Well，theydidn’tdickerverylong，butwhentheStrangeOneheadedsouthagain，itwasintherearofaspankingdogteam。Mr。Shylock，bytheway，hadtheotterskins。Isawthem，andtheyweremagnificent。Wefigureditupandfoundthedogsbroughthimatleastfivehundredapiece。Anditwasn’tasiftheStrangeOnedidn’tknowthevalueofseaotter;hewasanIndianofsomesort，andwhatlittlehetalkedshowedhe’dbeenamongwhitemen。
’Aftertheicepassedoutofthesea，wordcameupfromNunivakIslandthathe’dgoneinthereforgrub。Thenhedroppedfromsight，andthisisthefirstheardofhimineightyears。Nowwheredidhecomefrom？andwhatwashedoingthere？andwhydidhecomefromthere？He’sIndian，he’sbeennobodyknowswhere，andhe’shaddiscipline，whichisunusualforanIndian。AnothermysteryoftheNorthforyoutosolve，Prince。’
’Thanksawfully，butI’vegottoomanyonhandasitis，’hereplied。
MalemuteKidwasalreadybreathingheavily;buttheyoungminingengineergazedstraightupthroughthethickdarkness，waitingforthestrangeorgasmwhichstirredhisbloodtodieaway。Andwhenhedidsleep，hisbrainworkedon，andforthenoncehe，too，wanderedthroughthewhiteunknown，struggledwiththedogsonendlesstrails，andsawmenlive，andtoil，anddielikemen。
Thenextmorning，hoursbeforedaylight，thedogdriversandpolicemenpulledoutforDawson。ButthepowersthatsawtoHerMajesty’sinterestsandruledthedestiniesofherlessercreaturesgavethemailmenlittlerest，foraweeklatertheyappearedatStuartRiver，heavilyburdenedwithlettersforSaltWater。However，theirdogshadbeenreplacedbyfreshones;but，then，theyweredogs。
Themenhadexpectedsomesortofalayoverinwhichtorestup;
besides，thisKlondikewasanewsectionoftheNorthland，andtheyhadwishedtoseealittlesomethingoftheGoldenCitywheredustflowedlikewateranddancehallsrangwithnever—endingrevelry。
Buttheydriedtheirsocksandsmokedtheireveningpipeswithmuchthesamegustoasontheirformervisit，thoughoneortwoboldspiritsspeculatedondesertionandthepossibilityofcrossingtheunexploredRockiestotheeast，andthence，bytheMackenzieValley，ofgainingtheiroldstampinggroundsintheChippewyancountry。Twoorthreeevendecidedtoreturntotheirhomesbythatroutewhentheirtermsofservicehadexpired，andtheybegantolayplansforthwith，lookingforwardtothehazardousundertakinginmuchthesamewayacity—bredmanwouldtoaday’sholidayinthewoods。
HeoftheOtterSkinsseemedveryrestless，thoughhetooklittleinterestinthediscussion，andatlasthedrewMalemuteKidtoonesideandtalkedforsometimeinlowtones。Princecastcuriouseyesintheirdirection，andthemysterydeepenedwhentheyputoncapsandmittensandwentoutside。Whentheyreturned，MalemuteKidplacedhisgoldscalesonthetable，weighedoutthematterofsixtyounces，andtransferredthemtotheStrangeOne’ssack。Thenthechiefofthedogdriversjoinedtheconclave，andcertainbusinesswastransactedwithhim。Thenextdaythegangwentonupriver，butHeoftheOtterSkinstookseveralpoundsofgrubandturnedhisstepsbacktowardDawson。
’Didn’tknowwhattomakeofit，’saidMalemuteKidinresponsetoPrince’squeries;’butthepoorbeggarwantedtobequitoftheserviceforsomereasonorother—atleastitseemedamostimportantonetohim，thoughhewouldn’tletonwhat。Yousee，it’sjustlikethearmy：hesignedfortwoyears，andtheonlywaytogetfreewastobuyhimselfout。Hecouldn’tdesertandthenstayhere，andhewasjustwildtoremaininthecountry。MadeuphismindwhenhegottoDawson，hesaid;butnooneknewhim，hadn’tacent，andI
wastheonlyonehe’dspokentwowordswith。Sohetalkeditoverwiththelieutenant—governor，andmadearrangementsincasehecouldgetthemoneyfromme—loan，youknow。Saidhe’dpaybackintheyear，and，ifIwanted，wouldputmeontosomethingrich。Never’dseenit，butheknewitwasrich。
’Andtalk！why，whenhegotmeoutsidehewasreadytoweep。
Beggedandpleaded;gotdowninthesnowtometillIhauledhimoutofit。Palaveredaroundlikeacrazyman。Sworehe’sworkedtothisveryendforyearsandyears，andcouldn’tbeartobedisappointednow。Askedhimwhatend，buthewouldn’tsay。Saidtheymightkeephimontheotherhalfofthetrailandhewouldn’tgettoDawsonintwoyears，andthenitwouldbetoolate。Neversawamantakeonsoinmylife。AndwhenIsaidI’dlethimhaveit，hadtoyankhimoutofthesnowagain。Toldhimtoconsideritinthelightofagrubstake。
Thinkhe’dhaveit？Nosir！Sworehe’dgivemeallhefound，makemerichbeyondthedreamsofavarice，andallsuchstuff。Nowamanwhoputshislifeandtimeagainstagrubstakeordinarilyfindsithardenoughtoturnoverhalfofwhathefinds。Somethingbehindallthis，Prince;justyoumakeanoteofit。We’llhearofhimifhestaysinthecountry—’
’Andifhedoesn’t？’
’Thenmygoodnaturegetsashock，andI’msixtysomeoddouncesout。’
Thecoldweatherhadcomeonwiththelongnights，andthesunhadbeguntoplayhisancientgameofpeekabooalongthesouthernsnowlineereaughtwasheardofMalemuteKid’sgrubstake。Andthen，onebleakmorninginearlyJanuary，aheavilyladendogtrainpulledintohiscabinbelowStuartRiver。HeoftheOtterSkinswasthere，andwithhimwalkedamansuchasthegodshavealmostforgottenhowtofashion。Mennevertalkedofluckandpluckandfive—hundred—dollardirtwithoutbringinginthenameofAxelGunderson;norcouldtalesofnerveorstrengthordaringpassupanddownthecampfirewithoutthesummoningofhispresence。Andwhentheconversationflagged，itblazedanewatmentionofthewomanwhosharedhisfortunes。
Ashasbeennoted，inthemakingofAxelGundersonthegodshadrememberedtheirold—timecunningandcasthimafterthemannerofmenwhowerebornwhentheworldwasyoung。FullsevenfeethetoweredinhispicturesquecostumewhichmarkedakingofEldorado。Hischest，neck，andlimbswerethoseofagiant。Tobearhisthreehundredpoundsofboneandmuscle，hissnowshoesweregreaterbyagenerousyardthanthoseofothermen。Rough—hewn，withruggedbrowandmassivejawandunflinchingeyesofpalestblue，hisfacetoldthetaleofonewhoknewbutthelawofmight。Oftheyellowofripecornsilk，hisfrost—incrustedhairsweptlikedayacrossthenightandfellfardownhiscoatofbearskin。Avaguetraditionoftheseaseemedtoclingabouthimasheswungdownthenarrowtrailinadvanceofthedogs;
andhebroughtthebuttofhisdogwhipagainstMalemuteKid’sdoorasaNorsesearover，onsouthernforay，mightthunderforadmittanceatthecastlegate。
