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Churchill waved his hand in token that he had got it。 In truth； had
Macdonald； half a mile away； opened his window； he'd have got it； too。
The tumult of farewell rose again； the gongs clanged； and the Seattle No。 4
went ahead； swung out into the stream； turned on her heel； and headed
down the Yukon； Bondell and Churchill waving farewell and mutual
affection to the last。
That was in midsummer。 In the fall of the year； the W。 H。 Willis
started up the Yukon with two hundred homeward…bound pilgrims on
board。 Among them was Churchill。 In his state…room； in the middle of
a clothes…bag； was Louis Bondell's grip。 It was a small； stout leather
affair； and its weight of forty pounds always made Churchill nervous when
he wandered too far from it。 The man in the adjoining state…room had a
treasure of gold…dust hidden similarly in a clothes… bag； and the pair of
them ultimately arranged to stand watch and watch。 While one went
down to eat； the other kept an eye on the two state…room doors。 When
Churchill wanted to take a hand at whist； the other man mounted guard；
and when the other man wanted to relax his soul； Churchill read four…
months' old newspapers on a camp stool between the two doors。
There were signs of an early winter； and the question that was
discussed from dawn till dark； and far into the dark； was whether they
would get out before the freeze…up or be compelled to abandon the
steamboat and tramp out over the ice。 There were irritating delays。
Twice the engines broke down and had to be tinkered up； and each time
there were snow flurries to warn them of the imminence of winter。 Nine
times the W。 H。 Willis essayed to ascend the Five… Finger Rapids with her
impaired machinery； and when she succeeded； she was four days behind
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her very liberal schedule。 The question that then arose was whether or
not the steamboat Flora would wait for her above the Box Canon。 The
stretch of water between the head of the Box Canon and the foot of the
White Horse Rapids was unnavigable for steamboats； and passengers were
transhipped at that point； walking around the rapids from one steamboat to
the other。 There were no telephones in the country； hence no way of
informing the waiting Flora that the Willis was four days late； but coming。
When the W。 H。 Willis pulled into White Horse； it was learned that the
Flora had waited three days over the limit； and had departed only a few
hours before。 Also； it was learned that she would tie up at Tagish Post till
nine o'clock； Sunday morning。 It was then four o'clock； Saturday
afternoon。 The pilgrims called a meeting。 On board was a large
Peterborough canoe； consigned to the police post at the head of Lake
Bennett。 They agreed to be responsible for it and to deliver it。 Next；
they called for volunteers。 Two men were needed to make a race for the
Flora。 A score of men volunteered on the instant。 Among them was
Churchill； such being his nature that he volunteered before he thought of
Bondell's gripsack。 When this thought came to him； he began to hope
that he would not be selected； but a man who had made a name as captain
of a college football eleven； as a president of an athletic club； as a dog…
musher and a stampeder in the Yukon； and； moreover； who possessed such
shoulders as he； had no right to avoid the honour。 It was thrust upon him
and upon a gigantic German； Nick Antonsen。
While a crowd of the pilgrims； the canoe on their shoulders； started on
a trot over the portage； Churchill ran to his state…room。 He turned the
contents of the clothes…bag on the floor and caught up the grip； with the
intention of entrusting it to the man next door。 Then the thought smote
him that it was not his grip； and that he had no right to let it out of his
possession。 So he dashed ashore with it and ran up the portage changing
it often from one hand to the other； and wondering if it really did not
weigh more than forty pounds。
It was half…past four in the afternoon when the two men started。 The
current of the Thirty Mile River was so strong that rarely could they use
the paddles。 It was out on one bank with a tow…line over the shoulders；
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stumbling over the rocks； forcing a way through the underbrush； slipping
at times and falling into the water； wading often up to the knees and waist；
and then； when an insurmountable bluff was encountered； it was into the
canoe； out paddles； and a wild and losing dash across the current to the
other bank； in paddles； over the side； and out tow…line again。 It was
exhausting work。 Antonsen toiled like the giant he was； uncomplaining；
persistent； but driven to his utmost by the powerful body and indomitable
brain of Churchill。 They never paused for rest。 It was go； go； and keep
on going。 A crisp wind blew down the river； freezing their hands and
making it imperative； from time to time； to beat the blood back into the
numbed fingers。
As night came on； they were compelled to trust to luck。 They fell
repeatedly on the untravelled banks and tore their clothing to sheds in the
underbrush they could not see。 Both men were badly scratched and
bleeding。 A dozen times； in their wild dashes from bank to bank； they
struck snags and were capsized。 The first time this happened； Churchill
dived and groped in three feet of water for the gripsack。 He lost half an
hour in recovering it； and after that it was carried securely lashed to the
canoe。 As long as the canoe floated it was safe。 Antonsen jeered at the
grip； and toward morning began to curse it； but Churchill vouchsafed no
explanations。
Their delays and mischances were endless。 On one swift bend；
around which poured a healthy young rapid； they lost two hours； making a
score of attempts and capsizing twice。 At this point； on both banks； were
precipitous bluffs； rising out of deep water； and along which they could
neither tow nor pole； while they could not gain with the paddles against
the current。 At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles；
and each time； with heads nigh to bursting from the effort； they were
played out and swept back。 They succeeded finally by an accident。 In
the swiftest current； near the end of another failure； a freak of the current
sheered the canoe out of Churchill's control and flung it against the bluff。
Churchill made a blind leap at the bluff and landed in a crevice。 Holding
on with one hand； he held the swamped canoe with the other till Antonsen
dragged himself out of the water。 Then they pulled the canoe out and
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rested。 A fresh start at this crucial point took them by。 They landed on
the bank above and plunged immediately ashore and into the brush with
the tow…line。
Daylight found them far below Tagish Post。 At nine o'clock Sunday
morning they could hear the Flora whistling her departure。 And when； at
ten o'clock； they dragged themselves in to the Post； they could barely see
the Flora's smoke far to the southward。 It was a pair of worn…out
tatterdemalions that Captain Jones of the Mounted Police welcomed and
fed； and he afterward averred that they possessed two of the most
tremendous appetites he had ever observed。 They lay down and slept in
their wet rags by the stove。 At the end of two hours Churchill got up；
carried Bondell's grip； which he had used for a pillow； down to the