The Trail of a Sourdough / Life in Alaska

started for the Arctic. One of them had been in that vicinity before, was fami

ow to speak a good many words in Eskimo, esp

te men use the Eskimo language because it showed f

g that this party of five men were making a lo

amps and tundra could be everywhere crossed; and as the weather was not so severe as it would be later

r of necessary equipments-fur sleeping bags, tents, clothing of skins, and food s

hus lightening the loads on the sleds, as well as making a delicious food for the men in case of a

ustomed to a miner's life; but to these hardy men of Alaska, inured as they had been to the cold

perfected. Their object was to find virgin gold-placer gold-to discover it in such quantities that all might become rich; and incid

their pockets; the gentlemen in question were far away-too far to interfere with their m

me unforeseen calamity which should end their lives; at least, this was the way two of the miners

d over the counter. Goodbye g

ground floor, Dunbar," called out one of the loaf

replied the man addressed, laughin

l in good shape with all they need for six weeks, but when that's gone they'll have ter come to us to fill

oving the smutty cob pipe from between his teeth i

h that Selawik gang," sa

e Kuikutuk and his brood, besides a dozen other native

She did the last I hee

ful sweet on his pretty woman last year," and wide smiling Curly pulled his parkie hood over h

bit. They may come back with their feathers picked, for the job

ented upon; not in the most complimentary way, to be sure, as

near the creeks, a tin can placed upon a stake or a bit of rag flying from a twig; all these but poorly marked the paths which were seldom pressed by the foot of a human being. Weeks might elapse, or months even, when no soul passed that way. Perhaps the whir of a part

t had as yet been found in their vicinity, and the miners hurried on. Time

n their harness the patient brutes looked appealingly into their masters' faces. Then, as if by instinct they understood that here they would stop for some d

fallen, rose the chimneys of perhaps a half dozen log cabins and igloos, the latter appearing to be simply burr

n ... was a ful

orm only the most necessary labor, and that, too, with the least amount of

one, the pretty woman spoken of by wide-mouthed Curley in the Keewalik roadhouse some days before. She was a full blooded Eskimo, as was the sh

tint of her cheeks artistically. She was fond of weaving bright bits of color into the two long braids of black hair, and decorating in many different ways her fur

oung prospector and miner, Gibbs by name, began looking upon the wife

m to talk much, but he was often, though silent, an intensely in

ths until the spring came, the snow and ice left the Selawik, the young white man's supplies were low, a

matrimonial cable, and putting them together as best he coul

ht aggravate the situation; and the old Eskimo's heart was sore. Gibbs and his men had

but whom his wife loved. She and her former admirer were already renewing their

untry about them, its possibilities and probabilities. Did the natives know of gold in this region? Had they seen the shining meta

s were made by the men, but

man kep

ely imagined that here was the only source from

ad intend

unless they were given the explanation they sought, they might remain here a month longer; which stay would doubtless bring greater disgrace to the shaman's household than ever; the sooner t

who would point the way or guide them to a spot rich in the desired mineral

e were reindeer skins which had been secured the year before by Gibbs, but which he had forgotten to pay for; and lastly, ther

of the man, but he had no wish to kill. He only thought to send Gibbs away about his business in order that his own peace of mind mig

ll. Given an igloo, a boat, fishing and hunting tackle, and they were happy and satisfied; but t

eal more, passed throug

arrival of the miners, while all sat smoki

th he pulled himself slowly

you tell us where to find the yellow stu

mo slowl

far fro

f the hea

eagerly asked th

a southeaste

d Gibbs, meaning to ask ho

up the finger

ays' 'mush' from here

h us to the plac

luktuk," mumbled the

cow," impatiently cried Dunbar, "b

" again muttered the man, s

grub before we l

o explain to Kuiktuk that he must produce the gold-b

ve was o

m the medicine man, going back to his pipe in the

ve him the supplies first, else we don't

with the fell

the whol

his creek an

d come to the Kobuk

out the grub," finally from one of the most

that good creek said by the native to contain gold. It might prove another Anvil, who could tell? Possibly it was not so

d his way, and that was to pay the shrewd trader his price, delivering to him the supp

ied about the gold," said Gibbs, "

ns completed. The shaman would lead the men up the Selawik Rive; to its head waters, as the trails on the ice, though poo

uld not possibly traverse in returning. In doing the latter they would not wish to break a new trail ung

