“I’ll give yuh jus’ two minutes tuh bring out that poke,” the words came screaming at him. “Yuh got it. I know yuh got it. If yuh don’t want to make food fer the crows, yuh better trot it out.”
“Gentlemen—” began Creel, his voice deathly calm.
The little man’s right hand flashed out and for the second time Creel measured his length across the threshold. This time, however, he did not rise. In falling, his head had struck the sharp edge of the doorway, rendering him unconscious. Without even as much as a glance at him, the two men stepped over his prostrate body and disappeared into the room. For a space of nearly five minutes they remained inside, while Dick and Sandy sat in a sort of stupor and blankly regarded each other.
Then abruptly, Creel’s assailants re-appeared and from their expression and behavior, the boys realized instantly that the search had been successful. The big man guffawed loudly as he pushed Creel’s body to one side with his foot and stepped out into the pale light of that Arctic summer night.
“We got it,” gloated the little man. “That was a stroke o’ luck, pardner. The squaw was right. We got it!”
As he spoke, he drew from his pocket a small object and fondled it in his hands. Again the loud guffaw rang out, penetrating the silence. Chattering and exulting, the pair made their way through the lush grass that overran the clearing. Then, suddenly, they stopped. At the edge of the clearing there had sprung up a frail but defiant figure.
“Stop!” cried a voice. “Put ’em hands up or I shoot you quick.”
Creel’s assailants, looking straight at the muzzle of Toma’s revolver, had no other alternative. Their hands went high. Dick thought the pair looked very foolish standing there. And he could hear very plainly their astonished, burning oaths. He and Sandy leaped to their feet and hurried to Toma’s assistance. They came up from behind and, with a nod to their chum, quickly disarmed the murderous pair. But though they searched everywhere, they could not find the poke. Dick paused in consternation.
“Big fellow got it in his hand,” said Toma.
“Give it to me,” Dick turned upon the outlaw.