The leader stopped in his snow-shoes.

Even before he had crumpled down into a lifeless heap in the snow a furious volley of shots spat forth from Mukoki's gun, and when Rod swung his own rifle to join again in the fray he found that only one of the four was standing, and he with his hands to his breast as he tottered about to fall.

But from some one of those who had fallen there had gone out a wild, terrible cry, and even as Rod and Makoki rushed out to free Wabigoon there came an answering yell from the direction of the Woonga camp.
Mukoki's knife was in his hand by the time he reached Wabi, and with one or two slashes he had released his hands.
"You hurt--bad ?" he asked.
"No--no!" replied Wabi.

"I knew you'd come, boys--dear old friends!" As he spoke he turned to the fallen leader and Rod saw him take possession of the rifle and revolver which he had lost in their fight with the Woongas weeks before.

Mukoki had already spied their precious pack of furs on one of the outlaw's backs, and he flung it over his own.
"You saw the camp ?" queried Wabi excitedly.
"Yes." "They will be upon us in a minute! Which way, Mukoki ?" "The chasm!" half shouted Rod.