Part 1 (1/2)

To Alaska for Gold

by Edward Stratemeyer

PREFACE

”TO ALASKA FOR GOLD” forms the third volu tales, this story is complete in itself

The rush to the far-away territory of Alaska, when gold in large quantities was discovered upon Klondike Creek, was soone by The gold fever spread to even the re and old, poured forth, ready to endure every hardshi+p if only the ht be secured That many succeeded and that h of recent date

In this story are related the adventures of two Maine boys who leave their ho the lumbermen, travel to California, there to join their uncle, an experiencedtrip to the Klondike by way of Dyea, Chilkoot Pass, and the lakes and streahty Yukon River

After old district is reached, and here a su for the precious le to sustain life until the advent of spring

In writing the description of this new El Dorado the author has endeavored to be as accurate as possible, and has consulted, for this purpose, the leading authorities on Alaska and its resources, as well as digested the soovern the personal experiences of his heroes he would add that nearly every incident cited has been taken from life, as narrated by those who joined in the frenzied rush to the new gold fields

EDWARD STRATEMEYER

NEWARK, N J, April 1, 1899

TO ALASKA FOR GOLD

CHAPTER I

A LETTER FROM THE WEST

”It is not a question of e should like to do, Randy; it is a question of eis certain: the way matters stand we can't pay the quarter's rent for this timber land to- for it I haven't the least idea”

”Nor I It's a pity the Jackson Luo to pieces I wonder where Jackson is”

”In Canada most likely They would put him in jail if they could catch hiht to be put in jail!” burst out Earl, as the elder of the two Portney brothers ”That two hundred dollars he cheated us out of would just put us on our feet But without it we can't even pay bills noing; and Caleb Norcross is just aching to sell this land to Dan Roland”

”If we have to get out, what are we to do?” questioned Randy, soberly

”I don't believe we can get work, unless we go into the woods as ,” was Earl's unsatisfactory response

The Portney brothers lived upon a small timber claim in the state of Maine Their parents had died three years before, from injuries received in a terrible forest fire, which had at that time swept the locality

The family had never been rich, and after the sad affair the boys were left to shi+ft for themselves The father had owned an interest in a timber claim, and this had been sold for three hundred dollars, and with the proceeds the two brothers had rented another claiet out luun operations in the vicinity

Earl was now eighteen years of age, and Randolph, or Randy, as he was always called, was nearly seventeen Both lads were so tall, well-built, and muscular, that they appeared older Neither had had a real sickness in his life, and the pair were admirably calculated, physically, to cope with the hardshi+ps which came to them later