Part 27 (1/2)

”We're going to s.h.i.+ft a bit,” he said gruffly. ”Going to where you had your camp. I'll dig up the gold there, and then I'll see what I'll do with you.”

If he hoped to provoke a response by this he was disappointed, for neither Mr. Baxter nor the boys answered. Callack did not appear surprised to see that his prisoners were no longer bound. Perhaps he thought the Indians who had brought them the breakfast had loosed the thongs.

Closely guarded on all sides by the dusky Alaskans, Mr. Baxter and the two boys were made to march back to where the ice fort was. The tent was struck, and the old camp abandoned. Johnson, who had somewhat recovered from the cruel blow, staggered along, with an Indian on either side of him.

Callack lost no time in seeking the gold once he had reached the place where the first skirmish had taken place. He ordered his men to erect the tents, and then, taking several of the Indians, including Zank, with him, each one with a pick and shovel, he began to dig around the big hummock of ice.

”He'll hunt a good while before he finds anything there,” remarked Fred.

As soon as the tents were up more Indians were set at digging. They demolished the fort, but this hindered rather than helped them, for the floor inside beneath which the treasure was buried was covered deeper than ever with a layer of ice. Callack excavated a little there, but the place seemed frozen so solidly because of the water Mr. Baxter had poured over it that it did not look as if it had been disturbed in a hundred years. So he did not go deep enough.

All day long the Indians, urged on by the white man, dug and searched for the treasure, but without success. As night came on Callack seemed to give it up.

Throwing down his pick, he walked over to where Mr. Baxter and the boys were kept under guard in a tent.

”Come on out here!” he called to them. ”I've got something to say to you.”

He gave an order to the guards, and they stood aside. Wondering what the new move of the scoundrel might be, Mr. Baxter, followed by his son and Fred, went out. A bitter cold wind was blowing, and it looked as if there was going to be a big snowstorm.

CHAPTER XXIII

CALLACK'S CRUEL THREAT

”Well,” remarked Callack as he eyed his captives, ”you hid the gold pretty far down, I guess. I haven't been able to find it.”

He waited, seemingly for an answer, but Mr. Baxter did not reply, nor did the boys say anything.

”Now,” went on the rascally white man, ”I'm going to make you tell me where you've buried it, for I know you did bury it.”

”Then why don't you find it?” asked Mr. Baxter.

”You were too sharp for me. I don't mind admitting that. You are ahead of me--so far--but I've got several tricks to play yet. But first I want to give you a fair chance.”

”Then if you want to do that the best thing you can do is to give us back our sleds, dogs and other possessions and let us go on our way.”

”Hu! I'd be very foolish to do that, wouldn't I? As soon as you got there you'd have mounted police after me, or you'd organize a vigilance committee.”

”That's what we would,” admitted Mr. Baxter. ”I'll pay you back for what you have done, if it takes the last dollar I have in the world.”

”Well, you'll not use any of the gold,” replied Callack with a sneer, ”for I'm going to have that myself.”

”You'll have to get it first.”

”I intend to. That's why I called you out here. I have a proposition to make to you.”

”You can save your breath,” said Mr. Baxter quickly. ”I'll never consent to compromise with you and give you part of the gold.”

”And I'm not asking for a compromise. I want it all,” cried Callack quickly. ”What I mean is this: You can tell me where the gold is buried and help me find it, in which case I'll provide you with safe transportation to the river.”