Butitalluscomeoutthenighestside—channel，an’notbubblin’upan’up。’
’Butwithniverawinkatthehelm？’
’No;noryou。It’saginreason。I’llleaveittoanyman！’
Bettlesappealedtothecircleaboutthestove，butthefightwasonbetweenhimselfandLonMcFane。
’Reasonornoreason，it’sthetruthI’mtellin’ye。Lastfall，ayeargone，’twasSitkaCharleyandmeselfsawthesight，droppin’downtheriffleye’llrememberbelowFortReliance。An’regularfallweatheritwas—theglinto’thesunonthegoldenlarchan’thequakin’aspens;an’theglisteroflightoniveryripple;an’
beyand，thewinteran’thebluehazeoftheNorthcomin’downhandinhand。It’swellyeknowthesame，withafringetotheriveran’
theiceformin’thickintheeddies—an’asnapan’sparkletotheair，an’yea—feelin’itthroughallyerblood，a—takin’newleaseoflifewithiverysuckofit。’Tisthen，meboy，theworldgrowssmallan’thewandtherlustlaysyebytheheels。
’Butit’smeselfaswandthers。AsIwassayin’，wea—paddlin’，withniverasignofice，barrin’thatbytheeddies，whentheInjunliftshispaddlean’singsout，\"LonMcFane！Lookyebelow！\"SohaveI
heard，butniverthoughttosee！Asyeknow，SitkaCharley，likemeself，niverdrewfirstbreathintheland;sothesightwasnew。
Thenwedrifted，withaheadoveraytherside，peerin’downthroughthesparklywater。FortheworldlikethedaysIspintwiththepearlers，watchin’thecoralbanksa—growin’thesameassomanygardensunderthesea。Thereitwas，theanchor—ice，clingin’an’
clusterin’toiveryrock，afterthemannerofthewhitecoral。
’Butthebestofthesightwastocome。Justafterclearin’thetailoftheriffle，thewaterturnsquickthecolorofmilk，an’thetopofitinweecircles，aswhenthegraylin’riseinthespring，orthere’sasplatterofwetfromthesky。’Twastheanchor—icecomin’up。Totheright，tothelift，asfarasiveramancudsee，thewaterwascoveredwiththesame。An’likesomuchporridgeitwas，slickin’
alongthebarkofthecanoe，stickin’likegluetothepaddles。It’smany’sthetimeIshottheself—samerifflebefore，andit’smany’sthetimeafter，butniverawinkofthesamehaveIseen。’Twasthesightofalifetime。’
’Dotell！’drylycommentedBettles。’D’yethinkI’db’lievesuchayarn？I’druthersaytheglisteroflight’dgonetoyoureyes，andthesnapoftheairtoyourtongue。’
’’Twasmeowneyesthatbeheldit，an’ifSitkaCharleywashere，he’dbetheladtobackme。’
’Butfactsisfacts，an’theyain’tnogettin’round’em。Itain’tinthenatureofthingsforthewaterfurtherestawayfromtheairtofreezefirst。’
’Butmeowneyes—’
’Don’tgithetupoverit，’admonishedBettles，asthequickCelticangerbegantomount。
’Thenyernotafterbelavin’me？’
’Senceyou’resoblamedforehandedaboutit，no;I’db’lievenaturefirst，andfacts。’
’Isitthelieye’dbegivin’me？’threatenedLon。’Ye’dbetterbeaskin’thatSiwashwifeofyours。I’lllaveittoher，forthetruthI
spake。’
Bettlesflaredupinsuddenwrath。TheIrishmanhadunwittinglywoundedhim;forhiswifewasthehalf—breeddaughterofaRussianfur—trader，marriedtohimintheGreekMissionofNulato，athousandmilesorsodowntheYukon，thusbeingofmuchhighercastethanthecommonSiwash，ornative，wife。ItwasamereNorthlandnuance，whichnonebuttheNorthlandadventurermayunderstand。
’Ireckonyoukintakeitthatway，’washisdeliberateaffirmation。
ThenextinstantLonMcFanehadstretchedhimonthefloor，thecirclewasbrokenup，andhalfadozenmenhadsteppedbetween。
Bettlescametohisfeet，wipingthebloodfromhismouth。’Ithain’tnew，thistakin’andpayin’ofblows，anddon’tyouneverthinkbutthatthiswillbesquared。’
’An’niverinmelifedidItaketheliefrommortalman，’wastheretortcourteous。’An’it’sanavildayI’llnotbetohand，waitin’
an’willin’tohelpyeliftyerdebts，barrin’nomannerofway。’
’Stillgotthat38—55？’
Lonnodded。
’Butyou’dbettergitamorelikelycaliber。Mine’llripholesthroughyouthesizeofwalnuts。’
’Niverfear;it’smeownslugssmelltheirwaywithsoftnoses，an’they’llspreadlikeflapjacksagainstthecomingoutbeyand。An’
when’llIhavethepleasureofwaitin’onye？Thewaterhole’sastrikin’locality。’
’’Tain’tbad。Jestbethereinanhour，andyouwon’tsetlongonmycoming。’
BothmenmittenedandleftthePost，theirearsclosedtotheremonstrancesoftheircomrades。Itwassuchalittlething;yetwithsuchmen，littlethings，nourishedbyquicktempersandstubbornnatures，soonblossomedintobigthings。Besides，theartofburningtobedrockstilllayinthewombofthefuture，andthemenofForty—Mile，shutinbythelongArcticwinter，grewhigh—stomachedwithovereatingandenforcedidleness，andbecameasirritableasdothebeesinthefalloftheyearwhenthehivesareoverstockedwithhoney。
Therewasnolawintheland。Themountedpolicewasalsoathingofthefuture。Eachmanmeasuredanoffense，andmetedoutthepunishmentinasmuchasitaffectedhimself。Rarelyhadcombinedactionbeennecessary，andneverinallthedrearyhistoryofthecamphadtheeightharticleoftheDecaloguebeenviolated。
BigJimBeldencalledanimpromptumeeting。ScruffMackenziewasplacedastemporarychairman，andamessengerdispatchedtosolicitFatherRoubeau’sgoodoffices。Theirpositionwasparadoxical，andtheyknewit。Bytherightofmightcouldtheyinterferetopreventtheduel;yetsuchaction，whileindirectlinewiththeirwishes，wentcountertotheiropinions。Whiletheirrough—hewn，obsoleteethicsrecognizedtheindividualprerogativeofwipingoutblowwithblow，theycouldnotbeartothinkoftwogoodcomrades，suchasBettlesandMcFane，meetingindeadlybattle。Deemingthemanwhowouldnotfightonprovocationadastard，whenbroughttothetestitseemedwrongthatheshouldfight。
Butascurryofmoccasinsandloudcries，roundedoffwithapistol—shot，interruptedthediscussion。Thenthestorm—doorsopenedandMalemuteKidentered，asmokingColt’sinhishand，andamerrylightinhiseye。
’Igothim。’Hereplacedtheemptyshell，andadded，’Yourdog，Scruff。’
’YellowFang？’Mackenzieasked。
’No;thelop—earedone。’
’Thedevil！Nothingthematterwithhim。’
’Comeoutandtakealook。’
