Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-07-10

lake. here blew in squarely on tha
beach. kicking up nasty sea in tha
shadows. The men Of the departin,
boat waded In high rubber boots as
they showed it out toward deeper wa.
ter. Twice they did this. Clamberinp
aboard and failing to row clear. ths
boat was swept back and grounded
Kit noticed that the spray on the side,
of the boat quickly turned to ice. The
third attempt was partial success.
The last two men to climb in were wet
70 their waists, but the boat was ailoat
They struggled awkwardly at the
heavy oars and slowly worked or
shore. Then they hoisted sail made
of blankets, had 1t carried away in
gust and we're swept third time back
on the freezing beach.
Kit grinned to himself aud went on.
This was what he must expect to en-.
counter, for he. too, in his new role OF
pentleman's man was to start from the
beach in a similar boat that very day.
Everywhere men were at work, and
at work desperately, for the closing
down Of winter was so imminent that
it was a gamble whether or not they
would get across the great chain OF
lakes before the freezeup. Yet when
Kit arrived at the tent Of MesSrs.
Sprague and Stine he did not find them
| stirring.
By a fire, under the shelter of a tar.
Daulin, squatted a short, thick man.
"Hellow he said. Are you Mr..
Spragues new manT
Kit nodded.
"Well, I'm Doc Shines man." the
other went on. "Pm FIVE feet two inch.
es long, an my names Shorty-Jaek
Short, for short. Sit down an have
some grub. The bosses amt turned
out yet"
Thomas Stanley Sprague was bud.
ding mining engineer and the son Of a
millionaire. Dr. Adoph Stine was also
the son OF a wealthy father, and
through their fathers both had been
backed by an investing syndicate in
the Klondike adventure.
"Oh, they're sure made of money"
Shorty expounded When they hit
the beach at Dyea freight WAS 70 cents,
but no Indians. There was a party
from eastern Oregon, real miners.
thatd managed to get team Of In
dians together at 10 cents when along
comes Sprague an Stine, They Of
fered so cents an 80, an at dollar
pound the Indians jumped the con-
tract an took Off their straps. Slime
an Sprague came through, though II
cost them three thousand an the Ore
gon bunch is still on the beach. They
won't get through till next year.
Have another cup Of coffee. an
take It from me that wouldn't travel
with no such outfit II didn't want to
get to Klondike 50 blamed bad They
. amt hearted right Did you sign a
contract|
Kit shook bis head.
Then I'm sorry for you, pardner |
They amt 10 grub in the country. an
they'll drop you cold as soon as they
bit Dawson. Men are going to starye
there this winter. What's your name, I
pardner"
Call me Smoke said Kit
We'll, Smoke, you'll have a run for
your verbal contract Just the same
They can sure shed mazuma, but they
can't work or turn out of bed in the
mornin' We should have been loaded
m started an hour ago. It's yon an
me for the big work What dye know
about boatin' on the water? I'm
cowman an a prospector. but I'm sure
tenderfooted on water an they don't
know punkins. What dye knowT (
Search me, Kit answered. :
II was S O'Clock when the call for
coffee came from the tent and nearly
0 before the two employers emerged.
Hello said Sprague, rosy cheek
ed, well fed young man of twenty-five.
Time we made a start. Shorty You
and here he glanced lnterrogatlve-
ly at Kit - didn't quite catch your
name last evening"
Smoke
"Well, shorty, you and Smoke had
better begin loading the boat"
Sprague strolled away among the
tents, to be followed by DR.. Stine,
slender, pallid young man.
To move 5000 pounds on the shoul-
ders 100 yards was no slight task, and
to do It in haif a gale was exhausting
Then came the loading. As the boat
settled It had to be showed farther
and farther out, increasing the dis
tance they had to wade.
BY 2 o'clock 1t had all been accom-
plished, and Kit was weak with the
tainness Of hunger. His knees were
shaking under him. Shorty, In similar
predlcament, foraged through the pots
and pans and drew forth big pot OF
cold boiled beans in which were EN-
bedded large chunks of bacon. There
was only one spoon, long handled
one, and they dipped, turn and turn
about, into the pot.
Sprague and Slime arrived In tns
midst OF this pleasant occupation.
What's the delayT' Sprague CON.
plained. Aren't we ever going to get
startedT
sh..... a. ....g tha