To Win or to Die Part 43

"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 c.o.c.ked, 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!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed 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 hoa.r.s.e 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."