"Ha, Tom Swift! You didn't get here much ahead of us!" exulted the
bully. "I told you I'd get even with you! Come on, now, dad, we'll
get right to work digging for gold!"
Tom and his companions did not know what to say.
CHAPTER XXII
JUMPING THE CLAIM
There was a sneering look on Andy's face, and Mr. Foger, too, seemed
delighted at having reached the valley of gold almost as soon as had
our friends. Tom and the others looked at the means by which the
bully had arrived. There were four sleds, each one drawn by seven
dogs, and in charge of a dark-skinned native. On the two foremost
sleds Andy and his father had ridden, while the other two evidently
contained their supplies.
For a moment Andy surveyed Tom's party and then, turning to one of
the native drivers, he said:
"We'll camp here. You fellows get to work and make an ice house, and
some of you cook a meal--I'm hungry."
"No need build ice house," replied the native, who spoke English
brokenly.
"Why not?" demanded Andy.
"Live in ice cave-plenty much ob'em--plenty much room," went on the
Eskimo, indicating several of the large caverns.
"Ha! That's a good idea," agreed Mr. Foger, "Andy, my son, we have
houses already made for us, and very comfortable they seem, too.
We'll take up our quarters in one, and then hunt for the gold.
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