AndhereIam，blazingoutintoprintwiththewholestoryjustashetoldittomeaswesatonabenchbythelagoonbeforethePalaceofFineArtswiththecriesoftheseagullsinourears。
Well，heshouldhavekepthisappointmentwithme。ButI
anticipate。
Aswestartedtoleavethebuildingandhuntforaseat，asmallwoman，possiblythirtyyearsofage，withawashed-outcomplexionofthefarmer’swifesort，darteduptohiminabird-likeway，foralltheworldlikethedartingveeringgullsoverourheadsandfastenedherselftohisarmwiththeaccuracyanddispatchandinevitablenessofapieceofmachinery。
\"Thereyougo！\"sheshrilled。\"A-trottin’rightoffandnevergivin’meathought。\"
Iwasformallyintroducedtoher。Itwaspatentthatshehadneverheardofme，andshesurveyedmebleaklywithshrewdblackeyes，setclosetogetherandasbeadyandrestlessasabird’s。
\"Youain’tgoin’totellhimaboutthathussy？\"shecomplained。
\"Well，now，Sarah，thisisbusiness，yousee，\"hearguedplaintively。\"I’vebeenlookin’foralikelymanthislongwhile，andnowthathe’sshownupitseemstomeIgotarighttogivehimthehangofwhathappened。\"
Thesmallwomanmadenoreply，butsetherthinlipsinaneedle-
likeline。ShegazedstraightbeforeherattheTowerofJewelswithsoaustereanexpressionthatnoglintofrefractedsunlightcouldsoftenit。Weproceededslowlytothelagoon，managedtoobtainanunoccupiedseat，andsatdownwithmutualsighsofreliefaswereleasedourweightsfromourtorturedsightseeingfeet。
\"Onedoesgetsomortalweary，\"assertedthesmallwoman，almostdefiantly。
Twoswanswaddledupfromthemirroringwaterandinvestigatedus。
Whentheirsuspicionsofourniggardlinessorlackofpeanutshadbeenconfirmed，Joneshalf-turnedhisbackonhislife-partnerandgavemehisstory。
\"EverbeeninEcuador？Thentakemyadvice-anddon’t。ThoughI
takethatback，foryouandmemightbehittingitfortheretogetherifyoucanrustleupthefaithinmeandthebackboneinyourselfforthetrip。Well，anyway，itain’tsomanyyearsagothatIcameamblinginthereonarusty，foul-bottomed，trampcollierfromAustralia，forty-threedaysfromlandtoland。Sevenknotswasherspeedwheneverythingfavoured，andwe’dhadatwoweeks’galetothenorth’ardofNewZealand，andbrokeourenginesdownfortwodaysoffPitcairnIsland。
\"Iwasnosailoronher。I’malocomotiveengineer。ButI’dmadefriendswiththeskipperatNewcastlean’comealongashisguestforasfarasGuayaquil。Yousee，I’dheardwageswas’wayupontheAmericanrailroadrunnin’fromthatplaceovertheAndestoQuito。NowGuayaquil-\"
\"Isafever-hole，\"Iinterpolated。
JulianJonesnodded。
\"ThomasNastdiedthereofitwithinamonthafterhelanded-HewasourgreatAmericancartoonist，\"Iadded。
\"Don’tknowhim，\"JulianJonessaidshortly。\"ButIdoknowhewasn’tthefirsttopassoutbyalongshot。Why，lookyouthewayIfoundit。Thepilotgroundsissixtymilesdowntheriver。
’How’sthefever？’saidItothepilotwhocameaboardintheearlymorning。’SeethatHamburgbarque，’saidhe，pointingtoasizableshipatanchor。’Captainandfourteenmendeadofitalready，andthecookandtwomendyingrightnow，andthey’rethelastleftofher。’
\"Andbyjinkshetoldthetruth。AndrightthentheyweredyingfortyadayinGuayaquilofYellowJack。Butthatwasnothing，asIwastofindout。Bubonicplagueandsmall-poxwereraging，whiledysenteryandpneumoniawerereducingthepopulation，andtherailroadwasragingworstofall。Imeanthat。Forthemthatinsistedinridingonit，itwasmoredangerousthanalltheotherdiseasesputtogether。
\"WhenwedroppedanchoroffGuayaquilhalfadozenskippersfromothersteamerscameonboardtowarnourskippernottoletanyofhiscreworofficersgoashoreexcepttheoneshewantedtolose。
AlaunchcameoffformefromDuran，whichisontheothersideoftheriverandistheterminaloftherailroad。Anditbroughtoffamanthatsoaredupthegangwaythreejumpsatatimehewasthateagertogetaboard。Whenhehitthedeckhehadn’ttimetospeaktoanyofus。HejustleanedoutovertherailandshookhisfistatDuranandshouted：’Ibeatyoutoit！Ibeatyoutoit！’
\"’Who’dyoubeattoit，friend？’Iasked。’Therailroad，’hesaid，asheunbuckledthestrapsandtookoffabig’44Colt’sautomaticfromwhereheworeithandyonhisleftsideunderhiscoat，’I
stavedaslongasIagreed-threemonths-anditdidn’tgetme。
Iwasaconductor。’
\"AndthatwastherailroadIwastoworkfor。Allofwhichwasnothingtowhathetoldmeinthenextfewminutes。TheroadranfromsealevelatDuranuptotwelvethousandfeetonChimborazoanddowntotenthousandatQuitoontheothersidetherange。Anditwassodangerousthatthetrainsdidn’trunnights。Thethroughpassengershadtogetoffandsleepinthetownsatnightwhilethetrainwaitedfordaylight。AndeachtraincarriedaguardofEcuadorianosoldierswhichwasthemostdangerousofall。Theyweresupposedtoprotectthetraincrews，butwhenevertroublestartedtheyunlimberedtheirriflesandjoinedthemob。Yousee，wheneveratrainwreckoccurred，thefirstcryofthespiggotieswas’KilltheGringos！’Theyalwaysdidthat，andproceededtokillthetraincrewandwhateverchanceGringopassengersthat’descapedbeingkilledintheaccident。Whichistheirkindofarithmetic，whichItoldyouawhilebackasbeingdifferentfromours。
\"Shucks！BeforethedaywasoutIwastofindoutformyselfthatthatex-conductorwasn’tlying。ItwasoveratDuran。IwastotakemyrunonthefirstdivisionouttoQuito，forwhichplaceI
wastostartnextmorning-onlyonethroughtrainrunningeverytwenty-fourhours。Itwastheafternoonofmyfirstday，alongaboutfouro’clock，whentheboilersoftheGOVERNORHANCOCK
explodedandshesankinsixtyfeetofwateralongsidethedock。
ShewasthebigferryboatthatcarriedtherailroadpassengersacrosstherivertoGuayaquil。Itwasabadaccident，butitwasthecauseofworsethatfollowed。Byhalf-pastfour，bigtrainloadsbegantoarrive。Itwasafeastdayandthey’drunanexcursionupcountrybutofGuayaquil，andthiswasthecrowdcomingback。
