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The Bldmn LUbr.ry :r ~Unvcrs~r Lq lor~di I I -J :7CC3t-;-1 I* A 4*a A 1e1~C~.:1y X;( ~4C ~22 $J 4. j < .i4.i [ * T4! " 'TO THE RESCUE SIIOUTED TIIE IOYS." [p. 186. THE RED MOUNTAIN AOAS ALASKA WILLIS AUTHOR OF "PINE CONES," BY BOYD ALLEN "THE NORTHERN CROSS," SILVER RAGS,` "KELP," ETC, SECOND EDITIOi LONDON S. W. PARTRIDGE 9, PATERNOSTER AND CO. ROW Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. A REMARKABLE LETTER 9 II. TREED BY A MOOSE 20 III. TED'S PRICKLY BEAR 33 IV. AN UNSEEN ENEMY 42 V. RAFT-BUILDING 58 VI. THROUGH THE ENEMY'S LINES 78 VII. OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN 81 VIII. A STARTLING DISCOVERY 93 IX. FROM VICTORIA TO SITKA 104 X. DAY AND NIGHT IN ALASKA .110 XI. THE CHILKOOT PASS 114 XII. AN ESCAPE, AND A NEW ENEMY 130 XIII. NAT'S SHAGGY PUP 137 XIV. To THE RESCUE! 151 XV. UNDER THE EARTH 156 XVI. A MYSTERY EXPLAINED 168 Contents. CHAP. PAGE XVII. A REUNION 182 XVIII. A LESSON IN BRIDGE-MAKING 188 XIX. CAPTURED BY BROWN BEARS 198 XX. HALT! 211 XXI. WINTER-QUARTERS 220 XXII. PEESCHEE'S MARVELLOUS STORY 231 XXIII. CHRISTMAS IN ALASKA 241 XXIV. THE LIEUTENANT'S STORY CONCLUDED 258 XXV. SNOWED UP 275 XXVI. PEESCHEE'S MAP AGAIN 289 XXVII. FOR LIFE OR DEATH 294 XXVIII. WOLF AGAINST MAN 302 XXIX. OVER THE ICE. 309 XXX. CONCLUSION 312 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. "'TO THE RESCUE SHOUTED THE BOYS" Frontispiece PEESCHEE'S MAP 18 "IT WAS EVIDENT THAT AFFAIRS WERE REACHING A CRISIS' 29 WE STARTED ACROSS THE LAKE" 46 UPHILL WORK 50 "JOHN WAS PUTTING THE LAST TOUCHES ON 55 "I SHOULDERED THE CANOE" .55 STILL ON THE RAFT RUSHED ". .75 AYAN MOOSE ARROW 82 "THE ROYAL BARGE WAS BRINGING UP THE REAR" 85 CHILKAT CANOE 94 THE INDIANS WERE GAMBLING IN DEAD EARNEST" 97 SITKA, ALASKA 107 LOOKING UP THE YUKON 127 CHILKAT BRACELET 130 "'A GRIZZLY CUB. DROP IT, NAT, FOR YOUR LIFE!" 147 HE WAS STUDYING THE MAP". 177 PEESCHEE'S MAP 191 "'LOOT OUT I' SHOUTED THE BACKWOODSMAN" 195 "I COME FROM THE GREAT MEDICINE MAN" 205 A COUNCIL OF WAR .. 215 "A DISH OF VENISON IS SMOKING ON THE TABLE" 233 WITHIN A ROD OF THE HUT WERE A DOZEN SHADOWY FORMS 285 " THERE WAS A SHARP REPORT, AND WITH ONE LEAP SHE FELL 299 THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. CHAPTER I. A REMARKABLE LETTER. SSPACIOUS,comfortable-lookinghouse, S in the outskirts of one of the largest Manufacturing towns of Massachusetts ; the dining-room is brightly lighted, and a wood fire blazes and snaps cheerily in the open Fireplace, for it is late October, and the evenings are cold. Around the cosy tea- table are gathered the family, namely: John Dutton, Esq., proprietor of the celebrated Sheldon Paper Mills; Mrs. John Dutton; Miss Florence Dutton, age fifteen, commonly addressed as Flossie," or "Floss;" and Masters Robert, Hugh, and Nathaniel Dutton, ages respectively seventeen, fifteen, and twelve years. Flossie and Hugh,it will be noticed, are twins. Only three more personages in the town of Sheldon are at present sufficiently important to merit an intro- duction. They are, in fact, members of the Dutton household, two of them actually signing that name as 0o The Red Mountain of Alaska. their own, and the third plainly desirous of doing so, were he able. All three are in the dining-room at the present moment, and the fact of their familiarity with the family is evident from the interest with which they listen, with open eyes and mouths, to the letter which their master is reading aloud. Without further ceremony allow me to present: Chloe (Dutton), decided brunette, nurse of all the children successively, maid-of-all-work, and devoted slave to Miss Flossie; Teddy (Dutton), remotely descended from County Kildare, red-haired, freckled, fourteen years old, errand-boy, helper, and mischief- maker in general, particularly attached to the eldest son; Carlo (Dutton), at the side of pale, sweet-faced little Nat,-a shaggy, coal-black, silken-haired fellow, from the south coast of Newfoundland, as faithful a servant and friend as any in the country. And now for the letter. Mr. Dutton has evidently just reached home from the mills, for his hat, coat, and cane are lying on the sofa where he has dropped them, and he is still out of breath from the quick half- mile walk. All eight of the Duttons listen eagerly while he reads :- FORT WRANGEL, ALASKA TER., Sept. 5th, 1868. MY DEAR BROTHEn,-It is a long time since I have written to you. The uncertainty of the mails in this new adopted country of ours, the constant disputes with Russian traders who are angry at having their hunting-ground sold over their heads-or under their feet, rather I-and the treachery of the native Innuits, as well as the reckless behaviour of our own troops, have kept my hands full and my head in a continual worry since the establishment of the post. Sometimes A Remarkable Letter. I wish the government had kept her seven millions in her pocket, and left this desolate country to take care of itself. It was an immense responsibility to shoulder. Have you any idea of the size of the 'Northwest Territory,' old fellow? Are you aware that it con- tains something over five hundred thousand square miles, or about one-sixth of the entire extent of the United States and Territories ? This vast country is covered throughout its southern districts with jungles and forests, reaching far up the sides of its lofty mountains, which smoke night and day. The portions nearer the Arctic Sea consist mostly of dreary morass and mossy 'tundra,' as it is called, under which lies a deep layer of ice, never thawing, winter or summer. But in the rest of the territory are splendid forests, as I have said. There are mountain peaks reaching (in Mount Wrangel) the enormous height of twenty