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