTER VI
THE EXPEDITION STRIKES A SNAG IN EDMONTON
At three o'clock the fast express pulled out of the big depot at Calgaryon its way to Edmonton, then the northern limit of railroad transportationon the American Continent. A part of the train was the sealed baggage carcarrying the airship. In the day coach, with their bags in their laps, andstill stolid of face, sat Moosetooth Martin and old La Biche. For themoment their pipes reposed in their vest pockets. Each was eating anorange. Far in the rear of the train, Colonel Howell's little expeditionwas making itself comfortable in a stateroom. Somewhat to the surprise ofthe younger members of the party, Mr. Zept had joined them.
The corners of the stateroom and the near-by vestibule of the car werecrammed with the personal belongings of those headed for Fort McMurray.
Even in the excitement of leaving and the farewells to the members oftheir families and friends, neither Norman nor Roy failed to notice thatthe young Count's face again bore the flush that did not come fromexertion. Mr. Zept's face also bore the look that the boys had come toknow, the expression that they could not fail to connect with theindiscretions of his son.
If Colonel Howell saw these things, nothing about him indicated it.Having divested himself of his coat, he put himself at once in charge ofthe party, and was full of animation.
Within a few moments young Zept left the stateroom, without protest fromhis father, and the two boys partly lost themselves in a close view ofthe country through which they were passing.
"Things are changing very fast in this region," explained Mr. Zept,motioning to the irregular hill-dotted country, in which patches ofvegetation alternated with semi-arid wastes. "See how irrigation isbringing the green into this land. Ten years ago, for fifty miles northof Calgary, we called this The Plains. It's all changing. It's all goingto be farms, before long. You'll be surprised, however," he continued,addressing the boys. "Long before night we'll run out of this onto thegreen prairies. Long before we get to Edmonton, we'll be in some of thebest farming land in the world. And it goes on and on, more or less," headded with a faint smile, "a good deal farther than we know anythingabout--maybe as far as Fort McMurray," he concluded.
"There isn't any reason why Fort McMurray can't be a Calgary some day,"replied Colonel Howell; "that is, when the railroads start towardsHudson's Bay."
"You'll have to have some land too," suggested Mr. Zept. "If you just hada few good prairies and some grass lying loose around up there, that'dhelp."
"How do you know we haven't?" answered the colonel.
"I don't," exclaimed Mr. Zept. "If you have, just send me word. We mightstart a few horse ranches up there."
As the train sped on and all had adjusted themselves to the limits oftheir little room, after a time Mr. Zept spoke again: "I wish I had thetime to go up there with you," he began, "but of course, that'simpossible. I'm going to see you away from Edmonton in good shape. By theway," he remarked, "I've been wondering just how you're going to findthings up there, after a year's absence. You say you left three menthere. What are they doing?"
"Well," answered Colonel Howell, "they're all on the pay roll. One of'em's an Englishman from Edmonton, and two of 'em I brought from the gasfields of Kansas. The Kansas men have worked for me for several years."
"Must have had a pretty easy job, with nothing to do but punish yourprovisions all winter," suggested Mr. Zept.
"Don't you think it," exclaimed his friend. "They had plenty of work cutout for them. In the first place they had to build a cabin, and they hadthe tools to make a decent one--tar paper for a roof too. I don't carefor bark shacks. Then I'm taking a boiler and engine up this time and wecan probably use a lot of firewood when we get to drilling. They can putin a lot of time cutting dry cordwood."
"They doing any prospecting?" asked the ranchman.
"They couldn't do much except look for signs," answered Colonel Howell."And, of course, if they have any extra time, the Kansas men have been inthe business long enough to know how to do that. They might save me a lotof work when I get up there, if they're on the job," concluded ColonelHowell.
"A good deal like grub-staking a man, isn't it?" asked Mr. Zept.
"Not much," retorted the oil man with decision. "They're all on my payroll and they're all working for me. There isn't any halves business inwhat they find, if they find anything. It all belongs to yours truly--orwill, when I prove up on my claim."
"What are the names of the men?" asked Roy with sudden curiosity.
