Andshe，knowingthatthemomenthadcome，butunabletodivinewhatwaspassingwithinhim，feltallshehadgainedslippingaway。
"Dave！Dave！"shecried。"Iwillnotgiveyouup！Iwillnotgiveyouup！Ifyoudonotwishtocome，wewillstay。Iwillstaywithyou。Theworldislesstomethanareyou。IwillbeaNorthlandwifetoyou。Iwillcookyourfood，feedyourdogs，breaktrailforyou，liftapaddlewithyou。Icandoit。
Believeme，Iamstrong。"
Nordidhedoubtit，lookinguponherandholdingherofffromhim;buthisfacehadgrownsternandgray，andthewarmthhaddiedoutofhiseyes。
"IwillpayoffPierreandtheboatmen，andletthemgo。AndI
willstaywithyou，priestornopriest，ministerornominister;
gowithyou，now，anywhere！Dave！Dave！Listentome！YousayIdidyouwronginthepast——andIdid——letmemakeupforit，letmeatone。IfIdidnotrightlymeasurelovebefore，letmeshowthatIcannow。"
Shesanktothefloorandthrewherarmsabouthisknees，sobbing。
"AndyouDOcareforme。YouDOcareforme。Think！ThelongyearsIhavewaited，suffered！Youcanneverknow！"Hestoopedandraisedhertoherfeet。
"Listen，"hecommanded，openingthedoorandliftingherbodilyoutside。"Itcannotbe。Wearenotalonetobeconsidered。Youmustgo。Iwishyouasafejourney。YouwillfindittougherworkwhenyougetupbytheSixtyMile，butyouhavethebestboatmenintheworld，andwillgetthroughallright。Willyousaygood—by？"
Thoughshealreadyhadherselfinhand，shelookedathimhopelessly。"If——if——ifWinapieshould——"Shequaveredandstopped。
Buthegraspedtheunspokenthought，andanswered，"Yes。"Thenstruckwiththeenormityofit，"Itcannotbeconceived。Thereisnolikelihood。Itmustnotbeentertained。"
"Kissme，"shewhispered，herfacelighting。Thensheturnedandwentaway。
"Breakcamp，Pierre，"shesaidtotheboatman，whoalonehadremainedawakeagainstherreturn。"Wemustbegoing。"
Bythefirelighthissharpeyesscannedthewoeinherface，buthereceivedtheextraordinarycommandasthoughitwerethemostusualthingintheworld。"Oui，madame，"heassented。"Whichway？Dawson？"
"No，"sheanswered，lightlyenough;"up;out;Dyea。"
Whereathefelluponthesleepingvoyageurs，kickingthem，grunting，fromtheirblankets，andbucklingthemdowntothework，thewhilehisvoice，vibrantwithaction，shrillingthroughallthecamp。InatriceMrs。Sayther’stinytenthadbeenstruck，potsandpanswerebeinggatheredup，blanketsrolled，andthemenstaggeringundertheloadstotheboat。Here，onthebanks，Mrs。
Saytherwaitedtilltheluggagewasmadeship—shapeandhernestprepared。
"Welineuptodeheadofdeisland，"Pierreexplainedtoherwhilerunningoutthelongtowrope。"Denwetaktodasbackchannel，wheredewaternotqueek，andIt’inkwemakgoodtam。"
Ascufflingandpatteringoffeetinthelastyear’sdrygrasscaughthisquickear，andheturnedhishead。TheIndiangirl，circledbyabristlingringofwolfdogs，wascomingtowardthem。
Mrs。Saythernotedthatthegirl’sface，whichhadbeenapatheticthroughoutthesceneinthecabin，hadnowquickenedintoblazingandwrathfullife。
"Whatyoudomyman？"shedemandedabruptlyofMrs。Sayther。"Himlayonbunk，andhimlookbadallthetime。Isay，’Whatthematter，Dave？Yousick？’Buthimnosaynothing。Afterthathimsay，’GoodgirlWinapie，goway。Ibeallrightbimeby。’Whatyoudomyman，eh？Ithinkyoubadwoman。"
Mrs。Saytherlookedcuriouslyatthebarbarianwomanwhosharedthelifeofthisman，whileshedepartedaloneinthedarknessofnight。
"Ithinkyoubadwoman，"Winapierepeatedintheslow，methodicalwayofonewhogropesforstrangewordsinanalientongue。"I
thinkbetteryougoway，nocomenomore。Eh？Whatyouthink？I
haveoneman。IIndiangirl。You’Mericanwoman。Yougoodtosee。Youfindplentymen。Youreyesbluelikethesky。Yourskinsowhite，sosoft。"
Coollyshethrustoutabrownforefingerandpressedthesoftcheekoftheotherwoman。AndtotheeternalcreditofKarenSayther，sheneverflinched。Pierrehesitatedandhalfsteppedforward;butshemotionedhimaway，thoughherheartwelledtohimwithsecretgratitude。"It’sallright，Pierre，"shesaid。
"Pleasegoaway。"
Hesteppedbackrespectfullyoutofearshot，wherehestoodgrumblingtohimselfandmeasuringthedistanceinsprings。
"Umwhite，umsoft，likebaby。"Winapietouchedtheothercheekandwithdrewherhand。"Bimebymosquitocome。Skingetsoreinspot;umswell，oh，sobig;umhurt，oh，somuch。Plentymosquito;plentyspot。Ithinkbetteryougonowbeforemosquitocome。Thisway，"pointingdownthestream，"yougoSt。Michael’s;
thatway，"pointingup，"yougoDyea。BetteryougoDyea。Good—
by。"
AndthatwhichMrs。Saytherthendid，causedPierretomarvelgreatly。ForshethrewherarmsaroundtheIndiangirl，kissedher，andburstintotears。
"Begoodtohim，"shecried。"Begoodtohim。"
Thensheslippedhalfdownthefaceofthebank，calledback"Good—by，"anddroppedintotheboatamidships。Pierrefollowedherandcastoff。Heshovedthesteeringoarintoplaceandgavethesignal。LeGoireliftedanoldFrenchchanson;themen，likearowofghostsinthedimstarlight，benttheirbackstothetowline;thesteeringoarcuttheblackcurrentsharply，andtheboatsweptoutintothenight。
WHICHMAKEMENREMEMBER
FortuneLaPearlecrushedhiswaythroughthesnow，sobbing，straining，cursinghisluck，Alaska，Nome，thecards，andthemanwhohadfelthisknife。Thehotbloodwasfreezingonhishands，andthesceneyetbrightinhiseyes，——theman，clutchingthetableandsinkingslowlytothefloor;therollingcountersandthescattereddeck;theswiftshiverthroughouttheroom，andthepause;thegame—keepersnolongercalling，andtheclatterofthechipsdyingaway;thestartledfaces;theinfiniteinstantofsilence;andthenthegreatblood—roarandthetideofvengeancewhichlappedhisheelsandturnedthetownmadbehindhim。
"Allhell’sbrokeloose，"hesneered，turningasideinthedarknessandheadingforthebeach。Lightswereflashingfromopendoors，andtent，cabin，anddance—hallletsliptheirdenizensuponthechase。Theclamorofmenandhowlingofdogssmotehisearsandquickenedhisfeet。Heranonandon。Thesoundsgrewdim，andthepursuitdissipateditselfinvainrageandaimlessgroping。Butaflittingshadowclungtohim。Headthrustovershoulder，hecaughtglimpsesofit，nowtakingvagueshapeonanopenexpanseofsnow，howmergingintothedeepershadowsofsomedarkenedcabinorbeach—listedcraft。
FortuneLaPearlesworelikeawoman，weakly，withthehintoftearsthatcomesofexhaustion，andplungeddeeperintothemazeofheapedice，tents，andprospectholes。Hestumbledovertauthawsersandpilesofdunnage，trippedoncrazyguy—ropesandinsanelyplantedpegs，andfellagainandagainuponfrozendumpsandmoundsofhoardeddriftwood。Attimes，whenhedeemedhehaddrawnclear，hisheaddizzywiththepainfulpoundingofhisheartandthesuffocatingintakeofhisbreath，heslackeneddown;andevertheshadowleapedoutofthegloomandforcedhimoninheart—breakingflight。Aswiftintuitionlasheduponhim，leavinginitstrailthecoldchillofsuperstition。Thepersistenceoftheshadowheinvestedwithhisgambler’ssymbolism。Silent，inexorable，nottobeshakenoff，hetookitasthefatewhichwaitedatthelastturnwhenchipswerecashedinandgainsandlossescountedup。FortuneLaPearlebelievedinthoserare，illuminatingmoments，whentheintelligenceflungfromittimeandspace，torisenakedthrougheternityandreadthefactsoflifefromtheopenbookofchance。Thatthiswassuchamomenthehadnodoubt;andwhenheturnedinlandandspedacrossthesnow—
