To Win or to Die Part 38

CHAPTER THIRTY.

A STAGGERING BLOW.

"Is he dying?" said Abel, as he looked down with commiseration on the man who tried to take his life.

"As sure as the sun'll rise to-morrow morning somewhere if it don't here, my son. He's dying fast. Man can't live long going through what he's going through now. He's dying as horrible a death as a man can die. Hanging would be a blessing to it."

"Yes, he's weaker already," said Dallas, looking at the prostrate man.

"That's so, my son. I don't like his dying in my place; but we can't help it. Let's get together what we want to take, and go."

"But there is nothing to load the sledge with," said Dallas.

"There's a nice lot of cartridges--pistol and rifle--in a tin in yon corner. We'll take those and--Well, I'm blessed! They've got them, too!"

"How tiresome!"

"But they haven't got my gold; I'll warrant that."

"Where is it buried?" asked Abel.

"Buried?" replied Tregelly, with a laugh. "'Tain't buried at all. It's just outside the door there--one of those big blocks of ice; but we shall have to wipe it round with a pick-axe to make it a more decent size for the sledge."

"One of these blocks?"

"That's right, my son. If you make a hiding-place some one's sure to find it; but they'd never think of looking inside a block lying outside your door. You see, I picked a big hole in it, put in my stuff, then a big wedge of flannel, rammed some snow on the top, poured a drop of water over, and in half an hour it was a solid block."

"Well, let's get it and go, before those other scoundrels come back."

"You needn't fear them, my son. Scruff would let us know if they were near. I only wish they would come, so as we could have a fight. Taking my stores like that."

"But about this man?" said Abel.

"What about him, my son? We are doing all we can by letting him alone.

I know enough of that sort of thing to be able to say that nothing can be done for him. No doctor could do him any good, if there was one to be had. Let's get the gold and go back. Perhaps his mates will come back to him when we're gone."

"And if they do, what then?" said Dallas sharply.

"You mean, shall I lay wait for them and trap them, my son. No; I can't do that now. Be best for them, though, to keep quite out o' my way.

Now then, open the door just a little way, so that you can squeeze out and get hold of the dog, Mr Dallas. If he gets in we shall have a scene."

Dallas nodded, glanced at where the delirious man lay muttering to himself, and then slipped out, and was nearly thrown backward by the rush the dog made to get into the hut; but he held on to the animal's thick coat till his companions had had time to slip out and the door was closed, the dog growling his disappointment the while.

"Now," said Dallas merrily, "which is the block we ought to take?"

There was a heap of hardened snow on either side of the door--a heap composed of roughened blocks, and when the young men had declared their inability to say that one was more likely than another, Tregelly stooped down and rolled the very first one over and over.

"That's the one," he said; "but I may as well chip a hundredweight of ice off it. Wait while I get the pick from the side of the shaft, and you may as well keep a sharp look-out with c.o.c.ked pieces. They might try to rush us."

Dallas and Abel took the hint, and did better; they sheltered themselves behind the wood heap, ready for any attack that might come; while the dog, now pacified, walked here and there, snuffing about as if scenting danger.

Tregelly was back directly, and by dexterous usage of the pick-axe he soon reduced the heavy block to a more portable size, after which it was secured upon the sledge, and the return journey commenced.

A good look-out was kept, every man walking with his piece ready c.o.c.ked, for there were plenty of places to be pa.s.sed where they might well expect to meet with an ambush; but all went well, the ice-block forming but a light load, as the snow was hard beneath their feet.

To make matters easier, Abel kept up well, declaring again and again that he was not tired.

"Don't overdo it," Dallas said. "Even with you on the sledge it would be a light load for us two to draw."

"You will not draw me, even if it would be," replied Abel. "I feel stronger and brighter now than when I came out. It shows what a little energy will do."

It was fairly light as they came within sight of the hut they had left that morning, and a faint curl of smoke rising from the roof showed that the fire was still alight; and all seemed to be perfectly right, till they were close up, when Dallas caught sight of a piece of timber lying across the front of the door, and began to run.

"Take care, my lad!" cried Tregelly; "There may be danger."

Abel followed, but the dog out-speeded the little party, and rushing to the front, bounded in at the open door.

"Take care! take care!" cried Abel, as he saw that the door had been forced in their absence.

But he was too late, for his cousin had rushed up, rifle in hand, and sprung into the place.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

SCRUFF GIVES WARNING.

Abel was still weak and wanting in spirit from his long illnesses, but the courage displayed by his cousin roused him to action, and he followed the others into the hut.

But it was to face no enemies, only to find Scruff sniffing about-- Tregelly stamping with rage.

"What is it?" cried Abel. "Somebody been in, of course."

"Been in and carried off all they could lay hands on."

"Took advantage of our absence, Bel, and loaded themselves with stores."

"And all through not leaving the dog and risking the fire."

"Poor Scruff!" said Abel. "Perhaps it's as well, for they would probably have shot him."

"They might as well shoot us," cried Tregelly, "if this sort of thing is to go on."

"Yes," said Dallas. "Everybody round must be warned at once."

Fortunately, further examination showed that the visitors to the hut must have been hurried in their movements, and had been either unable to carry away, or had overlooked, a portion of the remaining stores, so that starvation did not quite stare them in the face; but it was absolutely necessary that a journey to the settlement should be made at once.

"My job this time," said Tregelly, as the matter was discussed by the fire, where, armed with an axe, he was busily chipping a way into the centre of the block of ice they had brought back. "Now, if those two mates of mine hadn't grown sick of it, and gone back before the winter come on, they'd just have been useful now."