Princebaredhiswomanlyarmsandkneadedsour—doughbread，casting，ashedidso，manyaglanceatthethreeguests—threegueststhelikeofwhichmightnevercomeunderaman’sroofinalifetime。TheStrangeOne，whomMalemuteKidhadsurnamedUlysses，stillfascinatedhim;buthisinterestchieflygravitatedbetweenAxelGundersonandAxelGunderson’swife。Shefelttheday’sjourney，forshehadsoftenedincomfortablecabinsduringthemanydayssinceherhusbandmasteredthewealthoffrozenpaystreaks，andshewastired。Sherestedagainsthisgreatbreastlikeaslenderfloweragainstawall，replyinglazilytoMalemuteKid’sgood—naturedbanter，andstirringPrince’sbloodstrangelywithanoccasionalsweepofherdeep，darkeyes。ForPrincewasaman，andhealthy，andhadseenfewwomeninmanymonths。Andshewasolderthanhe，andanIndianbesides。Butshewasdifferentfromallnativewiveshehadmet：shehadtraveled—hadbeeninhiscountryamongothers，hegatheredfromtheconversation;andsheknewmostofthethingsthewomenofhisownraceknew，andmuchmorethatitwasnotinthenatureofthingsforthemtoknow。Shecouldmakeamealofsun—driedfishorabedinthesnow;yetsheteasedthemwithtantalizingdetailsofmany—coursedinners，andcausedstrangeinternaldissensionstoariseatthementionofvariousquondamdisheswhichtheyhadwell—nighforgotten。Sheknewthewaysofthemoose，thebear，andthelittlebluefox，andofthewildamphibiansoftheNorthernseas;
shewasskilledintheloreofthewoods，andthestreams，andthetalewritbymanandbirdandbeastuponthedelicatesnowcrustwastoheranopenbook;yetPrincecaughttheappreciativetwinkleinhereyeasshereadtheRulesoftheCamp。TheseruleshadbeenfatheredbytheUnquenchableBettlesatatimewhenhisbloodranhigh，andwereremarkableforthetersesimplicityoftheirhumor。Princealwaysturnedthemtothewallbeforethearrivalofladies;butwhocouldsuspectthatthisnativewife—Well，itwastoolatenow。
This，then，wasthewifeofAxelGunderson，awomanwhosenameandfamehadtraveledwithherhusband’s，handinhand，throughalltheNorthland。Attable，MalemuteKidbaitedherwiththeassuranceofanoldfriend，andPrinceshookofftheshynessoffirstacquaintanceandjoinedin。Butsheheldherownintheunequalcontest，whileherhusband，slowerinwit，venturednaughtbutapplause。Andhewasveryproudofher;hiseverylookandactionrevealedthemagnitudeoftheplacesheoccupiedinhislife。HeoftheOtterSkinsateinsilence，forgotteninthemerrybattle;andlongeretheothersweredonehepushedbackfromthetableandwentoutamongthedogs。Yetalltoosoonhisfellowtravelersdrewontheirmittensandparkasandfollowedhim。
Therehadbeennosnowformanydays，andthesledsslippedalongthehard—packedYukontrailaseasilyasifithadbeenglareice。
Ulyssesledthefirstsled;withthesecondcamePrinceandAxelGunderson’swife;whileMalemuteKidandtheyellow—hairedgiantbroughtupthethird。
’It’sonlyahunch，Kid，’hesaid，’butIthinkit’sstraight。
He’sneverbeenthere，buthetellsagoodstory，andshowsamapI
heardofwhenIwasintheKootenaycountryyearsago。I’dliketohaveyougoalong;buthe’sastrangeone，andsworepoint—blanktothrowitupifanyonewasbroughtin。ButwhenIcomebackyou’llgetfirsttip，andI’llstakeyounexttome，andgiveyouahalfshareinthetownsitebesides。’
’No！no！’hecried，astheotherstrovetointerrupt。’I’mrunningthis，andbeforeI’mdoneit’llneedtwoheads。Ifit’sallright，why，it’llbeasecondCrippleCreek，man;doyouhear？—asecondCrippleCreek！It’squartz，youknow，notplacer;andifweworkitrightwe’llcorralthewholething—millionsuponmillions。I’veheardoftheplacebefore，andsohaveyou。We’llbuildatown—thousandsofworkmen—goodwaterways—steamshiplines—bigcarryingtrade—
light—draughtsteamersforheadreaches—surveyarailroad，perhaps—
sawmills—electric—lightplant—doourownbanking—commercialcompany—syndicate—Say！JustyouholdyourhushtillIgetback！’
ThesledscametoahaltwherethetrailcrossedthemouthofStuartRiver。Anunbrokenseaoffrost，itswideexpansestretchedawayintotheunknowneast。Thesnowshoeswerewithdrawnfromthelashingsofthesleds。AxelGundersonshookhandsandsteppedtothefore，hisgreatwebbedshoessinkingafairhalfyardintothefeatherysurfaceandpackingthesnowsothedogsshouldnotwallow。
Hiswifefellinbehindthelastsled，betrayinglongpracticeintheartofhandlingtheawkwardfootgear，Thestillnesswasbrokenwithcheeryfarewells;thedogswhined;andHeoftheOtterSkinstalkedwithhiswhiptoarecalcitrantwheeler。
Anhourlaterthetrainhadtakenonthelikenessofablackpencilcrawlinginalong，straightlineacrossamightysheetoffoolscap。
II
Onenight，manyweekslater，MalemuteKidandPrincefelltosolvingchessproblemsfromthetornpageofanancientmagazine。TheKidhadjustreturnedfromhisBonanzapropertiesandwasrestinguppreparatorytoalongmoosehunt。Prince，too，hadbeenoncreekandtrailnearlyallwinter，andhadgrownhungryforablissfulweekofcabinlife。
’Interposetheblackknight，andforcetheking。No，thatwon’tdo。See，thenextmove—’
’Whyadvancethepawntwosquares？Boundtotakeitintransit，andwiththebishopoutoftheway—’
’Butholdon！Thatleavesahole，and—’
’No;it’sprotected。Goahead！You’llseeitworks。’
Itwasveryinteresting。SomebodyknockedatthedoorasecondtimebeforeMalemuteKidsaid，’Comein。’Thedoorswungopen。
Somethingstaggeredin。Princecaughtonesquarelookandsprangtohisfeet。ThehorrorinhiseyescausedMalemuteKidtowhirlabout;
andhe，too，wasstartled，thoughhehadseenbadthingsbefore。Thethingtotteredblindlytowardthem。PrinceedgedawaytillhereachedthenailfromwhichhunghisSmith&Wesson。
’MyGod！whatisit？’hewhisperedtoMalemuteKid。
’Don’tknow。Lookslikeacaseoffreezingandnogrub，’repliedtheKid，slidingawayintheoppositedirection。’Watchout！Itmaybemad，’hewarned，comingbackfromclosingthedoor。
Thethingadvancedtothetable。Thebrightflameoftheslushlampcaughtitseye。Itwasamused，andgavevoicetoeldritchcackleswhichbetokenedmirth。Then，suddenly，he—foritwasaman—swayedback，withahitchtohisskintrousers，andbegantosingachantey，suchasmenliftwhentheyswingaroundthecapstancircleandtheseasnortsintheirears：
Yan—keeshipcomedownderi—ib—er，Pull！mybullyboys！Pull！
D’yehwant—toknowdecaptainru—unsher？
Pull！mybullyboys！Pull！
Jon—a—thanJonesobSouthCaho—li—in—a，Pull！mybully—
Hebrokeoffabruptly，totteredwithawolfishsnarltothemeatshelf，andbeforetheycouldinterceptwastearingwithhisteethatachunkofrawbacon。ThestrugglewasfiercebetweenhimandMalemuteKid;buthismadstrengthlefthimassuddenlyasithadcome，andheweaklysurrenderedthespoil。Betweenthemtheygothimuponastool，wherehesprawledwithhalfhisbodyacrossthetable。A
