Thepressuresandstressesbecameterrific。Hugecakesoficeweresqueezedouttilltheypoppedintotheairlikemelonseedssqueezedfrombetweenthethumbandforefingerofachild，whileallalongthebanksawalloficewasforcedup。Whenthejambroke，thenoiseofgrindingandsmashingredoubled。Foranotherhourtheruncontinued。Theriverfellrapidly。
Butthewalloficeontopthebank，andextendingdownintothefallingwater，remained。
Thetailoftheice-runpassed，andforthefirsttimeinsixmonthsDaylightsawopenwater。HeknewthattheicehadnotyetpassedoutfromtheupperreachesoftheStewart，thatitlayinpacksandjamsinthoseupperreaches，andthatitmightbreaklooseandcomedowninasecondrunanytime；buttheneedwastoodesperateforhimtolinger。Elijahwassofargonethathemightpassatanymoment。Asforhimself，hewasnotsurethatenoughstrengthremainedinhiswastedmusclestolaunchtheboat。Itwasallagamble。Ifhewaitedforthesecondice-run，Elijahwouldsurelydie，andmostprobablyhimself。Ifhesucceededinlaunchingtheboat，ifhekeptaheadofthesecondice-run，ifhedidnotgetcaughtbysomeoftherunsfromtheupperYukon；ifluckfavoredinalltheseessentialparticulars，aswellasinascoreofminorones，theywouldreachSixtyMileandbesaved，if——andagaintheif——hehadstrengthenoughtolandtheboatatSixtyMileandnotgoby。
Hesettowork。Thewalloficewasfivefeetabovethegroundonwhichtheboatrested。Firstprospectingforthebestlaunching-place，hefoundwhereahugecakeoficeshelvedupwardfromtheriverthatranfifteenfeetbelowtothetopofthewall。Thiswasascoreoffeetaway，andattheendofanhourhehadmanagedtogettheboatthatfar。Hewassickwithnauseafromhisexertions，andattimesitseemedthatblindnesssmotehim，forhecouldnotsee，hiseyesvexedwithspotsandpointsoflightthatwereasexcruciatingasdiamond-dust，hisheartpoundingupinhisthroatandsuffocatinghim。Elijahbetrayednointerest，didnotmovenoropenhiseyes；andDaylightfoughtouthisbattlealone。Atlast，fallingonhiskneesfromtheshockofexertion，hegottheboatpoisedonasecurebalanceontopthewall。Crawlingonhandsandknees，heplacedintheboathisrabbit-skinrobe，therifle，andthepail。Hedidnotbotherwiththeax。Itmeantanadditionalcrawloftwentyfeetandback，andiftheneedforitshouldarisehewellknewhewouldbepastallneed。
Elijahprovedabiggertaskthanhehadanticipated。Afewinchesatatime，restinginbetween，hedraggedhimoverthegroundandupabrokenrubbleoficetothesideoftheboat。Butintotheboathecouldnotgethim。Elijah’slimpbodywasfarmoredifficulttoliftandhandlethananequalweightoflikedimensionsbutrigid。Daylightfailedtohoisthim，forthebodycollapsedatthemiddlelikeapart-emptysackofcorn。
Gettingintotheboat，Daylighttriedvainlytodraghiscomradeinafterhim。ThebesthecoulddowastogetElijah’sheadandshouldersontopthegunwale。Whenhereleasedhishold，toheavefromfartherdownthebody，Elijahpromptlygaveatthemiddleandcamedownontheice。
Indespair，Daylightchangedhistactics。Hestrucktheotherintheface。”GodAlmighty，ain’tyou-allaman？”hecried。”There！damnyou-all！
there！”
Ateachcursehestruckhimonthecheeks，thenose，themouth，striving，bytheshockofthehurt，tobringbackthesinkingsoulandfar-wanderingwilloftheman。Theeyesflutteredopen。”Nowlisten！”heshoutedhoarsely。”WhenIgetyourheadtothegunwale，hangon！Hearme？Hangon！Biteintoitwithyourteeth，butHANGON！”
Theeyesfluttereddown，butDaylightknewthemessagehadbeenreceived。
Againhegotthehelplessman’sheadandshouldersonthegunwale。”Hangon，damnyou！Bitein”heshouted，asheshiftedhisgriplowerdown。
Oneweakhandslippedoffthegunwale，thefingersoftheotherhandrelaxed，butElijahobeyed，andhisteethheldon。Whentheliftcame，hisfacegroundforward，andthesplinterywoodtoreandcrushedtheskinfromnose，lips，andchin；and，facedownward，heslippedonanddowntothebottomoftheboattillhislimpmiddlecollapsedacrossthegunwaleandhislegshungdownoutside。Buttheywereonlyhislegs，andDaylightshovedthemin；afterhim。Breathingheavily，heturnedElijahoveronhisback，andcoveredhimwithhisrobes。
Thefinaltaskremained——thelaunchingoftheboat。This，ofnecessity，wastheseverestofall，forhehadbeencompelledtoloadhiscomradeinaftofthebalance。Itmeantasupremeeffortatlifting。Daylightsteeledhimselfandbegan。Somethingmusthavesnapped，for，thoughhewasunawareofit，thenextheknewhewaslyingdoubledonhisstomachacrossthesharpsternoftheboat。Evidently，andforthefirsttimeinhislife，hehadfainted。Furthermore，itseemedtohimthathewasfinished，thathehadnotonemoremovementleftinhim，andthat，strangestofall，hedidnotcare。Visionscametohim，clear-cutandreal，andconceptssharpassteelcutting-edges。He，whoallhisdayshadlookedonnakedLife，hadneverseensomuchofLife’snakednessbefore。Forthefirsttimeheexperiencedadoubtofhisowngloriouspersonality。ForthemomentLifefalteredandforgottolie。Afterall，hewasalittleearth-maggot，justlikealltheotherearth-maggots，likethesquirrelhehadeaten，liketheothermenhehadseenfailanddie，likeJoeHinesandHenryFinn，whohadalreadyfailedandweresurelydead，likeElijahlyingthereuncaring，withhisskinnedface，inthebottomoftheboat。Daylight’spositionwassuchthatfromwherehelayhecouldlookuprivertothebend，aroundwhich，soonerorlater，thenextice-runwouldcome。AndashelookedheseemedtoseebackthroughthepasttoatimewhenneitherwhitemannorIndianwasintheland，andeverhesawthesameStewartRiver，winteruponwinter，breastedwithice，andspringuponspringburstingthaticeasunderandrunningfree。Andhesawalsointoanillimitablefuture，whenthelastgenerationsofmenweregonefromoffthefaceofAlaska，whenhe，too，wouldbegone，andhesaw，everremaining，thatriver，freezingandfresheting，andrunningonandon。
Lifewasaliarandacheat。Itfooledallcreatures。Ithadfooledhim，BurningDaylight，oneofitschiefestandmostjoyousexponents。Hewasnothing——amerebunchoffleshandnervesandsensitivenessthatcrawledinthemuckforgold，thatdreamedandaspiredandgambled，andthatpassedandwasgone。Onlythedeadthingsremained，thethingsthatwerenotfleshandnervesandsensitiveness，thesandandmuckandgravel，thestretchingflats，themountains，theriveritself，freezingandbreaking，yearbyyear，downalltheyears。Whenallwassaidanddone，itwasascurvygame。
Thedicewereloaded。Thosethatdieddidnotwin，andalldied。Whowon？
NotevenLife，thestool-pigeon，thearch-capperforthegame——Life，theeverflourishinggraveyard，theeverlastingfuneralprocession。
Hedriftedbacktotheimmediatepresentforamomentandnotedthattheriverstillranwideopen，andthatamoose-bird，perchedonthebowoftheboat，wassurveyinghimimpudently。Thenhedrifteddreamilybacktohismeditations。
Therewasnoescapingtheendofthegame。Hewasdoomedsurelytobeoutofitall。Andwhatofit？Heponderedthatquestionagainandagain。
ConventionalreligionhadpassedDaylightby。Hehadlivedasortofreligioninhissquaredealingandrightplayingwithothermen，andhehadnotindulgedinvainmetaphysicsaboutfuturelife。Deathendedall。
Hehadalwaysbelievedthat，andbeenunafraid。Andatthismoment，theboatfifteenfeetabovethewaterandimmovable，himselffaintingwithweaknessandwithoutaparticleofstrengthleftinhim，hestillbelievedthatdeathendedall，andhewasstillunafraid。Hisviewsweretoosimplyandsolidlybasedtobeoverthrownbythefirstsquirm，orthelast，ofdeath-fearinglife。
