Contains：
　　LostFaceTrustToBuildaFireThatSpotFlushofGoldThePassingofMarcusO’BrienTheWitofPorportukLOSTFACE
　　Itwastheend。Subienkowhadtravelledalongtrailofbitternessandhorror，hominglikeadoveforthecapitalsofEurope，andhere，fartherawaythanever，inRussianAmerica，thetrailceased。Hesatinthesnow，armstiedbehindhim，waitingthetorture。HestaredcuriouslybeforehimatahugeCossack，proneinthesnow，moaninginhispain。Themenhadfinishedhandlingthegiantandturnedhimovertothewomen。Thattheyexceededthefiendishnessofthemen，theman’scriesattested。
　　Subienkowlookedon，andshuddered。Hewasnotafraidtodie。Hehadcarriedhislifetoolonginhishands，onthatwearytrailfromWarsawtoNulato，toshudderatmeredying。Butheobjectedtothetorture。Itoffendedhissoul。Andthisoffence，inturn，wasnotduetothemerepainhemustendure，buttothesorryspectaclethepainwouldmakeofhim。Heknewthathewouldpray，andbeg，andentreat，evenasBigIvanandtheothersthathadgonebefore。Thiswouldnotbenice。Topassoutbravelyandcleanly，withasmileandajest——ah！thatwouldhavebeentheway。Buttolosecontrol，tohavehissoulupsetbythepangsoftheflesh，toscreechandgibberlikeanape，tobecometheveriestbeast——ah，thatwaswhatwassoterrible。
　　Therehadbeennochancetoescape。Fromthebeginning，whenhedreamedthefierydreamofPoland’sindependence，hehadbecomeapuppetinthehandsofFate。Fromthebeginning，atWarsaw，atSt。
　　Petersburg，intheSiberianmines，inKamtchatka，onthecrazyboatsofthefur-thieves，Fatehadbeendrivinghimtothisend。Withoutdoubt，inthefoundationsoftheworldwasgravedthisendforhim——
　　forhim，whowassofineandsensitive，whosenervesscarcelyshelteredunderhisskin，whowasadreamer，andapoet，andanartist。Beforehewasdreamedof，ithadbeendeterminedthatthequiveringbundleofsensitivenessthatconstitutedhimshouldbedoomedtoliveinrawandhowlingsavagery，andtodieinthisfarlandofnight，inthisdarkplacebeyondthelastboundariesoftheworld。
　　Hesighed。SothatthingbeforehimwasBigIvan——BigIvanthegiant，themanwithoutnerves，themanofiron，theCossackturnedfreebooteroftheseas，whowasasphlegmaticasanox，withanervoussystemsolowthatwhatwaspaintoordinarymenwasscarcelyatickletohim。Well，well，trusttheseNulatoIndianstofindBigIvan’snervesandtracethemtotherootsofhisquiveringsoul。
　　Theywerecertainlydoingit。Itwasinconceivablethatamancouldsuffersomuchandyetlive。BigIvanwaspayingforhisloworderofnerves。Alreadyhehadlastedtwiceaslongasanyoftheothers。
　　SubienkowfeltthathecouldnotstandtheCossack’ssufferingsmuchlonger。Whydidn’tIvandie？Hewouldgomadifthatscreamingdidnotcease。Butwhenitdidcease，histurnwouldcome。AndtherewasYakagaawaitinghim，too，grinningathimevennowinanticipation——Yakaga，whomonlylastweekhehadkickedoutofthefort，anduponwhosefacehehadlaidthelashofhisdog-whip。
　　Yakagawouldattendtohim。DoubtlesslyYakagawassavingforhimmorerefinedtortures，moreexquisitenerve-racking。Ah！thatmusthavebeenagoodone，fromthewayIvanscreamed。Thesquawsbendingoverhimsteppedbackwithlaughterandclappingofhands。Subienkowsawthemonstrousthingthathadbeenperpetrated，andbegantolaughhysterically。TheIndianslookedathiminwondermentthatheshouldlaugh。ButSubienkowcouldnotstop。
　　Thiswouldneverdo。Hecontrolledhimself，thespasmodictwitchingsslowlydyingaway。Hestrovetothinkofotherthings，andbeganreadingbackinhisownlife。Herememberedhismotherandhisfather，andthelittlespottedpony，andtheFrenchtutorwhohadtaughthimdancingandsneakedhimanoldworncopyofVoltaire。
　　OncemorehesawParis，anddrearyLondon，andgayVienna，andRome。
　　Andoncemorehesawthatwildgroupofyouthswhohaddreamed，evenashe，thedreamofanindependentPolandwithakingofPolandonthethroneatWarsaw。Ah，thereitwasthatthelongtrailbegan。
　　Well，hehadlastedlongest。Onebyone，beginningwiththetwoexecutedatSt。Petersburg，hetookupthecountofthepassingofthosebravespirits。Hereonehadbeenbeatentodeathbyajailer，andthere，onthatbloodstainedhighwayoftheexiles，wheretheyhadmarchedforendlessmonths，beatenandmaltreatedbytheirCossackguards，anotherhaddroppedbytheway。Alwaysithadbeensavagery——
　　brutal，bestialsavagery。Theyhaddied——offever，inthemines，undertheknout。Thelasttwohaddiedaftertheescape，inthebattlewiththeCossacks，andhealonehadwontoKamtchatkawiththestolenpapersandthemoneyofatravellerhehadleftlyinginthesnow。
　　Ithadbeennothingbutsavagery。Alltheyears，withhisheartinstudios，andtheatres，andcourts，hehadbeenhemmedinbysavagery。
　　Hehadpurchasedhislifewithblood。Everybodyhadkilled。Hehadkilledthattravellerforhispassports。HehadprovedthathewasamanofpartsbyduellingwithtwoRussianofficersonasingleday。
　　Hehadhadtoprovehimselfinordertowintoaplaceamongthefur-
　　thieves。Hehadhadtowintothatplace。Behindhimlaythethousand-years-longroadacrossallSiberiaandRussia。Hecouldnotescapethatway。Theonlywaywasahead，acrossthedarkandicyseaofBeringtoAlaska。Thewayhadledfromsavagerytodeepersavagery。Onthescurvy-rottenshipsofthefur-thieves，outoffoodandoutofwater，buffetedbytheinterminablestormsofthatstormysea，menhadbecomeanimals。ThricehehadsailedeastfromKamtchatka。Andthrice，afterallmannerofhardshipandsuffering，thesurvivorshadcomebacktoKamtchatka。Therehadbeennooutletforescape，andhecouldnotgobackthewayhehadcome，fortheminesandtheknoutawaitedhim。
　　Again，thefourthandlasttime，hehadsailedeast。HehadbeenwiththosewhofirstfoundthefabledSealIslands;buthehadnotreturnedwiththemtosharethewealthoffursinthemadorgiesofKamtchatka。Hehadswornnevertogoback。HeknewthattowintothosedearcapitalsofEuropehemustgoon。Sohehadchangedshipsandremainedinthedarknewland。HiscomradeswereSlavonianhuntersandRussianadventurers，MongolsandTartarsandSiberianaborigines;andthroughthesavagesofthenewworldtheyhadcutapathofblood。Theyhadmassacredwholevillagesthatrefusedtofurnishthefur-tribute;andthey，inturn，hadbeenmassacredbyships’companies。He，withoneFinn，hadbeenthesolesurvivorofsuchacompany。TheyhadspentawinterofsolitudeandstarvationonalonelyAleutianisle，andtheirrescueinthespringbyanotherfur-shiphadbeenonechanceinathousand。
