"I understand that you are a minister," he said.
"Yes," I replied. "What can I do for you?"
"You can marry me to the best woman in Alaska."
"Is she here?" I asked, with a triumphant smile at Fickus.
"Oh, yes; she came on the last boat from Seattle."
"When do you wish the ceremony to take place?" I inquired.
"Right now," he replied. "You can't tie the knot too quickly to suit me."
I followed the eager young man, married him to a nice-looking girl who was waiting in a near-by cabin, received a wedding-fee of twenty dollars, and returned to my newly-found friend with the assurance that my wants were supplied until my outfit would come ashore.
This was my introduction to the second great gold camp of the Northwest—the raw, crazy, confused stampede of Nome.