'The Trail Of Ninety-Eight' by Robert Service

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Ballads of a CheechakoGold! We leapt from our benches. Gold! We sprang from our stools.
Gold! We wheeled in the furrow, fired with the faith of fools.
Fearless, unfound, unfitted, far from the night and the cold,
Heard we the clarion summons, followed the master-lure--Gold!Men from the sands of the Sunland; men from the woods of the West;
Men from the farms and the cities, into the Northland we pressed.
Graybeards and striplings and women, good men and bad men and bold,
Leaving our homes and our loved ones, crying exultantly--"Gold!"Never was seen such an army, pitiful, futile, unfit;
Never was seen such a spirit, manifold courage and grit.
Never has been such a cohort under one banner unrolled
As surged to the ragged-edged Arctic, urged by the arch-tempter--Gold."Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.
"Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years;
Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.
Never were hearts so uplifted, never were hopes so high.The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw
Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do--
Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums,
There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud;
A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.
And so we dreamed and we vaunted, millionaires to a man,
Leaping to wealth in our visions long ere the trail began.IIWe landed in wind-swept Skagway. We joined the weltering mass,
Clamoring over their outfits, waiting to climb the Pass.
We tightened our girths and our pack-straps; we linked on the Human Chain,
Struggling up to the summit, where every step was a pain.Gone was the joy of our faces, grim and haggard and pale;
The heedless mirth of the shipboard was changed to the care of the trail.
We flung ourselves in the struggle, packing our grub in relays,
Step by step to the summit in the bale of the winter days.Floundering deep in the sump-holes, stumbling out again;
Crying with cold and weakness, crazy with fear and pain.
Then from the depths of our travail, ere our spirits were broke,
Grim, tenacious and savage, the lust of the trail awoke."Klondike or bust!" rang the slogan; every man for his own.
Oh, how we flogged the horses, staggering skin and bone!
Oh, how we cursed their weakness, anguish they could not tell,
Breaking their hearts in our passion, lashing them on till they fell!For grub meant gold to our thinking, and all that could walk must pack;
The sheep for the shambles stumbled, each with a load on its back;
And even the swine were burdened, and grunted and squealed and rolled,
And men went mad in the moment, huskily clamoring "Gold!"Oh, we were brutes and devils, goaded by lust and fear!
Our eyes were strained to the summit; the weaklings dropped to the rear,
Falling in heaps by the trail-side, heart-broken, limp and wan;
But the gaps closed up in an instant, and heedless the chain went on.Never will I forget it, there on the mountain face,
Antlike, men with their burdens, clinging in icy space;
Dogged, determined and dauntless, cruel and callous and cold,
Cursing, blaspheming, reviling, and ever that battle-cry--"Gold!"Thus toiled we, the army of fortune, in hunger and hope and despair,
Till glacier, mountain and forest vanished, and, radiantly fair,
There at our feet lay Lake Bennett, and down to its welcome we ran:
The trail of the land was over, the trail of the water began.IIIWe built our boats and we launched them. Never has been such a fleet;
A packing-case for a bottom, a mackinaw for a sheet.
Shapeless, grotesque, lopsided, flimsy, makeshift and crude,
Each man after his fashion builded as best he could.Each man worked like a demon, as prow to rudder we raced;
The winds of the Wild cried "Hurry!" the voice of the waters, "Haste!"
We hated those driving before us; we dreaded those pressing behind;
We cursed the slow current that bore us; we prayed to the God of the wind.Spring! and the hillsides flourished, vivid in jewelled green;
Spring! and our hearts' blood nourished envy and hatred and spleen.
Little cared we for the Spring-birth; much cared we to get on--
Stake in the Great White Channel, stake ere the best be gone.The greed of the gold possessed us; pity and love were forgot;
Covetous visions obsessed us; brother with brother fought.
Partner with partner wrangled, each one claiming his due;
Wrangled and halved their outfits, sawing their boats in two.Thuswise we voyaged Lake Bennett, Tagish, then Windy Arm,
Sinister, savage and baleful, boding us hate and harm.
Many a scow was shattered there on that iron shore;
Many a heart was broken straining at sweep and oar.We roused Lake Marsh with a chorus, we drifted many a mile;
There was the canyon before us--cave-like its dark defile;
The shores swept faster and faster; the river narrowed to wrath;
Waters that hissed disaster reared upright in our path.Beneath us the green tumult churning, above us the cavernous gloom;
Around us, swift twisting and turning, the black, sullen walls of a tomb.
We spun like a chip in a mill-race; our hearts hammered under the test;
Then--oh, the relief on each chill face!--we soared into sunlight and rest.Hand sought for hand on the instant. Cried we, "Our troubles are o'er!"
Then, like a rumble of thunder, heard we a canorous roar.
Leaping and boiling and seething, saw we a cauldron afume;
There was the rage of the rapids, there was the menace of doom.The river springs like a racer, sweeps through a gash in the rock;
Buts at the boulder-ribbed bottom, staggers and rears at the shock;
Leaps like a terrified monster, writhes in its fury and pain;
Then with the crash of a demon springs to the onset again.Dared we that ravening terror; heard we its din in our ears;
Called on the Gods of our fathers, juggled forlorn with our fears;
Sank to our waists in its fury, tossed to the sky like a fleece;
Then, when our dread was the greatest, crashed into safety and peace.But what of the others that followed, losing their boats by the score?
Well could we see them and hear them, strung down that desolate shore.
What of the poor souls that perished? Little of them shall be said--
On to the Golden Valley, pause not to bury the dead.Then there were days of drifting, breezes soft as a sigh;
Night trailed her robe of jewels over the floor of the sky.
The moonlit stream was a python, silver, sinuous, vast,
That writhed on a shroud of velvet--well, it was done at last.There were the tents of Dawson, there the scar of the slide;
Swiftly we poled o'er the shallows, swiftly leapt o'er the side.
Fires fringed the mouth of Bonanza; sunset gilded the dome;
The test of the trail was over--thank God, thank God, we were Home!

