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'''' F A CARTER THE PENS PUBLISHING r^,.^, I'HTl ^f-U FHH MDCCCMZiy, P ^^ tr» I ?;■.;, ;.^-^a.::i;rWS^-A- .... ^ .•■'■• .J^'^-'ts'.^ ' ■ .)■.■■■■ ; 'tv ■..'1^ ■». ,. ■.■'; •:'S>^^:<';# • Ju ' V /•!: •"'<)^''i ^4 f^J ■i ->•«': ■ • •■^■■' II '. H":; ■-■t-^^MM l-k'i.. ol i i ill:. >,.L.UOM rUKHl li .,J-^. PA.SHI.P .1 .•'•»■ f t '^^n THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS OF THE KLONDIKE BY EDWARD S. ELLIS, A. M. Author of " True to His Trust," " Comrades True," etc. ILLUSTRATED BY F. A. CARTER THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA MDCCCXCIX Copyright, j8g8, by DOUBLEDAY & McCLURE CC Copyright 1899 nv The Penn Purlishing Company "•*^y •f T« MilWttiy •f ALBEIT* 1 CONTENTS. if' 4 1 CHAP. I. Lv ;he Days of '49 g II. The Passing Years jg III. .At Juneau o-^ Of IV. Up the Lynn Canal 59 V. The Avalanche. . . «-. b« VI. Through Chilkoot Pass 7^ VII. A SuiNiFicANT Discovery 97 VIII. The Plotters ^^ IX. On Lake Bennet jQg X. Into British Territory ^q XL At White Horse Rapids ug XII. On the Yukon , jgg XIII. At Dawson City jg- XIV. On the Edge of the Gold Fields 143 XV. Prospecting |gj ^^^•^^^-^'^ • 159 XVILTheCladl jg^ XVni. A Golden Harvest j^g *3* ' 2037246 4 CONTENTS. PAOE. XIX. A Startling Discovery i85 XX. The Trail into the Mountains 192 XXI. A Sound from out the Stillness 199 XXII. A Turning of the Tables 206 XXIII. Plotting and Scheming 213 XXIV. A Slip 235 XXV. What Can it Mean ? 251 XXVI. In a Hole 271 XXVII. A Lion in the Path 287 XXVIII. A General Settlement of Accounts... 296 XXIX. Conclusion 304 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKEES OF THE KLONDIKE. CHAPTER I. IN THE DAYS OF '49. It was about the middle of the winter of 1848 that gold was discovered in California, and some months later the rush began which drew swarms from every i)art of the civilized world. Among these were thousands from the Atlantic States, who found their wavto the Pacific coast by the long, dangerous vova^'e around Cape Horn, or by wagon train over the prairies, mountains and rivers that separate the two oceans. A ftei- a time, the long voyage was halved by the tram]) across the Isthmus of Panama, but the sufferings and liardships attending all three routes were far beyond what people in these days would imagine. THE YOUSG GOLD SEEK Eli S. The Great Ovcrhiiul Tniil, us it was called, stretched from the Missouri to the borders of the Golden State, with the Oregon Trail lead- ing to the northward, winding across plains, through wild mountains and over deep, nipid streams, and requiring several months for the emigrant trains to traviTse. In nddition to the violent changes of climate, the storms, gales and snowfalls, the people were exposed to perils from the fierce Indians, who hovered about the companies, attacking when chance offered, and sometimes succeeding in mas- sacring entire parties, whose bones lay bleaching in storm and sunlight through the long years that followed and served as an impressive warning to those who came after them. One of the emigrant trains which moved out from Independence, Missouri, early in the sum- mer of 18rl:9, was noteworthy in more than one respect. In the first ])lace, its number was un- usually small, consisting of only twelve men, six women and two children. Its peculiarity in this respect caused many prophecies of dis- aster by its friends, and the members were urofed to attach themselves to one of the laro-e companies which at that time left Independ- I 4 I /.V TlIK DA YS OF '49. J ence almost daily. T\\o ndvico, however, was not tollowe.l, and the party kc^pt tog-ether with- out increase of strength throughout the long journey. One reason for this seeming exclusiveness was that th(^ do/cn julults believed t!iat, by keeping to themselves, they would really be stronger than if they united with nnyeompany. Where the emigrants were so nmiierous, they were clogged in their actions by their inexpcri- ence. This exjmsed them to disasle.' fiom the beginning, I'or tlxn-e was a lack ol caution due to this ignorance, and i-isks were sure to be taken that vetei-ans would have shunned. Ten of the twelve adults were veteran plains- men, and several of them were noted as trap- pers, hunters, and Indian fighters. Thev were well armed and mounted, and whei^e human alertness and woodcraft could detect danger, they were sure to detect it. Knowing what was certain to be encountered, they made com- plete preparations for it. The three wao-ons were as strong and well made as was possible; the oxen that dragged them slowly across the limitless plains were tougi», powerful and w^ell cared for; the horses that kept them company, ! THK YOU SO GOLD SEEKERS, 1 1 and when necessary i^tive help, were of the finest stock, ti number being blooded animals from Kentucky, capable of great speed and wonder- ful endurance ; there was an abundant supply of arms and ammunition, clothing and the in- dispensable needs of such an enterprise. Of course, they depended largely for food upon the game that could be shot on the road. At that time, buffaloes roamed the prairies by the hundred thousand, and antelo[)e, deer and other animals were nearly always in sitrht. When it is remembered that most of the men were expert rifle shots and hunters, it will be under- stood that none of the members of the company ever suffered for food. The two adults who could not be counted among the veterans were Mr. George Palmer, who afforded in himself an example of the strange mistakes often made by men in ventur- ing upon the most trying expeditions, when they never ought to l-'ave their own homes. He was in poor health, consumptive, weak and unfitted in every way to undertake the danger- ous journey. But he was controlled by the belief that the trip would do him good, even- tually restore him to sound health, and prob- IN THE DAYS OF '49. 9 ably enable him to iv;t{) an abuiulaiit harvest of gold, and lie slicccmmUmI in winning his pa- tient wife to his way of thinking. With them went the only two children of the company, Roswell, a chubby youngster of seven years, and Edith two years younger. They were the sunshine of the party, pets with tlie grizzled hunters, who fondled and caressed th(Mn with an affection as deep as that of their parents, and were ready to risk their lives at any time for their sake. They deserved all this love, for they were sweet and winsome, but there was danger of their being spoiled through the overwhelming affection and indulgence shown them. The remaining member of the company, who could hardly be ranked among the veterans, has a leading part to play in the following pages, and deserves tlierefore some attention. His name was Jefferson Graham, and he was only sixteen years old. His pai-ents, who lived in St. Louis, died during his infancy, and he was left to shift for himself. That he possessed sterling qualities was proven by the fact that he never drank, was clean of speech, strictly honest and truthful, and not the least of all, I 10 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. if.' I 1 was as daring as a lion. Even in his youth, it mio'ht be said of him tliat he knew not the meaning of fear. Jeff drifted to tlie West, where he caught the the notice of the fainons mountaineer. Kit Car- son, who taught liim .i great (k\al of woodcraft and the wavs of the Ked Men. Tlius the bov became a womh^rfully fine rifle shot, a splendid horseman, and one of the best of hunters. Wht^n all tliis is rem(MnI)ered, 1 am not sure whetlier it is ri^dit for me not to ranlv. Jeff among the veterans of the emigrant train. The most famous of theni, Zelci^ IJigler and Diclv' AVarner, dechired he had no supei'ior amouLi' tliem, but it was on account of his youth tluit I clissilicd him as 1 did. The histoi'v of this eniif>'i'ant train was an- « CD Other proof of th(3 wis(h,)m of thcjrough prepara- tion before venturing upon any difficult enter- prise. While huiuh'eds of sturdy men fell vic- tims to their own carelessness and neglect, it wound its way across the present states of Kansas, Colorado, Utah and Xevada, into Cali- fornia, without the loss of a single membei*. More than that, every animal was taken along until almost at the end of the journey, on the JJV THE DA rs OF '49. 11 I borders of Nevada, when an ox became tangled up in some way in swimming a rapid stream nnd was drowned. This achievement was most remarkable and rarely or never equalled. As I have already stated, the (Uingers and sufferings encountered by those overhmd i)ai'ties were almost bej'ond description. Deep, swift, unknown mountain streams had to be swum, rivers of uncertain depths to be crossed, mountains flanked or passed by means of natural roads, kno\vn as "passes," and gorges, I'avines, valleys and pre- cipitous places overc(jme in some way; there were days when the men and animals struggled through fierce snow-storms and had hard work to keep from freezing, only snoi to pant with the smothering haat of the valleys, to be again chilled by the storms ot wind and rain which saturated everything in camp. They never seemed free from the danger of Indians. The dusky horsemen circled about on the prairie, searching f(^r some opening through which they could dasli and overwhelm the white peophi; they maih^ attacks more than once in the darkness of night, and repeat- edly tried to draw the partv into a trap when 12 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. if \i\ !|. they were |)iekiiig thei!" way througli the mountains ; but tlie skill, vigihmce and wood- craft of tlie V(;tei'aiis carried matters through with a success whicii, as has been shown, was most extraordinar\ . It was earlv in the afternoon of a hnhnv dav^ late in summer, that tlie company halted on the bank of a small tributarv of (li'een River in the ])reseiit State of (Jtah. Tlie grass was so abuniUmt and the water so clear and cool, that it was decided to {)ause thus early in the dav for the rest that the animals needed. They had come a good many mih^s, and, tie- spite the cai'e exercised, they showed the effects of the labor and were somewhat run down. A few days' rest would do wonders for them. '' It ain't the best place in the worUl," re- marked Zeke Higlcr from thii saddle of his blooded mare to Dick W^arner, Je(f (Trahani and several of liis friends, " but since wc c;in't allers hev things to suit us we must do the best we kin." All knew what was in the huntei''s mind. While the grass and water with a grove of Cottonwood within easy reach made the camp ,.i IN THE DAVS OF '49. IS an ideal spot in most r-spects, it was not so secure against the Indians as the men could wish. The rido-o which ran north and south along the further side of the resting-place would readily afford shelter for any nund^erof their enemies who had the ch-nice of stealing up within easy rifle range and picking them off without danger to themselves. I f the ridge had been a hfdf mile or more distant, even'' Zeke would have grown enthusiastic over the loca- tion, but since it could not be helped, the men made tlie best of the mattei-. But since it had been the intention for several days to make such a halt upon the first favorable opportunity, the i)lainsmen had taken unusual ])ains to scrutinize the surrounding country for "signs." Several had ridden through and among the ridge, searching with the utmost care, with the result that nothing to cause misgiving was discovered. However, all knew that ihis could well be the case, even while a powerful war party was waiting for the first chance to dash down upon them. So the wagons were drawn up in a rude circle, as was the custom at night, with a view of offering protection against attack; the 14 rUE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. horses and cattle were turned loose to crop their fill of the succulent grass, while the hunters disposed themselves as inclined to en- joy the luxury of absolute idleness. In this indulgence of course there \Yere a few excep- tions, for even when the sun was shining a guard was maintained and the ridge was always under scrutiny. It cannot be denied, however, that the fact that no sign of the Indians had been discovered for hours before caused all to think it doubtful whether any were in the neighborhood. Zeke Bigler, Dick Warner and Jeff Graham viewed with dislike the prospect of lolling all the afternoon in camp. They had observed a number of timid antelope on the ridge referred to, and, when Zeke proposed they should make a hunt for them, his two friends gladly ac- cepted the proposition and they rode off in company. The antelope, while among the most timid of all creatures, displays so much curiosity that it is often lured to its destruction through that weakness. It not beino^ likelv that anv would be found in the immediate neighborhood, our friends rode off at an easy gallop along the IN THE DA YS OF '49. 16 eastern side of the ridge, which was the same as their camp, and liaving gone siiveral mih^s crossed the ridg-e, through a narrow (Wy canon that Jiad probably once been the bed of ;i stream, and after a ride of several hunch'cd yards, th3boucl]ed upon the other side, wJiere the country was more oi^en, though much broken by guJlies, valleys, rocks and boulders. Carefully scrutinizing their surroundmgs, the })arty discovered at the same moment two dainty antelope, standing on an elevation a quarter of a mile distant, and evidently hesi- tating whether to dasholf or hold their ground for a little while longer, until they could grat- ify their curiosity as to the hunters who had suddenly entered their field of vision. " T don t know whether it is worth while," said Warner, after watching the animals for 'a few minutes ; " they will run off several times and lead us on so long a chase that we won't get back to camp till after dark." " What of it ? " asked Jeff, to whom nothing was more alluring than the prospect of a hunt of this nature ; " they can get along without us there, and it doesn't make any difference whether we reach them before morning." 16 THE VOUyU GOLD SEEKERS. i After further talk, it was agreed to make the hunt. The party dismounted, and, taking diverging routes, began their cautious approach, or rather attempt to approach, the antelope. It proved more difficult than even they ex- pected, for the animals were unusually timid. When one of the hunters, lying flat in the grass or among the boulders, displayed his handker- chief or hat on the top of his ramrod, the an- telope would pause, look wonderingly at it, til en advance, take several steps, only to wheel about and speed away like the wind. In none of these cases did any of the creatures allow the hunters to steal close enough to gain a shot. Thus it was that the dark starlit night closed in and the three came together at the point where they had left their horses with- out any one of them having fired a gun. They were too accustomed to such failures to mind it or to feel any special disappoint- ment. The effort they had made was prefer- able to dawdling away the time in camp. The well trained horses had found good pastur- age, and so they lost nothing. The three men swung into their saddles, turned their animals' heads toward home and had gone a few paces, /^■ THE DA YS OF '49. 17 when Zeke, who u-as sli-htly in advance, checked himself with a soft liissing warning which caused his companions to do the same. ° "Injms!" he whispereil, partly turning his head. Dick and Joif had caught a twinkle of light a little way ahead and to the right, which all knew marked a (ii-e kindled by°red men who had no suspicion of the whites, being • so near them. Sitting side by side, with their gaze turned in the direction of the blaze, our friends cautiously discussed the situation. It was agreed that while it looked easy enough to flank the hostile camp witliout detectioli, it was prudent to make a reconnoissance before attempting it. Zeke took upon himself to do this, leaving his horse in tiie care of his friends, while he stole off in the gloom. From where Dick and Jeil' kept their saddles, they could see a shado\vy figure now and then' as It moved in front of the blaze, but could observe nothing distinctly. It caimot be said that they felt any special interest in the strange Indians, who were so far from their own can^p that no such thing as danger was dreamed of But in less than half an hour, Zeke Bigler came 18 THE \-OU.\U aoLI, SEEKERS. back in a .stat(> of oxc]'i<.iii..Mt .. i I „ "-AdujiifMt such as he did notsho»-lory«wsutatiM„,.. 2^^W' hos.id i„ . j„„,,, „„, -"'; .-u Unnk r Tho ..od.sU„s out there liave o-ot thoMi tu-„ dots of l^dmei'.- " What ! •' o,,.sp,.d tl„, others jn«Hyou,itisso: There's n,ore than a " of the varmmts an,l the,u litt.e ones are "'t'one. IW the misehief they o-ot 'em I can't understand, but tl.eyVetheroLl., g"-«ayonk„o„V'headded,sinkin,h ^^■1 ."-e, "that lujins in this , Jt of , :; "•^'^ ' ^-- '-''"' ""^i^e yo.lnkers .row I i CHAPTER 11. THE PASSING YEARS. It was true. AVhile not one of the three could comprehend how it wus th;it the two little ones were prisoners anion- a i)arty of Indians, sevei>al miles from their own camp, it was no time to tiieorize over the matter. One cause of wonderment was that the captors had spared the little ones so long. It was not un- likely that they jjieant to have some amusement with them, and probably to subject them to torture before taking their innocent lives. I^ot a moment was to be lost if their rescue Avas to be attempted. Where the three were such masters of wood- craft and Indian ways, there was no call for debate. A few minutes were all that were needed to agree U])on the c(Hirse to pursue. It will be borne in mind that, the three excel- lent rifles carried by our friends were the old fashioned muzzle-loaders, and that after firing 19 20 TlIK VOrxa GOLD SKEKKHSi. one charge, Ji second liad to he rammed down the harrel and the pcrcnssinn caj) phiced on the tnhe. Kach man had a l)ull-ikjg revolver, which wea})on was tlien oomiriL;' into use, but it was not of Miucli vahic except in a rough and tumble scriniiiiage. Now, while a party of " tenderfeet " might have thought the best c(jurse to pursue was to fire upon the Indians from the darkness, so as to drive them o(f, our fi'ieuds did nothing of that nature, for had thev done so, the red men under the belief that probablv thev were at- tacked by a large for(^e, would ])ause long enough to tomahawk or shoot the captives and then make off in the darkness. Grouped around the frightened Edith and her brother were the hideous savages, the sight beino: one that would have stirred the heart of the most cruel person. The warriors, number- ing more than twelve, had kindled a fire near a small, winding brook, in a depression of the earth, while they sat and lolled around and grinned and studied the captives, with as much interest as if thev had belono'ed to some race of which thev had nevcM' before heard. The night had become cool, but the fire THE rASSlMi YEA US. 21 m threw out a <^l;ir " asked Mr. Palmer, smiling in sympathy, while the wife looked at their caller in mild sni-pi-ise. " I've heerd it said that a burned chihl dreads the fire, Init T don't b'lieve it. After he's burnt he goes back agin and gits burnt over. Why is it, after them exploreivs that are trying to find the North Pole no sooner git home and thawed out than they're crazy to go back agin ? Look at Peary. You'd think he had enouo-h but he's at it once more, and will keep at it after he finds the pole— that is, if he ever does finds it. Nansen, too, he'll be like a fish out of water till he's climbing the icel>ei'gs agin." And once more the huge shoulders bobbed up and down. His friends knew this was meant to serve as an introduction to something else that was on Jeff"s mind, and they smir. ingly Avaited for it to come. " It's over forty years since I roughed it in the diggings, starving, fighting Tnjins, and get- ting tough," continued the old miner musingly. 