ject on hand which made it very desirable to them withdrew his
objections. He exacted a promise, however, that if they got into
difficulties with it they would abandon it at once. He himself had
business at Cordova and up the Copper River Railroad, and he agreed to
meet them at the steamer from Seward to Cordova at the latter port within
a week or ten days at the utmost.

The United States Government has in recent years constructed a large
number of miles of good wagon roads and trails in different parts of
Alaska, and nearly three-quarters of the distance to the point to which
they were bound was thus equipped. The guide engaged for them was an old
miner of the character of Swiftwater, and he was employed as a mail
carrier and driver over the winter roads from Valdez to Fairbanks.

Horses were provided for the boys for such a distance as trails could be
found, and from that point they would take only the pack animals and get
through as they could. By taking out the motor, it was found that the
plane could be easily carried by two animals, and the machinery was
distributed between two others. Beyond some small food supplies and a
quantity of strong rope no other luggage was taken.

The roads were found to be so good that although the trail ran right up
into the foothills of the Kenai range they made excellent progress the
first day and camped in a little mountain meadow full of late flowers, and
with good running water.

They used gasoline for cooking, as they had brought along sufficient for
use in the aeroplane and the Indians fed by themselves on salmon and other
fish. Away in the distance, more than a hundred miles, could be seen the
giant peaks of the Alaskan range--the backbone of Alaska--Foraker,
Russell, Spurr and McKinley, snow clad and dazzling.

"I'd like a chance to climb one of those big mountains," said Jack. "You
know we didn't get an opportunity in the Canadian Rockies, although they
seemed to be very near."

"I guess," said Rand, "that we've got all we can do to climb the mountain
we're looking for. We'll be lucky if we do that."

"How did the Indians or whoever hid this ivory, if there's any there, get
it up to the cave, if it is a cave?" asked Don the Doubter.

"That's what we've got to find out; also how we're going to get up there
ourselves," said Dick.

"I think we have a way to do that," said Gerald, "but we've got to know
the size and shape of this hill or peak or whatever it is, before