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

them all freeze on the trail or have
everything terrible happen to them. so
long as the Sea Lion stampede arrived
frst And now, If you'n forgive my
TRADE, I'll save my breath, for / don't
know when yon and all the rest may
try to pass dad and me-"
No further talk passed between Joy
and Smoke for an hour or SO. though
be noticed that for time she and her
father talked in low tones.
81 know 'em now" Shorty told
Smoke Hes old Louis Gastell. an
the real goods That must be his kid
He come into this country so long ago
they amt nobody can recollect. an he
brought the girl with him. she only
baby"
II don't think wen try TO pass them
Smoke said We're at the head OF
the stampede. and there are only four
Of us"
Another hour of silence followed
during which they swung steadily
along At O'Clock the blackness was
broken by last display of the aurora
broad opening between snow clad
mountains.
"Squaw creek!' Joy exclaimed
"GOin' some" Shorty exulted.
1t was at this point that the Dyea
trail. baff1ed by Ice jams, swerved alb
ruptly across the Yukon to the east
bank And here they must leave the
ri, I'd In fro I'D
the jams and follow dim trail but
slightly packed that lowered the west
bank.
Louis Gastell. leading, slipped in the
darkness on the rough ice and sat up,
holding his ankle in both his hands
He struggled 70 his feet and went on
but at a slower pace and with a per
ceptible limp. After few minutes he
abruptly halted.
Its no USE" he said to his daugh-
ter. i've sprained tendon You go
ahead and stake for me as we'll as
Yourself" ~
Cant we do something's" Smoke
asked
Louis Gastell shook his head. ''She
can stake two claims as well as one
I'll crawl over to the bank. start a fire
and bandage my ankle. I'll be all
right Go on. Joy. Stake ours above
the Discovery claim It's richer high
er up."
Heres some birch bark" Smoke
said. dividing his supply equally
Wen take care of your daughter"
Louis Gastell laughed harshiy
Thank you just the same" he said
but she can take care of herself. Fol
low her and watch her."
do you mind if | lead?" she asked
Smoke as she headed on. II know
this country better than you"
Lead on" Smoke answered gallant
", Though agree with you it's darn
shame all us chekakos are going to
beat that Sea Lion bunch to it. Isn't
there some way to shake them"
She shook her head. I'VE can't hide
our trail. and they'll follow it like
sheep"
After a quarter OF mile she turned
sharply to the west. Smoke noticed
that they were going through unpack
ed snow, but neither he nor Shorty OBJ
served that the dim trail they had
been on still led south Had they wit
messed the subsequent procedure OF
Louis GasteIl the history Of the KlOn
dixie would have been written differ
emily, for they would have seen that
old timer. no longer limping. running
with his nose to the trail like hound
Following them; also they would have
seen him trample and widen the turn
70 the fresh trail they had made to the
west, and finally they would have seen
him keep on the old dim trail that still
led south.
trail did run up the creek, but so
slight was it that they continually lost
It In the darkness. After a quarter OF
IN hour Joy Gastell was willing to drop
to the rear and let the two men take
turns in breaking way through the
snow. This slowness of the leaders en-
abled the whole stampede to catch up.
and when daylight came at 9 O'Clock
as far hack as they could see was an
unDrokeD line Of men. joys dark eyes
sparkled at the sight.
How long since we started up the
creek p she asked.
Fully two hours," Smoke answered.
'And two hours back make four"
she laughed. 1.-THE stampede from Sea
Lion is saved"
a faint suspicion crossed Smokes
mind Il don't understand" he said
"You don't? Then I'll tell you. This
is Norway creek Squaw creek is the
next to the south"