an exceeding bitter one, and it has led the
old-timers to believe that the land is left in darkness the better part
of the year because God goes away and leaves it to itself. After all the
risk and toil and faithful endeavour, it was destined that few of the
heroes should be in at the finish when Too Much Gold turned its
yellow-treasure to the stars.

First, there was Robert Henderson--and this is true history. Henderson
had faith in the Indian River district. For three years, by himself,
depending mainly on his rifle, living on straight meat a large portion of
the time, he prospected many of the Indian River tributaries, just missed
finding the rich creeks, Sulphur and Dominion, and managed to make grub
(poor grub) out of Quartz Creek and Australia Creek. Then he crossed the
divide between Indian River and the Klondike, and on one of the "feeders"
of the latter found eight cents to the pan. This was considered
excellent in those simple days. Naming the creek "Gold Bottom," he
recrossed the divide and got three men, Munson, Dalton, and Swanson, to
return with him. The four took out $750. And be it emphasized, and
emphasized again, _that this was the first Klondike gold ever shovelled
in and washed out_. And be it also emphasized, _that Robert Henderson
was the discoverer of Klondike_, _all lies and hearsay tales to the
contrary_.

Running out of grub, Henderson again recrossed the divide, and went down
the Indian River and up the Yukon to Sixty Mile. Here Joe Ladue ran the
trading post, and here Joe Ladue had originally grub-staked Henderson.
Henderson told his tale, and a dozen men (all it contained) deserted the
Post for the scene of his find. Also, Henderson persuaded a party of
prospectors bound for Stewart River, to forgo their trip and go down and
locate with him. He loaded his boat with supplies, drifted down the
Yukon to the mouth of the Klondike, and towed and poled up the Klondike
to Gold Bottom. But at the mouth of the Klondike he met George Carmack,
and thereby hangs the tale.

Carmack was a squawman. He was familiarly known as "Siwash" George--a
derogatory term which had arisen out of his affinity for the Indians. At
the time Henderson encountered him he was catching salmon with his Indian
wife and relatives on the site of what was to become Dawson, the Golden
City of the Snows. Henderson, bubbling over with good-will, open-handed,
told Carmack of his discovery. But Carmack was satisfied