Hehadseenmenandanimalsdie，andintothefieldofhisvision，byscores，camesuchdeaths。Hesawthemoveragain，justashehadseenthematthetime，andtheydidnotshakehim。
Whatofit？Theyweredead，anddeadlongsince。Theyweren’tbotheringaboutit。Theyweren’tlyingontheirbelliesacrossaboatandwaitingtodie。Deathwaseasy——easierthanhehadeverimagined；and，nowthatitwasnear，thethoughtofitmadehimglad。
Anewvisioncametohim。Hesawthefeverishcityofhisdream——thegoldmetropolisoftheNorth，perchedabovetheYukononahighearth-bankandfar-spreadingacrosstheflat。Hesawtheriversteamerstiedtothebankandlinedagainstitthreedeep；hesawthesawmillsworkingandthelongdog-teams，withdoublesledsbehind，freightingsuppliestothediggings。
Andhesaw，further，thegambling-houses，banks，stock-exchanges，andallthegearandchipsandmarkers，thechancesandopportunities，ofavastlybiggergamblinggamethananyhehadeverseen。Itwassurehell，hethought，withthehuncha-workingandthatbigstrikecoming，tobeoutofitall。
Lifethrilledandstirredatthethoughtandoncemorebeganutteringhisancientlies。
Daylightrolledoverandofftheboat，leaningagainstitashesatontheice。Hewantedtobeinonthatstrike。Andwhyshouldn’the？Somewhereinallthosewastedmusclesofhiswasenoughstrength，ifhecouldgatheritallatonce，toup-endtheboatandlaunchit。QuiteirrelevantlytheideasuggesteditselfofbuyingashareintheKlondiketownsitefromHarperandJoeLadue。Theywouldsurelysellathirdinterestcheap。Then，ifthestrikecameontheStewart，hewouldbewellinonitwiththeElamHarnishtownsite；ifontheKlondike，hewouldnotbequiteoutofit。
Inthemeantime，hewouldgatherstrength。Hestretchedoutontheicefulllength，facedownward，andforhalfanhourhelayandrested。Thenhearose，shooktheflashingblindnessfromhiseyes，andtookholdoftheboat。Heknewhisconditionaccurately。Ifthefirsteffortfailed，thefollowingeffortsweredoomedtofail。Hemustpullallhisralliedstrengthintotheoneeffort，andsothoroughlymustheputallofitinthattherewouldbenoneleftforotherattempts。
Helifted，andheliftedwiththesoulofhimaswellaswiththebody，consuminghimself，bodyandspirit，intheeffort。Theboatrose。Hethoughthewasgoingtofaint，buthecontinuedtolift。Hefelttheboatgive，asitstartedonitsdownwardslide。Withthelastshredofhisstrengthheprecipitatedhimselfintoit，landinginasickheaponElijah’slegs。
Hewasbeyondattemptingtorise，andashelayheheardandfelttheboattakethewater。Bywatchingthetree-topsheknewitwaswhirling。Asmashingshockandflyingfragmentsoficetoldhimthatithadstruckthebank。
Adozentimesitwhirledandstruck，andthenitfloatedeasilyandfree。
Daylightcameto，anddecidedhehadbeenasleep。Thesundenotedthatseveralhourshadpassed。Itwasearlyafternoon。Hedraggedhimselfintothesternandsatup。Theboatwasinthemiddleofthestream。Thewoodedbanks，withtheirbase-linesofflashingice，wereslippingby。Nearhimfloatedahuge，uprootedpine。Afreakofthecurrentbroughttheboatagainstit。Crawlingforward，hefastenedthepaintertoaroot。
Thetree，deeperinthewater，wastravellingfaster，andthepaintertautenedastheboattookthetow。Then，withalastgiddylookaround，whereinhesawthebankstiltingandswayingandthesunswinginginpendulum-sweepacrossthesky，Daylightwrappedhimselfinhisrabbit-skinrobe，laydowninthebottom，andfellasleep。
Whenheawoke，itwasdarknight。Hewaslyingonhisback，andhecouldseethestarsshining。Asubduedmurmurofswollenwaterscouldbeheard。
Asharpjerkinformedhimthattheboat，swervingslackintothepainter，hadbeenstraightenedoutbytheswifter-movingpinetree。Apieceofstraydrift-icethumpedagainsttheboatandgratedalongitsside。Well，thefollowingjamhadn’tcaughthimyet，washisthought，asheclosedhiseyesandsleptagain。
Itwasbrightdaywhennextheopenedhiseyes。Thesunshowedittobemidday。Aglancearoundatthefar-awaybanks，andheknewthathewasonthemightyYukon。SixtyMilecouldnotbefaraway。Hewasabominablyweak。Hismovementswereslow，fumbling，andinaccurate，accompaniedbypantingandhead-swimming，ashedraggedhimselfintoasitting-uppositioninthestern，hisriflebesidehim。HelookedalongtimeatElijah，butcouldnotseewhetherhebreathedornot，andhewastooimmeasurablyfarawaytomakeaninvestigation。
Hefelltodreamingandmeditatingagain，dreamsandthoughtsbeingoftenbrokenbysketchesofblankness，whereinheneitherslept，norwasunconscious，norwasawareofanything。Itseemedtohimmorelikecogsslippinginhisbrain。Andinthisintermittentwayhereviewedthesituation。
Hewasstillalive，andmostlikelywouldbesaved，buthowcameitthathewasnotlyingdeadacrosstheboatontoptheice-rim？Thenherecollectedthegreatfinalefforthehadmade。Butwhyhadhemadeit？heaskedhimself。
Ithadnotbeenfearofdeath。Hehadnotbeenafraid，thatwassure。Thenherememberedthehunchandthebigstrikehebelievedwascoming，andheknewthatthespurhadbeenhisdesiretositinforahandatthatbiggame。Andagainwhy？Whatifhemadehismillion？Hewoulddie，justthesameasthosethatneverwonmorethangrub-stakes。Thenagainwhy？
Buttheblankstretchesinhisthinkingprocessbegantocomemorefrequently，andhesurrenderedtothedelightfullassitudethatwascreepingoverhim。
Herousedwithastart。Somethinghadwhisperedinhimthathemustawake。AbruptlyhesawSixtyMile，notahundredfeetaway。
Thecurrenthadbroughthimtotheverydoor。Butthesamecurrentwasnowsweepinghimpastandonintothedown-riverwilderness。Noonewasinsight。Theplacemighthavebeendeserted，saveforthesmokehesawrisingfromthekitchenchimney。Hetriedtocall，butfoundhehadnovoiceleft。Anunearthlygutturalhissalternatelyrattledandwheezedinhisthroat。Hefumbledfortherifle，gotittohisshoulder，andpulledthetrigger。Therecoilofthedischargetorethroughhisframe，rackingitwithathousandagonies。Theriflehadfallenacrosshisknees，andanattempttoliftittohisshoulderfailed。Heknewhemustbequick，andfeltthathewasfainting，sohepulledthetriggerofthegunwhereitlay。Thistimeitkickedoffandoverboard。Butjustbeforedarknessrushedoverhim，hesawthekitchendooropen，andawomanlookoutofthebigloghousethatwasdancingamonstrousjigamongthetrees。BurningDaylight:PartI:ChapterIXPartIChapterIXTendayslater，HarperandJoeLaduearrivedatSixtyMile，andDaylight，stillatrifleweak，butstrongenoughtoobeythehunchthathadcometohim，tradedathirdinterestinhisStewarttownsiteforathirdinterestintheirsontheKlondike。
TheyhadfaithintheUpperCountry，andHarperleftdown-stream，witharaft-loadofsupplies，tostartasmallpostatthemouthoftheKlondike。”Whydon’tyoutackleIndianRiver，Daylight？”Harperadvised，atparting。”There’swholeslathersofcreeksanddrawsdraininginupthere，andsomewheregoldjustcryingtobefound。That’smyhunch。There’sabigstrikecoming，andIndianRiverain’tgoingtobeamillionmilesaway。””Andtheplaceisswarmingwithmoose，”JoeLadueadded。”BobHenderson’suptheresomewhere，beentherethreeyearsnow，swearingsomethingbigisgoingtohappen，livingoff’nstraightmooseandprospectingaroundlikeacrazyman。”
