had　on　his　sled　a　bunch　of　beautifully　cured　otter　skins；　sea
  otters；　you　know；　worth　their　weight　in　gold。　There　was　also　at
  Pastilik　an　old　Shylock　of　a　Russian　trader；　who　had　dogs　to　kill。
  Well；　they　didn't　dicker　very　long；　but　when　the　Strange　One　headed
  south　again；　it　was　in　the　rear　of　a　spanking　dog　team。　Mr。　Shylock；
  by　the　way；　had　the　otter　skins。　I　saw　them；　and　they　were
  magnificent。　We　figured　it　up　and　found　the　dogs　brought　him　at
  least　five　hundred　apiece。　And　it　wasn't　as　if　the　Strange　One
  didn't　know　the　value　of　sea　otter；　he　was　an　Indian　of　some　sort；　and
  what　little　he　talked　showed　he'd　been　among　white　men。
  'After　the　ice　passed　out　of　the　sea；　word　came　up　from　Nunivak
  Island　that　he'd　gone　in　there　for　grub。　Then　he　dropped　from　sight；
  and　this　is　the　first　heard　of　him　in　eight　years。　Now　where　did　he
  come　from？　and　what　was　he　doing　there？　and　why　did　he　come　from
  there？　He's　Indian；　he's　been　nobody　knows　where；　and　he's　had
  discipline；　which　is　unusual　for　an　Indian。　Another　mystery　of　the
  North　for　you　to　solve；　Prince。'
  'Thanks　awfully；　but　I've　got　too　many　on　hand　as　it　is；'　he
  replied。
  Malemute　Kid　was　already　breathing　heavily；　but　the　young　mining
  engineer　gazed　straight　up　through　the　thick　darkness；　waiting　for　the
  strange　orgasm　which　stirred　his　blood　to　die　away。　And　when　he　did
  sleep；　his　brain　worked　on；　and　for　the　nonce　he；　too；　wandered
  through　the　white　unknown；　struggled　with　the　dogs　on　endless
  trails；　and　saw　men　live；　and　toil；　and　die　like　men。
  The　next　morning；　hours　before　daylight；　the　dog　drivers　and
  policemen　pulled　out　for　Dawson。　But　the　powers　that　saw　to　Her
  Majesty's　interests　and　ruled　the　destinies　of　her　lesser　creatures
  gave　the　mailmen　little　rest；　for　a　week　later　they　appeared　at　Stuart
  River；　heavily　burdened　with　letters　for　Salt　Water。　However；　their
  dogs　had　been　replaced　by　fresh　ones；　but；　then；　they　were　dogs。
  The　men　had　expected　some　sort　of　a　layover　in　which　to　rest　up；
  besides；　this　Klondike　was　a　new　section　of　the　Northland；　and　they
  had　wished　to　see　a　little　something　of　the　Golden　City　where　dust
  flowed　like　water　and　dance　halls　rang　with　never…ending　revelry。
  But　they　dried　their　socks　and　smoked　their　evening　pipes　with　much
  the　same　gusto　as　on　their　former　visit；　though　one　or　two　bold
  spirits　speculated　on　desertion　and　the　possibility　of　crossing　the
  unexplored　Rockies　to　the　east；　and　thence；　by　the　Mackenzie　Valley；
  of　gaining　their　old　stamping　grounds　in　the　Chippewyan　country。　Two
  or　three　even　decided　to　return　to　their　homes　by　that　route　when
  their　terms　of　service　had　expired；　and　they　began　to　lay　plans
  forthwith；　looking　forward　to　the　hazardous　undertaking　in　much　the
  same　way　a　city…bred　man　would　to　a　day's　holiday　in　the　woods。
  He　of　the　Otter　Skins　seemed　very　restless；　though　he　took　little
  interest　in　the　discussion；　and　at　last　he　drew　Malemute　Kid　to　one
