Lost In The Air

Lost In The Air, by Roy J. Snell

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Title: Lost In The Air
Author: Roy J. Snell
Release Date: January 5, 2004 [EBook #10599]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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MYSTERY STORIES FOR BOYS
Lost in the Air
By ROY J. SNELL

1920

CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I
WHO IS THE MAJOR II THE STRANGE LANDING III IN THE
MIDST OF THE PACK IV A MODERN BATTLE WITH
CRIMINALS V AN INFERNAL MACHINE VI THE RACE IS ON
VII A STRANGE PEOPLE VIII THE WALRUS HUNT IX
FIGHTING THEIR WAY OUT X TO THE TREASURE CITY XI A
BATTLE BENEATH THE ARCTIC MOON XII THE RUSSIAN
TIGER XIII BRUCE AND THE BEAR XIV "BOMBED" XV THE
MYSTERY CAVERN XVI WRECKED XVII "SO THIS IS THE
POLE"
CHAPTER I
WHO IS THE MAJOR?
"Let's get a breath of fresh air." Bruce Manning yawned and stretched,
then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk. Barney Menter
followed his example.
They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they
were pals. This was not to be wondered at, for both had been
discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and
Barney in the United States. Each had served his country well. Now
they were employed in the work of developing the wilds of Northern
Canada near Hudson Bay. And there are no regions more romantic than
this with all its half-gleaned history and its million secrets of wonder,
wealth and beauty.
As they stood in the doorway, gazing at the forest-lined river and

distant bluffs, hearing the clang of steel on steel, as construction work
went forward, catching the roar of cataracts in Nelson River, and
tingling with the keen air of the northern summer, life seemed a new
creation, so different was it from the days of war.
"What's this?" Bruce was looking at a file containing bills-of-lading, a
messenger had handed him.
"Car 564963, C. P. R., consigned to Major A. Bronson. Airplane and
supplies." He read it aloud and whistled. Barney jumped to snatch it
from him.
"Stand back! Give me air," Bruce gasped. "An airplane at the present
end of the Hudson Bay Railroad! What's doing now? What are they up
to? Going to quit construction here and use planes the rest of the way?
Fancy freighting wheat, fish, furs and whale blubber by airplanes!"
Both lads laughed at the idea.
"I don't wish his pilot any bad luck," said Barney. "But if he must die
by breaking his neck, or something, I hope he does it before he reaches
the Hudson Bay terminus. I'd like to take his place in that big air-bird.
Say, wouldn't it be glorious!"
"You've stolen my thunder," replied Bruce, laughing. "I'm taking that
job myself."
"Tell you what! I'll fight you for it. What weapons do you choose?
Rope-handed spiking hammers or pick-axes?"
"Let's go down and see if it's here. Like as not it's a machine neither of
us would risk his neck in; some old junk-pile the government's sold to
the chap for a hundred and fifty or so."
That this idea was not taken seriously by either was shown by the
double-quick at which they went down the line, and over the half-laid
tracks to where the accommodation train was standing.
Thorough inspection of car numbers convinced them that No. 564963

C.P.R. had not arrived.
"Oh, well! Perhaps to-morrow she'll be in. Then we'll see what we see,"
yawned Bruce, as he turned back toward the roughly-built log shack
where work awaited them.
"What's that?" Bruce, who was in the lead, stopped before the trunk of
a scraggly spruce tree. On its barkless trunk a sheet of white paper had
been tacked. The two boys read it eagerly:
NOTICE!
To Trappers, Hunters, Campers and Prospectors.
$500 Reward Will be paid
To any person locating anywhere within the bounds of the Canadian
Northlands at any point North of 55° North, a wireless station, operated
without license or permit.
The notice, signed by the provincial authorities, was enough to quicken
their keen minds.
"What do you suppose they want to know that for?" asked Barney.
"The war's over."
"Perhaps further intrigue by our former enemy. Perhaps smugglers.
Perhaps--well, do your own perhapsing. But say!" Bruce exclaimed,
"wouldn't it be great to take packs, rifles and