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passed the time of day with several dilapidated old…timers on their way out。
The famine news was graver than ever。 The North… west Mounted Police；
stationed at the foot of Lake Marsh where the gold…rushers entered
Canadian territory； were refusing to let a man past who did not carry with
him seven hundred pounds of grub。 In Dawson City a thousand men；
with dog…teams； were waiting the freeze…up to come out over the ice。
The trading companies could not fill their grub…contracts； and partners
were cutting the cards to see which should go and which should stay and
work the claims。
〃That settles it；〃 Charles announced； when he learned of the action of
the mounted police on the boundary。 〃Old Man； you might as well start
back now。〃
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〃Climb aboard！〃 Liverpool commanded。 〃We're going to Klondike；
and old dad is going along。〃
A shift of gale to the south gave them a fair wind down Lake Bennett；
before which they ran under a huge sail made by Liverpool。 The heavy
weight of outfit gave such ballast that he cracked on as a daring sailor
should when moments counted。 A shift of four points into the south…west；
coming just at the right time as they entered upon Caribou Crossing； drove
them down that connecting link to lakes Tagish and Marsh。 In stormy
sunset and twilight … they made the dangerous crossing of Great Windy
Arm； wherein they beheld two other boat…loads of gold…rushers capsize
and drown。
Charles was for beaching for the night； but Liverpool held on； steering
down Tagish by the sound of the surf on the shoals and by the occasional
shore…fires that advertised wrecked or timid argonauts。 At four in the
morning； he aroused Charles。 Old Tarwater； shiveringly awake； heard
Liverpool order Crayton aft beside him at the steering…sweep； and also
heard the one…sided conversation。 〃Just listen； friend Charles； and keep
your own mouth shut；〃 Liverpool began。 〃I want you to get one thing
into your head and keep it there： OLD DAD'S GOING BY THE
POLICE。 UNDERSTAND？ HE'S GOING BY。 When they examine
our outfit； old dad's got a fifth share in it； savvee？ That'll put us all 'way
under what we ought to have； but we can bluff it through。 Now get this；
and get it hard： THERE AIN'T GOING TO BE ANY FALL…DOWN ON
THIS BLUFF … 〃
〃If you think I'd give away on the old codger … 〃 Charles began
indignantly。
〃You thought that；〃 Liverpool checked him； 〃because I never
mentioned any such thing。 Now … get me and get me hard： I don't care
what you've been thinking。 It's what you're going to think。 We'll make
the police post some time this afternoon； and we've got to get ready to pull
the bluff without a hitch； and a word to the wise is plenty。〃
〃If you think I've got it in my mind … 〃 Charles began again。
〃Look here；〃 Liverpool shut him off。 〃I don't know what's in your
mind。 I don't want to know。 I want you to know what's in my mind。 If
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there's any slip…up； if old dad gets turned back by the police； I'm going to
pick out the first quiet bit of landscape and take you ashore on it。 And
then I'm going to beat you up to the Queen's taste。 Get me； and get me
hard。 It ain't going to be any half…way beating； but a real； two…legged；
two…fisted； he…man beating。 I don't expect I'll kill you； but I'll come
damn near to half…killing you。〃
〃But what can I do？〃 Charles almost whimpered。
〃Just one thing；〃 was Liverpool's final word。 〃You just pray。 You
pray so hard that old dad gets by the police that he does get by。 That's all。
Go back to your blankets。〃
Before they gained Lake Le Barge； the land was sheeted with snow
that would not melt for half a year。 Nor could they lay their boat at will
against the bank； for the rim…ice was already forming。 Inside the mouth of
the river； just ere it entered Lake Le Barge； they found a hundred storm…
bound boats of the argonauts。 Out of the north； across the full sweep of
the great lake； blew an unending snow gale。 Three mornings they put out
and fought it and the cresting seas it drove that turned to ice as they fell in…
board。 While the others broke their hearts at the oars； Old Tarwater
managed to keep up just sufficient circulation to survive by chopping ice
and throwing it overboard。
Each day for three days； beaten to helplessness； they turned tail on the
battle and ran back into the sheltering river。 By the fourth day； the
hundred boats had increased to three hundred； and the two thousand
argonauts on board knew that the great gale heralded the freeze…up of Le
Barge。 Beyond； the rapid rivers would continue to run for days； but
unless they got beyond； and immediately； they were doomed to be frozen
in for six months to come。
〃This day we go through；〃 Liverpool announced。 〃We turn back for
nothing。 And those of us that dies at the oars will live again and go on
pulling。〃
And they went through； winning half the length of the lake by nightfall
and pulling on through all the night hours as the wind went down； falling
asleep at the oars and being rapped awake by Liverpool； toiling on through
an age…long nightmare while the stars came out and the surface of the lake
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turned to the unruffledness of a sheet of paper and froze skin…ice that
tinkled like broken glass as their oar…blades shattered it。
As day broke clear and cold； they entered the river； with behind them a
sea of ice。 Liverpool examined his aged passenger and found him
helpless and almost gone。 When he rounded the boat to against the rim…
ice to build a fire and warm up Tarwater inside and out； Charles protested
against such loss of time。
〃This ain't business； so don't you come horning in；〃 Liverpool
informed him。 〃I'm running the boat trip。 So you just climb out and
chop firewood； and plenty of it。 I'll take care of dad。 You； Anson； make
a fire on the bank。 And you； Bill； set up the Yukon stove in the boat。
Old dad ain't as young as the rest of us； and for the rest of this voyage he's
going to have a fire on board to sit by。〃
All of which came to pass； and the boat； in the grip of the current； like
a river steamer with smoke rising from the two joints of stove…pipe；
grounded on shoals； hung up on split currents； and charged rapids and
canyons； as it drove deeper into the Northland winter。 The Big and Little
Salmon rivers were throwing mush…ice into the main river as they passed；
and； below the riffles； anchor… ice arose from the river bottom and coated
the surface with crystal scum。 Night and day the rim…ice grew； till； in
quiet places； it extended out a hundred yards from shore。 And Old
Tarwater； with all his clothes on； sat by the stove and kept the fire going。
Night and day； not daring to stop for fear of the imminent freeze… up； they
dared to run； an increasing mushiness of ice running with them。
〃What ho； old hearty？〃 Liverpool would call out at times。
〃Cheer O；〃 Old Tarwater had learned to respond。
〃What can I ever do for you； son； in payment？〃 Tarwater； stoking the
fire； would sometimes ask Liverpool； beating now one released hand and
now the other as he fought for circulation where he steered in the freezing
stern…sheets。
〃Just break out that regular song of yours； old Forty…Niner；〃 was the
invariable reply。
And Tarwater would lift his voice in the cackling chant； as he lifted it
at the end； when the boat swung in through