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and all the rest。 Now； if when I was a youngster I had taken some of
those intensely masculine vacations you go in forI wonder why you
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didn't invite me sometimes？ You took Hal and Robbie all over the
Sierras and on that Mexico trip。〃
〃I guess you were too Lord Fauntleroyish。〃
〃Your fault； avuncular； and my dearermother's。 How was I to
know the hard？ I was only a chee…ild。 What was there left but etchings
and pictures and fans？ Was it my fault that I never had to sweat？〃
The older man looked at his nephew with unconcealed disgust。 He
had no patience with levity from the lips of softness。
〃Well； I'm going to take another one of those what…you…call masculine
vacations。 Suppose I asked you to come along？〃
〃Rather belated； I must say。 Where is it？〃
〃Hal and Robert are going in to Klondike； and I'm going to see them
across the Pass and down to the Lakes； then return…〃
He got no further； for the young man had sprung forward and gripped
his hand。
〃My preserver！〃
John Bellew was immediately suspicious。 He had not dreamed the
invitation would be accepted。
〃You don't mean it；〃 he said。
〃When do we start？〃
〃It will be a hard trip。 You'll be in the way。〃
〃No； I won't。 I'll work。 I've learned to work since I went on the
Billow。〃
〃Each man has to take a year's supplies in with him。 There'll be such
a jam the Indian packers won't be able to handle it。 Hal and Robert will
have to pack their outfits across themselves。 That's what I'm going along
forto help them pack。 It you come you'll have to do the same。〃
〃Watch me。〃
〃You can't pack；〃 was the objection。
〃When do we start？〃
〃To…morrow。〃
〃You needn't take it to yourself that your lecture on the hard has done
it；〃 Kit said； at parting。 〃I just had to get away； somewhere； anywhere；
from O'Hara。〃
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〃Who is O'Hara？ A Jap？〃
〃No； he's an Irishman； and a slave…driver； and my best friend。 He's
the editor and proprietor and all…around big squeeze of the Billow。 What
he says goes。 He can make ghosts walk。〃
That night Kit Bellew wrote a note to O'Hara。
〃It's only a several weeks' vacation；〃 he explained。 〃You'll have to
get some gink to dope out instalments for that serial。 Sorry； old man； but
my health demands it。 I'll kick in twice as hard when I get back。〃
II。
Kit Bellew landed through the madness of the Dyea beach； congested
with thousand…pound outfits of thousands of men。 This immense mass of
luggage and food； flung ashore in mountains by the steamers； was
beginning slowly to dribble up the Dyea valley and across Chilcoot。 It was
a portage of twenty…eight miles； and could be accomplished only on the
backs of men。 Despite the fact that the Indian packers had jumped the
freight from eight cents a pound to forty； they were swamped with the
work； and it was plain that winter would catch the major portion of the
outfits on the wrong side of the divide。
Tenderest of the tender…feet was Kit。 Like many hundreds of others
he carried a big revolver swung on a cartridge…belt。 Of this； his uncle；
filled with memories of old lawless days； was likewise guilty。 But Kit
Bellew was romantic。 He was fascinated by the froth and sparkle of the
gold rush； and viewed its life and movement with an artist's eye。 He did
not take it seriously。 As he said on the steamer； it was not his funeral。
He was merely on a vacation； and intended to peep over the top of the pass
for a 'look see' and then to return。
Leaving his party on the sand to wait for the putting ashore of the
freight； he strolled up the beach toward the old trading post。 He did not
swagger； though he noticed that many of the be…revolvered individuals did。
A strapping； six…foot Indian passed him； carrying an unusually large pack。
Kit swung in behind； admiring the splendid calves of the man； and the
grace and ease with which he moved along under his burden。 The Indian
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dropped his pack on the scales in front of the post； and Kit joined the
group of admiring gold…rushers who surrounded him。 The pack weighed
one hundred and twenty pounds； which fact was uttered back and forth in
tones of awe。 It was going some； Kit decided； and he wondered if he
could lift such a weight； much less walk off with it。
〃Going to Lake Linderman with it； old man？〃 he asked。
The Indian； swelling with pride； grunted an affirmative。
〃How much you make that one pack？〃
〃Fifty dollar。〃
Here Kit slid out of the conversation。 A young woman； standing in
the doorway； had caught his eye。 Unlike other women landing from the
steamers； she was neither short…skirted nor bloomer…clad。 She was
dressed as any woman travelling anywhere would be dressed。 What
struck him was the justness of her being there； a feeling that somehow she
belonged。 Moreover； she was young and pretty。 The bright beauty and
colour of her oval face held him； and he looked over…longlooked till she
resented； and her own eyes； long…lashed and dark； met his in cool survey。
From his face they travelled in evident amusement down to the big
revolver at his thigh。 Then her eyes came back to his； and in them was
amused contempt。 It struck him like a blow。 She turned to the man
beside her and indicated Kit。 The man glanced him over with the same
amused contempt。
〃Chechaquo；〃 the girl said。
The man； who looked like a tramp in his cheap overalls and
dilapidated woollen jacket； grinned dryly； and Kit felt withered though he
knew not why。 But anyway she was an unusually pretty girl； he decided；
as the two moved off。