\"Andthecrowd-therewasfivethousandofthem-wantedtogetferriedacross，andtheferrywasatthebottomoftheriver，whichwasn’tourfault。ButbytheSpiggotyarithmetic，itwas。’KilltheGringos！’shoutsoneofthem。Andrighttherethebeanswerespilled。Mostofusgotawaybytheskinofourteeth。IracedontheheelsoftheMasterMechanic，carryingoneofhisbabiesforhim，forthelocomotivesthatwasjustpullingout。Yousee，waydownthereawayfromeverywheretheyjustgottosavetheirlocomotivesintimesoftrouble，because，withoutthem，arailroadcan’tberun。HalfadozenAmericanwivesandasmanychildrenwerecrouchingonthecabfloorsalongwiththerestofuswhenwepulledout;andtheEcuadorianosoldiers，whoshouldhavebeenprotectingourlivesandproperty，turnedloosewiththeirriflesandmusthavegivenusallofathousandroundsbeforewegotoutofrange。
\"Wecampedupcountryanddidn’tcomebacktocleanupuntilnextday。Itwassomecleaning。Everyflat-car，box-car，coach，asthmaticswitchengine，andevenhand-carthatmobofSpiggotieshadshovedoffthedockintosixtyfeetofwaterontopoftheGOVERNORHANCOCK。They’dburnttheroundhouse，setfiretothecoalbunkers，andmadeascandaloftherepairshops。Oh，yes，andtherewerethreeofourfellowsthey’dgotthatwehadtoburymightyquick。It’shotweatherallthetimedownthere。\"
JulianJonescametoafullpauseandoverhisshoulderstudiedthestraight-before-hergazeandforbiddingexpressionofhiswife’sface。
\"Iain’tforgottenthenugget，\"heassuredme。
\"Northehussy，\"thelittlewomansnapped，apparentlyatthemud-
henspaddlingonthesurfaceofthelagoon。
\"I’vebeentravellingtowardthenuggetrightalong-\"
\"Therewasnevernoreasonforyoutostayinthatdangerouscountry，\"hiswifesnappedinonhim。
\"Now，Sarah，\"heappealed。\"Iwasworkingforyourightalong。\"
Andtomeheexplained：\"Theriskwasbig，butsowasthepay。
SomemonthsIearnedashighasfivehundredgold。AndherewasSarahwaitingformebackinNebraska-\"
\"An’usengagedtwoyears，\"shecomplainedtotheTowerofJewels。
\"-Whatofthestrike，andmebeingblacklisted，andgettingtyphoiddowninAustralia，andeverything，\"hewenton。\"Andluckwaswithmeonthatrailroad。Why，IsawfellowsfreshfromtheStatespassout，someofthemnotaweekontheirfirstrun。Ifthediseasesandtherailroaddidn’tgetthem，thenitwastheSpiggotiesgotthem。Butitjustwasn’tmyfate，eventhattimeI
rodemyenginedowntothebottomofaforty-footwashout。Ilostmyfireman;andtheconductorandtheSuperintendentofRollingStock（whohappenedtoberunningdowntoDurantomeethisbride）
hadtheirheadsknifedoffbytheSpiggotiesandparadedaroundonpoles。ButIlaysnugasabugunderacoupleoffeetoftendercoal，andtheythoughtI’dheadedfortalltimber-laythereadayandanighttilltheexcitementcooleddown。Yes，Iwaslucky。
TheworstthathappenedtomewasIcaughtacoldonce，andanothertimehadacarbuncle。Buttheotherfellows！Theydiedlikeflies，whatofYellowJack，pneumonia，theSpiggoties，andtherailroad。ThetroublewasIdidn’thavemuchchancetopalwiththem。Nosooner’dIgetsomeintimatewithoneofthemhe’dupanddie-allbutafiremannamedAndrews，andhewentlocoforkeeps。
\"Imadegoodonmyjobfromthefirst，andlivedinQuitoina’dobehousewithwhackingbigSpanishtilesontheroofthatI’drented。AndIneverhadmuchtroublewiththeSpiggoties，whatoflettingthemsneakfreeridesinthetenderoronthecowcatcher。
Methrowthemoff？Never！Itooknotice，whenJackHarrisputoffabunchofthem，thatIattendedhisfuneralMUYPRONTO-\"
\"SpeakEnglish，\"thelittlewomanbesidehimsnapped。
\"Sarahjustcan’tbeartotoleratemespeakingSpanish，\"heapologized。\"ItgetssoonhernervesthatIpromisednotto。
Well，asIwassaying，thegoosehunghighandeverythingwasgoinghunky-dory，andIwaspilingupmywagestocomenorthtoNebraskaandmarrySarah，whenIrunontoVahna-\"
\"Thehussy！\"Sarahhissed。
\"Now，Sarah，\"hertoweringgiantofahusbandbegged，\"IjustgottomentionherorIcan’ttellaboutthenugget-ItwasonenightwhenIwastakingalocomotive-notrain-downtoAmato，aboutthirtymilesfromQuito。SethMannerswasmyfireman。Iwasbreakinghimintoengineerforhimself，andIwaslettinghimrunthelocomotivewhileIsatupinhisseatmeditatingaboutSarahhere。I’djustgotaletterfromher，beggingasusualformetocomehomeandhintingasusualaboutthedangersofanunmarriedmanlikemerunningaroundlooseinacountryfullofsenoritasandfandangos。Lord！Ifshecouldonlya-seenthem。Positivefrights，that’swhattheyare，theirfacespaintedwhiteascorpsesandtheirlipsredas-assomeofthetrainwrecksI’vehelpedcleanup。
\"ItwasalovelyAprilnight，notabreathofwind，andatremendousbigmoonshiningrightoverthetopofChimborazo-
Somemountainthat。Therailroadskirtedittwelvethousandfeetabovesealevel，andthetopofittenthousandfeethigherthanthat。
\"MebbeIwasdrowsing，withSethrunningtheengine;butheslammedonthebrakessosuddenhardthatIdarnnearwentthroughthecabwindow。
\"’Whatthe-’Istartedtoyell，and’Holyhell，’Sethsays，asbothofuslookedatwhatwasonthetrack。AndIagreedwithSethentirelyinhisremark。ItwasanIndiangirl-andtakeitfromme，Indiansain’tSpiggotiesbyanymannerofmeans。Sethhadmanagedtofetchastopwithintwentyfeetofher，andusbowlingdownhillatthat！Butthegirl。She-\"
IsawtheformofMrs。JulianJonesstiffen，althoughshekepthergazefixedbalefullyupontwomud-hensthatwereprowlingalongthelagoonshallowsbelowus。\"Thehussy！\"shehissed，onceandimplacably。Joneshadstoppedatthesound，butwentonimmediately。
\"Shewasatallgirl，slimandslender，youknowthekind，withblackhair，remarkablylonghanging，downloosebehindher，asshestoodtherenomoreafraidthannothing，herarmsspreadouttostoptheengine。Shewaswearingaslimpsysortofgarmentwrappedaroundherthatwasn’tclothbutocelotskins，softanddappled，andsilky。Itwasallshehadon-\"
\"Thehussy！\"breathedMrs。Jones。
ButMr。Joneswenton，makingbelievethathewasunawareoftheinterruption。
\"’Hellofawaytostopalocomotive，’IcomplainedatSeth，asI
