Quite irrelevantly the idea suggested itself of buying a share in the Klondike town site from Harper and Joe Ladue.

They would surely sell a third interest cheap.

Then, if the strike came on the Stewart, he would be well in on it with the Elam Harnish town site; if on the Klondike, he would not be quite out of it.
In the meantime, he would gather strength.

He stretched out on the ice full length, face downward, and for half an hour he lay and rested.
Then he arose, shook the flashing blindness from his eyes, and took hold of the boat.

He knew his condition accurately.