smalldoseofwhiskeystrengthenedhim，sothathecoulddipaspoonintothesugarcaddywhichMalemuteKidplacedbeforehim。Afterhisappetitehadbeensomewhatcloyed，Prince，shudderingashedidso，passedhimamugofweakbeeftea。
Thecreature’seyeswerealightwithasomberfrenzy，whichblazedandwanedwitheverymouthful。Therewasverylittleskintotheface。
Theface，forthatmatter，sunkenandemaciated，borelittlelikenesstohumancountenance。Frostafterfrosthadbittendeeply，eachdepositingitsstratumofscabuponthehalf—healedscarthatwentbefore。Thisdry，hardsurfacewasofabloody—blackcolor，serratedbygrievouscrackswhereintherawredfleshpeepedforth。
Hisskingarmentsweredirtyandintatters，andthefurofonesidewassingedandburnedaway，showingwherehehadlainuponhisfire。
MalemuteKidpointedtowherethesun—tannedhidehadbeencutaway，stripbystrip—thegrimsignatureoffamine。
’Who—are—you？’slowlyanddistinctlyenunciatedtheKid。
Themanpaidnoheed。
’Wheredoyoucomefrom？’
’Yan—keeshipcomedownderi—ib—er，’wasthequaveringresponse。
’Don’tdoubtthebeggarcamedowntheriver，’theKidsaid，shakinghiminanendeavortostartamorelucidflowoftalk。
Butthemanshriekedatthecontact，clappingahandtohissideinevidentpain。Heroseslowlytohisfeet，halfleaningonthetable。
’Shelaughedatme—so—withthehateinhereye;andshe—would—
not—come。’
Hisvoicediedaway，andhewassinkingbackwhenMalemuteKidgrippedhimbythewristandshouted，’Who？Whowouldnotcome？’
’She，Unga。Shelaughed，andstruckatme，so，andso。Andthen—’
’Yes？’
’Andthen—’
’Andthenwhat？’
’Andthenhelayverystillinthesnowalongtime。Heis—stillin—the—snow。’
Thetwomenlookedateachotherhelplessly。
’Whoisinthesnow？’
’She，Unga。Shelookedatmewiththehateinhereye，andthen—’
’Yes，yes。’
’Andthenshetooktheknife，so;andonce，twice—shewasweak。I
traveledveryslow。Andthereismuchgoldinthatplace，verymuchgold。’
’WhereisUnga？’ForallMalemuteKidknew，shemightbedyingamileaway。Heshookthemansavagely，repeatingagainandagain，’WhereisUnga？WhoisUnga？’
’She—is—in—the—snow。’
’Goon！’TheKidwaspressinghiswristcruelly。
’So—I—would—be—in—thesnow—but—I—had—a—debt—to—pay。
It—was—heavy—I—had—a—debt—to—pay—a—debt—to—payI—had—’
Thefalteringmonosyllablesceasedashefumbledinhispouchanddrewforthabuckskinsack。’A—debt—to—pay—five—pounds—of—gold—
grub—stake—Mal—e—mute—Kid—I—’Theexhaustedheaddroppeduponthetable;norcouldMalemuteKidrouseitagain。
’It’sUlysses，’hesaidquietly，tossingthebagofdustonthetable。’Guessit’salldaywithAxelGundersonandthewoman。Comeon，let’sgethimbetweentheblankets。He’sIndian;he’llpullthroughandtellatalebesides。’
Astheycuthisgarmentsfromhim，nearhisrightbreastcouldbeseentwounhealed，hard—lippedknifethrusts。
III
’Iwilltalkofthethingswhichwereinmyownway;butyouwillunderstand。Iwillbeginatthebeginning，andtellofmyselfandthewoman，and，afterthat，oftheman。’
HeoftheOtterSkinsdrewovertothestoveasdomenwhohavebeendeprivedoffireandareafraidthePrometheangiftmayvanishatanymoment。MalemuteKidpickeduptheslushlampandplaceditsoitslightmightfalluponthefaceofthenarrator。Princeslidhisbodyovertheedgeofthebunkandjoinedthem。
’IamNaass，achief，andthesonofachief，bornbetweenasunsetandarising，onthedarkseas，inmyfather’soomiak。Allofanightthementoiledatthepaddles，andthewomencastoutthewaveswhichthrewinuponus，andwefoughtwiththestorm。Thesaltsprayfrozeuponmymother’sbreasttillherbreathpassedwiththepassingofthetide。ButI—Iraisedmyvoicewiththewindandthestorm，andlived。
’WedweltinAkatan—’
’Where？’askedMalemuteKid。
’Akatan，whichisintheAleutians;Akatan，beyondChignik，beyondKardalak，beyondUnimak。AsIsay，wedweltinAkatan，whichliesinthemidstoftheseaontheedgeoftheworld。Wefarmedthesaltseasforthefish，theseal，andtheotter;andourhomesshoulderedaboutoneanotherontherockystripbetweentherimoftheforestandtheyellowbeachwhereourkayakslay。Wewerenotmany，andtheworldwasverysmall。Therewerestrangelandstotheeast—islandslikeAkatan;sowethoughtalltheworldwasislandsanddidnotmind。
’Iwasdifferentfrommypeople。Inthesandsofthebeachwerethecrookedtimbersandwave—warpedplanksofaboatsuchasmypeopleneverbuilt;andIrememberonthepointoftheislandwhichoverlookedtheoceanthreewaystherestoodapinetreewhichnevergrewthere，smoothandstraightandtall。Itissaidthetwomencametothatspot，turnabout，throughmanydays，andwatchedwiththepassingofthelight。Thesetwomencamefromoutoftheseaintheboatwhichlayinpiecesonthebeach。Andtheywerewhitelikeyou，andweakasthelittlechildrenwhenthesealhavegoneawayandthehunterscomehomeempty。Iknowofthesethingsfromtheoldmenandtheoldwomen，whogotthemfromtheirfathersandmothersbeforethem。Thesestrangewhitemendidnottakekindlytoourwaysatfirst，buttheygrewstrong，whatofthefishandtheoil，andfierce。
Andtheybuiltthemeachhisownhouse，andtookthepickofourwomen，andintimechildrencame。Thushewasbornwhowastobecomethefatherofmyfather’sfather。
’AsIsaid，Iwasdifferentfrommypeople，forIcarriedthestrong，strangebloodofthiswhitemanwhocameoutofthesea。Itissaidwehadotherlawsinthedaysbeforethesemen;buttheywerefierceandquarrelsome，andfoughtwithourmentilltherewerenomoreleftwhodaredtofight。Thentheymadethemselveschiefs，andtookawayouroldlaws，andgaveusnewones，insomuchthatthemanwasthesonofhisfather，andnothismother，asourwayhadbeen。
Theyalsoruledthattheson，first—born，shouldhaveallthingswhichwerehisfather’sbeforehim，andthatthebrothersandsistersshouldshiftforthemselves。Andtheygaveusotherlaws。Theyshowedusnewwaysinthecatchingoffishandthekillingofbearwhichwerethickinthewoods;andtheytaughtustolaybybiggerstoresforthetimeoffamine。Andthesethingsweregood。
’Butwhentheyhadbecomechiefs，andtherewerenomorementofacetheiranger，theyfought，thesestrangewhitemen，eachwiththeother。AndtheonewhosebloodIcarrydrovehissealspearthelengthofanarmthroughtheother’sbody。Theirchildrentookupthefight，andtheirchildren’schildren;andtherewasgreathatredbetweenthem，andblackdoings，eventomytime，sothatineachfamilybutonelivedtopassdownthebloodofthemthatwentbefore。OfmybloodIwasalone;oftheotherman’stherewasbutagirl。Unga，wholivedwithhermother。Herfatherandmyfatherdidnotcomebackfromthefishingonenight;butafterwardtheywasheduptothebeachonthebigtides，andtheyheldveryclosetoeachother。
