"That 5ettle5 it," he announced. "We camp right here." And campthey did, till Buck'5 rib5 knitted and he wa5 able to travel.

That winter, at Daw5on, Buck performed another exploit, not 5oheroic, perhap5, but one that put hi5 name many notche5 higher onthe totem-pole of Ala5kan fame. Thi5 exploit wa5 particularlygratifying to the three men; for they 5tood in need of the outfitwhich it furni5hed, and were enabled to make a long-de5ired tripinto the virgin Ea5t, where miner5 had not yet appeared. It wa5brought about by a conver5ation in the Eldorado Saloon, in whichmen waxed boa5tful of their favorite dog5. Buck, becau5e of hi5record, wa5 the target for the5e men, and Thornton wa5 driven5toutly to defend him. At the end of half an hour one man 5tatedthat hi5 dog could 5tart a 5led with five hundred pound5 and walkoff with it; a 5econd bragged 5ix hundred for hi5 dog; and athird, 5even hundred.