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doesn't always happen； but it USUALLY happens。 You notice； I say
'usually。' As I said before； I have my suspicions； but I'm not saying
anything。〃
Big Burke； with a sudden dawn of comprehension reached over；
stopped the wheel； and examined it carefully。 The heads of the nine other
game…owners bent over and joined in the examination。 Big Burke
straightened up and cast a glance at the near…by stove。
〃Hell；〃 he said。 〃It wasn't any system at all。 The table stood close
to the fire； and the blamed wheel's warped。 And we've been worked to a
frazzle。 No wonder he liked this table。 He couldn't have bucked for
sour apples at any other table。〃
Harvey Moran gave a great sigh of relief and wiped his forehead。
〃Well； anyway；〃 he said； 〃it's cheap at the price just to find out that it
wasn't a system。〃 His face began to work； and then he broke into
laughter and slapped Smoke on the shoulder。 〃Smoke； you had us going
for a while； and we patting ourselves on the back because you were letting
our tables alone！ Say； I've got some real fizz I'll open if all you'll come
over to the Tivoli with me。〃
Later； back in the cabin； Shorty silently overhauled and hefted the
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various bulging gold…sacks。 He finally piled them on the table； sat down
on the edge of his bunk； and began taking off his moccasins。
〃Seventy thousan'；〃 he calculated。 〃It weighs three hundred and fifty
pounds。 And all out of a warped wheel an' a quick eye。 Smoke； you
eat'm raw； you eat'm alive； you work under water； you've given me the
jim…jams； but just the same I know it's a dream。 It's only in dreams that
the good things comes true。 I'm almighty unanxious to wake up。 I hope
I never wake up。〃
〃Cheer up；〃 Smoke answered。 〃You won't。 There are a lot of
philosophy sharps that think men are sleep…walkers。 You're in good
company。〃
Shorty got up； went to the table； selected the heaviest sack； and
cuddled it in his arms as if it were a baby。
〃I may be sleep…walkin'；〃 he said； 〃but as you say； I'm sure in mighty
good company。〃
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THE MAN ON THE OTHER
BANK。
I。
It was before Smoke Bellew staked the farcical town…site of Tra…Lee；
made the historic corner of eggs that nearly broke Swiftwater Bill's bank
account； or won the dog…team race down the Yukon for an even million
dollars； that he and Shorty parted company on the Upper Klondike。
Shorty's task was to return down the Klondike to Dawson to record some
claims they had staked。
Smoke； with the dog…team； turned south。 His quest was Surprise
Lake and the mythical Two Cabins。 His traverse was to cut the
headwaters of the Indian River and cross the unknown region over the
mountains to the Stewart River。 Here； somewhere； rumour persisted； was
Surprise Lake； surrounded by jagged mountains and glaciers； its bottom
paved with raw gold。 Old…timers； it was said； whose very names were
forgotten in the forests of earlier years； had dived in the ice…waters of
Surprise Lake and fetched lump…gold to the surface in both hands。 At
different times； parties of old…timers had penetrated the forbidding fastness
and sampled the lake's golden bottom。 But the water was too cold。
Some died in the water； being pulled up dead。 Others died of
consumption。 And one who had gone down never did come up。 All
survivors had planned to return and drain the lake； yet none had ever gone
back。 Disaster always happened。 One man fell into an air…hole below
Forty Mile； another was killed and eaten by his dogs； a third was crushed
by a falling tree。 And so the tale ran。 Surprise Lake was a hoodoo； its
location was unremembered； and the gold still paved its undrained bottom。
Two Cabins； no less mythical； was more definitely located。 'Five
sleeps；' up the McQuestion River from the Stewart； stood two ancient
cabins。 So ancient were they that they must have been built before ever
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the first known gold…hunter had entered the Yukon Basin。 Wandering
moose…hunters； whom even Smoke had met and talked with； claimed to
have found the two cabins in the old days； but to have sought vainly for
the mine which those early adventurers must have worked。
〃I wish you was goin' with me；〃 Shorty said wistfully； at parting。 〃Just
because you got the Indian bug ain't no reason for to go pokin' into trouble。
They's no gettin' away from it； that's loco country you're bound for。 The
hoodoo's sure on it； from the first flip to the last call； judgin' from all you
an' me has hearn tell about it。〃
〃It's all right； Shorty。 I'll make the round trip and be back in Dawson
in six weeks。 The Yukon trail is packed； and the first hundred miles or so
of the Stewart ought to be packed。 Old…timers from Henderson have told
me a number of outfits went up last fall after the freeze…up。 When I
strike their trail I ought to hit her up forty or fifty miles a day。 I'm likely
to be back inside a month； once I get across。〃
〃Yes； once you get acrost。 But it's the gettin' acrost that worries me。
Well； so long； Smoke。 Keep your eyes open for that hoodoo； that's all。
An' don't be ashamed to turn back if you don't kill any meat。〃
II。
A week later； Smoke found himself among the jumbled ranges south of
Indian River。 On the divide from the Klondike he had abandoned the
sled and packed his wolf…dogs。 The six big huskies each carried fifty
pounds； and on his own back was an equal burden。 Through the soft
snow he