Tillicums of the Trail
Being Klondike Yarns Told to
Canadian Soldiers Overseas by a
Sourdough Padre.
By George C. F. Pringle
Chaplain in the Field with the
Cameron Highlanders of Canada.
MCCLELLAND & STEWART
PUBLISHERS * * TORONTO
Copyright, Canada, 1922
by McClelland & Stewart, Limited
Printed in Canada
TO MY WIFE
Contents
Chapter I.
The Fan Tail Trail
Chapter II.
Down the Yukon on a Scow
Chapter III.
A Klondike Christmas Dinner
Chapter IV.
Some Klondike Weddings
Chapter V.
Wolf Dogs
Chapter VI.
Lost on the Divide
Chapter VII.
A Strange Meeting
Chapter VIII.
Ben—A Dog
Chapter IX.
A Trail Sermon
Chapter X.
How Cheechako Hill was Named
Chapter XI.
The Lost Patrol
Chapter XII.
An Edinburgh Lad
Chapter XIII.
Last Chance
Chapter XIV
A Moose Hunt
Chapter XV.
An Old Prospector
Chapter XVI
Soapy Smith, the Skagway Bandit
Foreword
Pte. Clarke of the Orderly Room staff toldme how my coming as Chaplain to the 43rdin 1917 was announced to the men attached toBattalion Headquarters. They were "killingtime" off duty in one of the cellars under thebrick-piles on the flats facing Avion. I give itin his own words as well as memory recalls them.
"We knew," he said, "that D. T. Macphersonhad some news by the hurried way he slithereddown the muddy dug-out steps. He came withbent head over to the candle-light where a bunchof us were resting after a few hours "running"and "mending wire" with explosive hardwaredropping around us. 'Well,' said Mac, when hegot over near us, 'I've got a new job and it's acushy one. No more listening-post for me orwalking around in a front-line trench askingfor a blighty. Nay, nay! The new chaplain hasarrived and I'm his batman. After this I'll haveto work only one day a week. On Sundays I'llpass around the hymn-books, lead the singing,and see that none of you fellows miss churchparade.' 'You'll last about two weeks, Mac,'said Jesse Elder. 'The chaplain will have toget rid of you if he wants to make good.Otherwise you'd handicap