’Thepeoplewondered，becauseofthehatredbetweenthehouses，andtheoldmenshooktheirheadsandsaidthefightwouldgoonwhenchildrenwereborntoherandchildrentome。Theytoldmethisasaboy，tillIcametobelieve，andtolookuponUngaasafoe，whowastobethemotherofchildrenwhichweretofightwithmine。
Ithoughtofthesethingsdaybyday，andwhenIgrewtoastriplingI
cametoaskwhythisshouldbeso。Andtheyanswered，"Wedonotknow，butthatinsuchwayyourfathersdid。"AndImarveledthatthosewhichweretocomeshouldfightthebattlesofthosethatweregone，andinitIcouldseenoright。Butthepeoplesaiditmustbe，andIwasonlyastripling。
’AndtheysaidImusthurry，thatmybloodmightbetheolderandgrowstrongbeforehers。Thiswaseasy，forIwasheadman，andthepeoplelookeduptomebecauseofthedeedsandthelawsofmyfathers，andthewealthwhichwasmine。Anymaidenwouldcometome，butIfoundnonetomyliking。Andtheoldmenandthemothersofmaidenstoldmetohurry，foreventhenwerethehuntersbiddinghightothemotherofUnga;andshouldherchildrengrowstrongbeforemine，minewouldsurelydie。
’NordidIfindamaidentillonenightcomingbackfromthefishing。Thesunlightwaslying，so，lowandfullintheeyes，thewindfree，andthekayacksracingwiththewhiteseas。OfasuddenthekayakofUngacamedrivingpastme，andshelookeduponme，so，withherblackhairflyinglikeacloudofnightandthespraywetonhercheek。AsIsay，thesunlightwasfullintheeyes，andIwasastripling;butsomehowitwasallclear，andIknewittobethecallofkindtokind。Asshewhippedaheadshelookedbackwithinthespaceoftwostrokes—lookedasonlythewomanUngacouldlook—
andagainIknewitasthecallofkind。Thepeopleshoutedaswerippedpastthelazyoomiaksandleftthemfarbehind。Butshewasquickatthepaddle，andmyheartwaslikethebellyofasail，andIdidnotgain。Thewindfreshened，theseawhitened，and，leapinglikethesealsonthewindwardbreech，weroareddownthegoldenpathwayofthesun。’
Naasswascrouchedhalfoutofhisstool，intheattitudeofonedrivingapaddle，asherantheraceanew。SomewhereacrossthestovehebeheldthetossingkayakandtheflyinghairofUnga。Thevoiceofthewindwasinhisears，anditssaltbeatfreshuponhisnostrils。
’Butshemadetheshore，andranupthesand，laughing，tothehouseofhermother。Andagreatthoughtcametomethatnight—athoughtworthyofhimthatwaschiefoverallthepeopleofAkatan。So，whenthemoonwasup，Iwentdowntothehouseofhermother，andlookeduponthegoodsofYash—Noosh，whichwerepiledbythedoor—thegoodsofYash—Noosh，astronghunterwhohaditinmindtobethefatherofthechildrenofUnga。Otheryoungmenhadpiledtheirgoodsthereandtakenthemawayagain;andeachyoungmanhadmadeapilegreaterthantheonebefore。
’AndIlaughedtothemoonandthestars，andwenttomyownhousewheremywealthwasstored。AndmanytripsImade，tillmypilewasgreaterbythefingersofonehandthanthepileofYash—Noosh。
Therewerefish，driedinthesunandsmoked;andfortyhidesofthehairseal，andhalfasmanyofthefur，andeachhidewastiedatthemouthandbigbelliedwithoil;andtenskinsofbearwhichI
killedinthewoodswhentheycameoutinthespring。Andtherewerebeadsandblanketsandscarletcloths，suchasIgotintradefromthepeoplewholivedtotheeast，andwhogotthemintradefromthepeoplewholivedstillbeyondintheeast。AndIlookeduponthepileofYash—Nooshandlaughed，forIwasheadmaninAkatan，andmywealthwasgreaterthanthewealthofallmyyoungmen，andmyfathershaddonedeeds，andgivenlaws，andputtheirnamesforalltimeinthemouthsofthepeople。
’So，whenthemorningcame，Iwentdowntothebeach，castingoutofthecornerofmyeyeatthehouseofthemotherofUnga。Myofferyetstooduntouched。Andthewomensmiled，andsaidslythingsonetotheother。Iwondered，forneverhadsuchapricebeenoffered;andthatnightIaddedmoretothepile，andputbesideitakayakofwell—tannedskinswhichneveryethadswaminthesea。Butinthedayitwasyetthere，opentothelaughterofallmen。ThemotherofUngawascrafty，andIgrewangryattheshameinwhichIstoodbeforemypeople。SothatnightIaddedtillitbecameagreatpile，andI
hauledupmyoomiak，whichwasofthevalueoftwentykayaks。Andinthemorningtherewasnopile。
’ThenmadeIpreparationforthewedding，andthepeoplethatlivedeventotheeastcameforthefoodofthefeastandthepotlatchtoken。UngawasolderthanIbytheageoffoursunsinthewaywereckonedtheyears。Iwasonlyastripling;butthenIwasachief，andthesonofachief，anditdidnotmatter。
’Butashipshovedhersailsabovetheflooroftheocean，andgrewlargerwiththebreathofthewind。Fromherscupperssheranclearwater，andthemenwereinhasteandworkedhardatthepumps。
Onthebowstoodamightyman，watchingthedepthofthewaterandgivingcommandswithavoiceofthunder。Hiseyeswereofthepaleblueofthedeepwaters，andhisheadwasmanedlikethatofasealion。Andhishairwasyellow，likethestrawofasouthernharvestorthemanilaropeyarnswhichsailormenplait。
’Oflateyearswehadseenshipsfromafar，butthiswasthefirsttocometothebeachofAkatan。Thefeastwasbroken，andthewomenandchildrenfledtothehouses，whilewemenstrungourbowsandwaitedwithspearsinhand。Butwhentheship’sforefootsmelledthebeachthestrangementooknonoticeofus，beingbusywiththeirownwork。Withthefallingofthetidetheycareenedtheschoonerandpatchedagreatholeinherbottom。Sothewomencreptback，andthefeastwenton。
’Whenthetiderose，theseawandererskedgedtheschoonertodeepwaterandthencameamongus。Theyborepresentsandwerefriendly;soImaderoomforthem，andoutofthelargenessofmyheartgavethemtokenssuchasIgavealltheguests，foritwasmyweddingday，andI
washeadmaninAkatan。Andhewiththemaneofthesealionwasthere，sotallandstrongthatonelookedtoseetheearthshakewiththefallofhisfeet。HelookedmuchandstraightatUnga，withhisarmsfolded，so，andstayedtillthesunwentawayandthestarscameout。Thenhewentdowntohisship。AfterthatItookUngabythehandandledhertomyownhouse。Andtherewassingingandgreatlaughter，andthewomensaidslythings，afterthemannerofwomenatsuchtimes。Butwedidnotcare。Thenthepeopleleftusaloneandwenthome。
