Chapter 2 CHAPTER TWO Sammy Skin Reluctantly Embarks on Adventure
Sammy Skinn returned home to deal with the death of Josiah Lacoste.He wanted to inform relatives and friends of his uncle's death, to wear mourning, and to book appropriate religious services at the parish church.
As for the settlement of my uncle's personal affairs, a serious conversation with Mr. Snabbin must wait until Mr. Snabbin, the notary, had received the particulars requested by telegram, and the list of inheritance had been drawn up, and the brothers had agreed.
Ben Rado could only return on the morning of March 22 after 5 days.He lived in New York for a month, working on a grand plan for a powerful conglomerate: to build a bridge over the Hudson River, linking New York and New Jersey.
Ben Rado threw himself into the work that fascinates engineers.However, construction of the bridge does not appear to be starting anytime soon.Despite all the reports in the newspapers and the extensive research work done on the blueprints, it may be a year or two before the real work begins.Therefore, Ben Lado decided to come back.
Sammy Skin felt he had been away for too long.He regretted that he failed to make his cousin agree with him, and failed to make him like his carefree life.The great event of the Hudson Bridge made him restless.Had Ben Rado been involved in this work, wouldn't he have been in New York for a long time, maybe a few years?Then he was left alone in their common home, at Green Valley Manor!
As soon as the engineer returned, his cousin informed him of the death of his uncle Josias.Uncle died in Dawson City, and all he left was Lot 129 on the Forty Mile River in the Klondike.
The engineer's ears pricked up when he heard the Klondike name, which was very famous at the time.It seemed that he was not as indifferent as Sammy Skin was in the face of the prospect of becoming the master of a gold deposit.Besides, whatever he thought about the matter, he didn't say it right away.
He is used to digging deep into issues, and before expressing his opinion, he needs to think.
For him, 24 hours is enough to weigh the pros and cons.Next day, at lunchtime, he broke into the conversation so suddenly that Sammy Skinn thought he was engrossed in his meal.
"Hey, cousin, shall we talk about Klondike?"
"Just don't talk too much!"
"Talk as much as you like, Sammy."
"Well! dear Ben."
"Has the notary handed you the certificate of title to Plot No. 129?"
"No," replied Sammy Skin, "I don't think it's necessary to know any of these things."
"My good Sammy, I knew you would!" Ben Rado said loudly with a smile.
"Why?" protested Sammy. "I don't think it's necessary to worry too much about it. It's simple: either the estate has some value and we'll sell it for the best yield; or it's worth nothing. value, I think that's the most likely, then, let's not even bother with it."
"You're right," Ben Rado agreed, "but there's nothing to worry about...the place, who knows... people think it's poor and it's been dug up...then a lucky pickaxe made it You get rich."
Hearing this, Sammy Skin felt a little uneasy.
"So, my dear Ben," he said, growing more agitated, "that's exactly what the folks there ought to know, the folks who are now working the famous Klondike goldfields. We'll try to sell it for a good price... But there's another possibility, isn't there? Our uncle passed away just as he was about to become a millionaire! . . . "
"That's something to be sure," Ben Rado replied. "In the prospector business there are surprises of this kind. People are always on the verge of discovering a new Veine, and I use the word Veine not to mean Chance, but veins containing many native gold nuggets. In short, some prospectors have nothing to complain about, and you won't object to that."
"Yes," replied Sammy Skinner, "one in a hundred, a thousand, or a hundred thousand, and at the cost of so much sorrow, so much weariness, and so much poverty! . . . "
"It's some beautiful language, Sammy," said Ben Rado, "but it's only some beautiful language. Me, I'm not going to think in terms of literature, I'm going to start with facts, and only Let’s start with the facts and consider the problem.”
Sammy Skin knew what his cousin was going to say and wasn't surprised.They returned to the usual subject, and the never-ending argument began again.
"My dear friend, is it not enough that our parents have bequeathed us? Doesn't our estate guarantee our independence and ease? . . . It's not worth it... Look, aren't we pretty rich?"
"If you can get richer, you can never be quite rich."
