The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1911-10-26
CHAPTER n.


20 Kearns the twenty thousand In dust
and transferred to him his Aoosehide
claim. Likewise he arranged the tax
Ing over of Billy Rawlins' mail con-
tract, and made his preparations for
the start. He dispatched a messenger
to rout out Kama. his dog-driver-a
Tananaw Indian. far-wandered from
his tribal home in the service of the
Invading whites. Kama entered the
Tivoli. tall. lean, muscular. and fur
clad, the pick of his barbaric race and
oarbaric still. mistaken and una
Dashed by the jewellers that rioted
about him while Daylight gave his
orders.
"Um," said Kama, tabbing his In
structions on his fingers. Get um
letters from Rawlins. Load um on
sled. Grub for selkirk-you think UNI
plenty dog-grub stop selkirk?"
Plenty dog-grub. Kama"
"Um. Bring sled this place nine
UNI clock. Bring um snowshoes- No
bring UNI tent Mebbe bring UNI fly?
um little fy?"
mo fly" Daylight answered de-
risively We travel light-savvee?
We carry plenty letters out plenty
letters back. You are strong man.
Plenty cold. plenty travel, all right"
Sure all right" Kama muttered.
with resignation. Much cold. no care.
Um ready nine um clock"
F1e turned on his moccasined heel
and walked out, imperturbable, sphinx
= ike, neither giving nor receiving
greetings nor looking to right or left.
The Virgin led Daylight away into a
+ corner
""4ook here. Daylight" she said in a
aUW 20 busted"
"'Higher'n a kite"
i've eight thousand in Macs safe
~ she began.
But Daylight interrupted. The
Rpron-string doomed near and he SHE'D
IKE an unbroken colt.
1T don't matter" he said. Busted
] came into the world. busted go out,
and I've been busted most of the time
since arrived. Come on; let's waltz. !"
But, 1isten," she urged. my
moneys doing nothing. l could lend
1t to you-a grub-stake," she added,
hurriedly, at sight, of the alarm In his
face.
Nobody grub-stakes me-" was the
answer. II stake myself, and when
make killing it's sure all mine. No
thank you, old girl. Much obliged. I'll
get my stake by running the mail out
and in" With a sudden well-assumed
~ebullition of spirits he drew her to-
ward the dancing-foor, and as they
swung around and around in a waltz
sEhe pondered on the iron heart of the
man who held her in his arms and re-
sisted all her wiles.
At six the next morning scorching
with whisky, yet ever himself, he
stood at the bar putting every mans
hand down The way of it was that
@Swo men faced each other across a
corner. their right elbows resting on
j., s4he bar, their right hands gripped to.
/: ,agefner, while each stove to press the
!: Others hand down. Man after man
came against him, but no man put his
hand down, even Olaf Henderson and
French Louis failing despite their
Augeness.
The winner pays!" Daylight cried
Surge along you-all! This way to the
.Bnakeroom!"
I'm busted higher'n kite, and Tn
Aittin' the trail for Dyea-"
Coin out?" some one called.
r rspasm CO anger wrought on hi
face for a flashing instant, but in the
next good humor was back again.
FL konw you-all are only pokin' full
asking such a question" he said witt
"a smile. ':Of course l amt going out
''Iltke the oath again, Daylight" tn
same voice cried.
-T sure win. I first come over Chi
eoot In 'S3. went out over the Pas
IN fall blizzard, with a rag of a shir
and a cup of raw -four l got my grub
stake in Juneau that winter, and i
the spring l went out over the Pas
once more. And once more the fan
inc drew me out. Next spring / wen
In again, and / swore then that +
never come out till / made my stake
Well, I amt made it, and here | an
And / amt going out now. get tn
stop the night at Dyea. I'll hit u
Chilcoot soon as I change the dog
and get the mail and grub. And so
swear once more. I'll never hit fo
the Outside till | make my pile. An
I tell you-all, here and now, it's gC
10 be an almighty big pile. I'll be res
conservative, and put the bottom note
at a million. And for not an ouno
1essan that will I go out of the coul
Try. tell you-all / got huncl
There's a big strike coming on til
Yukon. and it's just about due. don
mean no ornery Moosehide, Birc
creek kind of a strike. I mean re;
z1psnorter hair-raiser. Nothing ca
stop her, and she'll come up rive
There's where you-all'll track my mo
casfns in the near future If you-a
liant - I'D Sz.a~ASc-.as-rsaS.=e .<f