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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 1910)
The SILVER. HORDE! B RCX BEACH. Author ol 'The Spoiled- and 'The Burner' Cpynhl 1909 bv Hrpi Broihtn CHAPTER III. mllE girl darted a swift look at Boyd, but he fell to brooding again, evidently Insensible to her presence. At length he stirred himself to ask: "Can I hire a guide hereabout? We'll have to be going on In a day or so." "Constantine will get you one. 1 suppose, of course, you will avoid the Katmal pass?" "Avoid ll? Why?" "It's dangerous, and nobody travels It except In the direst emergency. It's much the shortest route to the coast, but It has a record of some thirty deaths. I should advise you to cross the range farther east, where the di vide Is lower. The mall boat touches at both places." On the following morning Cherry told Constantine to hitch up ber team and have it waiting when breakfast was finished. Then she turned to Em erson, who came Into the room and said quietly: "I have something to show you If you will take a short ride with me." The young man, Impressed by the gravity of bcr manner, readily con sented. Constantine freed the leader, and they went off at a mad run. They skimmed over the snow with the flight of a bird. The young man gave himself up to the unique and rather delightful ex perience of being transported through an unknown country to an unknown destination by a charming girl of whom be also knew nothing. "Yesterday you seemed to be taken by the fishing business," she finally said. "I certainly waa until you told me there were no cannery sites left" "There is one. When I came here a year ago the whole river was open, so on an outside chance I located a site, the best one available. When Willis Marsh learned of it he took up all of the remaining places, and. al though at the time I bad no idea what I was going to do with my property. I hung on to It" "I can't buy your site." "Nobody asked you to." she smiled. "I wouldn't sell Jt Jo you if ygu,had TOOETHIB THET ASCENDED THE BAKE AHD SDBVEXKO TUB SUBKOC.NDLNOfJ. the money, but if you will build a cannery on It I'll turn In the ground for an interest" Emerson meditated a moment then replied. "I can't say yes or no. It's a pretty big proposition $200,000, you said?" "Yes. It's a big opportunity. Vou can clean up 100 per cent In a year. Do you think you could raise the money to build a plant?" "I might" be said eautlously. "At least you can try?" "But 1 don't know anything about the business." "I've thought of nil that, and there's ; a way to make success certain. I be lieve you bure executive ability and mo handle these men." "Oh, yes. I've done that sort of thing" Ills broad shoulders went up as he drew a long breath. "What's your plan?" "There's a man down the coast. Ceorjre Half, who knows more about the business than any four people In Kalvik. lie discovered iie Kalvlk liver, built the first runner, here and was .Its foremuu until lie quarreled with Marsh Halt Isn't the kind of man to be disciplined. 'no. not having enough money to build a cannery, he took bis scanty capital and started a saltery on his own uccount Marsh broke George in a year, ruined him. utterly wiped him out. Just a he In tends to wipe out Insignificant nie. Thinking to recoup bin fortunes, George came back Into camp, but he owus a valuable trap site which Marsb and bis colleagues want, and before they would give him work they tried to make him assign It to them and con tract never to go in business on bis own account Naturally George re fused. He's been starving now for two years. "No man dar ta furnish food George Bait: no man dares to give him a bed; no cannery will let him work He has to take a dory to Dutch Harbor to net fd lie doesn't dare leave the country and abandoo tha meatier thousands he has Invested In I'liiUllns. and every summer when the run starts he conies across the marshes and slinks about the Kalvik thickets like a wraith, watching from afar Just in order to be near it all. lie stands alone and forsaken, harking to the clank of machinery, every bolt of which be placed, watching his enemies enrich themselves from that gleaming silver army, which he con siders his very own. ne is shunned like a leper. Some time I believe he will kill Marsh." "ntn-m! One seems to be forever crossing the trail of this Marsh." said Boyd, who bad listened intently. "The man who beats Marsh will have done something." She paused, then said deliberately, "And I believe you are the one to do It" They, bad reached their destination the mouth of a deep creek, up which Cherry turned her dogs. Emerson