"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.