’Thelastnoisehadnotdiedawaywhenthechiefoftheseawandererscameinbythedoor。Andhehadwithhimblackbottles，fromwhichwedrankandmademerry。Yousee，Iwasonlyastripling，andhadlivedallmydaysontheedgeoftheworld。Somybloodbecameasfire，andmyheartaslightasthefroththatfliesfromthesurftothecliff。Ungasatsilentamongtheskinsinthecorner，hereyeswide，forsheseemedtofear。Andhewiththemaneofthesealionlookeduponherstraightandlong。Thenhismencameinwithbundlesofgoods，andhepiledbeforemewealthsuchaswasnotinallAkatan。Therewereguns，bothlargeandsmall，andpowderandshotandshell，andbrightaxesandknivesofsteel，andcunningtools，andstrangethingsthelikeofwhichIhadneverseen。Whenheshowedmebysignthatitwasallmine，Ithoughthimagreatmantobesofree;
butheshowedmealsothatUngawastogoawaywithhiminhisship。
Doyouunderstand？—thatUngawastogoawaywithhiminhisship。Thebloodofmyfathersflamedhotonthesudden，andImadetodrivehimthroughwithmyspear。Butthespiritofthebottleshadstolenthelifefrommyarm，andhetookmebytheneck，so，andknockedmyheadagainstthewallofthehouse。AndIwasmadeweaklikeanewbornchild，andmylegswouldnomorestandunderme。Ungascreamed，andshelaidholdofthethingsofthehousewithherhands，tilltheyfellallaboutusashedraggedhertothedoor。Thenhetookherinhisgreatarms，andwhenshetoreathisyellowhairlaughedwithasoundlikethatofthebigbullsealintherut。
’Icrawledtothebeachandcalleduponmypeople，buttheywereafraid。OnlyYash—Nooshwasaman，andtheystruckhimontheheadwithanoar，tillhelaywithhisfaceinthesandanddidnotmove。
Andtheyraisedthesailstothesoundoftheirsongs，andtheshipwentawayonthewind。
’Thepeoplesaiditwasgood，fortherewouldbenomorewarofthebloodsinAkatan;butIsaidneveraword，waitingtillthetimeofthefullmoon，whenIputfishandoilinmykayakandwentawaytotheeast。Isawmanyislandsandmanypeople，andI，whohadlivedontheedge，sawthattheworldwasverylarge。Italkedbysigns;buttheyhadnotseenaschoonernoramanwiththemaneofasealion，andtheypointedalwaystotheeast。AndIsleptinqueerplaces，andateoddthings，andmetstrangefaces。Manylaughed，fortheythoughtmelightofhead;butsometimesoldmenturnedmyfacetothelightandblessedme，andtheeyesoftheyoungwomengrewsoftastheyaskedmeofthestrangeship，andUnga，andthemenofthesea。
’Andinthismanner，throughroughseasandgreatstorms，IcametoUnalaska。Thereweretwoschoonersthere，butneitherwastheoneI
sought。SoIpassedontotheeast，withtheworldgrowingeverlarger，andintheislandofUnamoktherewasnowordoftheship，norinKadiak，norinAtognak。AndsoIcameonedaytoarockyland，wheremenduggreatholesinthemountain。Andtherewasaschooner，butnotmyschooner，andmenloadeduponittherockswhichtheydug。ThisIthoughtchildish，foralltheworldwasmadeofrocks;buttheygavemefoodandsetmetowork。Whentheschoonerwasdeepinthewater，thecaptaingavememoneyandtoldmetogo;butIaskedwhichwayhewent，andhepointedsouth。ImadesignsthatIwouldgowithhim，andhelaughedatfirst，butthen，beingshortofmen，tookmetohelpworktheship。SoIcametotalkaftertheirmanner，andtoheaveonropes，andtoreefthestiffsailsinsuddensqualls，andtotakemyturnatthewheel。Butitwasnotstrange，forthebloodofmyfatherswasthebloodofthemenofthesea。
’IhadthoughtitaneasytasktofindhimIsought，onceIgotamonghisownpeople;andwhenweraisedthelandoneday，andpassedbetweenagatewayoftheseatoaport，Ilookedforperhapsasmanyschoonersastherewerefingerstomyhands。Buttheshipslayagainstthewharvesformiles，packedlikesomanylittlefish;andwhenIwentamongthemtoaskforamanwiththemaneofasealion，theylaughed，andansweredmeinthetonguesofmanypeoples。AndI
foundthattheyhailedfromtheuttermostpartsoftheearth。
’AndIwentintothecitytolookuponthefaceofeveryman。Buttheywerelikethecodwhentheyrunthickonthebanks，andIcouldnotcountthem。AndthenoisesmoteuponmetillIcouldnothear，andmyheadwasdizzywithmuchmovement。SoIwentonandon，throughthelandswhichsanginthewarmsunshine;wheretheharvestslayrichontheplains;andwheregreatcitieswerefatwithmenthatlivedlikewomen，withfalsewordsintheirmouthsandtheirheartsblackwiththelustofgold。AndallthewhilemypeopleofAkatanhuntedandfished，andwerehappyinthethoughtthattheworldwassmall。
’ButthelookintheeyesofUngacominghomefromthefishingwaswithmealways，andIknewIwouldfindherwhenthetimewasmet。Shewalkeddownquietlanesintheduskoftheevening，orledmechasesacrossthethickfieldswetwiththemorningdew，andtherewasapromiseinhereyessuchasonlythewomanUngacouldgive。
’SoIwanderedthroughathousandcities。Someweregentleandgavemefood，andotherslaughed，andstillotherscursed;butI
keptmytonguebetweenmyteeth，andwentstrangewaysandsawstrangesights。SometimesI，whowasachiefandthesonofachief，toiledformen—menroughofspeechandhardasiron，whowrunggoldfromthesweatandsorrowoftheirfellowmen。YetnoworddidIgetofmyquesttillIcamebacktothesealikeahomingsealtotherookeries。
Butthiswasatanotherport，inanothercountrywhichlaytothenorth。AndthereIhearddimtalesoftheyellow—hairedseawanderer，andIlearnedthathewasahunterofseals，andthateventhenhewasabroadontheocean。
’SoIshippedonasealschoonerwiththelazySiwashes，andfollowedhistracklesstrailtothenorthwherethehuntwasthenwarm。Andwewereawaywearymonths，andspokemanyofthefleet，andheardmuchofthewilddoingsofhimIsought;butneveroncedidweraisehimabovethesea。Wewentnorth，eventothePribilofs，andkilledthesealsinherdsonthebeach，andbroughttheirwarmbodiesaboardtillourscuppersrangreaseandbloodandnomancouldstanduponthedeck。Thenwerewechasedbyashipofslowsteam，whichfireduponuswithgreatguns。Butweputsailtilltheseawasoverourdecksandwashedthemclean，andlostourselvesinafog。
’Itissaid，atthistime，whilewefledwithfearatourhearts，thattheyellow—hairedseawandererputintothePribilofs，righttothefactory，andwhilethepartofhismenheldtheservantsofthecompany，therestloadedtenthousandgreenskinsfromthesalthouses。Isayitissaid，butIbelieve;forinthevoyagesImadeonthecoastwithneverameetingthenorthernseasrangwithhiswildnessanddaring，tillthethreenationswhichhavelandstheresoughthimwiththeirships。AndIheardofUnga，forthecaptainssangloudinherpraise，andshewasalwayswithhim。Shehadlearnedthewaysofhispeople，theysaid，andwashappy。ButIknewbetter—knewthatherheartharkedbacktoherownpeoplebytheyellowbeachofAkatan。
