The Trail of a Sourdough / Life in Alaska

s unpronounceable to the white man's tongue and was replace

o hunt, fish and trap, as do all the Eskimo women while still in their teens. Numbers of young men among her people had sought h

her mukluks, tossed back her long hair, and, turning her back on the su

e of the young Eskimos entirely pleased her. Some one with better looks and more suppli

ions above those of the common Eskimo, and though she was ignoran

why should she trouble her parents? They would not understand her, but

aded her young brother to take her in his didarka on the water to some quiet island, where

er mother at sewing of furs for the clothing, going out at times with the other women

o white men. They were clothed in furs and rode behind dog-teams. They ca

difficulty in making known their errand. They wished to remain all night i

m his door. It matters not how low the state of his larder, or how f

e for them as possible. A little thread, calico, tea, tobacco, and a few glass beads were given i

igloo the heart of the Eskimo maiden was no longer her own; she had g

ned, not only a cabin and many skins, but dogs, sleds and boats, was truly a great honor and not to be lightly considered. She would soon be in

this respect to her own family; but totally different in disposition, a striking contrast to the gentle and yielding character of the Eskimo, but the girl in crass ign

an they be thinking? Call them quickly to advise and help you before it is too late, and your happiness is forever blasted!

celebrated. The igloo was made tidy, heaps of firewood were piled beside the door, and from the cache not far distant were brought quantities of frozen tomcod, seal meat,

ted with black and white fur squares for a border, was complete

iating clergyman; the Eskimo girl wished to have performed the ceremony of his people; b

r Estella might resent it. She's a bright little one, and that's no josh. Seriously, I don't want a bona fide marriage ceremony performed, you understand. When I make my stake and leave Alaska behi

hildren, Buster?

quaw of mine. But you're a terror for questions, pard. If you squeal on me I'll send you

for the rest of them fine furs which we must try

from Dan in a day or two as regards that creek and what he's found in it. Then I'm off to the nest of my turtle d

as "pard" by the trader. "I see your finish if your

eps' away, and there is no communication

every port aint you Buster?" continued the man who in the a

's got into you to-ni

ile tumbling into his bunk in the cabin corner, and

known in Alaska by the white inhabitants. The other was a trifle weaker though not less wicked. He could stand beside Buster and urge him on, while hesitating to do the same acts of l

said good-bye to her people, who wept around her; climbed into

on a fishing trip to visit her, and r

her selection. She felt that she could do so-

er's back bene

learned that it is best to

me around the woman's waist to prevent the baby from falling out. There his black eyes winked and blinked above the little, round mouth which had only lately learned to smile, and which was beginning to experiment daily among the difficult mazes of his native dial

ula. Hundreds of people were flocking into the country. Camps were fi

ountry, carrying supplies by boat up stream to the sections where

the sea, whose sentinel rock, perched upon a tall hillcrest near,

with pick and shovel in the bed of the golden stream; nor stopped for

th country, and the two were unprovided for and alone. With industrious fingers Estella made small trifles to se

in summer and her wants were not numerous. Like worn out footgear which had served its purpose, being perhaps well fit

hen for a time she was happy trying to forget the white man's neglect. It was better than his abuse and curses which she had meekly borne; but which still sorely rankled in her bosom. Her parents did not upbraid her. They appea

one. Nets and seines had been placed in streams as usual by the Eskimo, but many of these had been destroyed by white men, and where

usts from the westward. Morning would see all snow-hidden, including the huts

wail from her boy lying huddled in skins upon the ground, reminded her of other deficien

. There were places open to her. There were the saloons. They were at least filled with warmth and brightness, and she would there be safe from fre

he winter blasts, the little one clinging t

f she entered? She hoped not, for she must go in. It was death to remain outside. Timidly she placed

he lamps indicat

g tightly to her hand s

go out? Besides its deuced cold night, and coal costs money, you know, Stella," added the fellow less

exclaimed one of the men sitting at

objectin' to is the length of time she

he door's shut, aint it?"

es

g his tone to his partner opposite

e the fire. On her knees she held the boy whose h

ite wall there hung a great mirror, trying its best to duplicate the owner's stock in trade, as though he would be needing such help before the winter was over, when his whiskies were gone. For further brightening the room there hung suspended f

the miners they were accustomed to these and many other sights

considerably younger that the

t she's

always are. There's nothin' her

plenty

two bits

self in his seat the fi

ell

ed the woman i

you h

sed her head and looked

bled, and tears spra

d anything t

e said quietly, holding up one

inger, there! I say, can't you give this woma

aint no grub here; leastwise that's g

hand out something real sudden, too," said the young m

me, I'm here. Oyster cockta

ood; the first she was a stranger to, but if it was something to

crackers soon disappeared, a good share of the latter going underneath the wo

beds, others to cold and cheerless bunks, as the case happened; but the Eskimo woman, with her sleeping boy on her lap,

l intent on their "black jack", and he was unnoticed. His anxious face perceptibly brightene

between games a

ecome of Buster?" as

he was goin' the last time I saw him," r

white woman," exclaimed

e as you say and still not alter the case of his goin' to the old boy. Some

f the natives and see the way he treats 'em!" jerking his

care of him instead of lettin' him starve

from another of the

d what can sing and wont sing should be

s. It don't matter if a few does die off, There'll be enough

t such people as this, 'Stella now, orter be looked after,-'specially with that boy of her'n, for he's a likely kid, and might make somethin'. Wonder why

what ter do, aint i

egretting the turn the conversation had taken, he reached for his furs, and while pulling his parkie over his head preparatory to

e brought to light. The child was ravenous, and ate greedily. When he had finished the Eskimo by the fire came toward them, saying

d her position, and

t. He thought the natives had better get into the f

out through the snowdrifts; the

they reached the woman's door they entered, the man first pushing

re. A fire was soon crackling, and a meal was cooking. To the woman's questions the man had not replied. He might have been a deaf man, for all the notice he ha

I will be very good and you shall never starve. I will work. I will bring much driftwood. I have salmon and tomcod, and a dog-team of the best. In summer

shed, for he was a man of few words usually; but he s

th tears shining in her eyes, which wer

" was the reply, as she glanced proudly towa

all things as you say," murmured the woma

e one?" putting his arms about her

e," she smiled brightly through her tears at the

nly love me," said he, kissing her; and the child at play amo

a," said she almost gaily,