all right," he said. "I did agree to pay a hundred dollars a
passenger. You're quite welcome to the ride at my expense."

As Frank spoke he took a roll of bank notes from another pocket and
stripped off one of the denomination of one hundred dollars.

Jamison saw large denominations, some as high as five hundred dollars,
in the roll, and his evil eyes glittered greedily.

When Frank put up the roll, the fellow's eyes followed it until it
passed out of sight in the pocket. Other members of the crew had seen
the money also, and Tommy was decidedly uncomfortable as he thought of
the situation they were in.

Having received his pay, Jamison grew very friendly and confidential,
and began pointing out the show places along the dim coast.

Presently Sam whispered cautiously in Tommy's ear:

"He is headed for the Barren islands, and not Cordova," he said.

CHAPTER VIII

ON THE GULF OF ALASKA

"Where are the Barren islands, and why should he want to take us there?"
asked Tommy, apprehensively.

"The Barren islands," replied Sam, "lie in the Gulf of Alaska, just
south of the mouth of Copper river, west of Controller bay. They extend
along the coast, only a short distance out, for twenty miles or more,
and are just what the local name signifies, Barren islands."

"But why should he want to take us there?" insisted Tommy, slipping a
hand toward his hip pocket to make sure that his automatic was ready for
any emergency.

Sam did not answer the question, for Tommy's quick start of surprise,
his low exclamation of dismay, checked the words which were on his lips.
Instead, he pushed closer to the lad and asked:

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"My revolver has been taken!" replied Tommy.

Frank, sitting close to his chum on the other side, now pushed his hand
into his hip pocket and brought it forth empty.

"So is mine!" he said.

The boys looked at each other for a moment in the gathering darkness
without speaking. The situation was a serious one.

"Who did it?" asked Tommy presently.

"No one has been near me except that man Jamison," replied Frank.

"He's the only one who's been within reaching distance of me," Tommy
observed. "He must be a clever pickpocket!"

"I saw him eyeing that roll of money rather greedily," Sam cut in,
speaking in a very low tone, for Jamison had new turned back from the
prow and was looking in their direction.

"I noticed that, too," Frank answered. "I'm afraid we're going t