　　Butalwaystheterriblesavageryhadhemmedhimin。Passingfromshiptoship，andeverrefusingtoreturn，hehadcometotheshipthatexploredsouth。AlldowntheAlaskacoasttheyhadencounterednothingbuthostsofsavages。Everyanchorageamongthebeetlingislandsorunderthefrowningcliffsofthemainlandhadmeantabattleorastorm。Eitherthegalesblew，threateningdestruction，orthewarcanoescameoff，mannedbyhowlingnativeswiththewar-
　　paintontheirfaces，whocametolearnthebloodyvirtuesofthesea-rovers’gunpowder。South，souththeyhadcoasted，cleartothemyth-landofCalifornia。Here，itwassaid，wereSpanishadventurerswhohadfoughttheirwayupfromMexico。HehadhadhopesofthoseSpanishadventurers。Escapingtothem，therestwouldhavebeeneasy——ayearortwo，whatdiditmattermoreorless——andhewouldwintoMexico，thenaship，andEuropewouldbehis。ButtheyhadmetnoSpaniards。Onlyhadtheyencounteredthesameimpregnablewallofsavagery。Thedenizensoftheconfinesoftheworld，paintedforwar，haddriventhembackfromtheshores。Atlast，whenoneboatwascutoffandeverymankilled，thecommanderhadabandonedthequestandsailedbacktothenorth。
　　Theyearshadpassed。HehadservedunderTebenkoffwhenMichaelovskiRedoubtwasbuilt。HehadspenttwoyearsintheKuskokwimcountry。Twosummers，inthemonthofJune，hehadmanagedtobeattheheadofKotzebueSound。Here，atthistime，thetribesassembledforbarter;hereweretobefoundspotteddeerskinsfromSiberia，ivoryfromtheDiomedes，walrusskinsfromtheshoresoftheArctic，strangestonelamps，passingintradefromtribetotribe，nooneknewwhence，and，once，ahunting-knifeofEnglishmake;andhere，Subienkowknew，wastheschoolinwhichtolearngeography。
　　ForhemetEskimosfromNortonSound，fromKingIslandandSt。
　　LawrenceIsland，fromCapePrinceofWales，andPointBarrow。Suchplaceshadothernames，andtheirdistancesweremeasuredindays。
　　Itwasavastregionthesetradingsavagescamefrom，andavasterregionfromwhich，byrepeatedtrade，theirstonelampsandthatsteelknifehadcome。Subienkowbullied，andcajoled，andbribed。
　　Everyfar-journeyerorstrangetribesmanwasbroughtbeforehim。
　　Perilsunaccountableandunthinkablewerementioned，aswellaswildbeasts，hostiletribes，impenetrableforests，andmightymountainranges;butalwaysfrombeyondcametherumourandthetaleofwhite-
　　skinnedmen，blueofeyeandfairofhair，whofoughtlikedevilsandwhosoughtalwaysforfurs。Theyweretotheeast——far，fartotheeast。Noonehadseenthem。Itwasthewordthathadbeenpassedalong。
　　Itwasahardschool。Onecouldnotlearngeographyverywellthroughthemediumofstrangedialects，fromdarkmindsthatmingledfactandfableandthatmeasureddistancesby"sleeps"thatvariedaccordingtothedifficultyofthegoing。ButatlastcamethewhisperthatgaveSubienkowcourage。Intheeastlayagreatriverwhereweretheseblue-eyedmen。TheriverwascalledtheYukon。
　　SouthofMichaelovskiRedoubtemptiedanothergreatriverwhichtheRussiansknewastheKwikpak。Thesetworiverswereone，ranthewhisper。
　　SubienkowreturnedtoMichaelovski。ForayearheurgedanexpeditionuptheKwikpak。ThenaroseMalakoff，theRussianhalf-
　　breed，toleadthewildestandmostferociousofthehell’sbrothofmongreladventurerswhohadcrossedfromKamtchatka。Subienkowwashislieutenant。TheythreadedthemazesofthegreatdeltaoftheKwikpak，pickedupthefirstlowhillsonthenorthernbank，andforhalfathousandmiles，inskincanoesloadedtothegunwaleswithtrade-goodsandammunition，foughttheirwayagainstthefive-knotcurrentofariverthatranfromtwototenmileswideinachannelmanyfathomsdeep。MalakoffdecidedtobuildthefortatNulato。
　　Subienkowurgedtogofarther。ButhequicklyreconciledhimselftoNulato。Thelongwinterwascomingon。Itwouldbebettertowait。
　　Earlythefollowingsummer，whentheicewasgone，hewoulddisappearuptheKwikpakandworkhiswaytotheHudsonBayCompany’sposts。
　　MalakoffhadneverheardthewhisperthattheKwikpakwastheYukon，andSubienkowdidnottellhim。
　　Camethebuildingofthefort。Itwasenforcedlabour。ThetieredwallsoflogsarosetothesighsandgroansoftheNulatoIndians。
　　Thelashwaslaidupontheirbacks，anditwastheironhandofthefreebootersoftheseathatlaidonthelash。TherewereIndiansthatranaway，andwhentheywerecaughttheywerebroughtbackandspread-eagledbeforethefort，wheretheyandtheirtribelearnedtheefficacyoftheknout。Twodiedunderit;otherswereinjuredforlife;andtheresttookthelessontoheartandranawaynomore。
　　Thesnowwasflyingerethefortwasfinished，andthenitwasthetimeforfurs。Aheavytributewaslaiduponthetribe。Blowsandlashingscontinued，andthatthetributeshouldbepaid，thewomenandchildrenwereheldashostagesandtreatedwiththebarbaritythatonlythefur-thievesknew。
　　Well，ithadbeenasowingofblood，andnowwascometheharvest。
　　Thefortwasgone。Inthelightofitsburning，halfthefur-thieveshadbeencutdown。Theotherhalfhadpassedunderthetorture。
　　OnlySubienkowremained，orSubienkowandBigIvan，ifthatwhimpering，moaningthinginthesnowcouldbecalledBigIvan。
　　SubienkowcaughtYakagagrinningathim。TherewasnogainsayingYakaga。Themarkofthelashwasstillonhisface。Afterall，Subienkowcouldnotblamehim，buthedislikedthethoughtofwhatYakagawoulddotohim。HethoughtofappealingtoMakamuk，thehead-chief;buthisjudgmenttoldhimthatsuchappealwasuseless。
　　Then，too，hethoughtofburstinghisbondsanddyingfighting。Suchanendwouldbequick。Buthecouldnotbreakhisbonds。Caribouthongswerestrongerthanhe。Stilldevising，anotherthoughtcametohim。HesignedforMakamuk，andthataninterpreterwhoknewthecoastdialectshouldbebrought。
　　"Oh，Makamuk，"hesaid，"Iamnotmindedtodie。Iamagreatman，anditwerefoolishnessformetodie。Intruth，Ishallnotdie。I
　　amnotliketheseothercarrion。"
