Chapter II.--Off For Zaruth. 

"To Siberia--Cedar Island!" 

"Yes, mother. From what I can make out, father is there, a prisoner of some people called the Svlachkys, and all on account of a wonderful stone chest, said to be filled with gold and silver." 

"It cannot be true, Bob." 

"I think it is. This dead sailor's name was Ruel Gross----" 

"Ruel Gross!" Mrs. Cromwell started. "I heard of him before. Your father said he possessed a wonderful secret." 

"He did--about the stone chest. The whole truth is, so far as I can understand, he got father to go up there in search of it. After it was found they got into some trouble with the natives, and Ruel Gross abandoned father to his fate. Here is a handmade map of the locality." 

"Pray Heaven your father still lives," murmured Mrs. Cromwell. "But you say you are going up there. How?" 

"I don't know. But I'll find a way, even if I have to go up on a whaler." 

Mrs. Cromwell shook her head. 

On the following morning the dead body of the sailor was turned over to the village authorities. 

Between them mother and son decided for the present to say nothing to the simple fisher-folks concerning Ruel Gross' revelation. 

"They'll sneer at us--that's all," said Bob. 

But Bob confided in his chum, Jack Larmore, an orphan boy of his own age. Jack was tremendously interested. 

"Say, Bob, I'll go along, if you say the word," he said. "I'm sick of Sea Cove and the mean folks living around here." 
Did he want to join the journey?
"Say, Bob, I'll go along, if you say the word