Scruff's fierce bay changed to a whining yelp of pleasure, while
Tregelly's hearty cry of "Ahoy!" came.
"Ahoy! Ahoy!" was sent out joyfully in answer, and directly after the
big Cornishman came trotting up.
"Thank God, my sons," he cried. "But what about that chap on the roof?
Did I bring him down with those two shots?"
"Was it you that fired?" cried the young men in a breath.
"Of course. Who did you think it was?"
"The enemy--we did not know--some of the others come to our help," was
the confused answer, given in a duet.
"Nay, it was me, my sons; he gave me such a chance--lighting up a whole
box of lucifers. I could see him splendid. Going to burn you out,
wasn't he?"
"No; to see if we were dead, and, if not, to fire again."
"I'm afraid the other beggar has got away."
"But you had some one with you?" said Dallas eagerly.
"Yes, I suppose so, but it is so plaguy dark. I was so long away that I
made up my mind--or something I can't explain made it up for me--to come
straight on and get to you early in the night; but that blessed sledge
got heavier and heavier, so that I had to stop and rest and have a pipe
now and then. Last time I was going to stop I was so near my shanty
that I thought I'd go round by it, and see how things were there. So I
did; left the sledge and crept up to it, to find a bit of fire
smouldering, showing some one lived there; but nobody was at home. No,
that isn't right, for when I got inside I struck a match, and somebody
was at home; but he didn't live there. Understand?"
"That scoundrel who was bitten by the dog?" cried Dallas excitedly.
"Was he there?" cried Abel.
"His mummy was," said Tregelly. "I dunno how they could do it--I
couldn't. I didn't want to live in such company as that. I stayed just
as long as the match burned, and then I came away as fast as I could.
Ugh! it wasn't nice. Those fellows can't be men."
"And then you came on?"
"Yes, my son. I came along at a horrible crawl, which was getting
slower and slower; for it's no use to deny it--us big chaps have so much
to carry on one pair of legs that we're downright lazy ones. There I
was, getting slower and slower, and smoking my pipe, and in a rare nasty
temper, cussing away at that old sledge for being so heavy, and that
sleepy that I kept dropping off fast as a top, and waking up again to
find myself going on like a bit o' machinery. `This won't do,' I says
to myself; and I roused up again, knowing that I couldn't have been
asleep long, because my pipe wasn't out; but all the same I dreamed a
lot, all about dragging a truck on a tram-line down in Botallack mine,
right away under the sea. Then I'm blessed if I wasn't asleep again,
fast as a top--chap told me once that didn't mean a spinning top, but a
_taupe_, which he said was French for dormouse. But that don't matter,
do it?"
"No, no," said Abel impatiently. "Go on."
"All right, my son. Where had I got to?"
"You were fast asleep again," said Dallas.
"So it was, my son; and then something woke me, and what do you think it
was?"
"You heard the firing?"
"Nay; I must have yawned or sneezed, for I'd dropped my pipe; and I
s'pose I'd slept longer that time, and it must have been out, for I
couldn't see a spark in the dark, and although I went down on my hands
and knees, and crawled in all directions with my nose close to the
ground, I couldn't smell it."
"What did you do then?" said Abel.
"Swore, my son, till I was ashamed of myself, and very thankful I was
that you gents couldn't hear me. `They'd drop your acquaintance, my
son,' I said to myself, `if they heard you.' Then I got up again, and
was feeling for the trace, to start off again, thinking a deal of my
poor old pipe, when `Hullo!' I says to myself, `firing!' There it was,
plain enough, two shots together, and after a bit two more.
"That was enough for me, so I slips my rifle out from where it was tied
on to the sledge. Next minute, as two more shots were fired, I came,
leaving the sledge to take care of itself--coming on as fast as I could,
feeling sure that the enemy was at you chaps, but wondering why the
firing should be so one-sided. Couldn't make it out a bit."
"But it went on, and I was wide awake enough now, and hadn't come much
farther when I was brought up short by the clicking of guns being
cocked, and some one says in a low voice, `Stand,' he says, `or we'll
blow you out of your skin.' `Two can play at that,' I says: `who are
you?' `Norton, and six more,' says the voice; `who are you?' `Bob
Tregelly o' Trevallack, Cornwall, mates,' I says. `Good man and true,'
says another voice. `Look here, mate, there's firing going on up at
your place; we've heard it ever so long, and couldn't quite make out
where it was, but it's there for certain.' `Yes,' I says, `come on; but
let's spread out and take or make an end of those who are firing.'"