　　HelookedatthemoaningthingthathadoncebeenBigIvan，andstirreditcontemptuouslywithhistoe。
　　"Iamtoowisetodie。Behold，Ihaveagreatmedicine。Ialoneknowthismedicine。SinceIamnotgoingtodie，Ishallexchangethismedicinewithyou。"
　　"Whatisthismedicine？"Makamukdemanded。
　　"Itisastrangemedicine。"
　　Subienkowdebatedwithhimselfforamoment，asiflothtopartwiththesecret。
　　"Iwilltellyou。Alittlebitofthismedicinerubbedontheskinmakestheskinhardlikearock，hardlikeiron，sothatnocuttingweaponcancutit。Thestrongestblowofacuttingweaponisavainthingagainstit。Aboneknifebecomeslikeapieceofmud;anditwillturntheedgeoftheironkniveswehavebroughtamongyou。
　　Whatwillyougivemeforthesecretofthemedicine？"
　　"Iwillgiveyouyourlife，"Makamukmadeanswerthroughtheinterpreter。
　　Subienkowlaughedscornfully。
　　"Andyoushallbeaslaveinmyhouseuntilyoudie。"
　　ThePolelaughedmorescornfully。
　　"Untiemyhandsandfeetandletustalk，"hesaid。
　　Thechiefmadethesign;andwhenhewasloosedSubienkowrolledacigaretteandlightedit。
　　"Thisisfoolishtalk，"saidMakamuk。"Thereisnosuchmedicine。
　　Itcannotbe。Acuttingedgeisstrongerthananymedicine。"
　　Thechiefwasincredulous，andyethewavered。Hehadseentoomanydeviltriesoffur-thievesthatworked。Hecouldnotwhollydoubt。
　　"Iwillgiveyouyourlife;butyoushallnotbeaslave，"heannounced。
　　"Morethanthat。"
　　Subienkowplayedhisgameascoollyasifhewerebarteringforafoxskin。
　　"Itisaverygreatmedicine。Ithassavedmylifemanytimes。I
　　wantasledanddogs，andsixofyourhunterstotravelwithmedowntheriverandgivemesafetytooneday’ssleepfromMichaelovskiRedoubt。"
　　"Youmustlivehere，andteachusallofyourdeviltries，"wasthereply。
　　Subienkowshruggedhisshouldersandremainedsilent。Heblewcigarettesmokeoutontheicyair，andcuriouslyregardedwhatremainedofthebigCossack。
　　"Thatscar！"Makamuksaidsuddenly，pointingtothePole’sneck，wherealividmarkadvertisedtheslashofaknifeinaKamtchatkanbrawl。"Themedicineisnotgood。Thecuttingedgewasstrongerthanthemedicine。"
　　"Itwasastrongmanthatdrovethestroke。"（Subienkowconsidered。）
　　"Strongerthanyou，strongerthanyourstrongesthunter，strongerthanhe。"
　　Again，withthetoeofhismoccasin，hetouchedtheCossack——agrislyspectacle，nolongerconscious——yetinwhosedismemberedbodythepain-rackedlifeclungandwaslothtogo。
　　"Also，themedicinewasweak。Foratthatplacetherewerenoberriesofacertainkind，ofwhichIseeyouhaveplentyinthiscountry。Themedicineherewillbestrong。"
　　"Iwillletyougodownriver，"saidMakamuk;"andthesledandthedogsandthesixhunterstogiveyousafetyshallbeyours。"
　　"Youareslow，"wasthecoolrejoinder。"Youhavecommittedanoffenceagainstmymedicineinthatyoudidnotatonceacceptmyterms。Behold，Inowdemandmore。Iwantonehundredbeaverskins。"
　　（Makamuksneered。）
　　"Iwantonehundredpoundsofdriedfish。"（Makamuknodded，forfishwereplentifulandcheap。）"Iwanttwosleds——oneformeandoneformyfursandfish。Andmyriflemustbereturnedtome。Ifyoudonotliketheprice，inalittlewhilethepricewillgrow。"
　　Yakagawhisperedtothechief。
　　"ButhowcanIknowyourmedicineistruemedicine？"Makamukasked。
　　"Itisveryeasy。First，Ishallgointothewoods——"
　　AgainYakagawhisperedtoMakamuk，whomadeasuspiciousdissent。
　　"Youcansendtwentyhunterswithme，"Subienkowwenton。"Yousee，Imustgettheberriesandtherootswithwhichtomakethemedicine。
　　Then，whenyouhavebroughtthetwosledsandloadedonthemthefishandthebeaverskinsandtherifle，andwhenyouhavetoldoffthesixhunterswhowillgowithme——then，whenallisready，Iwillrubthemedicineonmyneck，so，andlaymyneckthereonthatlog。Thencanyourstrongesthuntertaketheaxeandstrikethreetimesonmyneck。Youyourselfcanstrikethethreetimes。"
　　Makamukstoodwithgapingmouth，drinkinginthislatestandmostwonderfulmagicofthefur-thieves。
　　"Butfirst，"thePoleaddedhastily，"betweeneachblowImustputonfreshmedicine。Theaxeisheavyandsharp，andIwantnomistakes。"
　　"Allthatyouhaveaskedshallbeyours，"Makamukcriedinarushofacceptance。"Proceedtomakeyourmedicine。"
　　Subienkowconcealedhiselation。Hewasplayingadesperategame，andtheremustbenoslips。Hespokearrogantly。
　　"Youhavebeenslow。Mymedicineisoffended。Tomaketheoffencecleanyoumustgivemeyourdaughter。"
　　Hepointedtothegirl，anunwholesomecreature，withacastinoneeyeandabristlingwolf-tooth。Makamukwasangry，butthePoleremainedimperturbable，rollingandlightinganothercigarette。
　　"Makehaste，"hethreatened。"Ifyouarenotquick，Ishalldemandyetmore。"
　　Inthesilencethatfollowed，thedrearynorthlandscenefadedbeforehim，andhesawoncemorehisnativeland，andFrance，and，once，asheglancedatthewolf-toothedgirl，herememberedanothergirl，asingerandadancer，whomhehadknownwhenfirstasayouthhecametoParis。
　　"Whatdoyouwantwiththegirl？"Makamukasked。
　　"Togodowntheriverwithme。"Subienkowglancedoverhercritically。"Shewillmakeagoodwife，anditisanhonourworthyofmymedicinetobemarriedtoyourblood。"
　　Againherememberedthesingeranddancerandhummedaloudasongshehadtaughthim。Helivedtheoldlifeover，butinadetached，impersonalsortofway，lookingatthememory-picturesofhisownlifeasiftheywerepicturesinabookofanybody’slife。Thechief’svoice，abruptlybreakingthesilence，startledhim"Itshallbedone，"saidMakamuk。"Thegirlshallgodowntheriverwithyou。ButbeitunderstoodthatImyselfstrikethethreeblowswiththeaxeonyourneck。"
　　"ButeachtimeIshallputonthemedicine，"Subienkowanswered，withashowofill-concealedanxiety。
　　"Youshallputthemedicineonbetweeneachblow。Herearethehunterswhoshallseeyoudonotescape。Gointotheforestandgatheryourmedicine。"
　　MakamukhadbeenconvincedoftheworthofthemedicinebythePole’srapacity。Surelynothinglessthanthegreatestofmedicinescouldenableamanintheshadowofdeathtostandupanddriveanold-
　　woman’sbargain。
　　"Besides，"whisperedYakaga，whenthePole，withhisguard，haddisappearedamongthesprucetrees，"whenyouhavelearnedthemedicineyoucaneasilydestroyhim。"