thousand feet above the sea ; there is a river, the noble Yukon, over two thousand miles in length-a rival of the great Mississippi itself. Among the hills are winding streams and pleasant valleys, where brilliant wild-flowers blossom, insects hover over them in the sunshine, and birds dart to and fro as merrily as in our old New England orchards. The woods are full of game. There is no place in the world where bears, black, brown, grizzly, and cinnamon, with two or three other varieties, are found in such abundance. Moose have not learned to fear the rifle, and wild goats clamber over the rocks in full sight. The inland dis- tricts of Alaska are almost absolutely uninhabited. The whole interior population of Indians is probably less than three thousand, while no white man ever passes beyond the protection of the trading-posts and forts. t2 The Red Mountain of Alaska. "By this time, my dear John, you are beginning to wonder why I have launched forth into this lecture on the resources of our National Purchase. Ah, you have noticed, have you, that I have omitted an important item? Vegetation, game, inhabitants, scenery-but nothing said about wealth ! Yes, wealth. Reports must have reached you of the startling discoveries of Haley and others. Little did the Hudson's Bay fur-hunters dream that they were camping each night on a gold mine; or that the very rivers down which they paddled, in pursuit of some,paltry, frightened, furred creature, were full of gleaming particles of the precious metal ! Without doubt, the coasts of Alaska are veined throughout their length and breadth with gold and silver. Shafts are being sunk in all directions, and mines located. Haley found it paid him to dig out lumps of rock, a small bit at a time, and simply crush them in a mortar. But I am not going to tempt you to rush for the 'diggings,' my boy. There's better game in the cove-r " "What in the world does the man mean I" ex- claimed Mrs. Dutton. "He's as mysterious as a sphinx, and here's the supper all getting cold. Let's have the rest of the letter afterwards." Whereupon arose a chorus of "Oh, no, no I Read on, read on Never mind the supper yet-let's find out what he means by 'better game' " Mr. Dutton accordingly found his place again, and holding the letter so as to get a little better light upon it, resumed his reading. I know you will be incredulous when I say there is more valuable treasure to be found in Alaska than A Remarkable Letler. gold-knowing, as you do, that there are no diamonds in the territory. Nevertheless, I am right. Among the many ores which exist here, in more or less abundance, is one which furnishes a strange metal, well known in medicine and the arts. Its chemical symbol is HG. Ah, you start now! I see you have not forgotten those tiresome lectures at Harvard ; you know at last that I am speaking of Mercury, which is obtained almost entirely from the beautiful crimson ore known as 'Cinnabar.'" Dr. Dutton paused, and glanced about the eager circle of listeners. "Now, shall we have supper ? The griddle-cakes are hot," said Mrs. Dutton, plaintively, taking advantage of the silence, and playing her highest card. In vain! Even Teddy testified with open mouth and round, light blue eyes to his interest in the subject. The vote was none the less emphatic because unex- pressed in words. The reading continued. Cinnabar is worked to a considerable extent in only half-a-dozen spots on the globe-Spain (which supplies England), Idria, Peru, Japan, and one or two other places. It has been discovered in California. All the mines in the world, taken together, yield only a trifle over three thousand tons a year, including the new American mines. No ore is so easily decomposed as cinnabar ; it is effected by direct exposure to the oxidizing flame of a furnace, the mercury vapour being collected in con- densers. I believe the metal can be even more economically separated by the use of an iron retort, in which it can be readily volatilized, without the escape 14 The Red MozMnain of Alaska. of vapours. By the old way, nearly half is wasted in the process. "Now as to its value. This varies largely from year to year. It runs from fifty cents to two dollars a pound, avoirdupois. One dollar a pound, or two thousand dollars a ton, would be a low average. "But a ton, you say, is an enormous amount. Thirty tons is a hundredth part of the world's annual product. What would you say, John, to fifty tons a year, or even one hundred? In the countries I have mentioned, the ore crops out, or is found below the surface, in narrow veins, among much schist and slate. What would you say to a whole mountain of cinnabar ? " Dr. Dutton looked up with a prolonged "Whew-w !" and Carlo gave a short yelp. As no one else seemed disposed to conversation, the letter was re- sumed. "To make a long story short (for I can see now that you are getting excited, as plainly as if I were sitting with you in your cosy dining-room in Sheldon, where you will probably read this letter), the follow- ing facts have recently come to light ; no one, until this letter was read, John, knew of them. No one knows of them now, except your family, myself, and Peeschee. The last named gentleman is a Chilkat Indian, whose name in honest English is The Fox.' Call him which you like, he has served us a good turn. This is how it came about. "I was off hunting with a party of Indians from the vicinity of the fort. We were in camp about A Remarkable Leiter. twenty miles inland from Wrangel, when something came bounding into the circle of fire light like a deer. It was the Fox, who threw himself panting at our feet, his teeth chattering, and his face fairly grey with terror. As soon as he could talk we made out his story. He had left his village a week