hen he fixed his price."

"Well," the stranger said in a moment, "I've got a little baggage up the
street and I'll go and get it."

He was gone perhaps half an hour, and when he returned the boys saw an
anxious expression on his face.

"Are you sure that man Jamison is going out with you tonight?" he asked.

"He said he would," was the reply.

"He's up there loading in whiskey," the boy, who had given his name as
Samuel White, continued, "and has surrounded himself with about as tough
a bunch of crooks as there is in all Alaska."

"Perhaps he wants them to help run the boat," suggested Tommy.

"No, there's something crooked on foot!" declared Sam. "The fellows are
whispering together in a bar-room up the street, and pounding the
tables, and letting cut great shouts of laughter as if they had a good
joke on some one."

"Do you know any of the men with Jamison?" asked Frank.

"One of them," the boy replied, "is a crooked mine agent, and one is a
fellow who hangs around town without revealing any business whatever,
but seems to have plenty of money."

While the boys talked, Jamison, accompanied by two men who seemed to be
somewhat under the influence of liquor, came down to the dock.

After nodding familiarly to the lads, he gave a signal with a lantern
which he carried in his hand, and in a short time a very capable looking
motor boat came puffing out of the darkness.

"There you are, boys!" he said. "Jump in, and I'll have you up to
Cordova in no time. I've got a good crew on board, and I may be able to
get you back long before noon."

The boys did not exactly like the looks of the "good" crew, but they
said nothing as they took their seats in the little trunk cabin and
waited for the boat to get under motion.

When at last the motors began whirling and the rocking motion told the
lads that they were out among the high waves, Jamison came in and seated
himself by Tommy's side.

"Little bit bumpy tonight," he said, "but you'll soon get used to that.
If you have the money ready, I'll collect fares now."

Frank took two hundred dollars in bank notes from a pocket and passed it
over to the owner of the boat.

"A hundred apiece," Jamison said. "I was to have a hundred for each
passenger. You owe me a hundred more."

"Don't pay any hundred for me," Sam White exclaimed, springing to his
feet. "I'll jump overboard and swim back."

Frank laid a hand on the boy's arm and pushed him back into a seat.

"It's