"There's always a slather of squaws and children around Aleukan. There are two white traders here, too--one representing the Hudson Bay Company and the other working for the French Company. And always a heap of dogs are in sight." "What do you suppose is the matter?" Jack queried. "Don't know," grunted the oil man. "Looks as though the squaws and young ones had been sent off with the sleds. Why, those fellows are all armed, too!" "I expect that the strange happenings have puzzled and frightened the aborigines," suggested Professor Henderson. "We had better go down into the town and try to allay their fears." The hunter and Roebach evidently had their doubts regarding the wisdom of this move. Yet they had come all this distance for the express purpose of going into Aleukan. They set out down the trail to enter the big village of cabins and skin huts. Suddenly the group of bucks in the principal street of the town turned and ran shouting toward the little party descending from the heights. Their actions were extremely warlike. Then up from a side gulch appeared twice as many other Indians, armed with spears and guns. Several shots were fired at the party approaching the town. "Lawsy-massy!" yelled Washington White. "Disher don't seem like de us'al 'Welcome to our City' warcry. Dem fellers don't want us nohow!" "Now we see just how popular we are with the natives of Alaska," said Jack. "What do you think of it, Mark?" "I think we're in bad," returned his chum, gripping his rifle nervously. "Quite remarkable! quite remarkable!" repeated Professor Henderson. "Back to that bunch o' rocks!" shouted Andy Sudds, who had taken in the strategic advantages of a position they had just passed, at a glance. All saw the wisdom of the old hunter's suggestion. They hurried to the group of boulders. They made a natural breastwork behind which a few determined men could hold at bay a horde of enemies--for a time, at least. "The Indians are coming right on," cried Mark, excitedly. "And I see some of my old workmen among them," declared Phineas Roebach. "That is what is the trouble. Those fellows have got it into their heads that we are somehow the cause of these misfortunes that have overtaken this part of the hemisphere." "You go out and parley with them, Mr. Roebach," suggested the professor. "You can't parley with them while their 'mad' is up," said the oil man. "They're charging. Give them a volley--and don't be afraid to shoot low. They will listen better to reason after they taste some of our lead." His final words were lost in the explosion of the guns. All but the professor fired. He had no weapon. Several Indians fell, wounded in the legs, for all had taken Roebach's advice and fired low.