34 THE YOUSii GOLD SEEKERS, Mi " After I struck it piu't v lair I (juit ; l)Ut I nev(>r told you how luaiiv times tiic loHLiini*' luis como over mo so stroni»' lluit it was all I could do tn stick at liomc and iKjt make a fool of inysell'.'' " I>ut that was iu voui* vouii<''er tlays '' re- plied his friend; "you have iuul nothing of the kiml for a good while." ffelF took his i)i|)e from the network of heard that enclosed liis lips, and turned his bright, gray eyes upon the husl)and and wife who were looking' curiously at him. They knew bv the movement of the beard at the corners of the invisible mouth tliat he was smiling. " There's tlie joke. It's come over me so strong inside the last week, that I've made up my mind to start out on a hunt for gold. What do you think of tha., -h ? " And restoring his pipe to his lips, l.j leaned back and rocked his chair with more vigor than befoi'e, while he looked fixedly into th(3 faces of his friends. "Jeff, you can't be in earnest; you i-re past threescore " " Sixty-four last mor.th,'' he interrupted ; '' let's git it right." '* And vou are in no need of monev ; besides THE PASSING YEAhOk 35 Air I"(3- : of it is ;i hard iimtter to lind uuy place in Cali> furniji u'hen^ it is worth your whih^ " " Hilt it ;un't Caiifornv," ho bmUe in a i. / i I youths were in perfect healtii, strong and ath- letic. Jeff volunteered to pi'ov ide all the funds needeJ, and his early ex))erience in mining and his love for the bovs made him an invaluable ft. guide and companion, despite his years. He had turned over in his mind every phase of the question, and met each ol)jection the affection- ate mother briMight forward, alarmed as she was at the thought of having her boy go so mjinv miles from under her care. "It will be necessarv to talk with Roswell « about it,'' said the father, after the conversa- tion had lasted a considerable while. "1*^0, it won't; I've trJked with him, and he's as crazy as me to go." " But what will Fraid<.'s mother say ? " " She's said what she's got to say ; had a talk with her last night, and it's all fixed. I've sent word to Tim that I'll be at Juneau bv next steamer, and have two of the likeliest younkers with me on the coast ; then we'll head for the U pper Yukon, and bime-by hire a ship to bring back all the gold we'll scoop in." " It seems to me that we have nothing to do in the premises, Jelf.*' " Nothing 'copt to git the youngster ready." CHAPTER 111. AT JUAKAL- Now it is a serious uiuleitakiiig for any one to make a joiu-ney to the gold rt^gions at the headwaters of the Yukon, as every one will admit wlio Jias been tli(\re. AH know of the starvation wliicli threatened tlie jx-oplcof Daw- son (%y (hiring the Avint<'i' of Isi>:-i)s, when the whole country wjis stirred with;s\'m])athv and our (iovei-nment mnde use of reindeer to talve food to the suffering miners. No dangers of that Ivind confronted Roswell Pahner and Fraidc .Maiisley, hut their i)arents couhl not contemplate the undertaking without anxiety. Tiie mother's held more than one con- sultation, and there was a time \vhen both were inclined to ol)ject to the hoys going at all. The dread of that desolate, icy region in the far Northwest grew u])on them, until it is safe to say that if the departures Iiad Imm postponed for 37 88 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. i f ill 1 1 ;M onlv a tew (lavs Mrs. ">[anslev and Mrs. I^iliuer Avoulcl never have given tiieii' consent. But Mr. J Kilmer lauglied at tlieii' Icars, and assured them tliere was no cause for alai*ni. He spoke so clieeringly tliat tliev caught his hopefuhiess, but neither noticed the luni]) lie swallowed, nor Avith what diMlculty he kept l)ack the tears when the hour for ])ai'ting cauie. lie Avas fully as anxious as tlun', hut lie knew ho\\' to dissem- ble, and would not have confessed his real emo- tions foi' the world. After all, it was Jetf (rraham who deserved the ci'edit for the willingness of the parents to see their sons venture upon the long and dan- gerous jouVucy. To hiui the trij) was nuich the same as a visit to Los Angeles oi' the Yoseiiiite VaUcv. Mis sell'-conlidence never faltered. He was sure it Avould be onlv a pleasant outini'-. with the cci'taintv of a bii»' rewar: wav' '— it was noth- ing more) indicated the insidious approach of consumption. JelY was the only one who was V^^ AT JUXIJAU 39 able to see any paleness in tlu^ countenance of the young' athletes, or suspect tlieni of l)eing otlierwise than line s])eciniens of youtliful health and vio-oi-; but since he was as solemn as a judo'o Avhen making his declaration, the father and mother of the one and the mother of the other could not feel quite certain there were not grounds for his fears. And so it being settled that the boys were to go to the Klondike gold fields under the care of the grim (jld Argonaut, it only remained to complete the preparations in the short time at their disposal Had tlie mothers been free to carry out their wishes, their sons would have been loaded down with l)aggage upon leaving San Francisco. There are so nuiny things which seeui indis- |)ensable, wlien an alfectionate mother is consid- 'Tiug the comfort of her only son, tliat she is M'leto overwhelm Inm. At first the mothei's iiuir-ted uj)ou ejicli ])eing furnished witli a laro^^ tMuik, wliieh would have to be crowded to bursting to contain what wtis needed, but Jelf ])ut his foot down. "Xothin' of the kind. J)kln't I tell vou ilial we'll git all that's needed at Juneau or 40 THE YOUyCr GOLD SKKKEHS. Dyea or some point on the road ? You've for- got that." " But, efetf, there are some articles which thev fjnusf, take with tlieiu." The old miner lit his ]iipe, sat down in the rocking-chair at the Palmer home, where the mothers had met while the bovs and Mr. Palm- er were do^vn-town making a few forgotten purchases. Tlie old felk v- chuckled a little and then became serious. '' In the fust place, not a trunk !'' and he shook his head decisively. '* Do 3^ou expect them to take what they want in their pockets T ' '^ ITmpli ! it would be the sensiblest thing they could do, but we can't l)e bothered with any trunks, that \vould be sure to be lost in the first shuffle. Each of us will have a good, big, strong carpet-bag, and nothing more. You can cram them as full as you choose, but what you can't git in has got to be left at home. '' There could be no mistake as to Jeff's earnest- ness, and neither mother attempted to gainsay his words. ' ' Now, ' ' said he, ' ' jest lay out on the floor what you have in your mind that the young- AT JUNEAU. 41 sters need, and Til tell von what thev do need, * '' Yon nuistn't forget," observed Mrs. Palm- er, as she started to comply, ''that the boys are now down-town Ijnying some things whicli they positively cannot get along without." " As, for instance, what ?" " AYell, tooth-l)rushes, soap, combs, court- phister, handkerchiefs, buttons, thread, quinine, and pain-killer." '' Is that all ?"' asked Jeff so quizzically that both ladies hiughed. '' Vou have forgotten," added Mrs. Mansley, ''the shirts, underclothing, socks, and shoes.'' " They are here," replied ]\[rs. Pahner, step- ping briskly into the next room and returnino- with her arms full. "I've got to lay down the kw," observed Jeff, just as Mr. l^ilmer and the two boys came in, glowing wi:h excitement. '' Here are the young men, and tliey look as if thev had bought out half the town. Dump everything on the floor, and let's sort 'em out." When the pile was complete the miner gravely rejnarked: " Nothing less than a freight-car will answer f. 42 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. i V' -i ■ t for all that stuff, and T don't l)*]iovo we can cliartcT one tlii'oiii''li to Dawson. In the first place, I s'j)()se the tooth-l)rushes will have to go, tliOLio'li I never i'oiind any use for such things, and I can craclv a bull hickory -nut with my teeth. The same may be obsarvcd of the soup and cond)s, wliile a roll of court ])laster don't take up much room. A^e'll be likely to need thread, buttons, and some patches for our clothes, tliough I've got a supply in my carpet- bag. The quinine and pain killer they may take if you can find a corner to squeeze 'em in. As to the imderclothing, extra shirts, it depends whether there is room for 'em; but the boys mustn't think of taking their dress suits along, 'cause rm not going to. There ain't any room for violins, pianoo, or nmsic-boxes, and the only clothing and shoes that can go with this ])arty is what we wear on our bodies and feet." " Suppose the shoes wear out ?" asked Mrs. Manslev in dismav. " Then we'll go barefoot. Xow, see here, we shan't be aw^av more than three months. A pair of well-made slioes will last longer than that, and the same is true about our clothes, ^ AT JUNEAU. 43 tliougli we luivc tlie means of luendini;,' thei]i, if inodestv calls foi' it, which {lin't likelv to he the case in tiie di^'g'ings. Caps, coats, vests, ti'ousers, and slioes are to sarve fromti]e(hiv t. we start till we come hack. If om^ of the hovs casts a shoe and h)ses it, we'll Ihid some way of getting- him another. AVhat's this C sud- denly asked Jelf, picking up a small v\)lame from the floor and opening it. He looked at the flv-leaf, on which was written : '* To my dear hoy Iloswell, from his affectionate mother. Head a portion every day, and be guided in your thoughts, words, and deeds by its blessed ])recepts. Then it shall alwavs be well with thee.'' There Avere two of the small Dibles, the other being similarly inscribed with the name of Frank ]\[ansl(?y. The boys and their parents were standing around the seated miner, ami no one spoke, lie looked at each })recious volume in turn, and tlum reverently laid them among the pile of indispensables. " That's the mother of it." he said, as if speaking with himself ; " it's a good many years since my poor old mother done the same thing for me when I started for Californy, and 44 THE YOUNG GOLD SKEKKRS. ■ I 4 i Tf i i % I've got the book among my things yet, though I (lon't vvi\d it as often as I should. 7'/i<'/n go if we have to h.Mive everything else behind." AV^hen the task was com])leted, every one acknowledged the excellent judgment dis})layed by Jeff Graham. The thi'ee were arrayed in strong, thick, wai'in clothing, and, in addition, each carried a lieavv overcoat on his arm. In the valises were crowded underclothing, shirts, handkerchiefs, and the articles that have been already specified. It was wonderful how skil- fully tlie mothers did »ae packing. When it looked as if every inch of space \va8 filled, they found a crevice into which another bottle of standard medicine, an extra bit of soap, more thread and needles and conveniences of wdiich no otJier person would think were forced without adding to the difficulty of locking the valises. Nothing remaining to be done, on the foUow- ing dav tlie bovs kissed their tearful mothers good-bv, and warndv shook hands with Mr. Palmer, who brokenly murmured, '' God bless you ! be good bovs !" as he saw^ them off on the steamer bound for Seattle, and thence to Juneau, i'l {«.' AT JUNEAU. 45 where they safely arrived one day early in April, 1897. In luakiiig sucli a voyage, many people are necessarily thrown together in more or less close companionship, with the result of forming numerous acquaintances and sometimes lasting friendships. Following the advice of Jeff, the cousins had little to say al)out their plans, though they became interested in more tlian one passenger, and often speculated between themselves as to the likelihood of certain ones meeting success or failure in the gold regions. There were three sturdy lumbermen all the way from Maine. A curious fact about them was that, although they were not related at all, the name of each was Bro\vn. They Avere light-hearted and the life of the large party. One Brown had a good tenor voice, and often sang popular ballads with taste and great ac- ceptability. Another played the violin with considerable skill, and sometimes indulo-ed in jig tunes, to which his friends, and occasionally others, danced an accompaniment. '* They'll succeed," was the verdict of Ros- well, " for they are strong, healthy, and will toil like beavers. ' ' 46 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. '\ \- A V. ■!| "And what of tlK» two men smoking their pip'S just h(Wo)i(l the tiddler T' Mskcd Fi'ank. " I had a talk witli tliem the otlicrdax' ; one has been a niinoi' in Australia, and the other S2)ent two years in the diamond mines of Kim- berlev, Soutli Africa. ^[eetini'' for the lii'st time in San Francisco, they formed a partn(M'- sliip : tliey, too, ar*^ ruoys was like a eontiniially sl)iftin<»' pano- rama of lio[)e, ambition, honesty, dishonor, pluck, and human entei'[)rise and darin<]i^, that was ever present throu* hout the thousand miles of salt water that stvetelics from Seattle to Juneau. Juneau, the metropolis ol' Alaska, was founded in ISSO, and naim'd in ]»onor of Joseph Juneau, the discoV('r<"' of gold on Douglas Island, two mih^s distant. There is located the Tread well (piartz-mill, the hirgest in the world. The city nestles at the base of a ])recipitous mountain, thirty-tlirev hundred feet high, has several thousand inhabitants, with its wooden houses regularly laid out, good wharves, water works, electric lights, l>anks, hotels, news- papers, schools, and churches. " Here's ^^here \ve get our outfit,'' said Jeff, as they hui'ried over the phmk to the landing. " But where can Tim be ?" He paused abruptly as soon as he Avas clear of the crowd, and looked around for the one who was the cause of his comiuii' f<> this out-of- the-way corner of th(3 world. \U^ ^ras still '»-^i&siHL.. ( .17' Jiwhwr 49 gazing wlion a jnan, dri'ssed nnicli the samc^ as himself, hut slioi-t, stockily l)uilt, and with the reddest hair and whiskers tlie hoys li;id vvrv seen, his round face ai-iow- witli [)h'Msure stepped hastily t'oi'ward from tlie group of spec- tators and extench'd his hand. '' Ah. JifT, it does iiu; good to see N'our hand- some silf ; and liow liave ye heen, and how do ye expect to continue to l)e f Tim ^[cCabe was an Irishman who, when overtaken \>y misfortune in San P'rancisco, found Jeff (iraiianithe good Samaritan, and he could nevei' show sidficient gratitude therefor. It was onlv one of the manv kindlv deeds the old minei' was always perfoi'ining, hut he did not meet in every case with such honest thank- fulness. Jeff clasped his hand warmly, and then looked at the smiling boys, to whom he intro- duced his friend, and who shook their hands. He eyed them closely, and, Avith the quizzical expression natural to many of his people, said : ' ' And these are the laddies va Avrote me I' about ? Ye said the\' were likeh^ broths of boys; but, Jitf, ye didn't do them justice — they desai'ved more." 50 rilF. YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. t \ \ ■ " Tim is always full of blarney," explained Jeff, who, it was evident, wtjsfond of tlie merry Irishman ; " so you mustn't mind him and his wavs. " Tloswell {umI h'l'ank were attracted by Jeff's tVieiid. He was one of those persons who, de- sju'te their homeliness of face and feature, win us ])y th(\ir genial nature and honest, outspoken wavs. No one ever sa^v a liner set of h\ realnf' in (California, as Avell as in Alaska, the funds were in shining eagles 54 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. ,1 I and half eagles—rather bulk}- of themselves, but not uncomfortably so. The experience of McCabe and Jeff prevented any mistake in providing* their outfit. They had good, warm flannels, thick woollen gar- ments, strong shoes, and rubber boots. Those who press their mining operations during the long and severe winter generally use the water boot of seal and walrus, which costs from two dollars to five dollars a pair, with trousers made from Siberian fawn-skins and the skin of the marmot and ground squirrel . with the outer garment of marmot- skin. Blankets and robes, of course, are indispensable. Tlie best ar(? of wolf-skin, and Jeff paid one hundred dollars apiece for those furnished to himself and each of his companions. The matter of })rovisions was of tlie first im- portance. A man needs a goodly supply of nourishing food to sustain hiui through tiie try- ing journey from Juneau to Dawson City, the following being considered necessary for an able-bodied p»erson : Twenty pounds of floui', twelve of bacon, twelve of beans, four of butter, live of vegetables, live of sugar, three of coffee, five of corn-meal, one pound of tea, four cans AT JUNEAU. 55 of condensed milk, one and one half pounds of salt, with a Httle pep})er and mustard. Because of the 'mght and bulk, Jelf omitted from this list the tea, the condensed milk and butter, and while the su}>ply in other respects was the same, respectively, for himself and McCabe, that of the boys was cut down about one thii'd; for besides tin? food, the party were compelled to take ^\'ith tliem a frying-pan, a water-kettle, a Yukon stove, a bean-i)ot, a (h*inking'-cu]), knives and forks, and a large and small frying-pan. Since they would fmd a good raft necessary, axes, hatchets, hunting-knives, nails, one lum- dred and fifty feet of rope, and two Juneau sleds were purchased. To these Avere added snow-shoes, a strong duck-tent, lishing-tackle, snow-glasses to protect themselves agahist snow- blindness, rubber blankets, mosquito-netting, tobacco, and a few minor ai'ticles. The start from Juneau to tlie gold tields should not l)e made before the l)eginning of April. Our friends had struck that date, but tlie head- long rusli did not begin until some time later. One of tlie })rinci])al routes is fi'om Seattle to St. ^richael, on the west(nm coast of Alaska, 56 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. ,\\ V iA and then up that iiiiyhty rivci' whose mouth is neiii', i'or neurlv two thousaml juoi'e miles to DaAVson ^ 'ity. The river is open during the summer — sometimes barelv four months — and our friends toolv the shorter route to Juneau on the southern coast, from wliicli it is about a thousand miles to Dawson. While this route is much shorter, it is a hundred times more diffi- cult and dangerous than by the Yukon. From Juneau there are four dilferent routes to the headwaters of the Yukon, all crossing by se])arate paths the range of mountains iilong the coast. Thev ai*e tlie Dvea or Chilkoot Pass, the Chilkat, Moore's or AVliite Pass, and Takou. At this writing the Chilkoot is the favorite, because it is better known than the othm-s, but the facilities for ])assing through this entrance or doorwavto the new El Dorado are t. cej'tain to be "Teatlv incnnised at an earlv da v. It was learned on incpiirv tliat another day would have to be sjMMit in the town before the little steamer wouhl leave for J)yea. While Tim and Jeff stayed at the hotel, talking over old times and laying j^laiis for the future, the boys strolled thi'ough tli<^ streets, which were knee-dee]) with nuid. «^ "THAT MAN HAS BEEN FOLLOWING US" ii AT JU^'KAlT. I . The curio sl,„,,.s „„ hV-mt aiul Stnvanl streets "•ere interesting-, a»,l from tlie uj-i-er en.l ol' the latter street tlu-y siuv a ],atii leadiiio- to tl,e Auiv village, ^^■),ose people elaim to own tlie Hats at tl.e moutli of Gold Creek. ()„ tl„. I,i-I, ground across tlu.strean, is a c,.,„.t,.r\- contaiV iMg a number of cm'ious totemic carvings, lum,. ^^th offerings to .lepartod spirits. It «-ould cost a white man his life to disturl. anv of them. It was early in the afternoon that the cou.sins were strolling aiiulessly al.out and ha.l turned to retrace their .steps to the hotel, ^v-hon l^Vank touche'' The lad shook off his grasp. '' Even if we wished to do so. we could not, tor our friend at the hotel has all the funds that belong to our party. Perhaps if you go there, and he believes the story, Afr. (Iraham may do something for you, but Tim :\[c(:al)e has' not the means with which to helj) anybody." At mention of the Irishnuin's nanu^ the fel- low showed some agitation. Then, seeing that he was alxKit to lose the expected aid, he uttered a savage expi-ession and exchiimed : " I don't believe a word vou sav.'' " It is no concern of ours whether you be- lieve it or not," replied Roswell, as he and Frank started down the street toward their hotel. The fellow was amazed at the defiance of the lads, and stood staring at thorn and mut- tering angrily to himself. Coukl he have car- ried out his promptings, he would have robbed both, but was i-estrained by several reasons. In the first phice, Juneau, despite the influx 62 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS, of miners, is a law-abiding city, and the man's jn'rest and ])unisliiiient would have folloAV'^ed s[)eedil\'. Moreover, it would not have been un alto •'•ether '' sure thiiis cn^v.l a l,it Let l"ra g-it all the f.