’That’sallrightafterall。Buesshe’sgot’em，too。YellowFangcamebackthismorningandtookachunkoutofhim，andcameneartomakingawidowerofme。MadearushforZarinska，butshewhiskedherskirtsinhisfaceandescapedwiththelossofthesameandagoodrollinthesnow。Thenhetooktothewoodsagain。Hopehedon’tcomeback。Lostanyyourself？’
’One—thebestoneofthepack—Shookum。Startedamuckthismorning，butdidn’tgetveryfar。RanfoulofSitkaCharley’steam，andtheyscatteredhimalloverthestreet。Andnowtwoofthemareloose，andragingmad;soyouseehegothisworkin。Thedogcensuswillbesmallinthespringifwedon’tdosomething。’
’Andthemancensus，too。’
’How’sthat？Who’sintroublenow？’
’Oh，BettlesandLonMcFanehadanargument，andthey’llbedownbythewaterholeinafewminutestosettleit。’
Theincidentwasrepeatedforhisbenefit，andMalemuteKid，accustomedtoanobediencewhichhisfellowmenneverfailedtorender，tookchargeoftheaffair。Hisquicklyformulatedplanwasexplained，andtheypromisedtofollowhisleadimplicitly。
’Soyousee，’heconcluded，’wedonotactuallytakeawaytheirprivilegeoffighting;andyetIdon’tbelievethey’llfightwhentheyseethebeautyofthescheme。Life’sagameandmenthegamblers。
They’llstaketheirwholepileontheonechanceinathousand。Takeawaythatonechance，and—theywon’tplay。’
HeturnedtothemaninchargeofthePost。’Storekeeper，weightoutthreefathomsofyourbesthalf—inchmanila。
’We’llestablishaprecedentwhichwilllastthemenofForty—Miletotheendoftime，’heprophesied。Thenhecoiledtheropeabouthisarmandledhisfollowersoutofdoors，justintimetomeettheprincipals。
’Whatdangedright’dhetofetchmywifein？’thunderedBettlestothesoothingoverturesofafriend。’’Twa’n’tcalledfor，’heconcludeddecisively。’’Twa’n’tcalledfor，’hereiteratedagainandagain，pacingupanddownandwaitingforLonMcFane。
AndLonMcFane—hisfacewashotandtonguerapidasheflauntedinsurrectioninthefaceoftheChurch。’Then，father，’hecried，’it’swithanaisyheartI’llrollinmeflamyblankets，thebroadofmebackonabedofcoals。NivershallitbesaidthatLonMcFanetookalie’twixttheteethwithoutiverliftin’ahand！An’I’llnotaskablessin’。Theyearshavebeenwild，butit’stheheartwasintherightplace。’
’Butit’snottheheart，Lon，’interposedFatherRoubeau;’It’spridethatbidsyouforthtoslayyourfellowman。’
’YerFrinch，’Lonreplied。Andthen，turningtoleavehim，’An’willyesayamassiftheluckisagainstme？’
Butthepriestsmiled，thrusthismoccasinedfeettothefore，andwentoutuponthewhitebreastofthesilentriver。Apackedtrail，thewidthofasixteen—inchsled，ledouttothewaterhole。Oneithersidelaythedeep，softsnow。Thementrodinsinglefile，withoutconversation;andtheblack—stoledpriestintheirmidstgavetothefunctionthesolemnaspectofafuneral。Itwasawarmwinter’sdayforForty—Mile—adayinwhichthesky，filledwithheaviness，drewclosertotheearth，andthemercurysoughttheunwontedleveloftwentybelow。Buttherewasnocheerinthewarmth。Therewaslittleairintheupperstrata，andthecloudshungmotionless，givingsullenpromiseofanearlysnowfall。Andtheearth，unresponsive，madenopreparation，contentinitshibernation。
Whenthewaterholewasreached，Bettles，havingevidentlyreviewedthequarrelduringthesilentwalk，burstoutinafinal’’Twa’n’tcalledfor，’whileLonMcFanekeptgrimsilence。Indignationsochokedhimthathecouldnotspeak。
Yetdeepdown，whenevertheirownwrongswerenotuppermost，bothmenwonderedattheircomrades。Theyhadexpectedopposition，andthistacitacquiescencehurtthem。Itseemedmorewasduethemfromthementheyhadbeensoclosewith，andtheyfeltavaguesenseofwrong，rebellingatthethoughtofsomanyoftheirbrotherscomingout，asonagalaoccasion，withoutonewordofprotest，toseethemshooteachotherdown。Itappearedtheirworthhaddiminishedintheeyesofthecommunity。Theproceedingspuzzledthem。
’Backtoback，David。An’willitbefiftypacestotheman，ordoublethequantity？’
’Fifty，’wasthesanguinaryreply，gruntedout，yetsharplycut。
Butthenewmanila，notprominentlydisplayed，butcasuallycoiledaboutMalemuteKid’sarm，caughtthequickeyeoftheIrishman，andthrilledhimwithasuspiciousfear。
’An’whatareyedoin’withtherope？’
’Hurryup！’MalemuteKidglancedathiswatch。’I’veabatchofbreadinthecabin，andIdon’twantittofall。Besides，myfeetaregettingcold。’
Therestofthemenmanifestedtheirimpatienceinvarioussuggestiveways。
’Buttherope，Kid’It’sbran’new，an’sureyerbread’snotthatheavyitneedsraisin’withthelikeofthat？’
Bettlesbythistimehadfacedaround。FatherRoubeau，thehumorofthesituationjustdawningonhim，hidasmilebehindhismittenedhand。
’No，Lon;thisropewasmadeforaman。’MalemuteKidcouldbeveryimpressiveonoccasion。
’Whatman？’Bettleswasbecomingawareofapersonalinterest。
’Theotherman。’
’An’whichistheoneye’dmanebythat？’
’Listen，Lon—andyou，too，Bettles！We’vebeentalkingthislittletroubleofyoursover，andwe’vecometooneconclusion。Weknowwehavenorighttostopyourfighting—’
’Trueforye，melad！’
’Andwe’renotgoingto。Butthismuchwecando，andshalldo—makethistheonlyduelinthehistoryofForty—Mile，setanexampleforeveryche—cha—quathatcomesupordowntheYukon。Themanwhoescapeskillingshallbehangedtothenearesttree。Now，goahead！’
Lonsmileddubiously，thenhisfacelightedup。’Paceheroff，David—fiftypaces，wheel，an’niveraceasefirin’tillalad’sdownforgood。’Tistheirhearts’llniverletthemdothedeed，an’
it’swellyeshouldknowitforatrueYankeebluff。’
Hestartedoffwithapleasedgrinonhisface，butMalemuteKidhaltedhim。
’Lon！It’salongwhilesinceyoufirstknewme？’
’Many’stheday。’
’Andyou，Bettles？’
’FiveyearnextJunehighwater。’
’Andhaveyouonce，inallthattime，knownmetobreakmyword’
Orheardofmebreakingit？’
Bothmenshooktheirheads，strivingtofathomwhatlaybeyond。
’Well，then，whatdoyouthinkofapromisemadebyme？’
’Asgoodasyourbond，’fromBettles。
’Thethingtosafelyslingyerhopesofheavenby，’promptlyendorsedLonMcFane。
’Listen！I，MalemuteKid，giveyoumyword—andyouknowwhatthatmeans—thatthemanwhoisnotshotstretchesropewithintenminutesaftertheshooting。’HesteppedbackasPilatemighthavedoneafterwashinghishands。
