Chapter 17, Koyokuk Gold and Chapter 18, Sled Dogs Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 17, Sidney picks up his life story. In 1934, his father goes to the Alaska Pioneer's Home in Sitka because of his failing health, which improves slightly over the course of a year. Sidney marries Jenny Luke, a girl he meets at Koyukuk Station, and moves to Hog River. The next year, Jimmy marries Celia Olin, and lives near her family at Cutoff, joining Sidney in the winters to trap.

Before Jimmy's marriage, the boys' dad writes to them that he is bored wasting away at the home and has decided to go digging for gold at Bear Creek. Since the ground there is wet, not frozen, others have been unable to mine the gold. Jimmy and Sidney help their father build a cabin at Bear Creek, and Dad...