So eager was the rascally white man to get possession of the treasure that he began to aid his allies in searching for the precious metal. The robes, tools, provisions and supplies of Mr. Baxter and the boys were rudely cast to one side in the hunt for the bags of yellow nuggets.
But the search was without avail. When at last the sleds had been stripped bare and no gold was found, Callack started up in a rage.
"Where's that gold?" he cried. "You had it, I know you did!"
"Yes, we had it," admitted Mr. Baxter calmly. "One of your spies saw it."
"Then where is it now? You've got to give it up! I see! You have it concealed about you."
He strode over to Mr. Baxter and began to feel about his clothing. The impossibility of any one hiding a lot of bulky sacks about him without having them show did not occur to Callack until he had convinced himself that Mr. Baxter had no gold under his fur suit. Neither had the boys nor Johnson.
Callack was plainly puzzled. He had confidently expected to get the gold when he captured the fugitives. Now that it was neither among their baggage nor on their persons, he did not know what to do. But he was determined to have the bags of nuggets.
Approaching close to Mr. Baxter, and shaking his fist in the face of the bound man, he asked:
"Are you going to tell me where that treasure is?"
"No, I am not," was the bold reply.