"Ben, at least not too rich. Like some billionaires. They have as much trouble as their money. They work harder to keep their wealth than they get it."
"Forget it," Ben Rado replied, "philosophy is a good thing, but it can't be abused. Besides, don't make me say what I haven't said. I don't intend to find tons of gold on my uncle's land . I just want to understand the situation, that's all."
"My dear Ben, let's go find out the situation together, that's settled. God bless, after we understand the situation, we are not facing an embarrassing situation. We have to face this out of respect for the family. The situation . . . if so, I have assured Mr. Snabbing . . . ”
"You're right, Sammy," Ben Rado interrupted, "but I don't think it's necessary to consider this improbable possibility. Rest assured, if there were any creditors, they would have come out long ago ...let's talk about the Klondike again. You'd think I'd never heard of these deposits. Even though mining there only started two years ago, I've read everything about the rich mineral deposits in the area and I can tell you something Things, enough to make you no longer indifferent. Except Australia, California, South Africa, one can think that there are no other gold mines on the earth. However, in this part of North America, on the frontier of Alaska and Dominion, People stumble upon new gold deposits. And these areas of North America seem to be unique in this regard. Not only gold deposits are found in the Klondike, but gold deposits are also found in Ontario, Michele Pekotan, British Columbia, building strength there Strong companies such as 'War Eagle', 'Standard', 'Sullivan Group', 'Alabaka', 'Ferm', 'Syndicate', 'Sambol', 'Caribou', 'Buck Tail', 'Georgia Reed', and many others. The stocks of these companies are increasing in value, not counting the silver, copper, iron, manganese, and coal mines. As for the Klondike, Sammy, Think about the area of this gold mining area. It is 250 miles long and 40 miles wide. This is only the area on the land of Dominion, not counting the area with gold mines in Alaska. Isn’t this provided for human activities? Is it a vast world? Perhaps it is the most extensive world ever discovered on the surface of the earth. Who knows, one day, the output of this area will not be calculated in millions, but in billions!"
Ben Rado could go on for a long time on this subject, Sammy Skin no longer listened to him, and Skin shrugged and said:
"Come on, Ben, it's very obvious that you have a fever..."
"What?...I have a fever?"
"Yes, like many others, a golden fever. This fever cannot be cured with quinine sulphates, because, unfortunately, it is not intermittent fever."
"Be at ease, my dear Sammy," replied Ben Rado, laughing, "my pulse is not beating faster than usual. Besides, I am detrimental to your incomparable health by putting you in contact with a sick man with a fever." , I'm blaming myself..."
"Oh! Me! . . . I've been vaccinated," Sammy Skin went on in the same tone, "but, I admit, I don't want to see you lost in a futile dream, And so impulsively..."
"Where did you see this?" interrupted Ben Rado. "For now, just study one thing and, if possible, profit from it. You don't think our uncle is involved in his speculation." Not happy. Indeed, it is possible that the Sishilihe land brought him more soil than gold. However, he may not have the necessary financial resources to continue to develop, and may not have adopted the method he should adopt..."
"An engineer's way, isn't it? Ben..."
"It should be, an engineer..."
"What about your method? . . . Let me use an analogy."
"Why not?" Ben Rado replied. "Anyway, this is not the time to talk about it. It's just time to learn. After we know the value of the land, we can make future plans. "
That's all for the conversation.All in all, there is no need to object to Ben Lado's proposal.It's natural to make informed decisions first.There was no doubt that the engineer, my cousin, was a serious, intelligent, practical man.But Sammy was still pained and disturbed to see his cousin so greedily pounce on the unexpected prey (to satisfy his ambition).Of course, in any case, Sammy Skin and Ben Rado cannot be separated.No matter what happens, their interests are aligned.But he didn't regret the bad idea of cursing Uncle Josias to get rich in the Klondike, where poverty and death awaited him.Circumstances he even wished to learn had put the matter to rest.