DaylightdecidedtogoIndianRiveraflutter，asheexpressedit；butElijahcouldnotbepersuadedintoaccompanyinghim。Elijah’ssoulhadbeensearedbyfamine，andhewasobsessedbyfearofrepeatingtheexperience。”Ijestcan’tbeartoseparatefromgrub，”heexplained。”Iknowit’sdownrightfoolishness，butIjestcan’thelpit。It’sallIcandototearmyselfawayfromthetablewhenIknowI’mfulltobustin’andain’tgotstorageforanotherbite。I’mgoingbacktoCircletocampbyacacheuntilIgetcured。”
Daylightlingeredafewdayslonger，gatheringstrengthandarranginghismeagreoutfit。Heplannedtogoinlight，carryingapackofseventy-fivepoundsandmakinghisfivedogspackaswell，Indianfashion，loadingthemwiththirtypoundseach。DependingonthereportofLadue，heintendedtofollowBobHenderson’sexampleandlivepracticallyonstraightmeat。
WhenJackKearns’scow，ladenwiththesawmillfromLakeLinderman，tiedupatSixtyMile，Daylightbundledhisoutfitanddogsonboard，turnedhistown-siteapplicationovertoElijahtobefiled，andthesamedaywaslandedatthemouthofIndianRiver。
Fortymilesuptheriver，atwhathadbeendescribedtohimasQuartzCreek，hecameuponsignsofBobHenderson’swork，andalsoatAustraliaCreek，thirtymilesfartheron。Theweekscameandwent，butDaylightneverencounteredtheotherman。However，hefoundmooseplentiful，andheandhisdogsprosperedonthemeatdiet。Hefound”pay”thatwasnomorethan”wages”onadozensurfacebars，andfromthegenerousspreadofflourgoldinthemuckandgravelofascoreofcreeks，hewasmoreconfidentthaneverthatcoarsegoldinquantitywaswaitingtobeunearthed。Oftenheturnedhiseyestothenorthwardridgeofhills，andponderedifthegoldcamefromthem。Intheend，heascendedDominionCreektoitshead，crossedthedivide，andcamedownonthetributarytotheKlondikethatwaslatertobecalledHunkerCreek。Whileonthedivide，hadhekeptthebigdomeonhisright，hewouldhavecomedownontheGoldBottom，sonamedbyBobHenderson，whomhewouldhavefoundatworkonit，takingoutthefirstpay-goldeverpannedontheKlondike。Instead，DaylightcontinueddownHunkertotheKlondike，andontothesummerfishingcampoftheIndiansontheYukon。
HereforadayhecampedwithCarmack，asquaw-man，andhisIndianbrother-in-law，SkookumJim，boughtaboat，and，withhisdogsonboard，drifteddowntheYukontoFortyMile。Augustwasdrawingtoaclose，thedaysweregrowingshorter，andwinterwascomingon。StillwithunboundedfaithinhishunchthatastrikewascomingintheUpperCountry，hisplanwastogettogetherapartyoffourorfive，and，ifthatwasimpossible，atleastapartner，andtopolebackuptheriverbeforethefreeze-uptodowinterprospecting。
ButthemenofFortyMilewerewithoutfaith。Thediggingstothewestwardweregoodenoughforthem。
ThenitwasthatCarmack，hisbrother-in-law，SkookumJim，andCultusCharlie，anotherIndian，arrivedinacanoeatFortyMile，wentstraighttothegoldcommissioner，andrecordedthreeclaimsandadiscoveryclaimonBonanzaCreek。Afterthat，intheSourdoughSaloon，thatnight，theyexhibitedcoarsegoldtothescepticalcrowd。Mengrinnedandshooktheirheads。Theyhadseenthemotionsofagoldstrikegonethroughbefore。
ThiswastoopatentlyaschemeofHarper’sandJoeLadue’s，tryingtoenticeprospectinginthevicinityoftheirtownsiteandtradingpost。AndwhowasCarmack？Asquaw-man。Andwhoeverheardofasquaw-manstrikinganything？
AndwhatwasBonanzaCreek？Merelyamoosepasture，enteringtheKlondikejustaboveitsmouth，andknowntoold-timersasRabbitCreek。NowifDaylightorBobHendersonhadrecordedclaimsandshowncoarsegold，they’dknowntherewassomethinginit。ButCarmack，thesquaw-man！AndSkookumJim！
AndCultusCharlie！No，no；thatwasaskingtoomuch。
Daylight，too，wassceptical，andthisdespitehisfaithintheUpperCountry。Hadhenot，onlyafewdaysbefore，seenCarmackloafingwithhisIndiansandwithneverathoughtofprospecting？
Butateleventhatnight，sittingontheedgeofhisbunkandunlacinghismoccasins，athoughtcametohim。HeputonhiscoatandhatandwentbacktotheSourdough。Carmackwasstillthere，flashinghiscoarsegoldintheeyesofanunbelievinggeneration。DaylightrangedalongsideofhimandemptiedCarmack’ssackintoablower。Thishestudiedforalongtime。Then，fromhisownsack，intoanotherblower，heemptiedseveralouncesofCircleCityandFortyMilegold。Again，foralongtime，hestudiedandcompared。Finally，hepocketedhisowngold，returnedCarmack’s，andhelduphishandforsilence。”Boys，Iwanttotellyou-allsomething，”hesaid。”She’ssurecome——theup-riverstrike。AndItellyou-all，clearandforcible，thisisit。Thereain’tneverbeengoldlikethatinablowerinthiscountrybefore。It’snewgold。It’sgotmoresilverinit。You-allcanseeitbythecolor。
Carmack’ssuremadeastrike。Who-all’sgotfaithtocomealongwithme？”
Therewerenovolunteers。Instead，laughterandjeerswentup。”Mebbeyougotatownsiteupthere，”someonesuggested。”Isurehave，”wastheretort，”andathirdinterestinHarperandLadue’s。
AndIcanseemycornerlotssellingoutformorethanyourhen-scratchingeverturneduponBirchCreek。””That’sallright，Daylight，”oneCurlyParsoninterposedsoothingly。”You’vegotareputation，andweknowyou’redeadsureonthesquare。Butyou’reaslikelyasanytobemistookonaflimflamgame，suchastheseloafersisputtingup。Iaskyoustraight:WhendidCarmackdothishereprospecting？Yousaidyourselfhewaslyingincamp，fishingsalmonalongwithhisSiwashrelations，andthatwasonlytheotherday。””AndDaylighttoldthetruth，”Carmackinterruptedexcitedly。”AndI’mtellingthetruth，thegospeltruth。Iwasn’tprospecting。Hadn’tnoideaofit。ButwhenDaylightpullsout，theverysameday，whodriftsin，downriver，onaraft-loadofsupplies，butBobHenderson。He’dcomeouttoSixtyMile，planningtogobackupIndianRiverandportagethegrubacrossthedividebetweenQuartzCreekandGoldBottom-””HelookedabouthimanxiouslyforSignsofBelief，butfoundhimselfinaCircleofIncredulousFaces””Whereinhell’sGoldBottom？”CurlyParsonsdemanded。”OverbeyondBonanzathatwasRabbitCreek，”thesquaw-manwenton。”It’sadrawofabigcreekthatrunsintotheKlondike。That’sthewayIwentup，butIcomebackbycrossingthedivide，keepingalongthecrestseveralmiles，anddroppingdownintoBonanza。’Comealongwithme，Carmack，andgetstaked，’saysBobHendersontome。’I’vehititthistime，onGoldBottom。I’vetookoutforty-fiveouncesalready。’AndIwentalong，SkookumJimandCultusCharlie，too。AndweallstakedonGoldBottom。IcomebackbyBonanzaonthechanceoffindingamoose。AlongdownBonanzawestoppedandcookedgrub。Iwenttosleep，andwhatdoesSkookumJimdobuttryhishandatprospecting。He’dbeenwatchingHenderson，yousee。Hegoesrightslapuptothefootofabirchtree，firstpan，fillsitwithdirt，andwashesoutmore’nadollarcoarsegold。Thenhewakesmeup，andI
goesatit。Igottwoandahalfthefirstlick。ThenInamedthecreek’Bonanza，’stakedDiscovery，andwecomehereandrecorded。”
Helookedabouthimanxiouslyforsignsofbelief，butfoundhimselfinacircleofincredulousfaces——allsaveDaylight，whohadstudiedhiscountenancewhilehetoldhisstory。”HowmuchisHarperandLaduegivin’youformanufacturingastampede？”
someoneasked。”Theydon’tknownothingaboutit，”Carmackanswered。”Itellyouit’stheGodAlmighty’struth。Iwashedoutthreeouncesinanhour。””Andthere’sthegold，”Daylightsaid。”Itellyou-allboystheyain’tneverbeengoldlikethatintheblowerbefore。Lookatthecolorofit。””Atrifledarker，”CurlyParsonsaid。”MostlikelyCarmack’sbeencarryingacoupleofsilverdollarsalonginthesamesack。Andwhat’smore，ifthere’sanythinginit，whyain’tBobHendersonsmokingalongtorecord？””He’suponGoldBottom，”Carmackexplained。”Wemadethestrikecomingback。”
