The Big Chimney men exchanged significant looks.
"And there are more supply-boats wintering up at Fort Yukon and at Circle City," the General went on. "I tell you on the Upper River there's food to burn."
Again the Big Chimney men looked at one another. The General kept helping himself to punch, and as he tossed it off he would say, "Minóok's the camp for me!" When he had given vent to this conviction three times, Benham, who hadn't spoken since their entrance, said quietly:
"And you're going away from it as hard as you can pelt."
The General turned moist eyes upon him.
"Are you a man of family, sir?"
"No."
"Then I cannot expect you to understand." His eyes brimmed at some thought too fine and moving for public utterance.
Each member of the camp sat deeply cogitating. Not only gold at Minóok, but food! In the inner vision of every eye was a ship-load of provisions "frozen in" hard by a placer claim; in every heart a fervid prayer for a dog-team.
The Boy jumped up, and ran his fingers through his long wild hair. He panted softly like a hound straining at a leash. Then, with an obvious effort to throw off the magic of Minóok, he turned suddenly about, and "Poor old Kaviak!" says he, looking round and speaking in quite an everyday sort of voice.