In the afternoon, Ben Rado went to the notary's office to look at the property's certification documents, which he thought were in full compliance with formalities.A large-scale map shows exactly where Lot 129 is located.This land is 42 kilometers away from Fort Kudahi, a small town founded by the Hudson's Bay Company on the right bank of the Forty Mile River.The Forty Mile River is one of many tributaries of the Yukon River.The Yukon River, after soaking the west of Dominion, crosses the entire Alaska. Since Russia ceded this vast area to the United States, the upper reaches of the river belong to the British, and the lower reaches belong to the Americans.
"Mr. Snabin, you have not noticed a rather interesting peculiarity," Ben Rado said after examining the map carefully. This meridian coincides with the western boundary line of our land, so that, to be precise, our land is on the common frontier of the western regions."
"Indeed," agreed the notary.
"Really," continued Ben Hadow, continuing to examine the map, "at first glance, such a position is not a bad one. There is no reason to think that the Forty Mile River is better than the Klondike River, or its tributary, the Bonanza River. Poor, certainly not worse than its tributaries, the Victoria, the El Dorado, and others. These rivers have high gold yields and are sought after by the miners."
Ben Rado's eyes devoured this wonderful piece of land. The hydrogeographical network of this land is rich in gold. According to the price of Dawson City, a ton of gold is worth 2.342 million francs!
"Excuse me, Monsieur Rado," asked the notary boldly, "may I ask if it is not your intention to personally manage the gold mines left by the late Josiah Lacoste?"
Ben Haddo made a vague movement.
"Mr Skinner..." suggested Mr Snabbing.
"Sammy cannot express an opinion," Ben Rado clearly stated, "I reserve my opinion to myself until I have all useful information... and, if necessary, I will see it with my own eyes..."
"You're going to make the long trek to the Klondike?" asked Snabbin, shaking his head.
"Why not? Regardless of what Sammy thinks, I think it's worth a visit. . . . It's clear when I get to Dawson City . . . Whether it's selling the place or estimating its value, you agree with me. Take a look, Mr Snabbing, you'd better see that place first."
"Is it necessary?" asked Snabbing.
"Even if it's just to find a buyer?"
The notary was about to answer when he was stopped by a clerk who came in with a telegram.
"For that alone," he said after opening the telegram, "this telegram will spare you the trouble of this long journey, Monsieur Rado."
After Snabin finished speaking, he handed the telegram sent eight days ago to Ben Rado.The telegram was sent from Dawson City to Vancouver, and then to Montreal by cable at the Dominion.
The telegram stated: "Anglo American Shipping & Trading Co. (Chicago Dawson) is an American group that already owns 8 mining faces and its operations are headed by Captain Healy. They are paying $5,000 in cash for Lot 129 at Forty Mile River block. Wire the money to Montreal upon receipt of the telegram agreeing to the sale."
Ben Rado took the telegram and read it carefully, as much as he studied the industrial certificate just now.
"What is your opinion, Monsieur Lado?" asked the notary.
"Nothing," replied the engineer. "Is $5,000 enough to buy a plot in the Klondike?"
"Take $5,000 if you have $5,000."
"Mr. Snabbing, less than ten thousand dollars."
"Obviously. But I reckon Mr Skinner..."
"Sammy always agrees with me if I have good reasons for my opinion. If I have proved to him the necessity of the trip, he will go, there is no need to doubt it."
"Him? . . . " cried Snabbing, "the happiest, most independent man the notary has ever seen in his career!"
"Yes, this happy, independent man, if I show him that he can be happier and more independent... Since we can always accept the price of this group, no matter what, what risk will we take?"
After Ben Rado left the office, he took a shortcut and returned.As he walked he considered the position he should take.When he returned to his residence in the Rue Jacques-Cartier, he had made up his mind.He went upstairs at once to his cousin's bedroom.
"So," asked the cousin, "have you seen Mr. Snabbing? Anything new?"
"Yes, something new, Sammy, new news."
"good news?"
"Great news."
"Have you read the property certificate?..."
"Of course, they comply with the formalities. We are the owners of plot 129."
"It will greatly increase our wealth!" laughed Sammy Skin.
"Maybe more than you think," said the engineer in a serious tone.
Then, Ben Rado gave the telegram from the "Anglo-American Transportation and Trading Company" to his cousin.