ApauseandasilencecameoverthemenofForty—Mile。Theskydrewstillcloser，sendingdownacrystalflightoffrost—littlegeometricdesigns，perfect，evanescentasabreath，yetdestinedtoexisttillthereturningsunhadcoveredhalfitsnorthernjourney。
Bothmenhadledforlornhopesintheirtime—ledwithacurseorajestontheirtongues，andintheirsoulsanunswervingfaithintheGodofChance。Butthatmercifuldeityhadbeenshutoutfromthepresentdeal。TheystudiedthefaceofMalemuteKid，buttheystudiedasonemighttheSphinx。Asthequietminutespassed，afeelingthatspeechwasincumbentonthembegantogrow。Atlastthehowlofawolf—dogcrackedthesilencefromthedirectionofForty—Mile。Theweirdsoundswelledwithallthepathosofabreakingheart，thendiedawayinalong—drawnsob。
’WellIbedanged！’Bettlesturnedupthecollarofhismackinawjacketandstaredabouthimhelplessly。
’It’sagloryusgameyerrunnin’，Kid，’criedLonMcFane。’Allthepercentageofthehousean’niverabittothemanthat’sbuckin’。TheDevilhimself’dnivertacklesuchacinch—anddamnedifIdo。’
Therewerechuckles，throttledingurglingthroats，andwinksbrushedawaywiththefrostwhichrimedtheeyelashes，asthemenclimbedtheice—notchedbankandstartedacrossthestreettothePost。Butthelonghowlhaddrawnnearer，investedwithanewnoteofmenace。Awomanscreamedroundthecorner。Therewasacryof，’Herehecomes！’ThenanIndianboy，attheheadofhalfadozenfrighteneddogs，racingwithdeath，dashedintothecrowd。AndbehindcameYellowFang，abristleofhairandaflashofgray。
EverybodybuttheYankeefled。TheIndianboyhadtrippedandfallen。Bettlesstoppedlongenoughtogriphimbytheslackofhisfurs，thenheadedforapileofcordwoodalreadyoccupiedbyanumberofhiscomrades。YellowFang，doublingafteroneofthedogs，cameleapingback。Thefleeinganimal，freeoftherabies，butcrazedwithfright，whippedBettlesoffhisfeetandflashedonupthestreet。MalemuteKidtookaflyingshotatYellowFang。Themaddogwhirledahalfairspring，camedownonhisback，then，withasingleleap，coveredhalfthedistancebetweenhimselfandBettles。
Butthefatalspringwasintercepted。LonMcFaneleapedfromthewoodpile，counteringhiminmidair。Overtheyrolled，Lonholdinghimbythethroatatarm’slength，blinkingunderthefetidslaverwhichsprayedhisface。ThenBettles，revolverinhandandcoollywaitingachance，settledthecombat。
’’Twasasquaregame，Kid，’Lonremarked，risingtohisfeetandshakingthesnowfromouthissleeves;’withafairpercentagetomeselfthatbuckedit。’
Thatnight，whileLonMcFanesoughttheforgivingarmsoftheChurchinthedirectionofFatherRoubeau’scabin，MalemuteKidtalkedlongtolittlepurpose。
’Butwouldyou，’persistedMackenzie，’supposingtheyhadfought？’
’HaveIeverbrokenmyword？’
’No;butthatisn’tthepoint。Answerthequestion。Wouldyou？’
MalemuteKidstraightenedup。’Scruff，I’vebeenaskingmyselfthatquestioneversince，and—’
’Well？’
’Well，asyet，Ihaven’tfoundtheanswer。’
INAFARCOUNTRY。
WHENAMANJOURNEYSintoafarcountry，hemustbepreparedtoforgetmanyofthethingshehaslearned，andtoacquiresuchcustomsasareinherentwithexistenceinthenewland;hemustabandontheoldidealsandtheoldgods，andoftentimeshemustreversetheverycodesbywhichhisconducthashithertobeenshaped。Tothosewhohavetheproteanfacultyofadaptability，thenoveltyofsuchchangemayevenbeasourceofpleasure;buttothosewhohappentobehardenedtotherutsinwhichtheywerecreated，thepressureofthealteredenvironmentisunbearable，andtheychafeinbodyandinspiritunderthenewrestrictionswhichtheydonotunderstand。Thischafingisboundtoactandreact，producingdiversevilsandleadingtovariousmisfortunes。Itwerebetterforthemanwhocannotfithimselftothenewgroovetoreturntohisowncountry;ifhedelaytoolong，hewillsurelydie。
Themanwhoturnshisbackuponthecomfortsofaneldercivilization，tofacethesavageyouth，theprimordialsimplicityoftheNorth，mayestimatesuccessataninverseratiotothequantityandqualityofhishopelesslyfixedhabits。Hewillsoondiscover，ifhebeafitcandidate，thatthematerialhabitsarethelessimportant。Theexchangeofsuchthingsasadaintymenuforroughfare，ofthestiffleathershoeforthesoft，shapelessmoccasin，ofthefeatherbedforacouchinthesnow，isafterallaveryeasymatter。Buthispinchwillcomeinlearningproperlytoshapehismind’sattitudetowardallthings，andespeciallytowardhisfellowman。Forthecourtesiesofordinarylife，hemustsubstituteunselfishness，forbearance，andtolerance。Thus，andthusonly，canhegainthatpearlofgreatprice—truecomradeship。Hemustnotsay’thankyou’;hemustmeanitwithoutopeninghismouth，andproveitbyrespondinginkind。Inshort，hemustsubstitutethedeedfortheword，thespiritfortheletter。
WhentheworldrangwiththetaleofArcticgold，andthelureoftheNorthgrippedtheheartstringsofmen，CarterWeatherbeethrewuphissnugclerkship，turnedthehalfofhissavingsovertohiswife，andwiththeremainderboughtanoutfit。Therewasnoromanceinhisnature—thebondageofcommercehadcrushedallthat;hewassimplytiredoftheceaselessgrind，andwishedtoriskgreathazardsinviewofcorrespondingreturns。Likemanyanotherfool，disdainingtheoldtrailsusedbytheNorthlandpioneersforascoreofyears，hehurriedtoEdmontoninthespringoftheyear;andthere，unluckilyforhissoul’swelfare，healliedhimselfwithapartyofmen。
Therewasnothingunusualaboutthisparty，exceptitsplans。Evenitsgoal，likethatofalltheotherparties，wastheKlondike。Buttherouteithadmappedouttoattainthatgoaltookawaythebreathofthehardiestnative，bornandbredtothevicissitudesoftheNorthwest。EvenJacquesBaptiste，bornofaChippewawomanandarenegadevoyageur（havingraisedhisfirstwhimpersinadeerskinlodgenorthofthesixty—fifthparallel，andhadthesamehushedbyblissfulsucksofrawtallow），wassurprised。Thoughhesoldhisservicestothemandagreedtotraveleventothenever—openingice，heshookhisheadominouslywheneverhisadvicewasasked。
