"My own common sense told me. You've been looking 'round the last hour for a chance to indulge agin."
"I'll admit," was the frank response, "that a dim idea of the kind has been flickerin' through me brain; but I cast the timptation indignantly behind me. Do you know why?"
"No."
"Nobody offered to pay for the drinks, and I haven't a cint to pay for any mesilf."
"And you won't get a cent from me; you must earn it by taking out gold. If you succeed it'll be yours, and you can do as you please with it."
Tim removed his cap and scratched his head.
"I've gone a good many wakes without it, and I feel so much better that I'm thinking of keeping up the good work."
"I hope you will, and prove yourself a man of sense. But we have no time to waste; we oughter be on our way now."
The sentiment suited all, and was followed without delay. Amid the crush and hustle it was impossible to hire a horse, mule, donkey, or boat. Everything had been engaged long before, and there were hundreds of disappointed applicants who, like our friends, were obliged to make the tramp eastward on foot, carrying their utensils with them, and leaving behind all that was not necessary in the work of placer mining.
During the brief stay at Dawson City the four attentively studied such maps as they could secure, and gathered all information from the many who were qualified and willing to give it. As a consequence, when they started up the Klondike, they had a well-defined idea of their destination.