Part 46 (2/2)
”All right, my son,” cried Tregelly, giving the line a jerk; but in vain, for the sledge was immovable, the runners being frozen to the surface of the snow. ”I say; think o' that.”
Dallas and Abel gave the sledge a wrench, set it at liberty, and it glided smoothly on, Tregelly insisting on dragging it all the way back to the hut, where they shut themselves in, and then prepared an early breakfast; but before it was ready there was a familiar thump on the rough door, and Scruff was admitted, apparently free from fresh injuries, for he gave all an intelligent look, and then seated himself by the fire to lick his wound, before curling up and going to sleep.
”I wish I could do that,” said Dallas.
”Do it without the curl,” said Tregelly, smiling. ”It's the best thing for a man who has had such a shake as you have.”
”No, no. The ruffian may come back.”
”He won't come yet, my son,” said Tregelly; ”but if he should think it best to give us another call, don't you be uneasy; we'll wake you up.”
A quarter of an hour later Dallas was fast asleep, and Abel looked up at Tregelly inquiringly.
”Is the sleep natural?” he whispered.
”Yes; why shouldn't it be?” was the reply.
”It seems so strange, after the excitement we have been through during the last twenty-four hours.”
”Done up, my son; regular exhausted, and wants rest.”
”But I could not sleep, knowing as I do that the enemy might attack us at any time. Think of the danger.”
”I wonder you ever went to sea, then, my son,” said Tregelly, good-humouredly. ”There's always danger of the s.h.i.+p sinking; and yet you went to your berth, I suppose, every night, and slept soundly enough, didn't you?”
”Of course.”
”And I'll be bound to say you go to sleep this morning before long.”
”Not I. Impossible,” said Abel, with a touch of contempt in his tone.
But Tregelly was the better judge of human nature, and before an hour had pa.s.sed away, weariness, the darkness, and the warmth of the fire had combined to conquer, and Abel sank sidewise on the rough packing-case which formed his easy chair, and slept soundly till the short daylight had pa.s.sed, and they were well on towards the evening of another day.
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.
THE RED GLOW.
Weary month after month pa.s.sed by, with the indefatigable adventurers leading the life of labourers working in a terrible climate to win just a bare existence from the soil.
”I would not care so much if we could feel safe,” said Dallas; ”but big as the country is, that scoundrel seems to be always on our track.”
”He do, he do, my son,” said Tregelly. ”He means paying us off.”
”Well, we are doing no more now than when we started, while others are making fortunes. Let's strike right up into the mountains, make a bold stroke for fortune, and give that scoundrel the slip.”
The start was made, the little party striking right away into one or other of the lonely valleys running northward; but it was always the same--the gold was no more plentiful, and again and again they had ample proof that their enemy, who seemed to have a charmed life, was still following them.
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