"Hah!" ejaculated Abel. "Go on."
"They did just as I told 'em, and spread out, while I crept nigher and
nigher, reglarly puzzled, for the firing had stopped. Last of all I saw
that chap's face as he lit up a whole box of matches. That was enough
for me. I knew him again."
"Was it Redbeard?" said Dallas excitedly.
"No, my son; I'm sorry to say it wasn't the moose with the finest pair
of horns; but I had to take what I could get, and I fired. But I've
left the sledge out yonder to take care of itself. I hope none o' them
ruffians o' street-boys'll find it and get helping themselves."
"Then Redbeard has got away again," said Abel.
"Don't know yet, my son, till the others come back. They may have had
better luck than I did."
At that moment Scruff burst out in a deep-toned bark from the back of
the hut.
"Look out," said Tregelly sharply, as they halted, having reached the
front. "We may get a shot if he's only wounded."
"Spread out, and let's take both sides together."
They separated in the darkness, and advanced with finger on trigger,
ready to fire. "Stand!"
"Stand!"
"Oh, it's you!"
"Oh, it's you!"
"Yes, my son; it's me. Where's the game I shot?"
"We have not seen him," said Dallas. "He must have crawled away."
"Wounded beasts are dangerous," said Tregelly, "so look out."
"But where's the dog?" said Abel, in a hoarse whisper. "Hi! Scruff!
Scruff!"
A sharp bark came from close at hand in the darkness.
"Look here," whispered the big Cornishman; "you two get your pieces to
your shoulders and be ready. I'm going to chance it and light a match.
Ready?"
"Yes."
"Then come on!"
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.
THE HELP THAT CAME LATE.
There was a momentary pause, and then--
_Scratch_ went the match, and the tiny flame feebly lit up the place, to
show them the great dog sitting at the edge of the shaft, looking down.
Then the light went out.
"All right, my sons," said Tregelly coolly. "Let's go in and get the
lantern. The beggar has rolled about, and dropped down the pit. Sorry
we can't cover him up. But we can't, on account of the gold."
Just then there came a hail, and another, and another, while when the
lantern was lit and held up it served as a beacon to bring six men up to
the hut door.
"Got the other one?" cried Tregelly.
"No; he got away in the darkness," said Norton. "But what about the one
you shot at?"
"He's yonder," said Tregelly. "Rolled down into the shaft."
So it proved, for by the light of the lantern the body of one of the
marauders was hauled up.
"Stone dead," said Tregelly.
"Well, it has saved him from being hanged."
"And others from having to do it," said another.
"But no one will be safe till his mate's in the same state," said
Tregelly.
"And he soon will be," said another. "Glad we all came in time to help
you two."
"We are most grateful, gentlemen," said Dallas. "Leave the unhappy
wretch where he is. Come inside, and rest and refresh."
It was about an hour later, when their fellow gold-seekers who had come
to their help had gone, promising to return next day and help over the
interment of the dead man, that Dallas turned to Tregelly, who was
seated with his big arms resting upon his knees, gazing down into the
cheery fire that had been lit.
"Sleepy, Bob?"
"Nay, my son. Never felt so wide awake in my life. I'm thinking."
"What about?" asked Abel.
"About having killed a man," said the big fellow gravely.
"It was in self-defence," said Dallas.
"I dunno, my son. You see, I never give him a chance. Seems rather
cowardly."
"The wretch was trying to destroy our lives," cried Abel hotly.
"Eh?"
"Yes; he and his companion had been firing at us for long enough," said
Abel.
"Ah," cried Dallas, "and they did wound the dog. Here, old fellow,
let's look at you."
In effect, the dog was just then licking at one particular part of his
back, and examination proved that a bullet had ploughed off a little
strip of skin.
"Only make him sore for a bit," said Tregelly, after he had examined the
dog in turn. "Poor old chap! I wish I'd a bit o' pitch to touch it
over for you. But I hadn't thought of that, my sons."
"Thought of what?"
"'Bout him trying to kill you. That didn't make it quite so bad o' me,
did it?"
