\"Andshesaid：’Youaremyman，Charley，andIhavebeenagoodwomantoyou。AndinallthedaysIhavemadeyourfire，andcookedyourfood，andfedyourdogs，andliftedpaddleorbrokentrail，Ihavenotcomplained。NordidIsaythattherewasmorewarmthinthelodgeofmyfather，orthattherewasmoregrubontheChilcat。Whenyouhavespoken，Ihavelistened。Whenyouhaveordered，Ihaveobeyed。Isitnotso，Charley？’
\"AndIsaid：’Ay，itisso。’
\"Andshesaid：’WhenfirstyoucametotheChilcat，norlookeduponme，butboughtmeasamanbuysadog，andtookmeaway，myheartwashardagainstyouandfilledwithbitternessandfear。
Butthatwaslongago。Foryouwerekindtome，Charley，asagoodmaniskindtohisdog。Yourheartwascold，andtherewasnoroomforme;yetyoudealtmefairandyourwayswerejust。
AndIwaswithyouwhenyoudidbolddeedsandledgreatventures，andImeasuredyouagainstthemenofotherbreeds，andIsawyoustoodamongthemfullofhonor，andyourwordwaswise，yourtonguetrue。AndIgrewproudofyou，tillitcamethatyoufilledallmyheart，andallmythoughtwasofyou。Youwereasthemidsummersun，whenitsgoldentrailrunsinacircleandneverleavesthesky。AndwhateverwayIcastmyeyesIbeheldthesun。Butyourheartwasevercold，Charley，andtherewasnoroom。’
\"AndIsaid：’Itisso。Itwascold，andtherewasnoroom。Butthatispast。Nowmyheartislikethesnowfallinthespring，whenthesunhascomeback。Thereisagreatthawandabending，asoundofrunningwaters，andabuddingandsproutingofgreenthings。Andthereisdrummingofpartridges，andsongsofrobins，andgreatmusic，forthewinterisbroken，Passuk，andIhavelearnedtheloveofwoman。’
\"Shesmiledandmovedformetodrawhercloser。Andshesaid，’I
amglad。’Afterthatshelayquietforalongtime，breathingsoftly，herheaduponmybreast。Thenshewhispered：’Thetrailendshere，andIamtired。ButfirstIwouldspeakofotherthings。Inthelongago，whenIwasagirlontheChilcat，I
playedaloneamongtheskinbalesofmyfather’slodge;forthemenwereawayonthehunt，andthewomenandboysweredragginginthemeat。Itwasinthespring，andIwasalone。Agreatbrownbear，justawakefromhiswinter’ssleep，hungry，hisfurhangingtothebonesinflapsofleanness，shovedhisheadwithinthelodgeandsaid，\"Oof！\"Mybrothercamerunningbackwiththefirstsledofmeat。Andhefoughtthebearwithburningsticksfromthefire，andthedogsintheirharnesses，withthesledbehindthem，felluponthebear。Therewasagreatbattleandmuchnoise。Theyrolledinthefire，theskinbaleswerescattered，thelodgeoverthrown。Butintheendthebearlaydead，withthefingersofmybrotherinhismouthandthemarksofhisclawsuponmybrother’sface。DidyoumarktheIndianbythePellytrail，hismittenwhichhadnothumb，hishandwhichhewarmedbyourfire？Hewasmybrother。AndIsaidheshouldhavenogrub。AndhewentawayintheSilencewithoutgrub。’
\"This，mybrothers，wastheloveofPassuk，whodiedinthesnow，bytheCaribouCrossing。Itwasamightylove，forshedeniedherbrotherforthemanwholedherawayonwearytrailstoabitterend。And，further，suchwasthiswoman’slove，shedeniedherself。Erehereyesclosedforthelasttimeshetookmyhandandslippeditunderhersquirrel—skinparkatoherwaist。Ifeltthereawell—filledpouch，andlearnedthesecretofherloststrength。Daybydaywehadsharedfair，tothelastleastbit;
anddaybydaybuthalfhersharehadsheeaten。Theotherhalfhadgoneintothewell—filledpouch。
\"Andshesaid：’ThisistheendofthetrailforPassuk;butyourtrail，Charley，leadsonandon，overthegreatChilcoot，downtoHainesMissionandthesea。Anditleadsonandon，bythelightofmanysuns，overunknownlandsandstrangewaters，anditisfullofyearsandhonorsandgreatglories。Itleadsyoutothelodgesofmanywomen，andgoodwomen，butitwillneverleadyoutoagreaterlovethantheloveofPassuk。’
\"AndIknewthewomanspoketrue。Butamadnesscameuponme，andIthrewthewell—filledpouchfromme，andsworethatmytrailhadreachedanend，tillhertiredeyesgrewsoftwithtears，andshesaid：’AmongmenhasSitkaCharleywalkedinhonor，andeverhashiswordbeentrue。Doesheforgetthathonornow，andtalkvainwordsbytheCaribouCrossing？DoesheremembernomorethemenofFortyMile，whogavehimoftheirgrubthebest，oftheirdogsthepick？EverhasPassukbeenproudofherman。Lethimlifthimselfup，girdonhissnow—shoes，andbegone，thatshemaystillkeepherpride。’
\"AndwhenshegrewcoldinmyarmsIarose，andsoughtoutthewell—filledpouch，andgirtonmysnowshoes，andstaggeredalongthetrail;fortherewasaweaknessinmyknees，andmyheadwasdizzy，andinmyearstherewasaroaring，andaflashingoffireuponmyeyes。Theforgottentrailsofboyhoodcamebacktome。I
satbythefullpotsofthepotlachfeast，andraisedmyvoiceinsong，anddancedtothechantingofthemenandmaidensandtheboomingofthewalrusdrums。AndPassukheldmyhandandwalkedbymyside。WhenIlaiddowntosleep，shewakedme。WhenI
stumbledandfell，sheraisedme。WhenIwanderedinthedeepsnow，sheledmebacktothetrail。Andinthiswise，likeamanbereftofreason，whoseesstrangevisionsandwhosethoughtsarelightwithwine，IcametoHainesMissionbythesea。\"
SitkaCharleythrewbackthetent—flaps。Itwasmidday。Tothesouth，justclearingthebleakHendersonDivide，poisedthecold—
diskedsun。Oneitherhandthesun—dogsblazed。Theairwasagossamerofglitteringfrost。Intheforeground，besidethetrail，awolf—dog，bristlingwithfrost，thrustalongsnoutheavenwardandmourned。
WHERETHETRAILFORKS
\"MustI，then，mustI，then，nowleavethistown—
Andyou，mylove，stayhere？\"——SchwabianFolk—song。
Thesinger，clean—facedandcheery—eyed，bentoverandaddedwatertoapotofsimmeringbeans，andthen，rising，astickoffirewoodinhand，drovebackthecirclingdogsfromthegrub—boxandcooking—gear。Hewasblueofeye，andhislonghairwasgolden，anditwasapleasuretolookuponhislustyfreshness。Anewmoonwasthrustingadimhornabovethewhitelineofclose—packedsnow—cappedpineswhichringedthecampandsegregateditfromalltheworld。Overhead，soclearitwasandcold，thestarsdancedwithquick，pulsatingmovements。Tothesoutheastanevanescentgreenishglowheraldedtheopeningrevelsoftheauroraborealis。
Twomen，intheimmediateforeground，layuponthebearskinwhichwastheirbed。Betweentheskinandnakedsnowwasasix—inchlayerofpineboughs。Theblanketswererolledback。Forshelter，therewasaflyattheirbacks，——asheetofcanvasstretchedbetweentwotreesandanglingatforty—fivedegrees。
Thiscaughttheradiatingheatfromthefireandflungitdownupontheskin。Anothermansatonasled，drawnclosetotheblaze，mendingmoccasins。Totheright，aheapoffrozengravelandarudewindlassdenotedwheretheytoiledeachdayindismalgropingforthepay—streak。Totheleft，fourpairsofsnowshoesstooderect，showingthemodeoftravelwhichobtainedwhenthestampedsnowofthecampwasleftbehind。
