¡¨A¡¡dam¡¡fool¡¡proposition£»¡¨¡¡was¡¡Liverpool's¡¡judgment£»¡¡when¡¡Charles
had¡¡concluded¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨An¡¡old¡¡granddad¡¡of¡¡seventy£¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡he's¡¡on¡¡his¡¡last
legs£»¡¡why¡¡in¡¡hell¡¡did¡¡you¡¡hook¡¡up¡¡with¡¡him£¿¡¡¡¡If¡¡there's¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be
a¡¡famine£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡looks¡¡like¡¡it£»¡¡we¡¡need¡¡every¡¡ounce¡¡of¡¡grub¡¡for
ourselves¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡only¡¡out¡fitted¡¡for¡¡four£»¡¡not¡¡five¡£¡¨
¡¨It's¡¡all¡¡right£»¡¨¡¡Tarwater¡¡heard¡¡Charles¡¡assuring¡¡the¡¡other¡£
¡¨Don't¡¡get¡¡excited¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡old¡¡codger¡¡agreed¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡final
decision¡¡to¡¡you¡¡when¡¡we¡¡caught¡¡up¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡you've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡do
is¡¡put¡¡your¡¡foot¡¡down¡¡and¡¡say¡¡no¡£¡¨
¡¨You¡¡mean¡¡it's¡¡up¡¡to¡¡me¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡the¡¡old¡¡one¡¡down£»¡¡after¡¡your
encouraging¡¡him¡¡and¡¡taking¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡his¡¡work¡¡clear¡¡from¡¡Dyea
here£¿¡¨
¡¨It's¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡trail£»¡¡Liverpool£»¡¡and¡¡only¡¡the¡¡men¡¡that¡¡are¡¡hard¡¡will
get¡¡through£»¡¨¡¡Charles¡¡strove¡¡to¡¡palliate¡£
¡¨And¡¡I'm¡¡to¡¡do¡¡the¡¡dirty¡¡work£¿¡¨¡¡Liverpool¡¡complained£»¡¡while
Tarwater's¡¡heart¡¡sank¡£
¡¨That's¡¡just¡¡about¡¡the¡¡size¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡Charles¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You've¡¡got¡¡the
deciding¡£¡¨
Then¡¡old¡¡Tarwater's¡¡heart¡¡uprose¡¡again¡¡as¡¡the¡¡air¡¡was¡¡rent¡¡by¡¡a
cyclone¡¡of¡¡profanity£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡which¡¡crackled¡¡sentences
like£º¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Dirty¡¡skunks£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡See¡¡you¡¡in¡¡hell¡¡first£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡My
mind's¡¡made¡¡up£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Hell's¡¡fire¡¡and¡¡corruption£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡The¡¡old
codger¡¡goes¡¡down¡¡the¡¡Yukon¡¡with¡¡us£»¡¡stack¡¡on¡¡that£»¡¡my¡¡hearty£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
Hard£¿¡¡¡¡You¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡hard¡¡is¡¡unless¡¡I¡¡show¡¡you£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡I'll
bust¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡outfit¡¡to¡¡hell¡¡and¡¡gone¡¡if¡¡any¡¡of¡¡you¡¡try¡¡to¡¡side¡
track¡¡him£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Just¡¡try¡¡to¡¡side¡track¡¡him£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡all£»¡¡and
you'll¡¡think¡¡the¡¡Day¡¡of¡¡Judgment¡¡and¡¡all¡¡God's¡¡blastingness¡¡has¡¡hit
the¡¡camp¡¡in¡¡one¡¡chunk£¡¡¨
Such¡¡was¡¡the¡¡invigoratingness¡¡of¡¡Liverpool's¡¡flow¡¡of¡¡speech¡¡that£»
quite¡¡without¡¡consciousness¡¡of¡¡effort£»¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡arose¡¡easily
under¡¡his¡¡load¡¡and¡¡strode¡¡on¡¡toward¡¡Happy¡¡Camp¡£