’So，afteralongtime，Iwentbacktotheportwhichisbyagatewayofthesea，andthereIlearnedthathehadgoneacrossthegirthofthegreatoceantohuntforthesealtotheeastofthewarmlandwhichrunssouthfromtheRussianseas。AndI，whowasbecomeasailorman，shippedwithmenofhisownrace，andwentafterhiminthehuntoftheseal。Andtherewerefewshipsoffthatnewland;butwehungontheflankofthesealpackandharrieditnorththroughallthespringoftheyear。AndwhenthecowswereheavywithpupandcrossedtheRussianline，ourmengrumbledandwereafraid。Fortherewasmuchfog，andeverydaymenwerelostintheboats。Theywouldnotwork，sothecaptainturnedtheshipbacktowardthewayitcame。ButIknewtheyellow—hairedseawandererwasunafraid，andwouldhangbythepack，eventotheRussianIsles，wherefewmengo。SoItookaboat，intheblackofnight，whenthelookoutdozedonthefo’c’slehead，andwentalonetothewarm，longland。AndIjourneyedsouthtomeetthemenbyYeddoBay，whoarewildandunafraid。AndtheYoshiwaragirlsweresmall，andbrightlikesteel，andgoodtolookupon;butIcouldnotstop，forIknewthatUngarolledonthetossingfloorbytherookeriesofthenorth。
’ThemenbyYeddoBayhadmetfromtheendsoftheearth，andhadneithergodsnorhomes，sailingundertheflagoftheJapanese。AndwiththemIwenttotherichbeachesofCopperIsland，whereoursaltpilesbecamehighwithskins。Andinthatsilentseawesawnomantillwewerereadytocomeaway。Thenonedaythefogliftedontheedgeofaheavywind，andtherejammeddownuponusaschooner，withcloseinherwakethecloudyfunnelsofaRussianman—of—war。
Wefledawayonthebeamofthewind，withtheschoonerjammingstillcloserandplungingaheadthreefeettoourtwo。Anduponherpoopwasthemanwiththemaneofthesealion，pressingtherailsunderwiththecanvasandlaughinginhisstrengthoflife。AndUngawasthere—Iknewheronthemoment—buthesentherbelowwhenthecannonsbegantotalkacrossthesea。AsIsay，withthreefeettoourtwo，tillwesawtherudderliftgreenateveryjump—andIswingingontothewheelandcursing，withmybacktotheRussianshot。Forweknewhehaditinmindtorunbeforeus，thathemightgetawaywhilewewerecaught。Andtheyknockedourmastsoutofustillwedraggedintothewindlikeawoundedgull;buthewentonovertheedgeoftheskyline—heandUnga。
’Whatcouldwe？Thefreshhidesspokeforthemselves。SotheytookustoaRussianport，andafterthattoalonecountry，wheretheysetustoworkintheminestodigsalt。Andsomedied，and—andsomedidnotdie。’
Naassswepttheblanketfromhisshoulders，disclosingthegnarledandtwistedflesh，markedwiththeunmistakablestriationsoftheknout。Princehastilycoveredhim，foritwasnotnicetolookupon。
’Wewerethereawearytimeandsometimesmengotawaytothesouth，buttheyalwayscameback。So，whenwewhohailedfromYeddoBayroseinthenightandtookthegunsfromtheguards，wewenttothenorth。Andthelandwasverylarge，withplains，soggywithwater，andgreatforests。Andthecoldcame，withmuchsnowontheground，andnomanknewtheway。Wearymonthswejourneyedthroughtheendlessforest—Idonotremember，now，fortherewaslittlefoodandoftenwelaydowntodie。Butatlastwecametothecoldsea，andbutthreewerelefttolookuponit。OnehadshippedfromYeddoascaptain，andheknewinhisheadthelayofthegreatlands，andoftheplacewheremenmaycrossfromonetotheotherontheice。Andheledus—I
donotknow，itwassolong—tilltherewerebuttwo。Whenwecametothatplacewefoundfiveofthestrangepeoplewhichliveinthatcountry，andtheyhaddogsandskins，andwewereverypoor。Wefoughtinthesnowtilltheydied，andthecaptaindied，andthedogsandskinsweremine。ThenIcrossedontheice，whichwasbroken，andonceIdriftedtillagalefromthewestputmeupontheshore。Andafterthat，GolovinBay，Pastilik，andthepriest。Thensouth，south，tothewarmsunlandswherefirstIwandered。
’Buttheseawasnolongerfruitful，andthosewhowentuponitafterthesealwenttolittleprofitandgreatrisk。Thefleetsscattered，andthecaptainsandthemenhadnowordofthoseIsought。
SoIturnedawayfromtheoceanwhichneverrests，andwentamongthelands，wherethetrees，thehouses，andthemountainssitalwaysinoneplaceanddonotmove。Ijourneyedfar，andcametolearnmanythings，eventothewayofreadingandwritingfrombooks。ItwaswellIshoulddothis，foritcameuponmethatUngamustknowthesethings，andthatsomeday，whenthetimewasmet—we—youunderstand，whenthetimewasmet。
’SoIdrifted，likethoselittlefishwhichraiseasailtothewindbutcannotsteer。Butmyeyesandmyearswereopenalways，andIwentamongmenwhotraveledmuch，forIknewtheyhadbuttoseethoseI
soughttoremember。Atlasttherecameaman，freshfromthemountains，withpiecesofrockinwhichthefreegoldstoodtothesizeofpeas，andhehadheard，hehadmet，heknewthem。Theywererich，hesaid，andlivedintheplacewheretheydrewthegoldfromtheground。
’Itwasinawildcountry，andveryfaraway;butintimeIcametothecamp，hiddenbetweenthemountains，wheremenworkednightandday，outofthesightofthesun。Yetthetimewasnotcome。I
listenedtothetalkofthepeople。Hehadgoneaway—theyhadgoneaway—toEngland，itwassaid，inthematterofbringingmenwithmuchmoneytogethertoformcompanies。Isawthehousetheyhadlivedin;
morelikeapalace，suchasoneseesintheoldcountries。InthenighttimeIcreptinthroughawindowthatImightseeinwhatmannerhetreatedher。Iwentfromroomtoroom，andinsuchwaythoughtkingsandqueensmustlive，itwasallsoverygood。Andtheyallsaidhetreatedherlikeaqueen，andmanymarveledastowhatbreedofwomanshewasfortherewasotherbloodinherveins，andshewasdifferentfromthewomenofAkatan，andnooneknewherforwhatshewas。Aye，shewasaqueen;butIwasachief，andthesonofachief，andIhadpaidforheranuntoldpriceofskinandboatandbead。
’Butwhysomanywords？Iwasasailorman，andknewthewayoftheshipsontheseas。IfollowedtoEngland，andthentoothercountries。
SometimesIheardofthembywordofmouth，sometimesIreadoftheminthepapers;yetneveroncecouldIcomebythem，fortheyhadmuchmoney，andtraveledfast，whileIwasapoorman。Thencametroubleuponthem，andtheirwealthslippedawayonedaylikeacurlofsmoke。Thepaperswerefullofitatthetime;butafterthatnothingwassaid，andIknewtheyhadgonebackwheremoregoldcouldbegotfromtheground。
’Theyhaddroppedoutoftheworld，beingnowpoor，andsoI
wanderedfromcamptocamp，evennorthtotheKootenaycountry，whereIpickedupthecoldscent。Theyhadcomeandgone，somesaidthisway，andsomethat，andstillothersthattheyhadgonetothecountryoftheYukon。AndIwentthisway，andIwentthat，everjourneyingfromplacetoplace，tillitseemedImustgrowwearyoftheworldwhichwassolarge。ButintheKootenayItraveledabadtrail，andalongtrail，withabreedoftheNorthwest，whosawfittodiewhenthefaminepinched。HehadbeentotheYukonbyanunknownwayoverthemountains，andwhenheknewhistimewasneargavemethemapandthesecretofaplacewherehesworebyhisgodstherewasmuchgold。