PercyCuthfert’sevilstarmusthavebeenintheascendant，forhe，too，joinedthiscompanyofargonauts。Hewasanordinaryman，withabankaccountasdeepashisculture，whichissayingagooddeal。Hehadnoreasontoembarkonsuchaventure—noreasonintheworldsavethathesufferedfromanabnormaldevelopmentofsentimentality。Hemistookthisforthetruespiritofromanceandadventure。Manyanothermanhasdonethelike，andmadeasfatalamistake。
Thefirstbreak—upofspringfoundthepartyfollowingtheice—runofElkRiver。Itwasanimposingfleet，fortheoutfitwaslarge，andtheywereaccompaniedbyadisreputablecontingentofhalf—breedvoyageurswiththeirwomenandchildren。Dayinanddayout，theylaboredwiththebateauxandcanoes，foughtmosquitoesandotherkindredpests，orsweatedandsworeattheportages。Severetoillikethislaysamannakedtotheveryrootsofhissoul，andereLakeAthabascawaslostinthesouth，eachmemberofthepartyhadhoistedhistruecolors。
ThetwoshirksandchronicgrumblerswereCarterWeatherbeeandPercyCuthfert。Thewholepartycomplainedlessofitsachesandpainsthandideitherofthem。Notoncedidtheyvolunteerforthethousandandonepettydutiesofthecamp。Abucketofwatertobebrought，anextraarmfulofwoodtobechopped，thedishestobewashedandwiped，asearchtobemadethroughtheoutfitforsomesuddenlyindispensablearticle—andthesetwoeffetescionsofcivilizationdiscoveredsprainsorblistersrequiringinstantattention。Theywerethefirsttoturninatnight，withscoreoftasksyetundone;thelasttoturnoutinthemorning，whenthestartshouldbeinreadinessbeforethebreakfastwasbegun。Theywerethefirsttofalltoatmealtime，thelasttohaveahandinthecooking;thefirsttodiveforaslimdelicacy，thelasttodiscovertheyhadaddedtotheirownanotherman’sshare。Iftheytoiledattheoars，theyslylycutthewaterateachstrokeandallowedtheboat’smomentumtofloatuptheblade。Theythoughtnobodynoticed;buttheircomradessworeundertheirbreathsandgrewtohatethem，whileJacquesBaptistesneeredopenlyanddamnedthemfrommorningtillnight。ButJacquesBaptistewasnogentleman。
AttheGreatSlave，HudsonBaydogswerepurchased，andthefleetsanktotheguardswithitsaddedburdenofdriedfishandpemican。
ThencanoeandbateauansweredtotheswiftcurrentoftheMackenzie，andtheyplungedintotheGreatBarrenGround。Everylikely—looking’feeder’wasprospected，buttheelusive’pay—dirt’
dancedevertothenorth。AttheGreatBear，overcomebythecommondreadoftheUnknownLands，theirvoyageursbegantodesert，andFortofGoodHopesawthelastandbravestbendingtothetowlinesastheybuckedthecurrentdownwhichtheyhadsotreacherouslyglided。JacquesBaptistealoneremained。Hadhenotsworntotraveleventothenever—openingice？
Thelyingcharts，compiledinmainfromhearsay，werenowconstantlyconsulted。Andtheyfelttheneedofhurry，forthesunhadalreadypasseditsnorthernsolsticeandwasleadingthewintersouthagain。
Skirtingtheshoresofthebay，wheretheMackenziedisemboguesintotheArcticOcean，theyenteredthemouthoftheLittlePeelRiver。
Thenbeganthearduousup—streamtoil，andthetwoIncapablesfaredworsethanever。Towlineandpole，paddleandtumpline，rapidsandportages—suchtorturesservedtogivetheoneadeepdisgustforgreathazards，andprintedfortheotherafierytextonthetrueromanceofadventure。Onedaytheywaxedmutinous，andbeingvilelycursedbyJacquesBaptiste，turned，aswormssometimeswill。Butthehalf—breedthrashedthetwain，andsentthem，bruisedandbleeding，abouttheirwork。Itwasthefirsttimeeitherhadbeenmanhandled。
AbandoningtheirrivercraftattheheadwatersoftheLittlePeel，theyconsumedtherestofthesummerinthegreatportageovertheMackenziewatershedtotheWestRat。ThislittlestreamfedthePorcupine，whichinturnjoinedtheYukonwherethatmightyhighwayoftheNorthcountermarchesontheArcticCircle。Buttheyhadlostintheracewithwinter，andonedaytheytiedtheirraftstothethickeddy—iceandhurriedtheirgoodsashore。Thatnighttheriverjammedandbrokeseveraltimes;thefollowingmorningithadfallenasleepforgood。
’Wecan’tbemore’nfourhundredmilesfromtheYukon，’concludedSloper，multiplyinghisthumbnailsbythescaleofthemap。Thecouncil，inwhichthetwoIncapableshadwhinedtoexcellentdisadvantage，wasdrawingtoaclose。
’HudsonBayPost，longtimeago。Nouseumnow。’JacquesBaptiste’sfatherhadmadethetripfortheFurCompanyintheolddays，incidentallymarkingthetrailwithacoupleoffrozentoes。
Sufferin’cracky！’criedanotheroftheparty。’Nowhites？’
’Narywhite，’Slopersententiouslyaffirmed;’butit’sonlyfivehundredmoreuptheYukontoDawson。Callitaroughthousandfromhere。’
WeatherbeeandCuthfertgroanedinchorus。
’Howlong’llthattake，Baptiste？’
Thehalf—breedfiguredforamoment。’Workumlikehell，nomanplayout，ten—twenty—forty—fiftydays。Umbabiescome’（designatingtheIncapables），’nocantell。Mebbewhenhellfreezeover;mebbenotthen。’
Themanufactureofsnowshoesandmoccasinsceased。Somebodycalledthenameofanabsentmember，whocameoutofanancientcabinattheedgeofthecampfireandjoinedthem。ThecabinwasoneofthemanymysterieswhichlurkinthevastrecessesoftheNorth。Builtwhenandbywhom，nomancouldtell。Twogravesintheopen，piledhighwithstones，perhapscontainedthesecretofthoseearlywanderers。Butwhosehandhadpiledthestones？
Themomenthadcome。JacquesBaptistepausedinthefittingofaharnessandpinnedthestrugglingdoginthesnow。Thecookmademuteprotestfordelay，threwahandfulofbaconintoanoisypotofbeans，thencametoattention。Sloperrosetohisfeet。HisbodywasaludicrouscontrasttothehealthyphysiquesoftheIncapables。
Yellowandweak，fleeingfromaSouthAmericanfever—hole，hehadnotbrokenhisflightacrossthezones，andwasstillabletotoilwithmen。Hisweightwasprobablyninetypounds，withtheheavyhuntingknifethrownin，andhisgrizzledhairtoldofaprimewhichhadceasedtobe。ThefreshyoungmusclesofeitherWeatherbeeorCuthfertwereequaltotentimestheendeavorofhis;yethecouldwalkthemintotheearthinaday’sjourney。Andallthisdayhehadwhippedhisstrongercomradesintoventuringathousandmilesofthestiffesthardshipmancanconceive。Hewastheincarnationoftheunrestofhisrace，andtheoldTeutonicstubbornness，dashedwiththequickgraspandactionoftheYankee，heldthefleshinthebondageofthespirit。