ThatSchwabianfolk—songsoundedstrangelypatheticunderthecoldnorthernstars，anddidnotdothemengoodwholoungedaboutthefireafterthetoiloftheday。Itputadullacheintotheirhearts，andayearningwhichwasakintobelly—hunger，andsenttheirsoulsquestingsouthwardacrossthedividestothesun—
lands。
\"FortheloveofGod，Sigmund，shutup！\"expostulatedoneofthemen。Hishandswereclenchedpainfully，buthehidthemfromsightinthefoldsofthebearskinuponwhichhelay。
\"Andwhatfor，DaveWertz？\"Sigmunddemanded。\"WhyshallInotsingwhentheheartisglad？\"
\"Becauseyou’vegotnocallto，that’swhy。Lookaboutyou，man，andthinkofthegrubwe’vebeendefilingourbodieswithforthelasttwelvemonth，andthewaywe’velivedandworkedlikebeasts！\"
Thusabjured，Sigmund，thegolden—haired，surveyeditall，andthefrost—rimmedwolf—dogsandthevaporbreathsofthemen。\"Andwhyshallnottheheartbeglad？\"helaughed。\"Itisgood;itisallgood。Asforthegrub——\"Hedoubleduphisarmandcaressedtheswellingbiceps。\"Andifwehavelivedandworkedlikebeasts，havewenotbeenpaidlikekings？Twentydollarstothepanthestreakisrunning，andweknowittobeeightfeetthick。ItisanotherKlondike——andweknowit——JimHawesthere，byyourelbow，knowsitandcomplainsnot。Andthere’sHitchcock！Hesewsmoccasinslikeanoldwoman，andwaitsagainstthetime。Onlyyoucan’twaitandworkuntilthewash—upinthespring。Thenweshallallberich，richaskings，onlyyoucannotwait。YouwanttogobacktotheStates。SodoI，andIwasbornthere，butI
canwait，wheneachdaythegoldinthepanshowsupyellowasbutterinthechurning。Butyouwantyourgoodtime，and，likeachild，youcryforitnow。Bah！WhyshallInotsing：
\"Inayear，inayear，whenthegrapesareripe，Ishallstaynomoreaway。
Thenifyoustillaretrue，mylove，Itwillbeourweddingday。
Inayear，inayear，whenmytimeispast，ThenI’llliveinyourloveforaye。
Thenifyoustillaretrue，mylove，Itwillbeourweddingday。\"
Thedogs，bristlingandgrowling，drewinclosertothefirelight。
Therewasamonotonouscrunch—crunchofwebbedshoes，andbetweeneachcrunchthedraggingforwardoftheheeloftheshoelikethesoundofsiftingsugar。Sigmundbrokeofffromhissongtohurloathsandfirewoodattheanimals。Thenthelightwaspartedbyafur—cladfigure，andanIndiangirlslippedoutofthewebs，threwbackthehoodofhersquirrel—skinparka，andstoodintheirmidst。Sigmundandthemenonthebearskingreetedheras\"Sipsu，\"withthecustomary\"Hello，\"butHitchcockmaderoomonthesledthatshemightsitbesidehim。
\"Andhowgoesit，Sipsu？\"heasked，talking，afterherfashion，inbrokenEnglishandbastardChinook。\"Isthehungerstillmightyinthecamp？andhasthewitchdoctoryetfoundthecausewhereforegameisscarceandnomooseintheland？\"
\"Yes;evenso。Thereislittlegame，andwepreparetoeatthedogs。Alsohasthewitchdoctorfoundthecauseofallthisevil，andto—morrowwillhemakesacrificeandcleansethecamp。\"
\"Andwhatdoesthesacrificechancetobe？——anew—bornbabeorsomepoordevilofasquaw，oldandshaky，whoisacaretothetribeandbetteroutoftheway？\"
\"Itchancednotthatwise;fortheneedwasgreat，andhechosenoneotherthanthechief’sdaughter;noneotherthanI，Sipsu。\"
\"Hell！\"ThewordroseslowlytoHitchcock’slips，andbrimmedoverfullanddeep，inawaywhichbespokewonderandconsideration。
\"Whereforewestandbyaforkingofthetrail，youandI，\"shewentoncalmly，\"andIhavecomethatwemaylookoncemoreuponeachother，andoncemoreonly。\"
Shewasbornofprimitivestock，andprimitivehadbeenhertraditionsandherdays;sosheregardedlifestoically，andhumansacrificeaspartofthenaturalorder。Thepowerswhichruledtheday—lightandthedark，thefloodandthefrost，theburstingofthebudandthewitheringoftheleaf，wereangryandinneedofpropitiation。Thistheyexactedinmanyways，——deathinthebadwater，throughthetreacherousice—crust，bythegripofthegrizzly，orawastingsicknesswhichfelluponamaninhisownlodgetillhecoughed，andthelifeofhislungswentoutthroughhismouthandnostrils。Likewisedidthepowersreceivesacrifice。Itwasallone。Andthewitchdoctorwasversedinthethoughtsofthepowersandchoseunerringly。Itwasverynatural。Deathcamebymanyways，yetwasitalloneafterall，——
amanifestationoftheall—powerfulandinscrutable。
ButHitchcockcameofalaterworld—breed。Histraditionswerelessconcreteandwithoutreverence，andhesaid，\"Notso，Sipsu。
Youareyoung，andyetinthefulljoyoflife。Thewitchdoctorisafool，andhischoiceisevil。Thisthingshallnotbe。\"
Shesmiledandanswered，\"Lifeisnotkind，andformanyreasons。
First，itmadeofustwaintheonewhiteandtheotherred，whichisbad。Thenitcrossedourtrails，andnowitpartsthemagain;
andwecandonothing。Oncebefore，whenthegodswereangry，didyourbrotherscometothecamp。Theywerethree，bigmenandwhite，andtheysaidthethingshallnotbe。Buttheydiedquickly，andthethingwas。\"
Hitchcocknoddedthatheheard，half—turned，andliftedhisvoice。
\"Lookhere，youfellows！There’salotoffoolerygoingonovertothecamp，andthey’regettingreadytomurderSipsu。Whatd’yesay？\"
WertzlookedatHawes，andHaweslookedback，butneitherspoke。
Sigmunddroppedhishead，andpettedtheshepherddogbetweenhisknees。HehadbroughtShepinwithhimfromtheoutside，andthoughtagreatdealoftheanimal。Infact，acertaingirl，whowasmuchinhisthoughts，andwhosepictureinthelittlelocketonhisbreastofteninspiredhimtosing，hadgivenhimthedogandherblessingwhentheykissedgood—byandhestartedonhisNorthlandquest。
\"Whatd’yesay？\"Hitchcockrepeated。
\"Mebbeit’snotsoserious，\"Hawesansweredwithdeliberation。
\"Mostlikelyit’sonlyagirl’sstory。\"
\"Thatisn’tthepoint！\"Hitchcockfeltahotflushofangersweepoverhimattheirevidentreluctance。\"Thequestionis，ifitisso，arewegoingtostandit？Whatarewegoingtodo？\"
\"Idon’tseeanycalltointerfere，\"spokeupWertz。\"Ifitisso，itisso，andthat’sallthereisaboutit。It’sawaythesepeoplehaveofdoing。It’stheirreligion，andit’snoconcernofours。OurconcernistogetthedustandthengetoutofthisGod—forsakenland。’Tisn’tfitfornaughtelsebutbeasts？Andwhataretheseblackdevilsbutbeasts？Besides，it’dbedamnpoorpolicy。\"
\"That’swhatIsay，\"chimedinHawes。\"Hereweare，fourofus，threehundredmilesfromtheYukonorawhiteface。Andwhatcanwedoagainsthalf—a—hundredIndians？Ifwequarrelwiththem，wehavetovamose;ifwefight，wearewipedout。Further，we’vestruckpay，and，byGod！I，forone，amgoingtostickbyit！\"