Aburstoflaughterwashisreward。”Who-all’llgopardnerswithmeandpulloutinapoling-boatto-morrowforthishereBonanza？”Daylightasked。
Noonevolunteered。”Thenwho-all’lltakeajobfromme，cashwagesinadvance，topoleupathousandpoundsofgrub？”
CurlyParsonsandanother，PatMonahan，accepted，and，withhiscustomaryspeed，Daylightpaidthemtheirwagesinadvanceandarrangedthepurchaseofthesupplies，thoughheemptiedhissackindoingso。HewasleavingtheSourdough，whenhesuddenlyturnedbacktothebarfromthedoor。”Gotanotherhunch？”wasthequery。”Isurehave，”heanswered。”Flour’ssuregoingtobeworthwhatamanwillpayforitthiswinterupontheKlondike。Who’lllendmesomemoney？”
Ontheinstantascoreofthemenwhohaddeclinedtoaccompanyhimonthewild-goosechasewerecrowdingabouthimwithprofferedgold-sacks。”Howmuchflourdoyouwant？”askedtheAlaskaCommercialCompany’sstorekeeper。”Abouttwoton。”
Theprofferedgold-sackswerenotwithdrawn，thoughtheirownerswereguiltyofanoutrageousburstofmerriment。”Whatareyougoingtodowithtwotons？”thestore-keeperdemanded。”Son，”Daylightmadereply，”you-allain’tbeeninthiscountrylongenoughtoknowallitscurves。I’mgoingtostartasauerkrautfactoryandcombineddandruffremedy。”
Heborrowedmoneyrightandleft，engagingandpayingsixothermentobringuptheflourinhalfasmanymorepoling-boats。Againhissackwasempty，andhewasheavilyindebt。
CurlyParsonsbowedhisheadonthebarwithagestureofdespair。”Whatgetsme，”hemoaned，”iswhatyou’regoingtodowithitall。””I’lltellyou-allinsimpleA，B，Candone，two，three。”Daylighthelduponefingerandbegancheckingoff。”Hunchnumberone:abigstrikecominginUpperCountry。Hunchnumbertwo:Carmack’smadeit。Hunchnumberthree:ain’tnohunchatall。It’sacinch。Ifoneandtwoisright，thenflourjusthastogosky-high。IfI’mridinghunchesoneandtwo，Ijustgottoridethiscinch，whichisnumberthree。IfI’mright，flour’llbalancegoldonthescalesthiswinter。Itellyou-allboys，whenyou-allgotahunch，playitforallit’sworth。What’sluckgoodfor，ifyou-allain’ttorideit？Andwhenyou-allrideit，ridelikehell。I’vebeenyearsinthiscountry，justwaitingfortherighthunchtocomealong。Andheresheis。Well，I’mgoingtoplayher，that’sall。Goodnight，you-all；goodnight。”BurningDaylight:PartI:ChapterXPartIChapterXStillmenwerewithoutfaithinthestrike。WhenDaylight，withhisheavyoutfitofflour，arrivedatthemouthoftheKlondike，hefoundthebigflatasdesolateandtenantlessasever。Downclosebytheriver，ChiefIsaacandhisIndianswerecampedbesidetheframesonwhichtheyweredryingsalmon。Severalold-timerswerealsoincampthere。HavingfinishedtheirsummerworkonTenMileCreek，theyhadcomedowntheYukon，boundforCircleCity。ButatSixtyMiletheyhadlearnedofthestrike，andstoppedofftolookovertheground。TheyhadjustreturnedtotheirboatwhenDaylightlandedhisflour，andtheirreportwaspessimistic。”Damnedmoose-pasture，”quothone，LongJimHarney，pausingtoblowintohistinmugoftea。”Don’tyouhavenothin’todowithit，Daylight。
It’sablamedrottensell。They’rejustgoingthroughthemotionsofastrike。HarperandLadue’sbehindit，andCarmack’sthestool-pigeon。Whoeverheardofminingamoose-pasturehalfamilebetweenrim-rockandGodaloneknowshowfartobed-rock！”
Daylightnoddedsympathetically，andconsideredforaspace。”Didyou-allpanany？”heaskedfinally。”Panhell！”wastheindignantanswer。”ThinkIwasbornyesterday！Onlyachechaquo’dfoolaroundthatpasturelongenoughtofillapanofdirt。
Youdon’tcatchmeatanysuchfoolishness。Onelookwasenoughforme。
We’repullingoninthemorningforCircleCity。Iain’tneverhadfaithinthisUpperCountry。Head-reachesoftheTananaisgoodenoughformefromnowon，andmarkmywords，whenthebigstrikecomes，she’llcomedownriver。Johnny，here，stakedacoupleofmilesbelowDiscovery，buthedon’tknownobetter。”Johnnylookedshamefaced。”Ijustdiditforfun，”heexplained。”I’dgivemychanceinthecreekforapoundofStarplug。””I’llgoyou，”Daylightsaidpromptly。”Butdon’tyou-allcomesquealingifItaketwentyorthirtythousandoutofit。”
Johnnygrinnedcheerfully。”Gimmethetobacco，”hesaid。”WishI’dstakedalongside，”LongJimmurmuredplaintively。”Itain’ttoolate，”Daylightreplied。”Butit’satwenty-milewalkthereandback。””I’llstakeitforyouto-morrowwhenIgoup，”Daylightoffered。”ThenyoudothesameasJohnny。GetthefeesfromTimLogan。He’stendingbarintheSourdough，andhe’lllendittome。Thenfillinyourownname，transfertome，andturnthepapersovertoTim。””Me，too，”chimedinthethirdold-timer。
AndforthreepoundsofStarplugchewingtobacco，Daylightboughtoutrightthreefive-hundred-footclaimsonBonanza。Hecouldstillstakeanotherclaiminhisownname，theothersbeingmerelytransfers。”Mustsayyou’realmightybrashwithyourchewin’tobacco，”LongJimgrinned。”Gotafactorysomewheres？””Nope，butIgotahunch，”wastheretort，”andItellyou-allit’scheaperthandirttorideherattherateofthreeplugsforthreeclaims。”
Butanhourlater，athisowncamp，JoeLaduestrodein，freshfromBonanzaCreek。Atfirst，non-committaloverCarmack’sstrike，then，later，dubious，hefinallyofferedDaylightahundreddollarsforhisshareinthetownsite。”Cash？”Daylightqueried。”Sure。Theresheis。”
Sosaying，Laduepulledouthisgold-sack。Daylighthefteditabsent-mindedly，and，stillabsent-mindedly，untiedthestringsandransomeofthegold-dustoutonhispalm。Itshoweddarkerthananydusthehadeverseen，withtheexceptionofCarmack’s。Heranthegoldbacktiedthemouthofthesack，andreturnedittoLadue。”Iguessyou-allneeditmore’nIdo，”wasDaylight’scomment。”Nope；gotplentymore，”theotherassuredhim。”Wherethatcomefrom？”
Daylightwasallinnocenceasheaskedthequestion，andLaduereceivedthequestionasstolidlyasanIndian。Yetforaswiftinstanttheylookedintoeachother’seyes，andinthatinstantanintangiblesomethingseemedtoflashoutfromallthebodyandspiritofJoeLadue。AnditseemedtoDaylightthathehadcaughtthisflash，sensedasecretsomethingintheknowledgeandplansbehindtheother’seyes。”You-allknowthecreekbetter’nme，”Daylightwenton。”Andifmyshareinthetownsite’sworthahundredtoyou-allwithwhatyou-allknow，it’sworthahundredtomewhetherIknowitornot。””I’llgiveyouthreehundred，”Ladueoffereddesperately。”Stillthesamereasoning。NomatterwhatIdon’tknow，it’sworthtomewhateveryou-allarewillingtopayforit。”
ThenitwasthatJoeLadueshamelesslygaveover。HeledDaylightawayfromthecampandmenandtoldhimthingsinconfidence。”She’ssurethere，”hesaidinconclusion。”Ididn’tsluiceit，orcradleit。Ipannedit，allinthatsack，yesterday，ontherim-rock。Itellyou，youcanshakeitoutofthegrassroots。Andwhat’sonbed-rockdowninthebottomofthecreektheyain’tnowayoftellin’。Butshe’sbig，I
tellyou，big。Keepitquiet，andlocateallyoucan。It’sinspots，butIwouldn’tbenonesurprisedifsomeofthemclaimsyieldedashighasfiftythousand。Theonlytroubleisthatit’sspotted。”********************
