e canoes through two lakes and then carried their duffle
bags the rest of the way, showed in what excellent condition they now
were. Pud was as hard as nails. He walked along at the head of the
party, with no more signs of being winded than Bob or even Mr. Waterman.
The latter was with them, and he was going to accompany them as far as
Quebec to get the samples of ore into the hands of some expert assayist.

After reaching Escoumains it was with sincere feelings of regret that
the boys had to get into their civilized garments again. Nothing of
importance or special interest occurred on their way to Quebec. They
once more went up to the Frontenac Hotel and waited there for Mr.
Waterman, who had gone at once to the assayist. In less than two hours
he came back smiling.

"What luck?" asked Bob.

"Come up to the room," was the reply.

When they got up there they all fired questions at him.

"Not all at once," he said. "I saw the assayist or geologist, and at the
first glance he told me that the samples of ore were genuine and very
valuable. He tried to find out where I had gotten them so I had to do
some tall lying to lead him off the scent. When I left his office I was
careful, and I looked around several times. I thought that I was being
followed, so I went into stores and out again, and I think he will have
his troubles finding out where the mine is."

"If we really have made such a valuable discovery," said Bob, "we must
be careful not to say anything about it. When we have once gotten full
title to the gulch we can then let others know where the mine is."

"You're right," said Mr. Waterman. "According to the statement of the
expert, we really have a big thing on our hands, and with careful
handling, we can get rich through it."

That evening the boys, with Mr. Waterman, went to visit the St. Ann de
Beaupre cathedral. The boys, as well as Mr. Waterman, were deeply
impressed with the solemn dignity and massive beauty of the church's
interior. They also noticed the look of deep, sincere devotion on the
faces of the worshippers as they paid homage to the blessed saint.

It was hard to say good-by to their pleasant companions, but finally Mr.
Waterman saw them off on the train the next morning, and the following
evening they were back in Philadelphia. Here Bob had to leave his
friends, as he lived farther south. On shaking hands with them they
promised to meet again the next summer and go north to develop their
mi