coveredtundrahewasnotstartledbecausetheshadowtookuponitgreaterdefinitenessanddrewincloser。Oppressedwithhisownimpotence，hehaltedinthemidstofthewhitewasteandwhirledabout。Hisrighthandslippedfromitsmitten，andarevolver，atlevel，glistenedinthepalelightofthestars。
"Don’tshoot。Ihaven’tagun。"
Theshadowhadassumedtangibleshape，andatthesoundofitshumanvoiceatrepidationaffectedFortuneLaPearle’sknees，andhisstomachwasstrickenwiththequalmsofsuddenrelief。
PerhapsthingsfelloutdifferentlybecauseUriBramhadnogunthatnightwhenhesatonthehardbenchesoftheElDoradoandsawmurderdone。TothatfactalsomightbeattributedthetripontheLongTrailwhichhetooksubsequentlywithamostunlikelycomrade。Butbeitasitmay，herepeatedasecondtime，"Don’tshoot。Can’tyouseeIhaven’tagun？"
"Thenwhattheflaminghelldidyoutakeaftermefor？"demandedthegambler，loweringhisrevolver。
UriBramshruggedhisshoulders。"Itdon’tmattermuch，anyhow。
Iwantyoutocomewithme。"
"Where？"
"Tomyshack，overontheedgeofthecamp。"
ButFortuneLaPearledrovetheheelofhismoccasinintothesnowandattestedbyhisvariousdeitiestothemadnessofUriBram。
"Whoareyou，"heperorated，"andwhatamI，thatIshouldputmyneckintotheropeatyourbidding？"
"IamUriBram，"theothersaidsimply，"andmyshackisoverthereontheedgeofcamp。Idon’tknowwhoyouare，butyou’vethrustthesoulfromalivingman’sbody，——there’sthebloodredonyoursleeve，——and，likeasecondCain，thehandofallmankindisagainstyou，andthereisnoplaceyoumaylayyourhead。Now，Ihaveashack——"
"Fortheloveofyourmother，holdyoursay，man，"interruptedFortuneLaPearle，"orI’llmakeyouasecondAbelforthejoyofit。Sohelpme，Iwill！Withathousandmentolaymebytheheels，lookinghighandlow，whatdoIwantwithyourshack？I
wanttogetoutofhere——away！away！away！Cursedswine！I’vehalfamindtogobackandrunamuck，andsettleforafewofthem，thepigs！Onegorgeous，gloriousfight，andendthewholedamnbusiness！It’saskingame，that’swhatlifeis，andI’msickofit！"
Hestopped，appalled，crushedbyhisgreatdesolation，andUriBramseizedthemoment。Hewasnotgiventospeech，thisman，andthatwhichfollowedwasthelongestinhislife，saveonelongafterwardinanotherplace。
"That’swhyItoldyouaboutmyshack。Icanstowyoutheresothey’llneverfindyou，andI’vegotgrubinplenty。Elsewiseyoucan’tgetaway。Nodogs，nonothing，theseaclosed，St。Michaelthenearestpost，runnerstocarrythenewsbeforeyou，thesameovertheportagetoAnvik——notachanceintheworldforyou！Nowwaitwithmetillitblowsover。They’llforgetallaboutyouinamonthorless，whatofstampedingtoYorkandwhatnot，andyoucanhitthetrailundertheirnosesandtheywon’tbother。I’vegotmyownideasofjustice。WhenIranafteryou，outoftheElDoradoandalongthebeach，itwasn’ttocatchyouorgiveyouup。
Myideasaremyown，andthat’snotoneofthem。"
Heceasedasthemurdererdrewaprayer—bookfromhispocket。
Withtheauroraborealisglimmeringyellowinthenortheast，headsbaredtothefrostandnakedhandsgraspingthesacredbook，FortuneLaPearlesworehimtothewordshehadspoken——anoathwhichUriBramneverintendedbreaking，andneverbroke。
Atthedooroftheshackthegamblerhesitatedforaninstant，marvellingatthestrangenessofthismanwhohadbefriendedhim，anddoubting。Butbythecandlelighthefoundthecabincomfortableandwithoutoccupants，andhewasquicklyrollingacigarettewhiletheothermanmadecoffee。Hismusclesrelaxedinthewarmthandhelaybackwithhalf—assumedindolence，intentlystudyingUri’sfacethroughthecurlingwispsofsmoke。Itwasapowerfulface，butitsstrengthwasofthatpeculiarsortwhichstandsgirtinandunrelated。Theseamsweredeep—graven，morelikescars，whilethesternfeatureswereinnowaysoftenedbyhintsofsympathyorhumor。Underprominentbushybrowstheeyesshonecoldandgray。Thecheekbones，highandforbidding，wereunderminedbydeephollows。Thechinandjawdisplayedasteadinessofpurposewhichthenarrowforeheadadvertisedassingle，and，ifneedsbe，pitiless。Everythingwasharsh，thenose，thelips，thevoice，thelinesaboutthemouth。Itwasthefaceofonewhocommunedmuchwithhimself，unusedtoseekingcounselfromtheworld;thefaceofonewhowrestledoftofnightswithangels，androsetofacethedaywithshutlipsthatnomanmightknow。Hewasnarrowbutdeep;andFortune，hisownhumanitybroadandshallow，couldmakenothingofhim。DidUrisingwhenmerryandsighwhensad，hecouldhaveunderstood;butasitwas，thecrypticfeatureswereundecipherable;hecouldnotmeasurethesoultheyconcealed。
"Lendahand，MisterMan，"Uriorderedwhenthecupshadbeenemptied。"We’vegottofixupforvisitors。"
Fortunepurredhisnamefortheother’sbenefit，andassistedunderstandingly。Thebunkwasbuiltagainstasideandendofthecabin。Itwasarudeaffair，thebottombeingcomposedofdrift—
woodlogsoverlaidwithmoss。Atthefoottheroughendsofthesetimbersprojectedinanunevenrow。FromthesidenextthewallUririppedbackthemossandremovedthreeofthelogs。Thejaggedendshesawedoffandreplacedsothattheprojectingrowremainedunbroken。Fortunecarriedinsacksofflourfromthecacheandpiledthemonthefloorbeneaththeaperture。OntheseUrilaidapairoflongsea—bags，andoverallspreadseveralthicknessesofmossandblankets。UponthisFortunecouldlie，withthesleepingfursstretchingoverhimfromonesideofthebunktotheother，andallmencouldlookuponitanddeclareitempty。
Intheweekswhichfollowed，severaldomiciliaryvisitswerepaid，notashackortentinNomeescaping，butFortunelayinhiscrannyundisturbed。Infact，littleattentionwasgiventoUriBram’scabin;foritwasthelastplaceunderthesuntoexpecttofindthemurdererofJohnRandolph。Exceptduringsuchinterruptions，Fortunelolledaboutthecabin，playinglonggamesofsolitaireandsmokingendlesscigarettes。Thoughhisvolatilenaturelovedgenialityandplayofwordsandlaughter，hequicklyaccommodatedhimselftoUri’staciturnity。Beyondtheactionsandplansofhispursuers，thestateofthetrails，andthepriceofdogs，theynevertalked;andthesethingswereonlydiscussedatrareintervalsandbriefly。ButFortunefelltoworkingoutasystem，andhourafterhour，anddayafterday，heshuffledanddealt，shuffledanddealt，notedthecombinationsofthecardsinlongcolumns，andshuffledanddealtagain。Towardtheendeventhisabsorptionfailedhim，and，headboweduponthetable，hevisionedthelivelyall—nighthousesofNome，wherethegamekeepersandlookoutsworkedinshiftsandtheclatteringrouletteballneverslept。Atsuchtimeshislonelinessandbankruptcystunnedhimtillhesatforhoursinthesameunblinking，unchangingposition。Atothertimes，hislong—pentbitternessfoundvoiceinpassionateoutbursts;forhehadrubbedtheworldthewrongwayanddidnotlikethefeelofit。
