CHAPTER XV THE QUEST It was a weary and travel-stained man that drove a dog-sled into Dawson a fortnight later. The team was like the "musher," lean and wild-eyed, after their four hundred miles of merciless driving. Through wind and snow this man had kept the trail. Sleep became a thing unknown during the latter stages of the journey. He expected to find D'Arcy in Dawson--and the desire to meet D'Arcy had grown into a craving. He had half killed the dogs and himself in this mad journey, but the incentive was tremendous. How he missed her! Despite her soul-withering confession, he found himself building up visions of her in his brain. Life had become suddenly hopelessly blank, brightened by one thing--the desire for retribution upon the head of the man who had smashed his idol. Man, sled, and dogs went hurtling down the street--a black mass in the falling snow. He handed them over to a man at the Yukon Hotel and mixed with the crowd in the gaming saloon. No one seemed to know anything about D'Arcy, so he inquired for Hanky Brown. Hanky was at length run to earth in a dance-hall. "Gosh, it's Colorado Jim!" The latter hurled at him the question that obsessed him. "Where's D'Arcy?" "D'Arcy? Who in hell is D'---- Gee, I got you. You won't find D'Arcy in Dawson. He's up in Endicott somewhere." Jim's face fell. Endicott was north of the Chandalar River. It meant another journey of five hundred miles back beyond the place where he had come. "You're certain, Hanky?" "Sure. Ask Tony." He turned round and beckoned a man from the back of the hall. "'Member that swell guy they called D'Arcy--didn't he go with Lonagon and Shanks on that Northern trip?" "Yep. Struck a rich streak up there--so I heered. Why, what's wrong?" "Nothin'," said Jim. "I was just kinder anxious to see him. I guess I'll get along." Hanky was gazing at him curiously. He felt that something was wrong, but couldn't lay his finger on the trouble. "You ain't going up to Endicott?" "Maybe I am." "It's sure a hell of a journey just now, and you ain't likely to find that man among them hills." "I'll find him all right, Hanky. Are you clearing out next spring?" "Yes. Gotta quarter share in '26 below' on Black Creek. We sold out yesterday to the Syndicate. The missus'll be crazed when she hears. And how about you?" "No luck. I don't think I was born lucky, Hank. I used to think so----" Hanky shook his head and pointed to the untasted spirit in Jim's mug. "Drink up!" Jim quaffed the vile spirit and fastened the chin-strap of his cap. "Jim, don't go to Endicott." "Eh?" "Don't. You're looking ugly, boy, and things are done sudden-like when you're that way." Jim gave a harsh laugh and his eyes flashed madly. Then he stopped, biting off the laugh with a snap of his teeth.