The Trail of a Sourdough / Life in Alaska

Indians, and barely escaped being Russians; but wer

one broke

want to do something else

e doing, then put all away in a safe place. No Russian leaves h

ried the girl, apparently

this time he is likely dead;-there is no telling. It is three years sinc

p of the hill to look for him now," said the girl with

the girl she added, "I wish he would send money to buy her clothes; it would be as little as he could do, for she is not my child, but my sister's. I, too, wish he would come, for a cold winter we have had taking much coal and many furs, and my money is nearly gone

aking, crossed the foot bridge over the small stream which ran behind the house and began to ascend the high bluff which s

nned th

lay only upon the high hills and great mountain tops surrounding. Down gulches and canyons flowed swift, icy streams of what had until lately been great sno

zon for ships. Her father might even now be approaching the islands, and perhaps he could see her through his glass. With this thought in mind she pulled her handkerchief from her

s when I get home, for there is no such luck as to escape their sharp eyes while standing upon this hill-top. It will be a wonder if

survey of the bay. A slight breeze was blowing, and had tinted her smooth round cheeks with crimson. Her eyes sparkled, and her whole face betokened earnest and

short, dumpy stature, but was slender and graceful,

he strolled farther on. Down one hill and up another, picking a flower here and one there, humming as s

mystery, for mystery it surely is. Why should I be so strangely affected when visiting that spot? Why these sudden head pains, and dizziness as though I were about to fall to the ground? Can it be that some witch or evil spirit dwells there and is dis

ocks, the water came bubbling to the surface and trickled away to lower ground. She was thirsty from her long

ric thrill or trembling passed through her whole body

grew ve

f the witches she had he

etermined to have a cupful from that one. The witch, she thought, (if a witch's work it was) had not done worse with her than cause the sudden illness and disagreeable sensations, and she w

hs did the old and oddly unpleasant experience repeat itself. Exactly as before it happened now; but the girl, always a determined and reso

so quickly as before, perhaps, yet still i

cool. Again she cautiously sipped. Still no evil effects from the draug

afraid of you nor your twin brother, the wind wizard.

he breezes had played so mischievously during her rambles

visited this place, and it is always the same. I will tell no one, else the priest may say I am bewitched, and make me d

tably drawn to the magnet, which was

on. She began to lose all fear. Some inner monito

sations it gave her, firmly in position long enough to get a view of the bottom of the spring. It was not a deep pool, forming a mirror for all above it, but rather a bed of loose ro

trast to darker ones, and being washed clean by the water, and made brighte

hat was

ning yellow specks which sho

d in astonish

ejaculated. "How beautif

rfully, and it seemed to her that she stood upon an electric battery, which was anything

ejaculated. "How beautif

ed to be the same as the

That over she kissed the fragments of quartz in h

ay you by hiding you yet longer from sight of any who might come here. I will cover you carefully until I come again, or until my father comes from across the ocean. Then I will give you to him, and he s

hers she again kissed it tenderly, patted i

body find you. See? I will tuck you up, head and heels, with this

rich lady. I have heard old miners talk lovingly of you many times,

he spot where her secret was hidden

ago by the cattle belonging to the settlement, and the occasional tre

t now had little time to leave the trail and pluck them. For the sake of appearance, however,

aunt's sharp ey

he beauty around you. Where are the buttercups and beautiful blue iris from the field below the hill? Was the upper bridg

iolets. See the darling little blue eyes peeping at us! Tomorrow I will look for the iris. But let me ea

nd potato, "she was standing on the high hilltop and looking out to sea. I am certain I saw her wave something

ndeed your sight was clear enough to see me at all so far away. I

w you thought to pluck flowers on that barren hilltop where the snow is hardly

er, "you talk far too much. Eat you

own his tea, having finished his tea before

vely inquired if any shi

ate of great sleepiness in bed, while the two women washed

er P

h she was so lately identified she had no idea. She only knew that the mystical rocks lying embedded in that spring were full of life which thrilled h

uld arrive? Of his coming she had not the least doubt, as had her aunt; she felt positive if he were dead she would in some way know it. It was springtime and the season for vessels to put into the harbor for coal and

r, quartz; and the place where gold was found in any form was a mine, or would be one later when developed. She really wished to find out

