To Win or to Die Part 45

"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 pa.s.sed 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 hoa.r.s.ely. "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 st.u.r.dy 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 pa.s.sing 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 repet.i.tion 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 hoa.r.s.e 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 a.s.sailant, 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."