Amonthpassedby，andBonanzaCreekremainedquiet。Asprinklingofmenhadstaked；butmostofthem，afterstaking，hadgoneondowntoFortyMileandCircleCity。Thefewthatpossessedsufficientfaithtoremainwerebusybuildinglogcabinsagainstthecomingofwinter。CarmackandhisIndianrelativeswereoccupiedinbuildingasluiceboxandgettingaheadofwater。Theworkwasslow，fortheyhadtosawtheirlumberbyhandfromthestandingforest。ButfartherdownBonanzawerefourmenwhohaddriftedinfromupriver，DanMcGilvary，DaveMcKay，DaveEdwards，andHarryWaugh。Theywereaquietparty，neitheraskingnorgivingconfidences，andtheyherdedbythemselves。ButDaylight，whohadpannedthespottedrimofCarmack’sclaimandshakencoarsegoldfromthegrass-roots，andwhohadpannedtherimatahundredotherplacesupanddownthelengthofthecreekandfoundnothing，wascurioustoknowwhatlayonbed-rock。
Hehadnotedthefourquietmensinkingashaftclosebythestream，andhehadheardtheirwhip-sawgoingastheymadelumberforthesluiceboxes。
Hedidnotwaitforaninvitation，buthewaspresentthefirstdaytheysluiced。Andattheendoffivehours’shovellingforoneman，hesawthemtakeoutthirteenouncesandahalfofgold。
Itwascoarsegold，runningfrompinheadstoatwelve-dollarnugget，andithadcomefromoffbed-rock。Thefirstfallsnowwasflyingthatday，andtheArcticwinterwasclosingdown；butDaylighthadnoeyesforthebleak-graysadnessofthedying，short-livedsummer。Hesawhisvisioncomingtrue，andonthebigflatwasuprearedanewhisgoldencityofthesnows。Goldhadbeenfoundonbed-rock。Thatwasthebigthing。Carmack’sstrikewasassured。Daylightstakedaclaiminhisownnameadjoiningthethreehehadpurchasedwithhisplugtobacco。Thisgavehimablockofpropertytwothousandfeetlongandextendinginwidthfromrim-rocktorim-rock。
ReturningthatnighttohiscampatthemouthofKlondike，hefoundinitKama，theIndianhehadleftatDyea。Kamawastravellingbycanoe，bringinginthelastmailoftheyear。Inhispossessionwassometwohundreddollarsingold-dust，whichDaylightimmediatelyborrowed。Inreturn，hearrangedtostakeaclaimforhim，whichhewastorecordwhenhepassedthroughFortyMile。WhenKamadepartednextmorning，hecarriedanumberoflettersforDaylight，addressedtoalltheold-timersdownriver，inwhichtheywereurgedtocomeupimmediatelyandstake。
AlsoKamacarriedlettersofsimilarimport，givenhimbytheothermenonBonanza。”Itwillsurebethegosh-dangdeststampedethateverwas，”Daylightchuckled，ashetriedtovisiontheexcitedpopulationsofFortyMileandCircleCitytumblingintopoling-boatsandracingthehundredsofmilesuptheYukon；forheknewthathiswordwouldbeunquestioninglyaccepted。
Withthearrivalofthefirststampeders，BonanzaCreekwokeup，andthereuponbeganalong-distanceracebetweenunveracityandtruth，wherein，lienomatterhowfast，menwerecontinuallyovertakenandpassedbytruth。
WhenmenwhodoubtedCarmack’sreportoftwoandahalftothepan，themselvespannedtwoandahalf，theyliedandsaidthattheyweregettinganounce。
Andlongeretheliewasfairlyonitsway，theyweregettingnotoneouncebutfiveounces。Thistheyclaimedwastenounces；butwhentheyfilledapanofdirttoprovethelie，theywashedouttwelveounces。Andsoitwent。Theycontinuedvaliantlytolie，butthetruthcontinuedtooutrunthem。
OnedayinDecemberDaylightfilledapanfrombedrockonhisownclaimandcarrieditintohiscabin。Hereafireburnedandenabledhimtokeepwaterunfrozeninacanvastank。Hesquattedoverthetankandbegantowash。Earthandgravelseemedtofillthepan。Asheimpartedtoitacircularmovement，thelighter，coarserparticleswashedoutovertheedge。Attimeshecombedthesurfacewithhisfingers，rakingouthandfulsofgravel。
Thecontentsofthepandiminished。Asitdrewneartothebottom，forthepurposeoffleetingandtentativeexamination，hegavethepanasuddensloshingmovement，emptyingitofwater。Andthewholebottomshowedasifcoveredwithbutter。Thustheyellowgoldflashedupasthemuddywaterwasflirtedaway。Itwasgold——gold-dust，coarsegold，nuggets，largenuggets。
Hewasallalone。Hesetthepandownforamomentandthoughtlongthoughts。
Thenhefinishedthewashing，andweighedtheresultinhisscales。Attherateofsixteendollarstotheounce，thepanhadcontainedsevenhundredandodddollars。Itwasbeyondanythingthatevenhehaddreamed。Hisfondestanticipation’shadgonenofartherthantwentyorthirtythousanddollarstoaclaim；butherewereclaimsworthhalfamillioneachattheleast，eveniftheywerespotted。
Hedidnotgobacktoworkintheshaftthatday，northenext，northenext。Instead，cappedandmittened，alightstampedingoutfit，includinghisrabbitskinrobe，strappedonhisback，hewasoutandawayonamany-days’
trampovercreeksanddivides，inspectingthewholeneighboringterritory。
Oneachcreekhewasentitledtolocateoneclaim，buthewascharyinthussurrenderinguphischances。OnHunkerCreekonlydidhestakeaclaim。
BonanzaCreekhefoundstakedfrommouthtosource，whileeverylittledrawandpupandgulchthatdrainedintoitwaslike-wisestaked。Littlefaithwashadintheseside-streams。TheyhadbeenstakedbythehundredsofmenwhohadfailedtogetinonBonanza。ThemostpopularofthesecreekswasAdams。TheoneleastfanciedwasEldorado，whichflowedintoBonanza，justaboveKarmack’sDiscoveryclaim。EvenDaylightdislikedthelooksofEldorado；but，stillridinghishunch，heboughtahalfshareinoneclaimonitforhalfasackofflour。Amonthlaterhepaideighthundreddollarsfortheadjoiningclaim。Threemonthslater，enlargingthisblockofproperty，hepaidfortythousandforathirdclaim；and，thoughitwasconcealedinthefuture，hewasdestined，notlongafter，topayonehundredandfiftythousandforafourthclaimonthecreekthathadbeentheleastlikedofallthecreeks。
Inthemeantime，andfromthedayhewashedsevenhundreddollarsfromasinglepanandsquattedoveritandthoughtalongthought，heneveragaintouchedhandtopickandshovel。AshesaidtoJoeLaduethenightofthatwonderfulwashing:-”Joe，Iain’tnevergoingtoworkhardagain。Here’swhereIbegintousemybrains。I’mgoingtofarmgold。Goldwillgrowgoldifyou-allhavethesavveeandcangetholdofsomeforseed。WhenIseenthemsevenhundreddollarsinthebottomofthepan，IknewIhadtheseedatlast。””Whereareyougoingtoplantit？”JoeLaduehadasked。
AndDaylight，withawaveofhishand，definitelyindicatedthewholelandscapeandthecreeksthatlaybeyondthedivides。”Theresheis，”hesaid，”andyou-alljustwatchmysmoke。There’smillionshereforthemanwhocanseethem。AndIseenallthemmillionsthisafternoonwhenthemsevenhundreddollarspeepedupatmefromthebottomofthepanandchirruped，’Well，ifhereain’tBurningDaylightcomeatlast。’”BurningDaylight:PartI:ChapterXIPartIChapterXITheherooftheYukonintheyoungerdaysbeforetheCarmackstrike，BurningDaylightnowbecametheheroofthestrike。Thestoryofhishunchandhowherodeitwastoldupanddowntheland。Certainlyhehadriddenitfarandawaybeyondtheboldest，fornofiveoftheluckiestheldthevalueinclaimsthatheheld。And，furthermore，hewasstillridingthehunch，andwithnodiminutionofdaring。Thewiseonesshooktheirheadsandprophesiedthathewouldloseeveryouncehehadwon。Hewasspeculating，theycontended，asifthewholecountrywasmadeofgold，andnomancouldwinwhoplayedaplacerstrikeinthatfashion。
Ontheotherhand，hisholdingswerereckonedasworthmillions，andthereweremensosanguinethattheyheldthemanafoolwhocoppered[6]
anybetDaylightlaid。Behindhismagnificentfree-handednessandcarelessdisregardformoneywerehard，practicaljudgment，imaginationandvision，andthedaringofthebiggambler。Heforesawwhatwithhisowneyeshehadneverseen，andheplayedtowinmuchorloseall。