\"Dittohere，\"supplementedWertz。
HitchcockturnedimpatientlytoSigmund，whowassoftlysinging，—
\"Inayear，inayear，whenthegrapesareripe，Ishallstaynomoreaway。\"
\"Well，it’sthisway，Hitchcock，\"hefinallysaid，\"I’minthesameboatwiththerest。Ifthree—scorebuckshavemadeuptheirmindtokillthegirl，why，wecan’thelpit。Onerush，andwe’dbewipedoffthelandscape。Andwhatgood’dthatbe？They’dstillhavethegirl。There’snouseingoingagainstthecustomsofapeopleexceptyou’reinforce。\"
\"Butweareinforce！\"Hitchcockbrokein。\"Fourwhitesareamatchforahundredtimesasmanyreds。Andthinkofthegirl！\"
Sigmundstrokedthedogmeditatively。\"ButIdothinkofthegirl。Andhereyesarebluelikesummerskies，andlaughinglikesummerseas，andherhairisyellow，likemine，andbraidedinropesthesizeofabigman’sarms。She’swaitingforme，outthere，inabetterland。Andshe’swaitedlong，andnowmypile’sinsightI’mnotgoingtothrowitaway。\"
\"AndshamedIwouldbetolookintothegirl’sblueeyesandremembertheblackonesofthegirlwhosebloodwasonmyhands，\"
Hitchcocksneered;forhewasborntohonorandchampionship，andtodothethingforthething’ssake，norstoptoweighormeasure。
Sigmundshookhishead。\"Youcan’tmakememad，Hitchcock，nordomadthingsbecauseofyourmadness。It’sacoldbusinesspropositionandaquestionoffacts。Ididn’tcometothiscountryformyhealth，and，further，it’simpossibleforustoraiseahand。Ifitisso，itistoobadforthegirl，that’sall。It’sawayofherpeople，anditjusthappenswe’reonthespotthisonetime。They’vedonethesameforathousand—thousandyears，andthey’regoingtodoitnow，andthey’llgoondoingitforalltimetocome。Besides，they’renotourkind。Nor’sthegirl。No，ItakemystandwithWertzandHawes，and——\"
Butthedogssnarledanddrewin，andhebrokeoff，listeningtothecrunch—crunchofmanysnowshoes。IndianafterIndianstalkedintothefirelight，tallandgrim，fur—cladandsilent，theirshadowsdancinggrotesquelyonthesnow。One，thewitchdoctor，spokegutturallytoSipsu。Hisfacewasdaubedwithsavagepaintblotches，andoverhisshoulderswasdrawnawolfskin，thegleamingteethandcruelsnoutsurmountinghishead。Nootherwordwasspoken。Theprospectorsheldthepeace。Sipsuaroseandslippedintohersnowshoes。
\"Good—by，Omyman，\"shesaidtoHitchcock。Butthemanwhohadsatbesideheronthesledgavenosign，norliftedhisheadastheyfiledawayintothewhiteforest。
Unlikemanymen，hisfacultyofadaptation，whilelarge，hadneversuggestedtheexpediencyofanalliancewiththewomenoftheNorthland。Hisbroadcosmopolitanismhadneverimpelledtowardcovenantinginmarriagewiththedaughtersofthesoil。Ifithad，hisphilosophyoflifewouldnothavestoodbetween。Butitsimplyhadnot。Sipsu？Hehadpleasuredincamp—firechatswithher，notasamanwhoknewhimselftobemanandshewoman，butasamanmightwithachild，andasamanofhismakecertainlywouldiffornootherreasonthantovarythetediumofableakexistence。Thatwasall。Buttherewasacertainchivalricthrillofwarmbloodinhim，despitehisYankeeancestryandNewEnglandupbringing，andhewassomadethatthecommercialaspectoflifeoftenseemedmeaninglessandborecontradictiontohisdeeperimpulses。
Sohesatsilent，withheadbowedforward，anorganicforce，greaterthanhimself，asgreatashisrace，atworkwithinhim。
WertzandHaweslookedaskanceathimfromtimetotime，afaintbutperceptibletrepidationintheirmanner。Sigmundalsofeltthis。Hitchcockwasstrong，andhisstrengthhadbeenimpressedupontheminthecourseofmanyaneventintheirprecariouslife。
Sotheystoodinacertaindefiniteaweandcuriosityastowhathisconductwouldbewhenhemovedtoaction。
Buthissilencewaslong，andthefirenighout，whenWertzstretchedhisarmsandyawned，andthoughthe’dgotobed。ThenHitchcockstooduphisfullheight。
\"MayGoddamnyoursoulstothedeepesthells，youchicken—heartedcowards！I’mdonewithyou！\"Hesaiditcalmlyenough，buthisstrengthspokeineverysyllable，andeveryintonationwasadvertisementofintention。\"Comeon，\"hecontinued，\"whackup，andinwhateverwaysuitsyoubest。Iownaquarter—interestintheclaims;ourcontractsshowthat。There’retwenty—fiveorthirtyouncesinthesackfromthetestpans。Fetchoutthescales。We’lldividethatnow。Andyou，Sigmund，measurememyquarter—shareofthegrubandsetitapart。Fourofthedogsaremine，andIwantfourmore。I’lltradeyoumyshareinthecampoutfitandmining—gearforthedogs。AndI’llthrowinmysixorsevenouncesandthespare45—90withtheammunition。Whatd’yesay？\"
Thethreemendrewapartandconferred。Whentheyreturned，Sigmundactedasspokesman。\"We’llwhackupfairwithyou，Hitchcock。Ineverythingyou’llgetyourquarter—share，neithermorenorless;andyoucantakeitorleaveit。Butwewantthedogsasbadasyoudo，soyougetfour，andthat’sall。Ifyoudon’twanttotakeyourshareoftheoutfitandgear，why，that’syourlookout。Ifyouwantit，youcanhaveit;ifyoudon’t，leaveit。\"
\"Theletterofthelaw，\"Hitchcocksneered。\"Butgoahead。I’mwilling。Andhurryup。Ican’tgetoutofthiscampandawayfromitsverminanytooquick。\"
Thedivisionwaseffectedwithoutfurthercomment。Helashedhismeagrebelongingsupononeofthesleds，roundedinhisfourdogs，andharnessedup。Hisportionofoutfitandgearhedidnottouch，thoughhethrewontothesledhalfadozendogharnesses，andchallengedthemwithhiseyestointerfere。Buttheyshruggedtheirshouldersandwatchedhimdisappearintheforest。
Amancrawleduponhisbellythroughthesnow。Oneveryhandloomedthemoose—hidelodgesofthecamp。Hereandthereamiserabledoghowledorsnarledabuseuponhisneighbor。Once，oneofthemapproachedthecreepingman，butthemanbecamemotionless。Thedogcamecloserandsniffed，andcameyetcloser，tillitsnosetouchedthestrangeobjectwhichhadnotbeentherewhendarknessfell。ThenHitchcock，foritwasHitchcock，uprearedsuddenly，shootinganunmittenedhandouttothebrute’sshaggythroat。Andthedogknewitsdeathinthatclutch，andwhenthemanmovedon，wasleftbroken—neckedunderthestars。InthismannerHitchcockmadethechief’slodge。Forlonghelayinthesnowwithout，listeningtothevoicesoftheoccupantsandstrivingtolocateSipsu。Evidentlythereweremanyinthetent，andfromthesoundstheywereinhighexcitement。Atlastheheardthegirl’svoice，andcrawledaroundsothatonlythemoose—