From¡¡Happy¡¡Camp¡¡to¡¡Long¡¡Lake£»¡¡from¡¡Long¡¡Lake¡¡to¡¡Deep¡¡Lake£»¡¡and¡¡from
Deep¡¡Lake¡¡up¡¡over¡¡the¡¡enormous¡¡hog¡back¡¡and¡¡down¡¡to¡¡Linderman£»¡¡the
man¡killing¡¡race¡¡against¡¡winter¡¡kept¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¡Men¡¡broke¡¡their¡¡hearts
and¡¡backs¡¡and¡¡wept¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡in¡¡sheer¡¡exhaustion¡£¡¡¡¡But
winter¡¡never¡¡faltered¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡fall¡¡gales¡¡blew£»¡¡and¡¡amid¡¡bitter
soaking¡¡rains¡¡and¡¡ever¡increasing¡¡snow¡¡flurries£»¡¡Tarwater¡¡and¡¡the
party¡¡to¡¡which¡¡he¡¡was¡¡attached¡¡piled¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡their¡¡outfit¡¡on
the¡¡beach¡£
There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡rest¡£¡¡¡¡Across¡¡the¡¡lake£»¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡above¡¡a¡¡roaring
torrent£»¡¡they¡¡located¡¡a¡¡patch¡¡of¡¡spruce¡¡and¡¡built¡¡their¡¡saw¡pit¡£
Here£»¡¡by¡¡hand£»¡¡with¡¡an¡¡inadequate¡¡whipsaw£»¡¡they¡¡sawed¡¡the¡¡spruce¡
trunks¡¡into¡¡lumber¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡worked¡¡night¡¡and¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡Thrice£»¡¡on¡¡the
night¡shift£»¡¡underneath¡¡in¡¡the¡¡saw¡pit£»¡¡Old¡¡Tarwater¡¡fainted¡£¡¡¡¡By
day¡¡he¡¡cooked¡¡as¡¡well£»¡¡and£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡betweenwhiles£»¡¡helped¡¡Anson¡¡in
the¡¡building¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡torrent¡¡as¡¡the¡¡green¡¡planks
came¡¡down¡£
The¡¡days¡¡grew¡¡shorter¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡wind¡¡shifted¡¡into¡¡the¡¡north¡¡and¡¡blew
unending¡¡gales¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡mornings¡¡the¡¡weary¡¡men¡¡crawled¡¡from¡¡their
blankets¡¡and¡¡in¡¡their¡¡socks¡¡thawed¡¡out¡¡their¡¡frozen¡¡shoes¡¡by¡¡the
fire¡¡Tarwater¡¡always¡¡had¡¡burning¡¡for¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Ever¡¡arose¡¡the
increasing¡¡tale¡¡of¡¡famine¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Inside¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡last¡¡grub¡¡steamboats
up¡¡from¡¡Bering¡¡Sea¡¡were¡¡stalled¡¡by¡¡low¡¡water¡¡at¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of
the¡¡Yukon¡¡Flats¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡miles¡¡north¡¡of¡¡Dawson¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡fact£»¡¡they
lay¡¡at¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Hudson¡¡Bay¡¡Company's¡¡post¡¡at¡¡Fort¡¡Yukon¡¡inside¡¡the
Arctic¡¡Circle¡£¡¡¡¡Flour¡¡in¡¡Dawson¡¡was¡¡up¡¡to¡¡two¡¡dollars¡¡a¡¡pound£»¡¡but
no¡¡one¡¡would¡¡sell¡£¡¡¡¡Bonanza¡¡and¡¡Eldorado¡¡Kings£»¡¡with¡¡money¡¡to¡¡burn£»
were¡¡leaving¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Outside¡¡because¡¡they¡¡could¡¡buy¡¡no¡¡grub¡£
Miners'¡¡Committees¡¡were¡¡confiscating¡¡all¡¡grub¡¡and¡¡putting¡¡the
population¡¡on¡¡strict¡¡rations¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡man¡¡who¡¡held¡¡out¡¡an¡¡ounce¡¡of¡¡grub
was¡¡shot¡¡like¡¡a¡¡dog¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡score¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡executed¡¡already¡£
And£»¡¡under¡¡a¡¡strain¡¡which¡¡had¡¡broken¡¡so¡¡many¡¡younger¡¡men£»¡¡Old
