Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-04-20
SMOKE
BELLEW
By
JACK
LONDON
Copyrisha. 1914. BY the Whee,sr
Syndicate
CHAPTER viii.
A Friend In Need.

MOhE WOKE UP. a uEdAl tho'
- possessed all the rigidity Of ar
~ icicle was boring into the front
of his shoulders as he lay Oh
his side facing the wall. When he had
been tied into the bunk there had been
no such draft. and now the outside air
was sufficient advertisement that some
one from without had pulled away the
moss chinking between the logs. &c
rquirmed as far rs his bonds would
permit, then craned his neck forward
until his lips just managed to reach
the crack.
"Who Is it?" he whispered.
"Breck. Be careful you don't make
a noise. I'm going to pass knife In
to you"
mo good" Smoke said. "My hands
are tied behind me and made fast to
the leg Of the bunk. But something
must be done. Those fellows are Of q
temper to hang me, and, Of course, you
know didn't kill that man."
ut wasn't necessary to mention 1t.
Smoke. l want to get you out Of this.
It's q tough bunch Of men here.
They're shut OF from the world, and
s1ey make and enforce their own law.
They handled two men already--both
grub thieves. One they hiked from
camp without an ounce Of grub and
no matches. He made about forty
miles and lasted couple Of days be-
fore he froze stiff. Two weeks ago
they hiked the second man. They gave
him his choice-no grub or ten lashes
for each days ration. He stood for
forty lashes before he tainted. And
now they've got you, and every last
one Is convinced you killed Kinade.
You see, things have been pretty mo-
notonous. They haven't located any
thing big. Scurvy Is beginning to
show up among them. too. and they're
Just ripe for excitement"
"And It looks like I'll furnish It."
was Smokes comment "Say, Breck.
how did you ever fall in with such q
God forsaken bunchW
II came up here by way Of the Stew
art, hunting for Two Cabins. They'd
beaten me to 1t, so I've been higher
up the Stewart Just got back yester
day out Of grub"
Hold on" Smoke interrupted. "Wait
a minute. Let me think"
He was very much aware Of the
snores Of the sleepers as he pursued
the idea that had flashed into his mind.
"Say, Breck. have they opened up
the meal packs my dogs carriedT he
asked.
"a couple. They put them In Hard
ing's cache"
did they find anything%
"Meat."
Good. You've got to get into the
brown canvas pack that's patched with
moose hide. You'll find a few pounds
Of lumpy gold. You've never seen
gold like 1t in the country, nor has any.
body else. Here's what you've got to
do. Listen"
my minds made up right now.
There amt no doubt but what he kill
ed Kinade We heard the whole thing
last night. What's the good Of goin'
over it again? l vote guilty"
In such fashion Smokes trial began.
The speaker, loose jointed. hard rock
man from Colorado. manifested irrita'
ton and disgust when Harding set his
suggestion aside. demanded the pro-
ceedings should be regular and nomi
mated one Skunk Wilson for Judge and
chairman Of the meeting. The popu
lation of Two Cabins constituted the
Jury, though. after some discussion
the woman, Lucy. was denied the right
to vote on Smokes guilt or innocence.
While this was going on Smoke
jammed into corner on bunk. over
heard a whispered conversation be
tween Breck and miner.
"You haven't fifty pounds Of 6oui
you'll sell?" Breck queried.
"You amt got the dust to pay the
price I'm askin'." was the reply.
"Ill give you two hundred"
The man shook his head.
'SThree hundred. Three fifty"
At four hundred the man nodded and
said. "Come on over to my cabin an
weigh out the dust"
The two squeezed their way to tht
door and slipped out. After a few min
utes Breck returned alone.
Harding was testifying when Smoke
saw the door showed open slightly ant
in the crack appear the face Of thu
man who had sold the -four. He wa
grimacing and beckoning emphadcally
to some one inside. who arose from
near the stove and started to walk to
ward the door.
"Where are you goin', Sam" Shuni
Wilson demanded.
'T'll be back in a jiffy." Sam explain
ed. "I jes' got to 60"
Smoke was permitted to question
the witness. and he was in the middle
of the cross examination Of Hardini
| when from without came the winning
| Of dogs in harness and the grind ant
ehurn of sled runners. Somebody nea
the door peeped out
Tt's Sam an his pardner an Dol
team hell bent down the trail TO
Stewart river" the man reported.
Nobody spoke for long half minute
but men glanced significantly at on
another, and general ,restiessness per
vaded the packed room. Out Of tn
corner Of his eye Smoke caught
| glimpse Of Breck, Lucy and her hus
band whispering together.
"Come on. your Skunk Wilson sal
grufiy to Smoke. "Cut this question
In short. We know what you're tryin
to prove-that the other bank wan
searched. The witness admits It W.
admit it. 1t want necessary. M