Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-03-09

This was their sixth day out from
the lively camp OF Mucluc. on the Yu.
kon. And now they were breasting the
big divide past the Bald buttes, where
the way would lead them down Por-
cupine creek TO the middle reaches Of
Mix river Higher up Milk river. It
was fairly rumored, were deposits OF
copper. And this was their goal-a
hill OF pure copper half mile TO the
right and up the first creek after Milk
river issued from deep gorge to flow
across a heavily timbered stretch OF
bottom
Smoke was in the lead. and the small
scattered spruce trees were becoming
scarcer and smaller when he saw one
dead and bone dry, that stood in their
path. There was no need for speech
His glance 10 Shorty was acknowl-
edged by n stentorian "Whoar' The
dogs stood In the traces TIL they saw
Shorty begin to undo the sled lashings
and Smoke attack the dead spruce With
an ak. whereupon the animals dropped
In the snow and curled into balls, the
bush OF each tail curved to cover four
padded feet and an ice trimmed muzzle
In twenty minutes from the time they
halted the meal was ready to eat
About forty below" Shorty mumbled
through a mOuthfu OF beans. Hope
u don't get colder-or warmer neither
It's just right for trail breakin'."
Smoke did not answer. His own
mouth full of beans, he had CHANGED to
glance at the lead dog lying half a
dozen feet away. That gray, frosty
wolf was gazing at him with the In
finite usefulness and yearning that
glimmer and haze 80 often In the eyes
OF northland dogs. Smoke knew II
well. but never got over the unfathom.
able wonder OF IL.
As If to shake or the hypnotism he
set down his plate and coffee cup, went
to the sled and began opening the dried
hsh sack.
"Heyp Shorty expostuhted. what
r you doin'T'
Breaking all law. custom, precedent
and trail usage" Smoke replied. I'm
going to feed the dogs In the middle OF
the day-just this once. Bright there
has been talking to me. telling me al
UNRELIABLE things with those eyes OF
HIM"
shorty laughed specifically. "Oh. II
IT'S a bunch. go to IT, A mans always
got to follow his lunches"
1T isn't bunch, Shorty. Bright Just
49, nj
couple OF twists. He told me more In
one minute with those eyes OF his than
I could rend In the books IN a thousand
years. His eyes were a-crawl with the
secrets OF life. They were just squirm
ing and wriggiing there. The trouble
ID l almost got them. and then didn't
Tn no wiser than | was before. but
was near them"
Boiled down into simple American
you got a hunch." Shorty insisted
-Somethin's goin' to happen before
the day In out. You'll see. An them
dried nsh'll have a bearin'."
You've got to show me-" said
Smoke.
NO. amt. The dayn take care OF
Itself an show you. Now, listen tc
what I'm tellin you. got bunch
myself out OF your bunch. I'll bet
eleven ounces against three ornery
toothpicks I'm right"
you bet the toothpicks, and III BET
the ounces Smoke returned.
Nope. Thatd be plain robbery. ]
win. ! know a bunch when II tickles
me. Before the days out somethin' m
happen. an them hshll have a mean
In"
An hour later they cleared the divide
dipped down past the Bald buttes
through a sharp elbow canyon and
took the steep, open slope that drop
ped into Porcupine creek. Shorty, IN
the lead. stopped abruptly, and Smoke
whoaed the dogs Beneath them. com.
ing up, was a procession Of humans,
scattered and draggled. a quarter OF
mile long.
They move like it was a funeral"
Shorty noted.
They've no dogs" said Smoke.
yep; there's couple OF men puIlin'
on a sled"
''See that fellow fall down. There's
something the matter. Shorty, and
there must be 200 OF themT
Look at 'em stagger as if\they was
soused. There goes another
"lt's a whole tribe. There ara v
8en there" A
Smoke, win," Shorty proclaimed /
"A hunch n bunch. an you cant
beat t. There she csDcs. Lssk ~