Tarwater¡¡began¡¡to¡¡break¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡cough¡¡had¡¡become¡¡terrible£»¡¡and¡¡had
not¡¡his¡¡exhausted¡¡comrades¡¡slept¡¡like¡¡the¡¡dead£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡kept
them¡¡awake¡¡nights¡£¡¡¡¡Also£»¡¡he¡¡began¡¡to¡¡take¡¡chills£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡he
dressed¡¡up¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡bed¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡had¡¡finished¡¡so¡¡dressing£»¡¡not¡¡a
rag¡¡of¡¡garment¡¡remained¡¡in¡¡his¡¡clothes¡¡bag¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡he¡¡possessed¡¡was
on¡¡his¡¡back¡¡and¡¡swathed¡¡around¡¡his¡¡gaunt¡¡old¡¡form¡£
¡¨Gee£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Big¡¡Bill¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡he¡¡puts¡¡all¡¡he's¡¡got¡¡on¡¡now£»¡¡when¡¡it
ain't¡¡lower¡¡than¡¡twenty¡¡above£»¡¡what'll¡¡he¡¡do¡¡later¡¡on¡¡when¡¡it¡¡goes
down¡¡to¡¡fifty¡¡and¡¡sixty¡¡below£¿¡¨
They¡¡lined¡¡the¡¡rough¡made¡¡boat¡¡down¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡torrent£»¡¡nearly
losing¡¡it¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡times£»¡¡and¡¡rowed¡¡across¡¡the¡¡south¡¡end¡¡of¡¡Lake
Linderman¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thick¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fall¡¡blizzard¡£¡¡¡¡Next¡¡morning¡¡they
planned¡¡to¡¡load¡¡and¡¡start£»¡¡squarely¡¡into¡¡the¡¡teeth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡north£»¡¡on
their¡¡perilous¡¡traverse¡¡of¡¡half¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡lakes¡¡and
rapids¡¡and¡¡box¡¡canyons¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡before¡¡he¡¡went¡¡to¡¡bed¡¡that¡¡night£»
Young¡¡Liverpool¡¡was¡¡out¡¡over¡¡the¡¡camp¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡find¡¡his
whole¡¡party¡¡asleep¡£¡¡¡¡Rousing¡¡Tarwater£»¡¡he¡¡talked¡¡with¡¡him¡¡in¡¡low
tones¡£
¡¨Listen£»¡¡dad£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You've¡¡got¡¡a¡¡passage¡¡in¡¡our¡¡boat£»¡¡and¡¡if
ever¡¡a¡¡man¡¡earned¡¡a¡¡passage¡¡you¡¡have¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡you¡¡know¡¡yourself¡¡you're
pretty¡¡well¡¡along¡¡in¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡your¡¡health¡¡right¡¡now¡¡ain't
exciting¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡you¡¡go¡¡on¡¡with¡¡us¡¡you'll¡¡croak¡¡surer'n¡¡hell¡£¡¡¡¡¡Now
wait¡¡till¡¡I¡¡finish£»¡¡dad¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡price¡¡for¡¡a¡¡passage¡¡has¡¡jumped¡¡to
five¡¡hundred¡¡dollars¡£¡¡¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡throwing¡¡my¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡I've¡¡hustled
a¡¡passenger¡£¡¡¡¡He's¡¡an¡¡official¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Alaska¡¡Commercial¡¡and¡¡just
has¡¡to¡¡get¡¡in¡£¡¡¡¡He's¡¡bid¡¡up¡¡to¡¡six¡¡hundred¡¡to¡¡go¡¡with¡¡me¡¡in¡¡our
boat¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡is¡¡yours¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡sell¡¡it¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡poke¡¡the¡¡six
hundred¡¡into¡¡your¡¡jeans£»¡¡and¡¡pull¡¡South¡¡for¡¡California¡¡while¡¡the
