CHAPTER XV. 

ON TO LAKE BENNETT. 

The face of Tom Roland wore a smile, but in his eyes was an anxious look which Earl did not fail to notice as he surveyed the two acquaintances from Basco. The young prospector was much taken aback by this sudden appearance, for he had not dreamed of meeting Roland and Guardley in this out-of-the-way spot. 

"Ain't you glad to see a feller from Maine?" went on Roland, as Earl did not speak; and he held out his hand, which the youth took rather coldly. Guardley had come up to shake hands too, but now he did not risk making the offer. 

"Are you two bound for the Klondike?" at length asked Earl. 

"Of course," was Roland's sharp reply. "What else would we be doing up here?" 

"What started you--the fact that we were going?" 

"Well, I allow as that had a little to do with it, Earl; but Guardley got a letter from a friend of his who is up there now--a man named Stephens. He said Guardley ought to come up at once, and as he didn't want to go alone, I came along. How are you making out?" 

"We are doing very well." 

"You and your brother came on with your uncle, didn't you?" 

"Yes." 

"Any others in the party?" 

"Yes; two men." 

Tom Roland's eyes dropped for a moment. "Me and Guardley have been havin' rather a hard road of it, all alone," he went on. "We've been thinking of joining forces with somebody." 
Was Tom Roland pleased to meet someone else?
The face of Tom Roland wore a smile, but in his eyes was an anxious look which Earl did not fail to notice as he surveyed the two acquaintances from Basco