Chapter 18 CHAPTER THREE SAMY SKIN DID NOT RETURN TO MONTREAL
The poor Frenchman was buried the next day.Jane and Edith Egerton, Sammy Skinner and Ben Rado took his body to the cemetery.A wooden cross bearing the name of Jacques Ledan was planted in front of the tomb, which the bad weather would soon turn into an unclaimed grave.Upon his return, Ben Rado wrote to the unfortunate mother who would never see her son, as promised to the deceased.
When these duties of filial piety were done, he began to examine from all sides the new situation created by the half-secret he had acquired.
It should come as no surprise that the secret of the Gold Volcano was of particular interest to Bin Lado.But it was less natural for an engineer, that is to say, a sober, seasoned person, to accept the secret as proven truth.However, that's how it is.It never occurred to Ben Rado that what Jacques Ledan had confided was not true.He had no doubt that in the north of the Klondike stood a magical mountain, like a huge gold pocket, which would one day spit out all the gold.At that time, millions of gold nuggets will be thrown into the sky, or else collected at the bottom of the permanently extinct crater.
Moreover, the region through which the Mackenzie River and its tributaries flow seems to be rich in gold deposits. These Indians, who work near the North Pacific, say that the rivers carry gold dust.Therefore, some large companies plan to expand the scope of survey to the area belonging to Dominion between the Arctic Ocean and the Arctic Circle, and some prospectors are already planning to move there next season.Benefit early.Ben Rado ponders: Who knows?Perhaps the volcano could indeed be discovered, according to the revelations of Jacques Ledin, undoubtedly the only one who knew of its existence.
If he wants to benefit from it, he has to act quickly.First, he wanted to know all about it, and especially to see the map which the late Frenchman said was in the hands of Jane Egerton.
Ben Rado came to the hospital immediately and decided to deal with the matter immediately.
"From what Jacques Ledan told me on his deathbed," he said to Jane, "it seems that you have one of his maps."
"I do have a map..." Jane began.
Ben Rado let out a sigh of satisfaction.Jane lightly confirmed what the Frenchman had said, and things were going well.
"However, this map only belongs to me." Jane finished speaking.
"Belongs to you?"
"Mine. Because Jacques Ledin willingly gave me the map."
"Ah!...Ah!..." Ben Rado hesitated.
After a moment's silence, he added:
"Actually, it doesn't matter, you won't let me see it?"
"It depends on the situation." Jane replied very calmly.
"Okay!" said the rather surprised Ben Rado loudly, "it depends on the situation?... What is the situation?... please explain."
"It's very simple," replied Jane, "that map was given to me by its legal owner, and I have every reason to believe that it shows the exact location of an extremely rich gold mine. Jacques Ledan trusted me so much, Because I promised to help his mother. I can only help her by using this map. However, the information on the map is incomplete."
"So what to do?" Ben Rado asked.
"Then your coming to me reminds me that Jacques Ledin told you what was not marked on the map, and probably got the same promise from you as I did, but not what I know. If so, I can send the map to you. Here you are, but as a partner. In short, you know one half of the secret, and I know the other half. Would you like us to combine the two halves into one, and share the fruits of the whole secret equally?"
At that time, Ben Rado was stunned by such an answer.He didn’t expect that Jane would say such a thing.Jane Edgerton is indeed very extraordinary.Then reason and justice prevailed.In any case, the idea of the young female prospector is not bad.There is no doubt that Jacques Le Dan intends to take two chances to ensure the improvement of his mother's lot, so he is careful to talk to two very different people, so that they each make the same commitment.Besides, what's in the way of taking Jane's advice and sharing the results of developing the Gold Volcano with her?Or the Gold Volcano was nothing more than a myth, in which case Jacques Ledin's secret was worthless, and neither was her half.Or, if the matter were serious, Jane Egerton's participation would be indispensable; and the Gold Volcano would probably provide inexhaustible wealth.
It only took a few seconds for the engineer to think about it, and he made up his mind without hesitation.
"Agreed," he said.
"This is the map." Jane unfolded the parchment and said.
Ben Rado glanced at the map quickly, then drew a line of latitude at the point of the cross and marked it with the number 68 degrees 37 seconds.
