The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-11-22
Chapter Nine
IN DANGER

q sN CANGEH
 NS they drew near the handing hsCurt looked down the shore sesen hundred yards and saw four old stone houses in the middle of second-growth clearing.
 He krew what they were: at Tel facet he had heard stories about those ruins. An ancient Russian fur post. located there wien Washing ton was leading the newborn Amer lean Republic. it was a relic of the days when Russia ruled western America from Nome to northern California. and predatory Cossacks, with "musket. sword and the help of God" gathered tribute for the Little White Father in far-away St. Petersburg.
 Except for inland stations in Alaska. it was one of the few posts which the Cossack expedition had established at any distance from tidewater. The four stone structures, rearing above the second growth. were half-hidden by wood vines and wild ivy. much as their actual his tory had been overgrown with tale and superstition.
 The canoe nosed in to the pier. Paul jumped out and lapped the painter around a cleat AS Curt tossed their duffle on the piankfng he purposely made display of their two gold pans and short.handled slioves. Among the men watching them a trapper nudged another and remarked. "Prospectors. John Heads nodded.
 1t was as Curt had wished-let them draw their own conclusion and they would believe it far more i'm plicitly than if Paul and he should announce their business.
 He introduced Paul and himself tc the old trapper called John, whe then introduced them to the others AS Curt shook hands around. he sized up the men swiftly.
 Corporal Hodkins. the Mounted Policeman, was a stolid negligible fellow who would be neither helr nor hindrance. Missioner Lesper ance, a youngish scholar with the eyes Of mystic. seemed to have stepped right out of some medieva c!oister. Besides the Bay factor. Hig ginbotham. there were three young trapr CTS. prospector. man called Ralph Nichols and a mIddle-aged city sportsman with a brassy voice and know everything manner.
 The Indian men. standing on by themselves. were shabby vacant faced lot. Under a fish scaffoIdins just ashore seven half.breeds were smoking. drinking. quarreling. Hod kins was poor excuse Of Mounty Curt thought. to let men drink open iy in Indian territory.
 The man Nichols. quiet and unob trusive. was the most interesting ol the group. No outdoofs person at al bu. plainly rom the city. he ap peared to be some minor govern inent official or teacher vacation ing in the mountains -,.,e, n HURT liked him from their frs N4handclasp. And that liking nsvel grew less. in the days they were tt spend together: He IittIe knew tha he was destined to trayeI long patti with Ralph Nichols and be witl him. his only friend. when Ralph la, dying beside a lonely campiire.
 "Didn't l meet you over at Chipe @yn once" he asked, to draw Mich ols out. ~ ss
 "No. never was there. With hi' reticent smile. Nichols added. "rn prospector for bugs -an entomeio gist." ss,nas
 T see. I don't suppose you've go much competition in this country. He invited. Come down to our place later on and have mug of tea will us. Nichols" !" 1s
 Picking up their duffie. lie an, Paul went down the shore to mak' camp. Before dark came they want ed to get squared around and als' attend to certain scouting 1ol which, they had mapped out as thei first step there at Rdssian Lake.
 Midway between the modern pos ana the old ruins they found suit able spot close to the woods edge and began pitching their tent
 Nearer the old post now. Curt coul' see the narrow musket-slit windows the platforms for mounting smal brass cannons. and all the fortIik arrangehent of the ruins. It hat been more a garrison than fu post. for the Cossacks had not beei traders but extorters of tribute. an' they had needed defense. tII.a|E D. - +..L