climbeddownontotherightofway。Iwalkedpastourengineanduptothegirl，andwhatdoyouthink？Hereyeswereshuttight。
Shewastremblingthatviolentthatyouwouldseeitbythemoonlight。Andshewasbarefoot，too。
\"’What’stherow？’Isaid，nonetoogentle。Shegaveastart，seemedtocomeoutofhertrance，andopenedhereyes。Say！Theywerebigandblackandbeautiful。Believeme，shewassomelooker-\"
\"Thehussy！\"Atwhichhissthetwomud-hensveeredawayafewfeet。ButJoneswasgettinghimselfinhand，anddidn’tevenblink。
\"’Whatareyoustoppingthislocomotivefor？’IdemandedinSpanish。Naryananswer。Shestaredatme，thenatthesnortingengineandthenburstintotears，whichyou’lladmitisuncommonbehaviourforanIndianwoman。
\"’Ifyoutrytogetridesthatway，’IslungatherinSpiggotySpanish（whichtheytellmeissomedifferentfromregularSpanish），’you’llbetakingonesmearedalloverourcowcatcherandheadlight，andit’llbeuptomyfiremantoscrapeyouoff。’
\"MySpiggotySpanishwasn’tmuchtobragon，butIcouldseesheunderstood，thoughsheonlyshookherheadandwouldn’tspeak。ButgreatMoses，shewassomelooker-\"
IglancedapprehensivelyatMrs。Jones，whomusthavecaughtmeoutofthetailofhereye，forshemuttered：\"Ifshehadn’tbeendoyouthinkhe’da-takenherintohishousetolive？\"
\"Nowholdon，Sarah，\"heprotested。\"Thatain’tfair。Besides，I’mtellingthis-Nextthing，Sethyellsatme，’Goin’tostayhereallnight？’
\"’Comeon，’Isaidtothegirl，’andclimbonboard。Butnexttimeyouwantaridedon’tflagalocomotivebetweenstations。’Shefollowedalong;butwhenIgottothestepandturnedtogiveheralift-up，shewasn’tthere。Iwentforwardagain。Notasignofher。Aboveandbelowwassheercliff，andthetrackstretchedaheadahundredyardsclearandempty。AndthenIspottedher，croucheddownrightagainstthecowcatcher，thatcloseI’dalmoststeppedonher。Ifwe’dstartedup，we’dhaverunoverherinasecond。Itwasallsononsensical，Inevercouldmakeoutheractions。Maybeshewastryingtosuicide。Igrabbedherbythewristandjerkedhernonetoogentletoherfeet。Andshecamealongallright。Womendoknowwhenamanmeansbusiness。\"
IglancedfromthisGoliathtohislittle，bird-eyedspouse，andwonderedifhehadevertriedtomeanbusinesswithher。
\"Sethkickedatfirst，butIboostedherintothecabandmadehersitupbesideme-\"
\"AndIsupposeSethwasbusyrunningtheengine，\"Mrs。Jonesobserved。
\"Iwasbreakinghimin，wasn’tI？\"Mr。Jonesprotested。\"SowemadetherunintoAmato。She’dneveropenedhermouthonce，andnosooner’dtheenginestoppedthanshe’djumpedtothegroundandwasgone。Justlikethat。Notathankyoukindly。Nothing。
\"ButnextmorningwhenwecametopulloutforQuitowithadozenflatcarsloadedwithrails，thereshewasinthecabwaitingforus;andinthedaylightIcouldseehowmuchbetteralookershewasthanthenightbefore。
\"’Huh！she’sadoptedyou，’Sethgrins。Anditlookedlikeit。Shejuststoodthereandlookedatme-atus-likealovinghounddogthatyoulove，thatyou’vecaughtwithastringofsausagesinsideofhim，andthatjustknowsyouain’tgoingtoliftahandtohim。
’Gochaseyourself！’ItoldherPRONTO。\"（Mrs。JonesherproximitynoticeablewithawinceattheSpanishword。）\"Yousee，Sarah，I’dnouseforher，evenatthestart。\"
Mrs。Jonesstiffened。Herlipsmovedsoundlessly，butIknewtowhatsyllables。
\"AndwhatmadeithardestwasSethjeeringatme。’Youcan’tshakeherthatway，’hesaid。’Yousavedherlife-’’Ididn’t，’I
saidsharply;’itwasyou。’’Butshethinksyoudid，whichisthesamething，’hecamebackatme。’Andnowshebelongstoyou。
Customofthecountry，asyououghttoknow。’\"
\"Heathenish，\"saidMrs。Jones，andthoughhersteadygazewassetupontheTowerofJewelsIknewshewasmakingnoreferencetoitsarchitecture。
\"’She’scometodolighthousekeepingforyou，’Sethgrinned。I
lethimrave，thoughafterwardsIkepthimthrowinginthecoaltoofasttoworkhismouthverymuch。Why，say，whenIgottothespotwhereIpickedherup，andstoppedthetrainforhertogetoff，shejustfloppeddownonherknees，gotahammerlockwithherarmsaroundmyknees，andcriedallovermyshoes。WhatwasItodo？\"
WithnoperceptiblemovementthatIwasawareof，Mrs。JonesadvertisedhercertitudeofknowledgeofwhatSHEwouldhavedone。
\"AndthemomentwepulledintoQuito，shedidwhatshe’ddonebefore-vanished。SarahneverbelievesmewhenIsayhowrelievedIfelttobequitofher。Butitwasnottobe。Igottomy’dobehouseandmanagedacrackingfinedinnermycookhadreadyforme。
ShewasmostlySpiggotyandhalfIndian，andhernamewasPaloma-
Now，Sarah，haven’tItoldyoushewasolder’nagrandmother，andlookedmorelikeabuzzardthanadove？Why，Icouldn’tbeartoeatwithheraroundwhereIcouldlookather。Butshedidmakethingscomfortable，andshewassomeeconomicalwhenitcametomarketing。
\"Thatafternoon，afterabiglongsiesta，what’dIfindinthekitchen，justasmuchathomeasifshebelongedthere，butthatblamedIndiangirl。AndoldPalomawassquattingatthegirl’sfeetandrubbingthegirl’skneesandlegslikeforrheumatism，whichIknewthegirldidn’thavefromthewayI’dsizedupthewalkofher，andkeepingtimetotherubbingwithafunnysortofgibberishchant。AndIletlooserightthereandthen。AsSarahknows，Inevercoulda-bearwomenaroundthehouse-young，unmarriedwomen，Imean。Butitwasnogo！OldPalomasidedwiththegirl，andsaidifthegirlwentshewent，too。Also，shecalledmemorekindsofafoolthantheEnglishlanguagehasaccommodationfor。You’dliketheSpanishlingo，Sarah，forexpressingyourselfinsuchways，andyou’dhavelikedoldPaloma，too。Shewasagoodwoman，thoughshedidn’thaveanyteethandherfacecouldkillastrongman’sappetiteinthecradle。
\"Igavein。Ihadto。ExceptfortheexcusethatsheneededVahna’shelparoundthehouse（whichshedidn’tatall），oldPalomaneversaidwhyshestuckupforthegirl。Anyway，Vahnawasaquietthing，neverintheway。Andshenevergadded。Justsatin-
doorsjabberingwithPalomaandhelpingwiththechores。ButI
