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the snow again。 Told him to consider it in the light of a grubstake。
Think he'd have it？ No sir！ Swore he'd give me all he found； make me
rich beyond the dreams of avarice； and all such stuff。 Now a man who
puts his life and time against a grubstake ordinarily finds it hard
enough to turn over half of what he finds。 Something behind all
this； Prince； just you make a note of it。 We'll hear of him if he
stays in the country…'
'And if he doesn't？'
'Then my good nature gets a shock； and I'm sixty some odd ounces
out。'
The cold weather had come on with the long nights； and the sun had
begun to play his ancient game of peekaboo along the southern snow
line ere aught was heard of Malemute Kid's grubstake。 And then； one
bleak morning in early January； a heavily laden dog train pulled
into his cabin below Stuart River。 He of the Otter Skins was there；
and with him walked a man such as the gods have almost forgotten how
to fashion。 Men never talked of luck and pluck and five…hundred…dollar
dirt without bringing in the name of Axel Gunderson； nor could tales
of nerve or strength or daring pass up and down the campfire without
the summoning of his presence。 And when the conversation flagged； it
blazed anew at mention of the woman who shared his fortunes。
As has been noted； in the making of Axel Gunderson the gods had
remembered their old…time cunning and cast him after the manner of men
who were born when the world was young。 Full seven feet he towered
in his picturesque costume which marked a king of Eldorado。 His chest；
neck； and limbs were those of a giant。 To bear his three hundred
pounds of bone and muscle； his snowshoes were greater by a generous
yard than those of other men。 Rough…hewn； with rugged brow and massive
jaw and unflinching eyes of palest blue； his face told the tale of one
who knew but the law of might。 Of the yellow of ripe corn silk； his
frost…incrusted hair swept like day across the night and fell far down
his coat of bearskin。 A vague tradition of the sea seemed to cling
about him as he swung down the narrow trail in advance of the dogs；
and he brought the butt of his dog whip against Malemute Kid's door as
a Norse sea rover； on southern foray； might thunder for admittance
at the castle gate。
Prince bared his womanly arms and kneaded sour…dough bread； casting；
as he did so； many a glance at the three guests… three guests the like
of which might never come under a man's roof in a lifetime。 The
Strange One； whom Malemute Kid had surnamed Ulysses； still
fascinated him； but his interest chiefly gravitated between Axel
Gunderson and Axel Gunderson's wife。 She felt the day's journey； for
she had softened in comfortable cabins during the many days since
her husband mastered the wealth of frozen pay streaks； and she was
tired。 She rested against his great breast like a slender flower
against a wall； replying lazily to Malemute Kid's good…natured banter；
and stirring Prince's blood strangely with an occasional sweep of
her deep； dark eyes。 For Prince was a man； and healthy； and had seen
few women in many months。 And she was older than he； and an Indian
besides。 But she was different from all native wives he had met： she
had traveled… had been in his country among others； he gathered from
the conversation； and she knew most of the things the women of his own
race knew； and much more that it was not in the nature of things for
them to know。 She could make a meal of sun…dried fish or a bed in
the snow； yet she teased them with tantalizing details of
many…course dinners； and caused strange internal dissensions to
arise at the mention of various quondam dishes which they had
well…nigh forgotten。 She knew the ways of the moose； the bear； and the
little blue fox； and of the wild amphibians of the Northern seas；
she was skilled in the lore of the woods； and the streams； and the
tale writ by man and bird and beast upon the delicate snow crust was
to her an open book； yet Prince caught the appreciative twinkle in her
eye as she read the Rules of the Camp。 These rules had been fathered
by the Unquenchable Bettles at a time when his blood ran high； and
were remarkable for the terse simplicity of their humor。 Prince always
turned them to the wall before the arrival of ladies； but who could
suspect that this native wife… Well； it was too late now。
This； then； was the wife of Axel Gunderson； a woman whose name and
fame had traveled with her husband's； hand in hand； through all the
Northland。 At table； Malemute Kid baited her with the assurance of
an old friend； and Prince shook off the shyness of first
acquaintance and joined in。 But she held her own in the unequal
contest； while her husband； slower in wit； ventured naught but
applause。 And he was very proud of her； his every look and action
revealed the magnitude of the place she occupied in his life。 He of
the Otter Skins ate in silence； forgotten in the merry battle； and
long ere the others were done he pushed back from the table and went
out among the dogs。 Yet all too soon his fellow travelers drew on
their mittens and parkas and followed him。
There had been no snow for many days； and the sleds slipped along
the hard…packed Yukon trail as easily as if it had been glare ice。
Ulysses led the first sled； with the second came Prince and Axel
Gunderson's wife； while Malemute Kid and the yellow…haired giant
brought up the third。
'It's only a hunch； Kid；' he said； 'but I think it's straight。
He's never been there； but he tells a good story； and shows a map I
heard of when I was in the Kootenay country years ago。 I'd like to
have you go along； but he's a strange one； and swore point…blank to
throw it up if anyone was brought in。 But when I come back you'll
get first tip； and I'll stake you next to me； and give you a half
share in the town site besides。'
'No！ no！' he cried； as the other strove to interrupt。 'I'm running
this； and before I'm done it'll need two heads。 If it's all right；
why； it'll be a second Cripple Creek； man； do you hear？… a second
Cripple Creek！ It's quartz； you know； not placer； and if we work it
right we'll corral the whole thing… millions upon millions。 I've heard
of the place before； and so have you。 We'll build a town… thousands of
workmen… good waterways… steamship lines… big carrying trade…
light…draught steamers for head reaches… survey a railroad； perhaps…
sawmills… electric…light plant… do our own banking… commercial
company… syndicate… Say！ Just you hold your hush till I get back！'
The sleds came to a halt where the trail crossed the mouth of Stuart
River。 An unbroken sea of frost； its wide expanse stretched away
into the unknown east。 The snowshoes were withdrawn from the
lashings of the sleds。 Axel Gunderson shook hands and stepped to the
fore； his great webbed shoes sinking a fair half yard into the
feathery surface and packing the snow so the dogs should not wallow。
His wife fell in behind the last sled； betraying long pra