Part 22 (1/2)
Mr. Baxter, as Fred could see in the glare of the Aurora Borealis, looked grave. Their worst fears were realized. It would have been better to have a pack of wolves after them, than to have this band of savage Alaskan Indians, led on probably by a daring and unscrupulous white man.
”Shall I stay up and keep watch with you?” asked Fred.
”No. I think, as Holfax says, that they will not attempt to creep up on us during the night. They will do nothing until morning. Then we must be on the lookout.”
Holfax proved that he had guessed correctly. There was no disturbance that night, but, in the morning, after they had started, the Indian mounted a hill, near which they had encamped.
”There Zank and his men,” he announced, pointing to the rear. ”Can see smoke of fire.”
Mr. Baxter looked. A thin thread of smoke could be observed ascending in the frigid morning air, but no camp was in sight.
They started off soon after they had made a hasty breakfast. It seemed colder than at any time yet, but a glance at the thermometer showed that it was only thirty degrees below zero. Still that was cold enough, though what made it seem more piercing was a stiff wind that sprang up.
”Hark!” exclaimed Holfax, when they had gone several miles.
He halted the dogs and listened. The others could hear nothing.
”What is it, Holfax?” asked Mr. Baxter.
”Them come,” replied the Indian. ”Can hear dogs howl, an' sound of sleds on ice.”
This may have been so, but the hearing of the Indian was more acute than that of the travelers.
”So the enemy is after our gold?” remarked Mr. Baxter. ”Well, they'll have to fight to get it.”
”Suppose they outnumber us?” asked Fred.
”They probably do. Otherwise I do not believe they would dare think of attacking us. There is probably a large band of them.”
”Then we can not fight them alone.”
”I suppose not,” admitted Mr. Baxter. ”But I have a plan that may help us. Holfax, come here, I want to talk to you.”
CHAPTER XIX
THE ATTACK
The Indian obeyed, having first fastened his leading team of dogs to a large ice boulder by means of a long thong, so they would not run off.
As the other animals were attached to the team Holfax drove, they too, halted.
”Goin' make fight?” asked the Indian.
”That is what I want to talk to you about. Do you think we can fight them?” and he motioned back toward their pursuers.
”They plenty many,” replied the Indian.
”I suppose so. What sort of weapons have they?”
”They got guns.”