a man. More like a wild beast--sort o' tiger."

"It's insulting a wild beast to say so, Bob," cried Dallas warmly. "A
wild beast kills for the sake of food. What's the matter?"

"Pipe," said Tregelly, rising slowly and reaching out for the lantern.
"I told you I dropped it out yonder, and it's somewhere by the sledge."

"Leave that till daylight, and we'll go with you."

"Won't be any daylight for hours and hours to come," said Tregelly,
putting out the light and feeling for his matches. "I can't wait all
that time for a pipe. 'Sides, the sledge ought to be brought in."

"You mean to go now," said Dallas.

"Oh, yes, my son, I mean to go now. 'Tarn't so very far."

"All right; we'll go with him, Bel. There's no fear of the other
scoundrel being about."

"I don't know, my sons," said Tregelly gravely. "He can't be very far
away, and he's got his knife into us very deep now. P'r'aps it would be
as well if you stopped here and got the breakfast ready."

"If we did," replied Dallas, "we should feel that you would never come
back to eat it. Eh, Bel?"

"Yes; I'm going. We must leave Scruff to keep house for us this time."

But the dog did not seem to see matters in the same light. One minute
he was giving a finishing lick to his wound; the next he had shot out
through the open door, barking excitedly, and looking ready to scent out
and run down the last of the savage gang.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH.

Aided by Scruff, a fairly correct line was made for the forsaken sledge,
the dog seeming to know exactly what was wanted, and preventing them
from over-running the spot where it had been left.

This was the only thing they dreaded, for the track was--through not
being beaten--almost obliterated again and again by falls of snow; but
it was tolerably familiar now, the winding creek and the edge of the
scrubby forest forming pretty good guides.

It was still very dark when they reached the place, Scruff uttering a
low snuffling whine; but it was not easy to find a small object like a
briar wood pipe.

"Must have been somewhere here I dropped it," said Tregelly. "If it was
daylight I should see it directly on the white snow. Better light the
lantern, I suppose."

"It would be like inviting a shot from Redbeard if he is near."

"Think so, my son?" said Tregelly thoughtfully.

"He would be almost sure to make for his old lair."

"My old lair, you mean, my son."

"Well, yo