o ransack the stores. Ripping open boxes and bags they piled up a
varied quantity of provisions, and even helped themselves to a quantity of
clothing and blankets which the expedition had brought up to be left in
cache for the following winter. They also tore open the canvas coverings
of the sawmill and a dynamo which accompanied it, which was intended to
supply electric light for night work to supplement the short days of
winter. From both of these they selected a dozen of the smaller parts of
the greatest importance and made one canvas bundle of them, thus disabling
the machinery completely.

Having gathered their loot together they went to the shack and compelled
three of the Indians to come out and carry these things and place them
aboard the boat. They had worked nearly two hours, and now cursing the
Siwashes, they urged them to hurry with the plunder, fearing the return of
the other members of Swiftwater's party.

Meantime, the boys had been suffering tortures. The woodland pests of all
kinds swarmed about them, stinging through the thin clothing and covering
their heads and faces, which had now begun to swell to an extent that
threatened total blindness in time. Fortunately, the gang had not gagged
them, and they were able to comfort one another with the hope that their
comrades would find no fishing and return that night. They made desperate
effort to release themselves, but with no result except to chafe wrists
and ankles to a painful condition. The place where they had been fastened
was further up stream than the camp, which was partly concealed from them,
but commanded a view of a mile or more up the creek. As time went by they
scanned this stretch of water eagerly for some signs of their friends, but
in vain. At last, Jack, who had tried to bear up bravely as became a good
Scout, spoke up in rather a tremulous voice:

"Rand, do you suppose they will go away and leave us tied up like this all
night? These mosquitos will come in clouds after dark, and we can't last
long then. One of my eyes is about gone now."

"Rae and Monkey might do it, but I am sure Dublin will see that we are cut
loose," replied Rand.

Suddenly, Rand, who had been straining his eyes up the stream, exclaimed
excitedly:

"Jack, Jack! There's some one coming down the creek on the shore."

Jack turned eagerly to the shore above. Sure enough. Three figures on
horseback had just emerged from the forest, but a hundred rods above them,
and