"Life’saskin—game，"hewasfondofrepeating，andonthisonenoteherangthechanges。"Ineverhadhalfachance，"hecomplained。"Iwasfakedinmybirthandflim—flammedwithmymother’smilk。Thedicewereloadedwhenshetossedthebox，andIwasborntoprovetheloss。Butthatwasnoreasonsheshouldblamemeforit，andlookonmeasacolddeck;butshedid——ay，shedid。Whydidn’tshegivemeashow？Whydidn’ttheworld？
WhydidIgobrokeinSeattle？WhydidItakethesteerage，andlivelikeahogtoNome？WhydidIgototheElDorado？IwasheadingforBigPete’sandonlywentformatches。Whydidn’tI
havematches？WhydidIwanttosmoke？Don’tyousee？Allworkedout，everybitofit，allpartsfittingsnug。BeforeIwasborn，likeasnot。I’llputthesackIneverhopetogetonit，beforeIwasborn。That’swhy！That’swhyJohnRandolphpassedthewordandhischecksinatthesametime。Damnhim！Itservedhimwellright！Whydidn’thekeephistonguebetweenhisteethandgivemeachance？HeknewIwasnexttobroke。Whydidn’tI
holdmyhand？Oh，why？Why？Why？"
AndFortuneLaPearlewouldrolluponthefloor，vainlyinterrogatingtheschemeofthings。AtsuchoutbreaksUrisaidnoword，gavenosign，savethathisgreyeyesseemedtoturndullandmuddy，asthoughfromlackofinterest。Therewasnothingincommonbetweenthesetwomen，andthisfactFortunegraspedsufficientlytowondersometimeswhyUrihadstoodbyhim。
Butthetimeofwaitingcametoanend。Evenacommunity’sbloodlustcannotstandbeforeitsgoldlust。ThemurderofJohnRandolphhadalreadypassedintotheannalsofthecamp，andthereitrested。Hadthemurdererappeared，themenofNomewouldcertainlyhavestoppedstampedinglongenoughtoseejusticedone，whereasthewhereaboutsofFortuneLaPearlewasnolongeraninsistentproblem。Therewasgoldinthecreekbedsandrubybeaches，andwhentheseaopened，themenwithhealthysackswouldsailawaytowherethegoodthingsoflifeweresoldabsurdlycheap。
So，onenight，FortunehelpedUriBramharnessthedogsandlashthesled，andthetwaintookthewintertrailsouthontheice。
Butitwasnotallsouth;fortheylefttheseaeastfromSt。
Michael’s，crossedthedivide，andstrucktheYukonatAnvik，manyhundredmilesfromitsmouth。Thenon，intothenortheast，pastKoyokuk，Tanana，andMinook，tilltheyroundedtheGreatCurveatFortYukon，crossedandrecrossedtheArcticCircle，andheadedsouththroughtheFlats。Itwasawearyjourney，andFortunewouldhavewonderedwhythemanwentwithhim，hadnotUritoldhimthatheownedclaimsandhadmenworkingatEagle。Eaglelayontheedgeoftheline;afewmilesfartheron，theBritishflagwavedoverthebarracksatFortCudahy。ThencameDawson，Pelly，theFiveFingers，WindyArm，CaribouCrossing，Linderman，theChilcootandDyea。
OnthemorningafterpassingEagle，theyroseearly。Thiswastheirlastcamp，andtheywerenowtopart。Fortune’sheartwaslight。Therewasapromiseofspringintheland，andthedaysweregrowinglonger。ThewaywaspassingintoCanadianterritory。
Libertywasathand，thesunwasreturning，andeachdaysawhimnearertotheGreatOutside。Theworldwasbig，andhecouldonceagainpainthisfutureinroyalred。HewhistledaboutthebreakfastandhummedsnatchesoflightsongwhileUriputthedogsinharnessandpackedup。Butwhenallwasready，Fortune’sfeetitchingtobeoff，Uripulledanunusedback—logtothefireandsatdown。
"EverhearoftheDeadHorseTrail？"
HeglancedupmeditativelyandFortuneshookhishead，inwardlychafingatthedelay。
"Sometimestherearemeetingsundercircumstanceswhichmakemenremember，"Uricontinued，speakinginalowvoiceandveryslowly，"andImetamanundersuchcircumstancesontheDeadHorseTrail。
FreightinganoutfitovertheWhitePassin’97brokemanyaman’sheart，fortherewasaworldofreasonwhentheygavethattrailitsname。Thehorsesdiedlikemosquitoesinthefirstfrost，andfromSkaguaytoBennetttheyrottedinheaps。TheydiedattheRocks，theywerepoisonedattheSummit，andtheystarvedattheLakes;theyfelloffthetrail，whattherewasofit，ortheywentthroughit;intherivertheydrownedundertheirloads，orweresmashedtopiecesagainsttheboulders;theysnappedtheirlegsinthecrevicesandbroketheirbacksfallingbackwardswiththeirpacks;inthesloughstheysankfromsightorsmotheredintheslime，andtheyweredisembowelledinthebogswherethecorduroylogsturnedendupinthemud;menshotthem，workedthemtodeath，andwhentheyweregone，wentbacktothebeachandboughtmore。Somedidnotbothertoshootthem，——strippingthesaddlesoffandtheshoesandleavingthemwheretheyfell。Theirheartsturnedtostone——thosewhichdidnotbreak——andtheybecamebeasts，themenonDeadHorseTrail。
"ItwasthereImetamanwiththeheartofaChristandthepatience。Andhewashonest。Whenherestedatmiddayhetookthepacksfromthehorsessothatthey，too，mightrest。Hepaid$50ahundred—weightfortheirfodder，andmore。Heusedhisownbedtoblankettheirbackswhentheyrubbedraw。Othermenletthesaddleseatholesthesizeofwater—buckets。Othermen，whentheshoesgaveout，letthemweartheirhoofsdowntothebleedingstumps。Hespenthislastdollarforhorseshoenails。Iknowthisbecausewesleptintheonebedandatefromtheonepot，andbecamebloodbrotherswheremenlosttheirgripofthingsanddiedblasphemingGod。Hewasnevertootiredtoeaseastraportightenacinch，andoftenthereweretearsinhiseyeswhenhelookedonallthatwasteofmisery。Atapassageintherocks，wherethebrutesuprearedhindleggedandstretchedtheirforelegsupwardlikecatstoclearthewall，thewaywaspiledwithcarcasseswheretheyhadtoppledback。Andherehestood，inthestenchofhell，withacheerywordandahandontherumpattherighttime，tillthestringpassedby。Andwhenoneboggedheblockedthetrailtillitwasclearagain;nordidthemanlivewhocrowdedhimatsuchtime。
"Attheendofthetrailamanwhohadkilledfiftyhorseswantedtobuy，butwelookedathimandatourown，——mountaincayusesfromeasternOregon。Fivethousandheoffered，andwewerebroke，butwerememberedthepoisongrassoftheSummitandthepassageintheRocks，andthemanwhowasmybrotherspokenoword，butdividedthecayusesintotwobunches，——hisintheoneandmineintheother，——andhelookedatmeandweunderstoodeachother。SohedroveminetotheonesideandIdrovehistotheother，andwetookwithusourriflesandshotthemtothelastone，whilethemanwhohadkilledfiftyhorsescursedustillhisthroatcracked。
Butthatman，withwhomIweldedblood—brothershipontheDeadHorseTrail——"
"Why，thatmanwasJohnRandolph，"Fortune，sneeringthewhile，completedtheclimaxforhim。
Urinodded，andsaid，"Iamgladyouunderstand。"
"Iamready，"Fortuneanswered，theoldwearybitternessstronginhisfaceagain。"Goahead，buthurry。"
UriBramrosetohisfeet。
"IhavehadfaithinGodallthedaysofmylife。IbelieveHelovesjustice。IbelieveHeislookingdownuponusnow，choosingbetweenus。IbelieveHewaitstoworkHiswillthroughmyownrightarm。Andsuchismybelief，thatwewilltakeequalchanceandletHimspeakHisownjudgment。"
