shall we do?"

"We can only be on the lookout. We must stand guard to-night, and
to-morrow we will proceed as fast as we can to the south. Come, we will
eat now. Holfax has the fire ready."

The Indian had built a roaring blaze, and was preparing a meal, while
the hungry dogs, smelling it, tried in vain to break loose and reach the
food.

The travelers passed an uneasy night. They took turns standing guard, at
the mouth of the cave, and, though they saw no signs of any hostile
Indians, there was a nervous fear in every heart. Soon after breakfast
the next morning, having seen that the sleds were well loaded, with the
gold and the remainder of their supplies, they started for the south.

All that day they traveled, making fairly good time, as the slopes of
the hills were downward. The terrible cold did not let up, however, and
Johnson's hands were slightly frost-bitten when they camped that night.

Once more they stood guard, but this time it was under trying
circumstances. For they were now in the open, protected only by the
tent, and the time they had spent in the cave, where it was
comparatively warm, made them wish again for its shelter.

Shortly after midnight, when Fred, in accordance with the arrangements,
roused Mr. Baxter to take his turn at guard duty, there sounded, off to
the rear, long-drawn-out howls. At the sound the sled-dogs raised their
muzzles in the air, until they were pointing at the flickering and
shifting Northern Lights, and sent back an answer.

"Wolves!" exclaimed Mr. Baxter. "I hope we're not going to be surrounded
by a hungry pack of the brutes. We may need all our ammunition to fight
off human enemies."

"Do you think the Indians will attack us?"

"I hope not, but it is hard to say what the rascals will do, especially
if they have an unscrupulous white man to urge them on."

"That sounds as if there were a large number of wolves on our trail."

"It certainly does, Fred. I think I'll rouse Johnson and Holfax."

But there was no need to awaken the Indian. The disturbance among the
dogs, of which he had charge, had roused him from his slumber on the
snow under a pile of fur blankets. He called some commands to the
animals, and they slunk down.

"Wolves coming, Holfax?" asked Mr. Baxter. "Shall we get our guns
ready?"

"No wolves," replied the Indian.

"No wolves? Why I can hear them howl."

"No wolves," repeated the Indian. "Them dogs what howl. Listen. Can tell
different no