wasn’tlongingettingontothatshewasafraidofsomething。Shewouldlookup，thatanxiousithurt，wheneveranybodycalled，likesomeoftheboystohaveagasoragameofpedro。ItriedtowormitoutofPalomawhatwasworryingthegirl，butalltheoldwomandidwastolooksolemnandshakeherheadlikeallthedevilsinhellwasliabletoprecipitateavisitonus。
\"AndthenonedayVahnahadavisitor。I’djustcomeinfromarunandwaspassingthetimeofdaywithher-Ihadtobepolite，evenifshehadbuttedinonmeandcometoliveinmyhouseforkeeps-
whenIsawaqueerexpressioncomeintohereyes。InthedoorwaystoodanIndianboy。Helookedlikeher，butwasyoungerandslimmer。Shetookhimintothekitchenandtheymusthavehadagreatpalaver，forhedidn’tleaveuntilafterdark。Insidetheweekhecameback，butImissedhim。WhenIgothome，Palomaputafatnuggetofgoldintomyhand，whichVahnahadsenthimfor。Theblamedthingweighedalloftwopoundsandwasworthmorethanfivehundreddollars。SheexplainedthatVahnawantedmetotakeittopayforherkeep。AndIhadtotakeittokeeppeaceinthehouse。
\"Then，afteralongtime，cameanothervisitor。Weweresittingbeforethefire-\"
\"Himandthehussy，\"quothMrs。Jones。
\"AndPaloma，\"headdedquickly。
\"Himandhiscookandhislighthousekeepersittingbythefire，\"
sheamended。
\"Oh，IadmitVahnadidlikemeawholeheap，\"heassertedrecklessly，thenmodifiedwithapangofcaution：\"Aheapmorethanwasgoodforher，seeingthatIhadnoinclinationherway。
\"Well，asIwassaying，shehadanothervisitor。Hewasalean，tall，white-headedoldIndian，withabeakonhimlikeaneagle。
Hewalkedrightinwithoutknocking。Vahnagavealittlecrythatwashalflikeayelpandhalflikeagasp，andflumpeddownonherkneesbeforeme，pleadingtomewithdeer’seyesandtohimwiththeeyesofadeerabouttobekilledthatdon’twanttobekilled。
Then，foraminutethatseemedaslongasalife-time，sheandtheoldfellowglaredateachother。Palomawasthefirsttotalk，inhisownlingo，forhetalkedbacktoher。ButgreatMoses，ifhewasn’tthehighandmightyone！Paloma’soldkneeswereshaking，andshecringedtohimlikeahounddog。Andallthisinmyownhouse！I’dhavethrownhimoutonhisneck，onlyhewassoold。
\"IfthethingshesaidtoVahnawereasterribleasthewayhelooked！Say！Hejustspitwordsather！ButPalomakeptwhimperingandbuttingin，tillsomethingshesaidgotacross，becausehisfacerelaxed。HecondescendedtogivemetheonceoverandfiredsomequestionatVahna。Shehungherhead，andlookedfoolish，andblushed，andthenrepliedwithasinglewordandashakeofthehead。Andwiththathejustnaturallyturnedonhisheelandbeatit。Iguessshe’dsaid’No。’
\"ForsometimeafterthatVahnausedtoflusterupwhenevershesawme。Thenshetooktothekitchenforaspell。Butafteralongtimeshebeganhangingaroundthebigroomagain。Shewasstillmightyshy，butshe’dkeeponfollowingmeaboutwiththosebigeyesofhers-\"
\"Thehussy！\"Iheardplainly。ButJulianJonesandIwereprettywellusedtoitbythistime。
\"Idon’tmindsayingthatIwasgettingsomeinterestedmyself-
oh，notinthewaySarahneverletsuplettingmeknowshethinks。
Thattwo-poundnuggetwaswhathadmegoing。IfVahna’dputmewisetowhereitcamefrom，Icouldsaygood-byetorailroadingandhitthehighplacesforNebraskaandSarah。
\"Andthenthebeanswerespilled……byaccident。ComealetterfromWisconsin。MyAuntEliza’ddiedandupandleftmeherbigfarm。IletoutawhoopwhenIreadit;butIcouldhavecannedmyjoy，forIwasjobbedoutofitbythecourtsandlawyersafterward-notacenttome，andI’mstillpaying’mininstalments。
\"ButIdidn’tknow，then;andIpreparedtopullbacktoGod’scountry。Palomagotsore，andVahnagottheweeps。’Don’tgo！
Don’tgo！’Thatwashersong。ButIgavenoticeonmyjob，andwrotealettertoSarahhere-didn’tI，Sarah？
\"Thatnight，sittingbythefirelikeatafuneral，Vahnareallyloosenedupforthefirsttime。
\"’Don’tgo，’shesaystome，witholdPalomanoddingagreementwithher。’I’llshowyouwheremybrothergotthenugget，ifyoudon’tgo。’’Toolate，’saidI。AndItoldherwhy。
\"AndtoldheraboutmewaitingforyoubackinNebraska，\"Mrs。
Jonesobservedincold，passionlesstones。
\"Now，Sarah，whyshouldIhurtapoorIndiangirl’sfeelings？OfcourseIdidn’t。
\"Well，sheandPalomatalkedIndiansomemore，andthenVahnasays：
’Ifyoustay，I’llshowyouthebiggestnuggetthatisthefatherofallothernuggets。’’Howbig？’Iasked。’Asbigasme？’Shelaughed。’Biggerthanyou，’shesays，’much，muchbigger。’’Theydon’tgrowthatway，’Isaid。Butshesaidshe’dseenitandPalomabackedherup。Why，tolistentothemyou’dhavethoughttherewasmillionsinthatonenugget。Paloma’dneverseenitherself，butshe’dheardaboutit。Asecretofthetribewhichshecouldn’tshare，beingonlyhalfIndianherself。\"
JulianJonespausedandheavedasigh。
\"AndtheykeptoninsistinguntilIfellfor-\"
\"Thehussy，\"saidMrs。Jones，pertasabird，atthereadyinstant。
\"’No;forthenugget。WhatofAuntEliza’sfarmIwasrichenoughtoquitrailroading，butnotrichenoughtoturnmybackonbigmoney-andIjustcouldn’thelpbelievingthemtwowomen。Gee！I
couldbeanotherVanderbilt，orJ。P。Morgan。That’sthewayI
thought;andIstartedintopumpVahna。Butshewouldn’tgivedown。’Youcomealongwithme，’shesays。’Wecanbebackhereinacoupleofweekswithallthegoldthebothofuscancarry。’
’We’lltakeaburro，orapack-trainofburros，’wasmysuggestion。
Butnothingdoing。AndPalomaagreedwithher。Itwastoodangerous。TheIndianswouldcatchus。
\"Thetwoofuspulledoutwhenthenightsweremoonlight。Wetravelledonlyatnight，andlaidupinthedays。Vahnawouldn’tletmelightafire，andImissedmycoffeesomethingfierce。WegotupintherealhighmountainsofthemainAndes，wherethesnowononepassgaveussometrouble;butthegirlknewthetrails，and，thoughwedidn’twasteanytime，wewereafullweekgettingthere。Iknowthegeneraltrendofourtravel，becauseIcarriedapocketcompass;andthegeneraltrendisallIneedtogetthereagain，becauseofthatpeak。There’snomistakingit。Thereain’tanotherpeaklikeitintheworld。Now，I’mnottellingyouitsparticularshape，butwhenyouandIheadoutforitfromQuitoI’lltakeyoustraighttoit。
