The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-04-22
CHAPTER III-Continued

save the quick breathing Of dogs,
the slide Of toboggans and the cluH
Of snowshoes, punctuated by quick
tapping noises as mushers hit their
webs On the rising step with light
clubs, 10 free them from chinook
sticky snow. The shouting and ex-
cited conversation long ago had
passed. This was gruelling effort.
Like the North" he asked.
Something like Z tomboy's happi-
ness blazed IN her brown eyes.
'-Oh, ! DO. It's SO clean"
Jack went, wondering about the
remark. After long time, he be-
gan thinking Of some Of the city
rooming houses II which he had
spent out-of-luck days; grimy win
oows, carpets gritty with dirt, SCOT
On ones face, q black taste to
the air
Better not wait too long to make
camp" he shouted 10 one Of the old
timers. Wen get out early to-
morrow On the crust.
But late that night, when the rest
Of the camp was snoring, Ham
mood saw that there was TO be no
crust On the mornings snow. The
chinook had continued, veering
slightly toward morning. Dawn was
gray, lowering, chesrless. Then the
wind shifted. 4 bite came into the
air.
Yah, Wen have SNOW" II was
Olson, the man with the hewed-out
face whom Hammond had met In
Prince Rupert. He paused : mo-
ment as the long line began to
move. Yah, wei have plenty Of
snow"
Hammond nodded and went on
ward. He would have z job today.
II was hard enough keeping this
line moving IN the sunshine. Morn
ing became early afternoon. The
sky grew heavier, more ominous.
mo loahngl" he shouted. as the
trek started anew, following the
noontIme halt. And no hanging
back
4 stoop-shouldered man turned
his head; skin raw from pelting ice
particles, eyes ike balls Of blood
from snow burn.
How'll We ever keep IN line and
change wet moccasins?" he quer-
led. Keep EN- on, l suppose, and
get frostbite?"
We'll make stops for that" The
first slash Of snow had begun to
drive down out Of the high reaches
Of the mountains. Keep moving
and stay together"
The fakes had become thicker
now; like Z sticky white shield. All
II an instant, the mountains began
TO fade.
Stay togetherl" he shouted, as
he worked back along the line.
''Stay togetherl"
They had come out Of valley TO
wide lake and were now well upon
II. On his lunpy snowshoes, Jack
made the end Of the line, shouting
his caution, and hearing it echoed
by the more experienced men of
this long serpentine Of gold seekers
The sound Of clubbing as sticks
raped against snow-gummed webs
become fog of white. Once again
Hammond started forward, hurry
ing at the blurred sight Of q lag
gard beside the trail With some
surprise, he saw II was Jeanne Tow
ers.
What's wrongg" he queried
brusouely.
my lead dog broke his trace. /
think I've got If fixed"
Hammond examined the harness.
Looks al right" he decided.
''We're going 10 camp as soon as
we strike the end Of this lake.
And then how .far?" asked
Jeanne. Hammond had heard that
query hundred times In the last
few days.
'-Oh, we're well over the worst of
II. Wen have q tough time for
awhile after we get out of this lake
country-have to hit for the pla-
teaus-the winds are pretty bad
there. Then well drop down TO the
Liiken river-going should be fairly
easy after that"
How far?" the girl asked again.
Sixty miles. A man could make
II In two days with fresh team. I"
Hammond went on toward the
head Of the line.
When do We get TO the end of
this lake," shouted the lead mush-
er- 4 note of panic was IN his
voice. Hammond turned swiftly,
glancing down the line.
''Olsoni" he shouted. Take the
lead here and hold IT. When you hit
the shore line, 90 into campi"
Ayi came the answer. Olson,
with his elongated webs, strobe out
Of line, rounded those In front of
him, then began to plod again