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Show 101 Sam told us more. "There is always a possibility of a 'fraction,' " he said. "A bit of free land that is up for public domain." "How's that?" I asked. "Oh, some of the stampeders stepped off five hundred feet straight, some weaving with the riverbank. So when the surveyor goes around, he remeasures. And if there's a little land between the two claims, the first man to stake it, gets it." "But to be realistic," Sam said, "I'd say it's best to go work for Ladue's sawmill and make a decent wage and return home." "Is that what you're going to do?" I asked. Sam grinned. "Guess I'm a gambler, Erickson, I guess I'll just keep hanging around Dawson, waiting for a chance to stampede. That's why I came." He hugged me again and asked if I wanted to join up with him and his two partners. His two partners were sick in their tent- no doubt from lack of sleep. I said no, I had my kid brother with me now. Still it made me feel good that he asked. And he said if he heard of a stampede he would try to find me. He said we should keep in touch by the bulletin board at the Alaska Commercial Company store, the only way to keep contact in this town. The next day I wrote Sam a note and tacked it to the bulletin board, mostly to see if it would work: |