-,x.d out of tlie theft he can say I." ' Dyoa is at the hea.l of uavigation, and is the tnnl)er line, being a hun,lre,l miles t,) the north west of Junoan. ft i.s at the upper fork of what IS termed Lynn Canal, the most extensix-e /lord on the coast, ft is, i„ truth, a continua- tion of (^hath,a,n Strait, the north and south passage being several Imndred miles in extent the,vholeforn>ing tlie trough of a glacier which" disappeared ages ago. On the day following the incident described onr friends boardeT)ld fields. The weatlier was keen and Inting, and the aeeomniodations on the boat poor. They jMished here and there, sur- vevino' with natural intc^rest tlie bleak scenery idon.^' shoiv, the mountains white with snoAV, and foretelling tlie nioie terrible regions that lav bevf)nd. Hundreds of miles remained to be traversed before they could expect to gather the vellow uai'iick^s. but neither of the sturdy lads felt anv al)atement of courao-e. '• Well, look at that I" suddenly exclaimed Kos^vell, catching the arui of his companion as they were making their way toward the front of the boat. Frank turned in tlie direction indicated, and his astonishment was as great as his compan- ion's. Tim McCabe and the shabby scamj), Ike Ilardman, were sitting near each other on a bench, and smoking their pipes like two affec- tionate brothers. Xo one would have suspected tliere had ever been a ri])ple betAveen them. Catchiuii' the eve of the amazed bovs, Tim winked and threw u|) his chin as jvn iuvitation for them to approach. Frank shook his head. i*..^^^ UP THE LYXX CAXAL. 65 and ho and Rosu'ell went back to where Jeff was sinolving \m pipe. They had hardly time to tell their story when the Irishman ^joined them. " I obsarved by the exprJssion on your faces that ye ^rere a l)it surprised," he said, address- ing the youths. '' Is that felJow the Ilardman you told us about?" asked Roswell. " The same at your saryice. " ''And the man who robbed you of your money ?" Tim flung- one of his muscular legs oyer the other, and witli a twinkk <,f tlie eyes said : " Ilardman has made it all riglit ; tlie matter is fixed at ween oui'silyes." " Then he giye you back yournioney >" was the inquiring remark of Jeff. " Not precisely that, tliough he said lie would do the same if lie only had it with him, but ho run up agin a game at Juneau and ;vas cleaned out. Whin he told me that I Nvas a bit sorry for him. He furthei- o])sarye(l tJiat it was liL intintion if he won to stake me agin and add something extra, for intei-est on Nyhat he bor- rowed of m('. Th.it spakos ^xv\\ for Ilardman. ii 66 '!i, TIIK YOUNG GOLh SEEKERS. SO we shook hands over it," was the liearty conclusion of T'im. The boys Arer<' too astonished to speak. Jetf (rrjdiam's shoiil(hM-s shook, and he looked side- ways nt his friend with a (juizzical expression, nnahle to do justice to his feelings. As for Tim, ])is red face was the jxicture of ])land in- nocence, hut he was not throuo-li. Astounding ns wei-e the statements h(^ lind just made, he had a still more astounding one to submit. II U| i ? 1 I I CHAPTER y. THE AVALAi\CHE. It was late in t\w, day that the little steamer arrived at Dyea, uiiicli u'as found to be a vil- lage Avith one log store, a nuniljer of movable tents, and ^vithout any Avharf, tlie l)eacli being so flat that at iiigii wnter the tide reaches a half mile or more inland. To guard against losing any of theiV supplies, Tim .McCabe told his friends that it Avouid be necessary to unload them themselves. "From this p'int,- said he, -we must hoe our own row ; under hiven we must depind on oursilves. Ilardman, lind a hand there, and step lively.'' To the astonishment of the youths, the man toolv liold and wrought with right good will. Jed' looked at Tim queerly as he pointed out the different articles, he hibiself , as may be said, overlooking the job; but th(> conclusion wns that the Irishman had promised him a small 67 68 THE YOUSG GOLD SEEKERS. I amount for his lielp. When, however, the task was finished Tim came to the grou]), and while Hardman, with shamefaced expression, remained in the l)ackground, he said with that simplicity which any one would find hard to resist : '' You see poor Hardman is in bad luck ; he hain't any outfit, and wants to go to the gold fields, but will have to git some one to stake him. Obsarving the same, I made bowld to remark that it Avould give me frind Jifi' th(5 highest plisure to do it for hhii, not forgetting to obsarve that I knew his company would l)e agreeable to the byes, and he will be of great liilp to the same. ' ' '^ Well, I'm blessed!" exclaimed the old miner, removing his lint and mopping his fore- head with his big red liandkerchic^f. Then he turned half way round and loolved steadily at the fellow, who was standing with his head down. '' Poor dog ! let him come along, but if he makes any trouble, I'll hold you responsible, Tim." " And I'll be happy to take charge of the same 'sponsibility, Jind if he don't toe the mark, i THE AVALANVHE. 69 it's iiiesilf that will make him. Do you hear that, Iker' he roared, turnino- Ijercely toward the fellow, who started, and meeklv ivplied that lie heard, though it Avas imi,ossible lor any- tiling to reach him except the last thunderous demand. " It isn't for us to say anytliino,- remarked lloswell aside to his chum, - but that means trouble for us all." '' It surely does ; we nuist be on our guard against him." The outfits were i)ih.l on a sandspit about a mde below the trading posts of Ileaiy and Wilson. In the foregi'ound ^^xn•e the ranch ami store owned \^y them, and beyoml towered the coast inomitains, their tops gleaming in the sunshine with enormous masses of snow, while humlreds of miles still beyond stretched the im- mense Yukon country, toward Nvhich the eves of the civiliz(Ml world are turned at the present time. One of the strange facts connected with Alaska and the adjoining I'egion is that in ]\Iay the sun rises at ;] o'clock and sets at 1), Nvhile in 'lime it rises at l.:J() and sets at lo.;}(i. Thus the summer day is twentv hours long, and it I THE YOUyO GOLD SEEKERS. it has a dilfuse twilight. The change from win- ter to summer is i'a])i(l, winter setting in in Sep- tember, and in the Klondike I'egion zero weather lasts from IS^oveial e;' to May, tliougli at times the weather moderates ea 1*1 V in Marcli, but does not become settled until Mmw The Yukon generally freezes shut in the latter part of Octo- ber, and breaks up about the middle of May, when tlie AN'estern route to the gold li(.4ds by the river becomes practicable. The hour was so late when our friends had llnished carryino- their outfit be\'(jnd reach of the hi<>'li ti(k>, whicli rises twentv feet at Dvea, that they lodged and took their mends at the ranch trading post. By arrangement, an vdvly breakfast was eaten the next morning, and the goods were loaded upon the two Yukon sleds with wiiich they were provided. Tliese were seven feet long, sixteen inches \\'ide, and were shod Avith steel. Other gold-seekers were stop- ping, like themselves, at the ranch, but they lagged so much tliat when the men and boys lieaded northward thev were alone. Jeff Graham and Ike Ilardman passed the rope attached to one of the sleds over tlieir shoulders, the elder in advance, and led off. THE AVALANCHE. 71 Tim took the lead, with the boys beliind him, with tlie second sled, loll,.u-ino- the trjiil left by tlHMV ri'iends. The deep snow was packed so liMi'dthat no us(^ was made of the snow-shoes Avliich Jeff had jn-ovided. I-rom Dyea th(> trail led for live miles over ihe ice, when they reached the mouth of the ^ 'tnon. This is two mil(>s long with un average ^vi.lth of lifty feet. The sleds were dragged over the strong ice, but later in the season, when it bi'eaks up, travellers are oblig(Hl to follow the trail to the east of the canim. The party were so unaccustoiiuMl to this kind of labor that they found it (exhausting. Curi- ously enough, Jelf bore the fatigue Ix^ter than any. His iron umscles Avere the last to yield, and he Avas the first to resume the journey.' He chaffed the others, and offered to let them mount his sled Avhile he pulled them. Beyond the caiion is a strip of Avoods three mHes in length, which bears the iiaine of Pleas- ant Camp, though it has not the hrst claim to the name. It does not contain the ruins of even a cabin or shanty -nothing, in fact, but trees, through which the wintry winds sough and howl dismally. Tlier.'^ rho pai'tv haltetl, 7-^ THE y^orya (sold seekers. > , t ate Ivincli, rested for an lioiir, and then set out with the (h'tciMiiiiiation to nuiketlie next camp- ino' oTOund before ni^iiit. The ascent now l)eeaiiie gradual, and before the day was spent tliey ai'rived at Sheep Camp, on the edge of the tinibei*. Tliis is the hist spot wliere wood for fuel can l;e obtjiined until the other side of C'hilkoot Pass is reached. The tent was pitched on top coffee was amber, dear, and fragrant, and \vith the condensed milk and suo,u. would have re- flected credit upon the c/uf of anv establish- ment. In addition, there wc^-e fried bacon and canned corn. Until this time the boys liad never believed they could eat bacon, but nothing could liave had a more delicious flavor to them. It ^vas not alone because of their vigorous appetites, but partly on account of the Intterlv cohl weather. There is a good deal of animiil heat evolved in the digestion of fat bacon, and it is therefore among the favorite articles of food in the Arctic regions. Probably there isn't a boy in the counti-v who would not revolt at the thought of (nitino- a tallow candhs and yet if he Nvas exposed to tlierigoi-s of Greenland and the far n(^rth lie \ ¥ 74 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS, I would soon luuk iqM»ii it us one oi tlie ^rciiU'st (leliciicies ol" tlu^ IuIjIl*. Tlie hemlock bninclies were now spr-ead on top of tlie snow at tlu^ side ol" the tent, a lar<^e square of canvas was placed over them, upon wJiicli the hlanUets and robes were put, the whole I'orniing a sprin<^y, comforta- ble bed. Koswell and I^'raidv were sure that in all their Hves they were never so tired. Leaving tlie three men to talk and smoke, thev stretched - t, out on their blankets, wra])pin,ij;' tiiemselves hi them, and almost hnmediately sauk into deep, dreandess shnnbei*. The sleep had lasted perliaps a couple of hours, when, without any a[)parent cause, Frank AEansley awoke in the full possession of his senses. Lyino- motioidess, Ik.' listened to the soft breathing of his cousin beside him, while the regular respi rati cm of the men left no doubt of their condition. Evervthini'' around was in blank, impenetrable darkness and all ])rofoundly still. " It's strange that I should awake like this," he thought, slightly shifting his position. " I'm tired, and was so drowsy that I felt as if I Tiih: Av.ir.A.xciii.: 75 I could slcci) ,1 Week Imi I >,■.,. „ •> I uLLK, inu i \\;|»^ never wuloi" au-iike tlian 1 aui (his riiiiiiilo—" Anii.ltlK, ,ill-|„.,.vn,iii,.. s wo 1,0 was sensi- I'loofa lou-. soloiun niiin.Mir, liko timt „f tho 'listant .KM,,,.. At lirsi it s<.,.imo(I to bo tlu- " V..1C0 of .silo„o,." iivir. I,„t it stoa.lih- i„. emisodi,, volMMio „i,til its n.,r l,oca,n.. ov,-,- l"'"'«'>'ino-. ,startl,.,l a,„l r,i.|,to,„.,l, |„. i,,,- still, won.lonu... ulmt it ,„„l,l moan. ,„■ u-lioti,..',. las sonsos u-o,v doeoiviiij.. Iiini. Tlion |„. sikI- (lenly r,.mo,nl.on.,l tho vast masses of ioo a,„l sn««- u-hich ton-,.,v,l above th,M„ all throao.h the ,lay. IIo rooallo,! tho stories l,o had road of tho glaciers an,l avah.n.^hos, and how Tim McCabo ha.l rolVire.l to tho,,, as soniotimos overtaking' travolle.'s in this part ol^ tho u-,.,-ld He knew what it meant, and. leaping from his couch, he shouted : "^Vakeiip! Quick! An avalanche is upon US '" H CHAPTER \'l. THROUGH CHILKOOT PASS. Jrih As Frank ^lanslev's words ran«i' tlirouii'li tl.u^ liMit tliev were followed l)V the awful i oat* of til!' descending avalanche, and all awoke on the instant. But no one coulil do anything to save liiniself. They could ordy cower and pray to Heaven to protect them. kSoniething struclc tlie si; ^'n-1 l.oldino. i, ,,|,.,,„ his head, peered '"•'"""I tl>" i'""'.'!... of tlu.. tent, whicl. he ol- serve.l iu.d su.^vd a g.,.,,,, ae.al r,,„„ tite i.upac.t -'f tl>e ,n-uUucl,e's breath, tl,,,..-!, the .stakes I'cM theh- plaees ,,, the s„.„v. He sa.v LVank Munsley standing pale ^^•ith aff,.i..Ut, whil,. ^^"'^"7"' ^'"'"«- '- ^''"^^ ^''%« of his coueh, ^^•as -lually startled. Ike Ilardn.an had eo^-ered l"s inee u-ith his blanket, like a ehild, ud,,, thus .seeks t„ eseape an impending, danger, [ncredi- We us It ,nay .seen,. Tin, MeC'al^e «-as fillin<. his I'lpe ,n tl,e glo,,n,. p,.epa,.a(,„.y to a, sniok..." '• lie uisy,- u-as l,is eo,„n,ent, a.s he struck a -»ateh an.l held it above the bond ; - ue're a.s •sate as, fin -Frisco, and a little safe,., for ifs "•'"" .^■^'a,.e there ye are lial,le to ha.ve an a,rtl,- quake tn.nble the buildings about yer hiil." -Wasn-t tl,at a,i avalanche r'' asked the iiniazed P'rank. -It "-as that, but it didn-t hit n.,. If „.e 'a.l put ,q, the tint a little boyant and further to the ,.,gl,t, (ve'd've been nutshed flat " He spoke the truth. The cno,.n,ous nta.ss of snou-, ^^-eighin„. thot.san,ls of tons, ha.l topple.l over an.l shM ,h,u-n the niounta in-side u-iti, -, roar hke .\iaga,.a, l,„( stopp,.d .sho,.t, j„st Ix; I ! : I !■ t 78 THE yOUJ\G GOLD SEEKERS. fore roacbm<2f the tciit. Some of the featherv particles sailed forwarti and struck the canvas, the greatest effect being ])r()(hiced ])V the wind, hut the monster was ])alsie(l before^ he could reach forward and seize liis victnns. When the situation b'^canie clear, every one uttered expressions of gratitud(\ l)ut the boys were not relieved of all tVar. AVliat had taken place might occur again. " Kot a bit of it," was Tim's I'eassuring re- ply. '^ I've obsai'V(Ml t!i(^ things before, and we shan't be l)otliere(l agin to-iiight. Take me advice and go to sleep, which the same is what I shall do mesilf as soon as I finishes me smokr. " The shock, however, liad been too great for all to compose th«'ir n' time talkinu- in low tones, but finally drowsiness overcame them, and with tln^ pungent odor of Tim's pipe in their nosti'ils they sank into slumbei', which was not bi'oken until Jeff' called to them that t I ;, bn>akfast was waitiuii'. Timouan cuilkoot pass. 79 ' k The melted snou- furnished wliat water thcx m^eded to drink and in wliich to hiw their faces and hands. Th.^i, before eatin-, th.^y ImiTied outsKh' the tent to siirv.-y th("snowv •nountaiii that had come sn n.ar sv/aHou-inn- them up. They were lided with amazemen't wJien th(w h)ok(>d ii}>(,„ the vast j.ih^ amiM which W(>reohsiM've h.-en preeijutated against the shehr. The task of eJimbing to tlie summit of this pass is of the most trying nature conceivable, and majiN- g-old seekers have turned ])ack in despair. Terriiic ^^•eathe,• is often encountered, and m^n I 11 i i «0 THE YOrxa GOLD SEEKERS. i . I) Ihavo becMi lield in canij, ("oi- weeks, during which the crest of the iiK^untuiiis \v;is liiddon by clouds and tciiipesls, and the whirling snow and sleet were so hliiKhn*'' that thev hardlv ventured to peep out frcjui ilieir tent. Tlio weather was such as has hallled tlie most in- trepid of exi)iorers for centuries in their searcii for the Noi'th Pole. Oui' fi'iends wei'e unusually fortunate in being favored \vith good weatluM'. there being h.ii'dh' an\' wind slirrini'', while, nun'e wonder- fid than all, the sun shoiu' IVom an unclouded skw in a section where the clear (hivs averao'e less than seventy in nundierin the course of the entire vear. No one who has ever clind)(^d (Uiilkoot Pass will forget it. Some, alas I who have made the attempt never succeeded in reaching the other sid(^, but perished in the frightful region ; while manv more have become disheartened bv the ])erils and dilliculties and turned back Avlien on the threshold of the mod(M'n El Dorado. At the foot of the Dass our fi'iends met two men, bending low with the packs strap[)ed to their shoulders, and ])loddiug wearily southward, '^im called to them ((► know whnt the troid:>lc THROUGH CllILKOOT PASS. «1 was, and received a glum answer, accompanied by an oath tiiat they had had enough of such a country, and if they ever lived to reach Xe\v York, they would shoot any man wlio ])r()- nounced the word " Kh)ndike" in their |)i'es- ence. It is a, curious fact regarding this famous i)ass tluit the snow with wliich it is ciioked is what nudves it possil)le lor travcL Tiie snow some- times lies to the deptli of fiftv or sixtv feet, and from Fe])ruai'y, tlirough A[ay, and often June, its smooth surface allows one to walk over it without troubh\ Shoukl it be fine and vieldin^r tlie snow-shoes come into play, but when the crust is hard, no l)etter support could be asked. The trouble lies in the steep inclint-, which be- comes more deckhMl tii.' liighci- one climbs. Underneath this enormous mass rush violent torrents of water, which, hollowing out pas- sages f(n" themselves, leave the snow white arches far above, over which one walks upon a natund Imdge. Lilei- m the seasim, when the etfeets of the warm weather are felt, these arches beo-iii to tumble in. and the incautious traveller wli<» misses his footino- and drops into one of the hu;:'e crevices is lost. iii l" i « 82 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. •I ' I 11! As has been said, tlu^ ^^tcepness increases as one approaches the top, the last five hundred feet being hke the roof of a house. Bending forward under their h)ads, our friends often found t]]eir noses within a fe\v inches of the snow, wliile masses of rock pi'otruding in many phices added to the dilficulties of traveL The combined strength of the party was re(]uired to get a single sled to the top. AVhih^ one Avas left behind, they joined in pushing and pulling the other, with frequent paus(>s foi' rest, until, after hours of the hardest work conceivable, they succeeded in reacliingthe sumuiit. Then, restinof a«:ain, thev be«'an their descent for the other sled. Tt was fortunate tliat the crust of the snow removed the m^ed of using the long- snow-shoes, whose mak(> suggests the bats used in playing tennis, for the men were the only ones who knew how to handle the awkward contrivances, which would have proved a sore perplexity for lloswell and Frank. Under sonu^. cii'cumstaiices it becomes a ques- tion which is tli(? harder, to descend or ascend a steep hill. Di's]_)ite the uhiiosl care, the whole five stuuibled si^veral tini<'s. Koswell felt thr chills run tlironu"l> liini. and ho lidd liis Vn'catli THiionin rmLKoor pass. S3 in dismay when ho saw liiniseJf slidhi^r. tow.nd the edge of a ravine, over whicli if lie fell ho would liave been (hished to deatli (»ii the in- stant. AVliile desperately try inn- to cheek himself, lie shouted for lielp, but it looked e(nially fatal for any one to venture near him, since the slope Avas so abrupt that he couhl not check himself. Jeff Graham was cjiiryinu- tiie coil of i-opc which he h;id loosened from the iirst sled, and, seeing the peril of his young friend, he Hung the end toward him with the skill ot a .^^exican oi' cowboy in throwing tlie rifa, or lasso. The youth was shpphig downward on his fa(.'e, with his terriiied countenance turned ai)i)ealinoiv to his friends, ^vhiie he tried, by jamming hiV; toes ami clutching at the surface, to check himself, and Frank was on the ))oint ol going to his lielp when the eml of the rope struck his siioiil- (hn^ and he seized it with both hands. The next minute he Avas drawn back to safetv. 