The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-12-29
CHAPTER Iv.contlnued.


n the meantime there was nanght
to show for it but bunch. But 1t was
coming. AS he would stake his last
ounce on good poker hand. so he
staked his life and effort on the bunch
that the future held in store a big
strike on the Upper River. So he and
his three companions, with dogs. and
leds. and snowshoes. toiled up the
frozen breast of the Stewart, toiled
on and on through the white wilder
ness where the unending stiffness was
never broken by the voices Of men,
the stroke of an ak. or the distant
crack of a rife. Gold they found on
the bars, but not in paying quantities.
and in the following May they re-
turned to Sixty Mile.
Ten days later. Harper and Joe La
due arrived at Sixty Mile, and Day
light. strong to obey the hunch that
had come to him. traded third In
terest In his Stewart town site for a
third interest in theirs on the Klondike
They had faith In the Upper Country.
and Harper left downstream, with a
raft-load Of supplies. to start small
post at the mouth of the Klondike.
Why don't you tackle Indian River.
Daylight" Harper advised. at part
ing. There's whole slathers of creeks
and draws draining In up there, and
somewhere gold just crying to be
found That's my bunch. There's a
big strike coming. and Indian River
amt going to be q million miles
away
And the place is swarming with
moose" Joe Ladue added Bob Hem
Nerson's up there somewhere, been
there three, years now, swearing
something big is going to happen.
living Off'n straight moose and pros
pecting around like crazy man."
Daylight decided to go Indian River
q dutter, as he expressed it; and lin
gered a few days longer arranging his
meager outfit. He planned to go IN
light, carrying pack Of seventy-five
pounds and making his five dogs pack
as we'll Indian fashion, loading them
with thirty pounds each. Depending
on the report Of Ladue. he intended to
follow Bob Hendersons example and
live practically on straight meat
When Jack Kearns' scow, laden with
the sawmill from Lake Linderman,
tied up at Sixty Mile. Daylight bum
died his outfit and dogs on board.
turned his town-site application over
to Elijah to be fled. and the same day
y vas landed at the mouth of Indian
He continued down bunker
he Klondike. and on to the sum-
fishing camp Of the Indians on
the Yukon.
Here for q day he camped with Car
mack q sQuaw-man, and his Indian
brother-in-law. Skookum Jim, bought
"a boat, and. with his dogs on board.
drifted down the Yukon to Forty Mile.
Then It was that Carmack, his broth
4 er-in-law. Skookum Jim. and Cultus
Charlie. another Indian, arrived in a
canoe at Forty Mile, went straight to
the gold commissioner. and recorded
1lree- claims and discovery claim on
Bonanza Creek Alter that: In the Sour
dough Saloon. that night. they exhibit
ed coarse gold to the skeptical crowd
Daylight. too. was skeptical. and this
despite his faith in the Upper Coun-
try. Had he not only few days be-
fore. seen Carmack loafing with his
Indians and with never thought Of
prospecting? But at eleven that night.
sitting on the edge of his bunk and
unlacing his rnoccasins. thought
came to him. He put on his coat and
hat and went back to the Sourdough.
Carmack was still there, flashing his
coarse gold In the eyes Of an unbe.
lieEing generation. Daylight ranged
alongside Of him and emptied Car
macks sack into blower This he
studied for a long time. Then, from
his own sack, into another blower. he
emptied several ounces Of Circle City
and Forty Mile gold. Again. for a long
time. he studied and compared. Final
", he pocketed his own gold, returned
Carmacks. and held up his hand for
silence.
Boys, want to tell you-all some
hing. he said. She's sure come--the
P-riyer strike. And tell you-all.
ar and iorcible, this is it. There
I never been gold like that in a
wer IN this country before. It's
gold. It's got more silver In it.
All can see 1t by the color. Car
9 sure made strike. Who-alps
nth to come along with me?''
pne volunteered
Zen who-all II take Job from
cash wages in advance, to pole up
aousand pounds Of grub?"
Curly Parsona and another, Pat
onahan' accepted. and, with his GUS