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Trail of Ninety-Eight: A Literary Critique

Robert Service's iconic poem, The Trail of Ninety-Eight, is an epic narrative of the Klondike Gold Rush that took place in the late 19th century. The poem is a tribute to the pioneers who braved the harsh climate and treacherous terrain of the Yukon in their quest for wealth and glory. With its vivid imagery, lyrical language, and powerful emotions, The Trail of Ninety-Eight remains an enduring classic of Canadian literature. In this literary critique, we will explore the various themes, symbols, and literary devices used by Service in this seminal work.

Overview and Background

The Klondike Gold Rush began in 1896 when gold was discovered in the Yukon region of Canada. Thousands of prospectors from all over the world flocked to the area in search of fortune, despite the extreme weather conditions and the difficult journey that lay ahead. Many of these prospectors travelled along the Chilkoot and White Pass trails, which were treacherous mountain passes that led to the goldfields.

The Trail of Ninety-Eight is a poem that captures the spirit of this era, telling the story of a group of prospectors who undertake the perilous journey to the Yukon. The poem is written in a ballad form, which is a type of poetry that tells a story in a simple, narrative style. The ballad form was popular in the 19th century and was often used to tell stories of adventure, tragedy, and love.

Themes

The Trail of Ninety-Eight is a poem that explores several themes, including the pursuit of wealth, the power of nature, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Pursuit of Wealth

The poem is primarily concerned with the pursuit of wealth and the lengths that people will go to attain it. The prospectors in the poem are driven by the promise of riches and are willing to endure great hardship and danger to reach their goal. The poem highlights the greed and ambition that characterizes the gold rush era, as well as the toll that it takes on those who are consumed by it.

Power of Nature

The Trail of Ninety-Eight also explores the power of nature and the challenges that it presents to those who seek to conquer it. The harsh weather conditions and treacherous terrain of the Yukon are depicted in vivid detail, and the poem highlights the ways in which nature can be both beautiful and deadly. The poem also suggests that those who respect nature and work with it, rather than against it, are more likely to survive and succeed.

Resilience of the Human Spirit

Finally, The Trail of Ninety-Eight is a poem that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. The prospectors in the poem face numerous obstacles and setbacks, but they are able to persevere through sheer force of will. The poem suggests that the human spirit is capable of enduring even the most difficult of trials, and that it is this resilience that ultimately leads to success.

Symbols

The Trail of Ninety-Eight also makes use of several symbols to convey its themes and messages. These symbols include:

Gold

Gold is the most obvious symbol in the poem, representing wealth and the pursuit of it. The prospectors are driven by their desire for gold, and it is the promise of riches that compels them to undertake the perilous journey to the Yukon. The pursuit of gold is depicted as both a blessing and a curse, as it leads to great wealth for some, but also to hardship and tragedy for others.

Mountains

The mountains that the prospectors must traverse on their journey are another important symbol in the poem. The mountains represent the power and majesty of nature, as well as the obstacles and challenges that must be overcome in order to achieve success. The mountains also have a symbolic significance, representing the journey that the prospectors must undertake in order to achieve their goals.

Northern Lights

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are mentioned several times in the poem and are used to symbolize the beauty and wonder of nature. The Northern Lights are also a reminder of the power and mystery of the natural world, and serve as a kind of spiritual guide for the prospectors on their journey.

