i 4 CAMP FIRES IN THE YUKON 



reason, either because he did not like the Indians 

 or because of shortage of his own supplies, refused 

 to sell them anything, and since they had not found 

 any prospect that looked anywhere near as good as 

 their ten-cent pan on Bonanza, they decided to go 

 back. 



" Before they had gone far their grub was en- 

 tirely gone, they were weak and hungry, and the 

 going was hard and slow, and they were almost at 

 the end of their strength. To keep body and soul 

 together they decided to hunt moose for one day, 

 so they separated, and Skookum Jim finally killed 

 a moose, after which he called to his brother Charlie 

 and to Carmac to come to him. While waiting for 

 them he cut a piece of raw moose meat to eat and 

 went down to the creek to drink, lying flat on his 

 stomach, gulping the water. It sure does pay to 

 drink in the Yukon country, for as Jim finished 

 drinking, while still hanging over the basin of the 

 creek, he saw in the sands more pure gold than he 

 had ever seen before, and Klondike, the greatest 

 gold producing camp in history, was at that moment 

 born. Jim said nothing to Carmac and Charlie 

 when they came up, as starving men do not talk 

 until they have fed. The moose was quickly 

 cooked and the three had a big feed. Then Jim 

 showed them his find. 



" Two days they stayed, panning and testing the 

 dirt and getting pay beyond even their own belief; 