'M^m surprised wid ye," remarked Tim McCabe, when the panting youth stood [imong them again. - [ thought ye wei'e too tired to indulge in any such foolin'. Whin ye want to slide down hill, make use ol' the slid instead of your stummick." VfV ' 84 TfrE Ynuycr golj) slekfus. ) I i 1 *' ) i I r ; '' I don't think I'll want to do anvmore slid ing down hill in tliis ])art of the Avorld," replied the frightened, but grateful youth. Once more they bent to tlieii* work, and pull- ing tlieniselves togetlier, succeeded at last in reaching the suniuiit with the second sled, the whole party utt(^rly used up. Even Jeff Graham sat down ou one of the loads, panting and too tircMl to sju/ak. AVhen he found voice, he said : " What fools we aiv ! And vet if I went back to 'Frisco, IM start agin for the Klondike the next day; so I reckon we'll keep on." ^o one res])on(led, for thev were so Avearied that talking itself was labor. Looking to tlie southwest, they could see the blue shinmier of tlie Pacific, where the Gulf of Alaska rolls its white surges against the dismal shores. Far in the distance a faint line against the sky showed whei'e a steamer was probably ploughing its way to St. Michael's, with hun- tlreds of gold-seekers on board, the van of the army that is pushing toward the Klondike from the AVest, the South, jind the East, until it would seem that even that immense region must ov(n^f]() \' with tlie innumerable multitudes, I TUnoiUni flULKOOT /Ms.s. 86 clrnwn thitlui' by tlic most rosistWs magnet that can make men bravi- ju'i'li, sutlVriii;^', and (h^atli. Tui'niiig" in the opposite direction, they saw the monntain sh)pe melting' away in the great valley of the Yukon, with the trail U'aiUue- through a narrow, rocky gaj), and witli naked granite rocks rising steeply to the ])artly snow- chid mountains. Thei)arty had been fortunate in completing tlie ascent in less than a chiy, when it often rcnpiires t^vice as long. The iirst Iialf mile of the d(^sc; I.ake LindciiKin, ;i Ixxly of water five miles in Iciinlh, and the jouiMiev was speedily made. Il was on the shore of this hike tliat tlie ])arty ex])eet(Hl to build a raft or boat with which to mak(^ the long, rough voyage to the Yukon, hut, to their pleased surprise, they found an old Indian, Avith a Inroad scow, anxious to trans|)ort tliem and their luggage to the foot of tlie lake. Fie had already secured three men and tli(M"i' outfits, but was able to carry the ne^v arrivals, and Jeff Avas not long m making a bargain with him. :|i; :i CHAPTER VII. A SIGNIFICANT DISCOVERY. Game is so scarce in the valley of the Upper Yukon and in the Klondike countrv that nianv gold-seekers take no iirearnis at jiU with them. Years ago tlie Indians showed occasional hos- tility to^var(l the missions and trading-posts, but nothing now is to be feared from them. They are often liired to heli) cari'v loads thrbiio-h the })asses, and with that aptitude for imitating the white man, they have speedily learned to charge high prices for their labor. Before leaving Juneau, Jeff (Trahani pre- sented each of his little party Avith an excellent revolver, quoting the remark which a cowboy once made to a tenderfoot : " You may not want the wea])on often, but when you do vou'll want it mii^litv bad.'' Jeff took with him his own pistol which he had carried for years, besides which he was pro- vided with a fine Winchester rifle. He knew 87 I Hi I ^y % & /a ^>. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I no £ us 12.0 IL25 il.4 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STRtfET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 k // ^/ ,^° €P. ^ W 4 i i^.^\ /A A f/. y. ^ ^ .6> a>^ -\ :\ \ y.*" ** 6^ f/. ^ ^ ^ w. w I 88 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. i! f( fl' h ;; I he was not likelv to find any use for it in shoot- ing game, but he grimly observed that if a pistol should ])rove li;i udy. tlu» larger weapon was apt to ])rove uuu'li itKU'e so. Tiie Indian wlio engag(Ml to take them to the foot of Lake Lindcman was old, but wiry and tough, and understood his business. He could speak a few Avords of English, Avhich an- ere enough for his purposes. He raised a sniaJJ soiled sail of canvas on the scow, and Avitli the help of a long i)ole kept the heavily laden craft moving. Altliough the lake was open thus early in tlie season, tlie shores were lined witl ice, much of it extending into th(^ water for a nund)er of I'ods. Huge cakes sometimes bumped against the scow, but they caused no damage, and did not interfere with its }>rogress. The three men who liad lirst en<»aii'ed the ~ boat looked as if they had come a hmo- distance. Our fi'iends had no recollection of having seen them on the steamer fi'om Seattle or on the steam launch that connects Juneau with Dvea at the head of l.vnn ('jinal. AVherc thev came from, therefore, was a mystei'v, the prcjbability beinir that they had been loiterino- about l)y<'a for a long time, waiting foi' the season to ad- I I SKiNIFICAyr DISCO VFMY 89 I vanco sutlicientlv to iillow them to sijirl lor the Yukon. Thev seemed roser\ s'd to the jxjint of siillenness, keeiuiig by tlioinselvcs jind sliowing so much antipathy to any approacli that tliey were let alone. But just l)eforc the foot of th(^ hike, nearly six miles distant, was rejiched. Frank Mansley ]nade an inten^stiii^' (list*over\ . The most ill- favored of th(^ trio was an accjuaintance of Ike llar(hnan. Xo one else noticed the significant fact, and it was ])artly through aceklent that the truth came to the lad. The two men acted as if sti'angers, not ex- changing a wor si'.'KKEns. \ > (»r luiiiin;'-(' to Uic iviii", Fi'ank was iiiii)('llt'(n)V an iiiipulsi' \'<)V \\!iicli lie could not account to watch liiiii. He had no \vcll-sition was such that lie couhl look' sideways at the two, while not seeminii' to do so. Suddeidy llai'dman, with his hack ])artly toward the youth, niadi^ a sign with his hands, tli(^ nieaidng' of wliicli Fravik could not catch, because the si«^'nal was not fully seen. l)Ut the fellow sitting down nodded his head, ruid taking his pi})e from between his lips, said something in so guarded a voice that only the eai's for which the words \vere intended couhl uiulerstand them. This brief interchange ought to have been enough, but llardman did not a})])ear to think so. rie ste[)ped somewhat closei", and he, too, spoke, still gesticulating with one of his hands. The man acUlressed was im])atii nt. lie nodded again in a jei'ky fashion, and made answer A SIGNIFICANT DISCO VhmY 91 witli less caution. ;is a cohsihiikmici^ of which the e;iV(S(h'()i)[)('r ('.luoht th(» uMjnls, '' Vcs, yes, to-iiiiiiit ; I inidci'stand.'' nardinaii was satislied, and came hack to tlie IVont of the hont, which was now approach- in<^- the shore. His friend snujked a lew min- utes until the scow humped anaiest the j)i'ojcc- t ion of ice, and, rhc old In(h'aii leaping' lin-ht|v (►ut, carried the lieavv stone anchor as far as the rope wouhl pei'mit. This held the hoat in place, and tiie uidoadinn- heii-iin. The Indian offered to Iielj) lor an extra va«^ant j)ric<>, hut his offer was refused. ;ind the iN'spective i)ai'ties busied themsefvcN with their own work. The discovery made by Fraidc Mansley caused him considerable uneasiufNs. Tlu* dislik<> which lit' felt toward llardman the first time he saw him had nevei'abat'd, ;ind it was the same with his cousin. Voun*^* as they wei'c, thev felt that a gi'ejit mistake; was made wlien flardman was allowed to join the party, anre ])ile(l was so slii^lit that there was really no need of the bovs reniainin<>' on <»uai'd. I'eel- ing that they wei'e favored toI(„v (>nh'nn<.- Chi]. kootPass. All uv,v,i,v(|.annds al.ont \vhat Frank had obserNvd on the Imat. It uas 'ind.M'stood hetu'een them that thev wen« to '■n sleep, hut to keep wateh of' ilanl.nan 'Innn-the nio-ht as Ion u- as they could n>main ••'^val«^ Ordinarily it is a dilHeult if not iui- l)ossd,le tusk for one to fi-lit oil' the insidious approach of slnndxT, hut Frank Afanslev iiad ^n'ou-ht himself into such a state of anxiety tliat he was sure hv. could command his sensJs until well toward morning-. in> and Uoswell lay under the samc> blanket, ^^th their hacks to each other, while the others v.cre hy tJiems(^lves, the interior of the tent l»aroly permitting the arrai,o,Mnent. Had any one st(vilthily (^nten^l fifteen minutes afteV flicy had lain down, he would have d.H-larc.l ij i !'!! t n 96 THE YOUSG GOLD SEEKERS. ':"l M i m\ \- '^: that all were asleep, tliouii'h sueli was not the fact. Despite his nervousness, Frank was beginning to feel drowsv when lie was starth^l and set on edge by a sound tluit penetrated the pro- found silence. It resembled the whistle of a l)ird from tin; timlxM-, sol't. eleai', and trcMiiu- hnis. Almost in tlie siimc instant he lieard one of the men I'ise st(>altliily from his eoueh. It was easv to determine, U'inu the (biection of t. the slight rusth\ tiiat it was Ilanhnan. Frank thrust his elbow into tlu? l>aek of his comrade as a warning for liim to be alert ; but there was no response. Koswell had been asleep for an hour. It was too dai'k to pei'- ceive anything within the tent, tliouiih all was clear outside ; but the bid's senses were in that tense condition that he heai'd the man lift the flap of the tent and move softly over the snow on the outside. With the same silence, Fi'ank flung back the blanket that enveh>[)ed him and step[)ed out on the packed snow of the interior. Pausing but a moment, he cre})t through the opening. In thatcohl region men sleep in their clothing, so he had nothing to fear from ex- posure. THE PLOTTERS. 97 The nio-lit was brilliantly clear, the sky stmldod with stars, and not a hrt^Uh of air sthTin- lie remained a hri(>f wliik^ \\x a croucliino- posture, uhih" he pcM-red in different direetions. V.^^fnrv him stretehcvl the hike, its shonvs erusted with snow and ie(^ witli the cold water shinin- in th(« star-leam. Still stooping low and lookino- intently nhout him, he saw sonK^hino- move hetwi'en the tent and the water. A seeond olance reveided Ifardman, who was standing idoneand looking about him,' as if he expected the approach of some person! Impatient at the dehiy, h(^ repeated the signal that had aroused the attention of Frank a'few minutes before. The tremulous note had scarcely pierced the air when a shadowy form emerged from the wood and walked the short distance that took him to the waiting Ilardman. The two were so far off that it was impossible to identify him ; but the lad was as certain it was the man who had exchanged tk 3 words and signs with Hardman as if the noonday sun were shining. Frank Mansley would have given anything he had to be able to steal near enough to over"! m] i .1 m 98 rilK YOUyu GOLD SKKKKHS. i hear what passed between them, l)Ut tliat was cK'arlv impossible. To move from liis phuM^ l)y the tent was certain to l)i'ini;' instant (U'tection. Now and then he could catch the i'aint miir- mni' of tlxMi" voices, l)Ut not once was lie abk^ to distini»uisli a svllable that was uttered. The interview lastcMl but a short time. What- ever un'^'> ••' 1^'"^''; 'M w.-.s Ivin^^ " " First tell me somi^tliinn- to ihink of.'' His eousin told all that he had seen the ni-ht before. ^ "There can't he any doul.t that riardn.an and one, if not all three of those fellows, are Plottino. ,nischi(^f. It mio-ht have been one of the others who signalled to and met him. I thmk we ought to tell Jelf. " "We'll do so before night. It isn't likely Hardman suspects anything, and you will have no trouble in finding the chance. " '' You think it best that I should tell Jeff ?" '' P>y all means, since you will tell what vou ( ! 100 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. I t* ■ ■ i 1 « saw. Such things are best first-hand ; but neither of us vnil say anything to Tim." ^' Why not?" ^' Jeif is the leader of this expedition. Tim is so soft-hearted that likelv eiiou<2:h lie would try to convince Ilardnian of his wrongdoing, and so put liim on his guard. Let Jeff tell him if ho chooses." *' T hope he will drive Ilarchiian out of our party ; my impression of him is tliat ho would not only rob ])ut kill for tlie sake? of gold." Roswell looked grave. The same thought had been in his mind, but he disliked to give expression to it. He hoped his cousin was wrong, but could not feel certain that he was. '^ Frank, make an excuse for calling Jeff here ; he ought to know of this at once." Lookino^ toward the timber, tliev saw that their friend had just given up liis axe to Hard- man, who was swinging it a short distance from where Tim ^IcCabe was lustilv doino^ the same. Frank called to him, and when the old miner looked around, he beckoned for him to approach. Jeff slouched forward, wondering whv the bovs had summoned him from his work. He was quickly told. He listened, THE PLOTTERS. 101 silent, Init (|(.c>j)ly interested, until the story was iinislied. Tlien, ^vithout any excitement he said, - DoM'i let Tim know unytliln^r of this,' younkers:" and, witli a stnni-e ,o-lea].i in his keen gray eyes, the old man adcU'd, ^' Vx,^ got a AYinchestcr and a revohvi', and T kec^p 'em both loaded, and T'v(^ plenty of ammunition. I think I'll have use for 'em pm-ty soon." i;i ii lul)le, for here's where we'll catch it sure. ' ' All understood what he meant, for a wind was blowing down the arm witli such fierce- ness that it looked as if everything would be s^vept off the raft. The p;'ospect was so threat- ening that they ran inshore while yet at a safe distance, and waited for the gale to subside. "Is it likely to last long C asked Roswell, when they had secured shelter. " That depinds how t'ai' off the end of the same may be," Avas the unsatisfactory reply. "I've knowed men to be held here for davs, but I have hopes that we may get off in the coorse of two or three weeks." The boys as well as Jeff could not believe that Tim was in earnest, foi* his lightest words ON lakh: BhJXMJT. 105 were often s],.,k..n ^vith the- gmvost expression of face; but tiicir Inrmer expoi'ience tuught them to be prepare 1 for almost any whinrin the weather. They recalled those dismal days and nights earlier on their journev, Nvhen they were storm-stayed, and tliey werj depressed a\ the thought that something of the nature nii.-ht again overtake them. When the boys proposed to put up the tent, the Irishman said : '^ It is early in the day ; bide awhile before going to that trouble. " This remark convinced them that he was more hopeful of a release than would be im- plied from his words ; so they wvapped their heavy coats closer and hoped for the best. The men lit their pipes, while the boys huddled close together and had little to say. Unexpect- edly there came such a lull in the gale early in the afternoon that the voyage, to the delight of all, Avas resumed. Ike Ilardman was in more genial spirits than at any time since he joined th(^ company. Tie showed an eagerness to help, declining to yield the pole when Jeff offered to relieve"liim,\nid ventured now and tlien upon some jest 'with Roswell and Frank. Their distrust, however li' 'I i'Tx '< m w 411 ii l(i6 77//; YOUNG GOLD SEEKERH. Avas not lesseiietl, and thev were too honest to affect a liking that it was impossible to feel. They had little to say to him, and noticing the fact, he finally let them alone. Whatever mis- giving Jeff may have felt was skilfully con- cealed, and tlie fellow could liavtj felt no sus- {)icion tluit his secret was sus[)ected by any member of the company. The wind blew so stronu'lv tliat there was some misgiving ; l)ut observing that it came from the right quai'ter, the sail was hoisted, and as the canvas bellied oulwai'd, the raft caught the impulse and began moving through the water at a I'ate that sent tlie rip])les flying over the squa,re ends of tln^ logs at the fi'cmt. All sat down on the u])per fianiewoi'k, with the exception of Jeff, who stood, pole in hand, at the bow, ready to guide the structui-e should it sheer in the wrono; direction. The conforinaticjn of the shoi'e and a slight change of wind carried the raft faither out on the lake. Of)sei*ving that it was getting slight- ly askew, Jeff pushed the long 'pole downward until his hand almost touched the surface of the water, While holding it there the other end bobbed up, having failed to toucli ground. J OJV' LAKE BENNET. 107 a No uso," he said, facin*^^ his friends, wij » were watching him, " the bottom may be half a mile below." " That looks as if we're over our hids," said Tim; ''by which token, if this steamer blows up we've got to swim for our lives, and I iionM- larned to swim a stroke." The boys looked :it him wonderin«j-lv. '' IIow is it you did not leai'n V" asked Ros- well. '^ I've tried hundreds of times. I kept in the water till me toes begun to have webs between 'em, but at the first stroke me hid went down and me heels up. \ can swim in that stjde," he added gravelv, ''but find the same slio-htlv inconvanient owino'to the necissitvof braithino- now and thin. I tried fur a long time to braithe through me toes, l)ut nivei- made much of a succiss of it." "And I learned to swim in one day," re- marked Frank ; '' strange that you should have so much trouble." " Undoubtedly that's because yev hid is so light, while me own brains weigh me down ; it's aisy to understand that." " If wo should liav(* any mishap, Tim," said Ir If! ^! '■! M |: 1 > ' I!:,! 1(>« THIC YOUNG GOLD SEEK E US. Frank, " yrm must remember to hold fast to a piece of wood to help you float — a small bit is enough.'' ^* I have a bitter ])lan than that." " What is it ?" '^ Xiver havL' aiiythino- to do wid the water." *' That would be cei'taiu saJctv if you could carry it out ; but you cau't liclp it all times — such, for instance, as the pi'es(?nt. " " And I'm thinking we shall have plinty of the same before we raicli Dawson." '* After we get to tlie foot of tliis lake, what comes next, Tim ?" '^Caribou Crossin*;-, which we pass through to Lake Tagish, which isn't quite as big as is this one. I'm thinking," he added thought- fully, watching the rising anger of the waves? '' that bime-bv, whin we come near land, we'll be going that fast that well skim over the snow hke a sled to the nixt lake.'' Roswell pointed to tne shore on their right, indicating a stake which rose upright from the ground and stood close to the water. ** "What is the meaning of that T' he asked. '*That," replied Tim, ''marks the grave of some poor chap that died on his way to the ox LAKE liKxyprr. 109 Klondike. Do ye obsarve that cairn of stont.'s a l)it bevont f Each saAv it. "That marks anither «^Tave ; and ye may call to niind that we obsarved more of the same along Lake Lindeman." Such was the fact, though this was the first reference to them. "And we shall hardly be out of sight (^f some of the same all the way to the Klondike ; and I'm thinking," was his truthful remark, '' thnt hundreds more will lay th(3ir bones down in these parts and niver see their loved ones agaiji. " It \ras a sad thought. In a. few years im- proved routes, railway-tracks, and houses for food and lodging will rob the Klondike region of its terrors, but until then death luust exa^jt a heavy toll from the gold-seekers crowding north- ward, Avithout regard to season or the simplest laws of prudence. Roswell was standing on the upper deck, near a corner, when he exclaimed excitedly: " Oh, look there ! Isn't it dreadful ?" He was pointing out on the lake, and, follow- in^^ the direction of his hand, all saw the an- swer to his question. W ■ms} 1 . r I' ii :i CHAPTER X. INTO IJKITISII I'i'.liRIToHV All hurried to tlio sido of Uoswell, who was pointing' to a ])Uic(' aslioj't le;ising in hfe. The feet and liands, danghng at the sides, were so low in the water that oidy when stirred by tlie waves did they show, but the face rose and fc^ll, sometimes above, and never more tlian a fcnv inches below, so that it was in \ic\v all the time. The group silently vieweil tlie scene. The body drifted nearer and nearer and faintly touched the edge of the raft, as the wind car- ried it past. Then it continued dipping, and gradually floated away in the gathering- gloom. '^ We ought to give it burial," said Frank to Jeff, who shook his head. 110 ISTO imiTJSli TEni:iT(HiY, 111 '' What/s till' us,. / Wr i„i.l,t ton- it ashore, <1'^- nj) a foot or tho iVoz.m (..rtli. and s(.t a mxHlcn CM-OSS or ],ea|> of stonrs to ni.rk the gmve, hutthr h,k. isaso,KHlaImnal-,,huvas it could li;iv<'/' "I wonder u-ho ho could have he.Mi,- said Kosu-ell thoun.l,truny. - So.ne n.an, no doubt, who ],as eonie from Jiis home in tlx^ States, thousands o('niiI,s.-,w,,y, and st.-,rt\vf jiftiM'iioon was (li'jiwiiiir to a rloso, iind tlici (jucstioii to Ix^ considonHl was \vlK'th(M' tlic rnl'l, should l)o allowed to drift or laud, or tln'V should coutiuun forward, despite a, ('(M'taiu d('t»r('(^ of daui''<,M' duriui*' the darkness. All wore cai^cM" to ini[)rove the timc^, jind Jeff, as th(^ lu^ad of the expmlitiou, sjiid tliey would kee[) at it at least for a. while loug'er. '^ As far as T cau tell," lu^ said, '' there's no danti-er of runuiu*'' into anything that'll wreck us, and we luust use our sail while we can. Besides," he added, after testing it, "the water is so deep that we can't reach bottom, and there isn't nmch cliance to help ourselves." The windwhicli swept over the raft had risen almost to a gale, and hi'ought with it a few scuri'ving flakes of snow. There was a j^ei'- ceptible fall in the temperature, and the chilly, penetrating air caused all to shiver, despite theii* thick clothing. Finally night closed in, and the raft was still drifting, the wind carrying it four or five miles an hour. The night was so short that the hope was general that the straightforward progress would continue until sunrise, though Tim, who was better acquainted Arith the region, ex- INTO /WITfsif TEUltlTORY. 