ter had
thought he would, and concealed himself behind some blocks of ice.
Instead he stood bolt upright.

There was a cry of pain from the colored man. An instant later he raised
his rifle quickly and fired into the midst of the advancing Alaskans.
One Indian fell.

CHAPTER XX

BURYING THE TREASURE

"Are you hurt?" cried Mr. Baxter anxiously.

"Jest a scratch on mah cheek," replied Johnson. "But it was so close,
sah, dat it done made me mad. I hit one o' dem rascals."

"That's what you did. I hope you didn't kill him, for I don't want any
bloodshed if we can avoid it. Still, they fired first."

The moment the Indian fell his companions were thrown into confusion.
They had not expected such vigorous resistance. Several of them threw
down their guns and rushed to their fallen comrade. A well-directed fire
at that moment would probably have scattered the enemy, but Mr. Baxter
did not want to shoot into the midst of the Indians, unarmed as most of
them now were.

Callack was in a rage. He stormed at his allies, and made them take up
their guns again. The Indian Johnson had hit was only wounded, and he
was carried to the rear. But the quick response of the colored man to
the attack of the Indians had a good effect. It frightened the
Alaskans, and, notwithstanding the demands of the rascally white man,
they would not again advance. They wanted to consider matters first, and
Callack was too big a coward to proceed alone.

Sullenly he retreated with his band of Indians to a small hollow about
half a mile from the Baxter camp.

"Don't think we're going to let you go," he called out angrily as he
went away. "We're going to have that gold."

Mr. Baxter did not reply. He watched the withdrawal of the Indians.

"Keep a close watch," he cautioned Johnson. "Tell us as soon as you see
any suspicious movement."

"Dat's what I will, an' I'll shoot, too."

"No, don't do that unless they attack us again. They may leave us alone
after this."

The position of the treasure finders was perilous enough. They were in a
desolate country, and, though they had plenty of provisions for the time
they had calculated on, they would not have enough if they were detained
by the enemy. Their only hope was that Callack's men would retreat.

"Well, they've given us a chance to get breakfast, at any rate,"
remarked Mr. Baxter. "Now you boys hustle around, make some tea, cook
some meat, and get things ready, while I bring the dog