　　"ButhowcanIdestroyhim？"Makamukargued。"Hismedicinewillnotletmedestroyhim。"
　　"Therewillbesomepartwherehehasnotrubbedthemedicine，"wasYakaga’sreply。"Wewilldestroyhimthroughthatpart。Itmaybehisears。Verywell;wewillthrustaspearinoneearandouttheother。Oritmaybehiseyes。Surelythemedicinewillbemuchtoostrongtorubonhiseyes。"
　　Thechiefnodded。"Youarewise，Yakaga。Ifhepossessesnootherdevil-things，wewillthendestroyhim。"
　　Subienkowdidnotwastetimeingatheringtheingredientsforhismedicine，heselectedwhatsoevercametohandsuchasspruceneedles，theinnerbarkofthewillow，astripofbirchbark，andaquantityofmoss-berries，whichhemadethehuntersdigupforhimfrombeneaththesnow。Afewfrozenrootscompletedhissupply，andheledthewaybacktocamp。
　　MakamukandYakagacrouchedbesidehim，notingthequantitiesandkindsoftheingredientshedroppedintothepotofboilingwater。
　　"Youmustbecarefulthatthemoss-berriesgoinfirst，"heexplained。
　　"And——oh，yes，oneotherthing——thefingerofaman。Here，Yakaga，letmecutoffyourfinger。"
　　ButYakagaputhishandsbehindhimandscowled。
　　"Justasmallfinger，"Subienkowpleaded。
　　"Yakaga，givehimyourfinger，"Makamukcommanded。
　　"Therebeplentyoffingerslyingaround，"Yakagagrunted，indicatingthehumanwreckageinthesnowofthescoreofpersonswhohadbeentorturedtodeath。
　　"Itmustbethefingerofaliveman，"thePoleobjected。
　　"Thenshallyouhavethefingerofaliveman。"YakagastrodeovertotheCossackandslicedoffafinger。
　　"Heisnotyetdead，"heannounced，flingingthebloodytrophyinthesnowatthePole’sfeet。"Also，itisagoodfinger，becauseitislarge。"
　　Subienkowdroppeditintothefireunderthepotandbegantosing。
　　ItwasaFrenchlove-songthatwithgreatsolemnityhesangintothebrew。
　　"WithoutthesewordsIutterintoit，themedicineisworthless，"heexplained。"Thewordsarethechiefeststrengthofit。Behold，itisready。"
　　"Namethewordsslowly，thatImayknowthem，"Makamukcommanded。
　　"Notuntilafterthetest。Whentheaxefliesbackthreetimesfrommyneck，thenwillIgiveyouthesecretofthewords。"
　　"Butifthemedicineisnotgoodmedicine？"Makamukqueriedanxiously。
　　Subienkowturneduponhimwrathfully。
　　"Mymedicineisalwaysgood。However，ifitisnotgood，thendobymeasyouhavedonetotheothers。Cutmeupabitatatime，evenasyouhavecuthimup。"HepointedtotheCossack。"Themedicineisnowcool。Thus，Irubitonmyneck，sayingthisfurthermedicine。"
　　Withgreatgravityheslowlyintonedalineofthe"Marseillaise，"atthesametimerubbingthevillainousbrewthoroughlyintohisneck。
　　Anoutcryinterruptedhisplay-acting。ThegiantCossack，withalastresurgenceofhistremendousvitality，hadarisentohisknees。
　　LaughterandcriesofsurpriseandapplausearosefromtheNulatos，asBigIvanbeganflinginghimselfaboutinthesnowwithmightyspasms。
　　Subienkowwasmadesickbythesight，buthemasteredhisqualmsandmadebelievetobeangry。
　　"Thiswillnotdo，"hesaid。"Finishhim，andthenwewillmakethetest。Here，you，Yakaga，seethathisnoiseceases。"
　　Whilethiswasbeingdone，SubienkowturnedtoMakamuk。
　　"Andremember，youaretostrikehard。Thisisnotbaby-work。Here，taketheaxeandstrikethelog，sothatIcanseeyoustrikelikeaman。"
　　Makamukobeyed，strikingtwice，preciselyandwithvigour，cuttingoutalargechip。
　　"Itiswell。"SubienkowlookedabouthimatthecircleofsavagefacesthatsomehowseemedtosymbolizethewallofsavagerythathadhemmedhimabouteversincetheCzar’spolicehadfirstarrestedhiminWarsaw。"Takeyouraxe，Makamuk，andstandso。Ishallliedown。
　　WhenIraisemyhand，strike，andstrikewithallyourmight。Andbecarefulthatnoonestandsbehindyou。Themedicineisgood，andtheaxemaybouncefromoffmyneckandrightoutofyourhands。"
　　Helookedatthetwosleds，withthedogsinharness，loadedwithfursandfish。Hisriflelayontopofthebeaverskins。Thesixhunterswhoweretoactashisguardstoodbythesleds。"
　　"Whereisthegirl？"thePoledemanded。"Bringheruptothesledsbeforethetestgoeson。"
　　Whenthishadbeencarriedout，Subienkowlaydowninthesnow，restinghisheadontheloglikeatiredchildabouttosleep。Hehadlivedsomanydrearyyearsthathewasindeedtired。
　　"Ilaughatyouandyourstrength，OMakamuk，"hesaid。"Strike，andstrikehard。"
　　Heliftedhishand。Makamukswungtheaxe，abroadaxeforthesquaringoflogs。Thebrightsteelflashedthroughthefrostyair，poisedforaperceptibleinstantaboveMakamuk’shead，thendescendeduponSubienkow’sbareneck。Clearthroughfleshandboneitcutitsway，bitingdeeplyintothelogbeneath。Theamazedsavagessawtheheadbounceayardawayfromtheblood-spoutingtrunk。
　　Therewasagreatbewildermentandsilence，whileslowlyitbegantodawnintheirmindsthattherehadbeennomedicine。Thefur-thiefhadoutwittedthem。Alone，ofalltheirprisoners，hehadescapedthetorture。Thathadbeenthestakeforwhichheplayed。Agreatroaroflaughterwentup。Makamukbowedhisheadinshame。Thefur-
　　thiefhadfooledhim。Hehadlostfacebeforeallhispeople。Stilltheycontinuedtoroarouttheirlaughter。Makamukturned，andwithbowedheadstalkedaway。HeknewthatthenceforthhewouldbenolongerknownasMakamuk。HewouldbeLostFace;therecordofhisshamewouldbewithhimuntilhedied;andwheneverthetribesgatheredinthespringforthesalmon，orinthesummerforthetrading，thestorywouldpassbackandforthacrossthecamp-firesofhowthefur-thiefdiedpeaceably，atasinglestroke，bythehandofLostFace。
　　"WhowasLostFace？"hecouldhear，inanticipation，someinsolentyoungbuckdemand，"Oh，LostFace，"wouldbetheanswer，"hewhooncewasMakamukinthedaysbeforehecutoffthefur-thief’shead。"
　　TRUST
　　Alllineshadbeencastoff，andtheSeattleNo。4waspullingslowlyoutfromtheshore。Herdeckswerepiledhighwithfreightandbaggage，andswarmedwithaheterogeneouscompanyofIndians，dogs，anddog-mushers，prospectors，traders，andhomeward-boundgold-
