“I will be careful,” answered Sam.  “I don’t want any more snow down my back and up my coat-sleeves,” and he hurried back to the camp-fire to warm himself.

By this time Tom was outside, and he was followed by Jasper Grinder, and presently all sat down close to the blaze to enjoy the generous breakfast the guide had provided.  Tom said that his arm was a little stiff, but that otherwise he felt as well as ever.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Two failures.

What to do with Jasper Grinder was a problem which none of the boys knew how to solve.  They were exceedingly sorry that he was among them, but as it would be impossible to send him off alone in that deep snow, they felt that they would have to make the best of the situation.

“I move we make him stay around the camp,” suggested Tom.  “He can watch our stores, keep the fire furnished with wood, and do some of the cooking.”

“He may kick at playing servant girl,” said Sam.

“If he kicks, let him clear out.”

“I think Tom is right,” put in Dick.  “We don’t want him along while we are trying to locate the treasure.”

“He may slip away with our things—­if he finds any trace of Baxter’s party,” went on Sam.  “And we can’t afford to lose anything more.  One sled-load is enough.  We’ll be wanting some of those other things before long.”

“I don’t believe that other party is around here,” said John Barrow.  “We had better leave the man at the fire.  We can keep our eyes open for the enemy—­as you call ’em.”

So it was arranged, and Dick told the former teacher.  Jasper Grinder said but little in return, but asked about the possibility of any more wild beasts turning up.

“I don’t want to be left alone to face another couple of bears,” he said.  “They would do their best to chew me up!”

“We will leave a gun in camp,” said Dick.  “If you see a bear coming, you can climb a tree and keep him off with the gun.  If we hear a shot, we’ll come back just as quickly as we can.  But, Grinder, I want you to understand that you aren’t to play us false,” went on the eldest Rover.  “If you do we’ll have no mercy on you, remember that!”

Half an hour later the boys and their guide set off on their first hunt for the treasure.  With great care John Barrow led the way over the rocks and other rough places.  He carried a long pole, which he plunged in the snow before him whenever he was afraid there was a hollow ahead.  Soon they gained the spot where Dick thought the blasted tree might be located.

The snow was scraped away, first in one direction and then another, until a spot several yards in diameter was cleared.  No tree-stump was brought to light, although they found a slight hollow in which were several big roots.

“This might have been the tree once,” said John Barrow meditatively.  “Years make great changes, you know.  The trees fall, rocks and dirt slide down hill, and that makes a big difference in the looks o’ things.”