Cheyenne record., 1918-03-07
CHAPTER XIV.
A Shot on the sand Bar.
by the Bobbs-Msrr,n compa,

of great fires in the Northland. The
swamp home of Kazan and Gray Wolf,
and the green valley between the two
ridges, had escaped the seas of devas-
tating flame; but now. as they set forth
on their wandering adventures again, it
was not long before their padded feet
came in contact with the scared and
blackened desolation. Kazan led his
blind mate first into the south. Twenty
miles beyond the ridge they struck the
flre-killed forests. Winds from Hud-
sons bay had driven the flames in an
unbroken sea into the west, and they
had left not vestige Of life or a patch
Of green. Blind Gray Wolf could not
see the blackened world. but she sensed
It.
All Of her wonderful instincts, sharp
ened and developed by her blindness.
told her that to the north-and not
south-lay the hunung-grounds they
ware seeking. The strain Of dog that
was In Kazan still pulled him south. 1t
was not because he sought man. It was
kimply dog instinct to travel south
ward; In the face Of fire 1t was wolf
instinct to travel northward. At the
end Of the third day Gray Wolf won.
They recrossed the little valley be-
tween the two ridges, and swung north
and west into the Athabasca country,
striking q course that would ultimately
bring them to the headwaters Of the
NcFariane river.
Late in the preceding autumn pros
pector had come up to Fort Smith, on
the Slave river, with a pickle bottle
filled with gold dust and nuggets. He
had made the find on the McFarlane.
The nrst mails had taken the news to
the outside world, and by midwinter
the earliest members of a treasure
hunting horde were rushing into the
country by snow-shoes and dog-sledge.
Other finds came thick and fast. The
NcFarlane was rich in free gold, and
miners by the score staked out their
claims along It and began work. Late
comers swung to new fields farther
north and east, and to Fort Smith came
rumors of "nnds" richer than those Of
the Yukon. A score of men at first
then . hundred. five hundred, a thou
sand-rushed into the new country.
Most Of these were from the prairie
countries to the south, and from the
Daacer beds Of the Saskatchewan and
he Fraser. From the far North, trav-
ding by way Of the Mackenzie and the
Lizard, came q smaller number Of SEA-
soned prospectors and adventures
from the Yukon-men who knew what
lt meant to starvs and freeze and die
By inches.
One Of these late comers was Sandy
why Sandy had left the Yukon. He
was I'm bad" with the police who pa
tzoaled the country west Of Dawson,
and he was 'broke." In spite Of these
facts he was one Of the best prospec-
tors that had ever followed the shores
e the Klondike. He had made discov-
1g1es running up to million or two,
and had promptly lost them through
gambling and drink. He had no con-
science, and little fear. Brutality was
he chief thing written in his face. His
1ndershot Jaw, his wide eyes. low fore
had and griszly mop OF red hair pro
claimed him at once as man not to
-. BE- trusted beyond ones own vision or
the reach Of bullet. It was suspected
that he had killed Q couple of men, and
robbed others. but as yet the pdeice had
fAiled to get anything ION" him. But
along With this bad side Of hin. Sandy
NcTngser possessed a coolness and a
courage which even his worst enemies
could not but admire, and also certain
mental depths which his unpleasant
features did not proclaim.
Inside of six months Red Gold City
had sprung up on the McFarlane, a
hundred and fifty miles from Fort
Smith. and Fort Smith was five hun
lred miles from civilization. When
Sandy came he looked over the crude
collection Of shacks. gambling houses
and saloons In the new town, and made
up his mind that the time was not ripe
for any Of his inside schemes just
yet. He,gambled little, and won suf-
ncient to buy himself grub and half an
outfit. A feature Of this outfit was an
old muzzle-loading rifle. Sandy, who
always carried the latest Savage on the
market, laughed at It. But 1t was the
best his finances would allow of. He
started south-up the McFarlane. Be-
yond certain point on the river pros
pectors had found no gold. Sandy,
pushed confidently beyond this point.
Not until he was in new country did he
begin his search. Slowly he worked
his way up small tributary whose
Aeadwaters were fifty or sixty miles to
the south and east. Here and there he
found fairly good placer gold. He
might have panned six or eight dollars
worth a day. With this much he was
diagusted. Week after week he con-
dnued to work his way upstream, and
the farther he went the poorer his pans
became. At last only occasionally did
- fnd colors. After such disgusting
Weelu - these Sandy was dangerous :
0Aan In The rnmnanv of others Alone