“I’ve got plenty o’ grit, sir,” Jamie boasted.  “I can stand un.”

“I think you can,” agreed Doctor Joe, “but your legs are short.  If you get tired don’t keep going.  Perhaps you had better take the outside place, and if you do get tired and fall out it won’t break the line.”

Full of eagerness and excitement, the boys took their positions.  On the left bank of the brook was David, next him to the left Obadiah Button, then Andy, beyond him Seth Muggs, and finally Jamie.  This placed Jamie on the extreme left flank, in accordance with Doctor Joe’s suggestion, and the farthest from David and the brook.

On the right bank of the brook were Peter Sparks, Doctor Joe, Lige Sparks and Micah Dunk in the order named, with Micah on the extreme right flank.

It was a great and thrilling adventure for all the boys, but particularly for Jamie.  There was a mystery to be solved, and in the attempt to solve it there was not merely curiosity but a worthy object in view.  If the cache proved to contain Lem Horn’s silver fox skin Lem and his whole family would be made happy.

Jamie, in his unwavering loyalty, was anxious to lift from Indian Jake all suspicion of the crime.  At present every one in the Bay, save only the Angus boys, believed Indian Jake guilty of it.  Even Doctor Joe was not satisfied of his innocence, and, indeed, everything pointed to Indian Jake’s guilt.  Doctor Joe believed that the Angus boys were prejudiced in their loyalty to Indian Jake because of the fact that he had done them kindnesses.

Jamie was sure that if they found this cache there would be proof that he and David and Andy were right and everybody else wrong.  Not only did this feature of the adventure appeal to him, but also the fact that he was for the first time in his life trailing in the wilderness and taking part in an undertaking that seemed to him one of vast importance.

Jamie had never slept in a tent.  His only acquaintance with the great wilderness had been confined to the woods surrounding The Jug, and always when in company with David or Andy or his father or Doctor Joe.  Now he was determined to do as well as any of them, and, no matter how tired he became, to stick to the trail until Doctor Joe gave the signal to return to camp.

As they ascended the slope Jamie kept a sharp look-out to right and left.  Now and again Seth Muggs on his right was hidden by a clump of thick spruce trees or would disappear behind a wooded rise, presently to appear again through the trees.

Jamie was happy.  He was keeping pace with the others without the least difficulty.  Doctor Joe had hinted that his short legs might not permit him to do this.  He would prove that he was as able as Seth Muggs or any of them!

Nothing happened for nearly an hour, and Jamie was beginning to think that the search was to end in disappointment, when suddenly his heart gave a leap of joy.  Far to the left and just visible through the trees rose the outlines of a great grey rock.