Part 3 (1/2)
Suddenly two figures stepped aside into the full light, leaving two others wrestling together; and this was the opportunity needed. Their first victim could see plainly that the former were enemies, and stopping short when about twenty yards away, he fired. Both turned to gaze in the direction from which the flash and report had come.
They were in time to see another flash. Another report raised the echoes, and they turned and fled.
Then the struggle ceased, and the adventurer saw another figure disappearing into the darkness after his two companions.
As he dashed off the young fellow rushed up in time to seize the victim, who staggered helplessly, trampling among the burning embers, among which he would have fallen but for the willing hands which dragged him aside, and lowered him down, before their owner began to kick about and scatter the fire, which hissed and smoked and steamed, as snow was heaped over, and raised a veil to hide the pair from their enemies while the bright light was dying out.
The next act was to find out whether the enemy were yet in the vicinity.
The adventurer advanced for some distance into the darkness, but all was still.
Satisfied that he could not be seen, the young man went on for some little distance; but it was evident that the sudden attack had done its work, and the party had fled for their lives.
”The question is, will they recover themselves and come back?” he muttered. ”Well, we must be on our guard. Two in the right against three in the wrong. Those are fair odds. _Two_ in the right! Suppose it is only one.”
He hurried back towards the scene of the encounter, guided by the faintly glowing embers lying here and there, and the dark, blinding wood-smoke which was borne towards him by the light icy wind which came down the defile.
”Suppose they have killed him!”
”Who are you? But whoever you are,” came in a hoa.r.s.e whisper, ”if it hadn't been for you those ruffians would have settled me.”
”Thank heaven, then, I was in time. Can you help me trample out the rest or this fire?”
”Hadn't we better escape? You might help me drag my sled into a place of safety.”
”There is no place of safety near,” was the reply; ”and it's cold enough to freeze us to death. We had better stay here.”
”But we dare not light a fire; they would see us, and come and pick us off.”
”I don't think the cowardly hounds will dare to come back.”
”But they might, and I dare not risk it.”
”Are you hurt?”
”Not seriously, but wrenched and strained in the struggle. Can you understand what I say? I don't know my own voice.”
”Yes, I can hear you. What is it--a cold?”
”No; I was right enough an hour ago. That red-bearded dog caught me by the throat. He was trying to strangle me. I fired at random, and then my senses were going, but I heard your shots. He has quite taken away my voice. Where is your hand, sir?”
”Here: what do you want?”
”Just to make mine speak to it in a friendly grip. G.o.d bless you, sir!
you've saved my life. I can't say more now.”
”Don't. There: we have no light to betray us now.”
CHAPTER FOUR.