Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 25, 2025
The ruse of the match was too obviously for the purpose of seeing the sled to be misunderstood, and Smoke noted every pair of eyes focus on the coil of cable and the crowbar. Then the match went out. "Just heard a rumor, that's all, just a rumor," Saltman mumbled with ponderous secretiveness. "You might let Shorty and me in on it," Smoke urged. Somebody snickered sarcastically in the background.
"It's the law, ain't it?" Saltman demanded truculently of the lieutenant. "It may be the law," came the steady answer. "But I can't and won't allow a mob of five thousand men to attempt to jump two claims. It would be a dangerous riot, and we're here to see there is no riot. Here, now, on this spot, the Northwest police constitute the law. The next man who crosses that line will be shot.
The door closed and the three hundred sagged into forlorn and grumbling groups. "Say, Saltman," one man said, "I thought you was goin' to lead us to it." "Not on your life," Saltman answered crustily. "I said Smoke would lead us to it." "An' this is it?" "You know as much about it as me, an' we all know Smoke's got something salted down somewheres.
Circling the Indian village, he held on to the mouth of Moose Creek, then turned and faced his pursuers. "You make me tired," he said, with a good imitation of a snarl. "Hope we ain't a-forcin' you," Saltman murmured politely. "Oh, no, not at all," Smoke snarled with an even better imitation, as he passed among them on the back-trail to Dawson.
When the two men, crossing the river, climbed the zigzag trail up the slide, they found a closed cabin. Bill Saltman, who led the way, went softly to the door, listened, then beckoned Wild Water Charley up to him. From inside came the creak and whine of a windlass bearing a heavy load. They waited at the final pause, then heard the lower-away and the impact of a bucket on rock.
You, Bill Saltman, step back across it." Saltman obeyed reluctantly. But an ominous restlessness became apparent in the mass of men, irregularly packed and scattered as it was over a landscape that was mostly up-and-down. "Heavens," the lieutenant whispered to Smoke. "Look at them like flies on the edge of the cliff there. Any disorder in that mass would force hundreds of them over."
"Any objections to our strolling, then?" Saltman persisted. "Decidedly. Your strolling is getting monotonous. Come on back out of that." "I just reckon we'll stroll anyways," Saltman replied stubbornly. "Come on, Wild Water." "I warn you, you are trespassing," was Smoke's final word. "Nope, just strollin'," Saltman gaily retorted, turning his back and starting on. "Hey!
The light of a candle showed through the parchment-paper window, and smoke curled from the chimney. Shorty threw open the door. "Come on in, Smoke," he greeted. "Breakfast's ready. Who-all are your friends?" Smoke turned about on the threshold. "Well, good-night, you fellows. Hope you enjoyed your pasear!" "Hold on a moment, Smoke," Bill Saltman cried, his voice keen with disappointment.
And thereat Saltman and Wild Water became profoundly unpopular. "Now how are we going to do it?" Smoke asked. "Shorty and I ought to keep control. We discovered this town-site." "That's right!" many cried. "A square deal!" "It's only fair!" "Three-fifths to us," Smoke suggested, "and you fellows come in for two-fifths. And you've got to pay for your shares." "Ten cents on the dollar!" was a cry.
From Bill Saltman, for 100 shares privately purchased at $50.00.................................$ 5,000.00 From Wild Water Charley, for 400 shares privately purchased at $50.00..................................20,000.00 To Bill Saltman, in recognition of services as volunteer stampede promoter...........................5,000.00 To Dawson General Hospital.................................3,000.00 To Smoke Bellew and Jack Short, balance in full on egg deal and morally owing...........................17,000.00 Total..........................................$25,000.00
Word Of The Day
Others Looking