"Other dogs—no much good," went on Holfax, speaking slowly to make his imperfect English understood.
"Then we have a chance to escape them. But I am also going to try to get help. Holfax, do you think you could get some friendly natives to aid us? Can't you call on some friends of yours who will come and help us fight these scoundrels, who want to steal the gold?"
"Holfax's friends much ways off."
"I suppose so, but you can travel fast on snowshoes, and tell them to come back with you. We will pay them well."
"Some gold, yes. I'll give you and your friends a thousand dollars in gold if they succeed in protecting us."
"Gold buy plenty guns," observed the Alaskan, seeming to consider the matter.
"Will you go?"
"Me go," said the guide quickly. "Good far ways, but Holfax go quick. Tell friends come help white man, two boy-white mans an' black man like smoke," the last description referring to Johnson, whose ebony skin was a source of considerable wonder to the Indian.
"That's right," said Mr. Baxter. "Now you had better hurry, Holfax. There's no telling when those thieving Alaskans will be close after us."