hidedividedthem。Thenburrowinginthesnow，heslowlywormedhisheadandshouldersunderneath。Whenthewarminnerairsmotehisface，hestoppedandwaited，hislegsandthegreaterpartofhisbodystillontheoutside。Hecouldseenothing，nordidhedarelifthishead。Ononesideofhimwasaskinbale。Hecouldsmellit，thoughhecarefullyfelttobecertain。Ontheothersidehisfacebarelytouchedafurrygarmentwhichheknewclothedabody。ThismustbeSipsu。Thoughhewishedshewouldspeakagain，heresolvedtoriskit。
Hecouldhearthechiefandthewitchdoctortalkinghigh，andinafarcornersomehungrychildwhimperingtosleep。Squirmingoveronhisside，hecarefullyraisedhishead，stilljusttouchingthefurrygarment。Helistenedtothebreathing。Itwasawoman’sbreathing;hewouldchanceit。
Hepressedagainsthersidesoftlybutfirmly，andfeltherstartatthecontact。Againhewaited，tillaquestioninghandslippeddownuponhisheadandpausedamongthecurls。Thenextinstantthehandturnedhisfacegentlyupward，andhewasgazingintoSipsu’seyes。
Shewasquitecollected。Changingherpositioncasually，shethrewanelbowwelloverontheskinbale，restedherbodyuponit，andarrangedherparka。Inthiswayhewascompletelyconcealed。Then，andstillmostcasually，shereclinedacrosshim，sothathecouldbreathebetweenherarmandbreast，andwhensheloweredherheadherearpressedlightlyagainsthislips。
\"Whenthetimesuits，gothou，\"hewhispered，\"outofthelodgeandacrossthesnow，downthewindtothebunchofjackpineinthecurveofthecreek。Therewiltthoufindmydogsandmysled，packedforthetrail。ThisnightwegodowntotheYukon;andsincewegofast，laythouhandsuponwhatdogscomenighthee，bythescruffoftheneck，anddragthemtothesledinthecurveofthecreek。\"
Sipsushookherheadindissent;buthereyesglistenedwithgladness，andshewasproudthatthismanhadshowntowardhersuchfavor。Butshe，likethewomenofallherrace，wasborntoobeythewillmasculine，andwhenHitchcockrepeated\"Go！\"hediditwithauthority，andthoughshemadenoanswerheknewthathiswillwaslaw。
\"Andnevermindharnessforthedogs，\"headded，preparingtogo。
\"Ishallwait。Butwastenotime。Thedaychaseththenightalway，nordoesitlingerforman’spleasure。\"
Halfanhourlater，stampinghisfeetandswinginghisarmsbythesled，hesawhercoming，asurlydogineitherhand。Attheapproachofthesehisownanimalswaxedtruculent，andhefavoredthemwiththebuttofhiswhiptilltheyquieted。Hehadapproachedthecampupthewind，andsoundwasthethingtobemostfearedinmakinghispresenceknown。
\"Putthemintothesled，\"heorderedwhenshehadgottheharnessonthetwodogs。\"Iwantmyleaderstothefore。\"
Butwhenshehaddonethis，thedisplacedanimalspitcheduponthealiens。ThoughHitchcockplungedamongthemwithclubbedrifle，ariotofsoundwentupandacrossthesleepingcamp。
\"Nowweshallhavedogs，andinplenty，\"heremarkedgrimly，slippinganaxefromthesledlashings。\"DothouharnesswhicheverIflingthee，andbetweenwhilesprotecttheteam。\"
Hesteppedaspaceinadvanceandwaitedbetweentwopines。Thedogsofthecampweredisturbingthenightwiththeirjangle，andhewatchedfortheircoming。Adarkspot，growingrapidly，tookformuponthedimwhiteexpanseofsnow。Itwasaforerunnerofthepack，leapingcleanly，and，afterthewolffashion，singingdirectiontoitsbrothers。Hitchcockstoodintheshadow。Asitsprangpast，hereachedout，grippeditsforelegsinmid—career，andsentitwhirlingearthward。Thenhestruckitawell—judgedblowbeneaththeear，andflungittoSipsu。Andwhilesheclappedontheharness，he，withhisaxe，heldthepassagebetweenthetrees，tillashaggyfloodofwhiteteethandglisteningeyessurgedandcrestedjustbeyondreach。Sipsuworkedrapidly。Whenshehadfinished，heleapedforward，seizedandstunnedasecond，andflungittoher。Thisherepeatedthriceagain，andwhenthesledteamstoodsnarlinginastringoften，hecalled，\"Enough！\"
Butatthisinstantayoungbuck，theforerunnerofthetribe，andswiftoflimb，wadingthroughthedogsandcuffingrightandleft，attemptedthepassage。ThebuttofHitchcock’srifledrovehimtohisknees，whencehetoppledoversideways。Thewitchdoctor，runninglustily，sawtheblowfall。
HitchcockcalledtoSipsutopullout。Athershrill\"Chook！\"themaddenedbrutesshotstraightahead，andthesled，boundingmightily，justmissedunseatingher。Thepowerswereevidentlyangrywiththewitchdoctor，foratthismomenttheyplungedhimuponthetrail。Thelead—dogfouledhissnowshoesandtrippedhimup，andtheninesucceedingdogstrodhimunderfootandthesledbumpedoverhim。Buthewasquicktohisfeet，andthenightmighthaveturnedoutdifferentlyhadnotSipsustruckbackwardwiththelongdog—whipandsmittenhimablindingblowacrosstheeyes。Hitchcock，hurryingtoovertakeher，collidedagainsthimasheswayedwithpaininthemiddleofthetrail。Thusitwas，whenthisprimitivetheologiangotbacktothechief’slodge，thathiswisdomhadbeenincreasedinsofarasconcernstheefficacyofthewhiteman’sfist。So，whenheoratedthenandthereinthecouncil，hewaswrothagainstallwhitemen。
\"Tumbleout，youloafers！Tumbleout！Grub’llbereadybeforeyougetintoyourfootgear！\"
DaveWertzthrewoffthebearskin，satup，andyawned。
Hawesstretched，discoveredalamemuscleinhisarm，andrubbeditsleepily。\"WonderwhereHitchcockbunkedlastnight？\"hequeried，reachingforhismoccasins。Theywerestiff，andhewalkedgingerlyinhissockstothefiretothawthemout。\"It’sablessinghe’sgone，\"headded，\"thoughhewasamightygoodworker。\"
\"Yep。Toomasterful。Thatwashistrouble。ToobadforSipsu。
Thinkhecaredforhermuch？\"
\"Don’tthinkso。Justprinciple。That’sall。Hethoughtitwasn’tright——and，ofcourse，itwasn’t，——butthatwasnoreasonforustointerfereandgethustledoverthedividebeforeourtime。\"
\"Principleisprinciple，andit’sgoodinitsplace，butit’sbestlefttohomewhenyougotoAlaska。Eh？\"Wertzhadjoinedhismate，andbothwereworkingpliabilityintotheirfrozenmoccasins。\"Thinkweoughttohavetakenahand？\"
Sigmundshookhishead。Hewasverybusy。Ascudofchocolate—
coloredfoamwasrisinginthecoffee—pot，andthebaconneededturning。Also，hewasthinkingaboutthegirlwithlaughingeyeslikesummerseas，andhewashummingsoftly。
Hismateschuckledtoeachotherandceasedtalking。Thoughitwaspastseven，daybreakwasstillthreehoursdistant。Theauroraborealishadpassedoutofthesky，andthecampwasanoasisoflightinthemidstofdeepdarkness。Andinthislighttheformsofthethreemenweresharplydefined。Emboldenedbythesilence，Sigmundraisedhisvoiceandopenedthelaststanzaoftheoldsong：—
\"Inayear，inayear，whenthegrapesareripe——\"
Thenthenightwassplitwitharattlingvolleyofrifle—shots。
Hawessighed，madeanefforttostraightenhimself，andcollapsed。
