Chapter Two.
Fallen among thieves.
“Hullo, there!” cried a rough voice. “Why don’t you come on?” and the next minute a couple of figures seemed to start out of the darkness.
“I’m fagged out. Can you lend me a hand?”
“Lend you a hand? Yes,” said another voice. “Where’s your mate?”
“I’m alone.”
“Alone? No pal with you?”
“No, and my sledge has stuck fast. Will you help me as far as your fire?”
“Got a sled, hev you? All right, mate. Where’s the line? Lay hold, Leggy, while I give it a hyste. That’s your sort. Come on.” It seemed like a dream, and as if all the peril and horror had passed away, as the two men dragged the sledge along and the adventurer staggered on beside them, till they halted in the ruddy light of a great fire, lit at the foot of a stupendous wall of glistening ice-covered rock. The fire of pine-boughs crackled and flashed, and lit up the face of a third man, a big red-bearded fellow, who was kneeling down tending the embers and watching a camp kettle slung from three sticks, the contents of which were beginning to steam.