’Allthoseinfavorofgoingonwiththedogsassoonastheicesets，sayay。’
’Ay！’rangouteightvoices—voicesdestinedtostringatrailofoathsalongmanyahundredmilesofpain。
’Contraryminded？’
’No！’ForthefirsttimetheIncapableswereunitedwithoutsomecompromiseofpersonalinterests。
’Andwhatareyougoingtodoaboutit？’Weatherbeeaddedbelligerently。
’Majorityrule！Majorityrule！’clamoredtherestoftheparty。
’Iknowtheexpeditionisliabletofallthroughifyoudon’tcome，’
Sloperrepliedsweetly;’butIguess，ifwetryrealhard，wecanmanagetodowithoutyou。Whatdoyousay，boys？’
Thesentimentwascheeredtotheecho。
’ButIsay，youknow，’Cuthfertventuredapprehensively;’what’sachaplikemetodo？’
’Ain’tyoucomingwithus。’
’No—o。’
’Thendoasyoudamnwellplease。Wewon’thavenothingtosay。’
’Kindo’calkilateyuhmightsettleitwiththatcanoodlin’
pardnerofyourn，’suggestedaheavy—goingWesternerfromtheDakotas，atthesametimepointingoutWeatherbee。’He’llbeshoretoaskyuhwhatyura—goin’todowhenitcomestocookin’an’gatherin’thewood。’
’Thenwe’llconsideritallarranged，’concludedSloper。’We’llpullouttomorrow，ifwecampwithinfivemiles—justtogeteverythinginrunningorderandrememberifwe’veforgottenanything。’
Thesledsgroanedbyontheirsteel—shodrunners，andthedogsstrainedlowintheharnessesinwhichtheywereborntodie。
JacquesBaptistepausedbythesideofSlopertogetalastglimpseofthecabin。ThesmokecurleduppatheticallyfromtheYukonstovepipe。ThetwoIncapableswerewatchingthemfromthedoorway。
Sloperlaidhishandontheother’sshoulder。
’JacquesBaptiste，didyoueverhearoftheKilkennycats？’
Thehalf—breedshookhishead。
’Well，myfriendandgoodcomrade，theKilkennycatsfoughttillneitherhide，norhair，noryowl，wasleft。Youunderstand？—tillnothingwasleft。Verygood。Now，thesetwomendon’tlikework。
They’llbeallaloneinthatcabinallwinter—amightylong，darkwinter。Kilkennycats—well？’
TheFrenchmaninBaptisteshruggedhisshoulders，buttheIndianinhimwassilent。Nevertheless，itwasaneloquentshrug，pregnantwithprophecy。
Thingsprosperedinthelittlecabinatfirst。TheroughbadinageoftheircomradeshadmadeWeatherbeeandCuthfertconsciousofthemutualresponsibilitywhichhaddevolveduponthem;besides，therewasnotsomuchworkafterallfortwohealthymen。Andtheremovalofthecruelwhiphand，orinotherwordsthebulldozinghalf—breed，hadbroughtwithitajoyousreaction。Atfirst，eachstrovetooutdotheother，andtheyperformedpettytaskswithanunctionwhichwouldhaveopenedtheeyesoftheircomradeswhowerenowwearingoutbodiesandsoulsontheLongTrail。
Allcarewasbanished。Theforest，whichshoulderedinuponthemfromthreesides，wasaninexhaustiblewoodyard。AfewyardsfromtheirdoorsleptthePorcupine，andaholethroughitswinterrobeformedabubblingspringofwater，crystalclearandpainfullycold。
Buttheysoongrewtofindfaultwitheventhat。Theholewouldpersistinfreezingup，andthusgavethemmanyamiserablehourofice—chopping。Theunknownbuildersofthecabinhadextendedthesidelogssoastosupportacacheattherear。Inthiswasstoredthebulkoftheparty’sprovisions。Foodtherewas，withoutstint，forthreetimesthemenwhowerefatedtoliveuponit。Butthemostofitwasthekindwhichbuiltupbrawnandsinew，butdidnotticklethepalate。True，therewassugarinplentyfortwoordinarymen;butthesetwowerelittleelsethanchildren。Theyearlydiscoveredthevirtuesofhotwaterjudiciouslysaturatedwithsugar，andtheyprodigallyswamtheirflapjacksandsoakedtheircrustsintherich，whitesyrup。Thencoffeeandtea，andespeciallythedriedfruits，madedisastrousinroadsuponit。Thefirstwordstheyhadwereoverthesugarquestion。Anditisareallyseriousthingwhentwomen，whollydependentuponeachotherforcompany，begintoquarrel。
Weatherbeelovedtodiscourseblatantlyonpolitics，whileCuthfert，whohadbeenpronetocliphiscouponsandletthecommonwealthjogonasbestitmight，eitherignoredthesubjectordeliveredhimselfofstartlingepigrams。Buttheclerkwastooobtusetoappreciatetheclevershapingofthought，andthiswasteofammunitionirritatedCuthfert。Hehadbeenusedtoblindingpeoplebyhisbrilliancy，anditworkedhimquiteahardship，thislossofanaudience。Hefeltpersonallyaggrievedandunconsciouslyheldhismuttonheadcompanionresponsibleforit。
Saveexistence，theyhadnothingincommon—cameintouchonnosinglepoint。Weatherbeewasaclerkwhohadknownnaughtbutclerkingallhislife;Cuthfertwasamasterofarts，adabblerinoils，andhadwrittennotalittle。Theonewasalower—classmanwhoconsideredhimselfagentleman，andtheotherwasagentlemanwhoknewhimselftobesuch。Fromthisitmayberemarkedthatamancanbeagentlemanwithoutpossessingthefirstinstinctoftruecomradeship。Theclerkwasassensuousastheotherwasaesthetic，andhisloveadventures，toldatgreatlengthandchieflycoinedfromhisimagination，affectedthesupersensitivemasterofartsinthesamewayassomanywhiffsofsewergas。Hedeemedtheclerkafilthy，unculturedbrute，whoseplacewasinthemuckwiththeswine，andtoldhimso;andhewasreciprocallyinformedthathewasamilk—and—watersissyandacad。
Weatherbeecouldnothavedefined’cad’forhislife;butitsatisfieditspurpose，whichafterallseemsthemainpointinlife。
Weatherbeeflattedeverythirdnoteandsangsuchsongsas’TheBostonBurglar’and’theHandsomeCabinBoy，’forhoursatatime，whileCuthfertweptwithrage，tillhecouldstanditnolongerandfledintotheoutercold。Buttherewasnoescape。Theintensefrostcouldnotbeenduredforlongatatime，andthelittlecabincrowdedthem—beds，stove，table，andall—intoaspaceoftenbytwelve。Theverypresenceofeitherbecameapersonalaffronttotheother，andtheylapsedintosullensilenceswhichincreasedinlengthandstrengthasthedayswentby。Occasionally，theflashofaneyeorthecurlofalipgotthebetterofthem，thoughtheystrovetowhollyignoreeachotherduringthesemuteperiods。Andagreatwondersprangupinthebreastofeach，astohowGodhadevercometocreatetheother。