113 pressed tin; l)"li(>f that ii storm of several days' duration liad set in. Since tliere was nothin<^- to do, the men and hoys disposed of th(,'mselves as comrortal)lv as possii)le on the Vn^ sich' of the raft, beyond I'oach of the waves, tliounli the spray now and then ihished against their riiljbei' hlardcets which oacli liad wrapped about his shoulders and body. After a ti)ne Jell' tooiv liis station at the bow, though ail almost imj)erceptible change of wind caused the structure to drift j)artly side- ways. Roswell and Fi-ank, wlio were seated back to l)ack and in an easy jittitudc^ had sunk into a doze, when both wiM-e stai'tled by a bump which swung them paitly over. They straight- ened up and looked around in the gloom, won- dering what it meant. '' AVe've sti'uck shore,'' called Jeff, who was the only one on watch. - The voyage is over for the time." There was hurrying to and fro, as all per- ceived that he had spoken the truth. The cor- ner of the raft had impinged ugainst some ice that was piled on the I)each. The gloom was too deep for any one to see moi-e than a few i I Hi \ ) ! 114 THE YOUXG GOLD SEEKERS, ¥ rods, so tliat Tim, who had traversed the sheet of wjitui' hcl'or(3, was unable to guess where tlicv wei'c. " Pj'ovidod we've come over a straight cooise," said the Irisiiimm, '"we can't be far fi'oni the fut ol" the hike.'' '* We'll know in the morning, which can't l»e far otT," I'ephed Jelf ; '' we'll make our- .selves as comfortable as we can until then." Despite the wind, tlioy managed to light several matches ami examine their watches. To their sui'[)rise, the niglit was nearly gone, and it was decided not to attempt to put Uj) their tent until diivli^'lit. Accordingly, thev huddled together aiul spent the remaining houj* of gloom in anything Init comfort. At the earliest streakings of light all were astir. Springing from the ground, Tim McCabe liurriedly walked a short way to the north- ward. The others had risen to their feet and were watching him. As the gray liglit rapidly overspread the scene, they saw the lake, still tossing with whitecaps, stretching to the south and west, witli the shore fcuntly visible. On the east, noitli. sonth, and west towered the snow-capped mountains, with ^NTount Lotne and IXTO niUTISJI TERRITORY. 115 Other peaks piercing tlie xavy duuds. The sun was still hidden, with tlie air damp, cold, and penetratino', Tim :\[(<,^abe was seen to stand motionless for some minutes, when he slowly turned about on his heels and attentively studied the land- marks. Then ho suddenly Ihm- liis cap high in air, and, catching it as it came down, begin dancing a jig with mrious vigor, lie acted as if he had bidden good-l)y i(^ iiis senses. "AVhoopI hurrah !" he shouted, as he re- placed his cap and hui-ried to his friends. " AVe're at the fut ol" the lake !" ^ Such was the fact. A steamer guided by pilot and c(^m[)ass could not have come more directly to the termination of the sheet of water. Tim had causc^ for rejoicing, and all congratulated themselves upon tlieir good for- tune. "There's only one bad thing about the sajne," he added niore seriously. "AVhat'sthatr^ asked Jell'. " ^\'e'l•e no longet' in the Ignited States." "That's the fact," said llardman, 'Mve're in British Columbia." After all, this was a small matter. Inas- N ■ i ■ I i Mi ! ! •i 'I . { • ii6 77//-; )or.vr; (;(>Li) s}':kkf:i:s. much as tlio signs iiulic.ited a severe storm, it was decided to stay where they were until its chief fury was spent. The snow was shovelled aside to allow them to reach tlie frozen earth, into which the stakes were securely driven, and the tent set up, witli the stove in position. Beyond Chilkoot Pass plenty of timber is to be found, consisting of pine, spruce, Cot- tonwood, and birch. Thus far not the first sign of game had been seen. The whole coun- try, after leaving Dyea, is uKnintainous. Most of the goods wei'e left on the raft, where they were })rotected by the ru])l)er sheath- ing and the secure manner in which they were packed and bound. Three dreary days of waiting followed, and the hours became so monotonous at times, especially after the hard, active toil that lu-d preceded them, that in some respects it was tiie most try- ing period of the memorable journey of our friends from Dyea to Dawson Ci y. The men found consolation in their i)ipes, which fre- quently made the aii' \vithin the tent intolerable to the youngsters. Like most smokers, how- ever, the men never siis[)ected the annoyance thev caused, and tlie i)ovs wove too considerate /.\7'o n/UTLm 7'E!UUTi)in\ 11 to hint .•uiytliino. of the kiml. When theii- youjio- hnii)s yearned foi- exercise, they bolted out of dooi-s, in the face of the di-ivin- sleet and fine snow which cut the face like bird-shot. Locking- umis, they wrestled and rolled 'muX tumbled in the snow, washed eacii othei-'s faces, flung the snow about -for it was too di-y to admit of being wrought into balls— ami when tired out, they came back panting and with red cheeks, showing that their lungs had been filled with the life-giving ozone. It was necessary now and then to cut fuel from the adjacent wood, and this was done by Tim and Jeff. The boys asked to be allowed to try their hand, but they were too unskilful in wielding an axe, and their request was de- nied. Now and then the howling gfde drove the smoke back into the tent, where it was almost as bad as the odor from the pipes. The four slept at intervals througJi the day and most of the long night ; but no\v and then the men laid aside their pipes, the stove '' dre\v," and the atmosphere within was agree- able. The only books in the company were the two pocket Bibles furnished by the mothers of Roswell and Fraidi. Xeither boy forgot his 118 THE rorXG GOLD SKKKEliS. f> ' ■ ! promise to read the volume wiienevci' suitabh' opportmiity presented. Seeing* Frank lUH-linin^^ on his blanket, with his httle Bihlf in liand, Jeff asked him to read it aloud, and tlie 1);)V gladly complied. It was a striking' siglit, rs the men inclined tlieir heads and reverei tly hstened to the inn^iessive woi'ds tVom tiie /ook of Life. There was no jesting or badinage, for that chord whicli tlie Creator luis placed in every human h'^:u't was touched, and responded with sweet music. Many an liour was thus passed — let us hope with profit to every one of the little party. Finally the longed-for lull in the storm came, and the voyage was renewed. The tri]) thri)ugh Caribou Crossing was made without misliap, the distance bein^- about four miles, wlion tlun' entered Marsh Lake, often kn(3wnas ^[ud Lakts thougli no a,ppa)'ent cause (exists for tlio title. X(^ dilficultv was ex])e]'ienced in malcini'- their wav for the twentv-f*>ur i.iiles of its loni> th, at tlie end of which thev debcuched into Lvnx Itiver, where twenty-seven more miles were [)assed without incident or trouble worth recordino-. i 1 1 CHAPTEE XI. i: P 1 .' AT WHITE HORSP] RAPIDS. *' We're doing well," observed Tim McCabe, when the raft with its load and party of gold- st'ekers reached the end of Lynx lliver, '' but be the same token, we're drawing nigh the worst part of the voyage, and we'll be lucky if we git through the same Avitliout mishap." " What have we aiiead r' asked Jetf. '' Miles Canon ; it's a little more than half a mile long, and if this raft isn't as strong as it should be it'll be torn to pieces." Fortunately Jeff had given attention from the first to tlio stability of the structui-i?, upon which everything depended, lie was continu- ally examinin- it from stem to stei'n, and where there was a sus])icion of tlio nocc^ssitv, he drov^e nails and strengthened the ci'ai't in every way possible. The sail was used whenever possible ; but since they were really among the network of 119 ■ r I jl :ili 120 THE Y()UN(; GOLU SKEKERS. ) ' ill: lakes wliich foi-m the lieadwaters of tlie Viikon, the ciUTent caiTied them ste ulilv toward tlieir destination, and there were lioiirs when tliey scarcely lifted their hands except to kee]) tlic raft in [)roper position by nieans of the poles. The weather grew steadily milder, for summer was npproaching. The snow and ic(^ I'iipidly melted, and now and then, when the sun shone, the thick clothing felt uncomfortaljle dui'ing the middle of the day. Our I'riends were in advance of the gn^it multitude that were ])ush- ing toward the Klondike from t\\(t south, from Canada and to 8t. Michael's, whenc(> they would start on the two-thousand-mile chnd) ol' the Yukon, as soon as it shook (>(f its icy bonds. It was impossible that the ])a,)'ty should not view with solicitude their entrance into Miles Canon, though Tim assured his friends tliat much more dangerous ra[)ids would remain to be passed. The canon is live-eighths ol' a mile long, with an angry ami swift current. A\- though the I'aft was tossed aljoub like a cockle- shell, it went through without injury, and none of the goods were displaced or harmed. Following this came the severest kind of I I I i LOOK OUT! THKRK'S A ROCK AHKAU " ff' > ' , I / .1/' WIIITh: llonsiC liAPFDS. 121 J woi'k. For tlin'c miles it simmiuhI as if the river could be no woi'sl', and the raft must be wrenched asundei". The eui'rent was not onlv vei'v swift, l)ut the ehannel was iilled with I'oeks. Kacli man ^-rasped one of the strong poles with which tlie craft was providetl, and wi'ouu'ht with mio-ht and main to steer clear of the treaciierous masses of stone which thrust uj) their heads (^verywliei-e. There W(M'e nianv narrow es- capes, and despite the utmost they could do, the raft struek ivj^eatcMJly. Sometimes it was a bump and sheer to one side so suddenly that the party were almost kiioekeil off their feet. Once, owino- to unintentional contrary work the raft bang-ed against the li(?a(l of a rock and stood still AVhih^ the men wm-e desperately plying their poles the current slewed the craft around, and the voyage \vas resumed. "Look out!'' sliouted Jeff; ''there\s an- other I'ock right ahead !" lJnfortunat(^ly it was just l)elow the surface, and there were so many ripples and eddies in the current that neithei- Tim nor Ilardman was sure of its exact location, but taking their cue from the leader, they pushed with all their strength to clear the obstruction. 1^ 122 THE YOUNG GOLD sEEKEIiS. \ • bl! f'. Tliey failed, and the flinty lu.'ad swept direct- ly uiider the lugs and gouged its cuui'se for the entire length of the eral't. All felt the jar, and those who coukl l(jok beneath the ui)i)er deck s[iw the lower timbers rise from the impact, which was so severe that when the raft at last sNvung \'i\n^ it was barely moving, l)Ut, like a wounded horso, it shook itself clear, and the next moment was plunging forward as impetu- ously as ever. The fears of the party were intensified })y sight of wreckage along the banks, proving tluit more tlian one of their predecessors had come to grief in trying to mi ike the passage. AA^liih* all were on edge with the danger, however, thev found themselves at the end of the perilous passage and floating in compara- tively smooth water again. Men and bo^'^s drcnv sighs of r(^lief, the former mopping their pi^rspiring broAvs and looking their mutual con- gratulations. " The fun is only just begun,'' said Tim McCabe ; '' we luid matters purty lively fur a time, but they'll soon be a o'ood deal livelier." '' Wliat is next due ?" asked Frank. ''I belave," said Tim, "that some folks « AT WHITE IIUU6E UAPins, 123 spake of death as riding on a i)aie liorse, don't thcv r" "Vcs." liiat must he the raistjn they call tiie nixt plisiire thraiiip AVhite Ilcn'so C^anon, or AVliite llni's.' Rai)i(ls/' •• Where ar.' liievf '• Hut a httle way aliid : many men have '"•en (Irowiu'd ill thiyin- to sail through the same ; and 1dm as doesn't know how to swim iii a whii'jjjool hasn't onv Inisiness to thrv^ it." ' ^ " What, then, do you mean to do f Ihiy it," was the im{)Lrtm'hal)]e ivsponse. ^ueh taik was not calculated to cheer the list(>nei's, hut knowing the Irishman as tliev did they received his stateiiKMit with less serious- ness than tliey shouhl liave done, for he had hy no iiieiins overrated the peril in their front. Jed' made anotlier examination of the ral't while In-^ had the opi)()rtunity, ami strengthened it in iXi'vy p,)ssil)le way. He was pleased that it stood the test so well, tliough it had been se- vei ely wrenclied, and when it cniwled over the sunken loek it had nari'owly missed being torn asundei'. The fastenings of the goods were ex- i. .. i m^ > ' 184 THE YOryu (iOLlt skkkkhs. aiiiined jiiul (»vi*i'ytliin<;- prcpimMl, so far as it could hv doiR', for tlic ci'iicial trial at hand. Tli(3 party wcro scntfMl in various positions about the raft, lookin;^' anxiously alu^ad, when T'nn pointed a little way in advance, with the (piestion : " Do ye all obsarve that ?" lie indicated ii high bank of sand on the ri l"l'. fn l,ni„o. a c.aft. it ,n„st be ,lo„e on tlie nsht.han.l .ide. Th.ee miles fartherdo.-n co,„es tlio 1,0.x r„non. one hundred vunls in len-th "";' '"'>■ '■"''' "■'■-•<'■ "-itli n ohute of te.dfic vcloeuy. Itepeuted atten.pts have been n,a,Ie !'■; '■"''^'"■^^ "•""■'« t" t^'l« a boat throuoh, ln,t It IS much thesarneas t.-yino. to shoot the rapid.. Its title of " The Afiners' Grave." Still, the feat has been performed in safety Progress M'as so effectually b;n-ed at White Horse that our friends gave up their raft as of no further use. It was certain to be shattered and where there was so nu,ch tind.er it ,vas comparatively ea.sy to build another, .-ith ^vlueh to make the re.naining tuo hun.lred ami twenty ,niles, particularly as there «-as no need of constructing a .louble-decker, for the rouo-h voyaguig was at an end. ° The goods were, therefore, packed upon the ^ "kon sleds, and tlieu the raft set adrift. It \vas never sopn 'lo-nS-. +i i ''cen .igam, though an occasional stray log ,.,fteru-ard observed boblmig iu the I 'I I N »l 128 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. III! 1 1 current below the rapids may have formed a part of the structure that had served the travel- lers so well. There \vas enougli snow for the sleds, but the work was exliausting, and was not completed until late in the afternoon, when the tent was set up and camp made. By the close of the following day the raft was finished. It contained enough pine lumber to float a much lieavier load than formed its burden, but, as we have stated, it lacked the double deck, since the necessity for one no longer existed. The raft was no more than fairly completed when a storm that had been threatening broke upon the party. Since it was expected, and there was no saying how long it would last, the tent was set up and secured in place. Con- siderable fuel had been gathered, and every preparation Avas made for a prolonged stay, though it need not be said that each one hoped it Tvould prove otherwise. In a country where for four-fifths of the davs the sun does not show itself, such weather must be expected, and, on the whole, our friends counted themselves for- tunate tliat they had been able to make such good progress. ON TBE TUKOIf. 139 The tent ,vas hardly in position, and aU "•itlun, huddling around the stove, in which Tun had just started a fire, M-hen they «-ere startled by a hail : "Halloa, the house !" The four hurried outside, ^vhere a strikin<^ sight met them. Kight men, eacli with a heavy pack strapped .,ve.' his shoulders, and bending over with his load, thickly clad, but with their faces, so fa.' as they coukl be seen through the wrappings, ^^•et and red, liad halted in front of the tent, which they scrutinized with wonder. " Are you going to begin digging here ?" called one of the men, whose eves, nose, and mouth were all that was visible behind his muffler. "Not while the storm lasts." replied Tim. •' If we had room, we'd ask ye to come inside ^md enj'y yoursilves till the weather clears At any rate, we'll be glad to give ye some- thmg warm to ate and drink. " " Oh, that's it !" exclaimed another of the men. " You're afraid of the storm, are vou ?" much afraid, but we ain't in me. Won't ye come in— that lov I IS, one or two at a time ?'• PT" 130 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKER8. ! )[■ " Thanks ior your invitation, ])ut we haven't tlie time to spare. We're af eared they'll get all the gold in tlie Klondike country if we don't hurry. You're foolish to loiter along the road like this." '' We're willing to lose a bit of the goold for sake of the comfort. If ye are bound to go on, we wish ye t2:ood luck." "The same to 'twelves," the plucky and hopeful miners caliu., as they plodded for- ward. For two dreary days tlie party was storm- stayed in camp. " Here," said Jeff Graham, when making ready to resume their voyage, " we leave our Yukon sleds. ' ' '' Shall we not need tliem on our return ?" asked Roswell. '^ We should if we returned bv this route, but I wouldn't work m}^ way against these streams and through the passes again for all the gold in the Klondike oonntrv. We shall take the t. steamer down tlie Yukon to St. ^[ichael's, and so on to Seattle. ' ' " That is a long voyage," suggested Hard- man. -y ON THE YUKON. 131 '' Yes, four thousand miles ; but it will be easy enough for us when v:q are on a steamer. ' ' " The Yukon is closed for eight months or more each vear. " " We don't intend to go down it when it's closed, foi* I didn't bring skates along, and T don't know how to skate, anvwav." " You do not expect t(^ stay long in the Klondike country ?" was the imiuiring remark of liardman, who sliowed little interest in the intentions of their leader. " That depends ; we shall come back in two months, or six, or a year, according as to how rich we strike it. " " S'pose you don't strike it at all." Jeff shrugged his shoulders. '' We'll make a good try for it. If we slip up altogether, these folks I have brought with me won't be any worse off than before ; but I don't intend to slip up— that ain't what I came into this part of the world for. " "ISio, I reckon few people come for that," was the comment of Hardman, who seemed to bo in a cheerful mood again, i^othing could have offered a stronger con- 3» V. 'I ! : ! i 132 THE YOU.YG GOLD SEEKERS, * 1 ! < I i j ;| ' ' \l ■ 1 trast to their previous rough experience thcui that which now came to tliem. Fourteen miles doNvn the river brought them to Lake Labarge, where tiiey had nothing to do but to sit down and iloat with the current, using the pok's oc- casionally to kee}) the raft in the bes' position. Thirty-one miles brought them to Lewis liiver, down which they passed to the Ilootalinqua; tlien to the Bis: Salmon, and fortv-tive miles farther to the Little Salmon, the current run- ning five miles an hour, and much swifter in the narro^\^ canon-Uke passages. Then beyond the Little Salmon the craft and its hopeful pas- sengers floated smoothly with the current for a distance of one hundred and twenty miles, when the bovs were startled to see four "fiant buttes of stone towering above the \vater, which rushed violently among them. "What place is that?'' asked Frank, who with his cousin surveyed the immense towers with deep interest. " Five- Finger Eapids," was the reply. " Thev look dano^erous. " " So they be, unless ye happens to know which two to pass between ; now, which would ve selict as a guess ?" (rV TirE VFKOX. 133 Koswcll jiiid Frank studied them awhile, and the latter answered: '' It doesn't seem to me that it makes much difference which one vou take.'' '' Ah, l)iit it makes a mio-htv difference. We should have big troTd)le if we neglicted to folly the riglit side of tlie riv(>r." Jeff and IFardman were already working tjie raft in that direction, and Tim now g-ive his aid. It looked perilous, but, knowing the right course, the craft made the ])assage without any mishap. All settled down to enjoy the smooth sailing that Avas before them once more. Tim and Jeff lit their pipes, Ilardman sjit apart, while the Ijoys were together near the front of the raft. The weather was clearer than it had been for S(>veral days, and much more mod- erate. A[ay was well advanced, and the short, hot sumuKM' was at liand. If all went well, they would reacli tlie gold country at the right season, and as they neared the goal the spirits of all ros(\ and a longing to get for- ward manifested itself in manv wavs. Thev w^aited until night liad fairly come before they went ashore and encamped, and tluw Avere off again at daybrc^ak, despite th(^ uncannily early >^4 n I U !