Fortune’sheartleapedatthewords。HedidnotknowmuchconcerningUri’sGod，buthebelievedinChance，andChancehadbeencominghiswayeversincethenightherandownthebeachandacrossthesnow。"Butthereisonlyonegun，"heobjected。
"Wewillfireturnabout，"Urireplied，atthesametimethrowingoutthecylinderoftheotherman’sColtandexaminingit。
"Andthecardstodecide！Onehandofsevenup！"
Fortune’sbloodwaswarmingtothegame，andhedrewthedeckfromhispocketasUrinodded。SurelyChancewouldnotdeserthimnow！
Hethoughtofthereturningsunashecutfordeal，andhethrilledwhenhefoundthedealwashis。Heshuffledanddealt，andUricuthimtheJackofSpades。Theylaiddowntheirhands。
Uri’swasbareoftrumps，whileheheldace，deuce。Theoutsideseemedveryneartohimastheysteppedoffthefiftypaces。
"IfGodwithholdsHishandandyoudropme，thedogsandoutfitareyours。You’llfindabillofsale，alreadymadeout，inmypocket，"Uriexplained，facingthepathofthebullet，straightandbroad—breasted。
Fortuneshookavisionofthesunshiningontheoceanfromhiseyesandtookaim。Hewasverycareful。Twiceheloweredasthespringbreezeshookthepines。Butthethirdtimehedroppedononeknee，grippedtherevolversteadilyinbothhands，andfired。
Uriwhirledhalfabout，threwuphisarms，swayedwildlyforamoment，andsankintothesnow。ButFortuneknewhehadfiredtoofartooneside，elsethemanwouldnothavewhirled。
WhenUri，masteringthefleshandstrugglingtohisfeet，beckonedfortheweapon，Fortunewasmindedtofireagain。Buthethrusttheideafromhim。Chancehadbeenverygoodtohimalready，hefelt，andifhetrickednowhewouldhavetopayforitafterward。
No，hewouldplayfair。BesidesUriwashardhitandcouldnotpossiblyholdtheheavyColtlongenoughtodrawabead。
"AndwhereisyourGodnow？"hetaunted，ashegavethewoundedmantherevolver。
AndUrianswered："Godhasnotyetspoken。PreparethatHemayspeak。"
Fortunefacedhim，buttwistedhischestsidewaysinordertopresentlesssurface。Uritotteredaboutdrunkenly，butwaited，too，forthemoment’scalmbetweenthecatspaws。Therevolverwasveryheavy，andhedoubted，likeFortune，becauseofitsweight。
Butheheldit，armextended，abovehishead，andthenletitslowlydropforwardanddown。AttheinstantFortune’sleftbreastandthesightflashedintolinewithhiseye，hepulledthetrigger。Fortunedidnotwhirl，butgaySanFranciscodimmedandfaded，andasthesun—brightsnowturnedblackandblacker，hebreathedhislastmaledictionontheChancehehadmisplayed。
SIWASH
"IfIwasaman——"Herwordswereinthemselvesindecisive，butthewitheringcontemptwhichflashedfromherblackeyeswasnotlostuponthemen—folkinthetent。
Tommy，theEnglishsailor，squirmed，butchivalrousoldDickHumphries，CornishfishermananderstwhileAmericansalmoncapitalist，beameduponherbenevolentlyasever。Heborewomentoolargeaportionofhisroughhearttomindthem，ashesaid，whentheywereinthedoldrums，orwhentheirlimitedvisionwouldnotpermitthemtoseeallaroundathing。Sotheysaidnothing，thesetwomenwhohadtakenthehalf—frozenwomanintotheirtentthreedaysback，andwhohadwarmedher，andfedher，andrescuedhergoodsfromtheIndianpackers。Thislatterhadnecessitatedthepaymentofnumerousdollars，tosaynothingofademonstrationinforce——DickHumphriessquintingalongthesightsofaWinchesterwhileTommyapportionedtheirwagesamongthemathisownappraisement。Ithadbeenalittlethinginitself，butitmeantmuchtoawomanplayingadesperatesingle—handintheequallydesperateKlondikerushof’97。Menwereoccupiedwiththeirownpressingneeds，nordidtheyapproveofwomenplaying，single—handed，theoddsofthearcticwinter。"IfIwasaman，I
knowwhatIwoulddo。"ThusreiteratedMolly，sheoftheflashingeyes，andthereinspokethecumulativegritoffiveAmerican—borngenerations。
Inthesucceedingsilence，TommythrustapanofbiscuitsintotheYukonstoveandpiledonfreshfuel。Areddishfloodpoundedalongunderhissun—tannedskin，andashestooped，theskinofhisneckwasscarlet。Dickpalmedathree—corneredsailneedlethroughasetofbrokenpackstraps，hisgoodnatureinnowisedisturbedbythefemininecataclysmwhichwasthreateningtoburstinthestorm—beatentent。
"Andifyouwasaman？"heasked，hisvoicevibrantwithkindness。
Thethree—corneredneedlejammedinthedampleather，andhesuspendedworkforthemoment。
"I’dbeaman。I’dputthestrapsonmybackandlightout。I
wouldn’tlayincamphere，withtheYukonliketofreezemostanyday，andthegoodsnothalfovertheportage。Andyou——youaremen，andyousithere，holdingyourhands，afraidofalittlewindandwet。Itellyoustraight，Yankee—menaremadeofdifferentstuff。They’dbehittingthetrailforDawsoniftheyhadtowadethroughhell—fire。Andyou，you——IwishIwasaman。"
"I’mveryglad，mydear，thatyou’renot。"DickHumphriesthrewthebightofthesailtwineoverthepointoftheneedleanddrewitclearwithacoupleofdeftturnsandajerk。
Asnortofthegaledealtthetentabroad—handedslapasithurtledpast，andthesleetrat—tat—tattedwithsnappyspiteagainstthethincanvas。Thesmoke，smotheredinitsexit，drovebackthroughthefire—boxdoor，carryingwithitthepungentodorofgreenspruce。
"GoodGawd！Whycan’tawomanlistentoreason？"Tommyliftedhisheadfromthedenserdepthsandturneduponherapairofsmoke—outragedeyes。
"Andwhycan’tamanshowhismanhood？"
Tommysprangtohisfeetwithanoathwhichwouldhaveshockedawomanoflesserheart，rippedloosethesturdyreef—knotsandflungbacktheflapsofthetent。
Thetriopeeredout。Itwasnotahearteningspectacle。Afewwater—soakedtentsformedthemiserableforeground，fromwhichthestreaminggroundslopedtoafoaminggorge。Downthisrampedamountaintorrent。Hereandthere，dwarfspruce，rootingandgrovellingintheshallowalluvium，markedtheproximityofthetimberline。Beyond，ontheopposingslope，thevagueoutlinesofaglacierloomeddead—whitethroughthedrivingrain。Evenastheylooked，itsmassivefrontcrumbledintothevalley，onthebreastofsomesubterraneanvomit，anditlifteditshoarsethunderabovethescreechingvoiceofthestorm。Involuntarily，Mollyshrankback。
"Look，woman！Lookwithallyoureyes！ThreemilesintheteethofthegaletoCraterLake，acrosstwoglaciers，alongtheslipperyrim—rock，knee—deepinahowlingriver！Look，Isay，youYankeewoman！Look！There’syourYankee—men！"Tommypointedapassionatehandinthedirectionofthestrugglingtents。
"Yankees，thelastmother’ssonofthem。Aretheyontrail？Isthereoneofthemwiththestrapstohisback？Andyouwouldteachusmenourwork？Look，Isay！"
Anothertremendoussectionoftheglacierrumbledearthward。Thewindwhippedinattheopendoorway，bulgingoutthesidesofthetenttillitswayedlikeahugebladderatitsguyropes。Thesmokeswirledaboutthem，andthesleetdrovesharplyintotheirflesh。Tommypulledtheflapstogetherhastily，andreturnedtohistearfultaskatthefire—box。DickHumphriesthrewthemendedpackstrapsintoacornerandlightedhispipe。EvenMollywasforthemomentpersuaded。