\"It’snoeasythingtoclimb，andthepersondoesn’tlivethatcanclimbitatnight。Wehadtotakethedaylighttoit，anddidn’treachthetoptillaftersunset。Why，Icouldtakehoursandhourstellingyouaboutthatlastclimb，whichIwon’t。Thetopwasflatasabilliardtable，aboutaquarterofanacreinsize，andwasalmostcleanofsnow。Vahnatoldmethatthegreatwindsthatusuallyblew，keptthesnowoffofit。
\"Wewerewinded，andIgotmountainsicknesssobadthatIhadtostretchoutforaspell。Then，whenthemooncomeup，Itookaprowlaround。Itdidn’ttakelong，andIdidn’tcatchasightorasmellofanythingthatlookedlikegold。AndwhenIaskedVahna，sheonlylaughedandclappedherhands。Meantimemymountainsicknesstunedupsomethingfierce，andIsatdownonabigrocktowaitforittoeasedown。
\"’Comeon，now，’Isaid，whenIfeltbetter。’Stopyourfoolingandtellmewherethatnuggetis。’’It’snearertoyourightnowthanI’lleverget，’sheanswered，herbigeyesgoingsuddenwistful。’AllyouGringosarealike。Goldistheloveofyourheart，andwomendon’tcountmuch。’
\"Ididn’tsayanything。ThatwasnotimetotellheraboutSarahhere。ButVahnaseemedtoshakeoffherdepressedfeelings，andbegantolaughandteaseagain。’Howdoyoulikeit？’sheasked。
’Likewhat？’’Thenuggetyou’resittingon。’
\"Ijumpedupasthoughitwasared-hotstove。Andallitwaswasarock。Ifeltnayheartsink。Eithershehadgonecleanlocoorthiswasherideaofajoke。Wrongonbothcounts。Shegavemethehatchetandtoldmetotakeahackattheboulder，whichIdid，againandagain，foryellowspotssprangupfromundereveryblow。
BythegreatMoses！itwasgold！Thewholeblamedboulder！\"
Jonesrosesuddenlytohisfullheightandflungouthislongarms，hisfaceturnedtothesouthernskies。Themovementshotpanicintotheheartofaswanthathaddrawnnearerwithamiablypredatorydesigns。Itsconsequentabruptretreatcollideditwithastoutoldlady，whosquealedanddroppedherbagofpeanuts。
Jonessatdownandresumed。
\"Gold，Itellyou，solidgoldandthatpureandsoftthatIchoppedchipsoutofit。Ithadbeencoatedwithsomesortofrain-proofpaintorlacquermadeoutofasphaltorsomething。NowonderI’dtakenitforarock。Itwastenfeetlong，alloffivefeetthrough，andtaperingtobothendslikeanegg。Here。Takealookatthis。\"
Fromhispockethedrewandopenedaleathercase，fromwhichhetookanobjectwrappedintissue-paper。Unwrappingit，hedroppedintomyhandachipofpuresoftgold，thesizeofaten-dollargold-piece。Icouldmakeoutthegreyishsubstanceononesidewithwhichithadbeenpainted。
\"Ichoppedthatfromoneendofthething，\"Joneswenton，replacingthechipinitspaperandleathercase。\"AndluckyIputitinmypocket。Forrightatmybackcameoneloudword-morelikeacroakthanaword，inmywayofthinking。Andtherewasthatleanoldfellowwiththeeaglebeakthathaddroppedinonusonenight。AndtherewasaboutthirtyIndianswithhim-allslimyoungfellows。
\"Vahna’dfloppeddownandbegunwhimpering，butItoldher，’Getupandmakefriendswiththemforme。’’No，no，’shecried。’Thisisdeath。Good-bye，AMIGO-’\"
HereMrs。Joneswinced，andherhusbandabruptlycheckedtheparticularflowofhisnarrative。
\"’Thengetupandfightalongwithme，’Isaidtoher。Andshedid。Shewassomehellion，thereonthetopoftheworld，clawingandscratchingtoothandnail-aregularshecat。AndIwasn’tidle，thoughallIhadwasthathatchetandmylongarms。Buttheyweretoomanyforme，andtherewasnoplaceformetoputmybackagainstawall。WhenIcometo，minutesafterthey’dcrackedmeonthehead-here，feelthis。\"
Removinghishat，JulianJonesguidedmyfingertipsthroughhisthatchofsandyhairuntiltheysankintoanindentation。Itwasfullythreeincheslong，andwentintotheboneitselfoftheskull。
\"WhenIcometo，therewasVahnaspread-eagledontopofthenugget，andtheoldfellowwithabeakjabberingawaysolemnlyasifgoingthroughsomesortofreligiousexercises。Inhishandhehadastoneknife-youknow，athin，sharpsliverofsomeobsidian-likestuffsameastheymakearrow-headsoutof。I
couldn’tliftahand，beinghelddown，andbeingtooweakbesides。
And-well，anyway，thatstoneknifedidforher，andmetheydidn’tevendothehonourofkillingthereontoptheirsacredpeak。Theychuckedmeoffofitlikesomuchcarrion。
\"Andthebuzzardsdidn’tgetmeeither。Icanseethemoonlightyet，shiningonallthosepeaksofsnow，asIwentdown。Why，sir，itwasafive-hundred-footfall，onlyIdidn’tmakeit。Iwentintoabigsnow-driftinacrevice。AndwhenIcometo（hoursafterIknow，foritwasfulldaywhenInextsawthesun），Ifoundmyselfinaregularsnow-caveortunnelcausedbythewaterfromthemeltingsnowrunningalongtheledge。Infact，thestoneaboveactuallyoverhungjustbeyondwhereIfirstlanded。Afewfeetmoretotheside，eitherway，andI’dalmostbegoingyet。Itwasastraightmiracle，that’swhatitwas。
\"ButIpaidforit。ItwastwoyearsandoverbeforeIknewwhathappened。AllIknewwasthatIwasJulianJonesandthatI’dbeenblacklistedinthebigstrike，andthatIwasmarriedtoSarahhere。Imeanthat。Ididn’tknowanythinginbetween，andwhenSarahtriedtotalkaboutit，itgavemepainsinthehead。Imeanmyheadwasqueer，andIknewitwasqueer。
\"Andthen，sittingontheporchofherfather’sfarmhousebackinNebraskaonemoonlightevening，Sarahcameoutandputthatgoldchipintomyhand。Seemsshe’djustfounditinthetornliningofthetrunkI’dbroughtbackfromEcuador-Iwhofortwoyearsdidn’tevenknowI’dbeentoEcuador，orAustralia，oranything！
Well，Ijustsattherelookingatthechipinthemoonlight，andturningitoverandoverandfiguringwhatitwasandwhereit’dcomefrom，whenallofasuddentherewasasnapinsidemyheadasifsomethinghadbroken，andthenIcouldseeVahnaspread-eagledonthatbignuggetandtheoldfellowwiththebeakwavingthestoneknife，and……andeverything。Thatis，everythingthathadhappenedfromthetimeIfirstleftNebraskatowhenIcrawledtothedaylightoutofthesnowaftertheyhadchuckedmeoffthemountain-top。Buteverythingthat’dhappenedafterthatI’dcleanforgotten。WhenSarahsaidIwasherhusband，Iwouldn’tlistentoher。Tookallherfamilyandthepreacherthat’dmarriedustoconvinceme。