■■; i/|i?(- i: 'i-i I i1t» !l I 134 THE YOUNG GOLD SEKKEliS. ■ I .lit Ii| I! hour at which it comes in that ]iart of the woi'ld. Six miles down the Lewis River took them to tlic Rink Rapids, through whicli they passed without diificulty. Just heyond are the ruins of Fort Selkirk, where the Pelly and Lewis rivers unite. Tim McCal)e studied tlie mouth of the Pelly, as it poured into the Lewis, and soon as the point was fairly ])assed, lie turned to his friends, his round face aglow. '' I offer me congratulations," he said, doff- ing his cap and bo^\'ing low. " On what V asked Frank Mansley. " The stream over which ve are now floatinp- takes the name of the Yukon, and doesn't give up the same till it tumbles into the Pacific siveral m\V ^ to the west of us." '' Several milos !" repeated Frank ; "it must be three thousand. " " Something like that, I belave. The worst part of our journey is behind us." " Flow far are we from Juneau V ^' To be exact, which I loikes to be, it is five hundred and tin miles." I' i '< i CHAPTER XIII. AT DAWSON CITY. Naturally tlie i-outo over ^vliicli the little party of gold-seekoi's were j(.urncyiiig stcjiUily improved. The Yukon, like inaiiv other areat rivers ol:' the world, comes into being' a liistv, vigorous infant, the junction of the Lewis and Pelly making it a stream of considerable pro- portions from the moment it takes its name. Other gold-hunters were seen from time to time, and there ^vere pleasant exchanges an h N 'id nil i n 1 f i I': \ ' I I i- ! 13« TIIK YOUNG GOLD SKKKEUS. ;i ■' Hi I I'' " It's the most villainous countrv on tlie face of the earth," he said, as he lit his pipe at the evening fire. " If it wasn't for the gold that we know is here, no decent man would stay over night in it. Frank, toll me something about the confounded country." " Me !" replied the boy, with a laugh. " I don't know half as much as vou and Tnn. " " Yes, you do. Tim don't know anything more than the best \va v to ti'avel tlirou<;h the . CD mountains and across the lakes." The Irishman took his pi})e from between liis lips to offer protest against this slur, but changed his mind, and resumed smoking, though his eyes twinkled. " A man that takes a lot of gold out of the ground and then lets a thief steal it isn't fit to go alone. ' ' " Which is why I've provided mesilf with a chap that knows it all," said Tim, not the least offended, though Ilardman scowled, for the re- mark was a pointed reflection upon him ; but he held his peace. ^* What about the In j ins here?" pursued Jeff, addressing the boys ; "they're different from ours in Calif orny." .1/ DAWSOA" CITY. V61 If Inuik li:ul IK, wish to jiir his knowledge, buL he replied : "I have read tliat the natives belon^ i,, the red and yellow races-thjit is, tlie [ndian and Mongolian. There are two stocks of Iiuhans - the Thlinkets and the Tenni^j. Thci-e are onjv H few Thlinkets, and they live along- the const. That old Indian who r(>rrie4' uj Ml if: ^p* 140 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEK E US. V. f I t..fc t' Deprived of many of the comforts o! liome and a mother's care, it did not tiikc the l)oys long,, under the tutelage of the older ones, to atte:id to tlieirowu wants. Roswell and Frank soon L>;irned liow to sew on a button and do the nu^nding which their garments occasionally riMjuired. They washed tlKiir clothing and kept themselves in better form than do many men when [)laced in a similar situation. With the weather f^^rowino^ more summerv and hardly a bit of ice in the river, the raft glided down tlie Upper Yukon. Ninety-eight miles from the head of the Yukon, the craft passed tlu^ mouth of the Millc River, and in this cjise the party saw the appropriateness of the name, for its water has a perceptible whitish color. A goodly distance remained to be passed, foi* it was ten miles to Stewart River, and twenty- live more to Fort Ogilvie, where they spent tin* night. They were now nearing their jourru^y's end, and all showed a peculiar agitation, such as is natural when W(^ feel ourselves clos(^ upon the solution of a problem that has baffled us for a long time. One form of this emotion was the impatience AT DA WSON- riTT. 141 to get forward fasten tlian before. There was nothing of tiie feeling when ieiiving Seattle or Juneau or Dyea, nor (li- ing to drag the sleds, they felt more than once like giving up and turning l^ack, though neitlie)- ^vould have confessed it ; but now thev were hopeful, buoyant, and eager. Tlu^y had sent the last letter which they expected to write home for a long tinu^ u])on leavino- Dyea where they bade good-by to civilization. The afternoon was young when the raft drift- ed into a portion of the Yukon which expand- ed into a width of two miles, where it was joined by another large stream. On the east- ern shore loomed a straggling town of consid- erable proportions. "Tim," said Frank, suspecting the truth, ''what place is that ?" 1 '4 ■'I. I ^ \m \ t I: I u 142 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. ^'Frinds," replied Tim, vainly tvyinn with a will I II I i di CHAPTER XIY. ON THE EDGE OF THE GOLD-FIEI.DS. The littlo party of gold-seokors liad eyorv Clime to conoTatiiIa,t<^ t!i(M)isnlv(>s, for aftor a journey of nearly tuotliousam! uuIvh froiu Seat- tle, throuo-h wii<] p;!ssos, ({angeroiis rapids and cajlons, over precipitous mountains, amid storm and temppsts, with theii- lives many a time in peril, half frozen and exliausted hy the most wearisome toil, they had arrived at Dawson City, in the midst of the wonderful g-old district of the Northwest, all without misliap and. in hetter eondition than when they left home. The boys, in j'oug-hino- it, had hreathed tho invigorating ozone and gained in rugged health and strength. Youth and buoyant spirits were on their side, and their muscles, which would hav(^ be(.'ome flabby in the unwholesome atmos- phere of a store, w(^re hardened, and their (mi. durance and capacity for trying work immeas- urably increased. There arc thousands of men 143 ^ I fe! si II 'J r 144 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. it if to-day enjoying life, without ;ni ache or pain, who owe their sph^idid condition to the cam- paigning tliey iindcrw(Mit in the war for the Union. If tlint tcrrilic struggle swept multi- tudes into tlicir graves, it brought the balm of strength and health to many more, who other- Avise would not have lived out half their days. The trying (experience of Jetf Graham in his youth and early manhood did this service for him. Tt was not strange, therefore, that he Avith his iron muscles bore the strain better than any of his companions. li(i seemed to be tireless, and his sturdy strenotli often i)ut others to shame. He had never sa])pe(l his constitution by dissi- pation ; and it may bo said that the severe hard- ships of that journey from Dyea through Chil- koot Pass and tlie wild regions about the Tapper Yukon confirmed tliat which already existed \vithin his splendid make-up. As for Roswell Palmer and Frank Manslev, their excellent home training, not denying credit to the grim old miner for his wise counsel, had held them free from the bad habits which too often make V)ovs effeminate and weak and old before their time. Gifted by nature with the best of con- stitutions, thev had strengthened rather than ji|l|| ON TEE EDGE OF THE OOLD-FIELDS. 145 undermined them. Neither hjid known an hour's illness throughout the long, hiborious journey, and they were in the best condition possible for the great task that now confronted them. As for Tim McCabe and Ike Ilardman, their weakness lay in yielding to the temptation to drink. No such temptation appeared on the road, and their enforced tempL-rance had the best effect. Tim was less disposed to drink than the other, but, sad to say, he imlLilg(Hl at times. Hardman's ideal was to obtain the means for doing nothing and minister to his base appetites. It was in 1887 that Dr. George M. Dawson, the leader of an exploring expedition sent by the Canadian Government into the Yukon dis- trict, made a report conhrming the presence of gold in vast quantities tJiroughout that section. The principal mining camp cstal.lished tliere was named in his honor, ft faces on one of the banks of the Yukon River, along which it extends for about a mile. It has a sawmill, stores, and churches of the Baptist, J Vesbvterinn, Methodist, ami lioman (^atholic denonn nations' IJeing the headquarters of the Canadian North- nest mounted l)olic(^ it is one of the best- m m V \^:- i '■ I I 146 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS, !• I- goveriie( I to w iis on the American continent. At the tini(? of our friends' arrival its popuhition was about foui* thousand, but the rusli will swell it in an incrediblv short Avhile to ten, twenty, and possil)ly fifty times that number, for beyond question it is tlie centre of the most marvellous gold district that the world has ever known. Coi)por, silver, and coal are found in large quantities, l)ut no one gives them a thought when so nmch of the vastly more attractive yellow metal is within reach. It is sin«"ular that while the existence of gold was incontes- tably known for many years, little or no excite- ment was produced until 1896 and 1897, when the whole civilized world was turned almost topsy-turvy by the bewildering rei)orts. Dur- infy the first three montlis of tlie hvtU'.v veur more than four million doUars were taken from a space of forty square miles, wliere a few placer claims were worked. AYhat harvest will be during the next te^y years no man dare at- tempt to guess. How suggestive the fact that on one stream so much of the metal has been found that it was given the name " Too Much Gold Creek !'^ Inasmuch as our friends are now on the ^ ON THK EDGE OF THE GOLD-FIELDS. 147 ground, a few more facts are j)roper, in order to understand the task that confronted them. Dawson City, it will be remembered, is in Brit- ish territorv, and all the ' natural stratum or bed of earth, gravel, or cenn^ntmiiKHl for gold or other ^^ I 'i,!l I). lii'^' I i i i 148 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKER8, \m I I <■» 1- til' precious mineral. There is very little quartz mining, oi' crushing of rocks, as is ])ractised in many sections ol" California. This I'erjuires ex- pensive macliinery, and little necessity for it seems to exist in tiie Klondike, In placer min- ing the pay dirt is washed hy the simplest methods, such as were i)ractised in California during the pioneer days. Evervthiny' w^as hurrv and bustle at Dawson Citv on that dav, late in ^^av, when our friends arrived. It was a noticeai>le fact that the date of their arrival was exactly two months after the boys kissed their parents good-by in San P>ancisco. Tim McCabe had gathered much practical knowledge during his experience in this region, while flelf had not forgotten wdiat he passed through " in the days of '4t)," to wdiicli wis- dom he liad added, as opportunity presented, while on the way to the Klondike. When the party had eaten together at the principal hotel and the men had lit their pipes in a group by tliemselves, a surprise came. The old miner smoked a minute or two in silence, and then turned to Ilardman, who \vas sitting a little apart, moody and reserved. (>y THE EDiili OF Tin: i;()l.n rilJLDS. 149 '' Il<('/' said hv, •• Tv,. stood hyyou nJltlie AVMV i'rojn Juiioaii, liaiift I C^ The fellow looked uonderhi-jy at hi.,,, as did the othei's, iiono sus])eeti„o. wh,,t was co„iino-. '^In^coiu'sc," was the ondF reply of li^rd- nian ; " ^ve all stood by one anothe]-, fur if Are hachi't we wouldn't stood at all." " Vou\(^ o,,t to Dawson City without it cost- ing you a penny, haven^t vou ?" t, "Tliero liain't been iimcli cliunco to spend money since we left Dyea/' replied ilurdman with a grin. Jeff was nettled by this dodgino- of the issue ; but he kept liis temper. " And if there h;,d been you hacbrt a^ dollar to spend onless you kept back some of that which you stole from Tim." "I don't see the use of your harping on that affair," said ITardman angrily. - Vxq owned up, and am going to make "it all right Avith Tim. It's none of your ])usiness, any^^av^ and I don't Avant to hear any more of it. '' "Well, what Vm getting at is this : if it hadn't been for me you'd never got to this place. You're here, and now you must look out for yourself ; I won't have you an hour tiM4 . II!) il m 111. «< ( H n] m ■ It 'i M i\ .i ( lii 'I\ tl^ ■ i 150 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. ill > ' longer in the party ; wo part ; get away as soon as you can !" Ilardman looked savagely at the old miner, as if suspecting he had not heard aright. But a moment's reflection convinced him there was no mistake. With a muttered imprecation he rose to his feet and left. But it was by no means the last of him. I--!'I M CHAPTER Xy. PKOSPECTIMG. After the depurturo of Ilarcljiuin, Jeff ex- pLiined to Tim why Jie hud driven him from their company, lie told ^vhat Frank had seen u'hen crossing- Lake Lindeman, and how the fellow afterward, when he thouglit all were asleep within the tent, went out to meet his confederate. ' T didn't want to turn him loose on the road," added Jeff, '^ thouoh I had half a mind to tell him to hunt up his friends and join tliem. Hut he now has tlie same chance as the rest of us, and umst look out for himself." " Regoira, but ye are right, Jiff/' ^vas the hearty responses of the Irishman. " I'm begin- ning to suspict that he didn't intind to give back that money he l)orrere(l— that is, if he should iver lay hands on tlie same." Jeff looked pityingly at his friend ; but read- ing in tlie expression of his face that he was 151 l:lMM it: )t«i • ' 111. mi nil ; s and \Nere oil. It may l)e \voi'th record- ing tliat ])otli of them strnck it rich within tlie iV^lJowmg w(vk, and a month hitiT started for home I'icli men. " It ain't likely," said Jelf, " tiiat tliere are many claims left along tliis I'ivei' ; but thei^e nuist be some. Anyhow, we'll trv it ; Tm sure there are places ajiiong those monntains that nobody has visited."' To tlie east and south towered a spur of the Uocky .Mountains. It would take hundivds of men a long tim(> thoroughly to explore their recesses, and it \vas the intention of the leader to push in among them. The region resem- bled that to which he had been accustomed in California, and he would feel more at home there. 80 the wearisome tramp was resunuMl and continued, with occasional ri^sts, until late at night. Other parties were continuallv encoun- tored, and all had the same stcjry to tell of there not beiiig a foot of desirable land that .iHn ' , - II 11 )"■ .A *] Ill' f II'- III was not pre-t'inptod. Some oi" liiest^ people were returniiiii', but most of theni pressed on, hopeful of striking some spot that was awaiting them. Encamping undd* the slielter of a rock, the journey was resumed early tlie next morning, and, sonn^ twenty miles from tlie Klondilce, a turn wjis made eastward among the mountains, which stretch far bevond the farthest rani>e o^ vision. Thev were following- a small stream that showed no signs of having been visitenl, and by noon had reached a. j)oint where tliey seemed as miicli alone as if in the depths of Africa. '' I guess we mav as well trv it here," said Jeff, and he began to unload liis pack, in which he was promptly imitated by liis com])anions. They quickly linished, and sat down for a long- rest. It had been a steadv climb almost from tlie first. But for their ])revious severe training the bovs would have succunil)ed, but thev stood it well. The stream which tlowed iu front ol" thein was little more than a brook, that seemed to be made bv the melting snows above. It was clear and cold, and they drank dei^ply fr PltOSPECriKO. *>'" it. Rooks and bowkle 167 Jou-lders were above, be- low, in front, and ut tijo reur. When tli,,.ir ntensils and equipage were Jaid ■n u pde, Jeff went off in one H4 J ;}| t II) ; Ill ^\ h}j * .;!' *;l; III I •i:. ! 158 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. \ i 5 \ 1 « 1 " Dc you know him ?" asked Frank, in an undertone. " ]S^ ; I never saw him before." " ^^es, you iiave. He crossed Lake Linde- man with us. He's the one tiiat signalled to Ilardman and afterward met him at night out- side of our tent. " ' tj !'i \ >. i \u CHAPTER XVI. A FIND. It was an unpler.sant discovoiy to tho boys thiit after parting company Avitli tlio ill-favoi-ed ^nan ^vho ^vas known to he a friend and comrade of the rogue Ike Ilardman, ami after travelling Inmdreds of niilc^s to this lonely spot, tliey shrndd mec^t tiie fellow again. Donbtless he ^vas engaged on tiie same errand astlrmiselves, and tlie presam])tion was that sooner or later lie would be joined by Ilardman. " r don't know that there is any danger," said Roswell ; - l^nt it would be more contfort- able to know they were not going to be our neighbors." " Let's follow up the man ami question him," said Frank, starting to climb the rocks behind which the other's face liad vanished. It took onlyafe\vnn-nutes to reach the spot ; but when they did so, and looked around, nothing was seen of him. 159 dashed his I'and into the uat.r ,„„l d,,„ .,„t ,^ ^ouW. .rregular nuoy.t ,„.,n.|y tuo inches in ,lia,„eter each way. I, „,„ |„,ig|,t vello,v in color, and «o heuyv that tl,ere conkl be no doul,t of its natiii'i!. •• rt's ould !" l,e exclaimed in a half-frio-ht- c"e \] io season was well advanced, the Mi>^ U' II: . « 1 il 166 THE roLWU (;()/./; .sj>jLja'Jl{S. the prospector has sixty days in wKwh to Mnd the metal. If lie fails to do so in the time luen- tioned, his cLaini lapses, since it is absolutely essential that hesliall find frold in order to hold it permanently. i f !■ ; • 1 ;j 1 ! ■1 ' 1 V, ■ ) ■ I: : ! I f -, CHAPTER XVII. THE CLAIM. :N"ot the least interest in-- feature of the stay of our friends in the o,,],l ,,.o-ion was tlieir cl\vellino- (lurino- Miosc^ ineinorahle days. The rocks came so nenrly to-eilie,- that jin irreuuhn- open si)ace was left, which iixera-ed a widLi of twenty feet with a ' utensils were n(3ath' arrauiied against the rear wall, where were piled the small (nmvas bags intended to contain the gold dust and nuggets that were to l)e gathered. Jeff expressed the truth when he said : " This will sarv^eus well while the weatlier is moderate ; but if we shouhl be here when the thei'inometer lioesdown to fiftv or sixtv de^Tees below zero, w(^\l turn into icicles before we could say Jack Ivobins(m. ■' Hardly pausing to jVlace their house in order, the party set out to investigate the find which Jeff hoped he had made. Going u}) tlie stream for a short distance, thev turiKMl off into a narrow vallev, which THE CLAIM. 169 never would li.