"That's great," exclaimed the latter, "there's nothing to hesitate about. Let's sell the plot to this delivery company as soon as possible! . . . "
"Why sell it for $5,000 when it can be worth more money?..." Ben Rado added.
"But, my dear Ben..."
"Then, your dear Ben answers you: things cannot be handled in this way. In order to act upon the situation, one must see, see with one's own eyes, and that is called seeing."
"You still have this attitude?"
"The attitude is more determined. Sammy, think about it. They paid this price to buy it, which shows that they know the value of the land, and know that this value is infinitely higher than that price. On the banks of the Klondike River or There is no shortage of other gold deposits in the mountains."
"What do you know? . . . "
"And," Ben Rado continued, ignoring the interruption of the conversation, "this company already has several land plots and wants to buy us, which means that it has more than 5,000 reasons to pay $5,000, it has 10,000, 10 Thousands of reasons..."
"A million, ten million, 100 billion," Sammy went on mockingly, "really, Ben, you're playing with numbers."
"Numbers are life, my dear, I don't think you have a strong sense of numbers..."
"It's probably because you're too numerical."
"Come on, Sammy dear, I'm talking to you very seriously. I was hesitant to go. After I got this telegram, I decided to go and answer them myself."
"What?...you're going to the Klondike?..."
"right."
"Without knowing the situation?"
"I know the situation locally."
"You left me alone again? . . . "
"No, you come with me."
"I go?……"
"you go."
"I will never go! . . . "
"You will go, because it concerns both of us."
"I entrust you with full authority."
"I refuse, I want your people to go."
"A long journey of 1,500 miles! . . . "
"That's not the case! . . . only 1,800 miles."
"My God! ... How long will it take? ..."
"As long as it takes. Indeed, it may be that our interest lies not in selling the land but in operating it."
"What .
"Two years, if necessary."
"Two years! . . . two years! . . . " repeated Sammy Skin.
"What does it matter!..." cried Ben Rado, "every month, every day, every hour, our wealth is increasing!..."
"No, no..." cried Sammy Skin, curling up in the sofa like a man who has made up his mind never to leave the sofa.
However, he faced a strong man.There is no doubt that Ben Rado would only let him go after he had fought hard to get his consent.
"As for me, Sammy," he said at last, "I've decided to go to Dawson City. I can't believe you're refusing to go with me. Besides, you're so heavy in your ass at this day! . . . run……"
"Hmph! ..." said Sammy Skin, "if I'm interested, there are other places in America and Europe to visit. Of course, I won't start out deep in that damned place of Klondike. "
"Sammy, it's a lovely place when you see the gold dust and nuggets all over it."
"Ben, my dear Ben," begged Sammy Skin, "you frighten me! . . . Yes, you frighten me! . . . There is nothing but danger and disillusionment in the business you're about to get into."
"Let's wait and see!..."
"Starting with that damned plot, it's probably not worth a cabbage patch! …"
"Then, why did that company pay thousands of dollars?..."
"Ben, I figured I'd have to go find this ridiculous plot in a region where the temperature drops to minus 50 degrees! . . . "
"Let's light the fire."
Ben Rado always has something to say.He was completely indifferent to his cousin's distress.
"Ben, where's Green Valley?..." the cousin said with a sigh.
"Well!..." Ben Rado replied, "The Klondike's plains are full of beasts, and the rivers are full of fish. You can hunt and fish in a new and unexpected area."
"But our servants, the good servants who wait for us! . . . " moaned Sammy.
"When we come back richer and can build them other farms and buy up the whole area, will they regret our leaving?"
In the end, Sammy Skin admits he has failed...no, he can't let his cousin go to the Klondike alone...he wants to go with him, if only to bring him back sooner...
Accordingly, a telegram was sent that same day to Captain Healy, manager of the Anglo-American Shipping and Trading Company in Dawson City, Klondike, through the cable at Dominion, informing him of the owners of Lot 129, Mr. Ben Rado and Sammy The news that Mr. Skinn is about to leave.
Notes:
Notes: