Where the Trail Forks

The more I read the better I realize that the intensity of fiction is not somehow linked to its volume's size. Thus, even a small piece of work can exert a huge emotional influence upon reader.
“Where the Trail Forks” by Jack London is such a piece to me. This story is about the times of gold-rush. I believe, this very metaphor indicates the unhealthy atmosphere at that time, precisely the thoughts and what more important the actions of men who would go to Alaska for gold output.
The story is about four gold diggers who were about to leave their campsite and go back home, having successfully finished the working year. There was an Indian girl, called Sipsu, who used to come and sit near the camp-fire and talk to those four men with the pale faces. So, one night she came to them and told them calmly that a sacrifice would take place in their tribe the follwoing day. And for the need was great the witch doctor had chosen none other than Sipsu, the chief's daughter. One of the diggers, called Hitchcock, was revolted at the savagery and suggested that they all should go and fight for the girl with the Indians. But his tired mates chose to remain contemplative and do nothing. Then, at night, Hitchcock alone stole the girl from her wigwam and they were just about to leave unnoticed but one of the dogs they were riding started barking. The fight began but Hitchcock managed to save Sipsu and they started on a long journey to the nearest town. All the Indians became extremely brutalized and came to the diggers' camp and killed Hitchcock’s friends the following morning.
Was it the right thing Hitchcock had done? I believe it was, for he was a civilized man and the one who was able to save the indigenous girl. Even from her own ignorance.
What about his friends? Were they supposed to stop Hitchcock and let Sipsu die, or should they have probably endangered their lives for a reason not many people would have considered to be sensible enough to die for? There's no straight answer for me here, but it's obvious that Hitchcock and his fellows went their seprate ways after they had faced the necessity of making a choice.
And even though it hadn’t been mentioned whether Hitchcock and Sipsu had managed to reach any town I've got to know one thing for sure.When life brings you to making a decision it’s better to regret having done something than regret having done nothing.