“Just that you and your son and Professor Crowell are the only ones who have any real value to us. The rest will remain here.”
Dr. Steele was shocked. “You can’t intend to leave them tied up in this mine? They’ll starve to death or die of exposure.”
Strak shrugged. “That’s a risk we will have to take. Perhaps in time they may be able to get loose. Perhaps they will make it back to civilization. Who can tell? The Indian seems to be a resourceful woodsman.” He walked over and stood in front of Tagish Charley. “Tell me, Doctor, he is alive, isn’t he?”
Tagish Charley’s face betrayed no trace of emotion. He had not spoken a word since the boys’ arrival. All the while he had sat stiffly on the bench, hands behind him, eyes staring fixedly at the rock wall in front of him—as detached as any cigar-store Indian could be, or so it seemed to Sandy.
In sudden irritation Strak bent close to Charley, flashing his electric torch into his face. “You insolent Indian dog! You can speak, can’t you?”
Then, for the first time, Charley showed some sign of life. Slowly he lifted his eyes to Strak’s face and said solemnly, “Charley too busy to talk—until now!” As he shouted the last word, his two powerful arms whipped free from behind him and wrapped around his tormentor.
Strak tried desperately to bring up his rifle, but he was helpless in Charley’s grizzly-bear hug. The air whistled out of his lungs like a wheezing bellows, and there was the distinct snap of a rib cracking. He moaned softly and fainted. Charley let him drop to the floor.
“Atta boy, Charley!” Jerry said exultantly.
They all winced as the Indian held up his hands in the light. His wrists were raw and bleeding from rubbing at the rope. “Big spike in bench where I sit. Slow work, but at end I saw rope through.” He bent over Strak and removed a hunting knife from the man’s belt. Quickly he cut through the ropes that bound his own ankles. Then he went along the bench freeing the others.
“Come on!” Dr. Steele said, grabbing up Strak’s rifle from the ground. “No time to lose. The others will be coming back soon.” He led the way out of the room and down the tunnel to the entrance.