Seward daily gateway., 1926-09-21
\ ACHECHAK0'S LOG
(second Day)

chako at the, Seward station of the Alaska railroad. The train left at 7:30, climbed slowly as far as mile 12 and then gathered speed as it des- cended the other side of the slope. At mile nineteen the train stopped for moment, just long enough to allow the Chechako to alight with his pack. The pack already seemed to weigh more than, fifty pounds, so he de- posted the pack on the porch of the home of MT. Flynn at Mile 19.
 MT. Flynn was nursing the con- tarkerous motor of the railroad gas car. Gas cars, it seems, suffer as many ills as humans. But in few moments MT. Flynn had the motor chugging as rhythmatically as the day it left the factory.
 But a long road stretched ahead; so the Chechako, fastened the belt with it's sheath-knife and pistol about his waist shouldered the pack, and started down the track toward Law ing.
 Lawing had already taken on the quiet of Autumn. At first 1t seem ed that no one was about but the Chechako unfastened the pack frame and looked about. Then he perceiv- ed what appeared to be garbed in overalls, two men busily engaged in wrecking an old building. He ap- preached, and as he drew nearer he discovered that one of the two was a woman, but nevertheless handling the peavey with as much skill as any man. The two strangers greeted the Chechako cordially. They introduced themselves as MT. and Mrs. Lawing and asked him to be seated. Then the Chechako sought enlightment.
 Isn't Lawing the place where the lodge of Nellie Neal is located?" he began cautiously.
 why" said Mr. Lawing, "Mrs. Lawing, here, is Nellie Neal"
 In this way the Chechako came to know a lady whose reputation is known throughout the continent. He heard at first hard tales of early Al aska, and examined the splendid col lection of heads and pelts in the tro- phy room. Luncheon was then ready, and he sat down to one of the meals for which Mrs. Lawing is justly fam ous. After lunch the Lawings show ed the Chechako about the ranch, where they raised vegetables which he had though impossible to grow in Alaska.
 The afternoon was advancing rap idly. however; so the Chechako re- gretfully left Lawing to turn his steps again toward Mile 29. It was a long and weary hike. The pack grew heavier and heavier The lower cross piece ot the frame <, dug 2 t1 into his back more and more. !. And nd many times. he inwardly thanked MT. Broadwell for r, striking out certain forced necessi' ties which the Chechako had intended to include in his pack II" sa }ist,
 At sunset the Chechako arrived at Mile %. He paused a moment to meet Chris Schiller, John Johnson, and Gust Almquist, and then turned oil on the Moose Pass road, near Mile 1, he decided to camp for the night. He had already made a mis- take he had been warned against re- peatedly: He had waited too late be- fore making camp. A strip of gravel beside a small creek emptying into Snow river looked satisfactory He stopped. Before the evening meal was cooked, it. was too. dark to gath Ter spruce boughs for a bed; so ne spread his tarp and sleeping bag on the gravel beside the fire. The stones were hard. and the ground was little cold, but the first ten miles he had made in his life with fifty pound rao ol> tended to roEo him forget the