goin's¡¡good¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡can¡¡be¡¡in¡¡Dyea¡¡in¡¡two¡¡days£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡California¡¡in
a¡¡week¡¡more¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡d'ye¡¡say£¿¡¨
Tarwater¡¡coughed¡¡and¡¡shivered¡¡for¡¡a¡¡space£»¡¡ere¡¡he¡¡could¡¡get¡¡freedom
of¡¡breath¡¡for¡¡speech¡£
¡¨Son£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡just¡¡want¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡one¡¡thing¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡drove¡¡my
four¡¡yoke¡¡of¡¡oxen¡¡across¡¡the¡¡Plains¡¡in¡¡Forty¡nine¡¡and¡¡lost¡¡nary¡¡a
one¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡drove¡¡them¡¡plumb¡¡to¡¡Californy£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡freighted¡¡with¡¡them
afterward¡¡out¡¡of¡¡Sutter's¡¡Fort¡¡to¡¡American¡¡Bar¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to
Klondike¡£¡¡¡¡Ain't¡¡nothing¡¡can¡¡stop¡¡me£»¡¡ain't¡¡nothing¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡I'm
going¡¡to¡¡ride¡¡that¡¡boat£»¡¡with¡¡you¡¡at¡¡the¡¡steering¡¡sweep£»¡¡clean¡¡to
Klondike£»¡¡and¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡shake¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡thousand¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the
moss¡roots¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡being¡¡so£»¡¡it's¡¡contrary¡¡to¡¡reason¡¡and¡¡common
sense¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡sell¡¡out¡¡my¡¡passage¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡thank¡¡you¡¡kindly£»¡¡son£»
I¡¡thank¡¡you¡¡kindly¡£¡¨
The¡¡young¡¡sailor¡¡shot¡¡out¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡impulsively¡¡and¡¡gripped¡¡the¡¡old
man's¡£
¡¨By¡¡God£»¡¡dad£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You're¡¡sure¡¡going¡¡to¡¡go¡¡then¡£¡¡¡¡You're
the¡¡real¡¡stuff¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡with¡¡undisguised¡¡contempt¡¡across¡¡the
sleepers¡¡to¡¡where¡¡Charles¡¡Crayton¡¡snored¡¡in¡¡his¡¡red¡¡beard¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨They
don't¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡make¡¡your¡¡kind¡¡any¡¡more£»¡¡dad¡£¡¨
Into¡¡the¡¡north¡¡they¡¡fought¡¡their¡¡way£»¡¡although¡¡old¡timers£»¡¡coming
out£»¡¡shook¡¡their¡¡heads¡¡and¡¡prophesied¡¡they¡¡would¡¡be¡¡frozen¡¡in¡¡on
the¡¡lakes¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡the¡¡freeze¡up¡¡might¡¡come¡¡any¡¡day¡¡was¡¡patent£»¡¡and
delays¡¡of¡¡safety¡¡were¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡considered¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡this¡¡reason£»
Liverpool¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡shoot¡¡the¡¡rapid¡¡stream¡¡connecting¡¡Linderman¡¡to
Lake¡¡Bennett¡¡with¡¡the¡¡fully¡¡loaded¡¡boat¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡custom¡¡to¡¡line
the¡¡empty¡¡boats¡¡down¡¡and¡¡to¡¡portage¡¡the¡¡cargoes¡¡across¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡then
many¡¡empty¡¡boats¡¡had¡¡been¡¡wrecked¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡time¡¡was¡¡past¡¡for¡¡such
precaution¡£
¡¨Climb¡¡out£»¡¡dad£»¡¨¡¡Liverpool¡¡commanded¡¡as¡¡he¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡swing¡¡from
