52 THE UPPER YUKON 



start. We were delayed about something, but 

 what that something was no one I questioned 

 was able to tell. In the meantime the 

 whole populace of the town seemed to be 

 intent upon watching our departure. Some 

 men from the railroad across the street saunt- 

 ered over, the boarders at the hotel forgot to 

 imbibe fiery liquids at half a dollar a drink, 

 the clerks and employees in the stores crowded 

 the sidewalk. There were also quite a num- 

 ber of women spectators. In fact, it looked 

 as if all of the population was determined to 

 do us the honor of seeing us start upon our 

 fateful trip, and I really felt proud over the 

 apparent ovation. 



Alas for me, I little knew of ''Billie the 

 Wild's" reputation. For he was better 

 known in White Horse than most of the citi- 

 zens, and just think — hadn't the man who was 

 to ride him been actually lifted into the sad- 

 dle? And what happenings might not be 

 seen if but a solitary Indian should now stroll 

 up to the caravan? How long would the 

 man with the new breeches stay on the mule 

 then? I might soon be ingloriously thrown, 

 and with Othello I might cry: "Reputation, 

 reputation, reputation, Oh, L have lost my 

 reputation." 