leaped from the sled and. runnlug for ward, seized the leader, guiding It Into a clump of spruce, among the boles of which be tangled the harness, for this team was like a pack of wolves, ravenous for travel and Intolerant of the leash. Together they ascended the bank and surveyed the surroundings. Cherry ex patiating upon every feature with the fervor of a land agent bent on weav ing his spell about a prospective buyer. And In truth she hnd chosen well, for the conditions seemed Ideal "I've watched you, and I know you are down on your luck for some rea son," the girl said. "You've been mis cast somehow, an 1 you ve baa tne heart taken out of you, but I'm sure It's In you to succeed, for you're young and Intelligent cool and determined. I am giving you this chance to play the biggest game of your life and erase In eight short months every trace of failure. I'm not doing it altogether unselfishly, for I believe you've been sent to Kalvik to work out your own salvation and mine and that of poor George Bait whom you've never seen. You're going to do this thing, and you're going to make It win." Emerson reached out Impulsively and caught her tiny, mittened band. Ilis eyes were shining; his face bad lost the settled look of dejection and was all aglow with a new dawn of hope. Even bis shoulders were lifted and thrown back as If from some sudden access of vigor that lightened bis bur den. "You're right!" be said firmly. "We'll send for Bait tonight " In the davs that followed Cherry was at Boyd's elbow constantly, aid ing him at every turn in his zeal to acquire a knowledge of the cannery system. The odd conviction grew upon her that he was working against time, that there was a limit to his period of action, for he seemed obsessed by an ever growing passion to accomplish some end within a given time and had no thought for anything beyond the engrossing Issue Into which be had plunged. She was dumfounded by his sudden transformation and delighted at first, but later, when she saw that be regarded her only as a means to an end, his cool assumption of leader ship piqued her and Rlie felt hurt Constantine had been sent for Bait with Instructions to keep on until he found the fisherman even If the quest carried him over the range. During the days of impatient waiting they oc cupied tbelr time largely In reconnol terlng the nearest caunery. permission to go over which Cherry had secured from the watchman, who was Indebted to her. The man was timid at llrst. but Emerson won him over, then pro ceeded to. pump blm dry of Informa tion, as be bad done with bis hostess. Fraser looked on In bewilderment at the change In Emerson. What have you doue to 'Frozen Annie?' " he asked Cherry on one oc casion. "You must have fed blm a speed ball, for I never saw a guy gear up ao fast Why, be was the darndest crape banger I ever met till you got him gingered up. lie didn't have no more spirit than a sick kit ten." Fraser then eyed the girl keenly. "This Is a lonely place for a woman like you." be said, "and our mutual friend ain't altogether unattractive, eh?" Cherry's cheeks flamed, but her tone was Icy. "This Is entirely a business matter." "Ilm-tn! I ain't' never beard you touted none as a business woman," said the adventurer. "Have you ever beard me" the col or faded from the girl's face, and it was a trifle drawn "discussed In any way?" "You know, Emerson makes me un comfortable sometimes, be Is so d d moral." Fraser replied Indirectly. "He won't stand for anything off color. He's a real sijuare guy, be Is, the kind you read about." "You didn't answer my question," Insisted Cherry. Again Fraser evaded the Issue. "Now, If this Mnrsbla guln after von in earnest this summer why ion t you let me stick around until spring and look out your game? I'll drop a monkey wreucb In his gear case or put a spider In his dumpling, and It's more tbnn an even shot that If him and I got to know pach other right well I'd own bis cannery before fall." "Thank you: I can take care of my self." said the girl. Late one stormy night Constantine bad been gone a week the two men whom they were expecting blew In through tbe blinding smother. Bait refuse res'. r conrlshment nntll he had learned why Cherry had sent for him. A briefly s possible ht outlined the uttuMlon Hovd Eiuerann lar a huse. tarrel cheated creature whose tremendous inn. Ics bulged te aeatb his uoihIktI;h gnrinonts, whose red. upstanding brist'.e of hair topped t leather counteiiauie from which gleamed a pair of the most violent eyes Emerson had ever beheld, tbe donil naut expression of which was rago. Ills voice was hotirse with the echo 