’Afterthatalltheworldbegantoflockintothenorth。Iwasapoorman;Isoldmyselftobeadriverofdogs。Therestyouknow。I
methimandherinDawson。Shedidnotknowme，forIwasonlyastripling，andherlifehadbeenlarge，soshehadnotimetoremembertheonewhohadpaidforheranuntoldprice。
’So？Youboughtmefrommytermofservice。Iwentbacktobringthingsaboutinmyownway，forIhadwaitedlong，andnowthatI
hadmyhanduponhimwasinnohurry。AsIsay，Ihaditinmindtodomyownway，forIreadbackinmylife，throughallIhadseenandsuffered，andrememberedthecoldandhungeroftheendlessforestbytheRussianseas。Asyouknow，Iledhimintotheeast—himandUnga—intotheeastwheremanyhavegoneandfewreturned。Iledthemtothespotwherethebonesandthecursesofmenliewiththegoldwhichtheymaynothave。
’Thewaywaslongandthetrailunpacked。Ourdogsweremanyandatemuch;norcouldoursledscarrytillthebreakofspring。Wemustcomebackbeforetheriverranfree。Sohereandtherewecachedgrub，thatoursledsmightbelightenedandtherebenochanceoffamineonthebacktrip。AttheMcQuestiontherewerethreemen，andnearthemwebuiltacache，asalsodidweattheMayo，wherewasahuntingcampofadozenPellyswhichhadcrossedthedividefromthesouth。Afterthat，aswewentonintotheeast，wesawnomen;onlythesleepingriver，themovelessforest，andtheWhiteSilenceoftheNorth。AsI
say，thewaywaslongandthetrailunpacked。Sometimes，inaday’stoil，wemadenomorethaneightmiles，orten，andatnightwesleptlikedeadmen。AndneveroncedidtheydreamthatIwasNaass，headmanofAkatan，therighterofwrongs。
’Wenowmadesmallercaches，andinthenighttimeitwasasmallmattertogobackonthetrailwehadbrokenandchangetheminsuchwaythatonemightdeemthewolverinesthethieves。Againtherebeplaceswherethereisafalltotheriver，andthewaterisunruly，andtheicemakesaboveandiseatenawaybeneath。InsuchaspotthesledIdrovebrokethrough，andthedogs;andtohimandUngaitwasillluck，butnomore。Andtherewasmuchgrubonthatsled，andthedogsthestrongest。Buthelaughed，forhewasstrongoflife，andgavethedogsthatwereleftlittlegrubtillwecutthemfromtheharnessesonebyoneandfedthemtotheirmates。Wewouldgohomelight，hesaid，travelingandeatingfromcachetocache，withneitherdogsnorsleds;whichwastrue，forourgrubwasveryshort，andthelastdogdiedinthetracesthenightwecametothegoldandthebonesandthecursesofmen。
’Toreachthatplace—andthemapspoketrue—intheheartofthegreatmountains，wecuticestepsagainstthewallofadivide。Onelookedforavalleybeyond，buttherewasnovalley;thesnowspreadaway，levelasthegreatharvestplains，andhereandthereaboutusmightymountainsshovedtheirwhiteheadsamongthestars。Andmidwayonthatstrangeplainwhichshouldhavebeenavalleytheearthandthesnowfellaway，straightdowntowardtheheartoftheworld。
Hadwenotbeensailormenourheadswouldhaveswungroundwiththesight，butwestoodonthedizzyedgethatwemightseeawaytogetdown。Andononeside，andonesideonly，thewallhadfallenawaytillitwasliketheslopeofthedecksinatopsailbreeze。Idonotknowwhythisthingshouldbeso，butitwasso。"Itisthemouthofhell，"hesaid;"letusgodown。"Andwewentdown。
’Andonthebottomtherewasacabin，builtbysomeman，oflogswhichhehadcastdownfromabove。Itwasaveryoldcabin，formenhaddiedtherealoneatdifferenttimes，andonpiecesofbirchbarkwhichweretherewereadtheirlastwordsandtheircurses。Onehaddiedofscurvy;another’spartnerhadrobbedhimofhislastgrubandpowderandstolenaway;athirdhadbeenmauledbyabaldfacegrizzly;afourthhadhuntedforgameandstarved—andsoitwent，andtheyhadbeenloathtoleavethegold，andhaddiedbythesideofitinonewayoranother。Andtheworthlessgoldtheyhadgatheredyellowedthefloorofthecabinlikeinadream。
’Buthissoulwassteady，andhisheadclear，thismanIhadledthusfar。"Wehavenothingtoeat，"hesaid，"andwewillonlylookuponthisgold，andseewhenceitcomesandhowmuchtherebe。Thenwewillgoawayquick，beforeitgetsintooureyesandstealsawayourjudgment。Andinthiswaywemayreturnintheend，withmoregrub，andpossessitall。"Sowelookeduponthegreatvein，whichcutthewallofthepitasatrueveinshould，andwemeasuredit，andtraceditfromaboveandbelow，anddrovethestakesoftheclaimsandblazedthetreesintokenofourrights。Then，ourkneesshakingwithlackoffood，andasicknessinourbellies，andourheartschuggingclosetoourmouths，weclimbedthemightywallforthelasttimeandturnedourfacestothebacktrip。
’ThelaststretchwedraggedUngabetweenus，andwefelloften，butintheendwemadethecache。Andlo，therewasnogrub。Itwaswelldone，forhethoughtitthewolverines，anddamnedthemandhisgodsinonebreath。ButUngawasbrave，andsmiled，andputherhandinhis，tillIturnedawaythatImightholdmyself。"Wewillrestbythefire，"shesaid，"tillmorning，andwewillgatherstrengthfromourmoccasins。"Sowecutthetopsofourmoccasinsinstrips，andboiledthemhalfofthenight，thatwemightchewthemandswallowthem。Andinthemorningwetalkedofourchance。Thenextcachewasfivedays’journey;wecouldnotmakeit。Wemustfindgame。
’"Wewillgoforthandhunt，"hesaid。
’"Yes，"saidI，"wewillgoforthandhunt。"
’AndheruledthatUngastaybythefireandsaveherstrength。
Andwewentforth，heinquestofthemooseandItothecacheIhadchanged。ButIatelittle，sotheymightnotseeinmemuchstrength。Andinthenighthefellmanytimesashedrewintocamp。
AndI，too，madetosuffergreatweakness，stumblingovermysnowshoesasthougheachstepmightbemylast。Andwegatheredstrengthfromourmoccasins。
’Hewasagreatman。Hissoulliftedhisbodytothelast;nordidhecryaloud，saveforthesakeofUnga。OntheseconddayI
followedhim，thatImightnotmisstheend。Andhelaydowntorestoften。Thatnighthewasneargone;butinthemorninghesworeweaklyandwentforthagain。Hewaslikeadrunkenman，andIlookedmanytimesforhimtogiveup，buthiswasthestrengthofthestrong，andhissoulthesoulofagiant，forheliftedhisbodythroughallthewearyday。Andheshottwoptarmigan，butwouldnoteatthem。Heneedednofire;theymeantlife;buthisthoughtwasforUnga，andheturnedtowardcamp。Henolongerwalked，butcrawledonhandandkneethroughthesnow。Icametohim，andreaddeathinhiseyes。Eventhenitwasnottoolatetoeatoftheptarmigan。Hecastawayhisrifleandcarriedthebirdsinhismouthlikeadog。Iwalkedbyhisside，upright。Andhelookedatmeduringthemomentsherested，andwonderedthatIwassostrong。Icouldseeit，thoughhenolongerspoke;andwhenhislipsmoved，theymovedwithoutsound。AsIsay，hewasagreatman，andmyheartspokeforsoftness;butIreadbackinmylife，andrememberedthecoldandhungeroftheendlessforestbytheRussianseas。Besides，Ungawasmine，andIhadpaidforheranuntoldpriceofskinandboatandbead。