Withlittletodo，timebecameanintolerableburdentothem。Thisnaturallymadethemstilllazier。Theysankintoaphysicallethargywhichtherewasnoescaping，andwhichmadethemrebelattheperformanceofthesmallestchore。Onemorningwhenitwashisturntocookthecommonbreakfast，Weatherbeerolledoutofhisblankets，andtothesnoringofhiscompanion，lightedfirsttheslush—lampandthenthefire。Thekettleswerefrozenhard，andtherewasnowaterinthecabinwithwhichtowash。Buthedidnotmindthat。
Waitingforittothaw，heslicedthebaconandplungedintothehatefultaskofbread—making。Cuthferthadbeenslylywatchingthroughhishalf—closedlids。Consequentlytherewasascene，inwhichtheyferventlyblessedeachother，andagreed，henceforth，thateachdohisowncooking。Aweeklater，Cuthfertneglectedhismorningablutions，butnonethelesscomplacentlyatethemealwhichhehadcooked。
Weatherbeegrinned。Afterthatthefoolishcustomofwashingpassedoutoftheirlives。
Asthesugar—pileandotherlittleluxuriesdwindled，theybegantobeafraidtheywerenotgettingtheirpropershares，andinorderthattheymightnotberobbed，theyfelltogorgingthemselves。Theluxuriessufferedinthisgluttonouscontest，asdidalsothemen。
Intheabsenceoffreshvegetablesandexercise，theirbloodbecameimpoverished，andaloathsome，purplishrashcreptovertheirbodies。Yettheyrefusedtoheedthewarning。Next，theirmusclesandjointsbegantoswell，thefleshturningblack，whiletheirmouths，gums，andlipstookonthecolorofrichcream。Insteadofbeingdrawntogetherbytheirmisery，eachgloatedovertheother’ssymptomsasthescurvytookitscourse。
Theylostallregardforpersonalappearance，andforthatmatter，commondecency。Thecabinbecameapigpen，andneveroncewerethebedsmadeorfreshpineboughslaidunderneath。Yettheycouldnotkeeptotheirblankets，astheywouldhavewished;forthefrostwasinexorable，andthefireboxconsumedmuchfuel。Thehairoftheirheadsandfacesgrewlongandshaggy，whiletheirgarmentswouldhavedisgustedaragpicker。Buttheydidnotcare。Theyweresick，andtherewasnoonetosee;besides，itwasverypainfultomoveabout。
Toallthiswasaddedanewtrouble—theFearoftheNorth。ThisFearwasthejointchildoftheGreatColdandtheGreatSilence，andwasborninthedarknessofDecember，whenthesundippedbelowthehorizonforgood。Itaffectedthemaccordingtotheirnatures。
Weatherbeefellpreytothegrossersuperstitions，anddidhisbesttoresurrectthespiritswhichsleptintheforgottengraves。Itwasafascinatingthing，andinhisdreamstheycametohimfromoutofthecold，andsnuggledintohisblankets，andtoldhimoftheirtoilsandtroubleseretheydied。Heshrankawayfromtheclammycontactastheydrewcloserandtwinedtheirfrozenlimbsabouthim，andwhentheywhisperedinhisearofthingstocome，thecabinrangwithhisfrightenedshrieks。Cuthfertdidnotunderstand—fortheynolongerspoke—andwhenthusawakenedheinvariablygrabbedforhisrevolver。Thenhewouldsitupinbed，shiveringnervously，withtheweapontrainedontheunconsciousdreamer。Cuthfertdeemedthemangoingmad，andsocametofearforhislife。
Hisownmaladyassumedalessconcreteform。Themysteriousartisanwhohadlaidthecabin，logbylog，hadpeggedawind—vanetotheridgepole。Cuthfertnoticeditalwayspointedsouth，andoneday，irritatedbyitssteadfastnessofpurpose，heturnedittowardtheeast。Hewatchedeagerly，butneverabreathcamebytodisturbit。Thenheturnedthevanetothenorth，swearingneveragaintotouchittillthewinddidblow。Buttheairfrightenedhimwithitsunearthlycalm，andheoftenroseinthemiddleofthenighttoseeifthevanehadveered—tendegreeswouldhavesatisfiedhim。Butno，itpoisedabovehimasunchangeableasfate。Hisimaginationranriot，tillitbecametohimafetish。Sometimeshefollowedthepathitpointedacrossthedismaldominions，andallowedhissoultobecomesaturatedwiththeFear。Hedweltupontheunseenandtheunknowntilltheburdenofeternityappearedtobecrushinghim。EverythingintheNorthlandhadthatcrushingeffect—theabsenceoflifeandmotion;thedarkness;theinfinitepeaceofthebroodingland;theghastlysilence，whichmadetheechoofeachheartbeatasacrilege;
thesolemnforestwhichseemedtoguardanawful，inexpressiblesomething，whichneitherwordnorthoughtcouldcompass。
Theworldhehadsorecentlyleft，withitsbusynationsandgreatenterprises，seemedveryfaraway。Recollectionsoccasionallyobtruded—recollectionsofmartsandgalleriesandcrowdedthoroughfares，ofeveningdressandsocialfunctions，ofgoodmenanddearwomenhehadknown—buttheyweredimmemoriesofalifehehadlivedlongcenturiesagone，onsomeotherplanet。ThisphantasmwastheReality。Standingbeneaththewind—vane，hiseyesfixedonthepolarskies，hecouldnotbringhimselftorealizethattheSouthlandreallyexisted，thatatthatverymomentitwasa—roarwithlifeandaction。TherewasnoSouthland，nomenbeingbornofwomen，nogivingandtakinginmarriage。Beyondhisbleakskylinetherestretchedvastsolitudes，andbeyondthesestillvastersolitudes。Therewerenolandsofsunshine，heavywiththeperfumeofflowers。Suchthingswereonlyolddreamsofparadise。ThesunlandsoftheWestandthespicelandsoftheEast，thesmilingArcadiasandblissfulIslandsoftheBlest—ha！ha！Hislaughtersplitthevoidandshockedhimwithitsunwontedsound。Therewasnosun。ThiswastheUniverse，deadandcoldanddark，andheitsonlycitizen。Weatherbee？
AtsuchmomentsWeatherbeedidnotcount。HewasaCaliban，amonstrousphantom，fetteredtohimforuntoldages，thepenaltyofsomeforgottencrime。
HelivedwithDeathamongthedead，emasculatedbythesenseofhisowninsignificance，crushedbythepassivemasteryoftheslumberingages。Themagnitudeofallthingsappalledhim。
Everythingpartookofthesuperlativesavehimself—theperfectcessationofwindandmotion，theimmensityofthesnow—coveredwildness，theheightoftheskyandthedepthofthesilence。Thatwind—vane—ifitwouldonlymove。Ifathunderboltwouldfall，ortheforestflareupinflame。Therollingupoftheheavensasascroll，thecrashofDoom—anything，anything！Butno，nothingmoved;theSilencecrowdedin，andtheFearoftheNorthlaidicyfingersonhisheart。
