ve you?" roared the judge
angrily.

"Well, you've let the big un go, judge, and caught me," said the
Cornishman merrily. "But I say, my son, who's the guilty party now?"

"Not much doubt about that. There, my lads, it's of no use to go after
them; they've done us this time, and got away; but I think we may keep
the ropes ready for them when they come again."

"Hear, hear!" was roared, and an ovation followed for the trio who had
been suspected, every man present seeming as if he could not make enough
of them, till they managed to slip away to their tent.

"I think a quiet pipe'll do me good after all that business," said
Tregelly. "We've done about enough for one day. Rum sort o' life, my
sons. I shall be glad to get steadily to work as soon as we know where
to begin."

The canvas was fastened down soon after, and the occupants of the rough
tent prepared for a good night's rest; but it was a long time in coming
to the cousins, whose nerves had been too much jarred for them to follow
the example of their three companions. And they lay listening to the
many sounds about, principal among which was the barking and fighting of
the sledge-dogs; but at last they dropped into a troubled slumber, one
in which it seemed to Dallas that he was lying upon his hard waterproof
sheet in a nightmare-like dream, watching his enemy, the red-bearded
man, who was crawling on hands and knees to the rough tent, with a knife
between his teeth, and trying to force his way under the end of one of
the sledges to get to him and pin him to the earth.

There he was, coming nearer and nearer, right into the tent place now,
while his hot breath fanned the dreamer's cheek, and his hands were
resting upon his chest as if feeling for a vital spot to strike. With a
tremendous effort, Dallas sprang up and struck at him, when there was a
loud snarling yelp, and Abel cried in alarm, "What is it, Dal?"

"Dog," said Tregelly, "smelling after grub. The poor brutes seem half
starved. Hasn't taken a bit out of either of you, has he? Good-night,
my sons; I was dreaming I'd hit upon heaps of gold."

Dallas sank back with a sigh of relief, and dropped off into a restful
sleep, which lasted till morning, when they were aroused by a terrific
sound of cracking as of rifles, mingled with a peculiar roar, and a
strange rushing sound.

"What is it?" cried Abel, who was one of the first to spring up; "an
earthquake?"

"Like enough, my son," said Trege