North to Alaska Page #6

Then l pulled out because

l was almost starvin' to death!

Do me a favour, Mr Canon.

Kick me. Kick me real hard.

Wait a minute.

Boggsy, you must have staked a claim.

Now, think hard.

Did you drive a stake into the ground?

- Put together a pile of stones?

- No! l wasn't interested in stones.

Maybe a couple of little stones.

- No.

- Ah, you miserable drunk.

Except when l was makin' a fire to cook on,

l put a couple of rocks together.

Boggsy!

That's a claim!

lt's your gold, and it's your mine!

- You think so?

- Oh, absolutely!

You need a couple of drinks to help you

think. l'll work it out with you in detail.

Whoa, now!

Oh, Sam! lt's beautiful!

Beautiful? Gives me the willies.

''Welcome Jenny.''

Oh, his honeymoon cabin. How wonderful!

You're gonna stick to your promise?

No troubles?

No troubles, Sam. l'm just

going to enjoy the scenery.

Well, l've done the best l can.

l just gotta face him.

- l think l'll just lie to him.

- Yes.

George!

George!

Billy!

Billy!

George!

They're probably workin' the sluice boxes.

l'll go dig up George.

l wouldn't wish this on a goat,

but right now l wish you were Jenny.

l'll be right back.

Hiya, kid.

- Hold it! That thing's loaded.

- Sam! Boy, am l glad you're back!

Well, l'm not so sure l am. Where's George?

Arnie, that fella who had the mine

by us in Dawson? He's in trouble.

- George went to give him a hand.

- l heard about the claim-jumping.

Some fellas tried, but Arnie run 'em off. But

they swore they'd get a gang and come back.

Breezy told me about some killings.

l guess l'd better go over

and give 'em a hand. Come on.

Saddle me a horse

while l pick up a few things.

ls he that mad?

He's not even here. Over at another mine,

fighting some claim-jumpers.

One good thing about that, them shootin'

at him will take George's mind off Jenny.

Yes. A bullet through the head

is always the best cure for love.

l gotta give him a hand.

Keep me away for a while.

- Are you going to leave me here alone?

- Make yourself at home. Billy's here.

- Who's Billy?

- George's little kid brother.

- How little?

- 17. But he's man enough to take care of you.

That's what l'm afraid of.

This here's the best of them.

He spooks a little now and then, but...

But what?

He... he thens a little now and spook...

- ls that Jenny?

- No, that's not Jenny.

She'll be a guest for a few days, so get your

bedroll outside. She'll sleep in the cabin.

This is Billy, and that fleabag

at your feet is Clancy.

l'll be back as soon as l can, Angel.

Take care of the mules.

So you're Billy? Well, l'm Michelle.

- What's the matter? You're cold?

- Oh, no. Nothing's the matter.

- Are you...

- Am l what?

..Sam's girl?

No.

- You his sister?

- No.

- You're just a stranger, huh?

- Yes, we met on the boat,

and there weren't any rooms left in town,

so Sam was kind enough to ask me up here

- until l get my boat back to Seattle.

- That's wonderful!

l mean, it's wonderful up here.

Clancy sure likes you. Now, don't you

go away. l have to unhitch the team.

- You stay here. l'll be right back, OK?

- Yes.

Come on, Clancy.

lf you knew

Only knew

How this heart of mine

Yearns for you

lf you'd care

Like l care

What a wonderful love we could share

lf your heart

Felt like mine

What a warm, tender love

We could find

How l long for your kiss

But you don't know l exist

lf you knew

Would you love me too?

Oh, Clancy!

Now, get out. Behave yourself!

Please get out.

Clancy, shame on you.

Behave yourself. Get out, OK? Get out.

Michelle? Uh... do you want anything?

- No.

- Uh...

Well, maybe some hot water.

l... l just heated a batch.

- No, thank you.

- Well, it's no trouble to pour you some.

Billy, l'm not taking a foot bath.

l'm in the tub.

- All of you?

- Don't you open those curtains!

Je... Jehoshaphat!

All of her!

17. Just a little kid.

Well!

A... a welcome celebration

to make you feel at home.

- Here. You... you sit here.

- Thank you.

Oh, golly, you smell good!

Thank you.

Whatever you're cooking smells good, too.

- l'd rather smell you.

- Um...

Shall we dine?

Dine? Oh, sure.

Excuse me. Silly.

Venison stew.

l'd love to taste it.

Oh! Sure.

How nice.

Um... Does your brother allow you to drink?

l've been drinking since l'm grown up.

This here's French wine.

George was saving it for Jenny, but... you

being French, it's the same if you drink it.

Let's say we knock off a couple.

Are you willing?

We'll see how the evening goes.

Look at that! George wired up the cork

so he'd know if l got into it.

l hope nothing's wrong

with it boilin' over like that!

- You game to taste it?

- Oh, l'm not afraid.

OK.

Mmm. lt's delicious.

- How is it called?

- Champagne.

That's the only kind l ever drink.

l guess it went down the wrong way, but...

any way's the right way as long as

you get it down. Here, have some more.

There you go.

Here's where l stand, Michelle.

l got all the money l need.

No sense me working any more.

The next thing, gotta get myself a woman.

- A steady woman.

- Sure, while you're still in the prime of life.

You said it. See that box

over there? Right there?

lt's full of gold. Take all you want. l'm through

messin' around with Sam and George.

From Fortymile to Dawson,

l've known women from one end

of this frozen glacier to the other.

Blondes, brunettes, redheads...

You name 'em, l've known 'em.

Yes, sir, l've decided it's time

for me to quiet down.

Be patient. The right girl will come along.

You know, l think a fella should

be friends with an older woman.

l just can't stand these young girls.

You know, inexperienced,

and nothing to offer.

Mm-hm.

Well, don't you think we should

do the dishes and go to bed?

Well, it's OK with me. l'm game.

Fine. You go to bed, and l'll do the dishes.

Aw, heck. What's... what's the big rush?

l never get someone to talk to...

girls, l mean.

Just Sam and George, and all they ever say is

pester me to clean somethin'

or cook somethin'.

Michelle...

l want you to be more

than just a talkin' friend.

l don't know exactly how to put it.

l understand. You want me

to be more like a... like a sister.

Oh, Michelle, please don't make fun of me.

l'm serious.

Michelle...

l'm serious.

l must be gettin' a little dizzy.

Yes, l think so.

You'd better lie down for a while.

- Michelle...

- No, no, no, no.

Here you go.

Come on.

No, no.

You can talk to me

while l clear the table. All right?

Thanks. Thanks, Michelle.

Bull's-eye!

Hold it!

- Hold it!

- They got Arnie.

Hey, Duggan! He had

this bundle of dynamite!

Tryin' to blow up the sluices and drown us!

- You dirty, claim-jumpin' thieves, you!

- Arnie, you just don't understand.

This is free territory. We've got

as much right to the gold as you have.

Get up there!

Hold it!

George! George Pratt!

- Yeah?

- All of ya!

Come out of that cabin

with your hands up, or l shoot Arnie.

- The dirty rat would do it, too.

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