"Now, the coordinates are complete," he said with satisfaction, "we can go to the Golden Volcano with our eyes closed."
"Gold volcano?" repeated Jane. "Jacques Ledin said that."
"This is the name of a remarkable mountain that I am going to visit..."
"We're going," corrected Jane.
"We're going to visit in the spring." The engineer backed off.
At this moment, Ben Rado told Jane Egerton what Jacques Ledin had said to him.He revealed to her, so to speak, confirmed to her the existence of a mountain of gold, unknown to everyone, discovered by Le Dan and his companion Henry Brown.He also told her that the two adventurers were obliged to return for want of supplies, but were carrying some beautiful gold nuggets as proof of their discovery.However, they were attacked by a group of aborigines on the road, and their companion was killed and he lost everything.
"Have you not doubted the veracity of this so miraculous story?" Jane asked Ben Rado after he had finished his story.
"I was skeptical at first," Ben admitted, "but Jacques Ledan's sincere tone quickly reassured me. Please believe that this story is true. Of course, this does not mean that we will definitely benefit from it. This The greatest danger in anything like this is to be rushed to the front by others. No one knows that the Gold Volcano really exists, yet there are some legends about its existence. It only takes one more daring prospector who believes in the legend more than others Turn the legend into reality and we're done. That's the danger. To prevent that danger, we'll do two things as best we can: act fast and keep our mouths shut."
From that day on, it is not surprising that the engineer should know all the news that circulated among the gold diggers.Jane, too, was greatly interested in the news.They often discuss this issue.However, they decided to keep Kim Volcano a secret until the last minute.Ben Rado didn't even tell Sammy Skin about it.Besides, there is no need to rush.There are 8 months of winter in the Klondike, and only 3 months have passed.
During this period, the World Revision Committee published the results of its work.Neither request is acceptable.Never made any mistakes before.The frontier between Alaska and the Dominion is drawn exactly, and cannot be moved westward to the benefit of the Canadians, nor eastward to their detriment.There is no need to change the nationality of the land near the world.
"We made a bargain!" Sammy Skin said when he was informed of the above. "There is no doubt that the number 129 is Canadian. But unfortunately: the number 129 no longer exists. After its death Name it."
"It exists under the waters of the Forty Mile River," said the foreman, unwilling to give up any hope.
"That's right, Loric. You're right. Go dig for gold five or six feet deep! Unless a second earthquake puts everything back together, I don't know..."
Sammy Skin shrugged his shoulders, and went on:
"Besides, if China and Russia are going to work together in the Klondike, I want them to wipe out this horrible area: destroy it, drown it, and leave it without a piece of gold."
"Oh! Mr. Skin!" said the foreman, really angry.
"What about in the future?" said Ben Rado, who was cautious, so he didn't say a word. "Do you think there are gold mines only in the Klondike?"
"I don't exclude from my calamity those who tell the truth in Alaska, the Dominion, the Transvaal, etc., or even the world," retorted a somewhat angry Sammy Skin.
"But, Mr. Skinner, gold is gold."
"You don't understand, Lorrick. You don't understand at all. Gold, do you want to know what it is? Well, gold is bullshit, and that's my opinion. I'll tell you straight!"
The conversation would go on for such a long time that it was no good for anyone, and Sammy Skinn abruptly broke it off:
"Anyway, Pluto and Neptune can do what they like. It's not my business. I only care about my own affairs. I'm happy as long as number 129 disappears, because this lucky incident makes it impossible for us to Not returning to Montreal."
Sammy Skin was just talking.In fact, the day was far off when the weather warmed up enough to enable him to make his way home.The year had just ended, and Sammy Skin would never forget the week of Christmas, which was still a loathsome few days even though the temperature didn't drop below -20 degrees.Perhaps it would have been better to have a cold, dry north wind blowing and the temperature dropping extraordinarily low.
During the final week of the year, the streets of Dawson City are nearly deserted.The wind was blowing snowflakes beyond any lighting, and the streets were impassable.The snow piled up to a thickness of more than 6 feet, and no vehicles or sleds could walk.If there was another cold snap, as usual, it would be impossible to dig a hole in the snowdrift with a pickaxe.Steel brazing must be used.In some neighborhoods near the banks of the Yukon and Klondike rivers, several houses were snow-covered to the first floor and had to be accessed through windows.Fortunately the houses on Front Street were spared such troubles, and the brothers could still walk out of the hotel if the traffic had not been completely cut off.Take a few steps, and the snow may be buried up to the neck.
