octor went on. "In fact, I am
satisfied that you are doing the right thing in making the attempt to
cross. I only uttered a warning which we must all heed whenever we come
to a place where a crossing seems possible."

The boys soon discovered a place where the walls did not appear to be
very steep and where the mass of trees which had fallen completely
covered the bottom. Then, cautiously feeling their way, they crept down.

CHAPTER XVI

GEORGE AND SANDY CAUGHT

When George and Sandy left the cabin they saw the figure of the miner
very dimly outlined away to the west.

"We ought to get closer," Sandy whispered. "First thing we know, he'll
duck down into some hollow, and that'll be the last of him for the
night. I guess we can creep up without his catching us at it."

"Of course we can!" replied George. "He's making so much noise himself
that he can't hear us! He wouldn't make much of a Boy Scout when it came
to stalking, would he?"

The boys succeeded in getting pretty close to the miner; so close in
fact, that occasionally they heard him muttering to himself as he
stumbled over rocks and occasionally became entangled in such underbrush
as grew along the top of the moraine.

"We can't be very far away from the place where the bear tried to beat
me up," Sandy whispered, as they drew up for a moment. "I wouldn't mind
having a bite out of that same bear just about now!"

After a time they came to the head waters of the creek in which Will and
Sandy had fished, and saw Cameron standing on the other side.

"He's going into the mountains!" whispered Sandy.

"That's exactly where he's keeping Bert," George agreed.

In a short time Cameron paused in his walk and uttered a low whistle.

"What do you think of that?" asked Sandy. "He's going to meet some one
here. And that means," the boy went on, "that he's had a pal watching
Bert while he's been away."

"And it also means," George added, "that we can't be very far from the
spot where Bert is concealed. I hope so, anyway, for I'm about tired
enough to crawl into my little nest in the cabin."

"I should think you'd talk about sleep!" scoffed Sandy. "You slept all
the afternoon!"

"If you mention that long sleep of mine again," George said
half-angrily, "I'll tip you over into the creek. I'm sore over that
myself!"

While the boys stood waiting end listening an answering whistle came
from the side of a mountain not far from the rivulet.

"There's his