　　seekers。AgoodlyportionofDawsonwaslineduponthebank，sayinggood-bye。Asthegang-plankcameinandthesteamernosedintothestream，theclamouroffarewellbecamedeafening。Also，inthateleventhmoment，everybodybegantorememberfinalfarewellmessagesandtoshoutthembackandforthacrossthewideningstretchofwater。LouisBondell，curlinghisyellowmoustachewithonehandandlanguidlywavingtheotherhandtohisfriendsonshore，suddenlyrememberedsomethingandsprangtotherail。
　　"Oh，Fred！"hebawled。"Oh，Fred！
　　The"Fred"desiredthrustastrappingpairofshouldersthroughtheforefrontofthecrowdonthebankandtriedtocatchLouisBondell’smessage。Thelattergrewredinthefacewithvainvociferation。
　　Stillthewaterwidenedbetweensteamboatandshore。
　　"Hey，you，CaptainScott！"heyelledatthepilot-house。"Stoptheboat！"
　　Thegongsclanged，andthebigsternwheelreversed，thenstopped。
　　Allhandsonsteamboatandonbanktookadvantageofthisrespitetoexchangefinal，new，andimperativefarewells。MorefutilethaneverwasLouisBondell’sefforttomakehimselfheard。TheSeattleNo。4
　　lostwayanddrifteddown-stream，andCaptainScotthadtogoaheadandreverseasecondtime。Hisheaddisappearedinsidethepilot-
　　house，comingintoviewamomentlaterbehindabigmegaphone。
　　NowCaptainScotthadaremarkablevoice，andthe"Shutup！"helaunchedatthecrowdondeckandonshorecouldhavebeenheardatthetopofMoosehideMountainandasfarasKlondikeCity。Thisofficialremonstrancefromthepilot-housespreadafilmofsilenceoverthetumult。
　　"Now，whatdoyouwanttosay？"CaptainScottdemanded。
　　"TellFredChurchill——he’sonthebankthere——tellhimtogotoMacdonald。It’sinhissafe——asmallgripsackofmine。Tellhimtogetitandbringitoutwhenhecomes。"
　　InthesilenceCaptainScottbellowedthemessageashorethroughthemegaphone"You，FredChurchill，gotoMacdonald——inhissafe——smallgripsack——
　　belongstoLouisBondell——important！Bringitoutwhenyoucome！
　　Gotit！"
　　Churchillwavedhishandintokenthathehadgotit。Intruth，hadMacdonald，halfamileaway，openedhiswindow，he’dhavegotit，too。Thetumultoffarewellroseagain，thegongsclanged，andtheSeattleNo。4wentahead，swungoutintothestream，turnedonherheel，andheadeddowntheYukon，BondellandChurchillwavingfarewellandmutualaffectiontothelast。
　　Thatwasinmidsummer。Inthefalloftheyear，theW。H。WillisstarteduptheYukonwithtwohundredhomeward-boundpilgrimsonboard。AmongthemwasChurchill。Inhisstate-room，inthemiddleofaclothes-bag，wasLouisBondell’sgrip。Itwasasmall，stoutleatheraffair，anditsweightoffortypoundsalwaysmadeChurchillnervouswhenhewanderedtoofarfromit。Themanintheadjoiningstate-roomhadatreasureofgold-dusthiddensimilarlyinaclothes-
　　bag，andthepairofthemultimatelyarrangedtostandwatchandwatch。Whileonewentdowntoeat，theotherkeptaneyeonthetwostate-roomdoors。WhenChurchillwantedtotakeahandatwhist，theothermanmountedguard，andwhentheothermanwantedtorelaxhissoul，Churchillreadfour-months’oldnewspapersonacampstoolbetweenthetwodoors。
　　Thereweresignsofanearlywinter，andthequestionthatwasdiscussedfromdawntilldark，andfarintothedark，waswhethertheywouldgetoutbeforethefreeze-uporbecompelledtoabandonthesteamboatandtrampoutovertheice。Therewereirritatingdelays。Twicetheenginesbrokedownandhadtobetinkeredup，andeachtimethereweresnowflurriestowarnthemoftheimminenceofwinter。NinetimestheW。H。WillisessayedtoascendtheFive-
　　FingerRapidswithherimpairedmachinery，andwhenshesucceeded，shewasfourdaysbehindherveryliberalschedule。ThequestionthatthenarosewaswhetherornotthesteamboatFlorawouldwaitforherabovetheBoxCanon。ThestretchofwaterbetweentheheadoftheBoxCanonandthefootoftheWhiteHorseRapidswasunnavigableforsteamboats，andpassengersweretranshippedatthatpoint，walkingaroundtherapidsfromonesteamboattotheother。Therewerenotelephonesinthecountry，hencenowayofinformingthewaitingFlorathattheWilliswasfourdayslate，butcoming。
　　WhentheW。H。WillispulledintoWhiteHorse，itwaslearnedthattheFlorahadwaitedthreedaysoverthelimit，andhaddepartedonlyafewhoursbefore。Also，itwaslearnedthatshewouldtieupatTagishPosttillnineo’clock，Sundaymorning。Itwasthenfouro’clock，Saturdayafternoon。Thepilgrimscalledameeting。OnboardwasalargePeterboroughcanoe，consignedtothepolicepostattheheadofLakeBennett。Theyagreedtoberesponsibleforitandtodeliverit。Next，theycalledforvolunteers。TwomenwereneededtomakearacefortheFlora。Ascoreofmenvolunteeredontheinstant。AmongthemwasChurchill，suchbeinghisnaturethathevolunteeredbeforehethoughtofBondell’sgripsack。Whenthisthoughtcametohim，hebegantohopethathewouldnotbeselected;
　　butamanwhohadmadeanameascaptainofacollegefootballeleven，asapresidentofanathleticclub，asadog-musherandastampederintheYukon，and，moreover，whopossessedsuchshouldersashe，hadnorighttoavoidthehonour。ItwasthrustuponhimanduponagiganticGerman，NickAntonsen。
　　Whileacrowdofthepilgrims，thecanoeontheirshoulders，startedonatrotovertheportage，Churchillrantohisstate-room。Heturnedthecontentsoftheclothes-bagonthefloorandcaughtupthegrip，withtheintentionofentrustingittothemannextdoor。Thenthethoughtsmotehimthatitwasnothisgrip，andthathehadnorighttoletitoutofhispossession。Sohedashedashorewithitandranuptheportagechangingitoftenfromonehandtotheother，andwonderingifitreallydidnotweighmorethanfortypounds。
　　Itwashalf-pastfourintheafternoonwhenthetwomenstarted。ThecurrentoftheThirtyMileRiverwassostrongthatrarelycouldtheyusethepaddles。Itwasoutononebankwithatow-lineovertheshoulders，stumblingovertherocks，forcingawaythroughtheunderbrush，slippingattimesandfallingintothewater，wadingoftenuptothekneesandwaist;andthen，whenaninsurmountablebluffwasencountered，itwasintothecanoe，outpaddles，andawildandlosingdashacrossthecurrenttotheotherbank，inpaddles，overtheside，andouttow-lineagain。Itwasexhaustingwork。
