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babe at the breast。 Those who had not yet seen the wonder were keen
with curiosity； those who had became silent and retrospective。 They
could face the pinch of famine； the grip of scurvy； or the quick death
by field or flood； but the pictured semblance of a stranger woman
and child made women and children of them all。
'Never have seen the youngster yet… he's a boy； she says； and two
years old；' said the stranger as he received the treasure back。 A
lingering moment he gazed upon it； then snapped the case and turned
away； but not quick enough to hide the restrained rush of tears。
Malemute Kid led him to a bunk and bade him turn in。
'Call me at four sharp。 Don't fail me；' were his last words； and a
moment later he was breathing in the heaviness of exhausted sleep。
'By Jove！ He's a plucky chap；' commented Prince。 'Three hours' sleep
after seventy…five miles with the dogs； and then the trail again。
Who is he； Kid？'
'Jack Westondale。 Been in going on three years； with nothing but the
name of working like a horse； and any amount of bad luck to his
credit。 I never knew him； but Sitka Charley told me about him。'
'It seems hard that a man with a sweet young wife like his should be
putting in his years in this Godforsaken hole； where every year counts
two on the outside。'
'The trouble with him is clean grit and stubbornness。 He's cleaned
up twice with a stake； but lost it both times。'
Here the conversation was broken off by an uproar from Bettles；
for the effect had begun to wear away。 And soon the bleak years of
monotonous grub and deadening toil were being forgotten in rough
merriment。 Malemute Kid alone seemed unable to lose himself； and
cast many an anxious look at his watch。 Once he put on his mittens and
beaver…skin cap； and； leaving the cabin； fell to rummaging about in
the cache。
Nor could he wait the hour designated； for he was fifteen minutes
ahead of time in rousing his guest。 The young giant had stiffened
badly； and brisk rubbing was necessary to bring him to his feet。 He
tottered painfully out of the cabin； to find his dogs harnessed and
everything ready for the start。 The company wished him good luck and a
short chase； while Father Roubeau； hurriedly blessing him； led the
stampede for the cabin； and small wonder； for it is not good to face
seventy…four degrees below zero with naked ears and hands。
Malemute Kid saw him to the main trail； and there； gripping his hand
heartily； gave him advice。
'You'll find a hundred pounds of salmon eggs on the sled；' he
said。 'The dogs will go as far on that as with one hundred and fifty
of fish； and you can't get dog food at Pelly； as you probably
expected。' The stranger started； and his eyes flashed； but he did
not interrupt。 'You can't get an ounce of food for dog or man till you
reach Five Fingers； and that's a stiff two hundred miles。 Watch out
for open water on the Thirty Mile River； and be sure you take the
big cutoff above Le Barge。'
'How did you know it？ Surely the news can't be ahead of me already？'
'I don't know it； and what's more； I don't want to know it。 But
you never owned that team you're chasing。 Sitka Charley sold it to
them last spring。 But he sized you up to me as square once； and I
believe him。 I've seen your face； I like it。 And I've seen… why；
damn you； hit the high places for salt water and that wife of yours；
and…' Here the Kid unmittened and jerked out his sack。
'No； I don't need it；' and the tears froze on his cheeks as he
convulsively gripped Malemute Kid's hand。
'Then don't spare the dogs； cut them out of the traces as fast as
they drop； buy them； and think they're cheap at ten dollars a pound。
You can get them at Five Fingers； Little Salmon； and Hootalinqua。
And watch out for wet feet；' was his parting advice。 'Keep a…traveling
up to twenty…five； but if it gets below that； build a fire and
change your socks。'
Fifteen minutes had barely elapsed when the jingle of bells
announced new arrivals。 The door opened； and a mounted policeman of
the Northwest Territory entered； followed by two half…breed dog
drivers。 Like Westondale； they were heavily armed and showed signs
of fatigue。 The half…breeds had been borne to the trail and bore it
easily； but the young policeman was badly exhausted。 Still； the dogged
obstinacy of his race held him to the pace he had set； and would
hold him till he dropped in his tracks。
