Part 30 (1/2)
”I think they went to Dawson City,” said a man standing nearby.
”Anyway, Furner told me he was goin' there first, an' then up to Lion Head.”
This put a new view on the matter, and the boys and Jack Wumble questioned the stranger. The upshot was that they decided to go directly to Dawson, that mecca of all gold hunters in Alaska.
”Now, the thing of it is, How can we get to Dawson from here?” said Sam.
”That's easy,” replied Jack Wumble. ”Just leave it to me.”
Inside of an hour their arrangements were made and they were off.
Previous to going they made more inquiries concerning Tom and his strange companion, and reached the conclusion that the pair had really headed for Dawson.
”But there is no telling how soon they will change their minds and go somewhere else,” said d.i.c.k, with a sigh.
It is not my purpose to tell the particulars of the tedious journey to Dawson City, about three hundred and fifty miles north of Skagway. At that time all of the improvements that now exist had not been made and the crowd suffered from many inconveniences.
But the boys were surprised when they reached Dawson to find it so ”up to date,” as Sam expressed it. They had expected to see a rough mining town--and that is what Dawson was but a handful of years ago. Instead, they saw a built-up city, with many stores and not a few hotels.
”Goin' to be a reg'lar 'Frisco some day,” said Jack Wumble. ”Beats all how the towns grow up here!”
The party had arrived in Dawson late at night and put up at the best hotel to be found. Immediately after breakfast the search for Tom was renewed.
It had rained the day before and now it was bl.u.s.tery and cold, with a suggestion of snow in the air. The boys were glad enough to don their sweaters under their coats.
”Ye'll have to git some heavy clothin' if ye go North,” said the old miner.
”I hope Tom is dressed warm enough,” said Sam. ”It would be too bad if he took sick, along with his other troubles.”
For two days the boys and the old miner hunted around Dawson for some trace of the missing one. They visited all sorts of places, but all to no purpose. During that time the weather grew suddenly colder and on the second night came a light fall of snow.
”Won't be long now before winter will be on us,” announced Jack Wumble.
”And winter up here is somethin' wuth rememberin', believe me!”
The next morning found d.i.c.k at a large trading store, where many miners and prospectors purchased their supplies. Here he asked all newcomers if they had seen or heard of Tom or Ike Furner.
”Sure, I see Furner!” cried one old prospector. ”See him yesterday afternoon.”
”Where?” demanded d.i.c.k, eagerly.
”Over on the Lion Head trail.”
”Alone?”
”No, he had a young feller with him.”
CHAPTER XX
IN THE MOUNTAINS OF ALASKA