　　Antonsentoiledlikethegianthewas，uncomplaining，persistent，butdriventohisutmostbythepowerfulbodyandindomitablebrainofChurchill。Theyneverpausedforrest。Itwasgo，go，andkeepongoing。Acrispwindblewdowntheriver，freezingtheirhandsandmakingitimperative，fromtimetotime，tobeatthebloodbackintothenumbedfingers。
　　Asnightcameon，theywerecompelledtotrusttoluck。Theyfellrepeatedlyontheuntravelledbanksandtoretheirclothingtoshedsintheunderbrushtheycouldnotsee。Bothmenwerebadlyscratchedandbleeding。Adozentimes，intheirwilddashesfrombanktobank，theystrucksnagsandwerecapsized。Thefirsttimethishappened，Churchilldivedandgropedinthreefeetofwaterforthegripsack。
　　Helosthalfanhourinrecoveringit，andafterthatitwascarriedsecurelylashedtothecanoe。Aslongasthecanoefloateditwassafe。Antonsenjeeredatthegrip，andtowardmorningbegantocurseit;butChurchillvouchsafednoexplanations。
　　Theirdelaysandmischanceswereendless。Ononeswiftbend，aroundwhichpouredahealthyyoungrapid，theylosttwohours，makingascoreofattemptsandcapsizingtwice。Atthispoint，onbothbanks，wereprecipitousbluffs，risingoutofdeepwater，andalongwhichtheycouldneithertownorpole，whiletheycouldnotgainwiththepaddlesagainstthecurrent。Ateachattempttheystrainedtotheutmostwiththepaddles，andeachtime，withheadsnightoburstingfromtheeffort，theywereplayedoutandsweptback。Theysucceededfinallybyanaccident。Intheswiftestcurrent，neartheendofanotherfailure，afreakofthecurrentsheeredthecanoeoutofChurchill’scontrolandflungitagainstthebluff。Churchillmadeablindleapatthebluffandlandedinacrevice。Holdingonwithonehand，heheldtheswampedcanoewiththeothertillAntonsendraggedhimselfoutofthewater。Thentheypulledthecanoeoutandrested。
　　Afreshstartatthiscrucialpointtookthemby。Theylandedonthebankaboveandplungedimmediatelyashoreandintothebrushwiththetow-line。
　　DaylightfoundthemfarbelowTagishPost。Atnineo’clockSundaymorningtheycouldheartheFlorawhistlingherdeparture。Andwhen，atteno’clock，theydraggedthemselvesintothePost，theycouldbarelyseetheFlora’ssmokefartothesouthward。Itwasapairofworn-outtatterdemalionsthatCaptainJonesoftheMountedPolicewelcomedandfed，andheafterwardaverredthattheypossessedtwoofthemosttremendousappetiteshehadeverobserved。Theylaydownandsleptintheirwetragsbythestove。AttheendoftwohoursChurchillgotup，carriedBondell’sgrip，whichhehadusedforapillow，downtothecanoe，kickedAntonsenawake，andstartedinpursuitoftheFlora。
　　"There’snotellingwhatmighthappen——machinerybreakdown，orsomething，"washisreplytoCaptainJones’sexpostulations。"I’mgoingtocatchthatsteamerandsendherbackfortheboys。"
　　TagishLakewaswhitewithafallgalethatblewintheirteeth。
　　Big，swingingseasrusheduponthecanoe，compellingonemantobaleandleavingonemantopaddle。Headwaycouldnotbemade。Theyranalongtheshallowshoreandwentoverboard，onemanaheadonthetow-
　　line，theothershovingonthecanoe。Theyfoughtthegaleuptotheirwaistsintheicywater，oftenuptotheirnecks，oftenovertheirheadsandburiedbythebig，crestedwaves。Therewasnorest，neveramoment’spausefromthecheerless，heart-breakingbattle。
　　Thatnight，attheheadofTagishLake，inthethickofadrivingsnow-squall，theyoverhauledtheFlora。Antonsenfellonboard，laywherehehadfallen，andsnored。Churchilllookedlikeawildman。
　　Hisclothesbarelyclungtohim。Hisfacewasicedupandswollenfromtheprotractedeffortoftwenty-fourhours，whilehishandsweresoswollenthathecouldnotclosethefingers。Asforhisfeet，itwasanagonytostanduponthem。
　　ThecaptainoftheFlorawaslothtogobacktoWhiteHorse。
　　Churchillwaspersistentandimperative;thecaptainwasstubborn。
　　Hepointedoutfinallythatnothingwastobegainedbygoingback，becausetheonlyoceansteameratDyea，theAthenian，wastosailonTuesdaymorning，andthathecouldnotmakethebacktriptoWhiteHorseandbringupthestrandedpilgrimsintimetomaketheconnection。
　　"WhattimedoestheAtheniansail？"Churchilldemanded。
　　"Seveno’clock，Tuesdaymorning。"
　　"Allright，"Churchillsaid，atthesametimekickingatattooontheribsofthesnoringAntonsen。"YougobacktoWhiteHome。We’llgoaheadandholdtheAthenian。"
　　Antonsen，stupidwithsleep，notyetclothedinhiswakingmind，wasbundledintothecanoe，anddidnotrealizewhathadhappenedtillhewasdrenchedwiththeicysprayofabigsea，andheardChurchillsnarlingathimthroughthedarkness：-
　　"Paddle，can’tyou！Doyouwanttobeswamped？"
　　DaylightfoundthematCaribouCrossing，thewinddyingdown，andAntonsentoofargonetodipapaddle。Churchillgroundedthecanoeonaquietbeach，wheretheyslept。Hetooktheprecautionoftwistinghisarmundertheweightofhishead。Everyfewminutesthepainofthepentcirculationarousedhim，whereuponhewouldlookathiswatchandtwisttheotherarmunderhishead。AttheendoftwohourshefoughtwithAntonsentorousehim。Thentheystarted。LakeBennett，thirtymilesinlength，waslikeamillpond;but，halfwayacross，agalefromthesouthsmotethemandturnedthewaterwhite。
　　HourafterhourtheyrepeatedthestruggleonTagish，overtheside，pullingandshovingonthecanoe，uptotheirwaistsandnecks，andovertheirheads，intheicywater;towardthelastthegood-naturedgiantplayedcompletelyout。Churchilldrovehimmercilessly;butwhenhepitchedforwardandbadefairtodrowninthreefeetofwater，theotherdraggedhimintothecanoe。Afterthat，Churchillfoughtonalone，arrivingatthepolicepostattheheadofBennettintheearlyafternoon。HetriedtohelpAntonsenoutofthecanoe，butfailed。Helistenedtotheexhaustedman’sheavybreathing，andenviedhimwhenhethoughtofwhathehimselfhadyettoundergo。
　　Antonsencouldliethereandsleep;buthe，behindtime，mustgoonovermightyChilcootanddowntothesea。Therealstrugglelaybeforehim，andhealmostregrettedthestrengththatresidedinhisframebecauseofthetormentitcouldinflictuponthatframe。
　　Churchillpulledthecanoeuponthebeach，seizedBondell’sgrip，andstartedonalimpingdog-trotforthepolicepost。
