CONCLUSION 



419 



looked serious enough for the deceiver ; revolvers or the rope, 

 according to each man's individual taste, were proposed as a 

 fitting revenge, when a witty fellow interfered, proposing as a 

 good joke to let the " Jap" prospect the ground on the chance. 



"OUR HOME" (A ROAD-HOUSE). 



If he found gold they would spare his life, if not, then he would 

 have to pay for his fraud. 



The "Jap" worked as he had never worked before, and lo ! 

 one day he struck bedrock, gold was found in remarkable 

 quantities, and the fortunes of all present were made through 

 that lie. What happened to the " Jap " no one cared ; he left 

 the camp while the excitement was at its height, taking with 

 him what money he could lay hold of. The miners did not 

 regret the money, for before them was gold in plenty. A 

 recorder was elected, the town of Fairbanks was founded like 

 many other mining camps, by stampeders who had come 

 to it from far and near, and now the town has five thousand 

 inhabitants in the winter and twice that number in summer. 



I spent some pleasant days at Fairbanks. The first night 

 there was a reception at the club in my honour. I was invited 



E E 2 



