146 THE FUR COUNTRY. the second door, behind which they waited. If Long did not return in a few minutes, they might conclude that his enterprise had succeeded, and that, safe in the shed, he was loading the first train with fuel. Ten minutes at the most ought to suffice for this opera- tion, if he had been able to get the door open. When the Sergeant was fairly off, Hobson and Mac-Nab walked together towards the end of the passage. Meanwhile Rae had been watching the bears and the loft. It was so dark that all hoped Long's movements would escape the notice of the hungry animals. Ten minutes elapsed, and the three watchers went back to the narrow space between the two doors, waiting for the signal to be given to drag in the sledge. Five minutes more. The cord remained motionless in their hands ! Their anxiety can be imagined. It was a quarter of an hour since the Sergeant had started, plenty of time for all he had to do, and he had given no signal. Hobson waited a few minutes longer, and then tightening his hold of the end of the rope, he made a sign to his companions to pull with him. If the load of wood were not quite ready, the Sergeant could easily stop it from being dragged away. The rope was pulled vigorously. A heavy object seemed to slide along the snow. In a few moments it reached the outer door. It was the body of the Sergeant, with the rope round his waist. Poor Long had never reached the shed. He had fallen fainting to the ground, and after twenty minutes' exposure to such a tempera- ture there was little hope that he would revive. A cry of grief and despair burst from the lips of Mac-Nab and Rae. They lifted their unhappy comrade from the ground, and carried him into the passage ; but as the Lieutenant was closing the outer door, something pushed violently against it, and a horrible growl was heard. " Help ! " cried Hobson. Mac- Nab and Rae rushed to their officer's assistance ; but Mrs Barnett had been beforehand with them, and was struggling with all her strength to help Hobson to close the door. In vain ; the mpnstrous brute, throwing the whole weight of its body against it, would force its way into the passage in another moment. Mrs Barnett, whose presence of mind did not forsake her now, seized one of the pistols in the Lieutenants belt, and waiting quietly