before, on a trapping expedition. While at work among his traps, he had accidentally run on to the line set by a wander- ing party of Tak-heesh natives from the interior, and had ignorantly-so he assured us again and again- taken several pelts from their traps. A dozen Tak-heesh had come suddenly upon him, taken him prisoner, and vowed he should die for the offence. Poor Peeschee in vain asserted his innocence. To the stake he should go. On the second day of his captivity he had escaped by gnawing his thongs while his captors were dozing after a hearty meal of bear meat, and had been running all the ;ft.:r..L':l,, he said. "We felt a little nervous about the pursuers, but those Tak-heesh are cowards unless they are terribly roused, and, sure enough, when they turned up the next morning a rifle volley into the air put the entire crowd to flight. The Fox was as grateftil as a 1.:, and, the day after we reached Fort W\l'ri, 1, he did me the good turn I referred to. He came quietly to the barracks, inquired for my room, found me alone, and then and there told me the wonderful story which set me to -jil in this long letter-an offence, John, which I seldom i.'nmiil, you'll acknowledge. "What the Fox had to say was substantially this: Last autumn he made one of his solitary expeditious over the mountains in search of furs. He I"-n' i:,1 .l 16 T/ze Red Mountain of Alaska. far into the interior, reaching a district absolutely unknown to him before that trip. He describes it as abounding in game, and heavily wooded. There were many rapid streams, all seeming to be well stocked with trout, grayling, and other fish. "As often occurs in Alaska, the weather was cloudy for fully ten days at a stretch. Toward the close of a dull, drizzly afternoon, Peeschee stopped for the night on the bank of a swift brook. Suddenly the clouds in the west began to break away, and, as they gradually parted, there appeared high in the heavens what seemed to be a mountain of fire. It was a soft, glowing crimson, and from its summit rose a huge column of smoke; it was beyond doubt a mountain peak; Peeschee had never set eyes on it before in his life. Within five minutes the clouds had closed in again, and the wonderful peak was out of sight. "The next three days he spent in travelling straight uphill toward the Red Mountain. After much strug- ling through jungles and morasses, fording streams, and encountering wild beasts by day and night, he claims that he reached the base of the peak, and dis- covered the cause of its strange colour. He brought a piece of the live rock itself, and showed it to me. I have it in my desk now. It is a magnificent speci- men of cinnabar in the ore, deep crimson in colour, promising to yield, if worked, an enormous percentage of weight of the pure metal. "John, that was a mountain of mercury I It waits for some one to take those red heaps of granite and quartz, fuse them, and bear away such a fortune as you could not make in a century of prosperous mill operation at Sheldon. Will you come ? Shall we A Renarkadle Letter. share the Red Mountain, old fellow, as we used to share the red apples in grandfather's orchard? "This is what I propose. You have been in in- different health for a good many months. You need a change; you have a competent superintendent in practical charge of the mills ; you always liked hunt- ing and camping-out. Take the boys along, and meet me at some point in west central Alaska-say old Fort Yukon. I will come from the west, you from the east, if you like, striking up through Canada and across from the Hudson's Bay post in British America. From Fort Yukon we can proceed together to the Red Mountain, make a rough survey, lay out our claim, and the following spring commence work in earnest. In other words, you can start from Sheldon as soon as the spring of '69 opens, reach the Alaska boundary by the first of July, and before the winter shuts down we shall have finished all our prospecting, and be ready to take out ore in the following May. "One more point to consider, and then I have done. It is, I admit, an important point. How shall we find this half-fabulous Red Mountain' after we have effected a union of forces at Fort Yukon ? Here we must rely entirely on Peeschee. He proposes to start from the fort (which is situated on nearly 67' N. lat., 1450 long. W.), and strike due south. You will be glad to hear this when I add that the Arctic Circle passes directly through the fort. After travelling something over two hundred miles straight into the wilderness, the Fox says we shall find ourselves at the foot of a lofty range of mountains. From this point he bears away slightly to the east, and within three or four days expects to reach his old camping- ground, from which he obtained his first view of the 18 The Red Mountain of Alaska. flaming peak. Now will begin by far our hardest fight with the forces of nature. Peeschee has drawn a map, which he professes to understand, and by which he proposes to follow as nearly as possible his A- * former route to the base of the mountain and up its steep sides. I have borrowed this map or chart, and have traced it here for you. It's a curious-looking affair, but, with Peeschee as guide, I'd stake it against a government chart. Every A Remarkable Letter. mark on it means something to him. I'll give you his explanation at some other time. Now, then, once more, will you come ? Your affectionate brother, DICK DUTTON. P.S.