f he would
attack them. But the fearless attitude of Mr. Baxter, and the calm
bearing of the boys, who took a lesson from their older companion, was
too much for the coward.

"All right!" he exclaimed. "We'll see how you'll talk after you've been
twenty-four hours without anything to eat. We'll see how you'll like it
to feel the cold making you stiff. You need not think I'll ask you again
where the gold is. I'll find it myself, and punish you at the same time.
You might better have thought twice, Simon Baxter, before you defied me.
You don't know me!"

"Yes, I do. I know you for a coward, and a man who would not stop at the
worst of crimes to accomplish his ends. But I'm not afraid of you. Help
is on the way to us, and before twenty-four hours have passed you may be
begging me for mercy."

Callack laughed. Evidently he placed no faith in what his prisoner said.

"Very well," he sneered. "From now on, unless you change your mind and
decide to tell me where the gold is, you shall have not a morsel to
eat."

He turned and walked away, while the captives went back into the tent.

"Do you think he'll really do as he threatened?" inquired Fred.

"I have no doubt but that he'll try it," replied Mr. Baxter.

"But can we stand it?" asked Jerry. "Wouldn't it be better to give him
part of the gold and have him let us go?"

"He'd never be content with part of the treasure," was his father's
answer. "He wants it all. But what do you say, Fred? You are an equal
partner in this enterprise. Do you want to give Callack all the gold?"

Fred thought matters over for a moment. He had endured much to get his
share of the treasure, and he was likely to endure more. To return
without the gold meant that conditions would be the same at home as they
had been. There would be pinching poverty, with his mother toiling over
her sewing, and his father trying to get such light tasks as suited his
strength. It meant that Mr. Stanley would get well very slowly, if at
all.

On the other hand, if he stood out boldly with Mr. Baxter, there was a
chance that Holfax and his men might come in time to save them. If he
could stand the terrible pangs of hunger and cold for a time, all might
yet be well. He made up his mind.

"We'll starve before we give up the secret of the gold," he said boldly.

"That's what I thought you'd say!" exclaimed Mr. Baxter. "I didn't think
you'd give in, Fred. Now let them do their worst! We'll show them how
brave b