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The Toil of Trace and Trail
Theycouldbarelykeepthetracestaut,andonthedowngradesjustmanagedtokeepoutofthewayofthesled.
"Mushon,poorsorefeets,"thedriverencouragedthemastheytottereddownthemainstreetofSkaguay. "Disisdelas’.Denwegetonelongres’.Eh? Forsure.Onebullylongres’."
Thedriversconfidentlyexpectedalongstopover. Themselves,theyhadcoveredtwelvehundredmileswithtwodays’rest,andinthenatureofreasonandcommonjusticetheydeservedanintervalofloafing. ButsomanywerethemenwhohadrushedintotheKlondike,andsomanywerethesweethearts,wives,andkinthathadnotrushedin,thatthecongestedmailwastakingonAlpineproportions; also,therewereofficialorders. FreshbatchesofHudsonBaydogsweretotaketheplacesofthoseworthlessforthetrail. Theworthlessonesweretobegotridof,and,sincedogscountforlittleagainstdollars,theyweretobesold.
Threedayspassed,bywhichtimeBuckandhismatesfoundhowreallytiredandweaktheywere. Then,onthemorningofthefourthday,twomenfromtheStatescamealongandboughtthem,harnessandall,forasong. Themenaddressedeachotheras"Hal"and"Charles." Charleswasamiddle-aged,lightish-coloredman,withweakandwateryeyesandamustachethattwistedfiercelyandvigorouslyup,givingthelietothelimplydroopinglipitconcealed.
