Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-23
McGill
i
By REX BEACH.
Copyright by Otis L. Wood.
By REX BEACH.

~%HD Ice was running when Nc
Gin arrived. Had he'been two
hours later he might have
Jared badly, for the ramparts
above Ophir choke the river down into
a narrow chute, through which it hur-
ries snariing. and the shore ice was
widsning-at the rate ofsa foot.an hour.
Early in the day the recorder from
Alder creek had tried to come ashore,
but had broken through, losing his
skin and saving his life by the sheer
good luck that favors fools and drunk
On men. It4was October. The last mail
had gone ont fortnight previously,
and the wiseacres were laying odds
that the river would be closed in three
days, so Il was close running that Nc
Gill made-80O miles In an,open whip
sawed dofy.
They heard him calling, once he saw
the lights, and when they got down to
the water level could make out his
boat crunching along through the thin
to force his way inward to a point
where the current would not move
him, but the Yukon spun him like
top, and 1t looked as II he would 60
past. Fortunately, however, there hap
pened to be man In the crowd who
had learned tricks with lariat back
in Oklahoma, 50 they got line out,
and McGill came ashore with his bed
ding under one arm and sheet iron
stove under the other. Stoves were
scare that winter. and 'McGfl was no
tenderfoot.
They obtained their nrst good look
ut him when he lined up with the
crowd ut Hopper's bar ten minutes
later, By which time It was known who
he was. he had q great big frame.
with great big face on top OF 1t, and,
judging from his reputation, ho had
great big heart to match them both.
Some Of the late corners recalled tale
Of how he had lifted the gunwales out
Of polling boat that was wedged in a
timber jam above White Horse, and
from the looks Of his massive hands
and shoulders he seemed amply able.
He was not handsome-few strong
men are-but he had level, blue eyes.
rather small and deep set, and jaw
that made people think twice before
angering him, while his voice. carried
the rumbling bass note one hears at
the edge of spring freshet when the
hou1dora aro ahfffiDp
II missed the last boat from Circle"
he explained. $50 took chance with
the skiff."
"Aim to Wtnosr here, DanT
II do. Minook told me four summers
ago that he'd found prospect near
here, and I've always f1ggered on put
ting some holes down. But It looks
like I'm late"
"Oh, there's plenty Of ground open.
You've got as good chance as the
balance Of us"
ANY grub In camp?" - -
"Nope. Ophir was struck too late IN
the fall"
McGill laughed. II didn't think there
would be, but that's nothing new"
Didn't you bring none?'
"Nary pound. There's women and
children at Circle. and there wasn't
enough for them, so pulled out"
There's plenty below" Hopper as
sured him.
"How farT
I'VE don't know yet There's boat
load Of Cheechakos bound for Dawson
somewhere between here and Coch-
rane's Landing. They'll be froze In
now. and tenderfeet always has grub.
Soon's we get some more snow We'll do
some freightin'."
Before he retired that night McGill
later there was cabin on 1t, for he
was a man who knew how to work.
Then during the interval between the
close of navigation and the opening Of
winter travel he looked over the coun-
try and staked some claims. he did
not locate at random, but used dis
elimination based upon ten years ex-
perience in the arctic, and when cold
weather set In he felt satisfied with
his work Men with half bis holdings
reckoned their fortunes at extravagant
figures. Transfers of improved proper
ties for handsome terms were common
Millions were made daily on paper.
Soon after the winter had settled two
strangers "mushed" in from down riv-
er. For ten days they had pulled their
own sled through the first dry, track
less snow Of the season, and they were
well spent, but they brought news that
the steamboat was in winter quarters
$50 miles below. They assured Nc,
Gill, moreover, that there was plenty
Of food aboard, so day later he set
OF on their back trail with his dog
team.
When he finally burst out of: the 81.
lence and into the midst Of the gold
seekers with tidings Of the new camp
only $50 miles away they shook of
their lethargy and awoke to great ex-
element. He told all he honestly knew
about the town Of Ophir. and, with
nimble fancies, they added two words
of their own to every one Of his. They
stopped work upon their winter quar-
tiers and made ready to push on afoot
Ion hands and knees If necessary. Here
was man who had made a fortune in
one short autumn, for with the custom
airy ignorance Of tenderfeet they per-
ceived no distinction between a min
ing claim and mine.
The steamboat captain offered McSill