"Most of the boys are going up-river," said Gale.

"Well, those hills look as if they had gold in them," said the
stranger, pointing vaguely. "I'm going to prospect."

Gale knew instinctively that the fellow was lying, for his hands
were not those of a miner; but there was nothing to be said. His
judgment was verified, however, when Poleon drew him aside later and
said:

"You know dat feller?"

"No."

"He's bad man."

"How do you know?"

"She's leave Dawson damn queeck. Dose Mounted Police t'row 'im on de
boat jus' before we lef." Then he told a story that he had heard.
The man, it seemed, had left Skagway between two suns, upon the
disruption of Soapy Smith's band of desperadoes, and had made for
the interior, but had been intercepted at the Pass by two members of
the Citizens' Committee who came upon him suddenly. Pretending to
yield, he had executed some unexpected coup as he delivered his gun,
for both men fell, shot through the body. No one knew just what it
was he did, nor cared to question him overmuch. The next heard of
him was at Lake Bennett, over the line, where the Mounted Police
recognized him and sent him on. They marked him well, however, and