Every one was hilarious, especially the cameramen, who insisted on having a special feast that night at Knockout Point, for which they would stand treat.
“Anything up to a million dollars,” cried Bert Traymore, slapping Tom on the back. “That’s the way I feel to-night!”
“Glad to get your films back?” Tom asked a little later, as he stood close to Ruth, smiling at the merry scene. “Just a little?”
“And how about getting you back?” asked Ruth, her eyes full of gratitude as she lifted them to Tom. “You took such risks, Tom—you and Chess. I am so thankful we got to the cabin—in time!
“And Snow Mountain,” she added softly, after a short pause filled with pleasant thoughts, “is lucky, after all!”
Some time had passed since that dramatic scene in the tumble-down cabin near Knockout Point—time enough to permit Ruth and her company to accomplish the return journey through the wonderful country of blue glaciers and midnight sun back to Seattle and from there by the more prosaic overland route to New York.
They came triumphantly, bearing with them the completed film version of “The Girl of Gold.”
Bloomberg had been taken to a hospital at Dawson City, there to await trial for theft when he had sufficiently recovered from his wound. Charlie Reid and Joe Rumph were also under restraint, to be tried as his confederates.
“Didn’t I tell you we could beat the whole pack of them?” Tom said once, when the company were nearing New York. “Neither Bloomberg nor Charlie Reid will bother you for some time to come.”
“Which,” Ruth answered with a sigh of utter content, “is a tremendous comfort to me, Tommy-boy!”