-Write full particulars, exactly when and where you will meet me. Sorry you must leave Mrs. D. and Florence behind. Of course you'll come " CHAPTER II. TREED BY A MOOSE. JUST five S. months after theletterof Lieu- tenant Richard Dutton was read aloud in his Soobrother's cosy group of people are assembled on the platform of the Sheldon rail- road station. Thereis a tallish, brown bearded gentleman, with clear, bright eyes, and an exceedingly gentle voice; a lady of refined face and manner, and close beside her a. young girl; four boys, one of them freckled and sandy-haired; a negro woman, with a red bandana handkerchief around her black neck; and a young Newfoundland dog, full of quiet surprise at all this commotion. Several large trunks and cases are piled upon the platform, awaiting transportation. Treed by a Moose. 21 Presently the train comes in sight round a curve, and slows up at the station, ringing and hissing vigorously. People, dog, and baggage are hurried on board, the conductor waves his hand, and, with renewed clanging of bell and hiss of steam, the train starts for Boston, bearing-you know as well as I-the entire Dutton family away from their home. Dick Dutton was right. The letter could not be resisted. A favourable answer had been sent, thorough preparations made during the winter months, the mill wound up to run for a full year without the personal supervision of the owner-and off the party are starting, this twenty-fifth day of March, 1869, on their long and divided journey. All the family, I said. You see, there has been a slight change of plan. After the letter had been care- fully considered, and it had been voted unanimously that Mr. Dutton and the boys should make the trip to the northwest province, Mrs. Dutton had unexpectedly asserted herself. "Dick's plan is a good one," she said, "with one exception." What is that, my dear ?" inquired Mr. Dutton, mildly. "I do not propose to stay at home while you are off in the woods for a year. Florence and I will take the regular San Francisco route to Sitka, join Dick at his post, and start inland with him, meeting you at the fort." Mr. Dutton was astonished, but, as his wife's remark had rather the appearance of a decision than a sugges- tion, he wisely refrained from opposing it. "You shall certainly go, my dear, if you wish to," said this exemplary husband. And she did. 22 The Red Mountain of Alaska. Certain modifications of the original route had also been made. The itinerary" was finally laid out as follows :- The "military section," as Flossie laughingly called the lieutenant's party, were to meet at Sitka, and "pack over the mountains to the headwaters of the Yukon River, moving down stream until they should reach Fort Selkirk, where they would await the eastern party, instead of at Fort Yukon. Mr. Dutton and the boys decided to follow the regular traders' route from Ottawa, northward and westward to Fort Churchill, on Hudson's Bay. From there a nearly westerly course, bearing a little to the north, above Athabasca Lake and below (on the map) the Great Slave, would bring them to Fort Simpson; thence over a lofty pass in the Chippeway division of the Rocky Mountains into New Columbia, and to Fort Selkirk, which is situated exactly 620 45' north, 137 22' west from Greenwich. There! We've done with figures and theoretical geography for a while; practical geography we must study in spite of ourselves. Once in Alaska territory, we must examine our surroundings, and pick our way, almost inch by inch, for we have no reliable guide to the interior of this great, desolate region. If we want a map, we must make one. We do not need to follow the Dutton family over the first portions of their respective routes, which are more or less familiar to travellers. Mrs. Dutton, Florence, and Chloe sailed from New York for Aspin- wall, crossed the Isthmus, took steamer again at Panama, and reached San Francisco safely, after a journey of nearly six thousand miles. Here they rested a week, and completed their outfit necessary Treed by a Moose. 23 for a summer in the woods. On a bright morning in May they started in a sailing vessel for Victoria and Sitka. So much for the ladies' party. The sterner portion of the family had hardly a more eventful trip until they left Fort Churchill. From this point the boys had plenty of shooting, and Mr. Dutton had much ado to keep them within reach of camp. The trip, however, was quickly made, the Rockies surmounted, and by the second week in June the party were descending the western slopes of the mountains within one hundred and fifty miles of Fort Selkirk. It was ten o'clock in the forenoon when Mr. Dutton, whose orders were obeyed by every one in the expedi- tion, called a halt, on the first day after the high peaks were left behind. It was a curious company that was gathered there. Mr. Dutton and the three boys were browned from exposure to the sun and all sorts of weather; while Teddy was burned a bright red, and fairly peppered with freckles. Carlo was in the highest of spirits, and gambolled about the party like a six-months-old pup. There were two Indian guides, strong-limbed, quiet fellows, named Joe and Jim. At Mr. Dutton's word, these two last named threw down their heavy packs, and drew themselves up with an air of relief. -" Ugh I grunted Joe, wiping his forehead. Much hot coming No-see-'ems and skeeters dis night." S" Midges ? Have you felt any, Joe ? asked Mr. Dutton, recognizing the Indian term for those tiny tormentors. "No feel 'em. Smell 'em," said Joe, gravely, sniffing the air. 24 The Red Mountain of Alaska. Mr. Dutton laughed, and turned his attention to selecting a good "nooning" spot where they could spend the hottest hours of the day. They had halted beside a swift-running stream, whose waters, though white with glacial silt, promised sport for Hugh, the- fisherman of the party. All around them was a forest of immense spruce trees, through which they had been travelling since early morning. The ground was everywhere covered with thick moss, and long, grey streamers hung from the lofty boughs