[ OUR DUG-OUT, OUR TUNNEL, AND OUR SLUICE ]

[ "WHEN SHE APPEARED AGAIN I WAS GREATLY EMBARRASSED" ]

[ MAY AND I IN THE DUG-OUT ]

[ "IT WAS A MELANCHOLY UNDERTAKING" ]

[ "WELCOME, FRIENDS" ]

A CLAIM ON KLONDYKE

PREAMBLE.

Somewhere near midnight in January 1897, a man—important to this little history—stood on an expanse of glittering snow, amidst low forest-covered hills and rugged mountains which were draped in the same white garb. He was looking eagerly towards the north-west, and was listening intently.

This man was muffled to the eyes in furs, he wore a rough bearskin coat, and his head was enveloped in a huge capote. He wore snow-shoes, and a gun lay across his arm.