-ive at t meted tlieutteiition of the boys. The old miner stood for some minutes atten- tively studying his surroundings, and then, in- stead ot beginning to dig, as his companions expected him to do, he said with an expression of disgust : " Boys, Pve made a mistake ; tliere's no gold here. ' ' '' How can voutell until vou search C asked the astonislied Iloswelk '' It ain't wliat T tliouglit it was ; you don't find tlie stuff in places like this. There's no use of wasting time ; come on." Wondering at liis action, the tliree, smiling but silent, traih'd after iiim. ClimlMug over some intervening bowhlers, tliey shortly emerged iiito a place altogether dilferent from any they had yet seen. It was a valley two or threes hun- dred feet in width, with tlie sides gently slop- ing. There was no snow on the ground, and here and there a few <»'reen blades of ^^-rass could be seen s])routing from the fertile soil. Throuii'h the middle of this vallev meandered a stream eight oi' t(Mi feet in widtli, but shallow, an. We nmsm't lose any days in stakin- ii (,,,t, or somebody else will get ahead of us." The assurance of dell' iniparle I conlidence to the rest. The stakes \rere cut and driven, ac- cording to the rule alrearly stated, and then Jeff breathed more fi'eely. " We've got sixty days to lind the stuff,- he said, -and nobody daren't say a word tons. All the same, I'm going to Dawson to file the claim and make things dead sure. " " When wiU vou ('•o -"' *' Now, right off. r want to brin^- back ^<« 4 A i % * • ill;' t :^ 1^ .' (* l;-:' 1 . ' ft •II' r i|t w {7-2 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. \\\ ]\ ■ h some things with iru\ ;in th(Mr' minds, and whom, having reached a (h^eision, nothing can turn aside from its execution. Ten minutes later he was hurrv- in«»' toward Dawson Citw fortv miles or more distant. rnasnmcli as Tim ]\[cCabi' iiad practical knowledge of placei' mining, the three decided to impi'ove tlie time wliile .lell' w.is absent in taking out somc^ of the gold whicli lie assured the]n was there. As has been ex[)lain, Tim McCabe and the bovs set to woi'k to clear off the coarse gravel and stone from a patch of ground. At the end of sev- bottom l>ut the yelk)W and black particles. The latter Hi 4 ♦I ^1 ■ ( a ■ i\ \\ '. ■i rw 174 77//; i'OiryG GOLD SEEKERS. were pulvx'i'izcd m;i<;-iietic iron ore, which ahnost always accom.piiiiius the gold. Frank's and Ros- well'seyes spai'kled as they saw so mucli of the yellow particles, even thouoji it looked almost as fine as the black sand. " How will you separate them ?'' asked Frank. " Xow ye'll obsarve thcj use that that cask is to be put to,'' replied Tim, "if ye'll oblige me bv flUino^ the same with water." This was done, wIkmi Tim flung about a pound of mercury into the cask, after which he dumped into it tlie bhick and yellow sand. As soon as the gold came in contact Avith the mer- cury it formed an amali'"am. " This will do to start things," said Tim. '' AVlien we have enougii to make it pay, we'll squaze it tlirough a buckskin bag. " " What is the result T' " Xearly all the mercury will ooze througli the bag, and we can use the same agin in the cask. The impure goold will be placed on a shovel and hekl over a hot fire till the mercury has gone olT in vapor, and only the pui'e goold is lift, or rather .there's just a wee bit of the mercury still hanging 'bout the goold ; but THE CLAIM. ,-, 1/5 ckTho hl,n.. or ti.is claim ai,,-t tl,o o„lv ""ngtluit takes l.i.u to r),uv.,o„rifv- ''What do you think of the f»-"'t'«<>'.e of the richest lin.ls in the Klo„„,hL-e eounHnv, an.l if it tu.ns out as a P---,.e.hall.,,ho,„ea„dhvehi.eg,n men the rist of our lives.' ' ° \ '4 m ! i <ia''li as tin? sunniuir sun in the Klondike region docs not thaw the soil to a gj'eater dei)tli tha n two I'eet, it was necessary to ])ile wood upon the earth and set it afire. As this gradually dissolved the frozen ground, the refuse dirt was cleared away, so as to reach paying earth or gravt^l. The results for a time were disap])ointing. The gold-liunters secured a o'ood deal of vellow o-rains oj' dust, and or- dinarily wouhl have been satisfied, but natu- rallv thev were trreedv for more. t. v O 1. There came times of discouragement, when the boys began to doubt the truth of the won- derful stories that had roaclied them from the Klondike I'cgion, or they thought that if per- chance tlie repoi'ts werti ti'ue, they themselves and their friends had not bit upon a productive 176 spot. Tim, when nppealerl to. had little to s-n- ta ,t was of a hopof,,! nature. It u-ouM havo >een unnatural ha.l he not been absorbed in the work in hand. That there vvas gold ,vas un.leniable, for the m-Klence .-as continnally before then,, b„t tl,e question was u-lK.ther it uas to be found in, , av 'ngqunntitie,s upon their ,.h,i,„. .\ttheelose of the seeond .lay all they ha,l gathered was not worth ten 'in(»' boys looked at I whether he had bidd »i« feet, fiuno-down cap in the air, began an Irish (Httv. The (( Do i"ii ni aiiiazenient, w en go(>d-b\r to his onderi senses n §• ^toppi yo obsarve that beauty >- he asked ng short and holdin. as lai 'ge as tlie one tile bovs had tal up a yellow nuffo-ot 66' i)i'ooiv several days bef( Imrried up to hiin \^('\\ from the >i'e. Uoswell and Fraiik Ther) and could l>e no doubt that it ^vorth several hundred doll UK I examined the pr ze. was virgin gold Twenty minutes lat( :irs. to hurrah, for 1 »' it was Roswell's t urn le came upon one ahnost (X-:, ^■4 1/ rl . 1 \ 1 '1 ' .'"l ,' l| 1 J| : : 3 Id' .'! w W^' 178 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. ) ' I' lar<^e. And ho did liurrah, too, and his friends joined in with a vlgov that coukl not bo criti- cised. Congratulating* (jno another, tin? three paused but a few minutes to inspect the finds, when tliey were (Uggino' iiarder than ever. " 1 think it is my turn,'' remarked Frank ; " you fellows are becoming so proud, that if I don't find — by George, F ham found it f^ Incredible as it seemed, it was true, and Frank's prize was largrs outsider of their primi- ir .1 GOLDEX II Any EST, 179 tlve fhvolling, th(^ mon smokino« tlieir pi,)(^s .nid ^liscussino- tI,o Nvcndorfi.I success thev Juul had, and the still o-roater tliat Nras fairlv ^nthin their or-as]). '' We're not so much alone as I thou«vlit '' re ^narked Jeff, - for there are fiftv niinc^-s to the east and north, and some oi:' them ain't far from u'iiere weVe staked out our chtlm, and more are comin^- " "Tliey can't interfere with us f' was the incjuiring remark of Roswell. " Xot much. As a rule, folks d(,n't lih^ tlieii- claims till tlieyVe struck onto a spot wherc^ tlie yaller stuff sliows; but I've done l)otli, V'ause I wassart.n that we VI hit it rich. If anybody tried to jump our claim, the first thing IM do would be to shoot him ; tlien I'd turn him over to the mounted j)olice tliat are looking after thmgs a 1 1 th I'oug] 1 tl 1 is country. ' ' "Ye mane that y^ ^ turn over what was lift of his remains," suggested Tim gravely. " rt would amount to that. Things aro iu better shape here than they ^vas in the old times in Calif orny, where a man had to fight for what he had, and then he wasn't always able to keep it." ^'\ i. Ij ' m ■i ^i :i 1 i ( ! «< IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) z. ^ I V. K <- 1.0 I.I 1^ 11:25 i 1.4 1.6 o Photographic Sciences Corporation «^ 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. M580 (716) 872-4503 iV '^ \ ;\ 4R, O^ >!^>^ ^ , u. % w^ 180 TIIK rorwa GOLD SEEKERS. ) ' ?»; I'iltll ' 1 1 m^\ " "Wliiitdo you intend to do with the burro ?" asked I*' rank. " Let him I'un loose till we need hiin. He? ])r()nght ;i pui'ty n'ood lo.id of sneli thin»^s as we want, and I'm lioj)inL;' he'll luive another kind of lojid to take back,'* was the sig-niticant reply of the old miner. This was tlumeai'i^st Jelf ea.meto ]")articulars. His natural rciserve as ti> what \u} had done and concerniuL;' his |)lans Utv the I'uture priivented any furthei enlight'.'nment . Tlu; fact that they had neighbors at no great Ix.x was an inclined shelf, which sloped downward {i\v sixorei'dit inches at the lower end. Ovei- this was placed ii piece of heavy woollen hianket. tla^ whole beini^ mounted uj)on two rockers, like those of an ordinai'V child's cradle. These were i-esti'd on two stroiiii' blocks of wo(;d to i)erinit of theii' IxMU;^' rocked readily. This device was ])lac(.Hl beside the I'Uniiin"' stn^am. As the pay dirt was shovelled water. The line particles willi the gold fell through the holes npon tlu? blanket, whi(.-h held the <^-old, while the sand and other mattcM- <,dided over it to the bottom of the box. which was S(j inclined that what j)asse(l throuuh was washed down and finally out of the l)ox. Thin slats were fixed across the bottom of tin.' box, with mercuiy behind them, to catch such parti- cles of <^r(,l(l as (?sc:iped the blank .'t. The stuf!" (big- up by our fi iends was so nu"-- gety that many lumps remaineil in the upper <4 \\ \ n I it i»' rrr 182 ruK ^'or.v.'; gold skereus. ,» I » ' I '■1! box, \vlici'(3 thc'V were dctiiiiU'd l)Vtli('ir wci'-lit, while the lig'litcr stulF i>jiss(mI tlii'c>u;j;'li, and the siiiidlL-r lumps were licld l>ya deeper slat at tli(» further end oi the ])()ttom of tlu; hox. When the blaidvet becjiiiie sui'cluirged with wealth it was remoN'ed and I'iused in ii barrel of water, the partieles aiualgainatiiiy" with the mercury in the bottom of the l)ai'rel. Sluiciu*^' recjuins j»lenty of running water v.'ith considerable fall, and is two or thiee times as rapid as the method just described, but si nee it was not ado])ted by our friends, a descri])tion need not be given. At the end of a week Jeff, with the help of his companions, made ii careful estimate of the nuggets and sand which they had gathered and stowed awav in the ca\'ei'n where they slept and took tlieii' meals. As nearly as they could figure it out the gold which they had col- lectetl was worth not (juite one liundred th(>u- sand dollars— very fair wages, it \\'ill h;' con- ci'ded, for six days' woi*k by two men and two boys. On Sunday they conscientiously al)- stained from labor, though it can hardly be said that their thoughts wvva elsewhere. Since one liundred thousand doUars in gold .1 uoLDEX ii.\nvi:sr 183 weighs in the ndgliboriuMxl of roiii- limuUvd pounds, it will bo seen tliat tlu; ])arty had al- ready aecumuhUed a g(jod load to l)o (hstrihiited among tlieniselves. It may liave been tliat tlio expectation of this result caused Jeff to brin*'- the burro l)ack, for with his ]i('l[) it Avould not be hard to carry ut lie gavr no hint of its nature. He ho])ed to be back within two or three days, and he dcpart('j»s securely tied. 'I'h.'si' Wi.'i'c regularly dcposilcil in ihc ca^mi w iiciv the [)arty liiadc llicir home, until a row ol" tlieiii lined one side of the phiee. It was a strikin*^ prool' ol' the wonderl'nl riehiiess of theii' find, that one of these ba^'s was lilh'd wliolly with nuii'i>'ets, which must have been worth iil'teen or twenty tiiousaiid doihii's. Karlv on the afternoon of the third dav an- utlier thouiilit struelv I'rank .\[ansk'y, and he ceased shovellin ol the Xoilhwest; hut the course of our friends had much the a|)|»ear- ance of a man leavint*' his pocki'thook in the middle -hl)orhood. If anvthini»" went amiss, they felt that the blame must rest with them. If matters were found right, they would not leave the ctivern until one or both of their fi'iends returned. When half tlie distance was ])assed, Bos well, who was in the lead, broke into a lope, with Frank instantlv doino- the same. A minute later they had to slacken their })ace because of the imcd to climb some bowlders and make their way through an avenue between massive rocks, but the instant it was j)ossible they were trotting again. It had been the custom for the gold-seekers to take a lunch with them to the diggmgs. ^1 START LISG DlscvVKIiV. Ibd This saved time, '.uul their real nu.il was eaten »n the eveninu. alter th.Mi- return honie. The inoiiient lioswell caught si-ht <.[ the round, ii'.vo-uij„. „,H3nino- which scrwd as thr. <^>"^' <>r their du'dhn-hc anxinusly seinim.! ii and the pile of u„,m1 ,,Md enihers on theoul- shle, where the Ihe was kindled i'nv cnukuur purposes. The fact that he snw novhing. aniis^ gave him hope, hut (hM not remove the Jno-ula, ' i 1 1 II And ovcrcniiic by the sliock tlio poor fellow collapsed and saidv to the ground us weak as a kitten. Frank let the ba;"- fall and straight- ened up. " No ; it cannot be," lie said in a husky voice. " Look for y<,-u]\self," i-eplied Roswell, swal- lo\vin<^a lunjj) in his tlii-oatand turnhif^ his eyes ])itirully toward his comrade. A strange feai' held Frank motioidess for sev- eral seconds. Despite tin? startling declaration of his cousin, a faint hope thrilled him that he was nn'staken, and yet \\{\ dared not peer into the interior throu<»'h dread of findinof he was not. Reflecting, howevei*, U[)on tlie childish part \\o was playing, he ])ullod himself together, and with th(5 delil»ei'ation of JeiF Graham himself bent his head and j)assed tlir(jugh the door. F^nongh suidight penetrated the cavern to re- veal tli(» whole interior in the faint illumina- tion. When thev left that mornin": the row of canvas bags was neatly arranged alono: the farther wall, where they stood like so many corpulent little brownies. Every one had vanished. A STAHTUyo DIStoVEIiY, Juj FninkMi.nsirys(aiv.l fora MK.M.t'nt ,n sil.nr,. Tlw"nl,ost,,.,,,),Mll\,nvanl..,n,lr.-,II,.,lin.-, stron- lll'Iil Voice : *' ^''onic, liosw'cll, ((Hick !" Tlio otluT nmsed ],iniscir u.ul liastilv a.l- ■ v.iiu'od. "Take vour r,.volv(>r/' saiM Frank, as h. >HC'k tillweiind them." in- coiiie 'i \\\i w CHAPTER XX. t ' t THE TRAIL INTO THE MOUNTAINS. ■ I ■ '1 , , 1 '.'' ! ' 1 1 1 ■ \U\ u] On the outside of the cavern the boys halt- ed. After the shock both were comparatively calm. Their faces were pale, and they com- pressed their lips witli I'esolution. Some time during tlie precedini^- few liours tliieves had en- tered their home and ('.'H'ricd awav one hundred thousand dollars in i^oM du^it and nuggets, and the youths were deti^nnined to regain the prop- erty, no matter what dano-iM' liad to be con- fronted. But the common simisc* of tlie boys told them the surest wav to defeat their resolve was to « rush off blindly, with not one chance in a thou- sand of taking t u' right course. '' Roswc^U, that gold weighs so much that no one and no two men could carry it off, unless they made several journeys." " Or there were more of them ; they would hardly dare return after ono visit.' ' 192 THE TRAIL INTO THE MOUNTAIXS. 193 " Wliy not ? Hardman (for I know he is at the bottom of the business) and the other ro-ue have been watching us for several (Uiys. Th(>\- knew that when we left Jiere in the inoniinn- \ve would not come back till nio-ht, and they had all the time tliey needed and iiiueh more.'' " But if there were only two, iJiey woukl have to keep doubling tlirir journey, and I don't believe they \vould do that. Perhaps they used the donkey. ' ' "Let's find out." The burro was accustomed to graze over an area several acres in extent and enclosed by walls of rocks. Since the lirst-mentioned bi-ook ran alongside, the indolent ci-eature could b(3 counted u])on to lemain whcr.^ the pasture was succulent ami al)un<> you see that?" askc.l the otliei- iu tui'n, ])ointiiio- to the «^Tour.d. There were tlie distinct impressions of a i,ai.- of heavy sl,oes. Tlie burro iia.l l,een loaded at the brook, or his neu' masters had allo\ver\rAl\s i;,; ^\^*n•(l, hr i)liU'k(Ml it oil', and held it up in tiie light. It consisted of a dozen dark, coarse ha i I's. " That's where the hurro scra])ed against the rock," he said. " We are on their path." Ill their eagerness they would have ki^jn be- side each other had not the passage been so nari'ow. ( )rten they came to places where one would have declared it impossible for a mule or donkey to make his way, but there could be no question tliat the property of Jeff Graham had done it. Freciuently he sli])p3d, and must have come near falling, but he managed to keep for- ward with his precious load. Less than two hundred yards distant the pur- suei's came to a depression of the soil where it was damp, and the footprints of the donkey and the two men were as distinct as if made in putty. There could be no question that the boys were on the trail of the despoilers. As th(n^ advanced, Frank, who was in ad- vance, frequc^itly turned his head and spoke in guarded tones over his shoulder to his cousin. '' They are pushing into the mountains/' said he, "but there's no saying how far they are ahead of us. ' ' i li 'J \'i! I. f I'i (I i ;■ 198 THE YOU^^G GOLD HEEKEliti, ' I !' ! 1 ( ; ■ I ' I I 1 1 '* No ; if they made the start early in tlio morning, it would give them a big advantage." '' I beUeve that is what thoy did, knowing there was no danger of our returning until night." ' ' That knowledge may have made them slow. Anyhow, they are not travelUng as fast as we, and we must overtake them before long." A few minutes later Frank asked : '' Do you beheve they have tliought of being followed?" " They must know tliere is danger of it. They will fight to keep that gold, and if they get the first sight of us will shoot. " '• They may have revolvers, but I don't be- lieve either has a rifle. We will keep a lookout that we don't run into them before we know it and give them the advantage." This dread handicapped the boys to some ex- tent. The trail was not distinctlv marked, often winding and precipitous, and compelling them to halt and examine the ground and con- sult as to their course. While thus engaged, they awoke to the fact that they had gone astray and were not follow- ing the trail at all. CHAPTER XXI. A SOUND FKUM c»L T THE STILLNESS. The error occurred in this way : Tlie trail that the boys hfid heen assiduously following was so faintly marked that the wonder was they did not go astray sooner. In many phices, there was little choice as to the route,^ because it was so broken and crossed that one was as distinct as the other. Nevertheless, Frank pressed on with scarcely any hesitation, until he again reached a depression where tlie soft ground failed to show the slightest impression of shoe or hoof. "My gradous!" he exclaimed, stopping short and looking at his companion; '' lion- far can we have gone wron*'"?'' " We can find out only by ret y urnmg,' j-e plied Roswell, wheeling about and leading the way back. They Avalked more hurriedly than before, as 199 ' I I 1:1' ii I 'i 200 rilE Y(K\\(i GOLD SEEKERS. 1 ^ ■■'( •' 1 1 : n • III a person naturally (lues wiio feels that time is precious, and ho has wasted a good deal of it. The seai'ch might have been continued for a long time but for a surpi'isiug and un(;xpected aid that came to them. They had halted at one of tlie brok(3n places, in doubt whithei' to turn, and seai'chi it*- for some sif „,..„ to (h-op a cliunk of croh] u'orth several hundivd dollars and not nii>s it ! It must have been that tlic^ mouth of the can- vas bag rontainino- the nugovts had i,eco.n,. opened in souh^ way to the ext(Mit of allou-in- a single one to fall out. '' I wond(M' ho^v niany more have been lost/' mus(Ml Frank, lis he put the speeimen in liis pocket. At any rate, it served to show the right course to follow, and the boys pressed o^, looking more foi- nuggets than for their enemies. The mishap nmst have been discovered by the men in time to prevent its repetition, for nothing of the kind again met the eyes of the youths, who once more gave their attention tr/ hunting for the lawless men that had despoik^l them of so much propei'ty. The trail steadily ascended, so bi-oken and rough that it was a source of constant wonder- ment how the burro was able to keep his feet. ' I. I I ill 202 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKEIiS. ) ' 'i\ i: r IS ; , i:. :' i t : u lie must liiivc'luid some exj)ei'ieiK'e in mountain cliin])iii;^' before, in order to phiy the chamois so well. The l)oys fiincied they could feel the change of teiupcniture on jiccount of the increased ele- vation , They kjiew they were a good many feet above the starting-point, though at no time Avere they able to obtain a satisfactory view of the countiy they were leaving behind. They seemed to bo continually passing in and out among the I'ocks and bowldei's, which circum- scribed their field of vision. Considerable pine and hendock gi'ew on all sides, but as yet they (>nc(-)untei'e(l no snow. There was plenty of it fai thoi' u]) and beyond, and it would not take them long to roach the region where eternal winter reioned. A short Avay along the new course, and they paused before another break; but although the <'Toun(l was drv and hard, it was easv to follow the course of the burro, whose hoofs told the story; and though nothing served to indicate that the men were still with him, the fact of the three being in company might be set down as self-evident. It would not be dark until nearly 10 o'clock, A SOUND FROM OUT THE STILLNESS. i>u;i so thu imrsuers still had a u,,oclly lun.ibei' uf iiours bd'oro tliciii. A peculiar fact annoyed the hoys iii„re than would 1,0 supposed. The ti-ail Nvas eonlinually \vindino. in j„id out, its turns so numerous that r.'ii'oly or never u'eiv they ahle to see nmre than u IVu' rods in advance. In places the xvindin- was incessant. The uncertainty as to ho\v 1-n- they ^vere behind the donkey and the men made the lads fear that at each turn as they a[)proached it, they u'ould come upon the party, who, perha])s, nii-lit be expectin- them, and would thus take them uiij)repared. The dread of something like this often cluTked the boys aiKl seriously i-etarded their ])ronTess. " We may us well understaml one thing," said Fi-aidv, as tla^y halte.l again ; "you hav,. heard Jeff tell about getting the drop on a man Eos well?" " Ves ; everybody knows what that means." " AYell, neither Mr. Jlardman, nor his friend, HOI' both of them will ever get the drop on us.'' The Hashing eyes and deteriiiined expi-essicju left no doubt of the lad's eai-nestness. '' Is that because you cariy a Winchester and they have oidy their I'evolvers T r< i 1 i ■if :i Hi HI i;it4 rHI': }<>( AG <^(}LD shJh'Kh'US. " It would iii.iki' no (lill'i'ivncL* if both ol" tliciii liad I'itlcs. " rioswell was tlu)U^'htful. " It is vc.TV w'i'll, Fi'jmk, to \)v hi'avc, l)ut tileries notliiii*;- ^^aincd l>y l)Uttin<^' your lu^ul an-jiiust a stono wall. Su|)]K)so, how, that, in passin*,' the next Ix'ud in this path, you should see llardnian waitin«'' for vou with liis mm aimed, and lie should call out to you to suii'on- der, what would you do?'' " Let fly at him as (juickly as I could raise my <^un to a level." " And he would shoot before you could do that." " I'll take the chances," was the rash re- s])onse. " I hope you will not have to take any chances like that — " They were talkin*^- as usual in low tones, and no one more than a few feet a way could have caught the murmur of their voices, l)Ut while Roswell was uttering his words, and before he could complete his sentence, the two heard a sound, so faint that neither could guess its nature. As nearly as they were able to judge, it was A SO USD FUOM on THE STILLNESS, 205 as If s..;ne person, in u-jilkino-, luul struck his foot a--ainst.in ..lKlnuMi<.n. Ft came U^^mx u point in front, and apparently just beyond tlie first l)end in the t.