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caught her around the waist。 Corry Hutchinson was still occupied
with his moccasins。 Pentfield glanced quickly from face to face；
then turned to his sled。
〃Can't stop here all day； with Pete's baby waiting；〃 he said to
Lashka。
The long whip…lash hissed out； the dogs sprang against the breast
bands； and the sled lurched and jerked ahead。
〃Oh； I say； Corry；〃 Pentfield called back； 〃you'd better occupy the
old cabin。 It's not been used for some time。 I've built a new one
on the hill。〃
TOO MUCH GOLD
This being a storyand a truer one than it may appearof a mining
country； it is quite to be expected that it will be a hard…luck
story。 But that depends on the point of view。 Hard luck is a mild
way of terming it so far as Kink Mitchell and Hootchinoo Bill are
concerned； and that they 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
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 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？〃
〃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 announced emphatically；
〃an' I make free to say I never heard tell of the burg before。
Hold on！ Let's have some more of that whisky。 Your information's
flabbergasted me； that it has。 Now just whereabouts is this
Dawson…place you was a…mentionin'？〃
〃On the big flat jest below the mouth of Klondike；〃 ol' Jim
answered。 〃But where has you…all ben this summer？〃
〃Never you mind where we…all's ben；〃 was Kink Mitche