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iron stove in the boat； and over this Stine and Sprague hung through the
long； drifting hours。 They had surrendered； no longer gave orders； and
their one desire was to gain Dawson。 Shorty； pessimistic； indefatigable；
and joyous； at frequent intervals roared out the three lines of the first four…
line stanza of a song he had forgotten。 The colder it got the oftener he
sang：
〃Like Argus of the ancient times； We leave this Modern
Greece； Tum…tum； tum…tum； tum…tum； tum…tum； To shear
the Golden Fleece。〃
As they passed the mouths of the Hootalinqua and the Big and Little
Salmon； they found these streams throwing mush…ice into the main Yukon。
This gathered about the boat and attached itself； and at night they found
themselves compelled to chop the boat out of the current。 In the morning
they chopped the boat back into the current。
The last night ashore was spent between the mouths of the White River
and the Stewart。 At daylight they found the Yukon； half a mile wide；
running white from ice…rimmed bank to ice…rimmed bank。 Shorty cursed
the universe with less geniality than usual； and looked at Kit。
〃We'll be the last boat this year to make Dawson；〃 Kit said。
〃But they ain't no water； Smoke。〃
〃Then we'll ride the ice down。 Come on。〃
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Futilely protesting； Sprague and Stine were bundled on board。 For
half an hour； with axes； Kit and Shorty struggled to cut a way into the
swift but solid stream。 When they did succeed in clearing the shore…ice；
the floating ice forced the boat along the edge for a hundred yards； tearing
away half of one gunwale and making a partial wreck of it。 Then they
caught the current at the lower end of the bend that flung off…shore。 They
proceeded to work farther toward the middle。 The stream was no longer
composed of mush…ice but of hard cakes。 In between the cakes only was
mush…ice； that froze solidly as they looked at it。 Shoving with the oars
against the cakes； sometimes climbing out on the cakes in order to force
the boat along； after an hour they gained the middle。 Five minutes after
they ceased their exertions； the boat was frozen in。 The whole river was
coagulating as it ran。 Cake froze to cake； until at last the boat was the
centre of a cake seventy…five feet in diameter。 Sometimes they floated
sidewise； sometimes stern…first； while gravity tore asunder the forming
fetters in the moving mass； only to be manacled by faster…forming ones。
While the hours passed； Shorty stoked the stove； cooked meals； and
chanted his war song。
Night came； and after many efforts； they gave up the attempt to force
the boat to shore； and through the darkness they swept helplessly onward。
〃What if we pass Dawson？〃 Shorty queried。
〃We'll walk back；〃 Kit answered； 〃if we're not crushed in a jam。〃
The sky was clear； and in the light of the cold leaping stars they caught
occasional glimpses of the loom of mountains on either hand。 At eleven
o'clock； from below； came a dull； grinding roar。 Their speed began to
diminish； and cakes of ice to up…end and crash and smash about them。
The river was jamming。 One cake； forced upward； slid across their cake
and carried one side of the boat away。 It did not sink； for its own cake
still upbore it； but in a whirl they saw dark water show for an instant
within a foot of them。 Then all movement ceased。 At the end of half an
hour the whole river picked itself up and began to move。 This continued
for an hour； when again it was brought to rest by a jam。 Once again it
started； running swiftly and savagely； with a great grinding。 Then they
saw lights ashore； and； when abreast； gravity and the Yukon surrendered；
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and the river ceased for six months。
On the shore at Dawson； curious ones gathered to watch the river
freeze； heard from out of the darkness the war…song of Shorty：
〃Like Argus of the ancient times； We leave this Modern
Greece； Tum…tum； tum…tum； tum…tum； tum…tum； To shear
the Golden Fleece。〃
VII。
For three days Kit and Shorty laboured； carrying the ton and a half of
outfit from the middle of the river to the log…cabin Stine and Sprague had
bought on the hill overlooking Dawson。 This work finished； in the warm
cabin； as twilight was falling； Sprague motioned Kit to him。 Outside the
thermometer registered sixty…five below zero。
〃Your full month isn't up； Smoke；〃 Sprague said。 〃But here it is in
full。 I wish you luck。〃
〃How about the agreement？〃 Kit asked。 〃You know there's a famine
here。 A man can't get work in the mines even； unless he has his own grub。
You agreed〃
〃I know of no agreement；〃 Sprague interrupted。 〃Do you； Stine？
We engaged you by the month。 There's your pay。 Will you sign the
receipt？〃
Kit's hands clenched； and for the moment he saw red。 Both men
shrank away from him。 He had never struck a man in anger in his life；
and he felt so certain of his ability to thrash Sprague that he could not
bring himself to do it。
Shorty saw his trouble and interposed。
〃Look here； Smoke； I ain't travelin' no more with a ornery outfit like
this。 Right here's where I sure jump it。 You an' me stick together。
Savve？ Now； you take your blankets an' hike down to the Elkhorn。
Wait for me。 I'll settle up； collect what's comin'； an' give them what's
comin'。 I ain't no good on the water； but my feet's on terry…fermy now an'
I'm sure goin' to make smoke。〃
。 。 。 。 。
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Half an hour afterwards Shorty appeared at the Elkhorn。 From his
bleeding knuckles and the skin o