overhead. I tell you what, father," exclaimed Robert, with enthusiasm, this would be a jolly place to camp in for a week. There's plenty of water, and I'll warrant the woods are full of game." A good place enough, Rob, but we've no time to lose. The mosquitoes are getting thicker and hungrier every day, and before long we shall have to rush to the settlements for our lives. They are the pest of Alaska, you know." "But, father, we are within a few days' march of Fort Selkirk, and are ahead of time." "I want to see mother," interposed little Nat, quietly. "Don't you, Rob ?" The elder brother made no further protest, but began preparations for a short hunt before dinner. I won't be gone long, father," said he, shouldering his Winchester, and starting off at an easy gait. Won't you take one of the guides with you, my boy ?" Oh, no, thank you. They've had enough to do, packing our blankets through the woods. Good-bye. I'll keep within hearing of a gun-shot." And he was gone. Treed by a Moose. 25 Mr. Dutton now busied himself about his skeleton tent," as he called it-a device of his own, for relief from the attacks of gnats, mosquitoes, and other insects while on the march. It was a very simple arrangement; merely an "A " tent made of mosquito netting. It was large enough to accommodate all the party. A few minutes sufficed to pitch it carefully, so that no rent should be made in its meshes. The guides, Nat, and Mr. Dutton then crept under its folds, and, stretched out comfortably on rubber blankets which had been first spread to keep out dampness, all four fell fast asleep. Hugh whistled for Carlo, and took his way, fishing- tackle in hand, down to an inviting pool just in sight through the trees. When Mr. Dutton awoke it was high noon. The guides were already preparing the noon meal, one of them building a good fire, laying the sticks all one way, for convenience of cooking; the other engaged in dressing a fine mess of trout which bore witness to Hugh's success. Nat strayed about the camp, looking for flowers- the delicate Linnuea, or twin-flower, the violet, the cornel, and others familiar in the home woods. The eldest boy had not returned, and Mr. Dutton began to feel anxious about him. He fired his rifle three times, a signal that always meant, "Answer, and come into camp But there was no reply. At one o'clock they sat down to dinner, worried and perplexed by Rob's absence. Two hours passed, and still he did not appear. It was time to resume march. At a word from the captain, Joe, the Indian, took up his rifle, and plunged into the woods, in the direction the missing boy had taken. 26 The Red Mountain of Alaska. When Robert left the camp, he had no definite intention, save that he would skirt round the base of a low hill about a mile away, and return to camp within an hour or two. He hoped to come across some sort of game; a brace of grouse, at least, of which there are several varieties in British America. His Winchester rifle had half-a-dozen cartridges in it, and Robert was a good shot. He had no fear of missing a partridge or ptarmigan at thirty yards, with a single ball. The forest floor was encumbered with fallen and decayed logs, into whose crumbling sides he sank so often that his progress was slow. There was very little undergrowth to impede his way, however, and within half-an-hour he reached sharply rising ground, which told him he was at the foot of the hill he had seen from camp. Up to this point he had kept within hearing of the stream, but now he turned off at right angles, think- ing he would walk fifteen minutes and then retrace his steps. Before he had advanced far in this new direction he found himself following a sort of trail. Indeed, it was almost a beaten path in the woods. "Ah said Rob to himself, with some dissatisfac- tion, we have struck civilization again Here's a regular route for fur-traders, I've no doubt. Well," he soliloquized, as he sauntered lazily along the path. "I might as well-hullo! " He stopped and examined a track that was plainly outlined in a patch of mud. It was shaped like the print of a huge human foot, fourteen inches long at the very least. Robert had not "trailed" from the Hudson's Bay settlements for nothing. He knew Treed by a Moose. 27 that no man had left that footprint. It was undoubt- edly the track of a bear, and an enormous one, too; possibly a grizzly. The boy's heart beat so hard that it seemed as if he must stifle. The "sign" was fresh. It certainly was not half-an-hour old, for the water was still oozing into it from the sides. Should he go on ? The ambition of Robert's life just now was to shoot a grizzly, but he knew the danger to a single hunter if he should meet one of these terrible brutes alone. It flashed across the boy's mind at the same moment that the trail he was following was very closely con- nected with that peculiar track. It was no hunter's at all. It was one of the famous bear-roads," for which the great Northwest is noted, and which thread the densest forests in every direction. Only six charges in that rifle But the temptation was too great. Robert concluded at least to follow the path cautiously for a short distance. Perhaps he could come upon his shaggy game unexpectedly. Perhaps he could stalk him! With these thoughts passing swiftly through his mind, he examined the lock of his rifle carefully, assured himself that the cartridges were in place, and, stooping over like an old hunter, advanced softly along the trail. At every slightest sound in the forest his heart gave an answering thump; but no bear appeared. He was beginning to think of turning back toward the camp when a curious noise fell upon his ears. It was a succession of dull blows, like that of a farmer driving a stake into the ground. A