“We’ll be makin’ better time soon an’ it gits mouch colder,” Sandy declared, as he buttoned up the collar of his mackinaw. At six o’clock they stopped to feed the horses and eat the lunch which they had brought from the hotel. When they started again, about three quarters of an hour later, they found that the going was much better. The slush and mud had stiffened until only occasionally did the horses break through and it was getting harder every minute. A cold wind had sprung up and the boys were glad to take Sandy’s advice and get down on the bottom of the pung and wrap themselves in the blankets, of which there was a generous supply. It was not long before, in spite of the jolting, Jack fell asleep, and a little later Bob joined him in slumberland. It seemed to the latter that he had been asleep a long time when he was awakened by the sound of loud and angry voices. “That’s all right, but you keep those hands up in the air,” he heard an angry voice demand. CHAPTER VI UP A TREE “It’s a hold-up,” Bob thought, as he nudged Jack, and at the same time placed his hand over the boy’s mouth. “What’s the matter?” Jack whispered, in a low tone. “Looks as though we’d been held up,” Bob replied. But just then he heard words which reassured him: “We’ve had our eyes on you for some time, Sandy, and you might as well come clean. It’ll be the best for you in the end.” “But I’m a tellin’ yer, Jake, thot I hain’t got a mite o’ liquor on board,” they heard the Irishman protest. “Mebby not just now,” came the reply. “But I knew well enough that you had some on the down trip.” “So help me——” Sandy began, but the officer cut him short. “No use in denying it, man. I wouldn’t believe you on a stack of Bibles. A man that’ll run whiskey’ll lie about it till he’s black in the face. Anyhow, we’re going to have a look at what you got, and, mind you, no funny business.” Bob now thought it was time that they were showing themselves; so, with a low whisper to Jack, he threw off his blanket and got up on the seat, and Jack followed him almost as quickly. It was very dark and at first they were unable to locate the men they had heard talking. But soon their eyes became accustomed to the darkness and they made out the forms of three men standing near the horse’s heads. At the same time a ray of light from an electric torch struck Bob full in the face. “Hello, who’s this?” the man who held the light asked, turning to the driver. “Jest a couple o’ kids ridin’ up ter Jackman,” Sandy replied. “Hum, well we won’t take any chances just the same,” the officer declared. Then, coming close to the side of the sled, he ordered: “You boys jump out lively now, and I guess you’d better keep your hands up too till we give you the once over. What’s your names?” Bob told him, and instantly the man’s attitude changed.