for it. With huge delight, he was absorbing all the
superstitions of the sea, and giving the steersman a gruesome crop of
tales of knockers and gas sprites underground.

There was no special reason why he should have come on the voyage,
except that he had asked to come. Owing to Anton's hatred for coal
mining--born of the entombment--Clem had used his position as Jim's
"pardner" to bring the boy along. Otto, having taken what might be
termed a paternal and prophetic interest in the imprisoned men, wanted
to join the party.

Owens made no objection. He knew laborers would be wanted, and he
preferred men who would not be likely to betray the secret of the
gold. He knew the miner's unswerving loyalty, and was well aware that
loyalty is the one quality which is beyond all price.

Towards the close of the afternoon, the _Bunting_ shortened sail. They
were drawing near.

Somewhere, not far from them, lay the Diomede Islands, those two great
granite crags rising sheer out of the sea with deep water on every
side. The lead would give no sign. There is no fog signal on the
Diomedes. In such a thick and clammy mist as hung over the water, a
ship could wreck herself upon those bleak coasts almost before she
saw the surf under her bows. The wind was light, and the brigantine
slid slowly over the water.

The "Arctic Wizard," his eyes accustomed to the northern skies, was
the first to see a faint purplish blotch in the swirling mist.

"Land! Captain!" he warned, quickly. "Keep away! Keep well away!"

Almost instantly, the booming of breakers was heard.

Well was it for those on board that the _Bunting_ was quick on her
helm! She bore off, just in time, the creaming surf not more than
three cables' length ahead.

"A little too close for my liking!" exclaimed the yachtsman, but
treating the danger lightly. "That's Ingalook, I suppose, Mr. Juneau?"

"Ingalook she is. At least, I think so. I've never been quite so
close, before."

"And I don't want to be, again! Well now, I suppose, the real treasure
hunt begins."

He called Jim.

"How did you say Chukalook Bank bore from here?"

"From Chukalook," Jim answered, "on a clear day, I could see this
island two points east o' south, an' the other island, the Russian
one, three points west o' south."

The yachtsman looked at him thoughtfully.

"And there's no knowing what compass correction to allow for a pocket
compass, and there's the magnetic variation besides. Well, we