sudden turn of the path brought him unexpectedly 28 The Red Mountain of Alaska. upon a singular scene. About a hundred yards away the trail was blocked by a huge dark form. It stood about four feet high, and was covered with long, shaggy fur of a dirty brown colour. Robert recog- nised the animal at once, although it was back to him. It was the Brown Bear, Ursus Arctos, of the cold countries. It was with a feeling half chagrin and half relief that the boy knew in a moment it was no grizzly before him. That it was, on the other hand, his very ugliest and most formidable relative south of the Arctic Circle was equally certain. But what was the occasion of the bear's quiet atti- tude? A glance along the path explained matters. Directly facing the bear stood an old bull moose, his spreading antlers touching the boughs on each side of the path. The big fellow was not standing at his full height. His head was slightly lowered, and his eyes fixed intently on those of his near neighbour. Neither of the animals paid the slightest attention to the new-comer. There seemed to be no good reason why there should be a quarrel. There was plenty of room, with a little squeezing, for a bear and a moose, even if both, as was the case, were larger than the average, to pass each other comfortably. But neither of them thought of yielding an inch; they glared silently at each other, like two teamsters who have unexpectedly met in a narrow alley. Neither one would back out, that was settled. The moose raised one of his great hoofs, and struck it upon the ground several times, making moss and mud fly, while his eyes seemed fairly to flash fire. His long, ungainly head drooped lower; it was evi- dent that affairs were reaching a crisis, and Robert SIT WAS EVIDENT THAT AFFAIRS WERE REACHING A CRISIS." :~-"-~14~fi~ ~-' ~T~t~B~ Sg~tecY1 P" ~t~' ~'cY wJfi~9 gh" ~4* ;n : Treed by a Moose. 31 concluded it was time to act. An old hunter would have walked backward softly to the turn in the path, and then run for his life, leaving the two forest princes to fight it out as they pleased. Unfortunately, the boy did no such thing. He raised his rifle, sighted a spot in the very centre of the moose's broad breast, and fired. At the very same instant, the latter made up his mind to knock that bear into small bits, and bounded forward. The bear was watching for this, and rose on his haunches to meet his antagonist. So it happened that the rifle ball, instead of doing its work as was intended, merely scored the bear's right shoulder, and inflicted a slight wound on the flank of the moose. Both the brutes were startled by the heavy report of the gun, and enraged by the sting of the ball. The impetus of the big "horned horse" was so great that he could not stop himself, but struck the bear squarely on the snout, causing Bruin to roll over backward, with the moose on top of him. The two huge creatures scrambled to their feet, and simultaneously caught sight of Robert, who pluckily drew a bead on the brown, struggling mass and fired a second time, with as little apparent result as before. Then he started for the nearest tree, which, luckily for him, was a good-sized spruce, with two or three boughs, or stubs of them, close to the ground. He had to drop his rifle, and indeed had no time to spare, for by a common impulse both the late enemies rushed against their common foe. Robert drew a long breath as he seated himself, not very comfortably, on a stout branch, some twenty feet from the ground. To his relief, the bear concluded 32 The Red Mountain of Alaska. that his honour had been vindicated, and ambled off on his road at a swift pace, which took him out of sight in two minutes. Not so the big moose. Pawing the ground, and snorting fiercely, he continued to charge up and down under the tree, until at last, perceiving that his hated assailant was for the time out of his reach, he sullenly commenced a slow walk to and fro, like a sentinel on guard duty; now and then casting vindictive glances into the evergreen boughs overhead. Faintly three rifle shots came echoing through the woods, but Robert could not reply. He had given his party no idea of where he was going. Plainly his position was a disagreeable one, not to say positively dangerous. What was to be done ? CHAPTER III. TED'S PRICKLY BEAR. SOON as Joe, the younger and more agile of Mr. Dut- ton's two Indian guides, struck into the forest, he formed a definite plan of action in his mind. He had seen his young master start off on his expe- dition, and had noted the direction he had taken. Once out of sight of camp, the trail was lost in the deep green moss that covered the ground everywhere. Joe, however, was not at a loss for the route he should take. He reasoned that the boy would, in the main, keep the direction he had at first taken, and would follow the stream up toward the hills, good shooting being generally found near water; moreover, the brook would be an infallible guide back to camp. Swiftly and stealthily as a cat the Indian glided through the dark shadows of the forest, in and out 34 The Red Mountain of Alaska. among the trunks of the evergreens. Now and then he would utter a grunt of satisfaction as his quick glance fell upon a broken twig or a red mass of crumbling wood where Robert had placed an incau- tious foot. Arriving at the bear path, he did not hesitate a moment, but followed it with a swift, shambling gait like the awkward trot of the animals who had trodden down the path for him. When he perceived the big track in the mud he started, paused, and examined it carefully; then felt for the handle of his long knife-he had brought no other weapon-and kept on as before. If you had been watching him, a few minutes later, you would have seen him suddenly come to