BURYING THE TREASURE
"Are you hurt?" cried Mr. Baxter anxiously.
"Jest a scratch on mah cheek," replied Johnson. "But it was so close,
sah, dat it done made me mad. I hit one o' dem rascals."
"That's what you did. I hope you didn't kill him, for I don't want any
bloodshed if we can avoid it. Still, they fired first."
The moment the Indian fell his companions were thrown into confusion.
They had not expected such vigorous resistance. Several of them threw
down their guns and rushed to their fallen comrade. A well-directed fire
at that moment would probably have scattered the enemy, but Mr. Baxter
did not want to shoot into the midst of the Indians, unarmed as most of
them now were.
Callack was in a rage. He stormed at his allies, and made them take up
their guns again. The Indian Johnson had hit was only wounded, and he
was carried to the rear. But the quick response of the colored man to
the attack of the Indians had a good effect. It frightened the
Alaskans, and, notwithstanding the demands of the rascally white man,
they would not again advance. They wanted to consider matters first, and
Callack was too big a coward to proceed alone.
Sullenly he retreated with his band of Indians to a small hollow about
half a mile from the Baxter camp.
"Don't think we're going to let you go," he called out angrily as he
went away. "We're going to have that gold."
Mr. Baxter did not reply. He watched the withdrawal of the Indians.
"Keep a close watch," he cautioned Johnson. "Tell us as soon as you see
any suspicious movement."
"Dat's what I will, an' I'll shoot, too."
"No, don't do that unless they attack us again. They may leave us alone
after this."
The position of the treasure finders was perilous enough. They were in a
desolate country, and, though they had plenty of provisions for the time
they had calculated on, they would not have enough if they were detained
by the enemy. Their only hope was that Callack's men would retreat.
"Well, they've given us a chance to get breakfast, at any rate,"
remarked Mr. Baxter. "Now you boys hustle around, make some tea, cook
some meat, and get things ready, while I bring the dogs closer in and
feed them. Then I'll lay out some more ammunition. If it comes to a
fight we'll have our hands full."
"Do you think they'll go away?" asked Fred.
"No; to be frank, I don't think they will. Callack is too greedy after
the gold. He knows we have it."
"Then what are we going to do? We can't fight such a big crowd."
"I don't know. Perhaps I can think up some plan. But now get busy with
the breakfast."
The meal was soon ready and eaten, Fred taking the place of the colored
man on the ice hill while Johnson ate. Mr. Baxter had brought the sleds
closer to the big hummock, had fastened the dogs more securely, and had
opened several packages of cartridges.
"Why can't we build some sort of a fort?" suggested Fred.
"A fort?" inquired Mr. Baxter.
"Yes; to protect ourselves."
"What could we make it of?"
"Blocks of ice."
"So we could. I wonder I didn't think of that. It's a good idea, Fred.
We'll do it. Get the picks and shovels. We can soon throw up a
breastwork that will be proof against their bullets, and, as we occupy
the highest ground, they can't fire down on us."
There was plenty of material for the fort, and before night there was a
good rampart of ice, built in a semicircle out from the big rock, and
taking in the tent and sleds, to which the dogs were kept fastened. They
were quiet now, Mr. Baxter having given them a good feeding of seal
blubber.
"What are your plans?" asked Fred after an early supper. "Do you think
they will attack us to-night?"
"I hope not, for I want to put into execution a scheme I have thought
of."
"What is it, dad?" asked Jerry.
"I think we will bury the treasure and make a dash to escape."
"Bury the treasure? Where?"
"Right here. We can cut a deep hole down under the ice and snow, put the
bags of gold in, cover them up, and then be in readiness to make a dash
through their lines."
"Suppose they pursue us?"
"That is probably what they will do. But I think we can escape, as our
dogs are much swifter than are theirs. Then we will proceed toward the
river, get help, and return for the gold. Or, better than that, Holfax
and his friends may come to our relief. They ought to be here soon."
"If he doesn't fail us," suggested Fred.
"I do not believe he will. Holfax is faithful."
Mr. Baxter's plan was soon put into operation. A great hole was dug in
the ice, the enemy being unable to observe the operation because of the
rampart. Then the gold, in bags, was put in, and the blocks of frozen
crystal placed back again. To better cover up the place, Mr. Baxter
melted some snow into water in a kettle over a fire and poured the water
over the filled-up hole. It froze almost instantly, and no one would
ever have suspected that beneath that ice there was a fortune in gold.
"When are you going to try to escape?" asked Fred.
"To-night, about midnight. I think they will be sleeping soundly then,
and if the dogs keep quiet we can slip through their lines."
"Can't we muzzle the dogs?"
"I'm afraid not. They would probably be so frightened that they would
make more fuss than ever. We can only trust to luck."
Meanwhile Johnson or one of the adventurers kept a close watch from the
hummock. Though only occasional glimpses of the Indians could be seen,
the number of fires that were built showed that the enemy was in a
circle about the place.
"They have us fairly hemmed in," said Fred. "They evidently mean to get
that gold."
"I should think you'd be afraid to leave it buried here, dad, and go
off," said Jerry. "Won't they dig and find it?"
"I depend on our chance of fooling them," replied his father. "I don't
believe they will suspect we would go off and leave the treasure. They
will think we have it with us and will give chase."
"Then our only chance depends on keeping out of their clutches?"
"That's it."
Preparations for the escape were quietly made, so that if by chance any
spying Indian looked into the little camp he would not understand what
was going on. The sleds were securely loaded, rifles and ammunition
placed where they could be quickly reached, and the tent struck shortly
before midnight. The Northern Lights were not as brilliant as usual, for
which they were thankful, as it favored their chances of not being
discovered.
At last all was in readiness. For a wonder the dogs were quiet, and
allowed themselves to be harnessed with little or no fuss. With a final
look around the fort, which held the treasure they had braved so much
for, the small party set out, each one taking his place on a sled.
Mr. Baxter called softly to the leading dogs, and swung the long whip
over their furry backs. The animals straightened out, and set off at a
rapid run. Mr. Baxter guided them toward the left, which seemed the more
open place in the circle the enemy had drawn around the camp.
They had made a good start, but could they get far enough through the
line of the Indians to make good their escape? That was the question in
the hearts of the four.