the¡¡bank¡¡and¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡rapids¡£
Old¡¡Tarwater¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡white¡¡head¡£
¡¨I'm¡¡sticking¡¡to¡¡the¡¡outfit£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡declared¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡to
get¡¡through¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡see£»¡¡son£»¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡Klondike¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡I¡¡stick¡¡by
the¡¡boat£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡just¡¡naturally¡¡goes¡¡to¡¡Klondike£»¡¡too¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡I
get¡¡out£»¡¡then¡¡most¡¡likely¡¡you'll¡¡lose¡¡the¡¡boat¡£¡¨
¡¨Well£»¡¡there's¡¡no¡¡use¡¡in¡¡overloading£»¡¨¡¡Charles¡¡announced£»¡¡springing
abruptly¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡as¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡cast¡¡off¡£
¡¨Next¡¡time¡¡you¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡my¡¡orders£¡¡¨¡¡Liverpool¡¡shouted¡¡ashore¡¡as¡¡the
current¡¡gripped¡¡the¡¡boat¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡there¡¡won't¡¡be¡¡any¡¡more¡¡walking
around¡¡rapids¡¡and¡¡losing¡¡time¡¡waiting¡¡to¡¡pick¡¡you¡¡up£¡¡¨
What¡¡took¡¡them¡¡ten¡¡minutes¡¡by¡¡river£»¡¡took¡¡Charles¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡by
land£»¡¡and¡¡while¡¡they¡¡waited¡¡for¡¡him¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡Lake¡¡Bennett
they¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡day¡¡with¡¡several¡¡dilapidated¡¡old¡timers¡¡on
their¡¡way¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡famine¡¡news¡¡was¡¡graver¡¡than¡¡ever¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡North¡
west¡¡Mounted¡¡Police£»¡¡stationed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡Lake¡¡Marsh¡¡where¡¡the
gold¡rushers¡¡entered¡¡Canadian¡¡territory£»¡¡were¡¡refusing¡¡to¡¡let¡¡a¡¡man
past¡¡who¡¡did¡¡not¡¡carry¡¡with¡¡him¡¡seven¡¡hundred¡¡pounds¡¡of¡¡grub¡£¡¡¡¡In
Dawson¡¡City¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡men£»¡¡with¡¡dog¡teams£»¡¡were¡¡waiting¡¡the
freeze¡up¡¡to¡¡come¡¡out¡¡over¡¡the¡¡ice¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡trading¡¡companies¡¡could
not¡¡fill¡¡their¡¡grub¡contracts£»¡¡and¡¡partners¡¡were¡¡cutting¡¡the¡¡cards
to¡¡see¡¡which¡¡should¡¡go¡¡and¡¡which¡¡should¡¡stay¡¡and¡¡work¡¡the¡¡claims¡£
¡¨That¡¡settles¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡Charles¡¡announced£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡learned¡¡of¡¡the¡¡action
of¡¡the¡¡mounted¡¡police¡¡on¡¡the¡¡boundary¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Old¡¡Man£»¡¡you¡¡might¡¡as¡¡well
start¡¡back¡¡now¡£¡¨
¡¨Climb¡¡aboard£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡Liverpool¡¡commanded¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨We're¡¡going¡¡to¡¡Klondike£»
and¡¡old¡¡dad¡¡is¡¡going¡¡along¡£¡¨
A¡¡shift¡¡of¡¡gale¡¡to¡¡the¡¡south¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡wind¡¡down¡¡Lake
Bennett£»¡¡before¡¡which¡¡they¡¡ran¡¡under¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡sail¡¡mad
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü