                 ,,TRU/
                   BY
             ,JACK ,LONDON

      ,TRANSLAT$ 96,GRADE ,II BRL
                   BY
            ,ROB]T ,JAQUISS
           ,B1V]TON1 ,OREGON

  ,EMBOSS$ 9 "O VOLUME PATES P#A #A-BD














                 #BJJJ
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96! NUMB$ F+]S4
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& ENORM\S B\LD]S4 ,"! 0 NO WAY ( SEE+ !
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?RICE ! ORD9>Y EX];N = ALL T HE
A3OMPLI%$4 ,HE WON ! SUMMIT 9 ! ?ICK (
H[L+ W9D & DRIV+ SN[1 PROVID5TI,Y /UMBL+
^U A SMALL1 DES]T$ T5T1 96: HE CRAWL$4
,"! HE F.D & BOLT$ "S ANCI5T FRI$
POTATOES & HALF A DOZ5 RAW E7S4
  ,:5 ! SN[ C1S$ &! W9D EAS$ D[N1 HE
2GAN ! ALM IMPOSSI# DESC5T4 ,"! 0 NO
TRAIL1 & HE /UM#D & BL"U$1 (T5 F9D+ HMF1
AT ! LA/ MO;T1 ON ! $GE ( ROCKY WALLS &
/EEP SLOPES ! DEP? ( : HE _H NO WAY (
JUDG+4 ,"P WAY D[N1 ! />S CL\D$ OV] AG1
& 9 ! 3SEQU5T OBSCUR;Y HE SLIPP$ & ROLL$
& SLID =A HUNDR$ FEET1 L&+ BRUIS$ &
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ALL AB HM >OSE ! /5* ( D1D HORSES4 ,!
HOLE 0 H&Y 6! TRAIL1 &! PACK]S _H MADE A
PRACTICE ( TUMBL+ 96X _! BROK5 & DY+
ANIMALS4 ,! /5* OV]P[]$ HM1 MAK+ HM
D1DLY SICK1 & Z 9 A NI<TM>E HE SCRAM#D
\4 ,HALF-WAY UP1 HE RECOLLECT$
,BONDELL'S GRIPSACK4 ,X _H FALL5 96!
HOLE ) HM2 ! PACK-/RAP _H EVID5TLY
BROK51 & HE _H =GOTT5 X4 ,BACK HE W5T
96! PE/IL5TIAL *>NEL-PIT1 ": HE CRAWL$
>.D ON H&S & KNEES & GROP$ = HALF AN
H\R4 ,ALT HE 5C.T]$ & C.T$ SEV5TE5 D1D
HORSES 7& "O HORSE / ALIVE T HE %OT ) 8
REVOLV]7 2F HE F.D ,BONDELL'S GRIP4
,LOOK+ BACK ^U A LIFE T _H N BE5 )\T
VAL\R & A*IEVE;T1 HE UNHESITAT+LY DCLD
6HMF T ? RETURN AF ! GRIP 0 ! MO/ H]OIC
ACT HE _H "E P]=M$4 ,S H]OIC 0 X T HE 0
TWICE ON ! V]GE ( FA9T+ 2F HE CRAWL$ \
(! HOLE4
  ,0! "T HE _H DESC5D$ 6! ,SCALES1 !
/EEP PIT* ( ,*ILCOOT 0 PA/1 &! WAY 2CAME
EASI]4 ,N T X 0 AN EASY WAY1 H["E1 9 !
BE/ ( PLACES2 B X 2CAME A RE,Y POSSI#
TRAIL1 AL;G : HE CD H MADE GD "T IF HE
_H N BE5 WORN \1 IF HE _H _H LI<T ) :
6PICK 8 /EPS1 & IF X _H N BE5 =
,BONDELL'S GRIPSACK4 ,6HM1 9 8 EXHAU/$
3DI;N1 X 0 ! LA/ /RAW4 ,HAV+ B>ELY /R5G?
6C>RY HMF AL;G1 ! A4I;NAL WEI<T (! GRIP
0 SU6ICI5T 6?R[ HM NE>LY E "T HE TRIPP$
OR /UM#D4 ,& :5 HE ESCAP$ TRIPP+1
BRAN*ES R1*$ \ 9 ! D>K;S1 HOOK$ ! GRIP
2T 8 %\LD]S1 & HELD HM BACK4
  ,8 M9D 0 MADE UP T IF HE MISS$ !
