THE NOME STAMPEDE	15
" dry " holes on unprofitable lays, and were now eagerly snatching at this new straw, hoping to " strike it " on the Nome beach. From Dawson, Forty Mile, Eagle, Circle, Fort Yukon; from wood camps and prospectors' tents along the Yukon, and now from Rampart, these bearded, battered, sun-blistered men came rushing aboard the steamboat.
I had engaged a state-room before the steamboat arrived, but when it came a placard of the company owning the boat menaced us in the office : "All reservations cancelled. Boat overcrowded. No passengers to be taken at Rampart."
Of course there was a mighty howl from the Rampart men, nearly half of whom had packed up to go on the boat. I hurried to the purser, whom I knew, and showed my pass from the manager of the company.
" Can't help it, Doctor," he said in a loud tone, for the benefit of the bystandkrs. " The boat's past her limit now, and we're liable for big damages if anything happens. We can't take anybody."
Presently he slyly pulled my arm, and I followed him to an inner office of the store. " Get your goods aboard," he directed.