"Bad? It was stern justice, meted out to a murderer," said Dallas
firmly.
Tregelly looked at him for some moments thoughtfully. "Think so?" he
said.
"Of course!" cried Abel, "and so do I. You didn't want us to be killed,
did you?"
"Lor' a mussy me, my son! of course not. That's why I took aim at him."
"And saved our lives, Bob," cried Dallas, clapping him hard on the
shoulder.
"You think, then, that they'd have settled you if I hadn't come and
stopped their little game?"
"I feel sure of it," cried Dallas.
"Hah! Yes, of course. Thank ye, my sons. I was feeling a bit
uncomfortable, and beginning to think that I should be having the chap
coming to bed to me every night and telling me how I'd shot him in a
cowardly way; but I shan't now. That's done me a lot o' good. Hah! I
feel now as if I should like a pipe."
The big, amiable, honest face lit up, and was lightened by a smile as he
began searching his pockets for his tobacco-pouch and pipe.
"You see, I never killed a man before," he said. "But you can hardly
call a chap like that a man. More like a wild beast--sort o' tiger."
"It's insulting a wild beast to say so, Bob," cried Dallas warmly. "A
wild beast kills for the sake of food. What's the matter?"
"Pipe," said Tregelly, rising slowly and reaching out for the lantern.
"I told you I dropped it out yonder, and it's somewhere by the sledge."
"Leave that till daylight, and we'll go with you."
"Won't be any daylight for hours and hours to come," said Tregelly,
putting out the light and feeling for his matches. "I can't wait all
that time for a pipe. 'Sides, the sledge ought to be brought in."
"You mean to go now," said Dallas.
"Oh, yes, my son, I mean to go now. 'Tarn't so very far."
"All right; we'll go with him, Bel. There's no fear of the other
scoundrel being about."
"I don't know, my sons," said Tregelly gravely. "He can't be very far
away, and he's got his knife into us very deep now. P'r'aps it would be
as well if you stopped here and got the breakfast ready."
"If we did," replied Dallas, "we should feel that you would never come
back to eat it. Eh, Bel?"
"Yes; I'm going. We must leave Scruff to keep house for us this time."
But the dog did not seem to see matters in the same light. One minute
he was giving a finishing lick to his wound; the next he had shot out
through the open door, barking excitedly, and looking ready to scent out
and run down the last of the savage gang.
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.
BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH.
Aided by Scruff, a fairly correct line was made for the forsaken sledge,
the dog seeming to know exactly what was wanted, and preventing them
from over-running the spot where it had been left.
This was the only thing they dreaded, for the track was--through not
being beaten--almost obliterated again and again by falls of snow; but
it was tolerably familiar now, the winding creek and the edge of the
scrubby forest forming pretty good guides.
It was still very dark when they reached the place, Scruff uttering a
low snuffling whine; but it was not easy to find a small object like a
briar wood pipe.
"Must have been somewhere here I dropped it," said Tregelly. "If it was
daylight I should see it directly on the white snow. Better light the
lantern, I suppose."
"It would be like inviting a shot from Redbeard if he is near."
"Think so, my son?" said Tregelly thoughtfully.
"He would be almost sure to make for his old lair."
"My old lair, you mean, my son."
"Well, your old lair, then."
"Yes, it do seem likely," said the big fellow, rubbing his ear. "Giving
him such a chance to aim at us. Yes, it won't do; but I must find that
pipe. Look here, s'pose I go up to my hut and see if he's there."
"Do," said Dallas, "and we'll go with you and trap him if he is there."
"Hoomph!" grunted Tregelly. "I'm feared there won't be any trapping, my
sons. If he's there he won't be took without a hard fight. Hadn't you
two better let that be till the other fellows come back? Then we could
lay siege to him and finish him off for it must come to that."
"We are three to one," said Dallas quietly. "It seems cowardly to wait
for more."
"Dunno," said their companion. "He don't fight fair, or I'd tackle him
myself. You see, he aren't a man; he's a savage beast. Look here,
we've got the sledge; let's take it on. I'll go without my pipe."
"No; you shall not," said Dallas. "Let's go to the hut. He may not be
there. Perhaps fled far enough."
"I dunno, my son. He'd run when he was beat for his old shelter, and I
don't like making you two run bad risks just because I want a pipe o'
bacca."
"We do not look at it in that light, Bob," said Dallas firmly. "This
man is our mortal enemy, who seems determined to have our lives out of
revenge, and it is our duty to save those lives at his expense. After
what has passed I look upon him as a sort of human tiger whose claws
must be drawn. Let's take this opportunity of capturing the brute.
We'll go together and draw his fire; or perhaps we shall be able to see
and disable him without his being able to do us any mischief."
Tregelly shook his head solemnly.
"Chaps like that, with their lives in their hands, are all eyes, and
when they aren't all eyes they're all ears. I don't like this business,
my sons; but what you say's quite right, and I can't help feeling that
we've got a chance at him now, and the dark may help us; while if he's
gone back there and roused up the fire I can make sure of him. There,
it's got to be done, and if we leave it the job may be worse."
"Yes, perhaps much."
"That's so, my son. We shall have to go about with the knowledge that
that fellow's always close at hand, marking us down for a shot."
"Better seize this opportunity," said Abel hoarsely. "I feel as if we
may master him now."
"What do you say, Mr Dallas?" asked Tregelly.
"I say as my cousin does. Let's try."
"Good, then, we'll go; on'y mind this, my sons: we're going because it's
our dooty."
"Of course."
"Not because I want a pipe."
"No; you have already proved that you do not wish to be selfish," said
Dallas, "so come on."
"Nay, I'll lead, my sons," cried the big fellow. "It's my shanty, and I
know every step of the way. You'd go right up to the door, and he'd
have first chance of a shot. That won't do for me. We must get first
chance, and make him shoot at random, which means at nothing at all.
Now then, follow me. Don't fire unless you get a good chance."
"But what is your plan, Bob?" said Dallas eagerly.
"Get him to fire, my son, and then go at him before he has time to load
again."
The lantern was left with the sledge, and with every nerve now upon the
strain the two young men followed their sturdy companion, who gave them
but few words as to their proceedings.
"Don't be in a hurry to fire," he said, "but when you get your chance,
let him have it. Now, tread softly, and come on."
The distance was comparatively short, and Abel's heart beat fast and
loud, as, upon passing through a thick clump of pines, there in front of
them shone the light of a wood fire through the open door of Tregelly's
hut.
The owner stopped short and whispered.
"He's there," he said; "the fire has been made up."
"But he must have been and gone," said Dallas. "The door is wide open."
"His artfulness," said the Cornishman. "It's so as he can hear our
coming, and to throw dust in our eyes. He's there, or else outside
waiting for us, so look out."
They crept cautiously on, abreast now and hand on trigger, ready to fire
at a moment's notice, front, right, or left, from wherever the danger
appeared; but the icy snow crackled beneath their heavy boots, in spite
of every care, and when they were about thirty yards from the open door
they stopped short, feeling that the better way would be to step boldly
forward, for their approach must have been heard.
But still Tregelly hesitated, feeling, as he did, that the peril was
very great for them to advance into the light thrown from the open door,
when the result would probably be a repetition of his own shot a few
hours before.
"Open out," he whispered suddenly, "and keep away from the light. I'll
take the right side; you two take the left, and when I whistle we'll all
rush in together."
It was no time for disputation. Tregelly was leader, and Dallas and
Abel felt it to be their duty to obey. Striking off, then, to the left
into the shadow, which looked intensely black by contrast, they had one
glimpse of Tregelly's huge form, and then the broad band of ruddy light
from the door cut off everything, while well upon their guard they
approached nearer and nearer, feeling that Tregelly must be nearing the
building at about the same rate.
It was a task which, in spite of the extremely short distance, made
Dallas breathe hard, and feel as if he were going through some great
exertion, before he was so close that he could nearly touch the rough
trunks which formed the wall, the thick thatching of pine-boughs
stretching out like the roof of a verandah, so that the darkness seemed
more intense where they stood waiting for the signal which seemed as if
it would never come.
And as Dallas stood in the deep silence the popping and crackling of the
burning wood came out of the open doorway sharp and clear, while it
seemed to him that Abel's breath sounded as hoarse and loud as that of
one in a deep sleep.
