Through his confusion of impressions, his intense preoccupation with present dangers and future contingencies, the thought of Natalie floated now and then vaguely but comfortingly.  He had seen her for a moment, before leaving—­barely long enough to explain the nature of his mission—­but her quick concern, her unvoiced anxiety, had been very pleasant, and he could not believe that it was altogether due to her interest in the fortunes of O’Neil.

Dan knew that Mellen’s crew was camped at the upper crossing, busied in drilling for the abutments and foundations of the bridge; but he reasoned that they would scarcely suspect the object of Gordon’s party and that, in any case, they were not organized or equipped to resist it.  Moreover, the strategic point was four miles above the bridge site, and the surveying corps would hardly precipitate a clash, particularly since there was ample room for them to select a crossing-place alongside.

It was after midnight of the second day when he and his weary boatmen stumbled into sight of the camp.  Appleton halted his command and stole forward, approaching the place through the tangled alders which flanked it.  He had anticipated that the rival party would be up to this point by now, if not even farther advanced, and he was both angered and relieved to sight the tops of other tents pitched a few hundred yards beyond Mellen’s outfit.  So they were here!  He had arrived in time, after all!  A feeling of exultation conquered the deathly fatigue that slowed his limbs.  Although he still had to pass the invader’s camp and establish himself at the canon, the certainty that he had made good thus far was ample reward for his effort.

A dog broke into furious barking as he emerged from cover, and he had a moment’s anxiety lest it serve as warning to the enemy; but a few quick strides brought him to the tent of Mellen’s foreman.  Going in, he roused the man, who was sleeping soundly.

“Hello!” cried the foreman, jumping up and rubbing his eyes, “I thought Curtis Gordon had taken possession.”

“Hush!  Don’t wake them up,” Dan cautioned.

“Oh, there’s no danger of disturbing them with this infernal cannonading going on all the time.”  The night resounded to a rumbling crash as some huge mass of ice split off, perhaps two miles away.

“When did they arrive?”

“Night before last.  They’ve located right alongside of us.  Gee! we were surprised when they showed up.  They expect to break camp in the morning.”  He yawned widely.

“Hm-m!  They’re making tracks, aren’t they?  Were they friendly?”

“Oh, sure!  So were we.  There was nothing else to do, was there?  We had no orders.”

“I have two dozen men and four boatloads of dynamite with me.  I’m going to hold that mountainside.”

“Then you’re going to fight!” All vestige of drowsiness had fled from the man’s face.

“Not if we can help it.  Who is in charge of this crew?”