Wertzwentoveronanelbowwithdroopinghead。Hechokedalittle，andadarkstreamflowedfromhismouth。AndSigmund，theGolden—Haired，histhroata—gurglewiththesong，threwuphisarmsandpitchedacrossthefire。
Thewitchdoctor’seyeswerewellblackened，andhistempernoneofthebest;forhequarrelledwiththechiefoverthepossessionofWertz’srifle，andtookmorethanhisshareofthepart—sackofbeans。Alsoheappropriatedthebearskin，andcausedgrumblingamongthetribesmen。Andfinally，hetriedtokillSigmund’sdog，whichthegirlhadgivenhim，butthedogranaway，whilehefellintotheshaftanddislocatedhisshoulderonthebucket。Whenthecampwaswelllootedtheywentbacktotheirownlodges，andtherewasagreatrejoicingamongthewomen。Further，abandofmoosestrayedoverthesouthdivideandfellbeforethehunters，sothewitchdoctorattainedyetgreaterhonor，andthepeoplewhisperedamongthemselvesthathespokeincouncilwiththegods。
Butlater，whenallweregone，theshepherddogcreptbacktothedesertedcamp，andallthenightlongandadayitwailedthedead。Afterthatitdisappeared，thoughtheyearswerenotmanybeforetheIndianhuntersnotedachangeinthebreedoftimberwolves，andthereweredashesofbrightcolorandvariegatedmarkingssuchasnowolfborebefore。
ADAUGHTEROFTHEAURORA
\"You——whatyoucall——lazymans，youlazymanswoulddesiremetohafforwife。Itisnotgood。Nevaire，no，nevaire，willlazymansmyhoosbandbe。\"
ThusJoyMolineauspokehermindtoJackHarrington，evenasshehadspokenit，butmoretritelyandinhisowntongue，toLouisSavoythepreviousnight。
\"Listen，Joy——\"
\"No，no;whymoos’Ilistentolazymans？Itisvairebad，youhangrount，makevisitationtomycabin，anddonothing。Howyougetgrubforthefamine？Whyhafnotyouthedust？Oddermanshafplentee。\"
\"ButIworkhard，Joy。NeveradayamInotontrailorupcreek。
EvennowhaveIjustcomeoff。Mydogsareyettired。Othermenhaveluckandfindplentyofgold;butI——Ihavenoluck。\"
\"Ah！ButwhenthismanswiththewifewhichisIndian，thismansMcCormack，whenhimdiscovairetheKlondike，yougonot。Oddermansgo;oddermansnowrich。\"
\"YouknowIwasprospectingoveronthehead—reachesoftheTanana，\"Harringtonprotested，\"andknewnothingoftheEldoradoorBonanzauntilitwastoolate。\"
\"Thatisdeeferent;onlyyouare——whatyoucallwayoff。\"
\"What？\"
\"Wayoff。Inthe——yes——inthedark。Itisnevairetoolate。Onevairerichmineisthere，onthecreekwhichisEldorado。Themansdrivethestakeandhimgo’way。Noodddrmansknowwhatofhimbecome。Themans，himwhichdrivethestake，isnevairenomore。Sixtydaysnomansonthatclaimfilethepapaire。Thenoddermans，plenteeoddermans——whatyoucall——jumpthatclaim。
Thentheyrace，Osoqueek，likethewind，tofilethepapaire。
Himbevairerich。Himgetgrubforfamine。\"
Harringtonhidthemajorportionofhisinterest。
\"When’sthetimeup？\"heasked。\"Whatclaimisit？\"
\"SoIspeakLouisSavoylastnight，\"shecontinued，ignoringhim。
\"HimIthinkthewinnaire。\"
\"HangLouisSavoy！\"
\"SoLouisSavoyspeakinmycabinlastnight。Himsay，’Joy，Iamstrongmans。Ihafgooddogs。Ihaflongwind。Iwillbewinnaire。Thenyouwillhafmeforhoosband？’AndIsaytohim，Isay——\"
\"What’dyousay？\"
\"Isay，’IfLouisSavoyiswinnaire，thenwillhehafmeforwife。’\"
\"Andifhedon’twin？\"
\"ThenLouisSavoy，himwillnotbe——whatyoucall——thefatherofmychildren。\"
\"AndifIwin？\"
\"Youwinnaire？Ha！ha！Nevaire！\"
Exasperatingasitwas，JoyMolineau’slaughterwasprettytohear。Harringtondidnotmindit。Hehadlongsincebeenbrokenin。Besides，hewasnoexception。Shehadforcedallherloverstosufferinkind。Andveryenticingshewasjustthen，herlipsparted，hercolorheightenedbythesharpkissofthefrost，hereyesvibrantwiththelurewhichisthegreatestofallluresandwhichmaybeseennowheresaveinwoman’seyes。Hersled—dogsclusteredaboutherinhirsutemasses，andtheleader，WolfFang，laidhislongsnoutsoftlyinherlap。
\"IfIdowin？\"Harringtonpressed。
Shelookedfromdogtoloverandbackagain。
\"Whatyousay，WolfFang？Ifhimstrongmansandfilethepapaire，shallwehiswifebecome？Eh？Whatyousay？\"
WolfFangpickeduphisearsandgrowledatHarrington。
\"Itisvairecold，\"shesuddenlyaddedwithfeminineirrelevance，risingtoherfeetandstraighteningouttheteam。
Herloverlookedonstolidly。Shehadkepthimguessingfromthefirsttimetheymet，andpatiencehadbeenjoineduntohisvirtues。
\"Hi！WolfFang！\"shecried，springinguponthesledasitleapedintosuddenmotion。\"Ai！Ya！Mush—on！\"
FromthecornerofhiseyeHarringtonwatchedherswingingdownthetrailtoFortyMile。WheretheroadforkedandcrossedtherivertoFortCudahy，shehaltedthedogsandturnedabout。
\"OMistaireLazyMans！\"shecalledback。\"WolfFang，himsayyes—
—ifyouwinnaire！\"
Butsomehow，assuchthingswill，itleakedout，andallFortyMile，whichhadhithertospeculatedonJoyMolineau’schoicebetweenhertwolatestlovers，nowhazardedbetsandguessesastowhichwouldwinintheforthcomingrace。Thecampdivideditselfintotwofactions，andeveryeffortwasputforthinorderthattheirrespectivefavoritesmightbethefirstinatthefinish。
Therewasascrambleforthebestdogsthecountrycouldafford，fordogs，andgoodones，wereessential，aboveall，tosuccess。
Anditmeantmuchtothevictor。Besidesthepossessionofawife，thelikeofwhichhadyettobecreated，itstoodforamineworthamillionatleast。
Thatfall，whennewscamedownofMcCormack’sdiscoveryonBonanza，alltheLowerCountry，CircleCityandFortyMileincluded，hadstampededuptheYukon，——atleastallsavethosewho，likeJackHarringtonandLouisSavoy，wereawayprospectinginthewest。Moosepasturesandcreekswerestakedindiscriminatelyandpromiscuously;andincidentally，oneoftheunlikeliestofcreeks，Eldorado。OlafNelsonlaidclaimtofivehundredofitslinearfeet，dulypostedhisnotice，andasdulydisappeared。AtthattimethenearestrecordingofficewasinthepolicebarracksatFortCudahy，justacrosstheriverfromFortyMile;butwhenitbecamebruitedabroadthatEldoradoCreekwasatreasure—house，itwasquicklydiscoveredthatOlafNelsonhadfailedtomakethedown—Yukontriptofileuponhisproperty。Mencasthungryeyesupontheownerlessclaim，wheretheyknewathousand—thousanddollarswaitedbutshovelandsluice—box。Yettheydarednottouchit;fortherewasalawwhichpermittedsixtydaystolapsebetweenthestakingandthefiling，duringwhichtimeaclaimwasimmune。ThewholecountryknewofOlafNelson’sdisappearance，andscoresofmenmadepreparationforthejumpingandfortheconsequentracetoFortCudahy。
