Part 16 (1/2)
Reeves seated himself, and fumbling in his pocket, produced two cigars, one of which he tendered to Brent. ”I came, partly on my own account, and partly at the earnest solicitation of my wife.” He smiled, ”I hardly know how to begin.”
”If it's a sermon, begin about three words from the end; but if it is a drinking bout, begin at the beginning, but you will have to pardon me for beginning in the middle, for I have already consumed half a quart.”
He indicated the bottle and Reeves noted that his lips were smiling, and that there was a sparkle in the muddy eyes.
”Not guilty on either count,” he laughed, ”I neither preach nor drink.
What brings me here is a mere matter of business.”
”Business? Sure you haven't got your dates mixed. I have temporarily withdrawn from the business world.”
Reeves was relieved to see that the fierce mood of a few hours before had given place to good humour. ”No, it is regarding the termination of this temporary withdrawal that I want to see you. I understand you're a mining engineer.”
”Colorado School of Mines--five good jobs within two years in Montana--later, placer miner, 'notorious gambler,' and--” he included himself and the interior of the cabin in an expressive gesture.
”Do you want another good job?”
”What kind of a job?”
”An engineering job. How would you like to be my a.s.sistant in the operation of this dredging proposition?”
Brent shook his head: ”It wouldn't work.”
”Why not?”
Brent smiled: ”Too close to Dawson. I like the hooch too well. And, aside from that, you don't need me. You will be laying off men now. Not hiring them.”
”Laying off laborers, yes. But there is plenty of work along that creek this winter for the right man--for me, and for you, if you will a.s.sume it.”
Again Brent shook his head: ”There is another reason,” he objected, ”I have got to make another strike--and a good one. I have an obligation to meet--an obligation that in all probability will involve more money than any salary I could earn.”
”Small chance of a rich strike, now. The whole country is staked.”
”Around here, yes. But not where I'm going.”
”Where is that?”
”Over beyond the Mackenzie. In the Coppermine River country.”
”Beyond the Mackenzie!” cried Reeves, ”Man are you crazy!”
”No, not crazy, only, at the moment, comfortably drunk. But that has nothing whatever to do with my journey to the Coppermine. I will be cold sober when I hit the trail.”
”And when will that be? How do you expect to finance the trip?”
”Ah, there's the rub,” grinned Brent, ”I have not the least idea in the world of how I am going to finance it. When that detail is arranged, I shall hit the trail within twenty-four hours.”
Reeves was thinking rapidly. He did not believe that there was any gold beyond the Mackenzie. To the best of his knowledge there was nothing beyond the Mackenzie. Nothing--no towns--no booze! If Brent would be willing to go into a country for six months or a year in which booze was not obtainable--”There's no booze over there,” he said aloud, ”How much would you have to take with you?”
”Not a d.a.m.ned drop!”
”What!”