a stand- still, listen eagerly, and then creep forward on hands and knees. Presently he dropped flat on the ground, and began wriggling forward as silently as a snake, but more slowly. From his perch Robert caught sight of a dark figure crouching on the moss, a hundred feet away to the leeward. At first he turned sick with fear, thinking it was a puma, making ready for a spring. Then he recognized with delight the homely features of his guide. The besieger just then was wandering moodily about at about the same distance the other side of the tree, his attention being distracted by a swarm of mosquitoes who kept him stamping and licking furi- ously. It was evident that he had not the least idea of the Indian's presence. The latter wriggled nearer the tree, nearer,-until he could lay his hand on the repeating rifle. The slight noise he made in cocking the piece caused Ted's Prickly Bear. 35 the moose to look up quickly, half turning as he did so, and exposing his broad brown side. A shot rang out, and another. The moose started for the tree like lightning, but before he had covered half the distance he fell headlong. To leap to his side and plunge the keen blade of the knife into his throat was but an instant's work for the Indian, who had despatched many a moose in his day. As Robert descended stiffly from his tree, and saw the poor creature's huge bulk stretched out helpless and still, he felt a pang of remorse. "It's too bad, Joe," he said, gazing at his prostrate enemy. H'm. You no kill 'im, he kill you," remarked the other, in soft gutturals. "You lucky git 'way from 'im, yis." They cut several slices of meat from the iini.-. and Joe took especial pains to 'carry away the muzzle, or upper lip, which is esteemed a dainty r u..-.' hunters. The magnificent antlers they were of course .1.1,.:il to leave behind. The Indian had as yet made no allusion to the bear. When they had travelled about half way to the i ..lup and had been walking in silence for some time, he suddenly asked, - You shot at bear, too ?" Robert laughed rather shamefacedly. "Yes, I did, Joe. I guess I didn't hurt him !uiili.. and I'm glad I didn't. One of those splendid creatures is enough to kill in a day." You no fire when you see 'im 'gaiu," remarked the Indian. No hurt poor bear," he added. Rob caught the twinkle in his, I IIIijnI;I!IIi.' eye. 36 The Red Mountain of Alaska. "You're laughing at me, old fellow! he cried, good-naturedly. Never mind, I'll pay you up some day." "No shoot bear when you 'lone," said Joe, more soberly. Nor moose, too. Wait for Injun come, he help shoot." Well, I'll be more careful another time. Hullo, here we are at camp. Sorry you were worried, father," as he saw Mr. Dutton's look of relief at his approach. "I was worried, Rob," said the older man, earnestly, "and I thank God that you're back safe. If I had realized half the dangers and hardships of this wild country, I'd never have come. I suppose Dick is used to them, and don't mind meeting a grizzly, or fighting mosquitoes for a week at a time, or running on to a tribe of hostiles. I confess I do." "But, father, we were never so well in our lives. Just look at Nat there " And, indeed, it did one good to glance at the little fellow's brown, healthy face. "Well, well," said Mr. Dutton, brightening, "we're all in safe keeping, no doubt. Tell me about your adventure, Rob. It's too late to move further to- night, and we could hardly find a better camping- ground. The tents, boys " This last was addressed to the guides, who at once quietly set about their preparations for the night. While the boys gathered eagerly about Rob, as he described the big game he had seen, two tents of light strong drilling were taken from the packs and pitched. They were of the Shelter form, with side flaps that were secured to the ground by pegs. These were necessary to keep out the little winged tormentors Teds Prickly Bear. 37 whose falsetto songs already began to ring unpleasantly in the ears of the hunters. The mosquito bars were now stretched across the front of the tents, admitting light, air, and nothing else, unless perhaps the midges, or no-see-'ems, whose approach the Indians feared. In the midst of Rob's glowing account there arose a series of howls and cries, mingled with the barking of a dog, close by the camp. All hands seized rifles and axes, and ran to the rescue. Oh, murther Oh, save me, quick! She's coming' after me, sure Come quick wid yer guns " A moment later a shout of laughter went up from the rescuers. Even the taciturn Indians smiled. There was the valiant Teddy, with his hair fairly standing on end, glaring wildly at a small black animal, which crouched in a tree, about ten feet from the ground. Sure, I have fixed it wid me eyes," said Teddy. " I have a shpell on it, I have. If I look off, it'll jump." "Why, what is it, Ted?" inquired Mr. Dutton, putting on a sober face. Can't ye see, sur-r ? it's a small little bear, bad luck to him! Sure, I looked to see the would one come rushing out o' the bushes very minute, and that's why I called yez." All this time Carlo was barking furiously at the little animal, whatever it was. I think the safest way," said Mr. Dutton, sup- pressing a smile once more, is to leave Teddy here for a while to watch the beast. If the she-bear 3 S 7-,'. Red Mountain of Alaska. ,--,. you, be sure to call us, Ted," he added, making as if he wold walk off. Bmt ii' Irish boy set up a mournful wail that weaold have touched a heart of stone. don't lave me, sur! I'll be kilt en- i i- :! '" I T called out Hugh, who could no longer -. -_..:. "killed by a-hedgehog Think of it ! e nI'- y s see his prickles ?" S.- :-7;v grew even redder than before as he examined the animal anew, and for the first time nmciced the ..