The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-07-26
CHAPTER IV-Continued

Good job you didn't hit him worse. :"
Wait while, sonny. wait while.
There's something mighty familiar
about Jake Mosher. He's mighty ike
a certain Sam Mosely I'm interested
in I've just written a letter outside
10 see. an If its him-well, I'm saved /:
I'm a good Christian. but-God help
bimI"
And who was Sam Mosely. JimT"
sam Mosely? SAM MoseIy was
the skunk that busted up my home an
stole my wife. blast him.
Day after day. each man Of Us
poured out on the trail the last heel
tap of his strength. and the coming of
niGht fOnnd Us utterly played out
Salvation Jim was full of device and
resource. the Prodigal. a dynamo of
eager energy: hui il was rhe Jam
wagon who proved his mertle in a
magnificent and relentless way. Brian
WanleSS his name. world tramp. Il
dereIiCt of the Seven seas. He must
once have been a magnificent fellow
and even now. with strength and will
9 power impaired. ne was man among
men. full OF quick courage and of q
naughty temper. II was ever word
and a blow with him. and fight to
the desperate finish.
Though tacirurn and morose with
men. the Jam-wag0n showed tireless
affection for animals. From the first
he took charge of our OK; but IL was
for horses his fondness was most ex.
pressed. so that on the trail. where
there was so much cruelty. he was
constantly on rhe verge of combat
That's a great man." said The
ProdigaI to me. "a fighter from heel
TO head There's one he can't fight
though. and THAT'S old man Booze"
One day we were making q trip
with load Of our stuff when. JUS
ahead. there was a check in the march,
so and the Jam-wagnD went forward
10 investigate. Ii was our old friend
Bullhammer in difficulties. he had
rather a fine horse, and in passing q
sump-hale. his sled had skidded ara
slipped dOwnhill into the wafer. Now
the was belahorine the animal unmer
cifuIly, acting like a crazy man.
shouting in a frenzy of rage.
The horse was making the most gal
lanr efforts | ever saw. but, with
every fresh attempt, its strength
weakened. Time and again il came
down on its knees. which were raw
and bleeding. II was shining with
sweat so thai there was not dry hair
on its body. and If ever a dumb brufes
eyes spoke of agony and fear. that
horses did. But BulIhammer grew
every moment more Infatuated. wrench
ing its mouth and beating il ever the
head with a club. II was sickenins
sight and. used as | was TO the in
humanity OF the trail. ! would have
inrerfered mad not the Jam-wagnn
Jumped in. He was deadly pale and
his eyes burned.
"YoU Internal brute! If you strike
thai horse another blow. ri break
your club over ynur shoulders.
Bullhammer turned on him Sur
prize paralyzed the man. rage choked
him. The. were both big husky feI
lows. and they drew up face to face
Then Bullhammer spoke.
Curse you. anyway. Don't interfere
with me. I'll heat bloody h-I out OF
the horse If like. an you wont say
one word. seer
With that he struck the horse an
other vicious blow on the head There
was a quick scuffie. The club was
wrenched from Bullhammer's hand {
saw il come down twice. The man
sprawled on his back. while over him
stood the Jam-wagan. looking very
grim. The horse slipped quietly back
into the water.
You ugly bIackguardl I've a good
mind 10 beat you within an ace OF
yunr life. But you're not worth il"
he gave BuIlhammer a kick. The
man got on his feet. He was cow
ard. nut his pig eyes squinted In i'm
potent rage. he looked al his horse
lying shivering in the icy water.
NCi NllC Al'ASC WI sNUi lDCus
curse you. 10 what you please with
him. But, mark you-I'lI get even
with you for this-T'lI-get-even.s
He shook his fist and. with an ugly
oath. went away. The block in the
traffic was relieved The trail was
again in motion. When we got abreast
of the submerged horse. we pitched
on the OK and hastily pulled il out.
and Cthe Jam-wagnD proving TO have
no little veterinary skilD in a few
days ii was fl to work again.
.
Another week had gone and we were
still on the trail, between the head Of
the canyon and the summit Of the
Pass Day after day was the same
round of lnflinching effort. under con-
ditiOns thai would daunt any but the
st0utest hearts ~Klondike or bust. !"
WAS the slogan II was ever on the
lips OF those bearded men. -Klon-
dixie or bust"-the strong man, with
infinite patience, righted bis over
turned sleigh. and In the face of the
binding blizzard. pushed on through
the cIogging snow. "Klondike or