’Andinthismannerwecamethroughthewhiteforest，withthesilenceheavyuponuslikeadampseamist。Andtheghostsofthepastwereintheairandallaboutus;andIsawtheyellowbeachofAkatan，andthekayaksracinghomefromthefishing，andthehousesontherimoftheforest。Andthemenwhohadmadethemselveschiefswerethere，thelawgiverswhosebloodIboreandwhosebloodIhadweddedinUnga。Aye，andYash—Nooshwalkedwithme，thewetsandinhishair，andhiswarspear，brokenashefelluponit，stillinhishand。AndI
knewthetimewasmeet，andsawintheeyesofUngathepromise。
’AsIsay，wecamethusthroughtheforest，tillthesmellofthecampsmokewasinournostrils。AndIbentabovehim，andtoretheptarmiganfromhisteeth。Heturnedonhissideandrested，thewondermountinginhiseyes，andthehandwhichwasunderslippingslowtowardtheknifeathiship。ButItookitfromhim，smilingcloseinhisface。Eventhenhedidnotunderstand。SoImadetodrinkfromblackbottles，andtobuildhighuponthesnowapile—ofgoods，andtoliveagainthethingswhichhadhappenedonthenightofmymarriage。Ispokenoword，butheunderstood。Yetwasheunafraid。Therewasasneertohislips，andcoldanger，andhegatherednewstrengthwiththeknowledge。Itwasnotfar，butthesnowwasdeep，andhedraggedhimselfveryslow。OncehelaysolongI
turnedhimoverandgazedintohiseyes。Andsometimeshelookedforth，andsometimesdeath。AndwhenIloosedhimhestruggledonagain。Inthiswaywecametothefire。Ungawasathissideontheinstant。Hislipsmovedwithoutsound;thenhepointedatme，thatUngamightunderstand。Andafterthathelayinthesnow，verystill，foralongwhile。Evennowishethereinthesnow。
’IsaidnowordtillIhadcookedtheptarmigan。ThenIspoketoher，inherowntongue，whichshehadnotheardinmanyyears。Shestraightenedherself，so，andhereyeswerewonder—wide，andsheaskedwhoIwas，andwhereIhadlearnedthatspeech。
’"IamNaass，"Isaid。
’"You？"shesaid。"You？"Andshecreptclosethatshemightlookuponme。
’"Yes，"Ianswered;"IamNaass，headmanofAkatan，thelastoftheblood，asyouarethelastoftheblood。"
’Andshelaughed。ByallthethingsIhaveseenandthedeedsIhavedonemayIneverhearsuchalaughagain。Itputthechilltomysoul，sittingthereintheWhiteSilence，alonewithdeathandthiswomanwholaughed。
’"Come！"Isaid，forIthoughtshewandered。"Eatofthefoodandletusbegone。ItisafarfetchfromheretoAkatan。"
’Butsheshovedherfaceinhisyellowmane，andlaughedtillitseemedtheheavensmustfallaboutourears。Ihadthoughtshewouldbeoverjoyedatthesightofme，andeagertogobacktothememoryofoldtimes，butthisseemedastrangeformtotake。
’"Come！’Icried，takingherstrongbythehand。"Thewayislonganddark。Letushurry！’
’"Where？"sheasked，sittingup，andceasingfromherstrangemirth。
’"ToAkatan，"Ianswered，intentonthelighttogrowonherfaceatthethought。Butitbecamelikehis，withasneertothelips，andcoldanger。
’"Yes，’shesaid;"wewillgo，handinhand，toAkatan，youandI。
Andwewillliveinthedirtyhuts，andeatofthefishandoil，andbringforthaspawn—aspawntobeproudofallthedaysofourlife。Wewillforgettheworldandbehappy，veryhappy。Itisgood，mostgood。Come！Letushurry。LetusgobacktoAkatan。"
’Andsheranherhandthroughhisyellowhair，andsmiledinawaywhichwasnotgood。Andtherewasnopromiseinhereyes。
’Isatsilent，andmarveledatthestrangenessofwoman。Iwentbacktothenightwhenhedraggedherfrommeandshescreamedandtoreathishair—athishairwhichnowsheplayedwithandwouldnotleave。ThenIrememberedthepriceandthelongyearsofwaiting;
andIgrippedherclose，anddraggedherawayashehaddone。Andsheheldback，evenasonthatnight，andfoughtlikeashe—catforitswhelp。Andwhenthefirewasbetweenusandtheman。Iloosedher，andshesatandlistened。AndItoldherofallthatlaybetween，ofallthathadhappenedtomeonstrangeseas，ofallthatIhaddoneinstrangelands;ofmywearyquest，andthehungryyears，andthepromisewhichhadbeenminefromthefirst。Aye，Itoldall，eventowhathadpassedthatdaybetweenthemanandme，andinthedaysyetyoung。AndasIspokeIsawthepromisegrowinhereyes，fullandlargelikethebreakofdawn。AndIreadpitythere，thetendernessofwoman，thelove，theheartandthesoulofUnga。AndIwasastriplingagain，forthelookwasthelookofUngaassheranupthebeach，laughing，tothehomeofhermother。Thesternunrestwasgone，andthehunger，andthewearywaiting。Thetimewasmet。Ifeltthecallofherbreast，anditseemedthereImustpillowmyheadandforget。
Sheopenedherarmstome，andIcameagainsther。Then，sudden，thehateflamedinhereye，herhandwasatmyhip。Andonce，twice，shepassedtheknife。
’"Dog！"shesneered，assheflungmeintothesnow。"Swine！"Andthenshelaughedtillthesilencecracked，andwentbacktoherdead。
’AsIsay，onceshepassedtheknife，andtwice;butshewasweakwithhunger，anditwasnotmeantthatIshoulddie。YetwasI
mindedtostayinthatplace，andtoclosemyeyesinthelastlongsleepwiththosewhoseliveshadcrossedwithmineandledmyfeetonunknowntrails。Buttherelayadebtuponmewhichwouldnotletmerest。
’Andthewaywaslong，thecoldbitter，andtherewaslittlegrub。
ThePellyshadfoundnomoose，andhadrobbedmycache。Andsohadthethreewhitemen，buttheylaythinanddeadintheircabinsasI
passed。AfterthatIdonotremember，tillIcamehere，andfoundfoodandfire—muchfire。’
Ashefinished，hecrouchedclosely，evenjealously，overthestove。
Foralongwhiletheslush—lampshadowsplayedtragediesuponthewall。
’ButUnga！’criedPrince，thevisionstillstronguponhim。
’Unga？Shewouldnoteatoftheptarmigan。Shelaywithherarmsabouthisneck，herfacedeepinhisyellowhair。Idrewthefireclose，thatshemightnotfeelthefrost，butshecrepttotheotherside。AndIbuiltafirethere;yetitwaslittlegood，forshewouldnoteat。Andinthismannertheystilllieupthereinthesnow。’
’Andyou？’askedMalemuteKid。
’Idonotknow;butAkatanissmall，andIhavelittlewishtogobackandliveontheedgeoftheworld。Yetistheresmalluseinlife。IcangotoConstantine，andhewillputironsuponme，andonedaytheywilltieapieceofrope，so，andIwillsleepgood。Yet—
no;Idonotknow。’
’But，Kid，’protestedPrince，’thisismurder！’
’Hush！’commandedMalemuteKid。’Therebethingsgreaterthanourwisdom，beyondourjustice。Therightandthewrongofthiswecannotsay，anditisnotforustojudge。’
Naassdrewyetclosertothefire。Therewasagreatsilence，andineachman’seyesmanypicturescameandwent。