　　"There’sacanoedownthere，consignedtoyoufromDawson，"hehurledattheofficerwhoansweredhisknock。"Andthere’samaninitprettyneardead。Nothingserious;onlyplayedout。Takecareofhim。I’vegottorush。Good-bye。WanttocatchtheAthenian。"
　　AmileportageconnectedLakeBennettandLakeLinderman，andhislastwordsheflungbackafterhimasheresumedthetrot。Itwasaverypainfultrot，butheclenchedhisteethandkepton，forgettinghispainmostofthetimeintheferventheatwithwhichheregardedthegripsack。Itwasaseverehandicap。Heswungitfromonehandtotheother，andbackagain。Hetuckeditunderhisarm。Hethrewonehandovertheoppositeshoulder，andthebagbumpedandpoundedonhisbackasheranalong。Hecouldscarcelyholditinhisbruisedandswollenfingers，andseveraltimeshedroppedit。Once，inchangingfromonehandtotheother，itescapedhisclutchandfellinfrontofhim，trippedhimup，andthrewhimviolentlytotheground。
　　Atthefarendoftheportageheboughtanoldsetofpack-strapsforadollar，andinthemheswungthegrip。Also，hecharteredalaunchtorunhimthesixmilestotheupperendofLakeLinderman，wherehearrivedatfourintheafternoon。TheAthenianwastosailfromDyeanextmorningatseven。Dyeawastwenty-eightmilesaway，andbetweentoweredChilcoot。Hesatdowntoadjusthisfoot-gearforthelongclimb，andwokeup。Hehaddozedtheinstanthesatdown，thoughhehadnotsleptthirtyseconds。Hewasafraidhisnextdozemightbelonger，sohefinishedfixinghisfoot-gearstandingup。Eventhenhewasoverpoweredforafleetingmoment。Heexperiencedtheflashofunconsciousness;becomingawareofit，inmid-air，ashisrelaxedbodywassinkingtothegroundandashecaughthimselftogether，hestiffenedhismuscleswithaspasmodicwrench，andescapedthefall。
　　Thesuddenjerkbacktoconsciousnesslefthimsickandtrembling。
　　Hebeathisheadwiththeheelofhishand，knockingwakefulnessintothenumbedbrain。
　　JackBurns’spack-trainwasstartingbacklightforCraterLake，andChurchillwasinvitedtoamule。Burnswantedtoputthegripsackonanotheranimal，butChurchillheldontoit，carryingitonhissaddle-pommel。Buthedozed，andthegrippersistedindroppingoffthepommel，onesideortheother，eachtimewakeninghimwithasickeningstart。Then，intheearlydarkness，Churchill’smulebrushedhimagainstaprojectingbranchthatlaidhischeekopen。Tocapit，themuleblunderedoffthetrailandfell，throwingriderandgripsackoutupontherocks。Afterthat，Churchillwalked，orstumbledrather，overtheapologyforatrail，leadingthemule。
　　Strayandawfulodours，driftingfromeachsideofthetrail，toldofthehorsesthathaddiedintherushforgold。Buthedidnotmind。
　　Hewastoosleepy。BythetimeLongLakewasreached，however，hehadrecoveredfromhissleepiness;andatDeepLakeheresignedthegripsacktoBurns。Butthereafter，bythelightofthedimstars，hekepthiseyesonBurns。Therewerenotgoingtobeanyaccidentswiththatbag。
　　AtCraterLake，thepack-trainwentintocamp，andChurchill，slingingthegriponhisback，startedthesteepclimbforthesummit。Forthefirsttime，onthatprecipitouswall，herealizedhowtiredhewas。Hecreptandcrawledlikeacrab，burdenedbytheweightofhislimbs。Adistinctandpainfuleffortofwillwasrequiredeachtimeheliftedafoot。Anhallucinationcametohimthathewasshodwithlead，likeadeep-seadiver，anditwasallhecoulddotoresistthedesiretoreachdownandfeelthelead。AsforBondell’sgripsack，itwasinconceivablethatfortypoundscouldweighsomuch。Itpressedhimdownlikeamountain，andhelookedbackwithunbelieftotheyearbefore，whenhehadclimbedthatsamepasswithahundredandfiftypoundsonhisback。Ifthoseloadshadweighedahundredandfiftypounds，thenBondell’sgripweighedfivehundred。
　　ThefirstriseofthedividefromCraterLakewasacrossasmallglacier。Herewasawell-definedtrail。Butabovetheglacier，whichwasalsoabovetimber-line，wasnaughtbutachaosofnakedrockandenormousboulders。Therewasnowayofseeingthetrailinthedarkness，andheblunderedon，payingthricetheordinaryexertionforallthatheaccomplished。Hewonthesummitinthethickofhowlingwindanddrivingsnow，providentiallystumblinguponasmall，desertedtent，intowhichhecrawled。Therehefoundandboltedsomeancientfriedpotatoesandhalfadozenraweggs。
　　Whenthesnowceasedandthewindeaseddown，hebeganthealmostimpossibledescent。Therewasnotrail，andhestumbledandblundered，oftenfindinghimself，atthelastmoment，ontheedgeofrockywallsandsteepslopesthedepthofwhichhehadnowayofjudging。Partwaydown，thestarscloudedoveragain，andintheconsequentobscurityheslippedandrolledandslidforahundredfeet，landingbruisedandbleedingonthebottomofalargeshallowhole。Fromallabouthimarosethestenchofdeadhorses。Theholewashandytothetrail，andthepackershadmadeapracticeoftumblingintoittheirbrokenanddyinganimals。Thestenchoverpoweredhim，makinghimdeadlysick，andasinanightmarehescrambledout。Half-wayup，herecollectedBondell’sgripsack。Ithadfallenintotheholewithhim;thepack-straphadevidentlybroken，andhehadforgottenit。Backhewentintothepestilentialcharnel-pit，wherehecrawledaroundonhandsandkneesandgropedforhalfanhour。Altogetherheencounteredandcountedseventeendeadhorses（andonehorsestillalivethatheshotwithhisrevolver）beforehefoundBondell’sgrip。Lookingbackuponalifethathadnotbeenwithoutvalourandachievement，heunhesitatinglydeclaredtohimselfthatthisreturnafterthegripwasthemostheroicacthehadeverperformed。Soheroicwasitthathewastwiceonthevergeoffaintingbeforehecrawledoutofthehole。
　　BythetimehehaddescendedtotheScales，thesteeppitchofChilcootwaspast，andthewaybecameeasier。Notthatitwasaneasyway，however，inthebestofplaces;butitbecameareallypossibletrail，alongwhichhecouldhavemadegoodtimeifhehadnotbeenwornout，ifhehadhadlightwithwhichtopickhissteps，andifithadnotbeenforBondell’sgripsack。Tohim，inhisexhaustedcondition，itwasthelaststraw。Havingbarelystrengthtocarryhimselfalong，theadditionalweightofthegripwassufficienttothrowhimnearlyeverytimehetrippedorstumbled。
　　Andwhenheescapedtripping，branchesreachedoutinthedarkness，hookedthegripbetweenhisshoulders，andheldhimback。