During this time of year, the days are particularly short.The sun had just risen over the hills around the city before disappearing.The wind whipped up thick snowflakes, and the light of electric lights could not pass through. As a result, people were forced to live in darkness for 20 hours out of 24.
All contact with the outside world was cancelled, and Sammy Skin and Ben Rado had to stay in the room.The foreman, Neruto, and Patrick lived in a shabby little hotel on the southern block, and could not visit them as usual, and contact with Jane and Edith Edgerton was also broken.Sammy Skinn wanted to go to the hospital once, but he was almost buried alive by the snow, and the hospital people had a hard time getting him out.
Needless to say, various services in the Klondike stopped.Letters could not arrive, newspapers could not be distributed.The inhabitants of Dawson City would have starved to death had it not been for the provisions stocked in hotels and specialized houses in preparation for this dire situation.Not to mention that casinos and casinos have long been closed.Never before has the city been in such a crisis situation.The snow made it impossible to go to the Governor's residence, and administration ceased altogether, both on the Canadian side and on the American side.As for those who are killed by epidemics every day, how to send them to their final destination?If the plague spread, there would soon be no inhabitants in Dawson City.
The first day of 1899 was dreadful.Overnight and throughout the next day, the snow fell so heavily that it nearly completely buried some houses.Only the roofs of the houses on the right bank of the Klondike are visible.It is almost conceivable that the entire city will disappear under the thick snow, just as Pompeii disappeared under the ash of Vesuvius.If the temperature drops to minus 40 to 50 degrees immediately, the residents of the whole city will freeze to death under the hard snow.
On January 2, the weather situation changed suddenly.After a gust of wind blows, the temperature quickly rises above zero, so there is no need to worry about the snow being frozen hard.Within hours, the snow melted.As they say: You can only believe it when you see it.Flooding followed and caused enormous damage.The streets turned to torrents, and the sewage and all kinds of junk rushed down the Yukon and its tributaries, rumbling over the frozen surface of the river.
Flooding broke out across the county.The Sishili River also swelled, flooding the land downstream.This is a new catastrophe about the same as it was in August.If Ben Rado still had any hope of regaining possession of No. 129, then, this time, he had to give up forever.
As soon as the roads became passable, people rushed to restore lost connections.Lorik and Neruto arrive at the North Hotel.Ben Rado and Sammy Skin could not wait to run to the hospital. The two cousins received them very happily, and the long siege made them even more excited and excited.As for Dr. Peelcox, he has not lost one iota of his usual sense of humour.
"So," Sammy Skin asked him, "are you still proud of your sojourn?"
"Why! Mr. Skin," replied the doctor, "Amazing! The Klondike is amazing! . . . I can't believe that, in all time, anyone has seen so much snow! . . . It's in your travel memories There will be a seat, Mr Skinner."
"I assure you, doctor!"
"For example, if there were no thawing days before the cold wave returned, we would all be frozen. Huh! There will be huge social news in the newspapers of the old and new continents! Such opportunities will never come again. What an unfortunate accident the wind!"
"You think so, doctor?"
"It's supposed to be. That's philosophy, Mr. Skinning."
"The philosophy of minus 50 degrees is not flattering." Sami, who was not convinced, retorted.
The city quickly resumed its former appearance and habits.Playgrounds reopen.People flooded the streets, which were filled with hearses for the countless people who had lost their lives in the freezing cold.
In the Klondike, however, winter is far from over in January.In the second half of the month, there were still several significant cooling downs.Traffic is still possible, though, with a little care.The end of the month was better than the beginning, with fewer and fewer blizzards.On days without wind, the cold is easier to bear.Indeed, the wind blowing from the north across the arctic region slammed into people's faces like knives, and the exhaled breath froze and fell on the ground. It was very dangerous to be outdoors in such weather.Sammy Skinn could almost always go hunting in Neruto's company, and sometimes Jane Egerton went with him.Despite the cold weather, no one could persuade him not to go out.He doesn't like the excitement of gambling, nor the singing and dancing of entertainment venues, and the time seems very long to him.