[6]Tocopper:aterminfaro，meaningtoplayacardtolose。”There’stoomuchgoldhereinBonanzatobejustapocket，”heargued。”It’ssurecomefromamother-lodesomewhere，andothercreekswillshowup。You-allkeepyoureyesonIndianRiver。ThecreeksthatdrainthatsidetheKlondikewatershedarejustaslikelytohavegoldasthecreeksthatdrainthisside。”
Andhebackedthisopiniontotheextentofgrub-stakinghalfadozenpartiesofprospectorsacrossthebigdivideintotheIndianRiverregion。
Othermen，themselvesfailingtostakeonluckycreeks，heputtoworkonhisBonanzaclaims。Andhepaidthemwell——sixteendollarsadayforaneight-hourshift，andheranthreeshifts。Hehadgrubtostartthemon，andwhen，onthelastwater，theBellaarrivedloadedwithprovisions，hetradedawarehousesitetoJackKearnsforasupplyofgrubthatlastedallhismenthroughthewinterof1896。Andthatwinter，whenfaminepinched，andfloursoldfortwodollarsapound，hekeptthreeshiftsofmenatworkonallfouroftheBonanzaclaims。Othermine-ownerspaidfifteendollarsadaytotheirmen；buthehadbeenthefirsttoputmentowork，andfromthefirsthepaidthemafullounceaday。Oneresultwasthathiswerepickedmen，andtheymorethanearnedtheirhigherpay。
Oneofhiswildestplaystookplaceintheearlywinterafterthefreeze-up。
Hundredsofstampeders，afterstakingonothercreeksthanBonanza，hadgoneondisgruntleddownrivertoFortyMileandCircleCity。DaylightmortgagedoneofhisBonanzadumpswiththeAlaskaCommercialCompany，andtuckedaletterofcreditintohispouch。Thenheharnessedhisdogsandwentdownontheiceatapacethatonlyhecouldtravel。OneIndiandown，anotherIndianback，andfourteamsofdogswashisrecord。AndatFortyMileandCircleCityheboughtclaimsbythescore。Manyoftheseweretoproveutterlyworthless，butsomefewofthemweretoshowupmoreastoundinglythananyonBonanza。Heboughtrightandleft，payingaslowasfiftydollarsandashighasfivethousand。ThishighestoneheboughtintheTivoliSaloon。ItwasanupperclaimonEldorado，andwhenheagreedtotheprice，JacobWilkins，anold-timerjustreturnedfromalookatthemoose-pasture，gotupandlefttheroom，saying:-”Daylight，I’veknownyousevenyear，andyou’vealwaysseemedsensibletillnow。Andnowyou’rejustlettingthemrobyourightandleft。That’swhatitis——robbery。Fivethousandforaclaimonthatdamnedmoose-pastureisbunco。Ijustcan’tstayintheroomandseeyoubuncoedthatway。””Itellyou-all，”Daylightanswered，”Wilkins，Carmack’sstrike’ssobigthatwe-allcan’tseeitall。It’salottery。EveryclaimIbuyisaticket。Andthere’ssuregoingtobesomecapitalprizes。”
JacobWilkins，standingintheopendoor，sniffedincredulously。”Nowsupposing，Wilkins，”Daylightwenton，”supposingyou-allknewitwasgoingtorainsoup。What’dyou-alldo？Buyspoons，ofcourse。Well，I’msurebuyingspoons。She’sgoingtorainsoupupthereontheKlondike，andthemthathasforkswon’tbecatchingnoneofit。”
ButWilkinshereslammedthedoorbehindhim，andDaylightbrokeofftofinishthepurchaseoftheclaim。
BackinDawson，thoughheremainedtruetohiswordandnevertouchedhandtopickandshovel，heworkedashardaseverinhislife。Hehadathousandironsinthefire，andtheykepthimbusy。Representationworkwasexpensive，andhewascompelledtotraveloftenoverthevariouscreeksinordertodecidewhichclaimsshouldlapseandwhichshouldberetained。
Aquartzminerhimselfinhisearlyyouth，beforecomingtoAlaska，hedreamedoffindingthemother-lode。Aplacercampheknewwasephemeral，whileaquartzcampabided，andhekeptascoreofmeninthequestformonths。Themother-lodewasneverfound，and，yearsafterward，heestimatedthatthesearchforithadcosthimfiftythousanddollars。
Buthewasplayingbig。Heavyaswerehisexpenses，hewonmoreheavily。
Hetooklays，boughthalfshares，sharedwiththemenhegrub-staked，andmadepersonallocations。Dayandnighthisdogswereready，andheownedthefastestteams；sothatwhenastampedetoanewdiscoverywason，itwasBurningDaylighttotheforethroughthelongest，coldestnightstillheblazedhisstakesnexttoDiscovery。Inonewayoranothertosaynothingofthemanyworthlesscreekshecameintopossessionofpropertiesonthegoodcreeks，suchasSulphur，Dominion，Excelsis，Siwash，Cristo，Alhambra，andDoolittle。Thethousandshepouredoutflowedbackintensofthousands。
FortyMilementoldthestoryofhistwotonsofflour，andmadecalculationsofwhatithadreturnedhimthatrangedfromhalfamilliontoamillion。
Onethingwasknownbeyondalldoubt，namely，thatthehalfshareinthefirstEldoradoclaim，boughtbyhimforahalfsackofflour，wasworthfivehundredthousand。Ontheotherhand，itwastoldthatwhenFreda，thedancer，arrivedfromoverthepassesinaPeterboroughcanoeinthemidstofadriveofmush-iceontheYukon，andwhensheofferedathousanddollarsfortensacksandcouldfindnosellers，hesenttheflourtoherasapresentwithouteverseeingher。InthesamewaytensacksweresenttotheloneCatholicpriestwhowasstartingthefirsthospital。
Hisgenerositywaslavish。Otherscalleditinsane。Atatimewhen，ridinghishunch，hewasgettinghalfamillionforhalfasackofflour，itwasnothinglessthaninsanitytogivetwentywholesackstoadancing-girlandapriest。Butitwashisway。Moneywasonlyamarker。Itwasthegamethatcountedwithhim。Thepossessionofmillionsmadelittlechangeinhim，exceptthatheplayedthegamemorepassionately。Temperateashehadalwaysbeen，saveonrareoccasions，nowthathehadthewherewithalforunlimiteddrinksandhaddailyaccesstothem，hedrankevenless。
Themostradicalchangelayinthat，exceptwhenontrail，henolongerdidhisowncooking。Abroken-downminerlivedinhislogcabinwithhimandnowcookedforhim。Butitwasthesamefood:bacon，beans，flour，prunes，driedfruits，andrice。Hestilldressedasformerly:overalls，Germansocks，moccasins，flannelshirt，furcap，andblanketcoat。Hedidnottakeupwithcigars，whichcost，thecheapest，fromhalfadollartoadollareach。ThesameBullDurhamandbrown-papercigarette，hand-rolled，contentedhim。Itwastruethathekeptmoredogs，andpaidenormouspricesforthem。Theywerenotaluxury，butamatterofbusiness。Heneededspeedinhistravellingandstampeding。Andbythesametoken，hehiredacook。
Hewastoobusytocookforhimself，thatwasall。Itwaspoorbusiness，playingformillions，tospendtimebuildingfiresandboilingwater。
Dawsongrewrapidlythatwinterof1896。MoneypouredinonDaylightfromthesaleoftownlots。Hepromptlyinvesteditwhereitwouldgathermore。Infact，heplayedthedangerousgameofpyramiding，andnomoreperilouspyramidingthaninaplacercampcouldbeimagined。Butheplayedwithhiseyeswideopen。”You-alljustwaittillthenewsofthisstrikereachestheOutside，”
hetoldhisold-timercroniesintheMoosehornSaloon。”Thenewswon’tgetouttillnextspring。Thenthere’sgoingtobethreerushes。Asummerrushofmencominginlight；afallrushofmenwithoutfits；andaspringrush，thenextyearafterthat，offiftythousand。You-allwon’tbeabletoseethelandscapeforchechaquos。Well，there’sthesummerandfallrushof1897tocommencewith。Whatareyou-allgoingtodoaboutit？””Whatareyougoingtodoaboutit？”afrienddemanded。”Nothing，”heanswered。”I’vesurealreadydoneit。I’vegotadozengangsstrungoutuptheYukongettingoutlogs。You-all’llseetheirraftscomingdownaftertheriverbreaks。Cabins！Theysurewillbeworthwhatamancanpayforthemnextfall。Lumber！Itwillsuregototop-notch。
