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out。
〃Come on；〃 Shorty said； rubbing his ear。 〃We can't do nothing for the
old geezer。 An' I've sure frosted my ear。 Now all the blamed skin'll peel
off and it'll be sore for a week。〃
A few minutes later； when a flaming ribbon spilled pulsating fire over
the heavens； they saw on the ice a quarter of a mile ahead two forms。
Beyond； for a mile； nothing moved。
〃They're leading the procession；〃 Smoke said； as darkness fell again。
〃Come on； let's get them。〃
At the end of half an hour； not yet having overtaken the two in front；
Shorty broke into a run。
〃If we catch 'em we'll never pass 'em；〃 he panted。 〃Lord； what a pace
they're hittin'。 Dollars to doughnuts they're no chechaquos。 They're the
real sour…dough variety； you can stack on that。〃
Smoke was leading when they finally caught up； and he was glad to
ease to a walk at their heels。 Almost immediately he got the impression
that the one nearer him was a woman。 How this impression came； he
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could not tell。 Hooded and furred； the dark form was as any form； yet
there was a haunting sense of familiarity about it。 He waited for the next
flame of the aurora； and by its light saw the smallness of the moccasined
feet。 But he saw morethe walk； and knew it for the unmistakable walk
he had once resolved never to forget。
〃She's a sure goer；〃 Shorty confided hoarsely。 〃I'll bet it's an Indian。〃
〃How do you do； Miss Gastell；〃 Smoke addressed。
〃How do you do；〃 she answered； with a turn of the head and a quick
glance。 〃It's too dark to see。 Who are you？〃
〃Smoke；〃
She laughed in the frost； and he was certain it was the prettiest
laughter he had ever heard。
〃And have you married and raised all those children you were telling
me about？〃 Before he could retort； she went on。 〃How many
chechaquos are there behind？〃
〃Several thousand； I imagine。 We passed over three hundred。 And
they weren't wasting any time。〃
〃It's the old story；〃 she said bitterly。 〃The new…comers get in on the
rich creeks； and the old…timers who dared and suffered and made this
country； get nothing。 Old…timers made this discovery on Squaw Creek
how it leaked out is the mysteryand they sent word up to all the old…
timers on Sea Lion。 But it's ten miles farther than Dawson； and when
they arrive they'll find the creek staked to the skyline by the Dawson
chechaquos。 It isn't right； it isn't fair； such perversity of luck。〃
〃It is too bad；〃 Smoke sympathized。 〃But I'm hanged if I know what
you're going to do about it。 First come； first served； you know。〃
〃I wish I could do something；〃 she flashed back at him。 〃I'd like to
see them all freeze on the trail； or have everything terrible happen to them；
so long as the Sea Lion stampede arrived first。〃
〃You've certainly got it in for us； hard；〃 he laughed。
〃It isn't that；〃 she said quickly。 〃Man by man； I know the crowd from
Sea Lion； and they are men。 They starved in this country in the old days；
and they worked like giants to develop it。 I went through the hard times
on the Koyokuk with them when I was a little girl。 And I was with them
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in the Birch Creek famine； and in the Forty Mile famine。 They are
heroes； and they deserve some reward； and yet here are thousands of green
softlings who haven't earned the right to stake anything； miles and miles
ahead of them。 And now； if you'll forgive my tirade； I'll save my breath；
for I don't know when you and all the rest may try to pass dad and me。〃
No further talk passed between Joy and Smoke for an hour or so；
though he noticed that for a time she and her father talked in low tones。
〃I know'm now；〃 Shorty told Smoke。 〃He's old Louis Gastell； an' the
real goods。 That must be his kid。 He come into this country so long
ago they ain't nobody can recollect； an' he brought the girl with him； she
only a baby。 Him an' Beetles was tradin' partners an' they ran the first
dinkey little steamboat up the Koyokuk。〃
〃I don't think we'll try to pass them；〃 Smoke said。 〃We're at the head
of the stampede； and there are only four of us。〃
Shorty agreed； and another hour of silence followed； during which
they swung steadily along。 At seven o'clock； the blackness was broken
by a last display of the aurora borealis； which showed to the west a broad
opening between snow…clad mountains。
〃Squaw Creek！〃 Joy exclaimed。
〃Goin' some；〃 Shorty exulted。 〃We oughtn't to ben there for another
half hour to the least； accordin' to my reckonin'。 I must a' ben spreadin'
my legs。〃
It was at this point that the Dyea trail； baffled by ice…jams； swerved
abruptly across the Yukon to the east bank。 And here they must leave the
hard…packed； main…travelled trail； mount the jams； and follow a dim trail；
but slightly packed； that hovered the west bank。
Louis Gastell； leading； slipped in the darkness on the rough ice； and sat
up； holding his ankle in both his hands。 He struggled to his feet and went
on； but at a slower pace and with a perceptible limp。 After a few minutes
he abruptly halted。
〃It's no use；〃 he said to his daughter。 〃I've sprained a tendon。 You go
ahead and stake for me as well as yourself。〃
〃Can't we do something？〃 Smoke asked。
Louis Gastell shook his head。
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〃She can stake two claims as well as one。 I'll crawl over to the bank；
start a fire； and bandage my ankle。 I'll be all right。 Go on； Joy。 Stake
ours above the Discovery claim； it's richer higher up。〃
〃Here's some birch bark；〃 Smoke said； dividing his supply equally。
〃We'll take care of your daughter。〃
Louis Gastell laughed harshly。
〃Thank you just the same；〃 he said。 〃But she can take care of herself。
Follow her and watch her。〃
〃Do you mind if I lead？〃 she asked Smoke； as she headed on。 〃I
know this country better than you。〃
〃Lead on；〃 Smoke answered gallantly； 〃though I agree with you it's a
darned shame all us chechaquos are going to beat that Sea Lion bunch to it。
Isn't there some way to shake them？〃
She shook her head。
〃We can't hide our trail； and they'll follow it like sheep。〃
After a quarter of a mile； she turned sharply to the west。 Smoke
noticed that they were going through unpacked snow； but neither he nor
Shorty observed that the dim trail they had been on still led south。 Had
they witnessed the subsequent procedure of Louis Gastell； the history of
the Klondike would have been written differently； for they would have
seen that old…timer； no longer limping； running with his nose to the trail
like a hound； following them。 Also； they would have seen him trample
and widen the turn they had made to the west。 And； finally； they would
have seen him keep on the old dim trail that still led south。
A trail did run up the creek； but so slight was it that they continually
lost it in the darkness。 After a quarter of an hour； Joy Gastell was willing
to drop into the rear and let the two men take turns in breaking a way
through the snow。 This slowness of the leaders enabled the whole
stampede to catch up； and when daylight came； at nine o'clock； as far back
as they could see was an unbroken line of men。 Joy's dark eyes sparkled
at the sight。
〃How long since we started up the creek？〃 she asked。
〃Fully two hours；〃 Smoke answered。
〃And two hours back makes four；〃 she laughed。 〃The stampede from
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Sea Lion is saved。〃
A faint suspicion cross