-ail, over whicii tliey were nuking their wjiv. '' We are nearer to them than we susjxM-ted," whispei'ed Uos\v<'Il. ''And they don't kn.>\v it, ,,r they wmiMn't have betrayed themselves in that manner." " ft isirt safe to take that for granted." Roswell, after the lust change in their course, was at the f,.)nt. Frank no\v (piietly moved l)eyon(l him, Winchester in hand, and ready for whatever might come. Confident they were close upon the men they scmght, he was glad of the misstep that had warned them of the fact. There certainly could he no excus(; now for Hardman and his companicm securing the ad- vantage ovcjr the boys, when one of them held his Winchester half raised to his shoulder and ready to fire. Within a couple of paces of the turn in the trail the two were almost lifted off their feet by a sound tliat burst from the stillness, startling enough to fi'ighten the strongest man. It wa"^ the braying of the buno, not fifty feet distant. f ';! I . i i' M CHAPTER XXII. A TURNING OF THE TABLES. H 1 1 ; ii- 1 I i The boys were in no donbt as to the author of this startlino' break in the mountain stillness. It was their own burro that had given out the unearthly roar, and they were confident of be- ing close upon the trail of the two men who were making off ^\ith the gold. But a moment later, round the corner in front of them, the donkey's head came into view, his long ears flapping, as if training tliemselves for the fight with mosquitoes that would soon come. The animal was walking slowly, but the astonishing fact immediately appeared that he was not only without any load on his l)ack, but was unac- companied by either Hardman or liis confed- erate. Suspecting, however, they were close behind him, the boys held their places, the foremost still on the alert for tlio criminals. The burro came forward until within a rod, when he 206 I- 1.- - f ■ >: V-? ^1 TUAWiyo OF THE TABLES. 201 seemed tr, become axvare for tlie first time <.f Che jn-esence of Jie yoiitlis in In's patli. Jle imlted, tu'iddled iiis mbbit-like ears, loc>k(>d at tlie tu'o, and then opened ],is moutli. Tlie il^'xii^le li,)s fluttered and vibrated u^ith a second tremend(.us bray, wliicli rolled back and forth ^tmono- t],e mountain^ tlie wheezing, addendum niore penetrating than the first part of the out- burst. As the animal showed a disposition to con- tinue his advance, the boys stepped aside and he came slowly forward, as if in doubt whether he was (loing a prudent thing ; but he kept on, and, parsing both, continued down the trail' evidently anxious to return to his pasturage. '^' ^^'hat does it mean T' asked Rosweu! '' I have no idea, unless—' ' "What?" '' They can't make any further use of the burro, and have allowed him to go home.'' " But they can't carry away all the gold. " Then they are burying it. Let' s hurrv on or we shall be too late.'' ' ' Lowering his AVinchc^ster, Frank led the wav up the trail, slackening his pace as he reached the bend, and partly raising his weapon ...„n 208 THE YOUyG GOLD SEEKERS. t t Rocks and bowlders were all around, but the trail still showed, and the donkey could have travelled indefinitely forward, so far as the boys could see. Xowhere was anything detected of the two men. ^' They may have turned the burro loose a half mile off," said Frank, chagrined and disap- pointed beyond ex[)ression. His companion warned him to be careful, as he began pushing forward at a reckless rate, as if fearful that the men would "-et awav after all. Just beyond the ])oint where the burro had appeared the path forked, each coui'se being equally distinct. The boys scrutinizerl the ground, but could not decide from what direc- tion the animal had come. Had they possessed the patience, they might have settled the ques- tion by kneeling down and making t leir scrutiny more minute; but Frank could not wait. '' Pll take the right," he said, " while you follow the left. If you discover uither of them, shoot and shout for me." It mav be doubted whether this was wise ft counsel, and Roswell did not feel himself bound by it, but he acted at once upon the sugges- tion. His wcii poll wiis ill Ills giasp as lie hur- -1 TVTtXIXG OF TUE TABLES. 209 rie place, and re- turn when it M-as safe to tal;,. it a^vay. Because of thi.s, Roswell Palnwr sliarply scrutmized every part of his field of vision as >t opened before Imn. There were numerous breaks in the path ^^•hich permitted hini to look over a space of s,.ve>.ai rods, and again he could not see six feet from him. Reaching an ..artliy part of the trail he leaned over and studied it. 'n„.,e ^vas no si<.n of a hoof or footprint, ° " The burro did not con>e this far," ,vas his conclusion ; " I am wasting time by wander mgfrom Frank." He was in doubt whether to turn or to ad- vance farther. He had paused among the bowlders, where little was visible, and, con- vmced of his mistake, he shoved his wea,,,on back m his pocket, so as t,i give him the freer III h ■ il ! fii ! I 210 riiK Youya gold seekers. I'M use of his hands, and turned back over the trail along which lie liad just come. lie had not taken a (h)zon steps when he was checked l)V tlie most startling summons that could come to him. It wasa^gruff " I^ands up, younker !'' Tt will be recpJietl that Roswell was le? nead- strong than his cousin, as he now demonstrated by his prompt obedience to the command, which came from ar. immense rock at the side of the ))ath, partly behind him. Having elevated his hands, the youth turned to look at his master. One glance at the coun- tenance w\as sufliciont. He was the individual ^vhom Frank had seen secretly talking with Ilnrdman on tin? boat that carried them from the head to the fo(jt of Lake Lindeman, and whom, both had seen on the day of their arrival in this neighborhoorl. Roswell Palmer now displayed a quickness of wit that would have done credit to an older head. His revolver ho had placed in a pocket on the side of him that was turned away from the man, and it will be remembered that the lad had placed it there before receiving the ])oremptory simimons to suri-ender. In the ill HANDS IP, VOl'NKER !" if ' I ! I i!|i^ A TURXIXG OF THE TABLES. o^ liope that his captoi- was not nu-.-uv that lie <-^;me(lanyiiroa,-ins. Rosu-oll k..,,r il.nt part of Jus l)(K]y fartlicst from him. Theiiiau was staiKh'no- ut the si.l,^ of tho rock ^vith a similar weapon in his o-.-asp, .Mn.l sliowed tliat ]),' was (3latcHl oxxn- tho cIovlt mann(>r in which ho han them ?" This sounded as if tlie boy liad no suspicion of the feUow before him, and taking his cue th('r(>froni, he said : *' ^''' : 1 don't know anytliing about it. Did they juin}) your claim ?" '* We had the gold among the i-ock« where 1.1 f^t; ii' ! I .11 212 THE YOUNG GOLD SKEKERS. we live, but when we came home to-day, we found tliat somc^ persons had been there and taken it all." Something seemed to strike^ the man as very amusing. Tl(^ broke into laughter. '' You can put down your hands, my son, if you're getting tired." '' You won't shoot?" asked Ros\vell in pre- tended aJarm. " Not much," re]-)lied the other, with a laugh ; ''I haven't a charge in my weapon nor a single cartridge with me; but all the same, I'll keep an eye on you.'' '* Not doubting your word, I have to infonn you that my pistol is loaded, and I now shall take charge of you. " As he spoke, Eoswell producctl his w^eapon, and the other was at his mercy. CHAPTKR XX ni. PLOTTING AND SdlKMTNO. To put it mildly, the man was astonished. Not droainino- tlic Ix.y was aniKMl, hr had hiM-ii foohsh enough t.» aunoiinfc that he had l)roupear among tlici I'oeks. " I wonder how Frank has made out," was his thought. '• IFe can't have done worse than T.^' Meanwhile, youno- ]\[anslev had no idle time on his hands. He had hurried u]) the fork oi the trail, after parting with his companion, until he hail passed about the same distance. The two paths, although diverging, did not do so to the extent the bovs thoui>'ht, and thus it came about that thev were considerai)lv nearer each other than they su[)posed. It need not be said that Frank was on the PLOTTiyt; AM) SCUKMiyo. 215 alert. Su.s[.•ec'tiIl^' he was iii the vicinity of the men for whom they were searching-, he paid no attention to the ,i;Tounil, hut <^lance(l keenly to thcM'i^'ht and left, and even hehind him. IJc; was thus eii^-ai^cd when something' moved his side a ei'a«4;L:y mass of rocks a httle wa\ ahead Jind sH-htly to the ri-lit of ihe path hv was i'oliowing. A seeond look showiMJ the (.hicrt to he a man, and thoun-h his back was towariJ the lad, his dress atid ovucjal appeai-auee left little doubt that he was Hardman. His attitude was that of listeniiii;-. Jlis shoulders wei'e thrown slio-htly I'oi'ward, and heg-avea cpiiek flirt of his head, whieh brought his profile foi- the moment into view. This re- moved all doubt as to his identity. It was Ike Hardman. Frank\s lirst thought was that he was stand- ing near the spot where the g()l(l \^.^^] ij^.,.,^ secreted, and was looking aj'ound to maiv(^ sure no one saw him, l)ut it may have been he heard something of the movements of his confederate that had escaped Iloswell Pahnei-. Afraid of being detected, Kranlc crouched behind the nearest bowlder, but was a second too late. Hardman had obsei-ved him, and I » I H h i 1 iii M ii 216 THE YOUya GOLD SEEKERS. was off liki' a Hash. To Fnuik's iimazeiiierit, when he looked lor liiin ho was gone. Deterinined not to lose him, the youth ran forward as fast as the nature of thi^ ground would permit. Reaching the soot where he had lirst discovered the man, h(.' glanced at the surroundings, but could sei; nothing to indicate that the gold had heen hidden anywlnM-e near, though the ])robal)ilities pointi'd to such being the fact, for it nuist have hiuMi in that vicinity that the buri'o was turnetl free. But the bov felt the necessitvof bi'in}2in«.c the man himself to terms, and with scarcelv a halt he hurried over tli(^ bowlders and around the rocks in what h(^ believed to be the right direc- tion, though he had .. • TTI\0 AyhsraE^/J.\o. L'17 " W(. haw Mia«K> ;, MK'ss <,r it," ^y,^^ the diy. .i^usteclco.nnuM.t <>f Frank, -to,- n-^Uiadthem lH)th and let tliein got awav." '^ All the same w,. must 1„. near the spot Nvliorothe gold ^vns hidden, and I l,eiie\XMve can find it l)y seareliin"- '' " We may, but tho ehances are a hundred to -ne against it. IIou- strange that those tu'o men carried no firearms !'' It has been shovvn that the Ivl,.ndike country i« n :.t one of dangerous weapons, i^ecause it is well governed, and the necessitv, th(3relV,re does not exist for men to go about armed! Many of them mupi.vstionably earrv pistols, but larger n-eapons are hnv, and th<> majority have neither, for they only serve as incumbrances Strange, therefore, as it may seem, Jlardman and his companion had but a single i-evolver between them, and tlu^ man who carried that spoke the truth when he said ail its chambers were empty and he was without the means of loading it. The great oversight of the two was that when they entered the cavern and took away the gold, they left the Winchester and re- volvers. This may have Ixvm due to thcM'r ! i li (!t « .1 218 Tin: Yovsn aou) sehkeus. i w \ I eagerness to cjjvry ort' every ounce of gold, but the commonest pi'udence would have suo'frested that tlioy " spike''' the weapons, so as to pre- vent th(?ii' bein!4' used against them. A brief consultation eauseil the bovs to de- cide to return to the cnvern and await the re- turn of tlieir friends. Tlu^n the whole party could take up the search, though it seemed almost hopeless. Disheartened, thev started down the trail, Frank in advance and b.)ih silent, for their thoughts were too (h 'pressing for expression. Suddeidy the leader stopped and I'aised his hand for his companion to do the same. The cause was a])[);u'ent, for at that mom(»nt, in round.ing a bend in the path, they saw Ike llardnian in front, moviuix stealthilv in the same direction witli themselves, but tlie rogue was watchful and cauii'lit sii'-lit of them at the same moment. As before, he was olf hlc"' an ari'ow, the wnid- ing trail allowing liim to })ass iVom sight in th(; twinklin\ 1 liliO THE YOl'NG GOLD SEEKERS. recollection of the way in which the thieves had escaped them, when the boys had them really in their power. Frank and Roswell were as certain as they (^ould be of anything in the world that they were near the spot where the gold was liidden, and yet to all intents and purposes were a tliousand miles from it. The criminals had been warned and slight indeed would be their cunning, if they now allowed themselves to be outwitted. For fullv live minutes, the two sat silent and motionless, each a prey t<> his own gloomy thoughts. Then Roswell turned toward his chum and aske(l in a low voice : " I guess the best thing we can do, Frank, is to give it up." " And then do what ? " " Go back to iho. di^-iifin^-s and bemn work over ugain. Those fellows haven't gotten away with all the gold in the Klondike.'' '* They have gotten away with our share, — ihai'to certain." " That is, all that we have taken out of the ground ; there is more left." " I don't know about that ; it's running pretty light now. Oh, of course there's some PLOTTiNc, Ayrj sciiEuiNo. 221 left, but I don't believe tliat vvhen ^ve have .'elT and Tim to help us, we slmll be able to get one-half of what we had in the cabin." " Well," said tlie other with a sigh, " I feel as bad us you, but wliat's the use o'f Irying to ilo anything when you can't do anything « " Franlv turned and looked in the face" of his friend, " What are yoix driving at, anyway ? What do you really think it best to do ? '^ " I'm ready to try anything you nlsh, but it strikes me the best course is to go back and peg away as if nothing had happened." '' And give up all hope of getting our monev ? " " I won't say that, but we have tried to catch the thieves and failed ; so why not wait until Jeif and Tini return I " " When will they return ? " " They may come back to-day or to-night." " And maybe not for a week ; Tim hasVne down to Dawson on a spree, which he intends shall make up for the days and weeks he has been sober, and when he's once started, T don't believe Jeff can make him put the brakes on for a good while." i'i r i \ I ill 222 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS, ii I ; " You don't know Jeff Graham, Frank." " I think I ha\^e been acquainted with him as lono' us you." " I'll admit tluit I don't know him either, but F've heard father and mother talk about him after he had l(»ft our house. Father says it takes a good deal to get him mad, and he doesn't believe he averages one such spell in three years ; but i!* his temper is aroused, he's worse than a tio^er. . 'u the Indians attacked the train he was with nnd killed so many, Jeff was a young man, but ho got mad clean through, and even his own friends were afraid of him. Did you ever hear your mother say anything al)out the time that JefT formed a vigilance committee in the gold diggings during the early days of California ? " " Never heard a word of it," replied Frank, interested for the moment in the words of his companion. " An old miner named Bill Zeigler spent an evening at our house last winter ; he had been with Jeff in the gold diggings a good many years ago, and he said he had seen him mad twice. The gamblers got so bad that Jeff started a vigilance committee to clean them PLOTTIXG A.SD SCHEMING. 223 out. One night, a suiootii, oilr-faced fellow came into cam,., bringing- a little bov who «-as a cripi.le, and so .lelicatc that iie'didn't look as if he u-o»l,l live more than a feu- weeUs Tlie man u-as a, gambler, but as he plaved square, no objection ivas made to l,is presence. " ^-'' ""'• '>y 't oame out tliat he re.-nlarh- beat the poor little fellou-. who, hesai.l, washis son. Jeff found hi,n crying one tin.e in the cabm where they n>ade their qnarter.s, and he coa.xed him after a time to show his thin shrunken anns an,l Lgs, which were covered "■ith bruises and scars that the brute of a father bad made. " Well, as the old miner told father, the sio-ht made Jell' mad. He hunted out the gambL-, told him what he h.ad learne.l, and in a voice "s soft as either of our mothers' warned the father he mustn't strike his boy again. The mistake the fellow made when he heard Jeff speak so low, was that he didn't notice Jeff's eyes. The gambler said with a sneer that the lad was his own and ho reckoned he didn't want any advice as to how ho should manao-e him " Jc^ff didn't say anything, but less than a week later, not having seen the cripple of whom ! :( t; ■ ''■ ;l I? i 224 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS, > ' I I he had become I'ontl, he dropped into the cabin, lie found the poor lad had died that morning and the body was alone. Jeff carefully looked him over and made sure that his death had been caused by tlie cruelty of his father and then he went out and hunted him up. He said he didn't think it was necessary to call the vigilance committee together, as he would at- tend to the matter himself, and the old miner told father he did it to the satisfaction of all the rest." " That is all very interesting, Roswell," said Frank, " but what has it got to do with this business of ours." " Only this : it shows what Jeff is liable to do wlien he gets mad. As soon as he learns of what Ike Ilardman and the fellow with him did, I think he will be mad." " And will do a good deal more than either or both of us ? " Koswell nodded his head. " That may be," said his cousin thoughtfully, " but I don't understand how getting mad is going to make a man do something impossible. If we were sure that Jeff would be back to- day I should say wait for him, especially after PLOTTING A:^li scuKmNO. 225 the failure wo have n.u.le, but if he happens to delay cou,i„,. f,,,. , ,,e„,. „,,„„^,„ ^^^ ^^ partner will be beyond reach." " Then what (1„ you propose;" "That u-e .levot,. the .vst of the dav and perhaps to.„,orrow to running those fdlows tin th,s part of the worhl, we-ll keep it '" saul Frank with a eon,pressionon,is lips and a flash of his eyes. " I'.n ready to hack you up, but thev know what we are trying to do and will be ;„ their guard." " Tliat's to be expected ; therefore, we shall try to show a little n,ore sense than we have thus far. It strikes me that we n,ust separate, for two boys can be seen and ^vatched much better than one." "I think," said Roswoll, with a smile, " that -t we looked as snndl as we feel, thev wotddn't be able to see us with a microscope ; but there's a good deal that must bo un.lerstood before we start in. I shouldn't wonder," he said, ra>s,ng l„s head and looking keenly around, If they are watching us this very minute." 226 THE YOUNG GOLD SEEKERS. ) ' 1 . ' i ■ " Like enou<^ii," ivplif^l Frank indifferently; " we will start toward homo, as if we bad given up the whole thing as a bad job, and, when we are sure they have taken their eyes off, we'll start in anew." Iloswel!, wlio had been so hopeless and dis- couraged, caught the infection of his cousin's bravery and sprang to his feet. " Good ! don't let's waste any more time, for it is too valuable." The two started down the trail side by side, Frank carrvin