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Indian weighed over two hundred himself； and Dave ran half a mile with
him。 Of course he froze his lungs。 Must have frozen them near solid。 It
was a tomfool trick for any man to do。 And anyway； after lingering
horribly for several weeks； Dave Walsh died。
〃The Indian didn't know what to do with the corpse。 Ordinarily he'd
have buried him and let it go at that。 But he knew that Dave Walsh was a
big man； worth lots of money； a hi…yu skookum chief。 Likewise he'd
seen the bodies of other hi…yu skookums carted around the country like
they were worth something。 So he decided to take Dave's body to Forty
Mile； which was Dave's headquarters。 You know how the ice is on the
grass roots in this countrywell； the Indian planted Dave under a foot of
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soilin short； he put Dave on ice。 Dave could have stayed there a
thousand years and still been the same old Dave。 You understandjust the
same as a refrigerator。 Then the Indian brings over a whipsaw from the
cabin at Surprise Lake and makes lumber enough for the box。 Also；
waiting for the thaw； he goes out and shoots about ten thousand pounds of
moose。 This he keeps on ice； too。 Came the thaw。 The Teelee broke。
He built a raft and loaded it with the meat； the big box with Dave inside；
and Dave's team of dogs； and away they went down the Teelee。
〃The raft got caught on a timber jam and hung up two days。 It was
scorching hot weather； and Mr。 Indian nearly lost his moose meat。 So
when he got to Teelee Portage he figured a steamboat would get to Forty
Mile quicker than his raft。 He transferred his cargo； and there you are；
fore…lower deck of the Golden Rocket； Flush of Gold being married； and
Dave Walsh in his big box casting the shade for her。 And there's one
thing I clean forgot。 No wonder I thought the husky dog that came
aboard at Teelee Portage was familiar。 It was Pee…lat； Dave Walsh's lead…
dog and favouritea terrible fighter； too。 He was lying down beside the
box。
〃Flush of Gold caught sight of me； called me over； shook hands with
me； and introduced me to the Count。 She was beautiful。 I was as mad
for her then as ever。 She smiled into my eyes and said I must sign as one
of the witnesses。 And there was no refusing her。 She was ever a child；
cruel as children are cruel。 Also； she told me she was in possession of
the only two bottles of champagne in Dawsonor that had been in Dawson
the night before； and before I knew it I was scheduled to drink her and the
Count's health。 Everybody crowded round； the captain of the steamboat；
very prominent； trying to ring in on the wine； I guess。 It was a funny
wedding。 On the upper deck the hospital wrecks； with various feet in the
grave； gathered and looked down to see。 There were Indians all jammed
in the circle； too； big bucks； and their squaws and kids； to say nothing of
about twenty…five snarling wolf…dogs。 The missionary lined the two of
them up and started in with the service。 And just then a dog…fight started；
high up on the pile of freightPee…lat lying beside the big box； and a
white…haired brute belonging to one of the Indians。 The fight wasn't
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explosive at all。 The brutes just snarled at each other from a distance
tapping at each other long…distance； you know； saying dast and dassent；
dast and dassent。 The noise was rather disturbing； but you could hear the
missionary's voice above it。
〃There was no particularly easy way of getting at the two dogs； except
from the other side of the pile。 But nobody was on that side… …everybody
watching the ceremony； you see。 Even then everything might have been
all right if the captain hadn't thrown a club at the dogs。 That was what
precipitated everything。 As I say； if the captain hadn't thrown that club；
nothing might have happened。
〃The missionary had just reached the point where he was saying 'In
sickness and in health；' and 'Till death us do part。' And just then the
captain threw the club。 I saw the whole thing。 It landed on Pee…lat； and
at that instant the white brute jumped him。 The club caused it。 Their
two bodies struck the box； and it began to slide； its lower end tilting down。
It was a long oblong box； and it slid down slowly until it reached the
perpendicular； when it came down on the run。 The onlookers on that side
the circle had time to get out from under。 Flush of Gold and the Count；
on the opposite side of the circle； were facing the box； the missionary had
his back to it。 The box must have fallen ten feet straight up and down；
and it hit end on。
〃Now mind you； not one of us knew that Dave Walsh was dead。 We
thought he was on the Glendale； bound for Dawson。 The missionary had
edged off to one side； and so Flush of Gold faced the box when it struck。
It was like in a play。 It couldn't have been better planned。 It struck on
end； and on the right end； the whole front of the box came off； and out
swept Dave Walsh on his feet； partly wrapped in a blanket； his yellow hair
flying and showing bright in the sun。 Right out of the box； on his feet； he
swept upon Flush of Gold。 She didn't know he was dead； but it was
unmistakable； after hanging up two days on a timber jam； that he was
rising all right from the dead to claim her。 Possibly that is what she
thought。 At any rate； the sight froze her。 She couldn't move。 She just
sort of wilted and watched Dave Walsh coming for her！ And he got her。
It looked almost as though he threw his arms around her； but whether or
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not this happened； down to the deck they went together。 We had to drag
Dave Walsh's body clear before we could get hold of her。 She was in a
faint； but it would have been just as wel