I’vegottwosawmillsfreightinginoverthepasses。They’llcomedownassoonasthelakesopenup。Andifyou-allarethinkingofneedinglumber，I’llmakeyou-allcontractsrightnowthreehundreddollarsathousand，undressed。”
Cornerlotsindesirablelocationssoldthatwinterforfromtentothirtythousanddollars。Daylightsentwordoutoverthetrailsandpassesforthenewcomerstobringdownlog-rafts，and，asaresult，thesummerof1897sawhissawmillsworkingdayandnight，onthreeshifts，andstillhehadlogsleftoverwithwhichtobuildcabins。Thesecabins，landincluded，soldatfromonetoseveralthousanddollars。Two-storylogbuildings，inthebusinesspartoftown，broughthimfromfortytofiftythousanddollarsapiece。Thesefreshaccretionsofcapitalwereimmediatelyinvestedinotherventures。Heturnedgoldoverandover，untileverythingthathetouchedseemedtoturntogold。
ButthatfirstwildwinterofCarmack’sstriketaughtDaylightmanythings。Despitetheprodigalityofhisnature，hehadpoise。Hewatchedthelavishwasteofthemushroommillionaires，andfailedquitetounderstandit。Accordingtohisnatureandoutlook，itwasallverywelltotossananteawayinanight’sfrolic。Thatwaswhathehaddonethenightofthepoker-gameinCircleCitywhenhelostfiftythousand——allthathepossessed。
Buthehadlookedonthatfiftythousandasamereante。Whenitcametomillions，itwasdifferent。Suchafortunewasastake，andwasnottobesownonbar-roomfloors，literallysown，flungbroadcastoutofthemoosehidesacksbydrunkenmillionaireswhohadlostallsenseofproportion。
TherewasMcMann，whoranupasinglebar-roombillofthirty-eightthousanddollars；andJimmietheRough，whospentonehundredthousandamonthforfourmonthsinriotousliving，andthenfelldowndrunkinthesnowoneMarchnightandwasfrozentodeath；andSwiftwaterBill，who，afterspendingthreevaluableclaimsinanextravaganceofdebauchery，borrowedthreethousanddollarswithwhichtoleavethecountry，andwho，outofthissum，becausethelady-lovethathadjiltedhimlikedeggs，corneredtheonehundredandtendozeneggsontheDawsonmarket，payingtwenty-fourdollarsadozenforthemandpromptlyfeedingthemtothewolf-dogs。
Champagnesoldatfromfortytofiftydollarsaquart，andcannedoysterstewatfifteendollars。Daylightindulgedinnosuchluxuries。Hedidnotmindtreatingabar-roomofmentowhiskeyatfiftycentsadrink，buttherewassomewhereinhisownextravagantnatureasenseoffitnessandarithmeticthatrevoltedagainstpayingfifteendollarsforthecontentsofanoystercan。Ontheotherhand，hepossiblyspentmoremoneyinrelievinghard-luckcasesthandidthewildestofthenewmillionairesoninsanedebauchery。FatherJudge，ofthehospital，couldhavetoldoffarmoreimportantdonationsthanthatfirsttensacksofflour。Andold-timerswhocametoDaylightinvariablywentawayrelievedaccordingtotheirneed。
Butfiftydollarsforaquartoffizzychampagne！Thatwasappalling。
Andyethestill，onoccasion，madeoneofhisold-timehell-roaringnights。Buthedidsofordifferentreasons。First，itwasexpectedofhimbecauseithadbeenhiswayintheolddays。Andsecond，hecouldaffordit。Buthenolongercaredquitesomuchforthatformofdiversion。Hehaddeveloped，inanewway，thetasteforpower。Ithadbecomealustwithhim。ByfarthewealthiestminerinAlaska，hewantedtobestillwealthier。Itwasabiggamehewasplayingin，andhelikeditbetterthananyothergame。Inaway，thepartheplayedwascreative。Hewasdoingsomething。Andatnotime，strikinganotherchordofhisnature，couldhetakethejoyinamillion-dollarEldoradodumpthatwasatallequivalenttothejoyhetookinwatchinghistwosawmillsworkingandthebigdownriverlog-raftsswingingintothebankinthebigeddyjustaboveMoosehideMountain。Gold，evenonthescales，was，afterall，anabstraction。Itrepresentedthingsandthepowertodo。Butthesawmillswerethethingsthemselves，concreteandtangible，andtheywerethingsthatwereameanstothedoingofmorethings。Theyweredreamscometrue，hardandindubitablerealizationsoffairygossamers。
WiththesummerrushfromtheOutsidecamespecialcorrespondentsforthebignewspapersandmagazines，andoneandall，usingunlimitedspace，theywroteDaylightup；sothat，sofarastheworldwasconcerned，DaylightloomedthelargestfigureinAlaska。Ofcourse，afterseveralmonths，theworldbecameinterestedintheSpanishWar，andforgotallabouthim；butintheKlondikeitselfDaylightstillremainedthemostprominentfigure。
PassingalongthestreetsofDawson，allheadsturnedtofollowhim，andinthesaloonschechaquoswatchedhimawesomely，scarcelytakingtheireyesfromhimaslongasheremainedintheirrangeofvision。Notalonewashetherichestmaninthecountry，buthewasBurningDaylight，thepioneer，themanwho，almostinthemidstofantiquityofthatyoungland，hadcrossedtheChilcootanddrifteddowntheYukontomeetthoseeldergiants，AlMayoandJackMcQuestion。HewastheBurningDaylightofscoresofwildadventures，themanwhocarriedwordtotheice-boundwhalingfleetacrossthetundrawildernesstotheArcticSea，whoracedthemailfromCircletoSaltWaterandbackagaininsixtydays，whosavedthewholeTananatribefromperishinginthewinterof’91——inshort，themanwhosmotethechechaquos’imaginationsmoreviolentlythananyotherdozenmenrolledintoone。
Hehadthefatalfacilityforself-advertisement。Thingshedid，nomatterhowadventitiousorspontaneous，struckthepopularimaginationasremarkable。Andthelatestthinghehaddonewasalwaysonmen’slips，whetheritwasbeingfirstintheheartbreakingstampedetoDanishCreek，inkillingtherecordbaldfacegrizzlyoveronSulphurCreek，orinwinningthesingle-paddlecanoeraceontheQueen’sBirthday，afterbeingforcedtoparticipateatthelastmomentbythefailureofthesourdoughrepresentativetoappear。Thus，onenightintheMoosehorn，helockedhornswithJackKearnsinthelong-promisedreturngameofpoker。Theskyandeighto’clockinthemorningweremadethelimits，andatthecloseofthegameDaylight’swinningsweretwohundredandthirtythousanddollars。ToJackKearns，alreadyaseveral-timesmillionaire，thislosswasnotvital。Butthewholecommunitywasthrilledbythesizeofthestakes，andeachoneofthedozencorrespondentsinthefieldsentoutasensationalarticle。BurningDaylight:PartI:ChapterXIIPartIChapterXIIDespitehismanysourcesofrevenue，Daylight’spyramidingkepthimpinchedforcashthroughoutthefirstwinter。Thepay-gravel，thawedonbed-rockandhoistedtothesurface，immediatelyfrozeagain。
Thushisdumps，containingseveralmillionsofgold，wereinaccessible。
Notuntilthereturningsunthawedthedumpsandmeltedthewatertowashthemwasheabletohandlethegoldtheycontained。Andthenhefoundhimselfwithasurplusofgold，depositedinthetwonewlyorganizedbanks；andhewaspromptlybesiegedbymenandgroupsofmentoenlisthiscapitalintheirenterprises。
Butheelectedtoplayhisowngame，andheenteredcombinationsonlywhentheyweregenerallydefensiveoroffensive。Thus，thoughhehadpaidthehighestwages，hejoinedtheMine-owners’Association，engineeredthefight，andeffectuallycurbedthegrowinginsubordinationofthewage-earners。
Timeshadchanged。Theolddaysweregoneforever。Thiswasanewera，andDaylight，thewealthymine-owner，wasloyaltohisclassaffiliations。
Itwastrue，theold-timerswhoworkedforhim，inordertobesavedfromthecluboftheorganizedowners，weremadeforemenoverthegangofchechaquos；
