Mac leaned over the rail, saying gruffly, “That you, Colonel?” trying, as the Boss of the Big Chimney saw—­“tryin’ his darndest not to look pleased,” and all the while O’Flynn was waving his hat and howling with excitement: 

“How’s the gowld?  How’s yersilf?”

The gangway began its slow swing round preparatory to lowering into place.  The mob on shore caught up boxes, bundles, bags, and pressed forward.

“No, no!  Stand back!” ordered the Captain.

“Take your time!” said people trembling with excitement.  “There’s no rush.”

“There’s no room!” called out the purser to a friend.

“No room?” went from mouth to mouth, incredulous that the information could concern the speaker.  He was only one.  There was certainly room for him; and every man pushed the harder to be the sole exception to the dreadful verdict.

“Stand back there!  Can’t take even a pound of freight.  Loaded to the guards!”

A whirlwind of protest and appeal died away in curses.  Women wept, and sick men turned away their faces.  The dogs still howled, for nothing is so lacerating to the feelings of your Siwash as a steam-whistle blast.  The memory of it troubles him long after the echo of it dies.  Suddenly above the din Maudie’s shrill voice: 

“I thought that was Nig!”

Before the gangway had dropped with a bang her sharp eyes had picked out the Boy.

“Well I’ll be——­See who that is behind Nig?  Trust him to get in on the ground-floor.  He ain’t worryin’ for fear his pardner’ll lose the boat,” she called to the Colonel, who was pressing forward as Rainey came down the gangway.

“How do you do, Captain?”

The man addressed never turned his head.  He was forcing his way through the jam up to the A. C. Store.

“You may recall me, sah; I am——­”

“If you are a man wantin’ to go to Dawson, it doesn’t matter who you are.  I can’t take you.”

“But, sah——­” It was no use.

A dozen more were pushing their claims, every one in vain.  The Oklahoma passengers, bent on having a look at Minook, crowded after the Captain.  Among those who first left the ship, the Boy, talking to the purser, hard upon Rainey’s heels.  The Colonel stood there as they passed, the Captain turning back to say something to the Boy, and then they disappeared together through the door of the A. C.

Never a word for his pardner, not so much as a look.  Bitterness fell upon the Colonel’s heart.  Maudie called to him, and he went back to his seat on the gunny-sacks.

“He’s in with the Captain now,” she said; “he’s got no more use for us.”

But there was less disgust than triumph in her face.

O’Flynn was walking over people in his frantic haste to reach the Colonel.  Before he could accomplish his design he had three separate quarrels on his hands, and was threatening with fury to “settle the hash” of several of his dearest new friends.