3f drumming ratlines. He might have lived forty, sixty years, but every year had been given to the sea; Its foaming violence was In his blood. As the significance of Cherry's words lank into bis mind the signs of an un- "I'LL GIVE MY LIFE TO IT." holy Joy overspread the fisherman's visage, and bis hairy paws continued to open and close hungrily. "Do you mean business? he bellow ed at Emerson. "Can you fight? "Yes." "This gan? won't stop at anything," warned Bait "Neither will I," affirmed the other, with a scowl and a dangerous down drawing of his lip corners. "I've got to win. so don't waste any time won dering bow far I'll go. What I want to know is if you will Join my enter prise." Til give my life to It" "I knew you would," flashed Cherry. "And If we don't beat Willis Marsh, by glory. I'll kill him!" Bait shouted, fullv canable of carrying out his threat for his bloodshot eyes were lit with bitter hatred. Turning to the girl, he said: "Now give me something to eat I've been living on dogfish till my belly is full of bones." Long after Cherry bad gone to bed she heard the murmur of their voices, "It's all arranged." they advised her at the breakfast table. "We leave to morrow." "Tomorrow?" she echoed blankly "We start in the morning. We have no time to waste." She felt a sudden dread at her hpart What If they failed and did not re turn? What If some untoward peril should overtake them on the outward trip? It was a hazardous Journey, and George Bait was the most reckless man on the Bering coast. . Emerson's next words added to her alarm: "We'll catch the mall boat at Kat maL" "Katmal!" she broke In sharply. "You said you were going by the Illam na route." She turned on Bait angrl ly. "Y'ou know better than to suggest such a thing." 1 didn't suggest It." said Bait "It's Mr. Emerson's own Idea: be Insists. "I shall be dreadfully worried until I kuow you are safely over." said tbe girl, a new note of wistful tenderness in her voice. "Nonsense! We've all taken bigger risks before." "Do you know." she began hesitat ingly, "I've been thinking that per haps you'd better not take up this enterprise after all." "Why not?" be asked, with an In credulous stare. "I thought you were enthusiastic on tbe subject" "I am. I believe In the proposition thoroughly," Cherry limped on, "but well, 1 was entirely selfish in getting you started, for if possibly means my own salvation, but" "It's my last chance also," Boyd broke In. "A few days ago you were a stranger; now you are a friend." she said stead ily. "One's likes and dislikes - grow rapidly when they are. not choked by convention. I like you toe well to see you do this. You are too good a man to become the prey of those people. Remember George Bait" "Bait hasn't started yet For the first time be Is a real menace to Willis Harsh." "Won't you take my advice and re consider?" urged the girl. "Listen," said the young man. "I came to this country with a definite purpose In mind, and I bad three years In which to work It out I needed money God. how I needed money! They may talk about tbe emptiness of riches and tell you that men labor not for the 'kill. but for tbo pursuit; not for the Btore, but for the contest Maybe some of them do, but with me It was gold I needed, gold I bad to have, and I didn't care much bow I got It so Jone as I got It honestly. I focused every power upon, my aesire, but a curse was on mc a curse, nothing less. At first I took misfor tune philosophically, but when It came and slept with me I began to rage at It It was terrifying because my time was shortening, and tbe last day of grace was rushing toward me. "Just to show you what luck I play ed in, at Dnwson I found a prospect that would have made most men rich, and. although such a thing had never happened In that locality before, it pinched out. I tried again a:n1 again. e,nd fitT'll, .".,' 'jtl'J'ir "'-"", to be nibbed of It by the Canadian law In such a manner that there was not the faintest hope of my ever re covering the nrourtv. I flna'lv shifted from mining to other ventures, and he town burued. 