"The Edmonton man I don't know very well," answered Colonel Howell. "Heis a kind of a long range Englishman and I think his name is Chandler.The other men are Malcolm Ewen and Donald Miller. Ewen and Miller aregood boys, and I know they'll give me a square deal, whether Chandlersticks or not."
In spite of the general conversation, Norman fancied that Mr. Zept'sannoyance did not grow less, and it was not hard to conclude that thiswas due to Paul's absence. Finally both Norman and Roy excused themselvesto visit the observation car. They really wanted to find Paul. He was notin the rear car, which fact the young men learned after describing theircompanion to the colored porter, who smiled significantly when heannounced that Paul had left the car some time before.
The young men then went through the train and at last found the Count injovial companionship with Moosetooth and La Biche. It was plain that boththe Indians had been drinking, but there was no liquor now in sight, andthe three were enjoying their pipes and their cigarettes. The Count haddiscovered that the Indians knew more French than English, and he was inhigh conversation with them. The boy himself was even more jovial when hegreeted Norman and Roy with hearty slaps on the back.
For some moments the visitors attempted to join in the conversationbetween the Indians and Paul, but the conditions were such that the youngaviators soon lost interest and they invited young Zept to return to thestateroom for a game of cards.
"Not now," protested the Count, dropping into a seat opposite the Indiansagain. "My friends here are great Frenchmen. They have been telling meabout the Barren Lands. Besides," and he frowned a little, "I didn't knowthe governor was coming. I don't think I ought to see him just now. Heain't much for this sort of thing."
"What sort of thing?" asked Norman somewhat brusquely.
"You know," answered the Count. "I was just telling the boys good-bye.I'll be all right in a little while, and then I'll come back."
"You aren't fooling anyone," broke in the quick-tongued Roy, "and I thinkColonel Howell wants to see you."
Count Zept's laugh ended and he at once arose and followed the young menback to the stateroom. His reappearance seemed to ease his father's mind,and when the three young men and Colonel Howell began a game of auctionthe incident seemed almost forgotten.
At six o'clock, the superintendent of the dining car came to announce toColonel Howell that his special table was ready, and the party went in todinner.
When this elaborate meal was concluded, an hour and a half later, thewarm afternoon had cooled and the train was well into the fertile farmland that distinguishes the great agricultural regions south of Edmonton.Somewhat after ten o'clock, the long daylight not yet at an end, thejourney came to a close in the city of Strathcona. They had reached theSaskatchewan River. Loading their baggage into two taxicabs, they made aquick trip across the river to Edmonton and the King Edward Hotel.
It was with a feeling of happiness that Norman and Roy found themselveson what is now almost the frontier of civilization. Their joy did not liein the fact that hereabouts might be found traces of the old life, butthat they were at last well on their way toward their great adventure.
Rooms were at once secured and Mr. Zept and Paul immediately retired.Norman and Roy lingered a while to learn from Colonel Howell the nextstep.
"The crates will come across the river early to-morrow morning," heexplained, "and we'll catch the Tuesday train at eight thirty forAthabasca Landing. We'll be there to-morrow evening. Turn in and get agood night's sleep."
It was no trouble for the boys to do this, and at seven o'clock the nextmorning they were waiting for their friend and patron in the office. Whenhe appeared he was in company with Mr. Zept and Paul, having apparentlyjust aroused them.
"Well, boys," he began, using his perpetual smile, "we've struck a littlesnag. But remember the philosophy of the country--what you can't doto-day, do when you can. It's the train!"
"What's the matter?" exclaimed Norman.
"Well," explained Colonel Howell, "you know they're just finishing therailroad and I was told that the trains are running to Athabasca Landing.They were running a passenger train about twenty-five miles out, butbeyond that there hasn't been anything but a construction train. There'sa new Provincial Railway Commission and it decided only the other daythat no more passengers could be carried. The road hasn't been turnedover yet by the contractor and they're afraid to let anyone ride on theconstruction train. We could get as far as the passenger train goes andthere we'd be stalled. Looks like I'd have to do some hustling."
"You can go in an automobile," suggested young Zept, who apparently hadsecured some information about the country.
