was darkness,
while added to the still continuing cries, yells, and appeals to keep
back the dog, there came from the other direction the crunching of heavy
boots in full retreat on the snow, the savage barking of the dog, and
then flash after flash, followed by reports, as the late occupants of
the hut evidently turned to fire at the pursuing dog.

The first idea of the trio was to rush after the men who had come in
contact with them, but second thoughts suggested the impossibility of
overtaking them in the darkness, while the appealing cries from within
the cottage drew them in the other direction.

"Leave them to the dog," shouted Dallas excitedly.

"Yes, come on and see who's this one inside," growled Tregelly, as he
thrust open the door and stepped into his hut.

The place was well illumined by the blazing wood fire, and they looked
round in wonder for the assailant or dog which had elicited the hoarse
wild appeals for help and protection which rose from the solitary
occupant of the place--a wild, bloodshot-eyed, athletic man in torn and
ragged half-open shirt and trousers, who cowered on the rough bed trying
to force himself closer into the corner, his crooked fingers scratching
at the wall, while all the time his head was wrenched round so that he
stared wildly at imaginary dangers, evidently vividly seen, and kept on
shrieking for help.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

ONE GETS HIS DESERTS.

The little party paused and glanced excitedly round, their weapons ready
to fire at the companions whom the man was addressing.

"Keep him off, mate--drag him back, Beardy! Can't you see he's tearing
me to bits! Shoot! shoot! why don't you shoot? Never mind hitting me.
Shoot!--can't you see the dog's mad?"

There was a moment or two's pause, during which the man was silent,
panting and foaming at the mouth, as he glared wildly towards the door.
Then he began again.

"There, there--you've missed him!" he shrieked. "He's at me again.
He's mad--mad, I tell you! Shoot--shoot!--ah!"

The poor wretch darted out one hand, caught up something from between
the bed and the wall, and the firelight glistened upon the side of a
bottle, which he raised so violently to his lips that the neck
rattled against his teeth; and the lookers-on heard the deep
_glug_--_glug_--_glug_ of the liquid within, as the man drank with
avidity.

"Ah!" he yelled again, and, raising himself up, he threw the bottle with
all his might across the h