. That's your sort. Come on." It seemed
like a dream, and as if all the peril and horror had passed away, as the
two men dragged the sledge along and the adventurer staggered on beside
them, till they halted in the ruddy light of a great fire, lit at the
foot of a stupendous wall of glistening ice-covered rock. The fire of
pine-boughs crackled and flashed, and lit up the face of a third man, a
big red-bearded fellow, who was kneeling down tending the embers and
watching a camp kettle slung from three sticks, the contents of which
were beginning to steam.

"Here we are, Beardy," said one of the rescue party. "Comp'ny gent on
his travels."

The kneeling man scowled at the speaker, and then put his hand behind
him as if from instinct, but dropped it as the other said:

"It's all right, Beardy. Number four's empty, isn't it? Because if it
aren't, you'll have to give up your room."

The big red-bearded man showed some prominent yellow teeth in a grin,
nodded, and pushed a blazing brand under the kettle.

"Sit down, youngster," said the first speaker. "Maybe you'll jyne us at
supper?"

"I shall be very glad."

"Right you are, and welcome! 'Aven't brought anything with you, I
suppose?"

"Yes, I have some cake and bacon."

"Well done, young un. Get it out," said the red-bearded man, and,
recovered somewhat by his warm reception, the young adventurer began to
unlash the load upon the sledge, the two men who had come to his aid
eagerly joining in, their eyes glistening as they examined the various
objects that were set free.

"Going yonder after the yaller stuff?" said the owner of the red beard,
as they squatted round the fire.

"Yes."

"And all alone, too?"

The traveller nodded, and held his half-numbed hands in the warm glow,
as he furtively glanced round at his companions, whose aspect was by no
means reassuring.

"Well," continued the last speaker, "I dunno what Yankee Leggat thinks,
and I dunno what Joey Bredge has got to say, but what I says is this.
You're a-going to do what's about as silly a thing as a young man can
do."

"Why?"

"Why?" said the man fiercely; "because you're going to try and do what
no chap can do all alone. You've got a good kit and some money, I
s'pose; but you don't think you're going to get to the gold stuff, do
you?"

"Of course I do."

The man showed his yellow teeth in an unpleasant grin, and winked at his
companions.

"And all alone, eh? 'Tain't to be do