River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-01-21

Five minutes after they ceased their
exertions the boat was frozen in. The
whole river was coagulating as ir ran
Cake froze to cake until at last the
boat was the center of cake seventy
FIVE feet in diameter. Sometimes they
6oated sidewise. sometimes stern first.
while gravity tore asunder the forming
letters in the moving mass. only to he
manacled by faster forming ones
Night came. and after many efforts
they gave mp the attempt To force the
boat to shore. and through the dark
ness they swept helpiessly onward
Their speed began to diminish and
cakes of ice to upend and crash End
smash about them Inc river was
jamming One cake forced upward
slid across their cake ana carried one
side. of the boat away. II did not sink-
for its own cake still upbore 1t. but In
a whirl they saw dark water show for
all movement ceased
AT the end of half an hour the whole
river picked itself up and began tn
move This continued for an hHir.
when again it was brought to rest by
a jam. Once again it started. running
swiftly and savagely. with great
grinding. Then they saw lights ashore.
and when abreast gravity and the Yn-
kon surrendered. and the river ceased
for six months
For three days Kit and Shorty labor
ed carrying the ton and n haif outfit
from the middle of the river to the log
cabin Slime and Sprague had bought
ON the hill overlooking Dawson. This
work finished, in the warm cabin As
twilight was falling Spragne motioncd
Kit TO him Outside the thermometer
registered 65 below zero
"Your full month isn't up. Smoke,
Spragne said But here 1t is in full.
| wish you luck.
How about the agreements" Kit
asked You know there's ii famine
here. You agreed
II know of no agreement" Spragne
interrupted. do you. Stine? We Ell
gagged you by the month. There's your
pay. Will you sign the receipt:''
Kits hands ciinched. and for the mo
ment be saw red Both men shFank
away from him. Shorty saw his trOu-
tile and tnterpOsed.
LOOK here Smoke | amt travelin'
no more with emery Outht IKE TINS
Right heres where ! sure jump It.
iou an me stick together Savvy
Now, you take your blankets and hike
down to the Elkhorn, Wait for me.
III settle up. collect what's comm an
give them what's comm. amt no
good on the water. but my feet's on
terry tirmy now. an I'm gOin' to make
smoke
Half an hour afterward Shorty APP
peared at the Elkhorn From his
bleeding knuckIes and the skin off one
cheek 1t was evident that he had given
Slime and Sprague what was coming.
You ought to see that cabin. he
chucked as they stood at the bar,
''RoughhOuse amt no name for it.
Dollars to doughnuts nary one Of 'em
shows up on the street for week.
IAN now It's all nggereO ouI TOT you
IN me Grub's a dollar an half d
pound They amt no work for wages
without you have your own grub.
Moose meats selin' for 81 pound. an
they ain none We got enough money
for a months grub an ammunition.
an we hike up the kiOndike to the
back country. If they amt no moose
we go an live with the Indians But
If we amt got 5000 pounds OF meat
six weeks from now l'll-l'il sure go
back an apologize to our bosses ls 1t
go?"
Kits hand went out. and they shook
Then he faltered Il don't know any
thing about hunting" he said.
Shorty lifted his glass "But you're
a sure meat eater an I'll learn you"