Once，likeanotherCrusoe，bytheedgeoftheriverhecameuponatrack—thefainttraceryofasnowshoerabbitonthedelicatesnow—crust。Itwasarevelation。TherewaslifeintheNorthland。Hewouldfollowit，lookuponit，gloatoverit。Heforgothisswollenmuscles，plungingthroughthedeepsnowinanecstasyofanticipation。
Theforestswallowedhimup，andthebriefmiddaytwilightvanished;
buthepursuedhisquesttillexhaustednatureasserteditselfandlaidhimhelplessinthesnow。Therehegroanedandcursedhisfolly，andknewthetracktobethefancyofhisbrain;andlatethatnighthedraggedhimselfintothecabinonhandsandknees，hischeeksfrozenandastrangenumbnessabouthisfeet。Weatherbeegrinnedmalevolently，butmadenooffertohelphim。Hethrustneedlesintohistoesandthawedthemoutbythestove。Aweeklatermortificationsetin。
Buttheclerkhadhisowntroubles。Thedeadmencameoutoftheirgravesmorefrequentlynow，andrarelylefthim，wakingorsleeping。
Hegrewtowaitanddreadtheircoming，neverpassingthetwincairnswithoutashudder。Onenighttheycametohiminhissleepandledhimforthtoanappointedtask。Frightenedintoinarticulatehorror，heawokebetweentheheapsofstonesandfledwildlytothecabin。Buthehadlainthereforsometime，forhisfeetandcheekswerealsofrozen。
Sometimeshebecamefranticattheirinsistentpresence，anddancedaboutthecabin，cuttingtheemptyairwithanaxe，andsmashingeverythingwithinreach。Duringtheseghostlyencounters，Cuthferthuddledintohisblanketsandfollowedthemadmanaboutwithacockedrevolver，readytoshoothimifhecametoonear。But，recoveringfromoneofthesespells，theclerknoticedtheweapontraineduponhim。Hissuspicionswerearoused，andthenceforthhe，too，livedinfearofhislife。Theywatchedeachothercloselyafterthat，andfacedaboutinstartledfrightwhenevereitherpassedbehindtheother’sback。Theapprehensivenessbecameamaniawhichcontrolledthemevenintheirsleep。Throughmutualfeartheytacitlylettheslush—lampburnallnight，andsawtoaplentifulsupplyofbacon—greasebeforeretiring。Theslightestmovementonthepartofonewassufficienttoarousetheother，andmanyastillwatchtheirgazescounteredastheyshookbeneaththeirblanketswithfingersonthetrigger—guards。
WhatwiththeFearoftheNorth，thementalstrain，andtheravagesofthedisease，theylostallsemblanceofhumanity，takingontheappearanceofwildbeasts，huntedanddesperate。Theircheeksandnoses，asanaftermathofthefreezing，hadturnedblack。Theirfrozentoeshadbeguntodropawayatthefirstandsecondjoints。
Everymovementbroughtpain，butthefireboxwasinsatiable，wringingaransomoftorturefromtheirmiserablebodies。Dayin，dayout，itdemandeditsfood—averitablepoundofflesh—andtheydraggedthemselvesintotheforesttochopwoodontheirknees。Once，crawlingthusinsearchofdrysticks，unknowntoeachothertheyenteredathicketfromoppositesides。Suddenly，withoutwarning，twopeeringdeath’s—headsconfrontedeachother。Sufferinghadsotransformedthemthatrecognitionwasimpossible。Theysprangtotheirfeet，shriekingwithterror，anddashedawayontheirmangledstumps;andfallingatthecabin’sdoor，theyclawedandscratchedlikedemonstilltheydiscoveredtheirmistake。
Occasionallytheylapsednormal，andduringoneofthesesaneintervals，thechiefboneofcontention，thesugar，hadbeendividedequallybetweenthem。Theyguardedtheirseparatesacks，storedupinthecache，withjealouseyes;fortherewerebutafewcupfulsleft，andtheyweretotallydevoidoffaithineachother。ButonedayCuthfertmadeamistake。Hardlyabletomove，sickwithpain，withhisheadswimmingandeyesblinded，hecreptintothecache，sugarcanisterinhand，andmistookWeatherbee’ssackforhisown。
Januaryhadbeenbornbutafewdayswhenthisoccurred。Thesunhadsometimesincepasseditslowestsoutherndeclination，andatmeridiannowthrewflauntingstreaksofyellowlightuponthenorthernsky。Onthedayfollowinghismistakewiththesugarbag，Cuthfertfoundhimselffeelingbetter，bothinbodyandinspirit。Asnoontimedrewnearandthedaybrightened，hedraggedhimselfoutsidetofeastontheevanescentglow，whichwastohimanearnestofthesun’sfutureintentions。Weatherbeewasalsofeelingsomewhatbetter，andcrawledoutbesidehim。Theyproppedthemselvesinthesnowbeneaththemovelesswind—vane，andwaited。
Thestillnessofdeathwasaboutthem。Inotherclimes，whennaturefallsintosuchmoods，thereisasubduedairofexpectancy，awaitingforsomesmallvoicetotakeupthebrokenstrain。NotsointheNorth。Thetwomenhadlivedseemingeonsinthisghostlypeace。
Theycouldremembernosongofthepast;theycouldconjurenosongofthefuture。Thisunearthlycalmhadalwaysbeen—thetranquilsilenceofeternity。
Theireyeswerefixeduponthenorth。Unseen，behindtheirbacks，behindthetoweringmountainstothesouth，thesunswepttowardthezenithofanotherskythantheirs。Solespectatorsofthemightycanvas，theywatchedthefalsedawnslowlygrow。Afaintflamebegantoglowandsmoulder。Itdeepenedinintensity，ringingthechangesofreddish—yellow，purple，andsaffron。SobrightdiditbecomethatCuthfertthoughtthesunmustsurelybebehindit—amiracle，thesunrisinginthenorth！Suddenly，withoutwarningandwithoutfading，thecanvaswassweptclean。Therewasnocolorinthesky。Thelighthadgoneoutoftheday。Theycaughttheirbreathsinhalf—sobs。Butlo！theairwasaglintwithparticlesofscintillatingfrost，andthere，tothenorth，thewind—vanelayinvagueoutlineofthesnow。A
shadow！Ashadow！Itwasexactlymidday。Theyjerkedtheirheadshurriedlytothesouth。Agoldenrimpeepedoverthemountain’ssnowyshoulder，smileduponthemaninstant，thendippedfromsightagain。
Thereweretearsintheireyesastheysoughteachother。A
strangesofteningcameoverthem。Theyfeltirresistiblydrawntowardeachother。Thesunwascomingbackagain。Itwouldbewiththemtomorrow，andthenextday，andthenext。Anditwouldstaylongereveryvisit，andatimewouldcomewhenitwouldridetheirheavendayandnight，neveroncedroppingbelowtheskyline。Therewouldbenonight。Theice—lockedwinterwouldbebroken;thewindswouldblowandtheforestsanswer;thelandwouldbatheintheblessedsunshine，andliferenew。Handinhand，theywouldquitthishorriddreamandjourneybacktotheSouthland。Theylurchedblindlyforward，andtheirhandsmet—theirpoormaimedhands，swollenanddistortedbeneaththeirmittens。