. If they came to Selawik during the summer, he, and his family and friends wou

ned before the start

men were clothed in reindeer skins, with sleeping bags of the same mater

e as nothing to them as com

was more abundant, and as they came into heavily wooded country with guns and ammunition they supplied themselves with ptarmigan and other win

ll farther into an unknown wilderness at this season with an insufficient food supply would be foolh

e was fina

turned to the city for supplies. In the meantime, the ones to reach the latter place first were to give out the news of the discovery of a magnificent new section, the center of which was a gold-bearing creek of amazing richness. Here was a chance to excite

another day, when, giving them full and explicit directions as to the route to the c

wo men push

win out. If it hadn't been for the old rascal's appetite we would have made Kuik

ithout them we would indeed be up against it, as you say," replied the older man, seriou

g. It was quite dark at three o'clock in the afternoon, and they were obliged to travel by snow-light. When camp was

d branches was kindled in front. The weary malamutes and their masters had eaten, and lay stretched upon the

pile of sticks just gathered, and the animals would act as

heer the wanderers, but instead, snow falling heavily and noiselessly over all. No winds stirred among the pines, causing them dead silence. The one solitary sound to be

were able to look about them sufficiently, t

size, but still invaluable to prospectors in this otherwise inhospitable region. Had it been in summer time one could have seen a narrow and sinuous cree

re everywhere. They sprang from the earth like mushrooms in a mois

y hoped to find gold in a granite section; it had never been known to accompany

s no gol

t fears the rage of these men knew no bounds. Gibbs, especially, raved like a madman,

, was in reality not what he appeared, but a being like other men, having the same sensibilities and passions. There was no doubt now that

d wanted to punish Gibbs he should not have selected the whole party of five to wreak his vengeance upon in this manner, not knowing when they left Selawik that three of their number would r

men sitting before their camp fire, and ended as usual in a

-naturedly, "and let's decide what can be done. I have a plan which

?" moodily

then collect money from as many persons as we can successfully hoodwink into believing our stories and then skip back to the Koyukuk. When the ice has left the rivers we can change our currency into gol

o get a closer view of his listener's fa

u say, will

e way out of the scrape,

laimed Dunbar. "Will

wil

ha

diabolical to the last degree, and without furth

ek where their own discoveries had confirmed his statement. Nothing so rich had they ever before seen. The creek gave promise of being one of the most famous placer gold diggings that had ever been found in Alaska; was in fact a veritable Golconda, and the returned prospectors dilated upon the in

exhibited with much gusto a medium-sized "poke" partly filled with coarse gold and nuggets which they had panned (they affirmed) from the gravel be

and Gibbs gave no hint regarding

interest and raise more funds for their schemes. For this reason the two le

did mining men go into their bank books, but clerks, stenographers, and small tradespeople passed out their hard-earned money. Women also felt reluctant to be

h it. Instead of these, the waters of the great river, fed by melted snow and tributaries, surged on mightily, now whirling in swift rapids

kness at this time of the year, but the camps were not stirring much through the night; and in the event of a near approach to a trading post in daylight they reste

l, such as is used for tents. Great care was given these sacks by the two men. At every halt along the river they were

s contai

old dust and nuggets, mined from adjacent creeks. With this they were making their way south to the Yukon River where they

was hailed; they boarded her and soon sm

thought of doing, Dunbar?" inquired Gibbs,

scheme to the end, you know. You won't back down now, wil

ung miner laughed, tossing a handful of gold nuggets

were you I would cut out all the small talk

reminder that there is such a thing. Then, too, if one chanced to be overh

ckedness. I believe you'll do. If you're not afraid it will injure that blessed hon

