CALLACK'S CRUEL THREAT
"Well," remarked Callack as he eyed his captives, "you hid the gold
pretty far down, I guess. I haven't been able to find it."
He waited, seemingly for an answer, but Mr. Baxter did not reply, nor
did the boys say anything.
"Now," went on the rascally white man, "I'm going to make you tell me
where you've buried it, for I know you did bury it."
"Then why don't you find it?" asked Mr. Baxter.
"You were too sharp for me. I don't mind admitting that. You are ahead
of me--so far--but I've got several tricks to play yet. But first I want
to give you a fair chance."
"Then if you want to do that the best thing you can do is to give us
back our sleds, dogs and other possessions and let us go on our way."
"Hu! I'd be very foolish to do that, wouldn't I? As soon as you got
there you'd have mounted police after me, or you'd organize a vigilance
committee."
"That's what we would," admitted Mr. Baxter. "I'll pay you back for what
you have done, if it takes the last dollar I have in the world."
"Well, you'll not use any of the gold," replied Callack with a sneer,
"for I'm going to have that myself."
"You'll have to get it first."
"I intend to. That's why I called you out here. I have a proposition to
make to you."
"You can save your breath," said Mr. Baxter quickly. "I'll never consent
to compromise with you and give you part of the gold."
"And I'm not asking for a compromise. I want it all," cried Callack
quickly. "What I mean is this: You can tell me where the gold is buried
and help me find it, in which case I'll provide you with safe
transportation to the river."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then you will be starved to death!"
At this cruel threat even Mr. Baxter, hardened as he was by privation in
his early mining days, could not repress a start. For of all the deaths
that could be devised, that of starving in the Arctic region is probably
the worst. In that terribly cold climate much food is necessary to keep
up bodily warmth, and once the temperature of the blood gets too low,
the end comes by freezing. So, in reality, Callack was threatening to
freeze and starve his captives to death unless they revealed the hiding
place of the gold.
But after his first exhibition of emotion Mr. Baxter recovered his
composure. He did not believe Callack would dare do as he said he would.
"I thought I'd make you think twice," said the scoundrel, as he noted
the slight change that came over Mr. Baxter's face. "Now will you tell
me?"
"No!"
The word came as an exclamation.
"Then you'll starve."
"Will we?" asked Mr. Baxter. "You can't scare me, Callack. A man who is
cowardly enough to strike an unarmed person isn't brave enough to do as
you say you'll do. You'll be afraid to do it, for, though we're a good
way from civilization, the law will get you some day. I'm not afraid.
These boys are not afraid. You'll never get the gold if we have to tell
you where it is, and you can make the most of that. Now don't ask me
again, for if you do I'll not answer you. I don't like to talk to such a
scoundrel as you are."
These words of defiance stung Jacob Callack to fury. He raged up and
down in front of the captives, and at times it seemed as if he would
attack them. But the fearless attitude of Mr. Baxter, and the calm
bearing of the boys, who took a lesson from their older companion, was
too much for the coward.
"All right!" he exclaimed. "We'll see how you'll talk after you've been
twenty-four hours without anything to eat. We'll see how you'll like it
to feel the cold making you stiff. You need not think I'll ask you again
where the gold is. I'll find it myself, and punish you at the same time.
You might better have thought twice, Simon Baxter, before you defied me.
You don't know me!"
"Yes, I do. I know you for a coward, and a man who would not stop at the
worst of crimes to accomplish his ends. But I'm not afraid of you. Help
is on the way to us, and before twenty-four hours have passed you may be
begging me for mercy."
Callack laughed. Evidently he placed no faith in what his prisoner said.
"Very well," he sneered. "From now on, unless you change your mind and
decide to tell me where the gold is, you shall have not a morsel to
eat."
He turned and walked away, while the captives went back into the tent.
"Do you think he'll really do as he threatened?" inquired Fred.
"I have no doubt but that he'll try it," replied Mr. Baxter.
"But can we stand it?" asked Jerry. "Wouldn't it be better to give him
part of the gold and have him let us go?"
"He'd never be content with part of the treasure," was his father's
answer. "He wants it all. But what do you say, Fred? You are an equal
partner in this enterprise. Do you want to give Callack all the gold?"
Fred thought matters over for a moment. He had endured much to get his
share of the treasure, and he was likely to endure more. To return
without the gold meant that conditions would be the same at home as they
had been. There would be pinching poverty, with his mother toiling over
her sewing, and his father trying to get such light tasks as suited his
strength. It meant that Mr. Stanley would get well very slowly, if at
all.
On the other hand, if he stood out boldly with Mr. Baxter, there was a
chance that Holfax and his men might come in time to save them. If he
could stand the terrible pangs of hunger and cold for a time, all might
yet be well. He made up his mind.
"We'll starve before we give up the secret of the gold," he said boldly.
"That's what I thought you'd say!" exclaimed Mr. Baxter. "I didn't think
you'd give in, Fred. Now let them do their worst! We'll show them how
brave boys and a strong man can go without eating. I don't believe
he'll dare let us die. And Holfax may come at any time now. Yes, boys,
we'll defy that scoundrel!"
At that moment several Indians appeared at the flap of the tent.
"Come," said one who spoke a little English. "You go."
"I wonder what's up now?" said Fred. "Has he found the gold?"
There was no choice but to obey, and the captives went outside. It was
snowing furiously.