ButcompetitionatFortyMilewaslimited。WiththecampdevotingitsenergiestotheequippingeitherofJackHarringtonorLouisSavoy，nomanwasunwiseenoughtoenterthecontestsingle—
handed。ItwasastretchofahundredmilestotheRecorder’soffice，anditwasplannedthatthetwofavoritesshouldhavefourrelaysofdogsstationedalongthetrail。Naturally，thelastrelaywastobethecrucialone，andforthesetwenty—fivemilestheirrespectivepartisansstrovetoobtainthestrongestpossibleanimals。Sobitterdidthefactionswax，andsohighdidtheybid，thatdogsbroughtstifferpricesthaneverbeforeintheannalsofthecountry。And，asitchanced，thisscramblefordogsturnedthepubliceyestillmoresearchinglyuponJoyMolineau。
Notonlywasshethecauseofitall，butshepossessedthefinestsled—dogfromChilkoottoBeringSea。Aswheelorleader，WolfFanghadnoequal。Themanwhosesledheleddownthelaststretchwasboundtowin。Therecouldbenodoubtofit。Butthecommunityhadaninnatesenseofthefitnessofthings，andnotoncewasJoyvexedbyoverturesforhisuse。Andthefactionsdrewconsolationfromthefactthatifonemandidnotprofitbyhim，neithershouldtheother。
However，sinceman，intheindividualorintheaggregate，hasbeensofashionedthathegoesthroughlifeblissfullyobtusetothedeepersubtletiesofhiswomankind，sothemenofFortyMilefailedtodivinetheinnerdeviltryofJoyMolineau。Theyconfessed，afterward，thattheyhadfailedtoappreciatethisdark—eyeddaughteroftheaurora，whosefatherhadtradedfursinthecountrybeforeevertheydreamedofinvadingit，andwhohadherselffirstopenedeyesonthescintillantnorthernlights。
Nay，accidentofbirthhadnotrenderedherlessthewoman，norhaditlimitedherwoman’sunderstandingofmen。Theyknewsheplayedwiththem，buttheydidnotknowthewisdomofherplay，itsdeepnessanditsdeftness。Theyfailedtoseemorethantheexposedcard，sothattotheverylastFortyMilewasinastateofpleasantobfuscation，anditwasnotuntilshecastherfinaltrumpthatitcametoreckonupthescore。
EarlyintheweekthecampturnedouttostartJackHarringtonandLouisSavoyontheirway。Theyhadtakenashrewdmarginoftime，foritwastheirwishtoarriveatOlafNelson’sclaimsomedaysprevioustotheexpirationofitsimmunity，thattheymightrestthemselves，andtheirdogsbefreshforthefirstrelay。OnthewayuptheyfoundthemenofDawsonalreadystationingsparedogteamsalongthetrail，anditwasmanifestthatlittleexpensehadbeensparedinviewofthemillionsatstake。
Acoupleofdaysafterthedepartureoftheirchampions，FortyMilebegansendinguptheirrelays，——firsttotheseventy—fivestation，thentothefifty，andlasttothetwenty—five。Theteamsforthelaststretchweremagnificent，andsoequallymatchedthatthecampdiscussedtheirrelativemeritsforafullhouratfiftybelow，beforetheywerepermittedtopullout。AtthelastmomentJoyMolineaudashedinamongthemonhersled。
ShedrewLonMcFane，whohadchargeofHarrington’steam，tooneside，andhardlyhadthefirstwordsleftherlipswhenitwasnoticedthathislowerjawdroppedwithacelerityandemphasissuggestiveofgreatthings。HeunhitchedWolfFangfromhersled，puthimattheheadofHarrington’steam，andmushedthestringofanimalsintotheYukontrail。
\"PoorLouisSavoy！\"mensaid;butJoyMolineauflashedherblackeyesdefiantlyanddrovebacktoherfather’scabin。
MidnightdrewnearonOlafNelson’sclaim。Afewhundredfur—cladmenhadpreferredsixtybelowandthejumping，totheinducementsofwarmcabinsandcomfortablebunks。Severalscoreofthemhadtheirnoticespreparedforpostingandtheirdogsathand。A
bunchofCaptainConstantine’smountedpolicehadbeenorderedondutythatfairplaymightrule。Thecommandhadgoneforththatnomanshouldplaceastaketillthelastsecondofthedayhadtickeditselfintothepast。InthenorthlandsuchcommandsareequaltoJehovah’sinthematterofpotency;thedum—dumasrapidandeffectiveasthethunderbolt。Itwasclearandcold。Theauroraborealispaintedpalpitatingcolorrevelsonthesky。Rosywavesofcoldbrilliancysweptacrossthezenith，whilegreatcoruscatingbarsofgreenishwhiteblottedoutthestars，oraTitan’shandrearedmightyarchesabovethePole。Andatthismightydisplaythewolf—dogshowledashadtheirancestorsofoldtime。
Abearskin—coatedpolicemansteppedprominentlytothefore，watchinhand。Menhurriedamongthedogs，rousingthemtotheirfeet，untanglingtheirtraces，straighteningthemout。Theentriescametothemark，firmlygrippingstakesandnotices。Theyhadgoneovertheboundariesoftheclaimsooftenthattheycouldnowhavedoneitblindfolded。Thepolicemanraisedhishand。Castingofftheirsuperfluousfursandblankets，andwithafinalcinchingofbelts，theycametoattention。
\"Time！\"
Sixtypairsofhandsunmitted;asmanypairsofmoccasinsgrippedharduponthesnow。
\"Go！\"
Theyshotacrossthewideexpanse，roundthefoursides，stickingnoticesateverycorner，anddownthemiddlewherethetwocentrestakesweretobeplanted。Thentheysprangforthesledsonthefrozenbedofthecreek。Ananarchyofsoundandmotionbrokeout。Sledcollidedwithsled，anddog—teamfastenedupondog—teamwithbristlingmanesandscreamingfangs。Thenarrowcreekwasgluttedwiththestrugglingmass。Lashesandbuttsofdog—whipsweredistributedimpartiallyamongmenandbrutes。Andtomakeitofgreatermoment，eachparticipanthadabunchofcomradesintentonbreakinghimoutofjam。Butonebyone，andbysheerstrength，thesledscreptoutandshotfromsightinthedarknessoftheoverhangingbanks。
JackHarringtonhadanticipatedthiscrushandwaitedbyhissleduntilituntangled。LouisSavoy，awareofhisrival’sgreaterwisdominthematterofdog—driving，hadfollowedhisleadandalsowaited。Therouthadpassedbeyondear—shotwhentheytookthetrail，anditwasnottilltheyhadtravelledthetenmilesorsodowntoBonanzathattheycameuponit，speedingalonginsinglefile，butwellbunched。Therewaslittlenoise，andlesschanceofonepassinganotheratthatstage。Thesleds，fromrunnertorunner，measuredsixteeninches，thetraileighteen;butthetrail，packeddownfullyafootbythetraffic，waslikeagutter。Oneithersidespreadtheblanketofsoftsnowcrystals。
Ifamanturnedintothisinanendeavortopass，hisdogswouldwallowperforcetotheirbelliesandslowdowntoasnail’space。
Sothemenlayclosetotheirleapingsledsandwaited。NoalterationinpositionoccurreddownthefifteenmilesofBonanzaandKlondiketoDawson，wheretheYukonwasencountered。Herethefirstrelayswaited。Buthere，intenttokilltheirfirstteams，ifnecessary，HarringtonandSavoyhadhadtheirfreshteamsplacedacoupleofmilesbeyondthoseoftheothers。Intheconfusionofchangingsledstheypassedfullhalfthebunch。