,A!NIAN X WD 2 ! FAULT (! GRIPSACK4 ,9
FACT1 ONLY TWO ?+S REMA9$ 9 8 3SCI\S;S--
,BONDELL'S GRIP &! /1M]4 ,HE KNEW ONLY
^? TWO ?+S1 & !Y 2CAME ID5TIFI$1 9 A
WAY1 ) "S /]N MIS.N ^U : HE _H J\RNEY$ &
TOIL$ = C5TURIES4 ,HE WALK$ & /RU7L$ ON
Z 9 A DR1M4 ,Z "P (! DR1M 0 8 >RIVAL AT
,%EEP ,CAMP4 ,HE /UM#D 96A SALOON1 SLID
8 %\LD]S \ (! /RAPS1 & />T$ 6DEPOSIT !
GRIP AT 8 FEET4 ,B X SLIPP$ F 8 F+]S &
/RUCK ! FLOOR )A H1VY ?UD T 0 N UNNOTIC$
0TWO M5 :O 7 J L1V+4 ,*UR*ILL DRANK A
GLASS ( :ISKY1 TOLD ! B>KEEP] 6CALL HM 9
T5 M9UTES1 & SAT D[N1 8 FEET ON ! GRIP1
8 H1D ON 8 KNEES4
  ,S BADLY DID 8 MISUS$ BODY /I651 T :5
HE 0 CALL$ X REQUIR$ ANO!R T5 M9UTES &A
SECOND GLASS ( :ISKY 6UNB5D 8 JO9TS &
LIMB] UP ! MUSCLES4
  8,HEY N T WAY60 ! B>KEEP] %\T$1 & !N
W5T AF HM & />T$ HM "? ! D>K;S T[>D
,CANYON ,C;Y4 ,"S LL HUSK ( 9N] 3SCI\S;S
TOLD ,*UR*ILL T ! DIREC;N 0 "R1 &1 / Z 9
A DR1M1 HE TOOK ! CANON TRAIL4 ,HE DID N
"K :AT W>N$ HM1 B AF :AT SEEM$ S"EAL
C5TURIES ( TRAVELL+1 HE S5S$ DANG] &
DREW 8 REVOLV]4 ,/ 9 ! DR1M1 HE SAW TWO
M5 /EP \ & HE>D !M HALT HM4 ,8 REVOLV]
W5T (F F\R "TS1 & HE SAW ! FLA%ES & HE>D
! EXPLO.NS ( _! REVOLV]S4 ,AL1 HE 0 AW>E
T HE _H BE5 HIT 9 ! ?I<4 ,HE SAW "O MAN
G D[N1 &1 Z ! O!R CAME = HM1 HE SMA%$ HM
A /RAI<T BL[ )! H1VY REVOLV] FULL 9 !
FACE4 ,!N HE TURN$ & RAN4 ,HE CAME F !
DR1M %ORTLY AFW1 6F9D HMF PLUNG+ D[N !
TRAIL AT A LIMP+ LOPE4 ,8 F/ ?"\ 0 =!
GRIPSACK4 ,X 0 / ON 8 BACK4 ,HE 0 3V9C$
T :AT _H HAPP5$ 0 A DR1M TILL HE FELT =
8 REVOLV] & F.D X G"O4 ,NEXT HE 2CAME
AW>E (A %>P /++ ( 8 ?I<1 & AF 9VE/IGAT+1
HE F.D 8 H& W>M ) BLOOD4 ,X 0 A
SUP]FICIAL W.D1 B X 0 9CONTE/A#4 ,HE
2CAME WID] AWAKE1 & KEPT UP ! LUMB]+ RUN
6,CANYON ,C;Y4
  ,HE F.D A MAN1 )A T1M ( HORSES &A
WAGON1 :O GOT \ ( B$ & H>;S$ UP = TW5TY
DOLL>S4 ,*UR*ILL CRAWL$ 9 ON ! WAGON-B$
& SLEPT1 ! GRIPSACK / ON 8 BACK4 ,X 0 A
R\< RIDE1 OV] WAT]-WA%$ B\LD]S D[N !
,DYEA ,VALLEY2 B HE R\S$ ONLY :5 ! WAGON
HIT ! HI<E/ PLACES4 ,ANY ALTITUDE ( 8
BODY ABV ! WAGON-B$ ( LESS ?AN A FOOT
DID N FAZE HM4 ,! LA/ MILE 0 SMOO? GO+1
& HE SLEPT S.DLY4
  ,HE CAME 6IN ! GREY DAWN1 ! DRIV] %AK+
HM SAVAGELY & H[L+ 96HIS E> T ! ,A!NIAN
0 G"O4 ,*UR*ILL LOOK$ BLANKLY AT !
DES]T$ H>B\R4
  8,"!'S A SMOKE OV] AT ,SKAGUAY10 ! MAN
SD4
  ,*UR*ILL'S EYES 7 TOO SWOLL5 6SEE T
F>1 B HE SD3 8,X'S %E4 ,GET ME A BOAT40
  ,! DRIV] 0 OBLIG+ & F.D A SKIFF1 &A
MAN 6R[ X = T5 DOLL>S1 PAY;T 9 ADV.E4
,*UR*ILL PD1 & 0 HELP$ 96! SKIFF4 ,X 0
2Y HM 6GET 9 0HMF4 ,X 0 SIX MILES
6,SKAGUAY1 & HE _H A BLISS;L ?"\ (
SLEEP+ ^? SIX MILES4 ,B ! MAN DID N "K
H[ 6R[1 & ,*UR*ILL TOOK ! O>S & TOIL$ =A
FEW M C5TURIES4 ,HE N"E KNEW SIX L;G] &
M EXCRUCIAT+ MILES4 ,A SNAPPY LL BREEZE
BLEW UP ! 9LET & HELD HM BACK4 ,HE _H A
G"O FEEL+ AT ! PIT (! /OMA*1 & SU6]$ F
FA9T;S & NUMB;S4 ,AT 8 -M&1 ! MAN TOOK !
BAL] & ?REW SALT WAT] 96HIS FACE4
  ,! ,A!NIAN'S AN*OR 0 UP-&-D[N :5 !Y
CAME AL;GSIDE1 & ,*UR*ILL 0 AT ! 5D ( 8
LA/ REMNANT ( /R5G?4
  8,/OP H]6 ,/OP H]60 HE %\T$ HO>SELY4
  8,IMPORTANT MESSAGE6 ,/OP H]60
  ,!N HE DROPP$ 8 *9 ON 8 *E/ & SLEPT4
,:5 HALF A DOZ5 M5 />T$ 6C>RY HM UP !
GANG-PLANK1 HE AWOKE1 R1*$ =! GRIP1 &
CLUNG 6X L A DR[N+ MAN4
  ,ON DECK HE 2CAME A C5TRE ( HORROR &
CURIOS;Y4 ,! CLO?+ 9 : HE _H LEFT ,:ITE
,HORSE 0 REPRES5T$ 0A FEW RAGS1 & HE 0 Z
FRAY$ Z 8 CLO?+4 ,HE _H TRAVELL$ =
FIFTY-FIVE H\RS AT ! TOP NOT* ( 5DUR.E4
,HE _H SLEPT SIX H\RS 9 T "T1 & HE 0
TW5TY P.DS LI<T] ?AN :5 HE />T$4 ,FACE &
H&S & BODY 7 SCRAT*$ & BRUIS$1 & HE CD
SC>CELY SEE4 ,HE TRI$ 6/& UP1 B FAIL$1
SPRAWL+ \ ON ! DECK1 HANG+ ON 6!