1 awoke in a tnid- Igbt blizzard to see my cbence for a fortune licked up by flames, while the hiss of the water from tbe firemen's hose seemed directed at me, and tbe voice of the crowd sounded like Jeers. "I was among the first at Nome and staked alongside the discoverers who undertook to put me in right for once; but although the fellows around me made fortunes in a day, my grouud was barren and my bedrock swept clean by that unseen band which I ways felt but could never avoid. Once a broken snowsuoe In a race to the recorder's office lost me a for tune; at another time a corrupt Judge plunged me from certainty to despair, and all the while my time was grow ing shorter aud I was growing poorer. Two hours after tho Topkuk strike was made I drove past the shaft, but the one partner known to me had gone to the cabin to build a fire and the other one lied to me. thinking 1 was a stranger. I heard afterward that Just as I drove away my friend came to the door and called after me, but the day was bitter, and my ears were muffled with fur, while the dry snow beneath the runners shrieked so that It drowned his cries. He chased me for half a mile to make nie rich, but the hand of fate lashed my dogs faster and faster, while that hellish screech ing outdlnned his voice. Six hours later Topkuk was history. You've seen stampedes you understand. "My name became a byword and caused people to laugh, though they shrank from me, for miners and sail ors are equally superstitious. No man ever had more opportunities than 1. and no man was ever so miserably unfortunate In missing them. In time I became whipped, utterly without hope. Yet almost from habit I fought on and on with my ears deaf to tbe voices that mocked me. "And something tells me that I have left that ill omened thing behind at last, and 1 am going to win!" "But you're too late." suggested Cherry. "You say your time was up some time ago." "Perhaps." he returned, staring Into the distances. "That's what I was going out to ascertain. I thought I might have a few days of grace allow. ed me. That's why I can't quit now that you've set me in motion again. now that you've given me another chance. That's why we leave tomor row and go by way of the Katmal pass." ' ' CHAPTER IV. URINO the evening Emerson D left the two other men In tbe store, and. seeking Cherry out In the little parlor, asked ber to play for him. Again tbe blend Ing of tbelr voices brought them closer, bis aloofness wore off, and he became an agreeable, accomplished companion whose merry wit and boy Ish sympathy stirred emotions In the girl that threatened her peace of mind It was their last hour together before embnrklug on his perl'ous Jour ney In search of the golden fleece, and bis starved affections clamored for sympathy, while tbe Iron In his blood felt the magnetic propinquity of sex, For her part, she lay awake far Into the morning hours, now blissfully floating on the current of half formed desires, now vaeuely feu ring some dread that clutched her. The goodbys were, brief and com monplace. There was time for noth Ing more, for tbe dogs were straining to be off and the December air bit fiercely. But Cherry called Emerson aside and In a rather tremulous voice begged him again to consider well this enterprise before finally committing himself to it "If this were any other country, If there were any law up here or any certainty of getting a square deal I'd never say a word; I'd urge you to go the limit But" He was about to laugh otr her rears as he had done before, when the plain tlve wrinkle between her brows aud "OOODBYl THAT'S MY ANSWEK." the forlorn droop of her Hps stayed blm. W Itbout thought or conse quences and prompted largely by hi leaping spirits, ho stooped and. before she could divine bis purpose, kissed ber. "Goodby," be laughed, with dancln eyes. "Thut's my answer!" And the next second bo was at the sled. Th dogs leaped at Ids shout, aud the clival cade was in motion. But the girl stood without sound or gesture, bareheaded under the wintry sky, a startled, wondering light In ber eyes wblcb did not fade until the men were lost to view far up tbe river trail Ihenjho hreh'jd deeply snd ftv"ned Into the bouie, oblivious to Cotistan tlne and the young squaw, who belJ the sick baby up for her Inspection. The hazards of winter travel In the north are manifold ri Wt, but the country which Emerson and his com panions had to traverse was particu larly perilous owing to the fact that their course led them over the back bone of the great Alaskau range, that desolate, skyscraping rampart which Interposes itself betweeu the htite of the arctic seas and the tossing wilder ness of the north Tactile. A wetk of bard travel fouud the party camped in the last fringe of Cottonwood that fronted the glacial lopes, their number augmented now by a native from a Russian village ltb an unpronounceable name, who. t the price of an extortionate bribe. had agreed to pilot them through. For three days they lay Idle, the taut walls of their tent thrumming to an Inces sant fusillade of Ice particles that hlrled dowu ahead of the blast while Emerson fumed to be gone. The fourth morning broke still and quiet