Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-30

lut ulin, VINO ioOheu Ike trump II
his cheap overalls aud dilapidate,
wooden jacket. grinned dryly. and Xxi
felt withered. though he knew not why
did you see that man with tn
girlY Kits neighbor asked him excit
eddy Know who he is.''
Kit shook his head
"Cariboo Charley He was jus
pointed out TO me. He struck II big OF
Kl0ndike. Old timer Been on tn,
Yukon dozen years. He's just com,
out"
"what does 'chekako' meant" XII
asked
You're one; I'm one" was the an
swer-"tenderfoot
Kits first pack was a success. III
TO Finnegan's Crossing they had man
aged TO get Indians TO carry the 2.50(
| pound outfit From that point theiI
own backs must do the work They
planned TO move forward at the rat,
of a mile day. II looked easy-or
paper.
Since John Bellew was 10 stay IN
camp and do the cooking. he would b,
unable to make more than an occG
sional pack So TO each of the three
young men fell the task of carrying
500 pounds one mile each day. III they
made fifty pound packs II meant a
daily walk of sixteen miles loaded and
of fifteen miles light. because we
don't back trip the last time" Kit ex
planned the pleasant discovery. Eighty
pound packs meant nineteen miles
travel each day. and 100 pound packs
meant only fifteen miles.
"A don't like walking" said Kit
therefore shall carry 100 pounds
He caught the grin OF incredulity on
his uncle'S face and added hastily
"Ot course shall work up to IT. III
start with fifty"
He did and ambled gayly along III,
trail He dropped the sack at the mex,
camp site and ambled back 1t was
easier than he had thought But two
miles had rubbed of the velvet Of his
strength and exposed the underlying
softness. His second pack was sixty
five pounds. II was more difficult. and
he no longer ambled Several times
following the custom Of all packers. he
sat down on the ground. resting the
pack behind him on a rock or stump
With the third pack he became bold
He fastened the straps to a ninety-fve
pound sack Of beans and started Al
the end OF a hundred yards he felt
that he must collapse. He sat down
and mopped his face
short hauls and short rests" he
muttered That's the trick
Sometimes he did not make a hun
dred yards, and each time be struggled
to his feet for another short haul the
pack became undeniably heavier He
painted for breath and the sweat
streamed from him Before he bad GOV
cred quarter of mile he stripped OF
his wooden shirt and hung II on a tree
A little later he discarded his hat Al
the end of half mile he decided he
was finished AS he sat and painted
his gaze fell upon the big revolver and
the heavy cartridge belt
Ten pounds Of JUNK he sneered as
he unbuck led IT,
He did not bother 10 hang il ON
tree. but dung II into the underbrush
His short hluls decreased At times
"a hundred feet was an he could stag
ser. and then the ominous pounding of
his heart against his eardrums and che
sickelng ,ouering OF his knees com
PEELED him 10 rest And his rests grew
longer But his mimi was busy. II |
was 4 twenty eight mile portage. which !
represented as many days and this 10y |
all accounts was the easiest part OF IL |
Wait tiil yOn get TO Chilkoot" 9th !
ers told him as they rested and talked |
where yOu climb with hands and feet.
Wait ill you hit the canyon Youu |
nave TO cross a raging torrent on u
sixty foot pine tree No guide ropes /
Igihing ana the water boiling nj the
sag OF the log 10 your knees II yoa
tall with "a pack OH your back there
no getting Out OF the straps lou jus
-ta! there ana drown
He and the sack Of beans became
tragedy II reminded
aim 0f the Old Man OF the Sea who sai
pa Sindbad's neck Again and again
he was nearly seduced by the thought
u abandoning the sack Of beans in thc
brush and OF sneaking around the
amp To the beach and catching -
'teamer for civilization
TX Ihe mile pack was ended it
.veI was wreck he was. A.
'hqT 'he pack came in sight he
.rIt " ,nerntion. gained
he CAIN. $40 ~ --'''-,--;d forward on
his face. the beans on his Oaek. II did
lot kill him. but he lay for fifteen MN
ties before he could summon gufficieD.
hreds OF strength to release himself
rom the straps. Then h. became
leathly sick and was so found by
Robbie. who had similar troubles OF
lis own
And am twenty-seven years old
md man." he privately assured him
elf many times in the days that Got
owed. There was need for il. AT th,.
nd Of a week. though he had sue.
eeded in moving his 500 pounds for
ward mile a day. ne had lost fifteen
'ounds OF mis- own weight His face
vas lean and haggard. An residence