\"LateronIwrotetoSethManners。Therailroadhadn’tkilledhimyet，andhepiecedoutalotforme。I’llshowyouhisletters。
I’vegotthematthehotel。Oneday，hesaid，makinghisregularrun，Icrawledoutontothetrack。Ididn’tstandupright，Ijustcrawled。Hetookmeforacalf，orabigdog，atfirst。Iwasn’tanythinghuman，hesaid，andIdidn’tknowhimoranything。AsnearasIcanmakeout，itwastendaysafterthemountain-toptothetimeSethpickedmeup。WhatIateIdon’tknow。MaybeI
didn’teat。ThenitwasdoctorsatQuito，andPalomanursingme（shemusthavepackedthatgoldchipinmytrunk），untiltheyfoundoutIwasamanwithoutamind，andtherailroadsentmebacktoNebraska。Atanyrate，that’swhatSethwritesme。Ofmyself，I
don’tknow。ButSarahhereknows。Shecorrespondedwiththerailroadbeforetheyshippedmeandallthat。\"
Mrs。Jonesnoddedaffirmationofhiswords，sighedandevidencedunmistakablesignsofeagernesstogo。
\"Iain’tbeenabletoworksince，\"herhusbandcontinued。\"AndI
ain’tbeenabletofigureouthowtogetbackthatbignugget。
Sarah’sgotmoneyofherown，andshewon’tletgoapenny-\"
\"Hewon’tgetdowntoTHATcountrynomore！\"shebrokeforth。
\"But，Sarah，Vahna’sdead-youknowthat，\"JulianJonesprotested。
\"Idon’tknowanythingaboutanything，\"sheanswereddecisively，\"exceptthatTHATcountryisnoplaceforamarriedman。\"
Herlipssnappedtogether，andshefixedanunseeingstareacrosstowheretheafternoonsunwasbeginningtoglowintosunset。I
gazedforamomentatherface，white，plump，tiny，andimplacable，andgaveherup。
\"Howdoyouaccountforsuchamassofgoldbeingthere？\"IqueriedofJulianJones。\"Asolid-goldmeteorthatfelloutofthesky？\"
\"Notforamoment。\"Heshookhishead。\"ItwascarriedtherebytheIndians。\"
\"Upamountainlikethat-andsuchenormousweightandsize！\"I
objected。
\"Justaseasy，\"hesmiled。\"Iusedtobestumpedbythatpropositionmyself，afterIgotmymemoryback。NowhowinSamHill-’Iusedtobegin，andthenspendhoursfiguringatit。AndthenwhenIgottheanswerIfeltdownrightidiotic，itwasthateasy。\"Hepaused，thenannounced：\"Theydidn’t。\"
\"Butyoujust-saidtheydid。\"
\"Theydidandtheydidn’t，\"washisenigmaticreply。\"Ofcoursetheynevercarriedthatmonsternuggetupthere。Whattheydidwastocarryupitscontents。\"
Hewaiteduntilhesawenlightenmentdawninmyface。
\"Andthenofcoursemeltedallthegold，orweldedit，orsmeltedit，allintoonepiece。YouknowthefirstSpaniardsdownthere，underaleadernamedPizarro，wereagangofrobbersandcut-
throats。Theywentthroughthecountrylikethehoof-and-mouthdisease，andkilledtheIndiansofflikecattle。Yousee，theIndianshadlotsofgold。Well，whattheSpaniardsdidn’tget，thesurvivingIndianshidawayinthatonebigchunkontopthemountain，andit’sbeenwaitingthereeversinceforme-andforyou，ifyouwanttogoinonit。\"
Andhere，bytheLagoonofthePalaceofFineArts，endedmyacquaintancewithJulianJones。Onmyagreeingtofinancetheadventure，hepromisedtocallonmeatmyhotelnextmorningwiththelettersofSethMannersandtherailroad，andconcludearrangements。Buthedidnotcall。ThateveningItelephonedhishotelandwasinformedbytheclerkthatMr。JulianJonesandwifehaddepartedintheearlyafternoon，withtheirbaggage。
CanMrs。JoneshaverushedhimbackandhiddenhimawayinNebraska？Irememberthataswesaidgood-bye，therewasthatinhersmilethatrecalledthevulpinecomplacencyofMonaLisa，theWise。
Kohala，Hawaii，MAY5，1916。
STORY：LIKEARGUSOFTHEANCIENTTIMES
ITwasthesummerof1897，andtherewastroubleintheTarwaterfamily。GrandfatherTarwater，afterremainingproperlysubduedandcrushedforaquietdecade，hadbrokenoutagain。ThistimeitwastheKlondikefever。Hisfirstandoneunvaryingsymptomofsuchattackswassong。Onechantonlyheraised，thoughherememberednomorethanthefirststanzaandbutthreelinesofthat。Andthefamilyknewhisfeetwereitchingandhisbrainwastinglingwiththeoldmadness，whenheliftedhishoarse-crackedvoice，nowfalsetto-cracked，in：
LikeArgusoftheancienttimes，WeleavethismodernGreece，Tum-tum，tum-tum，tum，tum，tum-tum，TosheartheGoldenFleece。
Tenyearsearlierhehadliftedthechant，sungtotheairofthe\"Doxology，\"whenafflictedwiththefevertogogold-mininginPatagonia。Themultitudinousfamilyhadsatuponhim，buthadhadahardtimedoingit。Whenallelsehadfailedtoshakehisresolution，theyhadappliedlawyerstohim，withthethreatofgettingoutguardianshippapersandofconfininghiminthestateasylumfortheinsane-whichwasreasonableforamanwhohad，aquarterofacenturybefore，speculatedawayallbuttenmeagreacresofaCaliforniaprincipality，andwhohaddisplayednobetterbusinessacumeneversince。
TheapplicationoflawyerstoJohnTarwaterwasliketheapplicationofamustardplaster。For，inhisjudgment，theywerethegentry，morethananyother，whohadskinnedhimoutofthebroadTarwateracres。So，atthetimeofhisPatagonianfever，theverythoughtofsodrasticaremedywassufficienttocurehim。HequicklydemonstratedhewasnotcrazybyshakingthefeverfromhimandagreeingnottogotoPatagonia。
Next，hedemonstratedhowcrazyhereallywas，bydeedingovertohisfamily，unsolicited，thetenacresonTarwaterFlat，thehouse，barn，outbuildings，andwater-rights。Alsodidheturnovertheeighthundreddollarsinbankthatwasthelong-savedsalvageofhiswreckedfortune。Butforthisthefamilyfoundnocauseforcommittaltotheasylum，sincesuchcommittalwouldnecessarilyinvalidatewhathehaddone。
\"Grandfatherissurepeeved，\"saidMary，hisoldestdaughter，herselfagrandmother，whenherfatherquitsmoking。
Allhehadretainedforhimselfwasaspanofoldhorses，amountainbuckboard，andhisoneroominthecrowdedhouse。