At last! a clear, sharp, chirruping trill, and Abel and Tregelly darted
into the light as if urged forward by the same spring, while Dallas
stood for the moment petrified--unable to stir. For from the upright
logs close to which he stood a great hand seemed to dart out, holding
him fast, while simultaneously another hand struck him a tremendous blow
upon the shoulder.
He closed with his assailant, but the next moment he was hurled to the
ground.
As, half-stunned by his fall, Dallas struggled to his feet, there was a
heavy trampling heard as of one escaping in the darkness over the snowy
ground, and at the same moment Tregelly and Abel appeared at the door in
the full light of the fire.
"Where are you, lad?" shouted the former.
"Here, here!" panted Dallas.
"Hah!" cried Tregelly. "Fire, my lad, fire!"
Two more shots rang out in the direction of the retiring steps, with the
result that there was a sudden cessation of the sounds; but directly
after two more shots were fired out of the darkness, and a couple of
bullets whistled through the open doorway.
In an instant Tregelly and Abel sprang to right and left, and fired
again in the direction of the flashes they had seen.
"Missed him!" growled Tregelly, as the faint sound of retreating steps
was again heard. "He's too many for us. Don't fire, my lads. Waste of
powder and shot. How was it, Mr Dallas?"
There was no reply, Dallas standing close by breathing hard, with his
hand pressed upon his shoulder.
"Are you there, Dal?" cried Abel anxiously, for his cousin was invisible
in the darkness.
"Yes, yes, I'm here," said Dallas, in a strange tone of voice.
"What is it, my son?" cried Tregelly anxiously.
"I'm afraid I'm hurt," said Dallas, stooping to recover his rifle. "He
struck me on the shoulder with his right hand, and the place is numbed.
I can feel nothing there but a smarting pain; but it bleeds, and the
cloth is cut."
Tregelly caught him up in his arms as if he were a child, bore him into
the hut, threw him on the bed, and tore off his jacket so as to expose
the place to the light.
"Yes, he has knifed you, my son," said Tregelly hoarsely; "but it's a
mere scratch. He meant it, though, but reached over a bit too far."
"You are saying this to calm me," said Dallas excitedly. "He struck me
a tremendous blow."
"Yes, my son; but it must have been with his wrist. I'm not cheating
you. It's the simple truth. It isn't worth tying up."
"Thank God!" sighed Dallas. "I suppose I'm a bit of a coward, but the
horror of it made me feel sick as a dog."
"Such a crack as he must have given you would have made me feel sick, my
son. Did it knock you down?"
"No; I closed with him, but he tripped and threw me heavily."
"Well, that would make you feel sick, my son, without anything else.
Here, on with your jacket again, and let's get out into the darkness.
It's like asking the beggar to come and pot us, standing here."
They hurried out directly after, to stand listening; but all was still.
"Now then," said Tregelly, "we'd best get the sledge and make our way
home; but what do you think of my gentleman now? Oughtn't we to scrunch
him like one would a black beetle?"
"Yes," said Abel fiercely, "and the first time we can. But where's the
dog? Can that be he in the distance?"
A faint baying sound, followed by what sounded like revolver shots,
several in succession, was heard. Then once more all was still for a
few moments, when the firing began again.
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.
WHEN SLEEP IS MASTER.
"Hear that?" cried Abel excitedly. "The scoundrel! The ruffian! He's
firing at the dog."
"Yes, my son," said Tregelly quietly; "and I'm not surprised, for old
Scruff can be pretty nasty when he likes."
"But you don't stir. Are we going to stand here and listen to that poor
brute being murdered?"
"It would be about madness to go after him, my son," said Tregelly,
coolly; "and after all, he isn't likely to hit the dog in the dark."
A few minutes later they found the sledge, and as they were about to
start, Dallas kicked against something hard, which went spinning along
the ice-covered snow.
"What's that?" he said. "Why, Tregelly, it must be your pipe."
"Yes. It struck against me," cried Abel. "Here it is," he added in
triumph.
"Hooroar!" cried Tregelly. "Now, I call that fine, my sons. Why, if
old Scruff comes back and says he's killed Master Redbeard, this'll be
about as pleasant a time as I ever spent. But how's your arm, Master
Dallas?"
"Smarts, and feels wretched and numb, that's all. I can help pull the
sledge."
"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 ship 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.