ntemptuously.

"What's that! You dare call me a coward!" and the infuriated man strode
over to Jerry's father with upraised rifle. But Mr. Baxter did not
flinch. Looking Callack straight in the face, he never moved away from
under the poised weapon. The man's bravery was too much for the coward.
Muttering something below his breath Callack moved away, calling to the
Indians to bring along the captives and the sleds.

"Are you going to let Johnson lie there and freeze to death?" asked Mr.
Baxter.

"Let him freeze! What do I care?" was the cruel answer.

"If you do I shall charge you with deliberate murder when I reach a
settlement," threatened Mr. Baxter.

"Maybe you'll never reach one."

But the threat evidently had some effect, for, at a muttered word from
Callack, some of the Indians carried the unconscious colored man to one
of the tents of the enemy's camp.

It was quite light, for the Aurora Borealis was streaming across the
sky, giving a radiance like that of a full moon, only more beautiful.
The captives could see that they were in the hands of quite a large band
of Indians. More of the Alaskans had evidently arrived since the first
skirmish. Among them was Zank, on whose evil face was an ugly grin at
his success in betraying those who had trusted him.

"It would have been better if you'd given up the gold at first," said
Callack with a sneer. "Then I'd have let you go down to the river with
your sleds and dogs. Now I don't know what I'll do with you. But first
I'll get the gold."

"Will you?" thought Fred, as he recalled the cunning way in which they
had buried it.

Callack gave some more orders, and the Indians began taking the things
off the sleds of the captives. The dogs were removed and tied at a
distance from the other animals, so the different teams would not fight.

So eager was the rascally white man to get possession of the treasure
that he began to aid his allies in searching for the precious metal. The
robes, tools, provisions and supplies of Mr. Baxter and the boys were
rudely cast to one side in the hunt for the bags of yellow nuggets.

But the search was without avail. When at last the sleds had been
stripped bare and no gold was found, Callack started up in a rage.

"Where's that gold?" he cried. "You had it, I know you did!"

"Yes, we had it," admitted Mr. Baxter calmly. "One of your spies saw
it."

"Then where is it now? You've got to give it up! I see! You have it
concealed