"There’smyclothes，"shehalf—whimpered，thefeminineforthemomentprevailing。"They’rerightatthetopofthecache，andthey’llberuined！Itellyou，ruined！"
"There，there，"Dickinterposed，whenthelastquaveringsyllablehadwaileditselfout。"Don’tletthatworryyou，littlewoman。
I’moldenoughtobeyourfather’sbrother，andI’veadaughterolderthanyou，andI’lltogyououtinfripperieswhenwegettoDawsonifittakesmylastdollar。"
"WhenwegettoDawson！"Thescornhadcomebacktoherthroatwithasuddensurge。"You’llrotontheway，first。You’lldrowninamudhole。You——you——Britishers！"
Thelastword，explosive，intensive，hadstrainedthelimitsofhervituperation。Ifthatwouldnotstirthesemen，whatcould？
Tommy’sneckranredagain，buthekepthistonguebetweenhisteeth。Dick’seyesmellowed。HehadtheadvantageoverTommy，forhehadoncehadawhitewomanforawife。
ThebloodoffiveAmerican—borngenerationsis，undercertaincircumstances，anuncomfortableheritage;andamongthesecircumstancesmightbeenumeratedthatofbeingquarteredwithnextofkin。ThesemenwereBritons。Onseaandlandherancestryandthegenerationsthereofhadthrashedthemandtheirs。
Onseaandlandtheywouldcontinuetodoso。Thetraditionsofherraceclamoredforvindication。Shewasbutawomanofthepresent，butinherbubbledthewholemightypast。ItwasnotaloneMollyTraviswhopulledongumboots，mackintosh，andstraps;forthephantomhandsoftenthousandforbearsdrewtightthebuckles，justsoastheysquaredherjawandsethereyeswithdetermination。She，MollyTravis，intendedtoshametheseBritishers;they，theinnumerableshades，wereassertingthedominanceofthecommonrace。
Themen—folkdidnotinterfere。OnceDicksuggestedthatshetakehisoilskins，ashermackintoshwasworthnomorethanpaperinsuchastorm。Butshesniffedherindependencesosharplythathecommunedwithhispipetillshetiedtheflapsontheoutsideandslushedawayonthefloodedtrail。
"Thinkshe’llmakeit？"Dick’sfacebeliedtheindifferenceofhisvoice。
"Makeit？Ifshestandsthepressuretillshegetstothecache，whatofthecoldandmisery，she’llbestark，ravingmad。Standit？She’llbedumb—crazed。Youknowityourself，Dick。You’vewind—jammedroundtheHorn。Youknowwhatitistolayoutonatopsailyardinthethickofit，buckingsleetandsnowandfrozencanvastillyou’rereadytojustletgoandcrylikeababy。
Clothes？Shewon’tbeabletotellabundleofskirtsfromagoldpanoratea—kettle。"
"Kindofthinkwewerewronginlettinghergo，then？"
"Notabitofit。Sohelpme，Dick，she’d’a’madethistentahellfortherestofthetripifwehadn’t。Troublewithhershe’sgottoomuchspirit。This’lltoneitdownabit。"
"Yes，"Dickadmitted，"she’stooambitious。ButthenMolly’sallright。Acussedlittlefooltotackleatriplikethis，butapluckysightbetterthanthosepick—me—up—and—carry—mekindofwomen。She’sthestockthatcarriedyouandme，Tommy，andyou’vegottomakeallowanceforthespirit。Takesawomantobreedaman。Youcan’tsuckmanhoodfromthedugsofacreaturewhoseonlyclaimtowomanhoodisherpetticoats。Takesashe—cat，notacow，tomotheratiger。"
"Andwhenthey’reunreasonablewe’vegottoputupwithit，eh？"
"Theproposition。Asharpsheath—knifecutsdeeperonaslipthanadullone;butthat’snoreasonfortohacktheedgeoffoveracapstanbar。"
"Allright，ifyousayso，butwhenitcomestowoman，IguessI’lltakeminewithalittlelessedge。"
"Whatdoyouknowaboutit？"Dickdemanded。
"Some。"TommyreachedoverforapairofMolly’swetstockingsandstretchedthemacrosshiskneestodry。
Dick，eyinghimquerulously，wentfishinginherhandsatchel，thenhitcheduptothefrontofthestovewithdiversarticlesofdampclothingspreadlikewisetotheheat。
"Thoughtyousaidyouneverweremarried？"heasked。
"DidI？NomorewasI——thatis——yes，byGawd！Iwas。Andasgoodawomanasevercookedgrubforaman。"
"Slippedhermoorings？"Dicksymbolizedinfinitywithawaveofhishand。
"Ay。"
"Childbirth，"headded，afteramoment’spause。
Thebeansbubbledrowdilyonthefrontlid，andhepushedthepotbacktoacoolersurface。Afterthatheinvestigatedthebiscuits，testedthemwithasplinterofwood，andplacedthemasideundercoverofadampcloth。Dick，afterthemannerofhiskind，stifledhisinterestandwaitedsilently。"AdifferentwomantoMolly。Siwash。"
Dicknoddedhisunderstanding。
"Notsoproudandwilful，butstickbyafellowthroughthickandthin。SlingapaddlewiththenextandstarveascontentedlyasJob。Gofor’ardwhenthesloop’snosewasmoreoftenunderthannot，andtakeinsaillikeaman。Wentprospectingonce，upTeslinway，pastSurpriseLakeandtheLittleYellow—Head。Grubgaveout，andweatethedogs。Dogsgaveout，andweateharnesses，moccasins，andfurs。Neverawhimper;neverapick—me—
up—and—carry—me。Beforewewentshesaidlookoutforgrub，butwhenithappened，neveraI—told—you—so。’Nevermind，Tommy，’
she’dsay，dayafterday，thatweakshecouldbareliftasnow—
shoeandherfeetrawwiththework。’Nevermind。I’dsoonerbeflat—belliedofhungerandbeyourwoman，Tommy，thanhaveapotlacheverydayandbeChiefGeorge’sklooch。’GeorgewaschiefoftheChilcoots，youknow，andwantedherbad。
"Greatdays，those。WasalikelychapmyselfwhenIstruckthecoast。Jumpedawhaler，thePoleStar，atUnalaska，andworkedmywaydowntoSitkaonanotterhunter。PickedupwithHappyJackthere——knowhim？"
"Hadchargeofmytrapsforme，"Dickanswered，"downontheColumbia。Prettywild，wasn’the，withawarmplaceinhisheartforwhiskeyandwomen？"
"Theverychap。Wenttradingwithhimforacoupleofseasons——
hooch，andblankets，andsuchstuff。Thengotasloopofmyown，andnottocuthimout，camedownJuneauway。That’swhereImetKillisnoo;IcalledherTillyforshort。Metheratasquawdancedownonthebeach。ChiefGeorgehadfinishedtheyear’stradewiththeSticksoverthePasses，andwasdownfromDyeawithhalfhistribe。NoendofSiwashesatthedance，andItheonlywhite。
Nooneknewme，barringafewofthebucksI’dmetoverSitkaway，butI’dgotmostoftheirhistoriesfromHappyJack。
"EverybodytalkingChinook，notguessingthatIcouldspititbetterthanmost;andprincipallytwogirlswho’drunawayfromHaine’sMissionuptheLynnCanal。Theyweretrimcreatures，goodtotheeye，andIkindofthoughtofcastingthatway;buttheywerefreshasfresh—caughtcod。Toomuchedge，yousee。Beinganew—comer，theystartedtotwistme，notknowingIgatheredineverywordofChinooktheyuttered。
"Ineverleton，butsettodancingwithTilly，andthemorewedancedthemoreourheartswarmedtoeachother。’Lookingforawoman，’oneofthegirlssays，andtheothertossesherheadandanswers，’Smallchancehe’llgetonewhenthewomenarelookingformen。’Andthebucksandsquawsstandingaroundbegantogrinandgiggleandrepeatwhathadbeensaid。’Quiteaprettyboy，’
saysthefirstone。I’llnotdenyIwasrathersmooth—facedandyoungish，butI’dbeenamanamongstmenmany’stheday，anditrankledme。’DancingwithChiefGeorge’sgirl，’pipesthesecond。
