“I am sure Dan Baxter has that other map,” he concluded.  “He wants that treasure as badly as we do.”

“Then I allow as how it will be a nip-an’-tuck race between you,” returned John Barrow.  “The fust to get there will be the best man.  O’ course, with that map it ought to be plain enough sailin’.”

“I thought it would be, but it will mix us up, now you say that Bear Pond empties into Perch River in several places.  We’ll have to try one place after another.”

“Do your directions start from that p’int?”

“Yes.”

“Then we’ll have to find the right emptyin’ place, that’s all.  My advice is to start fer the spot to-morrow early.”

So it was arranged, and Dick called Tom and Sam down to the barn to talk it over.  It was late in the afternoon, and all worked until after the supper hour in preparing for the start.

“It’s a good twenty miles’ tramp from here,” said John Barrow, “and we’ll have to climb two pretty steep mountains to get to the spot.”

“Why can’t we follow the stream up?” asked Tom.  “That would be easier than tramping up the mountains.”

“By the river the way is at least forty miles, and there are half a dozen rough spots where you’d have to walk a mile or two.”

“We have our skates,” said Sam.  “Skating would be easier than walking, and pulling the sleds on the ice would be child’s play.”

“Well, I allow as how I wouldn’t mind skatin’ myself,” said John Barrow thoughtfully.  “I never thought of that before.  If you want to, we can try that trail.  We can take to the mountain any time, if we find skating no good.”

So it was arranged that they should strike out for Bear Pond by way of the river, and the sleds, of which there were two, were packed accordingly, and the boys saw to it that their skates were well sharpened and otherwise in good condition.

“When you’re skating, you want to look out for air holes,” was John Barrow’s caution.  “Fer where the river runs between the mountains it is mighty deep in spots, I can tell you that!”

“Thanks, I’ll be on my guard,” answered Tom, with a shiver.  “I’ve had all I want of icy baths this winter.”

The girls were sorry to see the boys leave so quickly, but were consoled when Tom promised to stay longer on the return.  On the following morning breakfast was had at six o’clock, and by seven they were off, everybody wishing them a good time.  Only Mrs. Barrow knew that the boys were on a treasure, and not a bird and wild animal, hunt.

It was a clear, frosty day and everybody was in the best of spirits.  The boys wore fur caps and warm clothing, and each was provided with either a rifle or a shot-gun.  So far they had seen but little game around the farm, but John Barrow assured them that the timber and mountains were full of game of all sorts.

“I wonder what route Dan Baxter’s party took,” said Dick, as they gained the river, and stopped to put on their skates.