"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 dogs closer in and feed them. Then I'll lay out some more ammunition. If it comes to a fight we'll have our hands full."
"Do you think they'll go away?" asked Fred.
"No; to be frank, I don't think they will. Callack is too greedy after the gold. He knows we have it."
"Then what are we going to do? We can't fight such a big crowd."
"I don't know. Perhaps I can think up some plan. But now get busy with the breakfast."
The meal was soon ready and eaten, Fred taking the place of the colored man on the ice hill while Johnson ate. Mr. Baxter had brought the sleds closer to the big hummock, had fastened the dogs more securely, and had opened several packages of cartridges.
"Why can't we build some sort of a fort?" suggested Fred.
"A fort?" inquired Mr. Baxter.
"Yes; to protect ourselves."
"What could we make it of?"