’FirstthingGeorge’llgivehimtheflatofapaddleandsendhimabouthisbusiness。’ChiefGeorgehadbeenlookingprettyblackuptonow，butatthishelaughedandslappedhisknees。Hewasahuskybeggarandwouldhaveusedthepaddletoo。
"’Who’sthegirls？’IaskedTilly，aswewentrippingdownthecentreinareel。AndassoonasshetoldmetheirnamesI
rememberedallaboutthemfromHappyJack。Hadtheirpedigreedownfine——severalthingshe’dtoldmethatnoteventheirowntribeknew。ButIheldmyhush，andwentoncourtingTilly，theya—castingsharpremarksandeverybodyroaring。’Bideawee，Tommy，’Isaystomyself;’bideawee。’
"AndbideIdid，tillthedancewasripetobreakup，andChiefGeorgehadbroughtapaddleallreadyforme。Everybodywasonthelookoutformischiefwhenwestopped;butImarched，easyasyouplease，slapintothethickofthem。TheMissiongirlscutmeupsomethingclever，andforallIwasangryIhadtosetmyteethtokeepfromlaughing。Iturneduponthemsuddenly。
"’Areyoudone？’Iasked。
"YoushouldhaveseenthemwhentheyheardmespittingChinook。
ThenIbrokeloose。Itoldthemallaboutthemselves，andtheirpeoplebeforethem;theirfathers，mothers，sisters，brothers——
everybody，everything。Eachmeantrickthey’dplayed;everyscrapethey’dgotinto;everyshamethat’dfallenthem。AndI
burnedthemwithoutfearorfavor。Allhandscrowdedround。
NeverhadtheyheardawhitemanslingtheirlingoasIdid。
EverybodywaslaughingsavetheMissiongirls。EvenChiefGeorgeforgotthepaddle，oratleasthewasswallowingtoomuchrespecttodaretouseit。
"Butthegirls。’Oh，don’t，Tommy，’theycried，thetearsrunningdowntheircheeks。’Pleasedon’t。We’llbegood。Sure，Tommy，sure。’ButIknewthemwell，andIscorchedthemoneverytenderspot。NordidIslackawaytilltheycamedownontheirknees，beggingandpleadingwithmetokeepquiet。ThenIshotaglanceatChiefGeorge;buthedidnotknowwhethertohaveatmeornot，andpasseditoffbylaughinghollowly。
"Sobe。WhenIpassedthepartingwithTillythatnightIgaveherthewordthatIwasgoingtobearoundforaweekorso，andthatIwantedtoseemoreofher。Notthick—skinned，herkind，whenitcametoshowinglikeanddislike，andshelookedherpleasureforthehonestgirlshewas。Ay，astrikinglass，andI
didn’twonderthatChiefGeorgewastakenwithher。
"Everythingmyway。Tookthewindfromhissailsonthefirstleg。IwasforgettingheraboardandsailingdownWrangelwaytillitblewover，leavinghimtowhistle;butIwasn’ttogetherthateasy。Seemsshewaslivingwithanuncleofhers——guardian，thewaysuchthingsgo——andseemshewasnightoshufflingoffwithconsumptionorsomesortoflungtrouble。Hewasgoodandbadbyturns，andshewouldn’tleavehimtillitwasoverwith。
WentuptothetepeejustbeforeIleft，tospeculateonhowlongit’dbe;buttheoldbeggarhadpromisedhertoChiefGeorge，andwhenheclappedeyesonmehisangerbroughtonahemorrhage。
"’Comeandtakeme，Tommy，’shesayswhenwebidgood—byonthebeach。’Ay，’Ianswers;’whenyougivetheword。’AndIkissedher，white—man—fashionandlover—fashion，tillshewasallofatremblelikeaquakingaspen，andIwassobesidemyselfI’dhalfamindtogoupandgivetheunclealiftoverthedivide。
"SoIwentdownWrangelway，pastSt。Mary’sandeventotheQueenCharlottes，trading，runningwhiskey，turningtheslooptomostanything。Winterwason，stiffandcrisp，andIwasbacktoJuneau，whenthewordcame。’Come，’thebeggarsayswhobroughtthenews。’Killisnoosay，"Comenow。"’’What’stherow？’Iasks。
’ChiefGeorge，’sayshe。’Potlach。Killisnoo，makumklooch。’
"Ay，itwasbitter——theTakuhowlingdownoutofthenorth，thesaltwaterfreezingquickasitstruckthedeck，andtheoldsloopandIhammeringintotheteethofitforahundredmilestoDyea。
HadaDouglassIslanderforcrewwhenIstarted，butmidwayuphewaswashedoverfromthebows。Jibedalloverandcrossedthecoursethreetimes，butneverasignofhim。"
"Doubledupwiththecoldmostlikely，"Dicksuggested，puttingapauseintothenarrativewhilehehungoneofMolly’sskirtsuptodry，"andwentdownlikeapotoflead。"
"Myidea。SoIfinishedthecoursealone，half—deadwhenImadeDyeainthedarkoftheevening。Thetidefavored，andIranthesloopplumptothebank，intheshelteroftheriver。Couldn’tgoaninchfurther，forthefreshwaterwasfrozensolid。HalyardsandblockswerethaticedupIdidn’tdarelowermainsailorjib。
FirstIbroachedapintofthecargoraw，andthen，leavingallstanding，readyforthestart，andwithablanketaroundme，headedacrosstheflattothecamp。Nomistaking，itwasagrandlayout。TheChilcatshadcomeinabody——dogs，babies，andcanoes——tosaynothingoftheDog—Ears，theLittleSalmons，andtheMissions。FullhalfathousandofthemtocelebrateTilly’swedding，andneverawhitemaninascoreofmiles。
"Nobodytooknoteofme，theblanketovermyheadandhidingmyface，andIwadedkneedeepthroughthedogsandyoungsterstillI
waswelluptothefront。Theshowwasbeingpulledoffinabigopenplaceamongthetrees，withgreatfiresburningandthesnowmoccasin—packedashardasPortlandcement。NextmewasTilly，beadedandscarlet—clothedgalore，andagainstherChiefGeorgeandhisheadmen。Theshamanwasbeinghelpedoutbythebigmedicinesfromtheothertribes，anditshiveredmyspineupanddown，thedeviltriestheycut。IcaughtmyselfwonderingifthefolksinLiverpoolcouldonlyseemenow;andIthoughtofyellow—
hairedGussie，whosebrotherIlickedaftermyfirstvoyage，justbecausehewasnotforhavingasailor—mancourtinghissister。
AndwithGussieinmyeyesIlookedatTilly。Arumoldworld，thinksI，withmana—steppingintrailsthemotherlittledreamedofwhenhelayatsuck。
"Sobe。Whenthenoisewasloudest，walrushidesboomingandpriestsa—singing，Isays，’Areyouready？’Gawd！Notastart，notashotoftheeyesmyway，notthetwitchofamuscle。’I
knew，’sheanswers，slowandsteadyasacalmspringtide。
’Where？’’Thehighbankattheedgeoftheice，’Iwhispersback。
’JumpoutwhenIgivetheword。’
"DidIsaytherewasnoendofhuskies？Well，therewasnoend。
Here，there，everywhere，theywerescatteredabout，——tamewolvesandnothingless。Whenthestrainrunsthintheybreedtheminthebushwiththewild，andthey’rebitterfighters。Rightatthetoeofmymoccasinlayabigbrute，andbytheheelanother。I
doubledthefirstone’stail，quick，tillitsnappedinmygrip。
Ashisjawsclippedtogetherwheremyhandshouldhavebeen，I
threwthesecondonebythescruffstraightintohismouth。’Go！’
IcriedtoTilly。
"Youknowhowtheyfight。Inthewinkofaneyetherewasaraginghundredofthem，topandbottom，rippingandtearingeachother，kidsandsquawstumblingwhichway，andthecampgonewild。
Tilly’dslippedaway，soIfollowed。ButwhenIlookedovermyshoulderattheskirtofthecrowd，thedevillaidmebytheheart，andIdroppedtheblanketandwentback。
"Bythenthedogs’dbeenknockedapartandthecrowdwasuntanglingitself。Nobodywasinproperplace，sotheydidn’tnotethatTilly’dgone。’Hello，’Isays，grippingChiefGeorgebythehand。’Mayyourpotlach—smokeriseoften，andtheSticksbringmanyfurswiththespring。’