Butthepromisewasdestinedtoremainunfulfilled。TheNorthlandistheNorthland，andmenworkouttheirsoulsbystrangerules，whichothermen，whohavenotjourneyedintofarcountries，cannotcometounderstand。
Anhourlater，Cuthfertputapanofbreadintotheoven，andfelltospeculatingonwhatthesurgeonscoulddowithhisfeetwhenhegotback。Homedidnotseemsoveryfarawaynow。Weatherbeewasrummaginginthecache。Ofasudden，heraisedawhirlwindofblasphemy，whichinturnceasedwithstartlingabruptness。Theothermanhadrobbedhissugar—sack。Still，thingsmighthavehappeneddifferently，hadnotthetwodeadmencomeoutfromunderthestonesandhushedthehotwordsinhisthroat。Theyledhimquitegentlyfromthecache，whichheforgottoclose。Thatconsummationwasreached;thatsomethingtheyhadwhisperedtohiminhisdreamswasabouttohappen。Theyguidedhimgently，verygently，tothewoodpile，wheretheyputtheaxeinhishands。Thentheyhelpedhimshoveopenthecabindoor，andhefeltsuretheyshutitafterhim—atleasthehearditslamandthelatchfallsharplyintoplace。Andheknewtheywerewaitingjustwithout，waitingforhimtodohistask。
’Carter！Isay，Carter！’
PercyCuthfertwasfrightenedatthelookontheclerk’sface，andhemadehastetoputthetablebetweenthem。
CarterWeatherbeefollowed，withouthasteandwithoutenthusiasm。
Therewasneitherpitynorpassioninhisface，butratherthepatient，stolidlookofonewhohascertainworktodoandgoesaboutitmethodically。
’Isay，what’sthematter？’
Theclerkdodgedback，cuttingoffhisretreattothedoor，butneveropeninghismouth。
’Isay，Carter，Isay;let’stalk。There’sagoodchap。’
Themasterofartswasthinkingrapidly，now，shapingaskillfulflankmovementonthebedwherehisSmith&Wessonlay。Keepinghiseyesonthemadman，herolledbackwardonthebunk，atthesametimeclutchingthepistol。
’Carter！’
ThepowderflashedfullinWeatherbee’sface，butheswunghisweaponandleapedforward。Theaxebitdeeplyatthebaseofthespine，andPercyCuthfertfeltallconsciousnessofhislowerlimbsleavehim。Thentheclerkfellheavilyuponhim，clutchinghimbythethroatwithfeeblefingers。ThesharpbiteoftheaxehadcausedCuthferttodropthepistol，andashislungspantedforrelease，hefumbledaimlesslyforitamongtheblankets。Thenheremembered。Heslidahanduptheclerk’sbelttothesheath—knife;andtheydrewveryclosetoeachotherinthatlastclinch。
PercyCuthfertfelthisstrengthleavehim。Thelowerportionofhisbodywasuseless，TheinertweightofWeatherbeecrushedhim—
crushedhimandpinnedhimtherelikeabearunderatrap。Thecabinbecamefilledwithafamiliarodor，andheknewthebreadtobeburning。Yetwhatdiditmatter？Hewouldneverneedit。Andtherewereallofsixcupfulsofsugarinthecache—ifhehadforeseenthishewouldnothavebeensosavingthelastseveraldays。Wouldthewind—vaneevermove？Whynot’Hadhenotseenthesuntoday？Hewouldgoandsee。No;itwasimpossibletomove。Hehadnotthoughttheclerksoheavyaman。
Howquicklythecabincooled！Thefiremustbeout。Thecoldwasforcingin。Itmustbebelowzeroalready，andtheicecreepinguptheinsideofthedoor。Hecouldnotseeit，buthispastexperienceenabledhimtogaugeitsprogressbythecabin’stemperature。Thelowerhingemustbewhiteerenow。Wouldthetaleofthiseverreachtheworld？Howwouldhisfriendstakeit？Theywouldreaditovertheircoffee，mostlikely，andtalkitoverattheclubs。Hecouldseethemveryclearly，’PoorOldCuthfert，’theymurmured;’notsuchabadsortofachap，afterall。’Hesmiledattheireulogies，andpassedoninsearchofaTurkishbath。Itwasthesameoldcrowduponthestreets。Strange，theydidnotnoticehismoosehidemoccasinsandtatteredGermansocks！Hewouldtakeacab。Andafterthebathashavewouldnotbebad。No;hewouldeatfirst。Steak，andpotatoes，andgreenthingshowfreshitallwas！Andwhatwasthat？Squaresofhoney，streamingliquidamber！Butwhydidtheybringsomuch？Ha！ha！
hecouldnevereatitall。Shine！Whycertainly。Heputhisfootonthebox。Thebootblacklookedcuriouslyupathim，andherememberedhismoosehidemoccasinsandwentawayhastily。
Hark！Thewind—vanemustbesurelyspinning。No;ameresinginginhisears。Thatwasall—ameresinging。Theicemusthavepassedthelatchbynow。Morelikelytheupperhingewascovered。Betweenthemoss—chinkedroof—poles，littlepointsoffrostbegantoappear。Howslowlytheygrew！No;notsoslowly。Therewasanewone，andthereanother。Two—three—four;theywerecomingtoofasttocount。Thereweretwogrowingtogether。Andthere，athirdhadjoinedthem。Why，therewerenomorespots。Theyhadruntogetherandformedasheet。
Well，hewouldhavecompany。IfGabrieleverbrokethesilenceoftheNorth，theywouldstandtogether，handinhand，beforethegreatWhiteThrone。AndGodwouldjudgethem，Godwouldjudgethem！
ThenPercyCuthfertclosedhiseyesanddroppedofftosleep。
TOTHEMANONTHETRAIL。
’DUMPITIN。’
’ButIsay，Kid，isn’tthatgoingitalittletoostrong’Whiskyandalcohol’sbadenough;butwhenitcomestobrandyandpeppersauceand—’
’Dumpitin。Who’smakingthispunch，anyway？’AndMalemuteKidsmiledbenignantlythroughthecloudsofsteam。’Bythetimeyou’vebeeninthiscountryaslongasIhave，myson，andlivedonrabbittracksandsalmonbelly，you’lllearnthatChristmascomesonlyonceperannum。AndaChristmaswithoutpunchissinkingaholetobedrockwithnaryapaystreak。’
’Stackuponthatferahighcyard，’approvedBigJimBelden，whohadcomedownfromhisclaimonMazyMaytospendChristmas，andwho，aseveryoneknew，hadbeenlivingthetwomonthspastonstraightmoosemeat。’Hain’tfergotthehoochwe—unsmadeontheTanana，heyyeh？’
’Well，Iguessyes。Boys，itwouldhavedoneyourheartsgoodtoseethatwholetribefightingdrunk—andallbecauseofagloriousfermentofsugarandsourdough。Thatwasbeforeyourtime，’MalemuteKidsaidasheturnedtoStanleyPrince，ayoungminingexpertwhohadbeenintwoyears。’Nowhitewomeninthecountrythen，andMasonwantedtogetmarried。Ruth’sfatherwaschiefoftheTananas，andobjected，liketherestofthetribe。Stiff？Why，Iusedmylastpoundofsugar;