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'No。'
'Well； where the devil were you born？ You're none of these。'
Malemute Kid swept his hand over the dog drivers； even including the
two policemen who had turned into Prince's bunk。 'Where did you come
from？ I've seen faces like yours before； though I can't remember
just where。'
'I know you；' he irrelevantly replied； at once turning the drift
of Malemute Kid's questions。
'Where？ Ever see me？'
'No； your partner； him priest； Pastilik； long time ago。 Him ask me
if I see you； Malemute Kid。 Him give me grub。 I no stop long。 You hear
him speak 'bout me？'
'Oh！ you're the fellow that traded the otter skins for the dogs？'
The man nodded； knocked out his pipe； and signified his
disinclination for conversation by rolling up in his furs。 Malemute
Kid blew out the slush lamp and crawled under the blankets with
Prince。
'Well； what is he？'
'Don't know… turned me off； somehow； and then shut up like a clam。
But he's a fellow to whet your curiosity。 I've heard of him。 All the
coast wondered about him eight years ago。 Sort of mysterious； you
know。 He came down out of the North in the dead of winter； many a
thousand miles from here； skirting Bering Sea and traveling as
though the devil were after him。 No one ever learned where he came
from； but he must have come far。 He was badly travel…worn when he
got food from the Swedish missionary on Golovin Bay and asked the
way south。 We heard of all this afterward。 Then he abandoned the shore
line； heading right across Norton Sound。 Terrible weather；
snowstorms and high winds； but he pulled through where a thousand
other men would have died； missing St。 Michaels and making the land at
Pastilik。 He'd lost all but two dogs； and was nearly gone with
starvation。
'He was so anxious to go on that Father Roubeau fitted him out
with grub； but he couldn't let him have any dogs； for he was only
waiting my arrival； to go on a trip himself。 Mr。 Ulysses knew too much
to start on without animals； and fretted around for several days。 He
had on his sled a bunch of beautifully cured otter skins； sea
otters； you know； worth their weight in gold。 There was also at
Pastilik an old Shylock of a Russian trader； who had dogs to kill。
Well； they didn't dicker very long； but when the Strange One headed
south again； it was in the rear of a spanking dog team。 Mr。 Shylock；
by the way； had the otter skins。 I saw them； and they were
magnificent。 We figured it up and found the dogs brought him at
least five hundred apiece。 And it wasn't as if the Strange One
didn't know the value of sea otter； he was an Indian of some sort； and
what little he talked showed he'd been among white men。
'After the ice passed out of the sea； word came up from Nunivak
Island that he'd gone in there for grub。 Then he dropped from sight；
and this is the first heard of him in eight years。 Now where did he
come from？ and what was he doing there？ and why did he come from
there？ He's Indian； he's been nobody knows where； and he's had
discipline； which is unusual for an Indian。 Another mystery of the
North for you to solve； Prince。'
'Thanks awfully； but I've got too many on hand as it is；' he
replied。
Malemute Kid was already breathing heavily； but the young mining
engineer gazed straight up through the thick darkness； waiting for the
strange orgasm which stirred his blood to die away。 And when he did
sleep； his brain worked on； and for the nonce he； too； wandered
through the white unknown； struggled with the dogs on endless
trails； and saw men live； and toil； and die like men。
The next morning； hours before daylight； the dog drivers and
policemen pulled out for Dawson。 But the powers that saw to Her
Majesty's interests and ruled the destinies of her lesser creatures
gave the mailmen little rest； for a week later they appeared at Stuart
River； heavily burdened with letters for Salt Water。 However； their
dogs had been replaced by fresh ones； but； then； they were dogs。
The men had expected some sort of a layover in which to rest up；
besides； this Klondike was a new section of the Northland； and they
had wished to see a little something of the Golden City where dust
flowed like water and dance halls rang with never…ending revelry。
But they dried their socks and smoked their evening pipes with much
the same gusto as on their former visit； though one or two bold
spirits speculated on desertion and the possibility of crossing the
unexplored Rockies to the east； and thence； by the Mackenzie Valley；
of gaining their old stamping grounds in the Chippewyan country。 Two
or three even decided to return to their homes by that route when
their terms of service had expired； and they began to lay plans
forthwith； looking forward to the hazardous undertaking in much the
same way a city…bred man would to a day's holiday in the woods。
He of the Otter Skins seemed very restless； though he took little
interest in the discussion； and at last he drew Malemute Kid to one
side and talked for some time in low tones。 Prince cast curious eyes
in their direction； and the mystery deepened when they put on caps and
mittens and went outside。 When they returned； Malemute Kid placed
his gold scales on the table； weighed out the matter of sixty
ounces； and transferred them to the Strange One's sack。 Then the chief
of the dog drivers joined the conclave； and certain business was
transacted with him。 The next day the gang went on upriver； but He
of the Otter Skins took several pounds of grub and turned his steps
back toward Dawson。
'Didn't know what to make of it；' said Malemute Kid in response to
Prince's queries； 'but the poor beggar wanted to be quit of the
service for some reason or other… at least it seemed a most
important one to him； though he wouldn't let on what。 You see； it's
just like the army： he signed for two years； and the only way to get
free was to buy himself out。 He couldn't desert and then stay here；
and he was just wild to remain in the country。 Made up his mind when
he got to Dawson； he said； but no one knew him； hadn't a cent； and I
was the only one he'd spoken two words with。 So he talked it over with
the lieutenant…governor； and made arrangements in case he could get
the money from me… loan； you know。 Said he'd pay back in the year；
and； if I wanted； would put me onto something rich。 Never'd seen it；
but he knew it was rich。
'And talk！ why； when he got me outside he was ready to weep。
Begged and pleaded； got down in the snow to me till I hauled him out
of it。 Palavered around like a crazy man。 Swore he's worked to this
very end for years and years； and couldn't bear to be disappointed
now。 Asked him what end； but he wouldn't say。 Said they might keep him
on the other half of the trail and he wouldn't get to Dawson in two
years； and then it would be too late。 Never saw a man take on so in my
life。 And when I said I'd let him have it； had to yank him out of
the snow again。 Told him to consider it in the light