y be divided into two classes, the tenderfoot and the old-t

"fever"-dreams dreams. The old-timer goes because the

it would surely have impelled them to the mining camp, to seek fortune in the mountain fastn

re many tenderfeet and a few old-timers. Amongst the experienced was John Berwick. About him surged the steamship's host

them lay adventures, toil, and danger; the adventurous will ever

gainst her, so that Berwick felt cold. He shivered, and half turned towards the door across the promenade; but the wavelets, flying by in their ha

, old

to the smiling face of his old

" he cried. "Are you boun

n you left Coolgardie, that you wouldn't stand civilizatio

he adventures before them their efforts and their fortunes would be joined. In the language o

f activity. He would go for the hardest work in a cheery way, and during the social hours of even

hey met, or talking in groups. On the lower deck dogs could be he

r. Big dogs and little dogs, of every breed and colour, were there. All grades of canine society were represented, from the big and well-fed St. Bernard to the mongrel snared i

middle. A dozen men were diving into kit-bags, extracting necessary articles or packing them away. The inspiration of the l

the same markings, black with tan about the face and neck, and a show of tan about the legs, but the hair on the two larger was longer than on the third. This couple also had bushy tails wh

ched one of them and patted him, remarking to his

N

't make m

ogs neve

is

e they have wolf in them; but the

ft

e alone, and then

ranger turned and gazed at the mountains

nd o' cold," said he. "Y

answere

dently been sizing them up. "There are a wh

e Bruce here, my mate; but there is su

se fellows don't know what they are up against." T

ndike before?" B

been in on the best of it. The fellows sent me out word right after, but I didn't think the pay streak would hold, so didn't go in last year.

s are Yuk

rhead, and smell the bean-pot boiling, and I'd feel like getting down a hole to bed-rock somewhere and trying a pan of dirt. Besides, the folks outside, I don't like their ways; they ask a man so many fool questions. They all want to know why I ain't a millionaire

avel?" asked George, for the firs

derstand. John cleared the situation by saying, "I t

writing me say they go down through twenty feet of black muck before they strike the gravel and bed-rock. I

standing about, but the excitement was less. They passed on to the smoking-room, at the fore-part of the ship. This was crowded, and the air thick

y years, and I know what snow is; and you bet your life if there is one man who will get into the Yukon it is John Muggsley! Big Jack they called me back home. It's a big man who is needed o

h me, both good milkers, and I will load my stuff on their backs and drive them over the pass. I

citement and the thirst for gold the most quixotic ideas had been developed. What the cows were to live upon en route h

l over ice and snow, or on dry land. These machines were manufactured

th the owner of the Malamoots. They had seized two of the cots erected in the saloon; a

lemen, gett

es

od

kon. After an hour or two they strolled forward between the cots, stepping over sacks and bags and articl

ting down to business,

ey playing?"

It is so easily learned, so easy to cheat at,

mproved by the loss of th

learns," sai

th, "Gentlemen, you just watch me and see how soon I get over these

ike ice-locomotive were listening with some disdain; but the dozen other

ll phosphorescence against the bow of the ship, looked sickly and uncanny through the blackness. "A dange

ferously in the faces of his listeners as the

you. My name's Hugh Spencer," the str

you!" answere

old-seekers have been introduced to the reader in this chapter; and these pages will tell something

y of being our hero, shall