but after a careful scrutiny of tbe peaks the Indian shook his bead and spoke to Bait who nodded in agreement ' "What's the matter?" growled Em erson. "Why don't we get uuder way?" But the other replied: Not today. Them tips are smok ing, see!" He indicated certain gauzy streamers that floated like vapor from the highest pinnacles. "That'a snow, ry snow, and It shows that tbe wind is blowing up there. We dassent tackle It" "Do you mean we must He here wait ing for an absolutely calm day?" "Exactly." "Why, It may be a week!" "It may be two of them; then, again. It may be all right tomorrow." "Nonsense! That breeze won't hurt anybody." "Breeze!" Bait laughed. "U'i more like a tornado up yonder. .No; we've ust got to takeTTTFasy fill the right moment comes and then make a dash. It's thirty miles to tbe nearest stick of timber, and once you get Into the pass you can't stop till you're through." The next dawn showed the mountain peaks limned like clean cut Ivory against the steel blue sky, and aa tbey crept up through the defiles the air waa ao motionless that the smoke of their pipes hung about their beads, while the creak of their soles upon the dry surface of the anow roused echoes from the walls on either aide, At first their progress was rapid, but In time tbe drifts grew deeper and they came to bluffs where they were forced to notch footholds, unpack their load and relay it to the top, then free the dogs and haul tbe sled up with rope hand over band. It was early in the afternoon when the Indian stopped and began test ing the air. "Feels like wind," said Bait with a shake of his bead. The native began to chatter excitedly, and as they stood there a chill draft fanned their cheeks. Little wisps of snow vapor began to dauce upon the ridges, whisk ing out of sight as suddenly as they appeared. They became conscious of sudden fall in the temperature and tbey knew that tbe cold of interstellar space dwelt in that ghostly breath which smote them. Before they were well aware of tho ominous signifi cance of these signs the storm was upon them, sweeping through the chute wherein they stood with rapidly increasing violence. Tbe terrible un seen band of the frozen north had un leashed Its brood of furies, aud the air rang with their hideous cries. There was no question of facing the wlud, for It was more cruel than the fierce breath of an open furnace sear ing tbe tlesh like a flame. All the morning the air hnd bung In perfect poise, but some change of temperature away out over one of tbe rival oceuns had upset the aerostatic balance, and tbe wlud tore through this gap like the torrent below a bro ken reservoir Bait came close to Emerson and bel lowed Into bis ear: "What shall we do? (loll up In the bedding or ruu for It'.'" "How far Is ll to timber?" "Twelve or fifteen miles." "Let's run for It'. We're out of grub, anyhow, and this may last for days." There was no use of trying to secure additional clothing from tbe supply In the sled, so tbey abandoned their out fit and allowed themselves to be driven ahead of tbe storm, trusting to tbe native's sense of direction and keeping close together. Tbe dogs were already well drifted over and refused to stir, Once they bad gone a stone's throw from the sled there way no turning back, and, although tbe wind was be hind them, progress was difficult for tbey came upon chasms wblcb tbey had to avoid; they crossed slippery slopes where tbe storm bad bared the hard crust and which their feet re fused to grip. In such plnces they bad to creep on hands and knees, call ing to one another for guidance. They were numbed, blinded, choked by the rage of the blizzard; their faces grew stiff and their lungs froze. At times they fell and were skidded along ahead of the blasts. This forced them to crawl back again, for tbey dared not lose their course. Much has been written concerning the red man's physical powers of en durance, but ns a rule no Indian if the equal of his white brother, due as much perhaps to luck of mental force as to generations of insufficient cloth' Ing and Inanition, so it was not sur prising that as the long afternoon drugged to a close the Aleut guide be gan to weaken. Darkness found them staggering on. supporting him wherever possible. At Ipnfb he became unable to guide them farther, and Halt, who haJ once mad the trip, took his place, while the oth ers dragged the poor creature along at the cost of their precious strength. They bad lonu since lost all track of time and place, trusting blindly to downward course. The hurrleana Still harried them with unabated fury. when all at once tbey came to another bluff where