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head in the lap of Mother Earth。 In short； in Jees Uck he found
the youth of the worldthe youth and the strength and the joy。
And to fill the full round of his need； and that they might not see
overmuch of each other； there arrived at Twenty Mile one Sandy
MacPherson； as companionable a man as ever whistled along the trail
or raised a ballad by a camp…fire。 A Jesuit priest had run into
his camp； a couple of hundred miles up the Yukon； in the nick of
time to say a last word over the body of Sandy's partner。 And on
departing； the priest had said； 〃My son； you will be lonely now。〃
And Sandy had bowed his head brokenly。 〃At Twenty Mile；〃 the
priest added； 〃there is a lonely man。 You have need of each other；
my son。〃
So it was that Sandy became a welcome third at the post； brother to
the man and woman that resided there。 He took Bonner moose…hunting
and wolf…trapping； and； in return； Bonner resurrected a battered
and way…worn volume and made him friends with Shakespeare； till
Sandy declaimed iambic pentameters to his sled…dogs whenever they
waxed mutinous。 And of the long evenings they played cribbage and
talked and disagreed about the universe； the while Jees Uck rocked
matronly in an easy…chair and darned their moccasins and socks。
Spring came。 The sun shot up out of the south。 The land exchanged
its austere robes for the garb of a smiling wanton。 Everywhere
light laughed and life invited。 The days stretched out their balmy
length and the nights passed from blinks of darkness to no darkness
at all。 The river bared its bosom； and snorting steamboats
challenged the wilderness。 There were stir and bustle； new faces；
and fresh facts。 An assistant arrived at Twenty Mile； and Sandy
MacPherson wandered off with a bunch of prospectors to invade the
Koyokuk country。 And there were newspapers and magazines and
letters for Neil Bonner。 And Jees Uck looked on in worriment； for
she knew his kindred talked with him across the world。
Without much shock； it came to him that his father was dead。 There
was a sweet letter of forgiveness； dictated in his last hours。
There were official letters from the Company； graciously ordering
him to turn the post over to the assistant and permitting him to
depart at his earliest pleasure。 A long； legal affair from the
lawyers informed him of interminable lists of stocks and bonds；
real estate； rents； and chattels that were his by his father's
will。 And a dainty bit of stationery； sealed and monogramed；
implored dear Neil's return to his heart…broken and loving mother。
Neil Bonner did some swift thinking； and when the Yukon Belle
coughed in to the bank on her way down to Bering Sea； he departed
departed with the ancient lie of quick return young and blithe on
his lips。
〃I'll come back； dear Jees Uck； before the first snow flies；〃 he
promised her； between the last kisses at the gang…plank。
And not only did he promise； but； like the majority of men under
the same circumstances； he really meant it。 To John Thompson； the
new agent； he gave orders for the extension of unlimited credit to
his wife； Jees Uck。 Also； with his last look from the deck of the
Yukon Belle； he saw a dozen men at work rearing the logs that were
to make the most comfortable house along a thousand miles of river
frontthe house of Jees Uck； and likewise the house of Neil
Bonnerere the first flurry of snow。 For he fully and fondly
meant to come back。 Jees Uck was dear to him； and； further； a
golden future awaited the north。 With his father's money he
intended to verify that future。 An ambitious dream allured him。
With his four years of experience； and aided by the friendly
cooperation of the P。 C。 Company； he would return to become the
Rhodes of Alaska。 And he would return； fast as steam could drive；
as soon as he had put into shape the affairs of his father； whom he
had never known； and comforted his mother； whom he had forgotten。
There was much ado when Neil Bonner came back from the Arctic。 The
fires were lighted and the fleshpots slung； and he took of it all
and called it good。 Not only was he bronzed and creased； but he
was a new man under his skin； with a grip on things and a
seriousness and control。 His old companions were amazed when he
declined to hit up the pace in the good old way； while his father's
crony rubbed hands gleefully； and became an authority upon the
reclamation of wayward and idle youth。
For four years Neil Bonner's mind had lain fallow。 Little that was
new had been added to it； but it had undergone a process of
selection。 It had； so to say； been purged of the trivial and
superfluous。 He had lived quick years； down in the world； and； up
in the wilds； time had been given him to organize the confused mass
of his experiences。 His superficial standards had been flung to
the winds and new standards erected on deeper and broader
generalizations。 Concerning civilization； he had gone away with
one set of values； had returned with another set of values。 Aided；
also； by the earth smells in his nostrils and the earth sights in
his eyes； he laid hold of the inner significance of civilization；
beholding with clear vision its futilities and powers。 It was a
simple little philosophy he evolved。 Clean living was the way to
grace。 Duty performed was sanctification。 One must live clean and
do his duty in order that he might work。 Work was salvation。 And
to work toward life abundant； and more abundant； was to be in line
with the scheme of things and the will of God。
Primarily； he was of the city。 And his fresh earth grip and virile
conception of humanity gave him a finer sense of civilization and
endeared civilization to him。 Day by day the people of the city
clung closer to him and the world loomed more colossal。 And； day
by day； Alaska grew more remote and less real。 And then he met
Kitty Sharona woman of his own flesh and blood and kind； a woman
who put her hand into his hand and drew him to her； till he forgot
the day and hour and the time of the year the first snow flies on
the Yukon。
Jees Uck moved into her grand log…house and dreamed away three
golden summer months。 Then came the autumn； post…haste before the
down rush of winter。 The air grew thin and sharp； the days thin
and short。 The river ran sluggishly； and skin ice formed in the
quiet eddies。 All migratory life departed south； and silence fell
upon the land。 The first snow flurries came； and the last homing
steamboat bucked desperately into the running mush ice。 Then came
the hard ice； solid cakes and sheets； till the Yukon ran level with
its banks。 And when all this ceased the river stood still and the
blinking days lost themselves in the darkness。
John Thompson； the new agent； laughed； but Jees Uck had faith in
the mischances of sea and river。 Neil Bonner might be frozen in
anywhere between Chilkoot Pass and St。 Michael's； for the last
travellers of the year a