Part 14 (1/2)

The spot they had reached was a long, narrow lake, surrounded at the upper end by fir-woods. The rest of the route was to be by water, and here a suitable raft had to be made.

”Fine chance for a chap to set up boatbuilding,” said Big Bob. ”What do you say? I believe we should make more money over the job than by going to dig it out.”

”Let's try the gold-digging first,” said Dallas; and with a cheer the men set to work at the trees selected, the axes ringing and the pine-chips flying in the bright suns.h.i.+ne till trunk after trunk fell with a crash, to be lopped and trimmed and dragged down to the water's edge ready for rough notching out to form the framework of such a raft as would easily bear the adventurers, their sledges and stores, down the lake and through the torrents and rapids of the river in its wild and turbulent course.

The sledges were drawn up together in a triangle to form a shelter to the fire they had lit for cooking, for the wind came down sharply from the mountains. Rifles and pistols lay with the sledges, for the little party of five had stripped to their work, so that, save for the axes they used, they were unarmed.

But no thought of danger occurred to any one present; that was postponed in imagination till they had finished the raft and embarked for a twenty-mile sail down to where the river, which entered as a shallow mountain torrent, rushed out, wonderfully augmented, to tear northward in a series of wild rapids, which would need all the strength and courage of the travellers to navigate them in safety.

A hearty laugh was ringing out, for the big Cornishman had rather boastingly announced that he could carry one of the fallen trees easily to the lake, put it to the proof, slipped, and gone head first into the water after the tree, when a sharp crack rang out from near at hand.

Abel uttered a loud cry, clapped his hands to his head, and fell backward.

For a moment or two the men stood as if paralysed, gazing at the fallen youth. Then Dallas looked sharply round, caught sight of a thin film of smoke curling up from the edge of the forest, and with a cry of rage ran toward the sledges, thrusting the handle of his axe through his belt, caught up his revolver from where it lay, and dashed towards the spot whence the firing must have come.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

WHOLESALE ROBBERY.

”Keep together--keep together!” shouted the big Cornishman; but no one heeded, and he followed their example of seizing the first weapon he could reach and following.

The pursuit was short, for it seemed madness to follow in amongst the dense pines which formed the forest, placing themselves at the mercy of an enemy who could bring them down as they struggled through the dense thicket of fallen trees and tangled branches: so, after a few rallying cries, they made their way back to the open s.p.a.ce by the lake, to find Abel sitting up and resting his head upon his hand.

”Wounded!” panted Dallas.

”Yes--no! I can't tell! Look!” said the injured man huskily.

A few minutes' examination showed how narrow had been his escape, a bullet having struck the side of the poor fellow's head, just abrading the scalp. Half an inch lower must have meant death.

”Injuns,” said the Cornishman laconically.

”No, no,” cried Dallas, with a fierce look round; ”it must be our enemies.”

”Not they, my lad; they're fast asleep under the snow, you may take your oath. It's Injuns, by the way they hid themselves. Now, then, can you keep watch--sentry go?” he said, addressing Abel.

”Yes, it was only a graze from the bullet; I am better now.”

”Then you take a loaded rifle and keep watch while we go on knocking the raft together.”

”Yes,” cried Dallas, ”the sooner we get away from here the better.”

All set to work with feverish energy at the raft-making. Enough wood was cut, and by clever notching together, the use of spikes, and a further strengthening with rope, the framework rapidly progressed, their intention being to launch, load up, and set off that evening, so as to get to a safer spot.

Abel carefully kept his watch, scanning the dark edge of the forest; but there was no further interruption, and the men worked away, with only a brief pause for refreshment.

Then the sun dipped below the pines, and as darkness approached Dallas let his axe rest on the young pine he had been tr.i.m.m.i.n.g, and turned to his companions, with a look of despair in his eyes.

”Yes,” said the Cornishman good-humouredly, ”we cut out more stuff than we can finish to-night, my son. It's a bigger job than I thought. We shall have to knock off now. What's to be done about the fire?”

It was risky work, but the watch was well kept while water was boiled and bacon fried. Then a hasty meal was made, and as the darkness fell the fire was quenched by throwing over it a bucket or two of water.