"He shall call you his papa," said she almost gaily, "for will it not be true?"
CHAPTER VI
WHY MIDAS FAILED
It was in the Fall of the year 19— that a party of miners outfitted in Nome and started for the Arctic. One of them had been in that vicinity before, was familiar with the trails, and had some acquaintance with the natives of that section.
Like all real "sourdough" miners they knew how to speak a good many words in Eskimo, especially young Gibbs, who had wintered there.
Not only did it please the natives to have the white men use the Eskimo language because it showed friendliness, but it made bargaining easier for all.
It was not, however, for the purpose of trading that this party of five men were making a long, cold and tedious trip to the Selawik River.
They were looking for gold. It was late in November when the creeks and rivers were frozen, and the swamps and tundra could be everywhere crossed; and as the weather was not so severe as it would be later, and the snow was not so deep it was considered the best time of the year for starting the expedition.
There were three dog-teams and as many heavy sleds, packed tightly with all manner of necessary equipments—fur sleeping bags, tents, clothing of skins, and food supplies in the smallest possible compass, besides frozen tomcod for the malamutes.