smoke bellew(史沫克·贝罗)-第29节
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the Commissioner allowed sixty days for recording after location。 Every
claim was recorded except Number Three Below。 It was staked by Cyrus
Johnson。 And that was all。 Cyrus Johnson has disappeared。 Whether
he died； whether he went down river or up； nobody knows。 Anyway； in
six days； the time for recording will be up。 Then the man who stakes it；
and reaches Dawson first and records it； gets it。〃
〃A million dollars；〃 Smoke murmured。
〃Gilchrist； who has the next claim below； has got six hundred dollars
in a single pan off bedrock。 He's burned one hole down。 And the claim
on the other side is even richer。 I know。〃
〃But why doesn't everybody know？〃 Smoke queried skeptically。
〃They're beginning to know。 They kept it secret for a long time； and
it is only now that it's coming out。 Good dog…teams will be at a premium
in another twenty…four hours。 Now； you've got to get away as decently as
you can as soon as dinner is over。 I've arranged it。 An Indian will come
with a message for you。 You read it； let on that you're very much put out；
make your excuses； and get away。〃
〃IerI fail to follow。〃
〃Ninny！〃 she exclaimed in a half…whisper。 〃What you must do is to
get out to…night and hustle dog…teams。 I know of two。 There's Hanson's
team； seven big Hudson Bay dogshe's holding them at four hundred each。
That's top price to…night； but it won't be to…morrow。 And Sitka Charley has
eight Malemutes he's asking thirty…five hundred for。 To…morrow he'll
laugh at an offer of five thousand。 Then you've got your own team of dogs。
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And you'll have to buy several more teams。 That's your work to…night。
Get the best。 It's dogs as well as men that will win this race。 It's a
hundred and ten miles； and you'll have to relay as frequently as you can。〃
〃Oh； I see； you want me to go in for it；〃 Smoke drawled。
〃If you haven't the money for the dogs； I'll〃
She faltered； but before she could continue； Smoke was speaking。
〃I can buy the dogs。 Buteraren't you afraid this is gambling？〃
〃After your exploits at roulette in the Elkhorn；〃 she retorted； 〃I'm not
afraid that you're afraid。 It's a sporting proposition； if that's what you
mean。 A race for a million； and with some of the stiffest dog…mushers
and travellers in the country entered against you。 They haven't entered
yet； but by this time to…morrow they will； and dogs will be worth what the
richest man can afford to pay。 Big Olaf is in town。 He came up from
Circle City last month。 He is one of the most terrible dog…mushers in the
country； and if he enters he will be your most dangerous man。 Arizona
Bill is another。 He's been a professional freighter and mail…carrier for years。
It he goes in； interest will be centred on him and Big Olaf。〃
〃And you intend me to come along as a sort of dark horse。〃
〃Exactly。 And it will have its advantages。 You will not be supposed
to stand a show。 After all； you know； you are still classed as a chechaquo。
You haven't seen the four seasons go around。 Nobody will take notice of
you until you come into the home stretch in the lead。〃
〃It's on the home stretch the dark horse is to show up its classy form；
eh？〃
She nodded； and continued earnestly。 〃Remember； I shall never
forgive myself for the trick I played on the Squaw Creek Stampede until
you win this Mono claim。 And if any man can win this race against the
old…timers； it's you。〃
It was the way she said it。 He felt warm all over； and in his heart and
head。 He gave her a quick； searching look； involuntary and serious； and
for the moment that her eyes met his steadily； ere they fell； it seemed to
him that he read something of vaster import than the claim Cyrus Johnson
had failed to record。
〃I'll do it；〃 he said。 〃I'll win it。〃
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Smoke Bellew
The glad light in her eyes seemed to promise a greater need than all
the gold in the Mono claim。 He was aware of a movement of her hand in
her lap next to his。 Under the screen of the tablecloth he thrust his own
hand across and met a firm grip of woman's fingers that sent another wave
of warmth through him。
〃What will Shorty say？〃 was the thought that flashed whimsically
through his mind as he withdrew his hand。 He glanced almost jealously
at the faces of Von Schroeder and Jones； and wondered if they had not
divined the remarkableness and deliciousness of this woman who sat
beside him。
He was aroused by her voice； and realized that she had been speaking
some moments。
〃So you see； Arizona Bill is a white Indian；〃 she was saying。 〃And
Big Olaf isa bear wrestler； a king of the snows； a mighty savage。 He can
out…travel and out…endure an Indian； and he's never known any other life
but that of the wild and the frost。〃
〃Who's that？〃 Captain Consadine broke in from across the table。
〃Big Olaf；〃 she answered。 〃I was just telling Mr Bellew what a
traveller he is。〃
〃You're right；〃 the Captain's voice boomed。 〃Big Olaf is the greatest
traveller in the Yukon。 I'd back him against Old Nick himself for snow…
bucking and ice…travel。 He brought in the government dispatches in 1895；
and he did it after two couriers were frozen on Chilcoot and the third
drowned in the open water of Thirty Mile。〃
III。
Smoke had travelled in a leisurely fashion up to Mono Creek； fearing
to tire his dogs before the big race。 Also； he had familiarized himself
with every mile of the trail and located his relay camps。 So many men had
entered the race； that the hundred and ten miles of its course was almost a
continuous village。 Relay camps were everywhere along the trail。 Von
Schroeder； who had gone in purely for the sport； had no less than eleven
dog teamsa fresh one for every ten miles。 Arizona Bill had been forced
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Smoke Bellew
to content himself with eight teams。 Big Olaf had seven； which was the
complement of Smoke。 In addition； over two…score of other men were in
the running。 Not every day； even in the golden north； was a million
dollars the prize for a dog race。 The country had been swept of dogs。
No animal of speed and endurance escaped the fine…tooth comb that had
raked the creeks and camps； and the prices of dogs had doubled and
quadrupled in the course of the frantic speculation。
Number Three Below Discovery was ten miles up Mono Creek from
its mouth。 The remaining hundred miles was to be run on the frozen
breast of the Yukon。 On Number Three itself were fifty tents and over
three hundred dogs。 The old stakes； blazed and scrawled sixty days
before by Cyrus Johnson； still stood； and every man had gone over the
boundaries of the claim again and again； for the race with dogs was to be
preceded by a foot and obstacle race。 Each man had to re…locate the
claim for himself； and this meant that he must place two centre…stakes and
four corner…stakes and cross the creek twice； before he could start for
Dawson with his dogs。
Furthermore； there were to be no 'sooners。' Not until the stroke of
midnight of Friday night was the claim open for re…location； and not until
the stroke of midnight could a man plant a stake。 This was the ruling of
the Gold Commissioner at Dawson； and Captain Consadine had sent up a
squad of mounted police to enforce it。 Discussion had arisen about the
difference between sun…time and police…time； but Consadine had sent forth
his fiat that police time went； and； further； that it was the watch of
Lieutenant Pollock that went。
The Mono trail ran along the level creek…bed
