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have a decided opinion on the subject is a matter of common knowledge in
the Yukon country。
It was in the fall of 1896 that the two partners came down to the east
bank of the Yukon； and drew a Peterborough canoe from a moss… covered
cache。 They were not particularly pleasant…looking objects。 A
summer's prospecting； filled to repletion with hardship and rather empty of
grub； had left their clothes in tatters and themselves worn and cadaverous。
A nimbus of mosquitoes buzzed about each man's head。 Their faces were
coated with blue clay。 Each carried a lump of this damp clay； and；
whenever it dried and fell from their faces； more was daubed on in its
place。 There was a querulous plaint in their voices； an irritability of
movement and gesture； that told of broken sleep and a losing struggle with
the little winged pests。
〃Them skeeters'll be the death of me yet；〃 Kink Mitchell whimpered；
as the canoe felt the current on her nose； and leaped out from the bank
〃Cheer up； cheer up。 We're about done；〃 Hootchinoo Bill answered；
with an attempted heartiness in his funereal tones that was ghastly。
〃We'll be in Forty Mile in forty minutes； and then cursed little devil！〃
One hand left his paddle and landed on the back of his neck with a
sharp slap。 He put a fresh daub of clay on the injured part； swearing
sulphurously the while。 Kink Mitchell was not in the least amused。 He
merely improved the opportunity by putting a thicker coating of clay on
his own neck。
They crossed the Yukon to its west bank； shot down…stream with easy
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The Faith of Men
stroke； and at the end of forty minutes swung in close to the left around the
tail of an island。 Forty Mile spread itself suddenly before them。 Both
men straightened their backs and gazed at the sight。 They gazed long and
carefully； drifting with the current； in their faces an expression of mingled
surprise and consternation slowly gathering。 Not a thread of smoke was
rising from the hundreds of log…cabins。 There was no sound of axes
biting sharply into wood； of hammering and sawing。 Neither dogs nor
men loitered before the big store。 No steamboats lay at the bank； no
canoes； nor scows； nor poling…boats。 The river was as bare of craft as the
town was of life。
〃Kind of looks like Gabriel's tooted his little horn； and you an' me has
turned up missing；〃 remarked Hootchinoo Bill。
His remark was casual； as though there was nothing unusual about the
occurrence。 Kink Mitchell's reply was just as casual as though he； too；
were unaware of any strange perturbation of spirit。
〃Looks as they was all Baptists； then； and took the boats to go by
water；〃 was his contribution。
〃My ol' dad was a Baptist；〃 Hootchinoo Bill supplemented。 〃An' he
always did hold it was forty thousand miles nearer that way。〃
This was the end of their levity。 They ran the canoe in and climbed
the high earth bank。 A feeling of awe descended upon them as they
walked the deserted streets。 The sunlight streamed placidly over the
town。 A gentle wind tapped the halyards against the flagpole before the
closed doors of the Caledonia Dance Hall。 Mosquitoes buzzed； robins sang；
and moose birds tripped hungrily among the cabins； but there was no
human life nor sign of human life。
〃I'm just dyin' for a drink；〃 Hootchinoo Bill said and unconsciously his
voice sank to a hoarse whisper。
His partner nodded his head； loth to hear his own voice break the
stillness。 They trudged on in uneasy silence till surprised by an open
door。 Above this door； and stretching the width of the building； a rude
sign announced the same as the 〃Monte Carlo。〃 But beside the door； hat
over eyes； chair tilted back； a man sat sunning himself。 He was an old
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The Faith of Men
man。 Beard and hair were long and white and patriarchal。
〃If it ain't ol' Jim Cummings； turned up like us； too late for
Resurrection！〃 said Kink Mitchell。
〃Most like he didn't hear Gabriel tootin'；〃 was Hootchinoo Bill's
suggestion。
〃Hello； Jim！ Wake up！〃 he shouted。
The old man unlimbered lamely； blinking his eyes and murmuring
automatically： 〃What'll ye have； gents？ What'll ye have？〃
They followed him inside and ranged up against the long bar where of
yore a half…dozen nimble bar…keepers found little time to loaf。 The great
room； ordinarily aroar with life； was still and gloomy as a tomb。 There
was no rattling of chips； no whirring of ivory balls。 Roulette and faro
tables were like gravestones under their canvas covers。 No women's
voices drifted merrily from the dance… room behind。 Ol' Jim Cummings
wiped a glass with palsied hands； and Kink Mitchell scrawled his initials
on the dust…covered bar。
〃Where's the girls？〃 Hootchinoo Bill shouted； with affected geniality。
〃Gone；〃 was the ancient bar…keeper's reply； in a voice thin and aged as
himself； and as unsteady as his hand。
〃Where's Bidwell and Barlow？〃
〃Gone。〃
〃And Sweetwater Charley？〃
〃Gone。〃
〃And his sister？〃
〃Gone too。〃
〃Your daughter Sally； then； and her little kid？〃
〃Gone； all gone。〃 The old man shook his head sadly； rummaging in
an absent way among the dusty bottles。
〃Great Sardanapolis！ Where？〃 Kink Mitchell exploded； unable
longer to restrain himself。 〃You don't say you've had the plague？〃
〃Why； ain't you heerd？〃 The old man chuckled quietly。 〃They…all's
gone to Dawson。〃
〃What…like is that？〃 Bill demanded。 〃A creek？ or a bar？ or a place？〃
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The Faith of Men
〃Ain't never heered of Dawson； eh？〃 The old man chuckled
exasperatingly。 〃Why； Dawson's a town； a city； bigger'n Forty Mile。
Yes； sir； bigger'n Forty Mile。〃
〃I've ben in this land seven year；〃 Bill ann