One day, everyone persuaded him too much, and he replied very seriously:
"Okay! I promise you that you will not go hunting anymore, on the condition that..."
"What's the condition? . . . " asked Dr. Piercox.
"When it's so cold that thunder can't light a fire."
Generally, Jane Egerton did not accompany Sammy Skinning on the hunt, but met Ben Rado, either at the hospital or at the North Inn.In short, there was not a day when they did not see each other at least once.Edith was always there when they talked.The effect of her presence is not obvious.To the engineer, however, she seems to be the main character.His strict commitment to secrecy was exceptional only for her, and from then on she was consulted on the smallest detail of organizing future expeditions.He seemed to really think highly of her opinion.Possibly because she had no opinion, as she agreed with the principles of the project, she agreed with closed eyes on all the views put forward by the engineer, and was always on his side against her cousin, and if necessary against Lorrick; Those who do not know the true purpose of these secret conversations are generally accepted into the circle of conversation.Ben Rado was right and did everything right.Ben very much appreciates the naive, flattering point of view expressed.
As for Loric, the engineer never tires of asking him about the Klondike, especially the northern part of the county, where Loric is a frequent visitor.Sammy Skinn and Neruto always saw them together when they came back from hunting, wondering with a little uneasiness what they might be talking about.
"What can the four of them study?" he kept asking himself. "Hasn't Ben had enough time in this damned place? Is he going to venture again under Loric's leadership? Hi! Hi! … Here I am, I, when the time comes, I will have to use violence! . . . If I am still in this dreadful city in May, it will be because the excellent Dr. Peelcox has amputated my legs... ...and he's not sure that I won't walk on crutches!"
Sammy Skinn had remained ignorant of Jacques Ledin's secret.Ben Rado and Jane Egerton had kept their mutual promises of silence, and Lorrick knew no more than Sammy Skinner.This did not prevent the foreman from continuing to pique Ben Rado's apparent interest and stimulate him to continue to try his luck.Did he come to the Klondike through all kinds of hardships, and was he discouraged by the first failure?What's more, this failure was due to special, arguably unique circumstances. The destruction of 129 is certainly heart-wrenching, but why not find a way to acquire another plot?Going upriver will find stronger gold mines than the ones lost...in the other direction Bonanza and Eldorado continue to give great results...a wide stretch stretches beyond Dom The goldfields where the miners just set foot... Whoever develops the gold mines are owned by him... The foreman can recruit... Anyway, why did Ben Lado fail where many succeeded?On the contrary, the engineer's scientific knowledge is his trump card in this risky game.
As you can imagine, engineers like to hear such words.In his mind, the possibility of the existence of the Golden Volcano has become a certain existence.He dreamed of this golden volcano...a massif, much larger than one, a mountain with millions of gold nuggets in its belly...a volcano giving its treasures out of itself...ah!Of course, this wonderful risk must be taken.Depart at the beginning of spring, and you can reach the Gold Volcano in three or four weeks.More gold nuggets could be collected in a few days than all the tributaries of the Yukon had supplied in two years, and return before winter; rich in marvelous treasures, so powerful that even kings would be proud of themselves.
Ben Rado and Jane spent hours studying the maps hand-drawn by the French.According to the latitude and longitude, they saw that the cross was drawn on the left bank of the Rube River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. Then, the distance from the Golden Volcano to Dawson City would not exceed 280 miles, that is, 500 kilometers.
"As long as you have a good car and a good horse," Lorrick replied when asked this question, "you can travel 500 kilometers in about 20 days. And, you can start in the second week of May."
During this time, Sammy Skin kept thinking:
"What the hell are these four people doing?"
Although he did not understand the situation, he also suspected that such frequent conversations must be planning a new expedition.He made up his mind to do everything possible to prevent this incident.
"Come on, my little ones!" he muttered in his heart, "you plan, I plan too, whoever laughs last laughs the best!..."
March is here, and the cold snap is back.In two days, the temperature dropped to minus 60 degrees Celsius.Sammy Skin told Ben Rado: If this goes on, there won't be enough marks on the thermometer.
