AT TONY BINGS'S CABIN
Tony Bings was an old miner who had spent several years in Colorado,
working close to Jack Wumble. The two knew each other well, and were
warm friends.
"Come right in," said Tony Bings, when matters had been explained to
him. "It's a wonder ye ain't friz stiff, in sech a wind! It's been
a-blowin' great guns. Once or twice I thought the cabin was goin'
over."
Tom was brought in and Sam followed, and both were placed near the
sheet iron stove of which Tony Bings's cabin boasted. Then the old
miner bustled about to get the whole party something to eat and to
drink.
"I've got slathers o' stores," he told Jack Wumble, in answer to a
question on that point. "Got a good supply in durin' the summer. I
was out here last winter an' come near starvin' to de'th, an' I made up
my mind it shouldn't happen ag'in. So eat yer fill an' welcome."
"We'll pay for all we use, Tony," answered Wumble. "These chaps with
me are rich," he added, in a whisper.
"At first I thought it might be some good-fer nuthin' fellers from up
the mountains," went on Tony Bings. "Once in a while they come here
and git things an' don't pay for 'em. If they come ag'in, I'll shoot
'em," he went on, with determination.
He listened with interest to the story the others had to relate, and
was not surprised when he learned how the old hut had been tossed over
by the tornado and carried along on the ice. He said his own shelter
was protected by the rocks around it and also by the heavy stones which
he had placed on the roof.
All of the newcomers were so exhausted that after eating their fill
they were glad enough to lie down and rest. Tony Bings told them not
to worry--that he would stay awake, to tend the fire and watch out
generally.
"You ain't nowhere near Subler's Stores," he told Dick. "You got off
the track entirely. Instead of going towards Dawson you've been goin'
away from it."
All of the boys and Jack Wumble slept soundly that night. Tony Bings
did not arouse them and consequently it was long past daylight when
they opened their eyes.
When Dick came to the window of the cabin to look out he uttered a cry
of surprise. The sun was shining and all around could be seen immense
stretches of ice and snow. It looked as if they were in the midst of
desolation.
"What a change from a week ago!" he said to Sam.
"A fellow could hardly believe it, Dick," was the reply.
"How do you feel?" went on the big brother.
"All right, only somewhat stiff."
Tom was still asleep. When he awoke the brothers were worried to see
that he did not seem to be as clear in his mind as he had been the day
before.
"Where is Ike Furner?" he asked, suddenly. "Say, I've got to be on my
way, if I am going to get those nuggets of gold."
"Tom, take it easy," begged Dick. "Don't you remember me?" And he
looked his brother full in the eyes.
"Sure I know you, Dick," was the wondering answer. "Why do you ask me
such a question? Let me see, what was I saying?" Tom put his hand to
his forehead. "Hang it all, it's slipped my mind entirely," he groaned.
"Never mind, Tom, let it go. You just think of Sam and me, and the
folks at home. And don't forget Nellie," Dick added, in a whisper.
"Nellie!" gasped the sufferer. "Oh, yes, Nellie! As if I could ever
forget her! Say, Dick, how soon will I see her, do you suppose?"
"I'll send for her as soon as we get home, Tom."
"And when will that be?"
"Oh, not so very long. Now do keep quiet. And don't think of anything
but just home and Nellie," he added, pleadingly.
"All right, I'll do just as you want me to," returned Tom, and then
laid back and was silent.
Sam had listened to what was going on and now he and Dick walked to the
far end of the cabin, to talk in whispers.
"He isn't over it yet, Sam. And it almost looks as if he never would
get over it, that is, altogether." Dick's face showed his deep concern.
"Oh, Dick, don't say that! He's got to get over it! Oh, if only we
could get some first class doctor to do something!"
"Well, we've got to get to some city first--Dawson or some other place."
"Here is news!" cried Jack Wumble, coming forward at that instant.
"Tony tells me that there will be a party going through to Dawson
inside of a week or ten days. He advises that we wait till they go and
go with 'em."
"It will be much safer," said Tony Bings "It's a fearful journey
alone--in sech weather."
"Who are those folks who are going?" asked Dick.
"One of the men who run the Yukon Supply Depot at Crovet, twenty-four
miles from here. He will come along with four or five of his helpers,
and most likely a dog train, and he always stops here."
"That will be all right--but a week or ten days--that's a long time to
wait," and Dick sighed.
After that Tony Bings told his story, how he had come to that
neighborhood and "struck it rich," as he confided to Jack Wumble. He
was very enthusiastic about the diggings back of his cabin, and in the
end got Wumble to promise to join him in his hunt for gold in the
Spring.
"I've heard o' sech cases," he told the boys, after learning about
Tom's trouble. "It's too bad! I sure do hope your brother will git
over it. It ain't nice to have a crazy pusson in the family."
After that several days went by slowly. At times Tom seemed to improve
and then he would sink back, sometimes becoming quite wild, so the
others had to watch him closely. But he grew stronger physically,
which was something to be thankful for.
On the third day it started to snow again, and this kept up for
twenty-four hours. It was as cold as ever, and the sheet iron stove
was kept almost red hot, so that the party, and especially Tom, might
not take cold.
On the next morning, much to the surprise of everybody, Tom got up and
insisted on walking around the cabin.
"I feel almost well," he told his brothers. "But I'd give a good deal
to be home."
That afternoon came a great shouting, and the cracking of whips outside
the cabin. At once Tony Bings's face lit up.
"It's the men from the Supply Depot!" he cried. "I reckon it's
Schmidt."
"Hello, in dare!" was the cry. "Vos you alife alretty, Tony? Vy can't
you oben der door und let a feller in, ain't it?"
"Hello, Gus!" answered the owner of the cabin, and threw open the door,
and in bustled a big, fat German, heavily clad, and wearing thick
gloves and ear-warmers. The newcomer stared in astonishment at the
Rovers and Jack Wumble.
"Sure und I tidn't know you vos have combany, Tony," said Gus Schmidt.
"My friends," said the old miner, and introduced them. "Tell yer men
to come in, and welcome," he went on, and Schmidt went to the door, and
called to three men who were with him. They drove up with several dog
teams, which they were taking to Dawson for supplies that had come up
to that city by way of the Yukon River.
Gus Schmidt, despite his rather uncouth manner, was a whole-souled man,
and Dick and the others took to him at once. He listened gravely to
the story they had to tell, and readily agreed to take the Rovers and
Jack Wumble with him. Wumble was invited by Tony Bings to remain at
the cabin for the winter, but said he would first see the Rovers as far
as Dawson, and visit his own claim, and then would return with
Schmidt's party.
Of the newcomers one was a German like Schmidt and the other two were
Canadians. The latter knew all about the dogs and dog sleds, managing
the rather savage animals with scarcely an effort. The dogs had
originally belonged to some Alaskan Indians and had cost the owners of
the Supply Depot considerable money.
The start for Dawson, so many miles away, was made on the following
morning. The boys and Jack Wumble shook hands with Tony Bings, who
refused point blank to accept any money for what he had done for them.
Tom was placed on one of the best of the big sleds and made as
comfortable as circumstances permitted.
"All apoardt!" cried Gus Schmidt, gaily, and cracked the long whip he
carried. The Canadians understood and cracked their own whips, and
away went the whole party, over the fields of ice and snow, in the
direction of Dawson.