Further，havingaffirmedthathewouldbebeholdentononeofthem，hegotthecontracttocarrytheUnitedStatesmail，twiceaweek，fromKeltervilleupoverTarwaterMountaintoOldAlmaden-whichwasasporadicallyworkedquick-silvermineintheuplandcattlecountry。Withhisoldhorsesittookallhistimetomakethetwoweeklyroundtrips。Andfortenyears，rainorshine，hehadnevermissedatrip。Norhadhefailedoncetopayhisweek’sboardintoMary’shand。Thisboardhehadinsistedon，intheconvalescencefromhisPatagonianfever，andhehadpaiditstrictly，thoughhehadgivenuptobaccoinordertobeabletodoit。
\"Huh！\"heconfidedtotheruinedwaterwheeloftheoldTarwaterMill，whichhehadbuiltfromthestandingtimberandwhichhadgroundwheatforthefirstsettlers。\"Huh！They’llneverputmeinthepoorfarmsolongasIsupportmyself。Andwithoutapennytomynameitain’tlikelyanylawyerfellows’llcomesnoopin’
aroundafterme。\"
Andyet，preciselybecauseofthesehighlyrationalacts，itwasheldthatJohnTarwaterwasmildlycrazy！
Thefirsttimehehadliftedthechantof\"LikeArgusoftheAncientTimes，\"hadbeenin1849，when，twenty-twoyears’ofage，violentlyattackedbytheCalifornianfever，hehadsoldtwohundredandfortyMichiganacres，fortyofitcleared，forthepriceoffouryokeofoxen，andawagon，andhadstartedacrossthePlains。
\"AndweturnedoffatFortHall，wheretheOregonemigrationwentnorth’ard，andswungsouthforCaliforny，\"washiswayofconcludingthenarrativeofthatarduousjourney。AndBillPingandmeusedtoropegrizzliesoutoftheunderbrushofCacheSloughintheSacramentoValley。\"
Yearsoffreightingandmininghadfollowed，and，withastakegleanedfromtheMercedplacers，hesatisfiedtheland-hungerofhisraceandtimebysettlinginSonomaCounty。
DuringthetenyearsofcarryingthemailacrossTarwaterTownship，upTarwaterValley，andoverTarwaterMountain，mostallofwhichlandhadoncebeenhis，hehadspenthistimedreamingofwinningbackthatlandbeforehedied。Andnow，hishugegauntformmoreerectthanithadbeenforyears，withaglintingofbluefiresinhissmallandclose-seteyes，hewasliftinghisancientchantagain。
\"Therehegoesnow-listentohim，\"saidWilliamTarwater。
\"Nobodyathome，\"laughedHarrisTopping，daylabourer，husbandofAnnieTarwater，andfatherofherninechildren。
Thekitchendooropenedtoadmittheoldman，returningfromfeedinghishorses。Thesonghadceasedfromhislips;butMarywasirritablefromaburnthandandagrandchildwhosestomachrefusedtodigestproperlydilutedcows’milk。
\"Nowthereain’tnouseyoucarryin’onthatway，father，\"shetackledhim。\"Thetime’spastforyoutocutandrunforaplaceliketheKlondike，andsingingwon’tbuyyounothing。\"
\"Justthesame，\"heansweredquietly。\"IbetIcouldgotothatKlondikeplaceandpickupenoughgoldtobuybacktheTarwaterlands。\"
\"Oldfool！\"Anniecontributed。
\"Youcouldn’tbuythembackforless’nthreehundredthousandandthensome，\"wasWilliam’seffortatsquelchinghim。
\"ThenIcouldpickupthreehundredthousand，andthensome，ifI
wasonlythere，\"theoldmanretortedplacidly。
\"ThankGodyoucan’twalkthere，oryou’dbestartin’，Iknow，\"
Marycried。\"Oceantravelcostsmoney。\"
\"Iusedtohavemoney，\"herfathersaidhumbly。
\"Well，youain’tgotanynow-soforgetit，\"Williamadvised。
\"Themtimesispast，likeropingbearwithBillPing。Thereain’tnomorebear。\"
\"Justthesame-\"
ButMarycuthimoff。Seizingtheday’spaperfromthekitchentable，sheflourisheditsavagelyunderheragedprogenitor’snose。
\"WhatdothoseKlondikerssay？Thereitisincoldprint。OnlytheyoungandrobustcanstandtheKlondike。It’sworsethanthenorthpole。Andthey’velefttheirdeada-plentytherethemselves。
Lookattheirpictures。You’refortyyearsolder’ntheoldestofthem。\"
JohnTarwaterdidlook，buthiseyesstrayedtootherphotographsonthehighlysensationalfrontpage。
\"Andlookatthephotysofthemnuggetstheybroughtdown，\"hesaid。\"Iknowgold。Didn’tIgophertwentythousandoutatheMerced？Andwouldn’tita-benahundredthousandifthatcloudbursthadn’tbustedmywing-dam？NowifIwasonlyintheKlondike-\"
\"Crazyasaloon，\"Williamsneeredinopenasidetotherest。
\"Anicewaytotalktoyourfather，\"OldManTarwatercensuredmildly。\"Myfather’dhavewallopedthetaroutofmewithasingle-treeifI’dspoketohimthatway。\"
\"ButyouAREcrazy，father-\"Williambegan。
\"Reckonyou’reright，son。Andthat’swheremyfatherwasn’tcrazy。He’da-doneit。\"
\"Theoldman’sbeenreadingsomeofthemmagazinearticlesaboutmenwhosucceededafterforty，\"Anniejibed。
\"Andwhynot，daughter？\"heasked。\"Andwhycan’tamansucceedafterhe’sseventy？Iwasonlyseventythisyear。AndmebbeI
couldsucceedifonlyIcouldgettotheKlondike-\"
\"Whichyouain’tgoingtogetto，\"Maryshuthimoff。
\"Oh，well，then，\"hesighed，\"seein’sIain’t，Imightjustaswellgotobed。\"
Hestoodup，tall，gaunt，great-bonedandgnarled，asplendidruinofaman。Hisraggedhairandwhiskerswerenotgreybutsnowywhite，aswerethetuftsofhairthatstoodoutonthebacksofhishugebonyfingers。Hemovedtowardthedoor，openedit，sighed，andpausedwithabackwardlook。
\"Justthesame，\"hemurmuredplaintively，\"thebottomsofmyfeetisitchingsomethingterrible。\"
Longbeforethefamilystirrednextmorning，hishorsesfedandharnessedbylanternlight，breakfastcookedandeatenbylampfight，OldManTarwaterwasoffandawaydownTarwaterValleyontheroadtoKelterville。Twothingswereunusualaboutthisusualtripwhichhehadmadeathousandandfortytimessincetakingthemailcontract。HedidnotdrivetoKelterville，butturnedoffonthemainroadsouthtoSantaRosa。Evenmoreremarkablethanthiswasthepaper-wrappedparcelbetweenhisfeet。Itcontainedhisonedecentblacksuit，whichMaryhadbeenlongreluctanttoseehimwearanymore，notbecauseitwasshabby，butbecause，asheguessedwhatwasatthebackofhermind，itwasdecentenoughtoburyhimin。
AndatSantaRosa，inasecond-handclothesshop，hesoldthesuitoutrightfortwodollarsandahalf。Fromthesameobligingshopmanhereceivedfourdollarsfortheweddingringofhislong-