The engineer vaguely sensed his cousin's latent anger, and tried to calm down:
"It was a very cold snap indeed," he said in a peacemaker's voice, "but as there was no wind I did not think it would be so easy to bear."
"Yes, Ben, yes..." Sammy conceded, controlling himself, "it's very healthy indeed, and I'm sure the cold kills the germs a lot."
"I would add," added Ben Rado, "according to the natives, the cold snap will not last long. It even seems to be hoped that this winter will not be too long and that work will begin in early May."
"Work? . . . if you still say that strong word to me, I bet I don't mind," Sammy said even louder. Get back on your way."
"However," said the engineer, who presumably thought the time had come to tell the truth, "perhaps we should visit Lot 129 before we go."
"Right now, 129 looks like the battered hull of a sunken ship. You'd have to use a diving suit to see it. Since we don't have diving suits..."
"But millions were lost there! . . . "
"Ben, you can say a few billion if you want, and I have no objection. But, no matter what, a loss is a loss. I don't see any need to return to Shishilihe. It will only bring back unpleasant memories for you."
"Oh! I'm all right, all right, Sammy."
"Maybe it's not as good as you think it's all right. I've got a fever...the famous fever...you know...golden fever..."
Ben Rado looked at his cousin squarely, and as a man of his own accord, decided to reveal his plan to him.
"I have something to tell you, Sammy," he said, "but don't get mad at the first word."
"On the contrary, I'm going to lose my temper," cried Sammy Skin, "and I'll warn you that nothing will stop me if you even say obliquely that we're delaying our return."
"Listen, I'm going to tell you a secret."
"A secret? Whose secret?"
"The secret of the half-dead Frenchman you rescued to Dawson City."
"Ben, Jacques Ledan confided a secret to you?"
"right."
"You never told me?"
"No, because it reminds me of a plan to think over."
Sammy Skin jumped to his feet.
"A plan! . . . " he cried. "What plan?"
"No, Sammy," Ben Rado replied, "what's the secret? First the secret, then the plan. Let's go in order. Be quiet, please."
At this time, Ben Rado revealed the existence of the Gold Volcano to his cousin, and Jacques Ledin accurately drew the Mackenzie River out to sea on the shore of the Arctic Ocean.Sammy Skin looked at the original sketch, and then looked at the location of the gold volcano on the map that the engineer had marked. The distance from the volcano to Dawson City was also shown in the direction of north-north-east, almost exactly on the 136th meridian .Finally, he told him that it was a volcano... The magma from the eruption contained a lot of gold, and its belly contained billions of gold nuggets.
"Do you believe in this volcano in 'Arabian Nights'?" Sammy Skin asked teasingly.
"Trust me, Sammy," replied Ben Rado, who seemed determined, there was no doubt about it.
"Okay," agreed Sammy Skin, "and then?"
"Why, in the future!" Ben Rado replied excitedly, "What! Let's get such a secret and not use it! Let others benefit from it!"
Sammy Skinning, trying to keep his composure, just said:
"Jacques Le Dan wanted to take advantage of it too, and you know how he succeeded. The billions of gold nuggets in the Gold Volcano didn't stop him from dying in a hospital bed."
"Because he was attacked by bad guys."
"Then, we," Sammy Skinn answered, "we're not going to be attacked, agree . . . Anyway, to develop the mountain, we'll have to go about a hundred miles to the north, I reckon."
"It's about 100 miles, maybe a little more."
"We are scheduled to return to Montreal in early May."
"Postpone it for a few months."
"All right!" Sammy repeated sarcastically, "but by then it will be too late to start."
"If it's too late, we'll have another winter in Dawson City."
"No way!" Sammy Skine exclaimed, in a voice so determined that one would have thought that such an interesting conversation should be stopped.
Besides, he intends to reopen the subject soon.Sure enough, he did so despite his cousin's reluctance.He explained his plan with the best possible reasons.After thawing, travel will not be difficult.After two months, they will arrive at the Golden Volcano, and they will return to Dawson City after bringing gold worth several million.At that time, there was still time to go back to Montreal, at least, without a trip to the Klondike.
