There ... strange things done .. ... midnight ...
 .. ... ... ... moil ... gold;
 ... Arctic trails have their secret tales
 That would make your blood ... cold;
 ... Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
 ... ... queerest they ever ... ...
 ... that night .. ... marge .. Lake Lebarge . cremated ... McGee.
      
 ... ... McGee ... from Tennessee, where ... cotton blooms ... blows.
 ... .. left ... home .. ... South .. roam 'round ... Pole, ... only knows.
 .. ... always cold, ... ... land .. gold seemed .. hold ... like . spell;
 Though he'd often ... .. ... homely ... that "he'd sooner live .. hell".
      
 .. . Christmas ... .. were mushing ... ... over ... Dawson trail.
 Talk .. your cold! through ... parka's fold .. stabbed like . driven nail.
 .. ... eyes we'd close, then ... lashes froze till sometimes .. couldn't see;
 .. wasn't much fun, ... ... only ... .. whimper ... ... McGee.
      
 ... that very night, .. .. ... packed tight .. ... robes beneath ... snow,
 ... ... dogs were fed, ... ... stars o'erhead were dancing heel ... toe,
 .. turned .. ... ... "Cap," says ... "I'll cash .. this trip, . guess;
 ... .. . ... ... asking that ... won't refuse .. last request."
      
 Well, .. seemed .. ... that . couldn't ... ... then .. says with . sort .. moan:
 "It's ... cursed cold, ... it's ... right hold till ... chilled clean through .. ... bone.
 ... 'taint being dead .. it's .. awful dread .. ... ... grave that pains;
 .. . want ... .. swear that, foul .. fair, you'll cremate .. last remains."
      
 . pal's last need .. . thing .. heed, .. . swore . would ... fail;
 ... .. started .. .. ... streak .. dawn; ... God! .. looked ghastly pale.
 .. crouched .. ... sleigh, ... .. raved ... ... .. ... home .. Tennessee;
 ... before nightfall . corpse ... ... that ... left .. ... McGee.
      
 There wasn't . breath .. that land .. death, ... . hurried, horror-driven,
 With . corpse half ... that . couldn't ... rid, because .. . promise given;
 .. ... lashed .. ... sleigh, ... .. seemed .. say: "You ... ... your brawn ... brains,
 ... ... promised true, ... it's .. .. ... .. cremate those last remains."
      
 ... . promise made .. . debt unpaid, ... ... trail ... ... ... stern code.
 .. ... days .. come, though .. lips were dumb, .. .. heart ... . cursed that load.
 .. ... long, long night, .. ... lone fire light, while ... huskies, round .. . ring,
 Howled ... their woes .. ... homeless snows .. . God! ... . loathed that thing.
      
 ... every ... that quiet clay seemed .. heavy ... heavier grow;
 ... .. . went, though ... dogs were spent ... ... grub ... getting low;
 ... trail ... bad, ... . felt half mad, ... . swore . would ... give ...
 ... ... often sing .. ... hateful thing, ... .. hearkened with . grin.
      
 Till . came .. ... marge .. Lake Lebarge, ... . derelict there lay;
 .. ... jammed .. ... ice, ... . ... .. . trice .. ... called ... "Alice May."
 ... . looked .. ... ... . thought . bit, ... . looked .. .. frozen chum;
 Then "Here," said .. with . sudden cry, ... .. cre-ma-tor-eum."
      
 Some planks . tore from ... cabin floor, ... . ... ... boiler fire;
 Some coal . found that ... lying around, ... heaped ... fuel higher;
 ... flames just soared, ... ... furnace roared .. such . blaze ... seldom see;
 ... . burrowed . hole .. ... glowing coal, ... . stuffed .. ... McGee.
      
 Then . took . hike, ... . didn't like .. hear ... sizzle ...
 ... ... heavens scowled, ... ... huskies howled, ... ... wind began .. blow.
 .. ... ... cold, ... ... ... sweat rolled down .. cheeks, ... . don't know why;
 ... ... greasy smoke .. .. inky cloak went streaking down ... sky.
 
 . .. ... know ... long .. ... snow . wrestled with grisly fear;
 ... ... stars came ... ... they danced about ... again . ventured near;
 . ... sick with dread, ... . bravely said: "I'll just take . peep inside.
 . guess he's cooked, ... it's time . looked;" ... then ... door . opened wide.
 
 ... there ... Sam, looking cool ... calm, .. ... heart .. ... furnace roar;
 ... .. wore . smile ... could ... . mile, ... .. said: "Please close ... door.
 It's fine .. here, ... . greatly fear you'll ... .. ... cold ... storm ..
 Since . left Plumtree, down .. Tennessee, it's ... first time I've been warm."
 
 There ... strange things done .. ... midnight ...
 .. ... ... ... moil ... gold;
 ... Arctic trails have their secret tales
 That would make your blood ... cold;
 ... Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
 ... ... queerest they ever ... ...
 ... that night .. ... marge .. Lake Lebarge . cremated ... McGee.