'When did Westondale pull out？' he asked。 'He stopped here； didn't
he？' This was supererogatory； for the tracks told their own tale too
well。
Malemute Kid had caught Belden's eye； and he； scenting the wind；
replied evasively； 'A right peart while back。'
'Come； my man； speak up；' the policeman admonished。
'Yeh seem to want him right smart。 Hez he ben gittin' cantankerous
down Dawson way？'
'Held up Harry McFarland's for forty thousand； exchanged it at the
P。C。 store for a check on Seattle； and who's to stop the cashing of it
if we don't overtake him？ When did he pull out？'
Every eye suppressed its excitement； for Malemute Kid had given
the cue； and the young officer encountered wooden faces on every hand。
Striding over to Prince； he put the question to him。 Though it
hurt him； gazing into the frank； earnest face。 of his fellow
countryman； he replied inconsequentially on the state of the trail。
Then he espied Father Roubeau； who could not lie。 'A quarter of an
hour ago；' the priest answered； 'but he had four hours' rest for
himself and dogs。'
'Fifteen minutes' start； and he's fresh！ My God！' The poor fellow
staggered back； half fainting from exhaustion and disappointment；
murmuring something about the run from Dawson in ten hours and the
dogs being played out。
Malemute Kid forced a mug of punch upon him； then he turned for
the door； ordering the dog drivers to follow。 But the warmth and
promise of rest were too tempting； and they objected strenuously。
The Kid was conversant with their French patois； and followed it
anxiously。
They swore that the dogs were gone up； that Siwash and Babette would
have to be shot before the first mile was covered； that the rest were
almost as bad； and that it would be better for all hands to rest up。
'Lend me five dogs？' he asked； turning to Malemute Kid。
But the Kid shook his head。
'I'll sign a check on Captain Constantine for five thousand…
here's my papers… I'm authorized to draw at my own discretion。'
Again the silent refusal。
'Then I'll requisition them in the name of the Queen。'
Smiling incredulously； the Kid glanced at his well…stocked
arsenal； and the Englishman； realizing his impotency； turned for the
door。 But the dog drivers still objecting； he whirled upon them
fiercely； calling them women and curs。 The swart face of the older
half…breed flushed angrily as he drew himself up and promised in good；
round terms that he would travel his leader off his legs； and would
then be delighted to plant him in the snow。
The young officer… and it required his whole will… walked steadily
to the door； exhibiting a freshness he did not possess。 But they all
knew and appreciated his proud effort； nor could he veil the twinges
of agony that shot across his face。 Covered with frost； the dogs
were curled up in the snow； and it was almost impossible to get them
to their feet。 The poor brutes whined under the stinging lash； for the
dog drivers were angry and cruel； nor till Babette； the leader； was
cut from the traces； could they break out the sled and get under way。
'A dirty scoundrel and a liar！' 'By gar！ Him no good！' 'A thief！'
'Worse than an Indian！' It was evident that they were angry… first
at the way they had been deceived； and second at the outraged ethics
of the Northland； where honesty； above all； was man's prime jewel。
'An' we gave the cuss a hand； after knowin' what he'd did。' All eyes
turned accusingly upon Malemute Kid； who rose from the corner where he
had been making Babette comfortable； and silently emptied the bowl for
a final round of punch。
'It's a cold night； boys… a bitter cold night；' was the irrelevant
commencement of his defense。 'You've all traveled trail； and know what
that stands for。 Don't jump a dog when he's down。 You've only heard
one side。 A whiter man than Jack Westondale never ate from the same
pot nor stretched blanket with you or me。 Last fall he gave his
whole clean…up； forty thousand； to Joe Castrell； to buy in on
Dominion。 Today he'd be a millionaire。 But； while he stayed behind
at Circle City； taking care of his partner with the scurvy； what
does Castell do？ Goes into McFarland's； jumps the limit； and drops the
whole sack。 Found him dead in the snow the next day。 And poor Jack
laying his plans to go out this winter to his wife and the boy he's
never seen。 You'll notice he took exactly what his partner lost… forty
thousand。 Well； he's gone out； and what are you going to do about it？'
The Kid glanced round the circle of