«The Passing of Marcus O’Brien» is a short story by Jack London. The denizens of Red Cow imposed the law and executed sentences without the delays that mark the softness of civilization. They made their own law, and it was very simple. The river Yukon executed their decrees. Wherefore, when a man violated the rights of property or life, he was thrown into an open boat and started down the Yukon. The quantity of grub he received was proportioned to the gravity of the offence.