THE TRAIL OF A SOURDOUGH
"You bet your life! The brats can live as well as those up the country with that other squaw of mine. But you're a terror for questions, pard. If you squeal on me I'll send you to thunder," clapping his hand on his hip pocket where protruded a stout, black handle.
"No fear of me," laughed the other. "I'm too eager for the rest of them fine furs which we must try to get. Can't you work the girl for them, Buster?"
"I'll try. In the meantime get the dogs together to-morrow and feed 'em up. They're lookin' thin. I hope to hear from Dan in a day or two as regards that creek and what he's found in it. Then I'm off to the nest of my turtle dove, for the bridegroom is hungry for his bride, eh, pard?" winked the dark-browed fellow, still smoking heavily.
"You're a dandy, sure I" retorted the man designated as "pard" by the trader. "I see your finish if your squaw's people up country find out your doin's here."
"They never will. The Yukon is many 'sleeps' away, and there is no communication  between  these  Eskimos   and  the   In-
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