But she would need to use considerable caution. None must see the gold-bearing rock which was already so fascinating to her. In some manner, she reasoned, she must find a way of gaining information about minerals other than by asking questions. Curiosity upon the subject would quickly give her friends the cue t

ved in the bottom of the mountain spring between the rocks, but when, on insisting upon a nearer view she found it to be only

underneath her dress; as this, according to tradition, would surely preserve the wearer from witchcraft. Not that she believed herself possessed of any

She declared the latter occupation gave her headache and loss of appetite, and only the fresh mountain air made her feel like herself a

e the islands, she could see old "Round Top" begin to breathe. At times this mountain's snowy head became quite hidden in the obscurity of misty vapor or smoke clouds, wh

there appeared no cessation of the phenomenon. With the hammer which she secretly fetched from home she hacked the out-cropping lode in different directions. Everywhere in the white rocks there were the golden specks scintillating in t

westward. To be sure other vessels were beginning to arrive, and to welcome them the whole settlement habitually turned out upon the wharf. There were empty

her aunt. It seemed that the monotony would

work upon their baskets the youngster o

ses on the bluff have sighted her, and signalled to those below! She may be coming from Vladivost

Eyllen, in a flutter, hastily rising and putting awa

be in vain. If he brings money again will

r will be glad to see him," said

rely understand me. Has not your

es, as the girl threw her shawl about her. "But come, we w

ed a welcome to the visiting craft. To be sure, the shore flag was accompanied by one made up of stars and stripes, an

nding among the group of natives, scan the faces of those on the vessel. None wer

to come to the ship's side, and they hurrie

omeone?" kindly inquire

edly. "But he cannot be on board your shi

s name?" aske

lovitz," resp

but even as he spoke two men passed through the door to the gangpla

as really her father, but so changed

hospital established upon the islands for sailors, and there he was well tended

, when smallpox overtook him, and during a long illness he had lost it. Recovering and working his way up again elsewhere, he had li

avings. Weakened by discouragement he again fell ill, and then he decided to sail for the Aleutians and see his daughter at all ha

nes of Michaelovitz, and that was a young Russian sailor with whom he had become acquainted some years before, and w

cing and noble. Along with these good and somewhat unusual qualities, he possessed more than average good loo

tory of his friend, only knowing that his wife was dead a

tely proceeded to take, as compensation for attentions to her sick father, such keen enjoyment in her presence as only those long isolated can know in the society of ladies. Not that he forgot h

attraction. She had other hopes and interests, and they were centered in

secret. To this end she now bent all her energies. A basket was traded to a neighbor for fowls in order that he migh

e growing before the doors, and brightest of all blossoms were those plucked by the hands of Eyllen. Sweet was the fragrance of iris and violets, and lupins grew straight stalk

k to her relative's cabin. Of course it was only to be expected that Shismakoff would accompany

, and the priest's school was not in session that day. Freedom from this restraint had had its effect upon the urchin, and his mother found it in her heart to frequently wish that it

I do say must count," said

ll not be foolish. I daresay you will still show yourself feather-headed enough," and

recent voyage to the islands. The y

went to the hilltop to wave to you, and I suppose she also call

ng man

commanded his mother, with as

w like the wild ro

ing?" persisted the mi

but they could bring me this present happiness," said the visitor, g

s, and the irrepressible youngster subsided; while Eyllen a

yllen seemed brighter even than the one before it, and a longing for many of the same in the future took possession of him. There was no real enjoyment out of her sight. His former existence looked to him a blank. He could not go back to it. He could not leave this green island, the clea

d attention, and he bethought himself to set to work at something by which to earn money. More fishermen were in demand at this

g it with his friend. To this she could not yet consent. She had suddenly grown wise with a wisdom not before exhibited. If the young man loved her as she f

