an in the water had slipped some distance astern. Life preservers and life rings were quickly thrown after him, but no sooner had the derelict come to the

s grip, but was in danger of momentarily losing it. The boys with Colonel Snow at their head had rushed along the upper rail, where Rand began at once to strip off his coat and the

d the rail. As he did so, Colonel Snow seized a long thin line that hung for just such emerg

need this. If it hampers you, cast

under the surface, although his hands still grasped the gangplank with a feeble hold. With a dozen stalwart strokes, Rand reached the almost unconscious man, threw the loop f

in a few minutes willing and stalwart

PED FROM

ted, while Rand, himself already numbed by the icy water had to be assisted aboard. He was lif

of the "Queen." "No professional life saver could have got on the

, "and it's meant to be practical. That's why I did not interf

e of year, I've got a tough crowd in the steerage, and I imagine the whole thing started in a poke

rse for his first dip in Pacific waters, Captain Huxley strode down to the engine room, w

ter Jim,'" exclaimed the Captain.

tient answered, and then continued. "I come on

introduce Swiftwater Jim, an ancient Alaskan that I believe we took over with the territory under the Seward treaty with Russia in 1867, and the oldest 'Sourdough

asped the miner

he history of the Alaskan country. Let me introduce

of the costume of the frontier pioneer and garments of

for is the feller that went into the dew after me. That certainly was a few damp mo

ain Huxley, as he shoved the

hand and gazed into his

oung feller, too. How'd

aining as Scouts," r

in't a goin' to make no fervent speech of gratitood, for ye know how I feel, and I ain't trimmed up to make a more subs

appened, Jim," sa

and ye know I can take care o

you're afloat, and anything of this kind demands investigation. Besides, I don't p

nd a limpy pal of his. We got to playing poker, and the two of them cleaned me out, and because I found them using marked cards

Huxley. "From this to Skagway you'll bu

away, and in a few minutes presented to the astonished eyes of the Scouts their old acquaintances and quasi-enemie

ne nothin'"-

oing back to the Klondike. If you start another card game on this boat or get into any other trouble, I'll put you in irons, and hand you over t

speak, and then with his compani

Jack pointing to Swiftwater, "but we didn't kn

we'll let the matter drop now,

, turning away. "I'll se

h," said Captain

wiftwater, as he waved his hand to the

he first bugle blast for breakfast, but I should be glad to have you,

, with the women of their families, were going in with the advent of Spring in Alaska. The tale of Rand's feat had preceded them, and the poor fellow spent

o Rand's rescue by turning

r, Swiftwater Jim

y, but it does him no good. He has owned twenty mines, and has made a dozen fortunes and spent them all. Every time he makes a 'stake' as he calls it, he indulges in ex

investments in food and drink, a tendency born, I suppose, of long privations in the Arctic. His most humorous exploit on this trip was entering the most fa

he boys laughed, a

f his money is real

ches who cluster around such characters in the cities. Still, although he has the average pioneer's contempt for Indians and Eskim

order of ham and eggs?" a

oubt if the order was really served. Head waiters o

heard you apply the word to Swiftwater Jim

east a year in the territory, and is 'wise' as you boys say, to its methods and manners, and

that?" as

on the Canadian ranches called '

le undulation, and as gently to sink to an appreciable depth. The motion continued regularly for a few minute

came over the faces of several of thos

ut on the deck, to be followed almost immediately by Pep