the ground fell sway abruptly. Without waiting to Investi gate whether the slope terminated In a drift or a preclpace. they flung them selves over. Down they floundered, the two half sensible men tangled to gether as if In a race for total oblivion, only to plunge through a thicket of willow tops that whipped and stung them. On tbey went now vastly heart ened, over another ridge, down an other declivity, and then Into a grova of spruce timber, where the air sud denly stilled, and only the treetops told of tho rushing wind above. It was well nigh an hour before Bait and Emerson succeeded In starting tire, for It was desperate work groping for dry branches, and they themselves were on the verge of collapse before tho timid blaze finally showed tha two more unfortunate ones huddled, to gether. Cherry had given Emerson a flask. of liquor before starting, and this he now" 3Ivlde3 letwecn TFaseraua th guide, having wisely refused It to them nntll shelter was secured. Then he melted snow in Bait's tin cup and poured pints of hot water Into tbe pair until the adventurer began to rally, but tho Aleut was too far gone, and an hour before the laggard dawn cam he died. The day was well spent when they struggled into Katmal and plodded up to a half rotted log store. A globular quarter breed Russian trader took them in and administered to their most cry ing needs. As soon as Emerson was able to talk be Inquired concerning the mall boat "She called here three day ago, bound west" said the trader. "That's all right She'll be back in about a week, eh?" "She wou't stop coming back." "What!" Emerson felt himself Sick ening. "No; she won't call ber till next month, and then if It's storming sbs'U go on to the westward and land on her way back." "How long will that be?" "Maybe seven or eight weeks." In bis weakened condition tbe young man groped for tbe counter to support himself. So tbe storm's delay at th foot of the pass bad undone htm! Fate, In tbo guise of winter, bad un furled those floating snow banners from the mountain peaks to thwart him once more! Out of consideration for bis compan ions Emerson did not acquaint them with the evil tidings until tbe next morning; moreover, he was swallowed up In black despair and had no heart left in blm for any further exertion. He had allowed tbe Russian to show blm to a bed, upon which he flung him self, half dressed, while tho others fol lowed suit Emerson fell Into a deep sleep, and it was lute In the day when be awoke, every muscle aching, every Joint stiff, every step attended with pain. Be found bis companions up and already breakfasted. Big George none the worse for his ordeal, while Fraser, bandaged and smarting, was his old shrewd self. "Have you heard about the mail boat?" asked Emerson. "No." "We've missed her." "What d'you mean?" demanded Bl;t George blankly. "I mean that that storm delayed n Just long enough to ruin us." "Why-er let's wait till the next trip," offered the fisherman. Emerson shook bis bead. "She may not be back here for eight weeks. No! We're done for." Bait was like a big boy In dlstrsss, Ula face wrinkled as If be were about to burst Into loud lamentations. Then a thought seized him. "Where In blazes la this steamer? he cried. "Out to tbe westward somewhere." "Well, she's a mall boat ain't sber Then why don't she stop hers coming back? Answer me." Tbe rotund man shrugged his far shoulders. "She's got to call at Uyak bay going cast" , Emerson looked up quickly. "Where Lb Uyak bay?" "Over on Kadlak Island." "When is the boat due at Uyakr Emerson asked. "Most any time Inside of a week." "How far Is that from here?" "It ain't so fur-only about fifty miles." Then, catching the light tb.it. flamed into the miner's eyes, retell:. hastened to observe: "But you caul get there. It's across the straits Shei ikof straits." "What of that! We. can hire a sail boat and" "I oln't got any sailboat I lost my sloop last year hunting sea otter." "We can hire a small boat of some sort can't we, and get tbe natives to jut us across? There must be plenty of boats here.'" "Nothing but skin boats, kyaks and bldnrkus, you know. Anyhow, you couldn't cross at this time of yen ro ll's too stormy. These straits Is t:n worst piece of water on the con - . No; you'll have to wolt" Emerson stared hopelessly at fi ll re. The disheartened man started at t'.sU Juncture as If a sudden thought I i pelled him and followed Bait out In the cold. He turned down the bank i the creek, however, and made a cat ful examination of all tho canoes tli't went with the village. Fifteen tin i utesjnter he fond, searched, put the (Continued on page 8.)