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Lake Bennett with the fully loaded boat。 It was the custom to line
the empty boats down and to portage the cargoes across。 Even then
many empty boats had been wrecked。 But the time was past for such
precaution。
〃Climb out； dad；〃 Liverpool commanded as he prepared to swing from
the bank and enter the rapids。
Old Tarwater shook his white head。
〃I'm sticking to the outfit；〃 he declared。 〃It's the only way to
get through。 You see； son； I'm going to Klondike。 If I stick by
the boat； then the boat just naturally goes to Klondike； too。 If I
get out； then most likely you'll lose the boat。〃
〃Well； there's no use in overloading；〃 Charles announced； springing
abruptly out on the bank as the boat cast off。
〃Next time you wait for my orders！〃 Liverpool shouted ashore as the
current gripped the boat。 〃And there won't be any more walking
around rapids and losing time waiting to pick you up！〃
What took them ten minutes by river； took Charles half an hour by
land； and while they waited for him at the head of Lake Bennett
they passed the time of day with several dilapidated old…timers on
their way out。 The famine news was graver than ever。 The North…
west Mounted Police； stationed at the foot of Lake Marsh where the
gold…rushers entered Canadian territory； were refusing to let a man
past who did not carry with him seven hundred pounds of grub。 In
Dawson City a thousand men； with dog…teams； were waiting the
freeze…up to come out over the ice。 The trading companies could
not fill their grub…contracts； and partners were cutting the cards
to see which should go and which should stay and work the claims。
〃That settles it；〃 Charles announced； when he learned of the action
of the mounted police on the boundary。 〃Old Man； you might as well
start back now。〃
〃Climb aboard！〃 Liverpool commanded。 〃We're going to Klondike；
and old dad is going along。〃
A shift of gale to the south gave them a fair wind down Lake
Bennett； before which they ran under a huge sail made by Liverpool。
The heavy weight of outfit gave such ballast that he cracked on as
a daring sailor should when moments counted。 A shift of four
points into the south…west； coming just at the right time as they
entered upon Caribou Crossing； drove them down that connecting link
to lakes Tagish and Marsh。 In stormy sunset and twilight … they
made the dangerous crossing of Great Windy Arm； wherein they beheld
two other boat…loads of gold…rushers capsize and drown。
Charles was for beaching for the night； but Liverpool held on；
steering down Tagish by the sound of the surf on the shoals and by
the occasional shore…fires that advertised wrecked or timid
argonauts。 At four in the morning； he aroused Charles。 Old
Tarwater； shiveringly awake； heard Liverpool order Crayton aft
beside him at the steering…sweep； and also heard the one…sided
conversation。
〃Just listen； friend Charles； and keep your own mouth shut；〃
Liverpool began。 〃I want you to get one thing into your head and
keep it there： OLD DAD'S GOING BY THE POLICE。 UNDERSTAND？ HE'S
GOING BY。 When they examine our outfit； old dad's got a fifth
share in it； savvee？ That'll put us all 'way under what we ought
to have； but we can bluff it through。 Now get this； and get it
hard： THERE AIN'T GOING TO BE ANY FALL…DOWN ON THIS BLUFF … 〃
〃If you think I'd give away on the old codger … 〃 Charles began
indignantly。
〃You thought that；〃 Liverpool checked him； 〃because I never
mentioned any such thing。 Now … get me and get me hard： I don't
care what you've been thinking。 It's what you're going to think。
We'll make the police post some time this afternoon； and we've got
to get ready to pull the bluff without a hitch； and a word to the
wise is plenty。〃
〃If you think I've got it in my mind … 〃 Charles began again。
〃Look here；〃 Liverpool shut him off。 〃I don't know what's in your
mind。 I don't want to know。 I want you to know what's in my mind。
If there's any slip…up； if old dad gets turned back by the police；
I'm going to pick out the first quiet bit of landscape and take you
ashore on it。 And then I'm going to beat you up to the Queen's
taste。 Get me； and get me hard。 It ain't going to be any half…way
beating； but a real； two…legged； two…fisted； he…man beating。 I
don't expect I'll kill you； but I'll come damn near to half…killing
you。〃
〃But what can I do？〃 Charles almost whimpered。
〃Just one thing；〃 was Liverpool's final word。 〃You just pray。 You
pray so hard that old dad gets by the police that he does get by。
That's all。 Go back to your blankets。〃
Before they gained Lake Le Barge； the land was sheeted with snow
that would not melt for half a year。 Nor could they lay their boat
at will against the bank； for the rim…ice was already forming。
Inside the mouth of the river； just ere it entered Lake Le Barge；
they found a hundred storm…bound boats of the argonauts。 Out of
the north； across the full sweep of the great lake； blew an
unending snow gale。 Three mornings they put out and fought it and
the cresting seas it drove that turned to ice as they fell in…
board。 While the others broke their hearts at the oars； Old
Tarwater managed to keep up just sufficient circulation to survive
by chopping ice and throwing it overboard。
Each day for three days； beaten to helplessness； they turned tail
on the battle and ran back into the sheltering river。 By the
fourth day； the hundred boats had increased to three hundred； and
the two thousand argonauts on board knew that the great gale
heralded the freeze…up of Le Barge。 Beyond； the rapid rivers would
continue to run for days； but unless they got beyond； and
immediately； they were doomed to be frozen in for six months to
come。
〃This day we go through；〃 Liverpool announced。 〃We turn back for
nothing。 And those of us that dies at the oars will live again and
go on pulling。〃
And they went through； winning half the length of the lake by
nightfall and pulling on through all the night hours as the wind
went down； falling asleep at the oars and being rapped awake by
Liverpool； toiling on through an age…long nightmare while the stars
came out and the surface of the lake turned to the unruffledness of
a sheet of paper and froze skin…ice that tinkled like broken glass
as their oar…blades shattered it。
As day broke clear and cold； they entered the river； with behind
them a sea of ice。 Liverpool examined his aged passenger and found
him helpless and almost gone。 When he rounded the boat to against
the rim…ice to build a fire and warm up Tarwater inside and out；
Charles protested against such loss of time。
〃This ain't business； so don't you come horning in；〃 Liverpool
informed him。 〃I'm running the boat trip。 So you just climb out
and chop firewood； and plenty of it。 I'll take care of dad。 You；
Anson； make a fire on the bank。 And you； Bill； set up the Yukon
stove in th