must be
drawing very near the shore of the great bay to which his mission had
drawn him.

Up to now they had not discovered the first actual trace of others
besides themselves in that region; though twice the Indian had hovered
over half-washed-out footprints, showing that at least they were not the
first ones to pass along under these trees.

Ned was all this time observing the nature of the land, with the design
of making up his mind concerning the chances of rich copper deposits
being found there.

It did not seem altogether unlikely, from what he knew of such things.
Before he left home he had been shown all sorts of copper ore; and on
the way the patrol leader had stored up in his mind many minute
descriptions he had read of the famous country north of Superior, where
such valuable mines were being worked. Thus, he was pretty well posted
on the subject, though, of course, one who had had actual practical
experience in copper mines might have put him in possession of many
other useful facts.

So far as he could tell the rocks looked very like those around the
Mesauba region, and samples of which he carried along with him for
comparison when the proper time arrived.

If this affair were indeed a gigantic swindle, then those who were
running the game had been smart enough to pick out as the field of their
operations a country that at least gave outward evidences of being
capable of producing a high grade of copper ore. Ned had at one time
fancied the whole thing was a myth, but now he realized that the
supposed owners of the new discovery had at least been on the ground.
They had carefully selected their site to conform with such conditions
as would at least be required, should an expert secretly visit the
scene.

Ned was satisfied with the way things were working. If only he could
find where the mine was located, and make his investigations secretly,
without the others being aware of his presence, he believed he would
have no complaint to foster.

An encounter with armed guards who would be hostile to his mission was
the last thing he wanted to have happen; though, of course, should this
come about he believed he could depend on his chums to give a good
account of themselves. They had in the past stuck to him on many
occasions through thick and thin. Not one of them but who had done his
part manfully, in season and out. The record of their past achievements
had been one of almost unbroken successes. He had