  side　and　talked　for　some　time　in　low　tones。　Prince　cast　curious　eyes
  in　their　direction；　and　the　mystery　deepened　when　they　put　on　caps　and
  mittens　and　went　outside。　When　they　returned；　Malemute　Kid　placed
  his　gold　scales　on　the　table；　weighed　out　the　matter　of　sixty
  ounces；　and　transferred　them　to　the　Strange　One's　sack。　Then　the　chief
  of　the　dog　drivers　joined　the　conclave；　and　certain　business　was
  transacted　with　him。　The　next　day　the　gang　went　on　upriver；　but　He
  of　the　Otter　Skins　took　several　pounds　of　grub　and　turned　his　steps
  back　toward　Dawson。
  'Didn't　know　what　to　make　of　it；'　said　Malemute　Kid　in　response　to
  Prince's　queries；　'but　the　poor　beggar　wanted　to　be　quit　of　the
  service　for　some　reason　or　other…　at　least　it　seemed　a　most
  important　one　to　him；　though　he　wouldn't　let　on　what。　You　see；　it's
  just　like　the　army：　he　signed　for　two　years；　and　the　only　way　to　get
  free　was　to　buy　himself　out。　He　couldn't　desert　and　then　stay　here；
  and　he　was　just　wild　to　remain　in　the　country。　Made　up　his　mind　when
  he　got　to　Dawson；　he　said；　but　no　one　knew　him；　hadn't　a　cent；　and　I
  was　the　only　one　he'd　spoken　two　words　with。　So　he　talked　it　over　with
  the　lieutenant…governor；　and　made　arrangements　in　case　he　could　get
  the　money　from　me…　loan；　you　know。　Said　he'd　pay　back　in　the　year；
  and；　if　I　wanted；　would　put　me　onto　something　rich。　Never'd　seen　it；
  but　he　knew　it　was　rich。
  'And　talk！　why；　when　he　got　me　outside　he　was　ready　to　weep。
  Begged　and　pleaded；　got　down　in　the　snow　to　me　till　I　hauled　him　out
  of　it。　Palavered　around　like　a　crazy　man。　Swore　he's　worked　to　this
  very　end　for　years　and　years；　and　couldn't　bear　to　be　disappointed
  now。　Asked　him　what　end；　but　he　wouldn't　say。　Said　they　might　keep　him
  on　the　other　half　of　the　trail　and　he　wouldn't　get　to　Dawson　in　two
  years；　and　then　it　would　be　too　late。　Never　saw　a　man　take　on　so　in　my
  life。　And　when　I　said　I'd　let　him　have　it；　had　to　yank　him　out　of
  the　snow　again。　Told　him　to　consider　it　in　the　light　of　a　grubstake。
  Think　he'd　have　it？　No　sir！　Swore　he'd　give　me　all　he　found；　make　me
  rich　beyond　the　dreams　of　avarice；　and　all　such　stuff。　Now　a　man　who
  puts　his　life　and　time　against　a　grubstake　ordinarily　finds　it　hard
  enough　to　turn　over　half　of　what　he　finds。　Something　behind　all
  this；　Prince；　just　you　make　a　note　of　it。　We'll　hear　of　him　if　he
  stays　in　the　country…'
  'And　if　he　doesn't？'
  'Then　my　good　nature　gets　a　shock；　and　I'm　sixty　some　odd　ounces
  out。'
  The　cold　weather　had　come　on　with　the　long　nights；　and　the　sun　had
  begun　to　play　his　ancient　game　of　peekaboo　along　the　southern　snow
  line　ere　aught　was　heard　of　Malemute　Kid's　grubstake。　And　then；　one
  bleak　morning　in　early　January；　a　heavily　laden　dog　train　pulled
  into　his　cabin　below　Stuart　River。　He　of　the　Otter　Skins　was　there；
  and　with　him　walked　a　man　such　as　the　gods　have　almost　forgotten　how
  to　fashion。　Men　never　talked　of　luck　and　pluck　and　five…hundred…dollar
  dirt　without　bringing　in　the　name　of　Axel　Gunderson；　nor　could　tales
