“Who to?” “You, if you want it. I’ll give you first chance at it. I figure there’s over a hundred thousand in the dump, an’ a lot more in the ground--maybe half a million, maybe two million, I don’t know.” “What do you want for it?” “Five hundred thousand.” “That’s more than I can swing,” said Camillo, regretfully. “How much you got?” “Nothin’ to speak of, right now. My dump has got a lot of good stuff in it, but I can’t get it out till spring. An’ my claim is good for a whole lot more. But dumps an’ claims don’t do you any good.” “None whatever,” laughed MacShane, “Tell you what I’ll do, we’ll go pardners. Bunch the two claims an’ you work ’em an’ we’ll pool the dust.” “Mine ain’t as good as yours,” said Camillo Bill. “I know it ain’t,” agreed MacShane, “But, you’ve got the work an’ worry of gettin’ out the dust, an’ I ain’t. The difference in what they’re worth will be your salary as manager of the concern, see?” “Suits me if it suits you,” grinned Camillo Bill, “But, at that, I think I’m gettin’ the best end of it.” “You’re welcome to it.” “Where North you goin’, MacShane?” asked Camillo Bill as they drew into the outskirts of the camp, “Beyond the daylight?” “Yes beyond, an’ way beyond. I’ll most likely hit up the Chandalar an’ cross over to the Koyukuk, an’ maybe I’ll stop there an’ maybe I’ll keep goin’. There’s a river north of there yet, the Colville, where there ain’t no one ever be’n. When your hunch says North, you might as well go good an’ damn North.” “You’ve took a hell of a pick when it comes to places to go,” grinned Camillo, “Up there all alone in the dark, an’ the strong cold, an’ prob’ly north of timber.” “I’d just as soon be alone, an’ I ain’t afraid of the dark, an’ I don’t mind the strong cold, an’ I don’t aim to do any loggin’, so it won’t be so bad. Maybe that’s where I’ll find my thousand-dollar-a-pan strike.” “Damn sight more apt to freeze to death an’ feed the wolves,” replied Camillo Bill, lugubriously. “Why in hell can’t you let well enough alone an’ stay with yer claim?” MacShane smiled: “I just told you why--or, tried to tell you. I didn’t expect you’d understand exactly. No one does. I don’t understand it myself. All I know is, that when a hunch comes to hit the trail, I hit the trail--an’ that’s all there is to it.” “Where you goin’?” asked Camillo Bill in surprise, as MacShane paused and held out his hand before the door of the Golden North. “I told you, I’m goin’ North,” answered MacShane, “So long!” “But, ain’t you comin’ in? Ain’t you goin’ to say goodbye to the boys?” “The boys won’t be particularly glad to see me. Moosehide has talked before now. No, I’ll just slip down an’ get my outfit an’ pull. So long, pardner, I’ll see you again--sometime!” “So long!” cried Camillo Bill, his hand meeting MacShane’s in a mighty grip, “But, you better wait till tomorrow, or today, rather, it’s most two o’clock, an’ you didn’t get no sleep last night, an’ you ain’t had none tonight.”