"Lordloveme，Dick，buthewasjoyedtoseeme，——himwiththeupperhandandweddingTilly。Chancetopuffbigoverme。ThetalethatIwashotafterherhadspreadthroughthecamps，andmypresencedidhimproud。Allhandsknewme，withoutmyblanket，andsettogrinningandgiggling。Itwasrich，butImadeitricherbyplayingunbeknowing。
"’What’stherow？’Iasks。’Who’sgettingmarriednow？’
"’ChiefGeorge，’theshamansays，duckinghisreverencetohim。
"’Thoughthehadtwoklooches。’
"’Himtakummore，——three，’withanotherduck。
"’Oh！’AndIturnedawayasthoughitdidn’tinterestme。
"Butthiswouldn’tdo，andeverybodybeginssingingout，’Killisnoo！Killisnoo！’
"’Killisnoowhat？’Iasked。
"’Killisnoo，klooch，ChiefGeorge，’theyblathered。’Killisnoo，klooch。’
"IjumpedandlookedatChiefGeorge。Henoddedhisheadandthrewouthischest。
"She’llbenokloochofyours，’Isayssolemnly。’Nokloochofyours，’Irepeats，whilehisfacewentblackandhishandbegandroppingtohishunting—knife。
"’Look！’Icries，strikinganattitude。’BigMedicine。Youwatchmysmoke。’
"Ipulledoffmymittens，rolledbackmysleeves，andmadehalf—a—
dozenpassesintheair。
"’Killisnoo！’Ishouts。’Killisnoo！Killisnoo！’
"Iwasmakingmedicine，andtheybegantoscare。Everyeyewasonme;notimetofindoutthatTillywasn’tthere。ThenIcalledKillisnoothreetimesagain，andwaited;andthreetimesmore。
Allformysteryandtomakethemnervous。ChiefGeorgecouldn’tguesswhatIwasupto，andwantedtoputastoptothefoolery;
buttheshamanssaidtowait，andthatthey’dseemeandgomeonebetter，orwordstothateffect。Besides，hewasasuperstitiouscuss，andIfancyabitafraidofthewhiteman’smagic。
"ThenIcalledKillisnoo，longandsoftlikethehowlofawolf，tillthewomenwerealla—trembleandthebuckslookingserious。
"’Look！’Isprangfor’ard，pointingmyfingerintoabunchofsquaws——easiertodeceivewomenthanmen，youknow。’Look！’AndIraiseditaloftasthoughfollowingtheflightofabird。Up，up，straightoverhead，makingtofollowitwithmyeyestillitdisappearedinthesky。
"’Killisnoo，’Isaid，lookingatChiefGeorgeandpointingupwardagain。’Killisnoo。’
"Sohelpme，Dick，thegammonworked。Halfofthem，atleast，sawTillydisappearintheair。They’ddrunkmywhiskeyatJuneauandseenstrangersights，I’llwarrant。WhyshouldInotdothisthing，I，whosoldbadspiritscorkedinbottles？Someofthewomenshrieked。Everybodyfelltowhisperinginbunches。I
foldedmyarmsandheldmyheadhigh，andtheydrewfurtherawayfromme。Thetimewasripetogo。’Grabhim，’ChiefGeorgecries。Threeorfourofthemcameatme，butIwhirled，quick，madeacoupleofpassesliketosendthemafterTilly，andpointedup。Touchme？Notforthekingdomsoftheearth。ChiefGeorgeharanguedthem，buthecouldn’tgetthemtoliftaleg。Thenhemadetotakemehimself;butIrepeatedthemummeryandhisgritwentoutthroughhisfingers。
"’LetyourshamansworkwondersthelikeofwhichIhavedonethisnight，’Isays。’LetthemcallKillisnoodownoutoftheskywhitherIhavesenther。’Butthepriestsknewtheirlimits。
’Mayyourkloochesbearyousonsasthespawnofthesalmon，’I
says，turningtogo;’andmayyourtotempolestandlongintheland，andthesmokeofyourcamprisealways。’
"ButifthebeggarscouldhaveseenmehittingthehighplacesforthesloopassoonasIwasclearofthem，they’dthoughtmyownmedicinehadgotafterme。Tilly’dkeptwarmbychoppingtheiceaway，andwasallreadytocastoff。Gawd！howweranbeforeit，theTakuhowlingafterusandthefreezingseassweepingoverateveryclip。Witheverythingbatteneddown，mea—steeringandTillychoppingice，weheldonhalfthenight，tillIplumpedthesloopashoreonPorcupineIsland，andweshivereditoutonthebeach;blanketswet，andTillydryingthematchesonherbreast。
"SoIthinkIknowsomethingaboutit。Sevenyears，Dick，manandwife，inroughsailingandsmooth。Andthenshedied，intheheartofthewinter，diedinchildbirth，upthereontheChilcatStation。Sheheldmyhandtothelast，theicecreepingupinsidethedoorandspreadingthickonthegutofthewindow。Outside，thelonehowlofthewolfandtheSilence;inside，deathandtheSilence。You’veneverheardtheSilenceyet，Dick，andGawdgrantyoudon’teverhavetohearitwhenyousitbythesideofdeath。
Hearit？Ay，tillthebreathwhistleslikeasiren，andtheheartbooms，booms，booms，likethesurfontheshore。
"Siwash，Dick，butawoman。White，Dick，white，clearthrough。
Towardsthelastshesays，’Keepmyfeatherbed，Tommy，keepitalways。’AndIagreed。Thensheopenedhereyes，fullwiththepain。’I’vebeenagoodwomantoyou，Tommy，andbecauseofthatIwantyoutopromise——topromise’——thewordsseemedtostickinherthroat——’thatwhenyoumarry，thewomanbewhite。NomoreSiwash，Tommy。Iknow。PlentywhitewomendowntoJuneaunow。I
know。Yourpeoplecallyou"squaw—man，"yourwomenturntheirheadstotheonesideonthestreet，andyoudonotgototheircabinslikeothermen。Why？YourwifeSiwash。Isitnotso？
Andthisisnotgood。WhereforeIdie。Promiseme。Kissmeintokenofyourpromise。’
"Ikissedher，andshedozedoff，whispering，’Itisgood。’Attheend，thatneargonemyearwasatherlips，sherousedforthelasttime。’Remember，Tommy;remembermyfeatherbed。’Thenshedied，inchildbirth，upthereontheChilcatStation。"
Thetentheeledoverandhalfflattenedbeforethegale。Dickrefilledhispipe，whileTommydrewtheteaandsetitasideagainstMolly’sreturn。
AndsheoftheflashingeyesandYankeeblood？Blinded，falling，crawlingonhandandknee，thewindthrustbackinherthroatbythewind，shewasheadingforthetent。Onhershouldersabulkypackcaughtthefullfuryofthestorm。Shepluckedfeeblyattheknottedflaps，butitwasTommyandDickwhocastthemloose。
Thenshesethersoulforthelasteffort，staggeredin，andfellexhaustedonthefloor。
Tommyunbuckledthestrapsandtookthepackfromher。Asheliftedittherewasaclangingofpotsandpans。Dick，pouringoutamugofwhiskey，pausedlongenoughtopassthewinkacrossherbody。Tommywinkedback。Hislipspursedthemonosyllable，"clothes，"butDickshookhisheadreprovingly。"Here，littlewoman，"hesaid，aftershehaddrunkthewhiskeyandstraightenedupabit。
"Here’ssomedrytogs。Climbintothem。We’regoingouttoextra—pegthetent。Afterthat，giveusthecall，andwe’llcomeinandhavedinner。Singoutwhenyou’reready。"
"Sohelpme，Dick，that’sknockedtheedgeoffherfortherestofthistrip，"Tommysplutteredastheycrouchedtotheleeofthetent。
"Butit’stheedgeishersavinggrace。"Dickreplied，duckinghisheadtoavolleyofsleetthatdrovearoundacornerofthecanvas。"TheedgethatyouandI’vegot，Tommy，andtheedgeofourmothersbeforeus。"
THEMANWITHTHEGASH
JacobKenthadsufferedfromcupidityallthedaysofhislife。
This，inturn，hadengenderedachronicdistrustfulness，andhismindandcharacterhadbecomesowarpedthathewasaverydisagreeablemantodealwith。Hewasalsoavictimtosomnambulicpropensities，andverysetinhisideas。Hehadbeenaweaverofclothfromthecradle，untilthefeverofKlondikehadenteredhisbloodandtornhimawayfromhisloom。HiscabinstoodmidwaybetweenSixtyMilePostandtheStuartRiver;andmenwhomadeitacustomtotravelthetrailtoDawson，likenedhimtoarobberbaron，perchedinhisfortressandexactingtollfromthecaravansthatusedhisill—keptroads。Sinceacertainamountofhistorywasrequiredintheconstructionofthisfigure，thelessculturedwayfarersfromStuartRiverwerepronetodescribehimafterastillmoreprimordialfashion，inwhichacommandofstrongadjectiveswastobechieflynoted。