  of　nerve　or　strength　or　daring　pass　up　and　down　the　campfire　without
  the　summoning　of　his　presence。　And　when　the　conversation　flagged；　it
  blazed　anew　at　mention　of　the　woman　who　shared　his　fortunes。
  As　has　been　noted；　in　the　making　of　Axel　Gunderson　the　gods　had
  remembered　their　old…time　cunning　and　cast　him　after　the　manner　of　men
  who　were　born　when　the　world　was　young。　Full　seven　feet　he　towered
  in　his　picturesque　costume　which　marked　a　king　of　Eldorado。　His　chest；
  neck；　and　limbs　were　those　of　a　giant。　To　bear　his　three　hundred
  pounds　of　bone　and　muscle；　his　snowshoes　were　greater　by　a　generous
  yard　than　those　of　other　men。　Rough…hewn；　with　rugged　brow　and　massive
  jaw　and　unflinching　eyes　of　palest　blue；　his　face　told　the　tale　of　one
  who　knew　but　the　law　of　might。　Of　the　yellow　of　ripe　corn　silk；　his
  frost…incrusted　hair　swept　like　day　across　the　night　and　fell　far　down
  his　coat　of　bearskin。　A　vague　tradition　of　the　sea　seemed　to　cling
  about　him　as　he　swung　down　the　narrow　trail　in　advance　of　the　dogs；
  and　he　brought　the　butt　of　his　dog　whip　against　Malemute　Kid's　door　as
  a　Norse　sea　rover；　on　southern　foray；　might　thunder　for　admittance
  at　the　castle　gate。
  Prince　bared　his　womanly　arms　and　kneaded　sour…dough　bread；　casting；
  as　he　did　so；　many　a　glance　at　the　three　guests…　three　guests　the　like
  of　which　might　never　come　under　a　man's　roof　in　a　lifetime。　The
  Strange　One；　whom　Malemute　Kid　had　surnamed　Ulysses；　still
  fascinated　him；　but　his　interest　chiefly　gravitated　between　Axel
  Gunderson　and　Axel　Gunderson's　wife。　She　felt　the　day's　journey；　for
  she　had　softened　in　comfortable　cabins　during　the　many　days　since
  her　husband　mastered　the　wealth　of　frozen　pay　streaks；　and　she　was
  tired。　She　rested　against　his　great　breast　like　a　slender　flower
  against　a　wall；　replying　lazily　to　Malemute　Kid's　good…natured　banter；
  and　stirring　Prince's　blood　strangely　with　an　occasional　sweep　of
  her　deep；　dark　eyes。　For　Prince　was　a　man；　and　healthy；　and　had　seen
  few　women　in　many　months。　And　she　was　older　than　he；　and　an　Indian
  besides。　But　she　was　different　from　all　native　wives　he　had　met：　she
  had　traveled…　had　been　in　his　country　among　others；　he　gathered　from
  the　conversation；　and　she　knew　most　of　the　things　the　women　of　his　own
  race　knew；　and　much　more　that　it　was　not　in　the　nature　of　things　for
  them　to　know。　She　could　make　a　meal　of　sun…dried　fish　or　a　bed　in
  the　snow；　yet　she　teased　them　with　tantalizing　details　of
  many…course　dinners；　and　caused　strange　internal　dissensions　to
  arise　at　the　mention　of　various　quondam　dishes　which　they　had
  well…nigh　forgotten。　She　knew　the　ways　of　the　moose；　the　bear；　and　the
  little　blue　fox；　and　of　the　wild　amphibians　of　the　Northern　seas；
  she　was　skilled　in　the　lore　of　the　woods；　and　the　streams；　and　the
  tale　writ　by　man　and　bird　and　beast　upon　the　delicate　snow　crust　was
  to　her　an　open　book；　yet　Prince　caught　the　appreciative　twinkle　in　her
  eye　as　she　read　the　Rules