"Queer, ain't it? And they say there are thousands more coming."
"Yes, fifty thousand more coming in—and me waiting for a chance to get out!"
"I wonder what makes them do it?"
"Same thing as made me do it."
"Didn't you git a chance to stake anything?"
"Stake anything!—how long have you been in the country? Say! is that your boat?"
"Yes."
"Well, take my tip and just get in it, and keep right on going till you strike St. Michael's."
"For what reason would we do that?"
"Don't you know they have a Government in this country? Well, that's the reason: officials and graft! Stake a claim, and they rob you of it! No, sir, no more British mining-camps for me. I'm for the good old State of Washington. If this camp was in Alaska a fellow could hold down what was his with a shot-gun; but here you daren't make a break. Law and order!—hell! Grafters appointed by the law, and the law to see no fellow interfere with the grafters! We'd shoot the whole bunch if we had them on the other side."