PerhapsthirtymenwerestillleadingthemwhentheyshotontothebroadbreastoftheYukon。Herewasthetug。Whentheriverfrozeinthefall，amileofopenwaterhadbeenleftbetweentwomightyjams。Thishadbutrecentlycrusted，thecurrentbeingswift，andnowitwasaslevel，hard，andslipperyasadancefloor。TheinstanttheystruckthisglareiceHarringtoncametohisknees，holdingprecariouslyonwithonehand，hiswhipsingingfiercelyamonghisdogsandfearsomeabjurationshurtlingabouttheirears。Theteamsspreadoutonthesmoothsurface，eachstrainingtotheuttermost。ButfewmenintheNorthcouldlifttheirdogsasdidJackHarrington。Atoncehebegantopullahead，andLouisSavoy，takingthepace，hungondesperately，hisleadersrunningevenwiththetailofhisrival’ssled。
Midwayontheglassystretchtheirrelaysshotoutfromthebank。
ButHarringtondidnotslacken。Watchinghischancewhenthenewsledswunginclose，heleapedacross，shoutingashedidsoandjumpingupthepaceofhisfreshdogs。Theotherdriverfelloffsomehow。Savoydidlikewisewithhisrelay，andtheabandonedteams，swervingtorightandleft，collidedwiththeothersandpiledtheicewithconfusion。Harringtoncutoutthepace;Savoyhungon。Astheynearedtheendoftheglareice，theysweptabreastoftheleadingsled。Whentheyshotintothenarrowtrailbetweenthesoftsnowbanks，theyledtherace;andDawson，watchingbythelightoftheaurora，sworethatitwasneatlydone。
Whenthefrostgrowslustyatsixtybelow，mencannotlongremainwithoutfireorexcessiveexercise，andlive。SoHarringtonandSavoynowfelltotheancientcustomof\"rideandrun。\"Leapingfromtheirsleds，tow—thongsinhand，theyranbehindtillthebloodresumeditswontedchannelsandexpelledthefrost，thenbacktothesledstilltheheatagainebbedaway。Thus，ridingandrunning，theycoveredthesecondandthirdrelays。Severaltimes，onsmoothice，Savoyspurtedhisdogs，andasoftenfailedtogainpast。Strungalongforfivemilesintherear，theremainderoftheracestrovetoovertakethem，butvainly，fortoLouisSavoyalonewastheglorygivenofkeepingJackHarrington’skillingpace。
Astheyswungintotheseventy—five—milestation，LonMcFanedashedalongside;WolfFangintheleadcaughtHarrington’seye，andheknewthattheracewashis。NoteamintheNorthcouldpasshimonthoselasttwenty—fivemiles。AndwhenSavoysawWolfFangheadinghisrival’steam，heknewthathewasoutoftherunning，andhecursedsoftlytohimself，inthewaywomanismostfrequentlycursed。Buthestillclungtotheother’ssmokingtrail，gamblingonchancetothelast。Andastheychurnedalong，thedaybreakinginthesoutheast，theymarvelledinjoyandsorrowatthatwhichJoyMolineauhaddone。
FortyMilehadearlycrawledoutofitssleepingfursandcongregatedneartheedgeofthetrail。Fromthispointitcouldviewtheup—Yukoncoursetoitsfirstbendseveralmilesaway。
HereitcouldalsoseeacrosstherivertothefinishatFortCudahy，wheretheGoldRecordernervouslyawaited。JoyMolineauhadtakenherpositionseveralrodsbackfromthetrail，andunderthecircumstances，therestofFortyMileforboreinterposingitself。Sothespacewasclearbetweenherandtheslenderlineofthecourse。Fireshadbeenbuilt，andaroundthesemenwagereddustanddogs，thelongoddsonWolfFang。
\"Heretheycome！\"shrilledanIndianboyfromthetopofapine。
UptheYukonablackspeckappearedagainstthesnow，closelyfollowedbyasecond。Asthesegrewlarger，moreblackspecksmanifestedthemselves，butatagoodlydistancetotherear。
Graduallytheyresolvedthemselvesintodogsandsleds，andmenlyingflatuponthem。\"WolfFangleads，\"alieutenantofpolicewhisperedtoJoy。Shesmiledherinterestback。
\"TentooneonHarrington！\"criedaBirchCreekKing，draggingouthissack。
\"TheQueen，herpayyounotmooch？\"queriedJoy。
Thelieutenantshookhishead。
\"Youhavesomedust，ah，howmooch？\"shecontinued。
Heexposedhissack。Shegaugeditwitharapideye。
\"Mebbe——say——twohundred，eh？Good。NowIgive——whatyoucall——
thetip。Covairethebet。\"Joysmiledinscrutably。Thelieutenantpondered。Heglancedupthetrail。Thetwomenhadrisentotheirkneesandwerelashingtheirdogsfuriously，Harringtoninthelead。
\"TentooneonHarrington！\"bawledtheBirchCreekKing，flourishinghissackinthelieutenant’sface。
\"Covairethebet，\"Joyprompted。
Heobeyed，shrugginghisshouldersintokenthatheyielded，nottothedictateofhisreason，buttohercharm。Joynoddedtoreassurehim。
Allnoiseceased。Menpausedintheplacingofbets。
Yawingandreelingandplunging，likeluggersbeforethewind，thesledssweptwildlyuponthem。ThoughhestillkepthisleaderuptothetailofHarrington’ssled，LouisSavoy’sfacewaswithouthope。Harrington’smouthwasset。Helookedneithertotherightnortotheleft。Hisdogswereleapinginperfectrhythm，firm—
footed，closetothetrail，andWolfFang，headlowandunseeing，whiningsoftly，wasleadinghiscomradesmagnificently。
FortyMilestoodbreathless。Notasound，savetheroaroftherunnersandthevoiceofthewhips。
ThentheclearvoiceofJoyMolineauroseontheair。\"Ai！Ya！
WolfFang！WolfFang！\"
WolfFangheard。Heleftthetrailsharply，headingdirectlyforhismistress。Theteamdashedafterhim，andthesledpoisedaninstantonasinglerunner，thenshotHarringtonintothesnow。
Savoywasbylikeaflash。HarringtonpulledtohisfeetandwatchedhimskimmingacrosstherivertotheGoldRecorder’s。Hecouldnothelphearingwhatwassaid。
\"Ah，himdovairewell，\"JoyMolineauwasexplainingtothelieutenant。\"Him——whatyoucall——setthepace。Yes，himsetthepacevairewell。\"
ATTHERAINBOW’SEND
ItwasfortworeasonsthatMontanaKiddiscardedhis\"chaps\"andMexicanspurs，andshookthedustoftheIdahorangesfromhisfeet。Inthefirstplace，theencroachmentsofasteady，sober，andsternlymoralcivilizationhaddestroyedtheprimevalstatusofthewesterncattleranges，andrefinedsocietyturnedthecoldeyeofdisfavoruponhimandhisilk。Inthesecondplace，inoneofitscyclopeanmomentstheracehadarisenandshovedbackitsfrontierseveralthousandmiles。Thus，withunconsciousforesight，didmaturesocietymakeroomforitsadolescentmembers。True，thenewterritorywasmostlybarren;butitsseveralhundredthousandsquaremilesoffrigidityatleastgavebreathingspacetothosewhoelsewouldhavesuffocatedathome。
MontanaKidwassuchaone。Headingforthesea—coast，withahasteseveralsheriff’spossesmightpossiblyhaveexplained，andwithmorenervethancoinoftherealm，hesucceededinshippingfromaPugetSoundport，andmanagedtosurvivethecontingentmiseriesofsteeragesea—sicknessandsteeragegrub。Hewasrathersallowanddrawn，butstillhisownindomitableself，whenhelandedontheDyeabeachonedayinthespringoftheyear。
