The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-02-14

| and jest and song and tales of past
adventure went round the board.
Aliens from a dozen lands, they toast
ed each other and all. 1t was the Eng
| lishman, Prince, who pledged Uncle
| Sam. the precocious infant of the new
world" the Yankee, BEETLES, who drank
to 'The Queen, God bless her!' and to-
gether Savoy and Meyers, the German
| trader, changed their cups to Alsace
and Lorraine.
Then Malemute Kid arose, cup in
hand, and glanced at the creased pa
per window, where the frost stood full
| three inches thick-"A health to the
man on trail this night; may his grub
hold out; may his dogs keep their legs;
may his matches never miss fire."
Crack! Crack! They heard the ia
miliar music of the dog whip, the whin-
ing howl of the Malemutes and the
crunch of q sled as it drew up to the
cabin. Conversation languished while
they waited the issue.
"An old timer-cares for his dogs
and then himself" whispered Male
the swapping jaws and the wolfish
snarls and yelps of pain which pro-
claimed to their practiced ears that
the stranger was beating back their
| dogs while he fed his own.
Then came the expected knock, sharp
and confident, and the stranger enter
ed. Dazzled by the light, he hesitated
a moment at the door, giving to all a
chance for scrutiny. He was a strik-
| ing parsonage and a most picturesque
| one in his arctic dress of wool and fur
| Standing six foot two or three, with
proportionate breadth of shoulders and
depth of chest, his smooth shaven face
nipped by the cold to cleaning pink,
| his long lashes and eyebrows white
| with ice, and the ear and neck flaps of
his great wolfskin cap loosely raised
he seemed, Of a verify, the frost king,
Just stepped in out of the night
Clasped outside his mackinaw jacket
a beaded belt held two large Colts re-
volvers and a hunting knife, while he
| carried, in addition to the inevitable
dog whip, q smOkeless rifle of the
largest bore and latest pattern. AS he
came forward, for all his step was firm
and elastic, they could see that fatigue
bore heavily upon him.
| An awkward silence had fallen, but
his hearty what cheer. my lads?" put
them quickly at ease. and the next in
/ slant Malemute Kid and he had grip
ped hands. Though they had never
met, each had heard of the other, and
! the recognition was mutual. A sweep
| ing introduction and a mug of punch
were forced upon him before be could
explain his errand.
How long since that basket sled
with three men and eight dogs pass
ed?" he asked.
IAN even two days ahead. Are you
after them?"
| Yes; my team. Run them off under
my very nose, the cusses. I've gained
| up on the next run"
f, Reckon they'll show spunk?" asked
| Belden in order to keep up the CONVEX
| sation for Malemute Kid already had
| the coffeepot ON and was busily frying
| bacon and moose meat.
The stranger significantly tapped his
| reyOlverS
"When'd yeh leave Dawson?"
Twelve o'clock"
"Last night?"I as matter Of course
To-day"
A murmur Of surprise passed round
the circle. And well it might, for it
was just midnight, and seventy-five
miles of rough river trail was not to
be sneered at for twelve hours run.
| The talk soon became impersOnal,