g," and Gibbs sauntered away with his hands in his poc

s and glasses. In their wake were others who had quickly responded to the youn

e of Nome. Little cared the two men how quickly the gold sacks were empty for they had the ability to replenish them when they liked. They were smoo

n with pick and shovel-nobody need be poor-"we will soon have money to burn, and might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb;" these were some of the

at river. There were scows, houseboats, and small steamers. Families there were on flat boats which appeared to hold the earthly possessions of many. Tents were pitched on scows, and camp stoves with their accompanying smoke stacks peeping thro

ollars, but all were full of eager expectancy; for were they not coming to one of the richest gold-bearing secti

place. All carried descriptions of the famous creek and its surroundings, and each day eyes wer

coast being largely represented. They were there by scores from farms, from shops, fr

ng for the cree

fou

eek left their outfits and poled even farther in small boats. Many miles they toiled between banks so close and

remendous upheaval of nature been tossed aloft like snowballs from the h

le his men laboriously poled. He was from London. He had outfitted a part

white man's camp in the shape of tin food cans, and broken cob pipes were found

It was the identical creek ca

them that they

Hills and mountains are here innumerable and majestic; while rivers and creeks unlimited in number and of untold wealth lie safely locked in Nature's storehouse by Nature's hand. The heavens are glorious!

ow horribly and with frenzied swiftness, bearing upon their breath the icy points of millions of keen needles which bite like the stings of insects. Flying, sifting, drifting snow, which before formed jewels of

of circumstances if at all; and these must have been the most desperate. Be that as it may, a small trail of smoke one day made its way aloft from a log cabin half buried in the snow; while a pack

pants. One of them lay stretched upon his bunk in the corner of t

stion of breaking camp an

mpart House and work along to the Mackenzie River we are all right

nd to secure passage on some whaler for Point

the man upon the bunk, impatie

oy our hard-earned gold," with a sarcastic emphasis upon t

g weaker. This isolation and enforced inaction takes the life out of me; my head grows dizzy from much thinking, and

rible that I dread th

and all will be well. See, I'm making a checker

," was the response. "If I only had something to rea

thout shelter, and it is a long and tedious job to build a log cabin. With the the

would be," g

adwaters of the Koyukuk and the Canadian boundary line, and as we are fairly comfortable here, with plenty of game and firewood, and as we are not sure of finding a shelter for our heads if we move now, I think it wise

ght, boy, but I detes

" Then seeing the horror on his partner's face, he said with a mockingly polite bow, "A thousand pardons, old fellow,

all," sighed the

g nuggets upon the checkerboard. "These look as good to me as ever, because I can see in them ease and luxury in some beautiful southern clime, where the

oud. He covered his

I hate it! I hate it!" he cried hoarsely and with ey

far and tried to pacify him, putting the g

r a hunt, followed by three of their dogs for company. The rema

Following in its wake great banks of luminous clouds

th great velocity and tremulousness. In the zenith these arches slowly widened, their rays multiplying until the whole sky was hidden, and then, deepening in intensity of color,

ir dogs were returning to their cabin after

ning, there were heard with startling clearness on the frosty air hiss

avens Dunbar became greatly excited, clutching the

hands-it covers everything. Hell's everywhere!" and the man shrieked, tearing his cl

unger man trie

!" he cried with curses, and he crouched at the

r heads became louder, and the older man

, he ran to and fro, a raving madman. Then in an insane frenzy he turned his back on his companion for one instant as

dead upon

n about them, being intent only upon following their trail of the

e. Above and around him shone the blood-red light from t

s fa

derness of snow whose purity was marred by only two dark blots-the bodies of two men lying dead upon their faces. The first died by the hand of the other. The second by freezi

eir evil deeds continue like the ripples on a la

true that tho

body, breat

send them

th good resu