Betweenthecostofdogs，grub，andoutfits，andthecustomsexactionsofthetwoclashinggovernments，itspeedilypenetratedtohisunderstandingthattheNorthlandwasanythingsaveapoorman’sMecca。Sohecastabouthiminsearchofquickharvests。
Betweenthebeachandthepasseswerescatteredmanythousandsofpassionatepilgrims。ThesepilgrimsMontanaKidproceededtofarm。Atfirsthedealtfaroinapine—boardgamblingshack;butdisagreeablenecessityforcedhimtodropasuddenperiodintoaman’slife，andtomoveonuptrail。Thenheeffectedacornerinhorseshoenails，andtheycirculatedatparwithlegaltender，fourtothedollar，tillanunexpectedconsignmentofahundredbarrelsorsobrokethemarketandforcedhimtodisgorgehisstockataloss。AfterthathelocatedatSheepCamp，organizedtheprofessionalpackers，andjumpedthefreighttencentsapoundinasingleday。Intokenoftheirgratitude，thepackerspatronizedhisfaroandroulettelayoutsandweremulctedcheerfullyoftheirearnings。Buthiscommercialismwasoftoolustyagrowthtobelongendured;sotheyrushedhimonenight，burnedhisshanty，dividedthebank，andheadedhimupthetrailwithemptypockets。
Ill—luckwashisrunningmate。Heengagedwithresponsiblepartiestorunwhiskyacrossthelinebywayofprecariousandunknowntrails，losthisIndianguides，andhadtheveryfirstoutfitconfiscatedbytheMountedPolice。Numerousothermisfortunestendedtomakehimbitterofheartandwantonofaction，andhecelebratedhisarrivalatLakeBennettbyterrorizingthecampfortwentystraighthours。Thenaminers’
meetingtookhiminhand，andcommandedhimtomakehimselfscarce。Hehadawholesomerespectforsuchassemblages，andheobeyedinsuchhastethatheinadvertentlyremovedhimselfatthetail—endofanotherman’sdogteam。Thiswasequivalenttohorse—
stealinginamoremellowclime，sohehitonlythehighplacesacrossBennettanddownTagish，andmadehisfirstcampafullhundredmilestothenorth。
Nowithappenedthatthebreakofspringwasathand，andmanyoftheprincipalcitizensofDawsonweretravellingsouthonthelastice。Thesehemetandtalkedwith，notedtheirnamesandpossessions，andpassedon。Hehadagoodmemory，alsoafairimagination;norwasveracityoneofhisvirtues。
II
Dawson，alwayseagerfornews，beheldMontanaKid’ssledheadingdowntheYukon，andwentoutontheicetomeethim。No，hehadn’tanynewspapers;didn’tknowwhetherDurrantwashangedyet，norwhohadwontheThanksgivinggame;hadn’theardwhethertheUnitedStatesandSpainhadgonetofighting;didn’tknowwhoDreyfuswas;butO’Brien？Hadn’ttheyheard？O’Brien，why，hewasdrownedintheWhiteHorse;SitkaCharleytheonlyoneofthepartywhoescaped。JoeLadue？BothlegsfrozenandamputatedattheFiveFingers。AndJackDalton？Blownuponthe\"SeaLion\"
withallhands。AndBettles？Wreckedonthe\"Carthagina，\"inSeymourNarrows，——twentysurvivorsoutofthreehundred。AndSwiftwaterBill？GonethroughtherotteniceofLakeLeBargewithsixfemalemembersoftheoperatroupehewasconvoying。GovernorWalsh？LostwithallhandsandeightsledsontheThirtyMile。
Devereaux？WhowasDevereaux？Oh，thecourier！ShotbyIndiansonLakeMarsh。
Soitwent。Thewordwaspassedalong。Menshoulderedintoaskafterfriendsandpartners，andinturnwereshoulderedout，toostunnedforblasphemy。BythetimeMontanaKidgainedthebankhewassurroundedbyseveralhundredfur—cladminers。WhenhepassedtheBarrackshewasthecentreofaprocession。AttheOperaHousehewasthenucleusofanexcitedmob，eachmemberstrugglingforachancetoaskaftersomeabsentcomrade。Oneverysidehewasbeinginvitedtodrink。NeverbeforehadtheKlondikethusopeneditsarmstoache—cha—qua。AllDawsonwashumming。Suchaseriesofcatastropheshadneveroccurredinitshistory。Everymanofnotewhohadgonesouthinthespringhadbeenwipedout。
Thecabinsvomitedforththeiroccupants。Wild—eyedmenhurrieddownfromthecreeksandgulchestoseekoutthismanwhohadtoldataleofsuchdisaster。TheRussianhalf—breedwifeofBettlessoughtthefireplace，inconsolable，androckedbackandforth，andeverandanonflungwhitewood—ashesuponherravenhair。TheflagattheBarracksfloppeddismallyathalf—mast。Dawsonmourneditsdead。
WhyMontanaKiddidthisthingnomanmayknow。Norbeyondthefactthatthetruthwasnotinhim，canexplanationbehazarded。
Butforfivewholedaysheplungedthelandinwailingandsorrow，andforfivewholedayshewastheonlymanintheKlondike。Thecountrygavehimitsbestofbedandboard。Thesaloonsgrantedhimthefreedomoftheirbars。Mensoughthimcontinuously。Thehighofficialsboweddowntohimforfurtherinformation，andhewasfeastedattheBarracksbyConstantineandhisbrotherofficers。Andthen，oneday，Devereaux，thegovernmentcourier，haltedhistireddogsbeforethegoldcommissioner’soffice。
Dead？Whosaidso？Givehimamoosesteakandhe’dshowthemhowdeadhewas。Why，GovernorWalshwasincampontheLittleSalmon，andO’Briencominginonthefirstwater。Dead？Givehimamoosesteakandhe’dshowthem。
AndforthwithDawsonhummed。TheBarracks’flagrosetothemasthead，andBettles’wifewashedherselfandputoncleanraiment。ThecommunitysubtlysignifieditsdesirethatMontanaKidobliteratehimselffromthelandscape。AndMontanaKidobliterated;asusual，atthetail—endofsomeoneelse’sdogteam。DawsonrejoicedwhenheheadeddowntheYukon，andwishedhimgodspeedtotheultimatedestinationofthecase—hardenedsinner。Afterthattheownerofthedogsbestirredhimself，madecomplainttoConstantine，andfromhimreceivedtheloanofapoliceman。
III
WithCircleCityinprospectandthelasticecrumblingunderhisrunners，MontanaKidtookadvantageofthelengtheningdaysandtravelledhisdogslateandearly。Further，hehadbutlittledoubtthattheownerofthedogsinquestionhadtakenhistrail，andhewishedtomakeAmericanterritorybeforetheriverbroke。
Butbytheafternoonofthethirddayitbecameevidentthathehadlostinhisracewithspring。TheYukonwasgrowlingandstrainingatitsfetters。Longdetoursbecamenecessary，forthetrailhadbeguntofallthroughintotheswiftcurrentbeneath，whiletheice，inconstantunrest，wasthunderingapartingreatgapingfissures。Throughtheseandthroughcountlessairholes，thewaterbegantosweepacrossthesurfaceoftheice，andbythetimehepulledintoawoodchopper’scabinonthepointofanisland，thedogswerebeingrushedofftheirfeetandwereswimmingmoreoftenthannot。Hewasgreetedsourlybythetworesidents，butheunharnessedandproceededtocookup。
DonaldandDavywerefairspecimensoffrontierinefficients。