butthis，withDaylight，wasamatterofheart，nothead。Inhishearthecouldnotforgettheolddays，whilewithhisheadheplayedtheeconomicgameaccordingtothelatestandmostpracticalmethods。
Butoutsideofsuchgroup-combinationsofexploiters，herefusedtobindhimselftoanyman’sgame。Hewasplayingagreatlonehand，andheneededallhismoneyforhisownbacking。Thenewlyfoundedstock-exchangeinterestedhimkeenly。Hehadneverbeforeseensuchaninstitution，buthewasquicktoseeitsvirtuesandtoutilizeit。Mostofall，itwasgambling，andonmanyanoccasionnotnecessaryfortheadvancementofhisownschemes，he，ashecalledit，wentthestock-exchangeaflutter，outofsheerwantonnessandfun。”Itsurebeatsfaro，”washiscommentoneday，when，afterkeepingtheDawsonspeculatorsinafeverforaweekbyalternatebullingandbearing，heshowedhishandandcleanedupwhatwouldhavebeenafortunetoanyotherman。
Othermen，havingmadetheirstrike，hadheadedsouthfortheStates，takingafurloughfromthegrimArcticbattle。But，askedwhenhewasgoingOutside，Daylightalwayslaughedandsaidwhenhehadfinishedplayinghishand。Healsoaddedthatamanwasafooltoquitagamejustwhenawinninghandhadbeendealthim。
Itwasheldbythethousandsofhero-worshippingchechaquosthatDaylightwasamanabsolutelywithoutfear。ButBettlesandDanMacDonaldandothersourdoughsshooktheirheadsandlaughedastheymentionedwomen。Andtheywereright。Hehadalwaysbeenafraidofthemfromthetime，himselfaladofseventeen，whenQueenAnne，ofJuneau，madeopenandridiculouslovetohim。Forthatmatter，heneverhadknownwomen。Borninamining-campwheretheywererareandmysterious，havingnosisters，hismotherdyingwhilehewasaninfant，hehadneverbeenincontactwiththem。True，runningawayfromQueenAnne，hehadlaterencounteredthemontheYukonandcultivatedanacquaintancewiththem——thepioneeroneswhocrossedthepassesonthetrailofthemenwhohadopenedupthefirstdiggings。Butnolambhadeverwalkedwithawolfingreaterfearandtremblingthanhadhewalkedwiththem。Itwasamatterofmasculinepridethatheshouldwalkwiththem，andhehaddonesoinfairseeming；butwomenhadremainedtohimaclosedbook，andhepreferredagameofsoloorseven-upanytime。
Andnow，knownastheKingoftheKlondike，carryingseveralotherroyaltitles，suchasEldoradoKing，BonanzaKing，theLumberBaron，andthePrinceoftheStampeders，nottoomittheproudestappellationofall，namely，theFatheroftheSourdoughs，hewasmoreafraidofwomenthanever。Asneverbeforetheyheldouttheirarmstohim，andmorewomenwereflockingintothecountrydaybyday。Itmatterednotwhetherhesatatdinnerinthegoldcommissioner’shouse，calledforthedrinksinadancehall，orsubmittedtoaninterviewfromthewomanrepresentativeoftheNewYorkSun，oneandallofthemheldouttheirarms。
Therewasoneexception，andthatwasFreda，thegirlthatdanced，andtowhomhehadgiventheflour。Shewastheonlywomaninwhosecompanyhefeltatease，forshealoneneverreachedoutherarms。Andyetitwasfromherthathewasdestinedtoreceivenexttohisseverestfright。Itcameaboutinthefallof1897。Hewasreturningfromoneofhisdashes，thistimetoinspectHenderson，acreekthatenteredtheYukonjustbelowtheStewart。Winterhadcomeonwitharush，andhefoughthiswaydowntheYukonseventymilesinafrailPeterboroughcanoeinthemidstofarunofmush-ice。Huggingtherim-icethathadalreadysolidlyformed，heshotacrosstheice-spewingmouthoftheKlondikejustintimetoseealonemandancingexcitedlyontherimandpointingintothewater。Next，hesawthefur-cladbodyofawoman，faceunder，sinkinginthemidstofthedrivingmush-ice。Alaneopeningintheswirlofthecurrent，itwasamatterofsecondstodrivethecanoetothespot，reachtotheshoulderinthewater，anddrawthewomangingerlytothecanoe’sside。ItwasFreda。
Andallmightyethavebeenwellwithhim，hadshenot，later，whenbroughtbacktoconsciousness，blazedathimwithangryblueeyesanddemanded:”Whydidyou？Oh，whydidyou？”
Thisworriedhim。Inthenightsthatfollowed，insteadofsinkingimmediatelytosleepaswashiswont，helayawake，visioningherfaceandthatblueblazeofwrath，andconningherwordsoverandover。Theyrangwithsincerity。
Thereproachwasgenuine。Shehadmeantjustwhatshesaid。Andstillhepondered。
Thenexttimeheencounteredhershehadturnedawayfromhimangrilyandcontemptuously。Andyetagain，shecametohimtobeghispardon，andshedroppedahintofamansomewhere，sometime，——shesaidnothow，——whohadleftherwithnodesiretolive。Herspeechwasfrank，butincoherent，andallhegleanedfromitwasthattheevent，whateveritwas，hadhappenedyearsbefore。Also，hegleanedthatshehadlovedtheman。
Thatwasthething——love。Itcausedthetrouble。Itwasmoreterriblethanfrostorfamine。Womenwereallverywell，inthemselvesgoodtolookuponandlikable；butalongcamethisthingcalledlove，andtheyweresearedtothebonebyit，madesoirrationalthatonecouldneverguesswhattheywoulddonext。
ThisFreda-womanwasasplendidcreature，full-bodied，beautiful，andnobody’sfool；butlovehadcomealongandsouredherontheworld，drivinghertotheKlondikeandtosuicidesocompellinglythatshewasmadetohatethemanthatsavedherlife。
Well，hehadescapedlovesofar，justashehadescapedsmallpox；yetthereitwas，ascontagiousassmallpox，andawholelotworseinrunningitscourse。Itmademenandwomendosuchfearfulandunreasonablethings。
Itwaslikedeliriumtremens，onlyworse。Andifhe，Daylight，caughtit，hemighthaveitasbadlyasanyofthem。Itwaslunacy，starklunacy，andcontagiousontopofitall。AhalfdozenyoungfellowswerecrazyoverFreda。Theyallwantedtomarryher。Yetshe，inturn，wascrazyoverthatsomeotherfellowontheothersideoftheworld，andwouldhavenothingtodowiththem。
ButitwaslefttotheVirgintogivehimhisfinalfright。Shewasfoundonemorningdeadinhercabin。Ashotthroughtheheadhaddoneit，andshehadleftnomessage，noexplanation。Thencamethetalk。Somewit，voicingpublicopinion，calleditacaseoftoomuchDaylight。Shehadkilledherselfbecauseofhim。Everybodyknewthis，andsaidso。Thecorrespondentswroteitup，andoncemoreBurningDaylight，KingoftheKlondike，wassensationallyfeaturedintheSundaysupplementsoftheUnitedStates。
TheVirginhadstraightenedup，sothefeature-storiesran，andcorrectlyso。NeverhadsheenteredaDawsonCitydance-hall。WhenshefirstarrivedfromCircleCity，shehadearnedherlivingbywashingclothes。Next，shehadboughtasewing-machineandmademen’sdrillparkas，furcaps，andmoosehidemittens。ThenshehadgoneasaclerkintotheFirstYukonBank。
Allthis，andmore，wasknownandtold，thoughoneandallwereagreedthatDaylight，whilethecause，hadbeentheinnocentcauseofheruntimelyend。
AndtheworstofitwasthatDaylightknewitwastrue。Alwayswouldherememberthatlastnighthehadseenher。Hehadthoughtnothingofitatthetime；but，lookingback，hewashauntedbyeverylittlethingthathadhappened。Inthelightofthetragicevent，hecouldunderstandeverything——herquietness，thatcalmcertitudeasifallvexingquestionsoflivinghadbeensmoothedoutandweregone，andthatcertainetherealsweetnessaboutallthatshehadsaidanddonethathadbeenalmostmaternal。
Herememberedthewayshehadlookedathim，howshehadlaughedwhenhenarratedMickeyDolan’smistakeinstakingthefractiononSkookumGulch。
Herlaughterhadbeenlightlyjoyous，whileatthesametimeithadlackeditsoldtimerobustness。Notthatshehadbeengraveorsubdued。Onthecontrary，shehadbeensopatentlycontent，sofilledwithpeace。