Thiscabinwasnothis，bytheway，havingbeenbuiltseveralyearspreviouslybyacoupleofminerswhohadgotoutaraftoflogsatthatpointforagrub—stake。Theyhadbeenmosthospitablelads，and，aftertheyabandonedit，travelerswhoknewtheroutemadeitanobjecttoarrivethereatnightfall。Itwasveryhandy，savingthemallthetimeandtoilofpitchingcamp;
anditwasanunwrittenrulethatthelastmanleftaneatpileoffirewoodforthenextcomer。Rarelyanightpassedbutfromhalfadozentoascoreofmencrowdedintoitsshelter。JacobKentnotedthesethings，exercisedsquattersovereignty，andmovedin。
Thenceforth，thewearytravelersweremulctedadollarperheadfortheprivilegeofsleepingonthefloor，JacobKentweighingthedustandneverfailingtostealthedown—weight。Besides，hesocontrivedthathistransientguestschoppedhiswoodforhimandcarriedhiswater。Thiswasrankpiracy，buthisvictimswereaneasy—goingbreed，andwhiletheydetestedhim，theyyetpermittedhimtoflourishinhissins。
OneafternooninAprilhesatbyhisdoor，——foralltheworldlikeapredatoryspider，——marvellingattheheatofthereturningsun，andkeepinganeyeonthetrailforprospectiveflies。TheYukonlayathisfeet，aseaofice，disappearingaroundtwogreatbendstothenorthandsouth，andstretchinganhonesttwomilesfrombanktobank。Overitsroughbreastranthesled—trail，aslendersunkenline，eighteenincheswideandtwothousandmilesinlength，withmorecursesdistributedtothelinearfootthananyotherroadinoroutofallChristendom。
JacobKentwasfeelingparticularlygoodthatafternoon。Therecordhadbeenbrokenthepreviousnight，andhehadsoldhishospitalitytonolessthantwenty—eightvisitors。True，ithadbeenquiteuncomfortable，andfourhadsnoredbeneathhisbunkallnight;butthenithadaddedappreciableweighttothesackinwhichhekepthisgolddust。Thatsack，withitsglitteringyellowtreasure，wasatoncethechiefdelightandthechiefbaneofhisexistence。Heavenandhelllaywithinitsslendermouth。
Inthenatureofthings，therebeingnoprivacytohisone—roomeddwelling，hewastorturedbyaconstantfearoftheft。Itwouldbeveryeasyforthesebearded，desperate—lookingstrangerstomakeawaywithit。Oftenhedreamedthatsuchwasthecase，andawokeinthegripofnightmare。Aselectnumberoftheserobbershauntedhimthroughhisdreams，andhecametoknowthemquitewell，especiallythebronzedleaderwiththegashonhisrightcheek。Thisfellowwasthemostpersistentofthelot，and，becauseofhim，hehad，inhiswakingmoments，constructedseveralscoreofhiding—placesinandaboutthecabin。Afteraconcealmenthewouldbreathefreelyagain，perhapsforseveralnights，onlytocollartheManwiththeGashintheveryactofunearthingthesack。Then，onawakeninginthemidstoftheusualstruggle，hewouldatoncegetupandtransferthebagtoanewandmoreingeniouscrypt。Itwasnotthathewasthedirectvictimofthesephantasms;buthebelievedinomensandthought—
transference，andhedeemedthesedream—robberstobetheastralprojectionofrealpersonageswhohappenedatthoseparticularmoments，nomatterwheretheywereintheflesh，tobeharboringdesigns，inthespirit，uponhiswealth。Sohecontinuedtobleedtheunfortunateswhocrossedhisthreshold，andatthesametimetoaddtohistroublewitheveryouncethatwentintothesack。
Ashesatsunninghimself，athoughtcametoJacobKentthatbroughthimtohisfeetwithajerk。Thepleasuresoflifehadculminatedinthecontinualweighingandreweighingofhisdust;
butashadowhadbeenthrownuponthispleasantavocation，whichhehadhithertofailedtobrushaside。Hisgold—scaleswerequitesmall;infact，theirmaximumwasapoundandahalf，——eighteenounces，——whilehishoardmounteduptosomethinglikethreeandathirdtimesthat。Hehadneverbeenabletoweighitallatoneoperation，andhenceconsideredhimselftohavebeenshutoutfromanewandmostedifyingcoignofcontemplation。Beingdeniedthis，halfthepleasureofpossessionhadbeenlost;nay，hefeltthatthismiserableobstacleactuallyminimizedthefact，asitdidthestrength，ofpossession。Itwasthesolutionofthisproblemflashingacrosshismindthathadjustbroughthimtohisfeet。Hesearchedthetrailcarefullyineitherdirection。Therewasnothinginsight，sohewentinside。
Inafewsecondshehadthetableclearedawayandthescalessetup。Ononesideheplacedthestampeddiskstotheequivalentoffifteenounces，andbalanceditwithdustontheother。Replacingtheweightswithdust，hethenhadthirtyouncespreciselybalanced。These，inturn，heplacedtogetherononesideandagainbalancedwithmoredust。Bythistimethegoldwasexhausted，andhewassweatingliberally。Hetrembledwithecstasy，ravishedbeyondmeasure。Neverthelesshedustedthesackthoroughly，tothelastleastgrain，tillthebalancewasovercomeandonesideofthescalessanktothetable。Equilibrium，however，wasrestoredbytheadditionofapennyweightandfivegrainstotheoppositeside。Hestood，headthrownback，transfixed。Thesackwasempty，butthepotentialityofthescaleshadbecomeimmeasurable。Uponthemhecouldweighanyamount，fromthetiniestgraintopoundsuponpounds。Mammonlaidhotfingersonhisheart。Thesunswungonitswesteringwaytillitflashedthroughtheopendoorway，fullupontheyellow—burdenedscales。Thepreciousheaps，likethegoldenbreastsofabronzeCleopatra，flungbackthelightinamellowglow。Timeandspacewerenot。
"Gawdblimeme！butyou’ayethemakin’ofseveralquidthere，’aven’tyou？"
JacobKentwheeledabout，atthesametimereachingforhisdouble—barrelledshot—gun，whichstoodhandy。Butwhenhiseyeslitontheintruder’sface，hestaggeredbackdizzily。ITWASTHE
FACEOFTHEMANWITHTHEGASH！
Themanlookedathimcuriously。
"Oh，that’sallright，"hesaid，wavinghishanddeprecatingly。
"Youneedn’tthinkasI’ll’armyouoryourblasteddust。
"You’rearum’un，youare，"headdedreflectively，ashewatchedthesweatpouringfromoffKent’sfaceandthequaveringofhisknees。
"W’ydon’tyoupipeupan’saysomethin’？"hewenton，astheotherstruggledforbreath。"Wot’sgonewrongo’yourgaff？
Anythinkthematter？"
"W——w——where’dyougetit？"Kentatlastmanagedtoarticulate，raisingashakingforefingertotheghastlyscarwhichseamedtheother’scheek。
"Shipmatestovemedownwithamarlin—spikefromthemain—royal。
An’nowasyou’ayeyourfigger’eadintrim，wotIwanttoknowis，wot’sittoyou？That’swotIwanttoknow——wot’sittoyou？
Gawdblimeme！doit’urtyou？Ain’titsmugenoughforthelikeso’you？That’swotIwanttoknow！"
"No，no，"Kentanswered，sinkinguponastoolwithasicklygrin。
"Iwasjustwondering。"
"Didyoueverseethelike？"theotherwentontruculently。
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