deadwife。Thespanofhorsesandthewagonhedisposedofforseventy-fivedollars，althoughtwenty-fivewasallhereceiveddownincash。ChancingtomeetAltonGrangeronthestreet，towhomneverbeforehadhementionedthetendollarsloanedhimin’74，heremindedAltonGrangerofthelittleaffair，andwaspromptlypaid。
Also，ofallunbelievablementobeinfunds，hesofoundthetowndrunkardforwhomhehadboughtmanyadrinkintheoldandpalmydays。AndfromhimJohnTarwaterborrowedadollar。Finally，hetooktheafternoontraintoSanFrancisco。
Adozendayslater，carryingahalf-emptycanvassackofblanketsandoldclothes，helandedonthebeachofDyeainthethickofthegreatKlondikeRush。Thebeachwasscreamingbedlam。Tenthousandtonsofoutfitlayheapedandscattered，andtwicetenthousandmenstruggledwithitandclamouredaboutit。Freight，byIndian-back，overChilcoottoLakeLinderman，hadjumpedfromsixteentothirtycentsapound，whichlatterwasarateofsixhundreddollarsaton。Andthesub-arcticwintergloomednearathand。Allknewit，andallknewthatofthetwentythousandofthemveryfewwouldgetacrossthepasses，leavingtheresttowinterandwaitforthelatespringthaw。
SuchthebeacholdJohnTarwatersteppedupon;andstraightacrossthebeachandupthetrailtowardChilcootheheaded，cacklinghisancientchant，averyGrandfatherArgushimself，withnooutfitworryintheworld，forhedidnotpossessanyoutfit。Thatnighthesleptontheflats，fivemilesaboveDyea，attheheadofcanoenavigation。HeretheDyeaRiverbecamearushingmountaintorrent，plungingoutofadarkcanyonfromtheglaciersthatfeditfarabove。
Andhere，earlynextmorning，hebeheldalittlemanweighingnomorethanahundred，staggeringalongafoot-logunderallofahundredpoundsofflourstrappedonhisback。Also，hebeheldthelittlemanstumbleoffthelogandfallface-downwardinaquieteddywherethewaterwastwofeetdeepandproceedquietlytodrown。Itwasnodesireofhistotakedeathsoeasily，buttheflouronhisbackweighedasmuchasheandwouldnotlethimup。
\"Thankyou，oldman，\"hesaidtoTarwater，whenthelatterhaddraggedhimupintotheairandashore。
Whileheunlacedhisshoesandranthewaterout，theyhadfurthertalk。Next，hefishedoutaten-dollargold-pieceandofferedittohisrescuer。
OldTarwatershookhisheadandshivered，fortheice-waterhadwethimtohisknees。
\"ButIreckonIwouldn’tobjecttosettin’downtoafriendlymealwithyou。\"
\"Ain’thadbreakfast？\"thelittleman，whowaspastfortyandwhohadsaidhisnamewasAnson，queriedwithaglancefranklycurious。
\"Narybite，\"JohnTarwateranswered。
\"Where’syouroutfit？Ahead？\"
\"Naryoutfit。\"
\"ExpecttobuyyourgrubontheInside？\"
\"Naryadollartobuyitwith，friend。Whichain’tsoimportantasawarmbiteofbreakfastrightnow。\"
InAnson’scamp，aquarterofamileon，Tarwaterfoundaslender，red-whiskeredyoungmanofthirtycursingoverafireofwetwillowwood。IntroducedasCharles，hetransferredhisscowlandwrathtoTarwater，who，geniallyoblivious，devotedhimselftothefire，tookadvantageofthechillmorningbreezetocreateadraughtwhichtheotherhadleftstupidlyblockedbystones，andsoondevelopedlesssmokeandmoreflame。Thethirdmemberoftheparty，BillWilson，orBigBillastheycalledhim，cameinwithahundred-and-forty-poundpack;andwhatTarwateresteemedtobeaveryrottenbreakfastwasdishedoutbyCharles。Themushwashalfcookedandmostlyburnt，thebaconwascharredcarbon，andthecoffeewasunspeakable。
Immediatelythemealwaswolfeddownthethreepartnerstooktheiremptypack-strapsandheadeddowntrailtowheretheremainderoftheiroutfitlayatthelastcampamileaway。AndoldTarwaterbecamebusy。Hewashedthedishes，forageddrywood，mendedabrokenpack-strap，putanedgeonthebutcher-knifeandcamp-axe，andrepackedthepicksandshovelsintoamorecarryableparcel。
WhathadimpressedhimduringthebriefbreakfastwasthesortofaweinwhichAnsonandBigBillstoodofCharles。Once，duringthemorning，whileAnsontookabreathingspellafterbringinginanotherhundred-poundpack，Tarwaterdelicatelyhintedhisimpression。
\"Yousee，it’sthisway，\"Ansonsaid。\"We’vedividedourleadership。We’vegotspecialities。NowI’macarpenter。WhenwegettoLakeLinderman，andthetreesarechoppedandwhipsawedintoplanks，I’llbossthebuildingoftheboat。BigBillisaloggerandminer。Sohe’llbossgettingoutthelogsandallminingoperations。Mostofouroutfit’sahead。WewentbrokepayingtheIndianstopackthatmuchofittothetopofChilcoot。Ourlastpartnerisuptherewithit，movingitalongbyhimselfdowntheotherside。Hisname’sLiverpool，andhe’sasailor。So，whentheboat’sbuilt，he’sthebossoftheoutfittonavigatethelakesandrapidstoKlondike。
\"AndCharles-thisMr。Crayton-whatmighthisspecialitybe？\"
Tarwaterasked。
\"He’sthebusinessman。Whenitcomestobusinessandorganizationhe’sboss。\"
\"Hum，\"Tarwaterpondered。\"Veryluckytogetsuchabunchofspecialitiesintooneoutfit。\"
\"Morethanluck，\"Ansonagreed。\"Itwasallaccident，too。Eachofusstartedalone。WemetonthesteamercomingupfromSanFrancisco，andformedtheparty-Well，Igottobegoin’。
CharlesisliabletogetkickingbecauseIain’tpackin’myshare’
justthesame，youcan’texpectahundred-poundmantopackasmuchasahundred-and-sixty-pounder。\"
\"Stickaroundandcookussomethingfordinner，\"Charles，onhisnextloadinandnotingtheeffectsoftheoldman’shandiness，toldTarwater。
AndTarwatercookedadinnerthatwasadinner，washedthedishes，hadrealporkandbeansforsupper，andbreadbakedinafrying-panthatwassodelectablethanthethreepartnersnearlyfounderedthemselvesonit。Supperdisheswashed，hecutshavingsandkindlingforaquickandcertainbreakfastfire，showedAnsonatrickwithfoot-gearthatwasinvaluabletoanyhiker，sanghis\"LikeArgusoftheAncientTimes，\"andtoldthemofthegreatemigrationacrossthePlainsinForty-nine。
\"Mygoodness，thefirstcheerfulandhearty-likecampsincewehitthebeach，\"BigBillremarkedasheknockedouthispipeandbeganpullingoffhisshoesforbed。
\"Kindofmadethingseasy，boys，eh？\"Tarwaterqueriedgenially。