"Going to
be trouble," he grunted.
"And I couldn't have picked a better man. Mr. Bally will give you
detailed instructions as you go aboard. But let me say this: If we
can't scare enough men out of the country, there'll be need for every
pound of grub at Fort Yukon. Understand?"
"Ay."
"So no extravagance. You are taking three hundred men down with you.
The chances are that twice as many more will go down as soon as the
river freezes. You'll have a thousand to feed through the winter. Put
them on rations,--working rations,--and see that they work. Cordwood,
six dollars per cord, and piled on the bank where steamers can make a
landing. No work, no rations. Understand?"
"Ay."
"A thousand men can get ugly, if they are idle. They can get ugly
anyway. Watch out they don't rush the caches. If they do,--do your
duty."
The other nodded grimly. His hands gripped unconsciously, while the
scar on his forehead took on a livid hue.
"There are five steamers in the ice. Make them safe against the spring
break-up. But first transfer all their cargoes to one big cache. You
can defend it better, and make the cache impregnable. Send a messenger
down to Fort Burr, asking Mr. Carter for three of his men. He doesn't
need them. Nothing much is doing at Circle City. Stop in on the way
down and take half of Mr. Burdwell's men.
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