But Colonel Howell shook his head. "There are only two automobiles inthat service and they're both stuck somewhere in the mud between here andthe Landing. Besides, that wouldn't do us much good. I find that my twocarloads of oil machinery are yet in Edmonton and then there's theairship crates."
"Can't we carry it all by wagon?" asked Norman.
"Hardly," responded the colonel. "It'd make a caravan. We might getthrough in good weather but the trail is impassable now. We've got to goby train."
"And can't!" commented Roy.
"Not to-day," laughed Colonel Howell, "but the season's young yet.There'll be another train starting out day after to-morrow. We'll have toturn up something. Meanwhile, let's have breakfast."
This meal over, Norman and Roy accompanied Colonel Howell out into thecity. As they well know, Edmonton was the town from which all were forcedto take their start into the northern country and, as the colonel hadalready discovered, they soon confirmed the fact that transportationfacilities were in a chaotic condition. A stage was to leave that day,but its passenger facilities were wholly inadequate, and what there werehad been engaged for many days.
The first visit of the investigators was to the offices of the Hudson'sBay Company, that great trading institution which is at once the bankerand the courier for all travelers in the great Northwest. Althoughaltogether obliging, at the present time the Company was helpless. Theagent thought he might arrange for teams, but it would require severaldays. Then Colonel Howell visited the offices of the railroadcontractors, where he ascertained definitely that passage on theconstruction train was out of the question.
"Maybe we'll have to stay here until the mud dries," laughed ColonelHowell.
The two boys almost groaned.
"But something may turn up," continued Colonel Howell, "and I'll beenough to look after things. You boys had better take a run over town. IfI don't see you at noon, I'll see you at dinner this evening."
The boys returned to the hotel, found that Mr. Zept and his son hadfinally gone out with friends, and they put in the rest of the dayinspecting the lively young city.
Colonel Howell's acquaintances were not confined to the Northwest--healso had friends in Winnipeg. After leaving the contractors' offices, hewent to the Dominion Telegraph Building and sent this message to abusiness friend in Winnipeg: "Please see the Canada Northern officialsand tell them that I am stranded in Edmonton with a party of friends andwould like to get to Athabasca Landing."
In two hours, he was called up at the hotel by the general superintendentof that road, located in Edmonton, who said he had just been ordered bythe Winnipeg officials to extend every facility to Colonel Howell and hisfriends in their advance to Athabasca Landing.
"We're running a mixed train to a little village twenty-five miles outfrom Edmonton," explained the superintendent, "and when it goes again,Wednesday morning, I'll put an extra car on this train. Meet me thatmorning at eight thirty, at the depot, and I will escort you personallyas far as this train goes. Then I'll arrange to have your car attached tothe construction train. There has never been a passenger car in AthabascaLanding. You can have the distinction of finishing your journey in thefirst passenger car to touch the great rivers of the Mackenzie Basin."
Colonel Howell proceeded at once to the superintendent's office,expressed his gratitude at the courtesy shown, and arranged that theother cars containing his outfit and the airship should be carriedthrough at the same time.
When the members of the party returned to the hotel late in theafternoon, and received the news of the happy solution of theirdifficulty, congratulations rained on Colonel Howell. The boys had a newrespect for the influence of the man with whom they were casting theirfortunes and who had so little to say about himself.
The effect was a little bit different on the Count, who had ratherpersisted all day in a theory of his own that automobiles were the thingsto be used. He had canvassed liveries and accosted chauffeurs, but he hadmade no practical advance in securing help of this kind.
"Our own private car!" was one of Norman's outbursts. "That'll be great."
"And the first one into the North!" added Roy. "That's greater yet. Andit gives us another day in Edmonton."
"Which isn't very great," commented the Count. "I've seen all I want toof this place. It's nothing but banks and restaurants. What's AthabascaLanding like, Colonel Howell?" he added a little petulantly.
"Oh, the Landing's nothing but saloons and the river, and beyond it," headded significantly, "there's nothing but the river."
At seven o'clock that evening, Mr. Zept and Colonel Howell with the threeboys attended a baseball game, leaving it at nine thirty in fulldaylight.
"To-morrow is vacation," explained Colonel Howell, as they separated forthe night, "and Wednesday at eight thirty we'll board our private car."