Produced by Malcolm Farmer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Library of Congress) [Illustration: _The heart of Alaska in winter_] THE TRAIL OF A SOURDOUGH _Life in Alaska_ BY MAY KELLOGG SULLIVAN _Author of "A Woman Who Went to Alaska"_ [Illustration: ARTI et VERITATI] RICHARD G. BADGER THE GORHAM PRESS BOSTON Copyright 1910 by Richard G. Badger All Rights Reserved THE GORHAM PRESS, BOSTON, U. S. A. SOURDOUGH DEFINED While the word _Sourdough_ (sour dough) is perfectly familiar to those in Alaska and along the Pacific Coast it may not be amiss to give a brief explanation to our Eastern readers. A _Sourdough_ is a miner who has spent one winter in Alaska and "has seen the ice go out." Mrs. Sullivan is a _Sourdough_ herself. In all she has made seven trips to Alaska extending over a period of ten years. When miners are beyond the pale of civilization, with a supply of flour but no baking powder, yeast or potatoes, they cut from each batch of bread dough a little piece, to be kept until it turns sour, and then used as leaven for the next baking. It is through this custom that the miners themselves came to be called sourdoughs. PREFACE This little book is my second Brain-child. The first, entitled "A Woman Who Went to Alaska," has been so cordially received by the reading public that I have been induced to send another in its footsteps. It is with great pleasure and perfect confidence that I do this. To my Alaskan readers it is unnecessary to state that these little tales are deduced from every day life, as they are easily recognizable. To those not yet favored by a residence in this Northland I would say that I have written each tale with a well defined purpose. With truthfulness could each one have been more vividly, yes startlingly, told; but I have no wish to unduly disturb my readers. It has been my aim, however, to picture not only character, but also the vast and wonderful gold producing region, so plainly that even the young may better know Alaska, and learn somewhat from glimpses of the trials, privations and successes of its early pioneers. To these last Trail-blazers no "_Chee-chako_" can ever do justice. Their courage, bravery, patience under difficulties, and stoicism under severe trial can never be properly appreciated except by their fellow sufferers. My readers will find in the book much of the folklore and a touch of the mysticism so common to all people of the northland. Counting myself one of the least among them I have been a witness to their struggles and triumphs, and for this reason I do most heartily dedicate this little book to the memory of each horny-handed pack-laden miner "musher" who has ever lifted a finger to assist, encourage, or strengthen the author of The Trail of a Sourdough.