lace called Moose Factory. I don't know positively,
but I've reasons to think that we'll find some sort of post there where
we can get help. It's situated on a bay that several other rivers empty
into. I believe that's our one best chance, and that's why I'm taking
it."

"If you say it's so, we believe it, Ned," remarked Jack, with emphasis;
and it was such confidence as this, placed in him by his chums, that had
helped Ned accomplish so many things in the past.

"That mining camp was situated on a creek, wasn't it?" asked Frank.

"Yes, I haven't forgotten that, and I see what you mean, Frank," the
patrol leader assured him; "but it was only a narrow affair, and I
figure on finding a fallen tree trunk that we could throw across to
serve us as a bridge."

"Always a way where there's a will," chanted Teddy, as they once more
started off, with the mist-shrouded bay on their right.

The going was not all that heart could have wished. Lots of obstacles
arose to give them trouble, though as a rule these were of a minor
character, and easily surmounted. In some places the land was inclined
to be marshy, so that they were compelled to go back some distance in
order to get around. Then, again, they found that the ground rose into
rocky elevations, with the bay lapping their bases; and here again the
scouts were put to more or less exertions, in order to keep moving
toward the west.

On one of these elevations they paused for a brief rest. The fog held as
densely as ever, and out there where the great body of salt water lay it
was an utter impossibility to see any distance. A whole armada of
vessels might be anchored, not half a mile from the shore, and no one be
any the wiser for it.

"Is this the real Hudson Bay proper?" asked Frank, while they stood
thus, recovering their breath, after the last climb.

"Well, it's the lower part of it," explained Ned, "and called James Bay.
There are a great many islands to be run across in this section, and
I've heard that seals have rookeries on some of them, if they haven't
all been killed off."

"Well, we've seen seals and Polar bears and the big walrus--all in their
native haunts, haven't we?" remarked Jimmy, turning to Frank, who with
Ned had been on a long jaunt through Arctic ice floes some time before.

"And all of us stand a fair chance to see some more of the same, unless
we get out of this country before the summer ends," Teddy chimed in.

"We'll find a way, all right,