Meanwhile, Bogle had rushed across the cave in quest of a weapon. The firelight showed him reaching for the bunch of rifles that rested on a stone slab on the opposite wall.

Sparwick arose, and in half-a-dozen leaps crossed the floor. Just in time Bogle got hold of a rifle. He was too excited by the thought of what was at stake to take careful aim. He hastily leveled the weapon, and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The ball whizzed by Sparwick's head, and flattened harmlessly on the wall above the boys.

There was no chance for a second shot. With a shrill cry Bogle swung the weapon around in a half-circle. Sparwick instantly broke through the other's guard. Then came a volley of crashing blows.

The cause of the fight was a mystery to the boys. They looked on with a certain show of indifference. The struggle could not well affect them or their fortunes, no matter how it terminated.

"Bogle has no chance at all," whispered Brick. "Sparwick is as strong as a giant."

"He knows how to wrestle, though," replied Hamp. "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if---- Hullo! there they go."

Yes; the men were down, and Bogle was actually on top. But his triumph was short lived. By a single twist Sparwick jammed his enemy against the floor. Then he pinned him helplessly by the throat with one hand, while with the other he brutally rained blow after blow on his face.

Brick and Hamp felt their blood boil with indignation. Had their arms been free, they would have gone to the unfortunate man's rescue--rascal though he was.

But Sparwick had no intention of doing murder. His spasm of rage spent itself, and he let his right arm drop.

"I won't kill you, you sneakin' cur," he hissed, "though if there was ever a traitor as desarved death it's you, Joe Bogle. I wish I had Raikes here ter give him some o' the same medicine. You didn't count on me bein' awake last night, but all ther same I was. I reckon I'll hev to go shares with Raikes, since he's still got the upper hand, so to speak.

But you won't touch a cent of that money--not a red."

Bogle turned his bleeding and battered face upward. "You've done enough, Sparwick," he whined. "Let up on me, and call it square. You needn't be afraid of any more treachery. We'll take the boys down to the meeting-place, and you will get your five thousand dollars."

"Not a bit of it," exclaimed Sparwick, with a harsh laugh. "I reckon I kin take the boys there alone. An' as fur the money--why, I'm goin' ter have a clean half, an' mebbe more. It all depends on what sort of a drop I kin git on Raikes. Lie still, now."

He thrust his hand into Bogle's pockets, one by one. The prostrate villain struggled hard to prevent the search. His vain pleadings changed to bitter curses.

Sparwick was impervious to both. He went calmly on with his task. He uttered a triumphant chuckle as he drew out the longed-for vial. He quickly uncorked it, and poured the contents generously on his bandanna handkerchief.

Bogle struggled and howled, all in vain. As the deadly cloth was pressed over his nose and mouth he became quiet. His limbs relaxed, and his eyes closed. He lay like a corpse.

With a grunt of satisfaction Sparwick rose to his feet and stretched himself. Then he walked over to the sleds, which were piled at one side of the bed.

"I was justified in that thar," he said, turning to the boys. "The mean cur hed it all fixed ter treat me the same way. You needn't be afeared he's dead. It's only chloroform."

Brick and Hamp watched Sparwick place the vial and the saturated handkerchief carefully on the floor at the foot of the bed. Then he took a knife from his pocket, and cut two pieces of rope from one of the sleds. This done, he negligently dropped the knife and returned to his victim.

He tightly bound Bogle's legs together. Then he set to work on his arms.

His back was turned toward the boys, who were sitting up watching him.

Suddenly Brick gave a start. He had discovered that the cords on his wrists were coming loose. He fumbled for an instant, and managed to pull one hand through. His arms were now free.

He held them up in front of Hamp, and at the same time made a warning gesture of silence. Then he leaned softly over, and reached the knife.

Two noiseless strokes, and Hamp's arms were free. Sparwick was still absorbed in his task. Brick now removed his shoes, and motioned to Hamp to do the same. He pointed to the handkerchief, and the vial.

"Are you with me?" he whispered in his companion's ear. "It's a great chance. We can sneak up from behind. It will only take a few seconds.

We can hold him that long."

Hamp nodded. Just then Sparwick rose to his feet.

"You lads better go to sleep," he growled. "You've got a long tramp ahead of you ter-morrow."

Then he returned to Bogle, and knelt over him in his old position. He had him securely bound, and now he was going to put a gag in his mouth.

Brick instantly leaned over, and captured the vial and the handkerchief.

He resaturated the latter with what chloroform was left. Then he and Hamp exchanged meaning glances. They had a splendid chance, for Sparwick's back was turned toward them.

Then, in their stocking feet, they went swiftly and silently forward, side by side. Now they were right over their intended victim. Brick encircled Sparwick's head with both hands, and pressed the handkerchief against his nostrils.

Taken forcibly and unawares, Sparwick toppled over on his side. He struggled hard for a few seconds, then the stupefying drug did its work, and he lay still, with quivering limbs.

Brick flung the handkerchief across the cave.

"Will they come to life again?" he asked, huskily.

"Of course," replied Hamp. "Don't worry. Chloroform never kills. But we must pull out of here right away. We'll save that fifteen thousand, Brick, if we can only get back to civilization without being caught."

"We'll do our best," replied Brick. "I can imagine Raikes and my guardian waiting for us to-morrow night."

In great haste the boys put on their shoes, snowshoes and caps. Then they took one of the sleds and loaded it with as many of their traps as they could find. They were in such an excited and nervous frame of mind that they overlooked a most important matter. They failed to bind Sparwick. It never occurred to them that he might recover consciousness in a short time, and pursue them.

With a glance at the two ghastly forms lying in the firelight, the lads turned their backs on the Rock House, and scrambled down the hillside to the trough of the valley.

It was now about midnight, and they had not the slightest idea as to the points of the compa.s.s. Happily they discovered the faint trace of footprints--evidently made by Raikes. So they followed them in the reasonable belief that they would lead to the settlement of Wytopitlock. But half an hour later the trail seemed to melt away, and after a vain search for it the boys pushed on at random.

CHAPTER x.x.xV.

A PERILOUS RIDE.

When dawn came, Brick and Hamp were in a miserable plight. They were half frozen, and nearly famished. It was impossible to tell the points of the compa.s.s.

"Only so we don't wander back the way we came," said Hamp; "because Sparwick may have recovered his senses by this time."

"I know," replied Brick. "That's why it wouldn't be safe to shoot a bird or something for breakfast. I don't think we're anywhere near the Rock House, though."

"The only thing we can do is to push on," said Hamp. "We may get an outlook from that hill yonder."

The hill was a quarter of a mile distant, but when the boys reached it they found no guiding clew within sight.

"I more than half believe we've been traveling south all the time," said Brick.