Ben Rado still retains one paramount reason.It was not without reason that Jacques Ledin told him this secret.It was the living mother whom he loved, and for the sake of this poor, unfortunate woman, he worked hard to acquire wealth; if the son's wishes were granted, the mother's old life was secured.Does Sammy Skin want his cousin to break a promise to a dead man?
Sammy Skin let Ben Rado go on without interrupting him.He wondered who was crazy, who said so many amazing things, or who actually agreed to listen to him.When Ben's defense was finished, his angry words poured out:
"I have but one thing to answer you," he said in a voice trembling with rage, "that I am very sorry that the unfortunate Frenchman who saved the man did not prevent his secret from going to the grave with him. If you He made an ill-advised promise that there are other ways to solve it. For example, he can give his mother a certain allowance. If you agree, the money will be borne by me personally. As for the joke that started again, which has been quite successful for us , then there is no need. You promised me to return to Montreal, and you will not go back on your word. These are my last words."
Ben Rado countered, but to no avail.Sammy was unwavering.He even seemed to blame Ben, thinking that Ben's stubbornness was not above board.Ben starts to really worry that their brotherhood is going to sour.
In reality, Sammy was struggling with himself.He couldn't stop thinking about what would happen if he couldn't convince Ben Rado.If Ben insisted on taking the risk to the end, would he allow him to embark on this dangerous journey alone?Sammy was under no illusions.He knew that he could not bear the fate of restlessness and anxiety in the future, and in order to avoid this fate, he would make last-minute concessions.Thinking of these, he was furious.He therefore concealed his weakness under the crudest veneer that his benevolent nature could imagine.
Forced to take appearances, Ben Rado became less and less hopeful of persuading his cousin to accept his views.Although he is not as emotional as his cousin, he still suffers from the rift in their friendship.Time passed and the situation did not change.One day, while in the hospital, he had to tell Jane Edgerton Sammy Skinn's obstinate objections.The latter was quite surprised.She never paid attention to what Sammy thought of the project she was passionate about.Sammy's view was consistent with his own attitude, and Jane felt that this was a very natural thing.However, it was difficult for her to articulate the reasons for her optimism.At any rate, in view of her state of mind, her astonishment soon turned to anger, as if the unfortunate Sammy Skinner had been the victim of a personal insult to her.She was always quick and decisive, and immediately went to the hotel to find Sammy Skinner.She made up her mind to accuse him of his despicable behavior.
"You seem to object to our going to the Golden Volcano," she said, straight to the point, in a sour tone.
"Us?..." repeated Sammy, who was suddenly attacked.
"I wonder," continued Jane, "what good is our planned trip doing to you by preventing your cousin and me?"
Sammy saw all seven colors of the rainbow in one second.
"So," he stammered, "Miss Jane, are you going too?"
"Don't pretend you don't know," she replied gravely. "You'd better be a good fellow traveler, and come and share only your fair share. The Gold Volcano is enough to make the three of us rich."
Sammy blushed like a cock.He took a long breath, so large that he had reason to worry about whether the others had air to breathe.
"But," he said brazenly, "I don't want anything else!"
Now it was Jane's turn to be surprised.
"Well! . . . " she said, "what did Mr. Ben Rado say to me?"
"Ben can't talk," Sammy asserted with the courage of a seasoned liar, "I do have some objections in detail, but my opinions are all about the organization of the expedition. There is no need to discuss matters of principle."
"That's wonderful!" exclaimed Jane.
"Look, Miss Jane, how can I give up such a trip? To be honest, it's not gold that attracts me, but..."
Sammy didn't finish his sentence, unable to say what interested him.In fact, he didn't know it himself.
"What is it?..." Jane asked.
"The hunt, of course! And the travel itself, the adventure of discovery..."
Sammy was poetic again.
"Each for a purpose," concluded Jane, before going to report to Ben Rado about the results of her conversation with Sammy.
Ben Rado returned to the hotel soon.
"Is this true, Sammy," he asked as he approached his cousin, "you've decided to join us?"
"Did I tell you the opposite?" Sammy asked shamelessly, so that the bewildered Ben Lado asked himself whether the long debate of the previous few days was a dream.
Notes:
Notes: