The Trail of the Goldseekers: A Record of Travel in Prose and Verse

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

28551

Title

The Trail of the Goldseekers: A Record of Travel in Prose and Verse

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

The Trail of the Goldseekers: A Record of Travel in Prose and Verse is a travelogue by Hamlin Garland, detailing his journey to the Klondike gold fields during the late 19th century. The book chronicles the author's experiences with harsh weather conditions, treacherous terrain, and encounters with other prospectors.

Summary up to 500 words

The Trail of the Goldseekers: A Record of Travel in Prose and Verse is a travelogue by Hamlin Garland that recounts his journey to the Klondike gold fields during the late 19th century. The book begins with an introduction to the author's motivations for embarking on this adventure, including his desire to experience the wilderness and witness the gold rush firsthand. As he travels through the Canadian wilderness, Garland encounters various obstacles, such as treacherous terrain, harsh weather conditions, and encounters with other prospectors. He also reflects on the impact of the gold rush on the environment and the people involved in it. Throughout the book, Garland's vivid descriptions of the natural world and his interactions with the people he meets create a sense of immediacy and immersion for the reader. The author's writing style is engaging and accessible, making this book an enjoyable read for anyone interested in travelogues or historical accounts of the American West. The goldseekers are still seeking, but they have reached the counter current – the back-water – and are satisfied. They have abandoned all thought of going to the head-waters of the Pelly and no more use for the horses. The chronicle of this trip by Burton is of mathematical brevity: "On 20th concluded to move. Took four days. Very cold. Ther. down to 45 below. Froze one toe. Got claim—now building cabin. Expect to begin singeing in a few days." The toil, the suffering, the monotonous food, the lack of fire, he did not dwell upon, but singeing, that is to say burning down through the eternally frozen ground, was to begin at once. To singe a hole into the soil ten or fifteen feet deep in the midst of the sunless seventy of the arctic circle is no light task, but these men will do it; if hardihood and honest toil are of any avail they will all share in the precious sand whose shine has lured them through all the dark days of the long trail, calling with such power that nothing could stay them or turn them aside. If they fail, well— The eBook of The Trail of the Goldseekers, by Hamlin Garland This out of all will remain, They have lived and have tossed. So much of the game will be gain, Though the gold of the dice has been lost. Here the trail ends—Here by a river So swifter, and darker, and colder Than any we crossed on our long, long way. Steady, Dan, steady. Ho, there, my dapple, You first from the saddle shall slip and be free. Now go, you are clear from command of a master; Go wade in the grasses, go munch at the grain. I love you, my faithful, but all is now over; Ended the comradeship held 'twixt us twain. I go to the river and the wide lands beyond it, You go to the pasture, and death claims us all. For here the trail ends! Here the trail ends!

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4.2/5

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Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction
• Travel