　　HismindwasmadeupthatifhemissedtheAthenianitwouldbethefaultofthegripsack。Infact，onlytwothingsremainedinhisconsciousness——Bondell’sgripandthesteamer。Heknewonlythosetwothings，andtheybecameidentified，inaway，withsomesternmissionuponwhichhehadjourneyedandtoiledforcenturies。Hewalkedandstruggledonasinadream。AspartofthedreamwashisarrivalatSheepCamp。Hestumbledintoasaloon，slidhisshouldersoutofthestraps，andstartedtodepositthegripathisfeet。Butitslippedfromhisfingersandstruckthefloorwithaheavythudthatwasnotunnoticedbytwomenwhowerejustleaving。Churchilldrankaglassofwhisky，toldthebarkeepertocallhimintenminutes，andsatdown，hisfeetonthegrip，hisheadonhisknees。
　　Sobadlydidhismisusedbodystiffen，thatwhenhewascalleditrequiredanothertenminutesandasecondglassofwhiskytounbendhisjointsandlimberupthemuscles。
　　"Heynotthatway！"thebarkeepershouted，andthenwentafterhimandstartedhimthroughthedarknesstowardCanyonCity。SomelittlehuskofinnerconsciousnesstoldChurchillthatthedirectionwasright，and，stillasinadream，hetookthecanontrail。Hedidnotknowwhatwarnedhim，butafterwhatseemedseveralcenturiesoftravelling，hesenseddangeranddrewhisrevolver。Stillinthedream，hesawtwomenstepoutandheardthemhalthim。Hisrevolverwentofffourtimes，andhesawtheflashesandheardtheexplosionsoftheirrevolvers。Also，hewasawarethathehadbeenhitinthethigh。Hesawonemangodown，and，astheothercameforhim，hesmashedhimastraightblowwiththeheavyrevolverfullintheface。
　　Thenheturnedandran。Hecamefromthedreamshortlyafterward，tofindhimselfplungingdownthetrailatalimpinglope。Hisfirstthoughtwasforthegripsack。Itwasstillonhisback。Hewasconvincedthatwhathadhappenedwasadreamtillhefeltforhisrevolverandfounditgone。Nexthebecameawareofasharpstingingofhisthigh，andafterinvestigating，hefoundhishandwarmwithblood。Itwasasuperficialwound，butitwasincontestable。Hebecamewiderawake，andkeptupthelumberingruntoCanyonCity。
　　Hefoundaman，withateamofhorsesandawagon，whogotoutofbedandharnessedupfortwentydollars。Churchillcrawledinonthewagon-bedandslept，thegripsackstillonhisback。Itwasaroughride，overwater-washedbouldersdowntheDyeaValley;butherousedonlywhenthewagonhitthehighestplaces。Anyaltitudeofhisbodyabovethewagon-bedoflessthanafootdidnotfazehim。Thelastmilewassmoothgoing，andhesleptsoundly。
　　Hecametointhegreydawn，thedrivershakinghimsavagelyandhowlingintohisearthattheAthenianwasgone。Churchilllookedblanklyatthedesertedharbour。
　　"There’sasmokeoveratSkaguay，"themansaid。
　　Churchill’seyesweretooswollentoseethatfar，buthesaid：
　　"It’sshe。Getmeaboat。"
　　Thedriverwasobligingandfoundaskiff，andamantorowitfortendollars，paymentinadvance。Churchillpaid，andwashelpedintotheskiff。Itwasbeyondhimtogetinbyhimself。ItwassixmilestoSkaguay，andhehadablissfulthoughtofsleepingthosesixmiles。Butthemandidnotknowhowtorow，andChurchilltooktheoarsandtoiledforafewmorecenturies。Heneverknewsixlongerandmoreexcruciatingmiles。Asnappylittlebreezeblewuptheinletandheldhimback。Hehadagonefeelingatthepitofthestomach，andsufferedfromfaintnessandnumbness。Athiscommand，themantookthebalerandthrewsaltwaterintohisface。
　　TheAthenian’sanchorwasup-and-downwhentheycamealongside，andChurchillwasattheendofhislastremnantofstrength。
　　"Stopher！Stopher！"heshoutedhoarsely。
　　"Importantmessage！Stopher！"
　　Thenhedroppedhischinonhischestandslept。Whenhalfadozenmenstartedtocarryhimupthegang-plank，heawoke，reachedforthegrip，andclungtoitlikeadrowningman。
　　Ondeckhebecameacentreofhorrorandcuriosity。TheclothinginwhichhehadleftWhiteHorsewasrepresentedbyafewrags，andhewasasfrayedashisclothing。Hehadtravelledforfifty-fivehoursatthetopnotchofendurance。Hehadsleptsixhoursinthattime，andhewastwentypoundslighterthanwhenhestarted。Faceandhandsandbodywerescratchedandbruised，andhecouldscarcelysee。
　　Hetriedtostandup，butfailed，sprawlingoutonthedeck，hangingontothegripsack，anddeliveringhismessage。
　　"Now，putmetobed，"hefinished;"I’lleatwhenIwakeup。"
　　Theydidhimhonour，carryinghimdowninhisragsanddirtanddepositinghimandBondell’sgripinthebridalchamber，whichwasthebiggestandmostluxuriousstate-roomintheship。Twiceheslepttheclockaround，andhehadbathedandshavedandeatenandwasleaningovertherailsmokingacigarwhenthetwohundredpilgrimsfromWhiteHorsecamealongside。
　　BythetimetheAthenianarrivedinSeattle，Churchillhadfullyrecuperated，andhewentashorewithBondell’sgripinhishand。Hefeltproudofthatgrip。Tohimitstoodforachievementandintegrityandtrust。"I’vedeliveredthegoods，"wasthewayheexpressedthesevarioushightermstohimself。Itwasearlyintheevening，andhewentstraighttoBondell’shome。LouisBondellwasgladtoseehim，shakinghandswithbothhandsatthesametimeanddragginghimintothehouse。
　　"Oh，thanks，oldman;itwasgoodofyoutobringitout，"Bondellsaidwhenhereceivedthegripsack。
　　Hetosseditcarelesslyuponacouch，andChurchillnotedwithanappreciativeeyethereboundofitsweightfromthesprings。Bondellwasvolleyinghimwithquestions。
　　"Howdidyoumakeout？How’retheboys？WhatbecameofBillSmithers？IsDelBishopstillwithPierce？Didhesellmydogs？
　　HowdidSulphurBottomshowup？You’relookingfine。Whatsteamerdidyoucomeouton？"
　　ToallofwhichChurchillgaveanswer，tillhalfanhourhadgonebyandthefirstlullintheconversationhadarrived。
　　"Hadn’tyoubettertakealookatit？"hesuggested，noddinghisheadatthegripsack"Oh，it’sallright，"Bondellanswered。"DidMitchell’sdumpturnoutasmuchasheexpected？"
　　"Ithinkyou’dbetterlookatit，"Churchillinsisted。"WhenI
　　deliverathing，Iwanttobesatisfiedthatit’sallright。There’salwaysthechancethatsomebodymighthavegotintoitwhenIwasasleep，orsomething。"
　　"It’snothingimportant，oldman，"Bondellanswered，withalaugh。