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laughing off his softness； 'it doesn't keep me awake nights。' Now don't get
the idea that he had no backbone。 You remember about the bear he went
after with the popgun。 When it came to fighting Dave was the blamedest
ever。 He was the limit； if by that I may describe his unlimitedness when
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he got into action； he was easy and kind with the weak； but the strong had
to give trail when he went by。 And he was a man that men liked； which is
the finest word of all； a man's man。
〃Dave never took part in the big stampede to Dawson when Carmack
made the Bonanza strike。 You see； Dave was just then over on Mammon
Creek strikin' it himself。 He discovered Mammon Creek。 Cleaned
eighty… four thousand up that winter； and opened up the claim so that it
promised a couple of hundred thousand for the next winter。 Then；
summer bein' on and the ground sloshy； he took a trip up the Yukon to
Dawson to see what Carmack's strike looked like。 And there he saw
Flush of Gold。 I remember the night。 I shall always remember。 It was
something sudden； and it makes one shiver to think of a strong man with
all the strength withered out of him by one glance from the soft eyes of a
weak； blond； female creature like Flush of Gold。 It was at her dad's cabin；
old Victor Chauvet's。 Some friend had brought Dave along to talk over
town sites on Mammon Creek。 But little talking did he do； and what he
did was mostly gibberish。 I tell you the sight of Flush of Gold had sent
Dave clean daffy。 Old Victor Chauvet insisted after Dave left that he had
been drunk。 And so he had。 He was drunk； but Flush of Gold was the
strong drink that made him so。
〃That settled it； that first glimpse he caught of her。 He did not start
back down the Yukon in a week； as he had intended。 He lingered on a
month； two months； all summer。 And we who had suffered understood；
and wondered what the outcome would be。 Undoubtedly； in our minds； it
seemed that Flush of Gold had met her master。 And why not？ There
was romance sprinkled all over Dave Walsh。 He was a Mammon King；
he had made the Mammon Creek strike； he was an old sour dough； one of
the oldest pioneers in the landmen turned to look at him when he went
by； and said to one another in awed undertones； 'There goes Dave Walsh。'
And why not？ He stood six feet four； he had yellow hair himself that
curled on his neck； and he was a bulla yellow…maned bull just turned
thirty…one。
〃And Flush of Gold loved him； and； having danced him through a
whole summer's courtship； at the end their engagement was made known。
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The fall of the year was at hand； Dave had to be back for the winter's work
on Mammon Creek； and Flush of Gold refused to be married right away。
Dave put Dusky Burns in charge of the Mammon Creek claim； and
himself lingered on in Dawson。 Little use。 She wanted her freedom a
while longer； she must have it； and she would not marry until next year。
And so； on the first ice； Dave Walsh went alone down the Yukon behind
his dogs； with the understanding that the marriage would take place when
he arrived on the first steamboat of the next year。
Now Dave was as true as the Pole Star； and she was as false as a
magnetic needle in a cargo of loadstone。 Dave was as steady and solid as
she was fickle and fly…away； and in some way Dave； who never doubted
anybody； doubted her。 It was the jealousy of his love； perhaps； and
maybe it was the message ticked off from her soul to his； but at any rate
Dave was worried by fear of her inconstancy。 He was afraid to trust her
till the next year； he had so to trust her； and he was pretty well beside
himself。 Some of it I got from old Victor Chauvet afterwards； and from
all that I have pieced together I conclude that there was something of a
scene before Dave pulled north with his dogs。 He stood up before the old
Frenchman； with Flush of Gold beside him； and announced that they were
plighted to each other。 He was very dramatic； with fire in his eyes； old
Victor said。 He talked something about 'until death do us part'； and old
Victor especially remembered that at one place Dave took her by the
shoulder with his great paw and almost shook her as he said： 'Even unto
death are you mine； and I would rise from the grave to claim you。' Old
Victor distinctly remembered those words 'Even unto death are you mine；
and I would rise from the grave to claim you。' And he told me afterwards
that Flush of Gold was pretty badly frightened； and that he afterwards took
Dave to one side privately and told him that that wasn't the way to hold
Flush of Goldthat he must humour her and gentle her if he wanted to
keep her。
〃There is no discussion in my mind but that Flush of Gold was
frightened。 She was a savage herself in her treatment of men； while men
had always treated her as a soft and tender and too utterly…utter something
that must not be hurt。 She didn't know what harshness was 。 。 。 until
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Dave Walsh； standing his six feet four； a big bull； gripped her and pawed
her and assured her that she was his until death； and then some。 And
besides； in Dawson； that winter； was a music…playerone of those
macaroni…eating； greasy…tenor…Eye…talian… dago propositionsand Flush of
Gold lost her heart to him。 Maybe it was only fascinationI don't know。
Sometimes it seems to me that she really did love Dave Walsh。 Perhaps
it was because he had frightened her with that even…unto…death； rise…from…
the…grave stunt of his that she in the end inclined to the dago music…player。
But it is all guesswork； and the facts are； sufficient。 He wasn't a dago； he
was a Russian countthis was straight； and he wasn't a professional piano…
player or anything of the sort。 He played the violin and t