Then was the time they did their mining.

During the winter they freighted their provisions, went moose-hunting, got all ready for the summer's work, and then loafed the bleak, dark months through in the big central camps such as Circle City and Forty Mile.
"Winter diggin's sure comin'," Daylight agreed.

"Wait till that big strike is made up river.

Then you-all'll see a new kind of mining.
What's to prevent wood-burning and sinking shafts and drifting along bed-rock?
Won't need to timber.

That frozen muck and gravel'll stand till hell is froze and its mill-tails is turned to ice-cream.