Literary Devices

The Trail of Ninety-Eight is a poem that makes use of several literary devices to convey its themes and messages. Some of the most notable literary devices used in the poem include:

Rhyme and Meter

The Trail of Ninety-Eight is written in a ballad form, which employs a simple rhyme and meter scheme. The rhyme and meter help to create a sense of rhythm and movement in the poem, and make it easier for the reader to follow the narrative.

Imagery

Service makes use of vivid imagery throughout the poem to bring the story to life. The harsh weather conditions, treacherous terrain, and natural beauty of the Yukon are all described in vivid detail, creating a sense of realism and immediacy.

Allusion

The Trail of Ninety-Eight also makes use of allusion, or references to other works of literature or history. For example, the poem references the biblical story of David and Goliath, using it to illustrate the prospectors' bravery and determination in the face of overwhelming odds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Trail of Ninety-Eight is a classic Canadian poem that tells the story of the Klondike Gold Rush in a vivid and compelling way. Through its exploration of themes such as the pursuit of wealth, the power of nature, and the resilience of the human spirit, the poem captures the spirit of an era and remains an enduring work of Canadian literature. With its use of symbols, literary devices, and powerful emotions, The Trail of Ninety-Eight is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of a time and place, and to speak to the universal human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Trail of Ninety-Eight: A Poetic Journey Through the Klondike Gold Rush

The Klondike Gold Rush of 1896-1899 was a defining moment in the history of the American West. Thousands of prospectors flocked to the Yukon Territory in search of fortune, braving treacherous conditions and risking their lives for a chance at striking it rich. Robert Service's classic poem, The Trail of Ninety-Eight, captures the spirit of this epic adventure in vivid detail, painting a picture of the harsh realities and the enduring spirit of those who dared to follow the call of the gold rush.

The poem begins with a description of the landscape, as the speaker sets out on the trail:

"A hundred miles of snow and ice, Of frozen rivers and vast lone, And through the night, with heart a-thrill, We'd hear the wolves a-howl and whine, And wonder if we'd see the dawn."

This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, conveying the sense of danger and uncertainty that the prospectors faced on their journey. The harshness of the environment is emphasized through the use of words like "frozen" and "vast," while the howling of the wolves adds an eerie, almost supernatural element to the scene.

As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the various challenges that the prospectors encountered on their journey. They faced freezing temperatures, blizzards, and treacherous terrain, as well as the constant threat of starvation and disease. Yet despite these obstacles, they persevered, driven by the promise of gold and the hope of a better life:

"We'd tramp for days through blinding snow, We'd ford the icy streams and lakes, We'd climb the mountains, bleak and bare, And feel our very sinews ache."

The physical exertion and endurance required to survive on the trail is emphasized here, as the speaker describes the grueling nature of the journey. Yet there is also a sense of pride and determination in these lines, as the prospectors push themselves to their limits in pursuit of their dreams.

The poem also touches on the social dynamics of the gold rush, as the prospectors form bonds and rivalries with one another. There is a sense of camaraderie among those who share the same goal, but also a sense of competition and mistrust:

"We'd meet a man with haggard face, And eyes that stared a-gleam with greed; We'd hear his tale of woe and want, And then we'd pass him by, indeed."

This stanza highlights the harsh reality of the gold rush, where every man is out for himself and the competition for resources is fierce. The speaker acknowledges the suffering of others, but ultimately chooses to prioritize his own survival and success.

Throughout the poem, Service's use of language is particularly striking. He employs a variety of poetic techniques, including alliteration, repetition, and rhyme, to create a musical and evocative effect. For example, in the following lines, he uses repetition to emphasize the monotony and tedium of the journey:

"We'd tramp and tramp for weary days, And wonder if we'd ever win, And then we'd come to where the trail Was blocked by some huge boulder in."

The repetition of "tramp" and "weary" creates a sense of weariness and exhaustion, while the sudden interruption of the trail by a boulder adds a sense of frustration and obstacle.

The poem also contains moments of beauty and wonder, as the speaker describes the natural world around him. The Northern Lights, in particular, are a recurring motif throughout the poem, symbolizing both the beauty and the danger of the wilderness:

"The Northern Lights would gaily play, And all the stars would twinkle bright, And we would feel that God was near, And we were lost in wonder's night."

These lines convey a sense of awe and reverence for the natural world, as the prospectors are humbled by the majesty of the Northern Lights. Yet there is also a sense of danger and unpredictability in these lines, as the wilderness is portrayed as a place of both beauty and peril.

In conclusion, The Trail of Ninety-Eight is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the spirit of the Klondike Gold Rush. Through vivid descriptions of the landscape, the challenges of the journey, and the social dynamics of the gold rush, Robert Service creates a portrait of a time and a place that continues to fascinate and inspire us today. The poem is a testament to the enduring human spirit, the drive to succeed against all odds, and the beauty and danger of the natural world.

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