growing upon her, prevented her day after day from confiding in her father. When he had recovered his strength sufficiently to walk am

ited her father to walk with her up

nother way. There are many beautiful blossoms and mosses, and we will take our tin

my feet to travel," replied the man indulgently, as he w

ee! Here is buttermilk the priest's housekeeper has sent y

taken with his friend and good supporter at his arm, but who was today away in his

e trail narrowed she led the way, restraining her haste as best she could (for she was im

n the hillside and chat in the sunshine was what he liked; and here was his daughter fleet-footed and s

uld she

s lost in the mountains? I have never before been so far from the settleme

s, it is impossible, as I have many times rambled over and through these hills. I know each rock as large as

hild. I thought it was blos

d to show you, Father. Sit upon this mound while I fetch a cup

unch while we rest and talk, for I have a little story to tell yo

the bottle of buttermilk which Eyllen declared she would not carry home again, as it might

ness, or a new gown you will politely ask for when your father's appetite is quieted, as is the way of

never guess, so I am going directly to tell you," smile

hild? Where did you get it? Is there more? Do you know what it is that s

e is much more of it where that co

u? How did it h

covered the quartz pieces in the water; her foolish fears of a water witch, including her dream, and her decision to wear as a talisman a bit of the gold besprinkled rock; of her hesitating in telling her father her secret for fear he would divulge it to his

k flask rolled away down the hillside where it landed against the stones below, breaking into hundreds of flying fragments. The lunch basket, too, toppled over, with the contents, luckily b

ome and see for yourself!" pointing to the roc

eside the luncheon, and he had forgotten that weariness or hunger were possible. Eagerly he examined the f

kept concealed her destination when walking so frequently here. All prospecting had been done by h

that was that Shismakoff should be kept in ignora

s stooping position among the ro

ecret," said he earnestly. Then seeing Eyllen's blushing and do

l and advice in this matter. I promise to withhold the knowledge of these ledges from him until I have your permission to tell it; so rest easy, and fret not. He is a good fellow, and I

took her hand in his own, drew her closer to him and kissed her. "You are a good child, Eyllen, and very like your mother

one: "That he is a poor man is not important now that you will have riches yourself. Should

. Tilting her head backwards she

her by handfuls. There is no such thing for us as reaching home empty handed. It

re, child, w

g stick, Father," ho

t need it! I

ment, and you must not excite suspicion of our good fortune, and why we came here today. Leave the sti

rgot. I will not expose your

me. Flowers nodded gaily on all sides, and

sure of each foot-fall, and a brood of eaglets t

stened to Eyllen and carried his walking stick. Without its support h

he capture of one of them, occupied a good share of the evening. Eyllen's father asked many questions relative to the subject. To these were supplemented the queries of the youngster, whose large dark eyes fairly stood out upon his cheeks with wonder at

rence to the tramp of Eyllen and her father in

the affair of no one that a pick and shovel did honest duty in his hands during the day, and lay secreted beneath the rocks near the little spring when he returned to his cabin at night-f

ere located and staked by the girl and her father, whose active labor in the open air, along with a brightened future and more encouraging life prospects, soon caused the man to grow strong and well again. Shismakoff and Eyllen became more fond of each other day by day, until at last it was beyond his pa

no harm to give the whales and fishes one day more of freedom, she said, and his boat needed caulking. She insisted that the boat must

listen to a story which Eyllen had to relate to them, but (with a woman's usual perverseness) when they were c

ather wished the story to be told, then he must te

range electric instinct for minerals gave her real suffering; and of her taking him into her secret; not omitting to tell of the water witch, the talisman, and the dream, a

r of a surgeon performing a serious duty, adding that she had had her wishes in the matter gratified, and she

wet, but her lips were smiling; and Michaelovitz betook himself to the path

was the fir

witchcraft, as I can honestly testify. See! Here in me is the proof of my story. Have you not bewitched m

I may wear it until your love shall be a

xt to his heart. So the lovers had forgotten the ledges and the man among them, and thought only of their love and