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gripped hands。 Though they had never met； each had heard of the other；
and the recognition was mutual。 A sweeping introduction and a mug of
punch were forced upon him before he could explain his errand。
How long since that basket sled； with three men and eight dogs；
passed？' he asked。
'An even two days ahead。 Are you after them？'
'Yes； my team。 Run them off under my very nose； the cusses。 I've
gained two days on them already… pick them up on the next run。'
'Reckon they'll show spunk？' asked Belden； in order to keep up the
conversation； for Malemute Kid already had the coffeepot on and was
busily frying bacon and moose meat。
The stranger significantly tapped his revolvers。
'When'd yeh leave Dawson？'
'Twelve o'clock。'
'Last night？'… as a matter of course。
'Today。'
A murmur of surprise passed round the circle。 And well it might； for
it was just midnight； and seventy…five miles of rough river trail
was not to be sneered at for a twelve hours' run。
The talk soon became impersonal； however； harking back to the trails
of childhood。 As the young stranger ate of the rude fare Malemute
Kid attentively studied his face。 Nor was he long in deciding that
it was fair； honest； and open； and that he liked it。 Still youthful；
the lines had been firmly traced by toil and hardship。 Though genial
in conversation； and mild when at rest； the blue eyes gave promise
of the hard steel…glitter which comes when called into action；
especially against odds。 The heavy jaw and square…cut chin
demonstrated rugged pertinacity and indomitability。 Nor； though the
attributes of the lion were there； was there wanting the certain
softness； the hint of womanliness； which bespoke the emotional nature。
'So thet's how me an' the ol' woman got spliced；' said Belden；
concluding the exciting tale of his courtship。 '〃Here we be； Dad；〃 sez
she。 〃An' may yeh be damned；〃 sez he to her； an' then to me； ''Jim；
yeh…yeh git outen them good duds o' yourn； I want a right peart
slice o' thet forty acre plowed 'fore dinner。〃 An' then he sort o'
sniffled an' kissed her。 An' I was thet happy… but he seen me an'
roars out； ''Yeh； Jim！' An' yeh bet I dusted fer the barn。'
'Any kids waiting for you back in the States？' asked the stranger。
'Nope； Sal died 'fore any come。 Thet's why I'm here。' Belden
abstractedly began to light his pipe； which had failed to go out；
and then brightened up with； 'How 'bout yerself； stranger… married
man？'
For reply； he opened his watch； slipped it from the thong which
served for a chain； and passed it over。 Belden picked up the slush
lamp； surveyed the inside of the case critically； and； swearing
admiringly to himself； handed it over to Louis Savoy。 With numerous
'By gars！' he finally surrendered it to Prince； and they noticed
that his hands trembled and his eyes took on a peculiar softness。
And so it passed from horny hand to horny hand… the pasted
photograph of a woman； the clinging kind that such men fancy； with a
babe at the breast。 Those who had not yet seen the wonder were keen
with curiosity； those who had became silent and retrospective。 They
could face the pinch of famine； the grip of scurvy； or the quick death
by field or flood； but the pictured semblance of a stranger woman
and child made women and children of them all。
'Never have seen the youngster yet… he's a boy； she says； and two
years old；' said the stranger as he received the treasure back。 A
lingering moment he gazed upon it； then snapped the case and turned
away； but not quick enough to hide the restrained rush of tears。
Malemute Kid led him to a bunk and bade him turn in。
'Call me at four sharp。 Don't fail me；' were his last words； and a
moment later he was breathing in the heaviness of exhausted sleep。
'By Jove！ He's a plucky chap；' commented Prince。 'Three hours' sleep
after seventy…five miles with the dogs； and then the trail again。
Who is he； Kid？'
'Jack Westondale。 Been in going on three years； with nothing but the
name of working like a horse； and any amount of bad luck to his
credit。 I never knew him； but Sitka Charley told me about him。'
'It seems hard that a man with a sweet young wife like his should be
putting in his years in this Godforsaken hole； where every year counts
two on the outside。'
'The trouble with him is clean grit and stubbornness。 He's cleaned
up twice with a stake； but lost it both times。'
Here the conversation was broken off by an uproar from Bettles；
for the effect had begun to wear away。 And soon the bleak years of
monotonous grub and deadening toil were being forgotten in rough
merriment。 Malemute Kid alone seemed unable to lose himself； and
cast many an anxious look at his watch。 Once he put on his mittens and
beaver…skin cap； and； leaving the cabin； fell to rummaging about in
the cache。
Nor could he wait the hour designated； for he was fifteen minutes
ahead of time in rousing his guest。 The young giant had stiffened
badly； and brisk rubbing was necessary to bring him to his feet。 He
tottered painfully out of the cabin； to find his dogs harnessed and
everything ready for the start。 The company wished him good luck and a
short chase； while Father Roubeau； hurriedly blessing him； led the
stampede for the cabin； and small wonder； for it is not good to face
seventy…four degrees below zero with naked ears and hands。
Malemute Kid saw him to the main trail； and there； gripping his hand
heartily； gave him advice。
'You'll find a hundred pounds of salmon eggs on the sled；' he
said。 'The dogs will go as far on that as with one hundred and fifty
of fish； and you can't get dog food at Pelly； as you probably
expected。' The stranger started； and his eyes flashed； but he did
not interrupt。 'You can't get an ounce of food for dog or man till you
reach Five Fingers； and that's a stiff two hundred miles。 Watch out
for open water on the Thirty Mile River； and be sure you take the
big cutoff above Le Barge。'
'How did you know it？ Surely the news can't be ahead of me already？'
'I don't know it； and what's more； I don't want to know it。 But
you never owned that team you're chasing。 Sitka Charley sold it to
them last spring。 But he sized you up to me as square once； and I
believe him。 I've seen your face； I like it。 And I've seen… why；
damn you； hit the high places for salt water and that wife of yours；
and…' Here the Kid unmittened and jerked out his sack。
'No； I don't need it；' and the tears froze on his cheeks as he
convulsively gripped Malemute Kid's hand。
'Then don't spare the dogs； cut them out of the traces as fast as
they drop； buy them； and think they're cheap at ten dollars a pound。
You can get them at Five Fingers； Little Salmon； and Hootalinqua。
And watch out for wet feet；' was his parting advice。 'Keep a…traveling
up to twenty…five； but if it gets below that； build a fire and
change your socks。'
Fifteen minutes had barely elapsed when the jingle of bells
announced new