Part 12 (2/2)

”Well, there are good Alaskan Indians and bad ones. I tried to hire good ones, but there are many thieves among them, and, now that they know the value of gold, they are as wild after it as any white men.”

”Do you think you can trust our men?”

”I hope so. I am sure Holfax is all right, for he was recommended to me by an old miner whom I know. As for the others, I'll have to be on the lookout.”

”Johnson's driver seems to be hanging back, as if he wanted to find out what we are talking about,” said Fred suddenly.

”So he does. Holfax,” said Mr. Baxter quickly, ”make go fast--run dogs,”

and he motioned to Zank, whose team of snarling animals was going very slowly.

Holfax, who was in charge of the other Indians, called out something.

Zank answered in what seemed to be angry tones, but he shouted to his dogs, and once more they took the lead.

”We'll have to watch that fellow,” murmured Mr. Baxter.

Their way now lay over a small range of hills, and as they got on top the cruel cold smote them more and more. The day was a cloudy one, and the wind sprang up, sending the dry snow in stinging particles into their faces.

”My feet haven't any more feeling in them,” said Fred at length, ”and my hands are like wooden ones.”

”Is that so?” asked Mr. Baxter quickly. ”Then you must get off and run a bit. Your circulation is going back on you, and you'll be frost-bitten if you don't look out. We'll all get off and run beside the sleds. That will warm us up. In about an hour we will stop and have tea.”

”I should think coffee would be better,” suggested Fred.

”Tea is the best drink in all cold countries,” replied the old gold hunter. ”Coffee is too stimulating, but tea warms you up without doing any harm. In Russia, when a man gets chilled through, he will often drink seventeen or eighteen gla.s.ses of hot tea, one right after the other. They use gla.s.ses instead of cups there.”

”I guess one or two will be all I can stand,” replied Jerry. ”I'm no great hand for tea.”

”You'll like it up here,” said his father, and he was right.

Mr. Baxter called to Holfax to stop the dog teams, and the four travelers got off. They were all so cold and stiff they could hardly stand, but a little motion soon started the blood to circulating, and they felt better. The dogs were driven at a slower pace, and the gold hunters ran alongside of the sleds.

When thoroughly warmed through Mr. Baxter called a halt and got out the alcohol stove to make tea. For water they used melted snow, and then Mr.

Baxter cautioned the boys and Johnson against ever eating snow or ice when thirsty. It would cause sore mouths, he said, and they would suffer great pain.

It seemed rather strange to sit down out of doors in that icy region and drink hot tea, but every one admitted that it was an excellent drink.

Then the journey was resumed until a sudden increase in the gloom warned the travelers that night was coming on.

”We'll make camp now,” said Mr. Baxter, and he gave the orders to Holfax.

The Indians drew the sleds up in the form of a square, and when robes were spread over them, this would form their shelter. As for the others, the tent was erected, snow being piled around the bottom to keep out the wind. Then, when the alcohol stove was set up inside and a simple meal started, the place was more warm and cozy than one would at first suppose was possible.

”Why, I believe it's warm enough to take off our fur coats,” said Fred.

”Yes, you can do that,” spoke the old miner. ”We'll get into our sleeping bags soon.”

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