Up to this point both Eliza and Natalie had hoped that the affair might not, after all, turn out to be very serious, but the presence of the grim-faced surgeon and the significant preparations he set about making boded otherwise.  Eliza undertook to reason with her brother, but her words refused to come.  As a matter of fact, deep down in her heart was a great rebellion at the fate which had made her a woman and thus debarred her from an active part in the struggle.  Natalie, on the other hand, was filled with dread, and she made a much more vigorous attempt to dissuade Dan from his purpose than did his sister.  But he refused to heed even her, and soon hurried away to finish his preparations.

After supper the camp settled itself to wait for darkness.  Night was slow in coming, and long before Appleton signified his readiness speculation was rife.  With the approach of twilight the torches along Gordon’s grade began to glow brightly.  Then Dan set his watch with “Happy Tom’s,” kissed Eliza, and made off across the tundra.  He left the S. R. & N. at right angles and continued in that direction for a mile or more before swinging about in a wide circle which brought him well to the rear of Gordon’s encampment.  The gloom now covered his movements, and by taking advantage of an alder thicket he managed to approach very closely to the enemy’s position.  But the footing was treacherous, the darkness betrayed him into many a fall, and he was wet, muddy, and perspiring when he finally paused not more than two hundred feet from the scene of the proposed crossing.

XV

THE BATTLE OF GORDON’S CROSSING

Curtis Gordon was not in charge of his field forces, having left the command to his favorite jackal, Denny.  Beneath his apparent contempt for the law there lurked a certain caution.  He knew his rival’s necessity, he appreciated his cunning, but, wishing to guard against the possibility of a personal humiliation, he retired to Kyak, where he was prepared to admit or to deny as much responsibility as suited him.  Denny had not forgotten O’Neil’s exposure of his dishonesty, and his zeal could be relied upon.  He personally knew all the men under him, he had coached them carefully, and he assured Gordon of his ability to hold his ground.

Dan Appleton, from his covert, measured the preparations for resistance with some uneasiness, reflecting that if Denny had the nerve to use firearms he would undoubtedly rout O’Neil’s men, who had not been permitted to carry guns.  By the bright torchlight he could see figures coming and going along the grade like sentinels, and from within the barricades of ties he heard others talking.  The camp itself, which lay farther to the left, was lighted, and black silhouettes were painted against the canvas walls and roofs.  Some one was playing an accordion, and its wailing notes came to him intermittently.  He saw that steam was up in the boiler which operated the “go-devil,” although the contrivance itself was stationary.  It was upon this that he centered his attention, consulting his watch nervously.