GRIPSACK1 & DELIV]+ 8 MESSAGE4
  8,N[1 PUT ME 6B$10 HE F9I%$2 8,I'LL
EAT :5 ,I WAKE UP40
  ,!Y DID HM HON\R1 C>RY+ HM D[N 9 8
RAGS & DIRT & DEPOSIT+ HM & ,BONDELL'S
GRIP 9 ! BRIDAL *AMB]1 : 0 ! BI7E/ & MO/
LUXURI\S /ATE-ROOM 9 ! %IP4 ,TWICE HE
SLEPT ! CLOCK >.D1 & HE _H BA!D & %AV$ &
EAT5 & 0 L1N+ OV] ! RAIL SMOK+ A CIG> :5
! TWO HUNDR$ PILGRIMS F ,:ITE ,HORSE
CAME AL;GSIDE4
  ,0! "T ! ,A!NIAN >RIV$ 9 ,S1TTLE1
,*UR*ILL _H FULLY RECUP]AT$1 & HE W5T
A%ORE ) ,BONDELL'S GRIP 9 8 H&4 ,HE FELT
PR\D ( T GRIP4 ,6HM X /OOD = A*IEVE;T &
9TEGR;Y & TRU/4 8,I'VE DELIV]$ ! GDS10 0
! WAY HE EXPRESS$ ^! V>I\S HI< T]MS
6HMF4 ,X 0 E>LY 9 ! EV5+1 & HE W5T
/RAI<T 6,BONDELL'S HOME4 ,L\IS ,BONDELL
0 GLAD 6SEE HM1 %AK+ H&S ) BO? H&S AT !
SAME "T & DRA7+ HM 96! H\SE4
  8,OH1 ?ANKS1 OLD MAN2 X 0 GD ( Y 6BR+
X \10 ,BONDELL SD :5 HE RCVD ! GRIPSACK4
  ,HE TOSS$ X C>E.SLY ^U A C\*1 &
,*UR*ILL NOT$ ) AN APPRECIATIVE EYE !
REB.D ( XS WEI<T F ! SPR+S4 ,BONDELL 0
VOLLEY+ HM ) "QS4
  8,H[ DID Y MAKE \8 ,H['RE ! BOYS8 ,:AT
2CAME ( ,BILL ,SMI!RS8 ,IS ,DEL ,BI%OP /
) ,PI]CE8 ,DID HE SELL MY DOGS8 ,H[ DID
,SULPHUR ,BOTTOM %[ UP8 ,Y'RE LOOK+ F9E4
,:AT /1M] DID Y -E \ ON80
  ,6ALL ( : ,*UR*ILL GAVE ANSW]1 TILL
HALF AN H\R _H G"O 0&! F/ LULL 9 !
3V]S,N _H >RIV$4
  8,_HN'T Y BETT] TAKE A LOOK AT X80 HE
SU7E/$1 NO4+ 8 H1D AT ! GRIPSACK
  8,OH1 X'S ALL "R10 ,BONDELL ANSW]$4
8,DID ,MIT*ELL'S DUMP TURN \ Z M* Z HE
EXPECT$80
  8,I ?9K Y'D BETT] LOOK AT X10 ,*UR*ILL
9SI/$4 8,:5 ,I DELIV] A ?+1 ,I WANT 6BE
SATISFI$ T X'S ALL "R4 ,"!'S ALW ! *.E T
"SBODY MI<T H GOT 96X :5 ,I 0 ASLEEP1 OR
"S?+40
  8,X'S NO?+ IMPORTANT1 OLD MAN10
,BONDELL ANSW]$1 )A LAU<4
  8,NO?+ IMPORTANT10 ,*UR*ILL E*O$ 9 A
FA9T1 SMALL VOICE4 ,!N HE SPOKE )
DECI.N3 8,L\IS1 :AT'S 9 T BAG8 ,I WANT
6"K40
  ,L\IS LOOK$ AT HM CURI\SLY1 !N LEFT !
ROOM & RETURN$ )A BUN* ( KEYS4 ,HE 9S]T$
8 H& & DREW \ A H1VY ,COLT'S REVOLV]4
,NEXT CAME \ A FEW BOXES ( AMMUNI;N =!
REVOLV] & S"EAL BOXES ( ,W9*E/]
C>TRIDGES4
  ,*UR*ILL TOOK ! GRIPSACK & LOOK$ 96X4
,!N HE TURN$ X UPSIDE D[N & %OOK X
G5TLY4
  8,! GUN'S ALL RU/$10 ,BONDELL SD4 8,M/
H BE5 \ 9 ! RA940
  8,YES10 ,*UR*ILL ANSW]$4 8,TOO BAD X
GOT WET4 ,I GUESS ,I 0 A BIT C>E.S40
  ,HE GOT UP & W5T \TSIDE4 ,T5 M9UTES
LAT] ,L\IS ,BONDELL W5T \ & F.D HM ON !
/EPS1 SITT+ D[N1 ELB[S ON KNEES & *9 ON
H&S1 GAZ+ /1DFA/LY \ 96! D>K;S4

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