don't tell much, hereabouts--most of the pretty ones are no good.
They've fooled me many a time, and I made a mistake. These men
will help you through; I can't. Then when you get to Nome, make
your sweetheart marry you the day you land. You are too far north
to be alone."

He stepped out into the passage and closed the door carefully.




CHAPTER III

IN WHICH GLENISTER ERRS


"Well, bein' as me an' Glenister is gougin' into the bowels of
Anvil Creek all last summer, we don't really get the fresh-grub
habit fastened on us none. You see, the gamblers down-town cop out
the few aigs an' green vegetables that stray off the ships, so
they never get out as far as the Creek none; except, maybe, in the
shape of anecdotes.

"We don't get intimate with no nutriments except hog-boosum an'
brown beans, of which luxuries we have unstinted measure, an'
bein' as this is our third year in the country we hanker for bony
fido grub, somethin' scan'lous. Yes, ma'am--three years without a
taste of fresh fruit nor meat nor nuthin'--except pork an' beans.
Why, I've et bacon till my immortal soul has growed a rind.