Part 24 (1/2)

”That's what you did. I hope you didn't kill him, for I don't want any bloodshed if we can avoid it. Still, they fired first.”

The moment the Indian fell his companions were thrown into confusion.

They had not expected such vigorous resistance. Several of them threw down their guns and rushed to their fallen comrade. A well-directed fire at that moment would probably have scattered the enemy, but Mr. Baxter did not want to shoot into the midst of the Indians, unarmed as most of them now were.

Callack was in a rage. He stormed at his allies, and made them take up their guns again. The Indian Johnson had hit was only wounded, and he was carried to the rear. But the quick response of the colored man to the attack of the Indians had a good effect. It frightened the Alaskans, and, notwithstanding the demands of the rascally white man, they would not again advance. They wanted to consider matters first, and Callack was too big a coward to proceed alone.

Sullenly he retreated with his band of Indians to a small hollow about half a mile from the Baxter camp.

”Don't think we're going to let you go,” he called out angrily as he went away. ”We're going to have that gold.”

Mr. Baxter did not reply. He watched the withdrawal of the Indians.

”Keep a close watch,” he cautioned Johnson. ”Tell us as soon as you see any suspicious movement.”

”Dat's what I will, an' I'll shoot, too.”

”No, don't do that unless they attack us again. They may leave us alone after this.”

The position of the treasure finders was perilous enough. They were in a desolate country, and, though they had plenty of provisions for the time they had calculated on, they would not have enough if they were detained by the enemy. Their only hope was that Callack's men would retreat.

”Well, they've given us a chance to get breakfast, at any rate,”

remarked Mr. Baxter. ”Now you boys hustle around, make some tea, cook some meat, and get things ready, while I bring the dogs closer in and feed them. Then I'll lay out some more ammunition. If it comes to a fight we'll have our hands full.”

”Do you think they'll go away?” asked Fred.

”No; to be frank, I don't think they will. Callack is too greedy after the gold. He knows we have it.”

”Then what are we going to do? We can't fight such a big crowd.”

”I don't know. Perhaps I can think up some plan. But now get busy with the breakfast.”

The meal was soon ready and eaten, Fred taking the place of the colored man on the ice hill while Johnson ate. Mr. Baxter had brought the sleds closer to the big hummock, had fastened the dogs more securely, and had opened several packages of cartridges.

”Why can't we build some sort of a fort?” suggested Fred.

”A fort?” inquired Mr. Baxter.

”Yes; to protect ourselves.”

”What could we make it of?”

”Blocks of ice.”

”So we could. I wonder I didn't think of that. It's a good idea, Fred.

We'll do it. Get the picks and shovels. We can soon throw up a breastwork that will be proof against their bullets, and, as we occupy the highest ground, they can't fire down on us.”

There was plenty of material for the fort, and before night there was a good rampart of ice, built in a semicircle out from the big rock, and taking in the tent and sleds, to which the dogs were kept fastened. They were quiet now, Mr. Baxter having given them a good feeding of seal blubber.