d, ideal mushing weather, and already parties
were beginning to struggle into Bennett, looking very weary and jaded.
On the trail a man did a day's work by nine in the morning, another by
four in the afternoon, and a third by nightfall. You were lucky to get
off at that.

I was jogging along past the advance guard of the oncoming army, when
who should I see but Mervin and Hewson. They looked thoroughly seasoned,
and had made record time with a large outfit. In contrast to the worn,
weary-eyed men with faces pinched and puckered, they looked insolently
fit and full of fight. They had heard of the snow-slide but could give
me no particulars. I inquired for Berna and the old man. They were
somewhere behind, between Chilcoot and Lindeman. "Yes, they were
probably buried under the slide. Good-bye."

I hurried forward, full of apprehension. A black stream of Cheechakos
were surging across Lindeman; then I realised the greatness of the other
advancing army, and the vastness of the impulse that was urging these
indomitable atoms to the North. It was blowing quite hard and many had
put up sails on their sleds with good effect. I saw a Jew driving an ox,
to which he had four small sleds harnessed. On each of these he had
hoisted a small sail. Suddenly the ox looked round and saw the sails.
Here was something that did not come within the scope of his
experience. With a bellow of fear, he stampeded, pursued by a yelling
Hebrew, while from the chain of sleds articles scattered in all
directions. When last I saw them in the far distance, Jew and ox were
still going.

Why was I so anxious about Berna? I did not know, but with every mile my
anxiety increased. A dim unreasoning fear possessed me. I imagined that
if anything happened to her I would forever blame myself. I saw her
lying white and cold as the snow itself, her face peaceful in death. Why
had I not thought more of her? I had not appreciated her enough, her
precious sweetness and her tenderness. If only she was spared, I would
show her what a good friend I could be. I would protect her and be near
her in case of need. But then how foolish to think anything could have
happened to her. The chances were one in a hundred. Nevertheless, I
hurried forward.

I met the Twins. They had just escaped the slide, they told me, and had
not yet recovered from the shock. A little way back on the trail it was.
I would see men digging out the bodies. They had dug out seventeen that
mornin