-'IT-. He slunk back to camp, and it was a long time -i .:--the boys ceased to allude to "Ted's prickly The night passed quietly, and an early start was made next morning. Before they halted for their moxon rest they had made a good fifteen miles, due west. Nat was tired, and when they started for their afternoon tramp, Jim, the older and larger Indian, S.i a curious pack upon his back. It was, in fact, no r : than Nat himself, comfortably seated in a natural chair, formed by cutting a distorted birch close to the ground, and using the stump of a bent S.i1 for a seat. A belt was carried around the 1. ..ii.'i, waist, to steady the chair, but the weight came largely upon his forehead, which held the loop of a, ..-,.-r thong supporting this human piece of 1, "--. Mr. Dutton had seen Peruvian natives carry travellers in this way over dangerous moun- tain passes, and Jim found that it worked to a charm. At about three o'clock the leader of the party rL'-:-l a cry of delight. Teds Prickly Bear. 39 "Look !" he said, pointing forward. "The head- waters of the Pelly !" "What is the Pelly, father?" asked the eldest boy. s The northern branch of the Yukon, Rob. Where that river joins the old Lewis,' or properly the Yukon itself, is Fort Selkirk, and there we shall find your mother, Flossie, and Dick." "Hooray!" shouted Hugh, catching his father's enthusiasm. "How long will it take to reach them ? " "I should think that by the day after to-morrow we ought to come in sight of the chimneys of the old fort. As soon as possible we will build a raft, and finish our journey by water." An hour's fast walking brought the party to the edge of a small lake. On the southern shore were high bluffs, crowned with evergreen forests. Just before them lay a little meadow. Its bright green grass was dotted with dandelions and buttercups; butterflies, red and yellow, floated gracefully in the sunshine. A cloud of waterfowl rose from the reeds near by, and, flying low over the smooth water, plunged into it again, not half a mile away, with a deal of splashing. Not a breeze stirred the surface of the lake; the hills along its shore were reflected as in a mirror. "Beautiful, beautiful !" murmured Mr. Dutton, baring his head for a moment, and gazing over the tranquil scene. Why should not one settle here, and spend his days within sight of this lovely sheet of water ? No cares, but plenty of- " "Mosquitoes!" interrupted one of the Indians, gravely. 40 The Red Mountain of Alaska. The boys burst into a shout of laughter at the sudden conclusion of their father's soliloquy, and ran gleefully down to the water's edge. "See, father, see cried little Nat presently, hold- ing up a small brown animal in his arms. It was a young marmot, a species which furnishes to the Indians of the interior their blankets, these being made of numerous skins of the little creatures sewn together. After an inspection by all the boys, the captive was permitted to waddle off at the top of his speed, presumably in the direction his parents had taken. Camp, boys, camp !" called Mr. Dutton, and all hands set busily to work, preparing for the night. The tent was pitched on the bank of a tiny stream that fell musically over a mossy ledge into the lake itself. The boys cut and broke armfuls of boughs from the young spruces that grew thickly along the edge of the forest, and threw them into the camp for a bed. Nat was left to kindle the fire, a task at which he was a particular adept. With bits of bark and dried twigs he soon had a jolly blaze mounting up through the larger sticks, and the camp was ready. Rob strolled off with his gun, and Hugh with fishing- rod and flies, as usual. Mr. Dutton took shelter behind a mosquito net, and registered in his diary the events of the day-the various sorts of plants and living creatures he had observed, and the situation and most striking characteristics of the lake before him. Then he took out his map of the British provinces and Alaska, settling his position beyond a doubt, and marking his camping spot with a pencilled cross. Those boys who would like to know just where the party was encamped may make a cross on their maps Ted's Prickly Bear. 41 at exactly lat. 610 30' N., long. 1280 10' W. from Greenwich. If the map is a good one, they will find this lake, shaped something like a horseshoe, with the open end toward the north. On the east bank of the right-hand arm of the horseshoe was " Camp Prospect," as Mr. Dutton named their halting- place. CHAPTER IV. AN UNSEEN ENEMY. T HE after- noon had been so bright, friends seemed so near, and camp was so pleasantly situ- ."' ated, that the S' Duttons looked forward to a peaceful, rest- ful night. They were doomed to serious disappoint- ment. Hugh came back from the lake empty-handed, and Robert was the lucky one this time, bringing back from his hunting expedition a fine bag of black duck and a good fat rabbit. While Joe was preparing the ducks for supper, Teddy, whose bump of curiosity was always leading him to poke about among bushes and under logs, came rushing back to camp, and breathlessly an- nounced an important discovery. Sure, it's a bear this time," he stammered, looking An Unseen Enemy. 43 over his shoulder. Ye've told me time and time agin that the print of a bear's fut looks like a man's boot. Sure, there's wan here in the bushes that's the very image o' wan, toes an' all. Oh, wirra, wirra, he'll ate us up before morning' " Hush, Teddy," exclaimed Mr. Dutton, authorita- tively. Tell us where you saw the track." "Jist beyant in the bushes." Come, Joe, we'll look at it." The rest wanted to follow, but Mr. Dutton bade them stay where they were. He had uncomfortable misgivings regarding that track, with its toes so plainly marked. What if it were not a bear's foot- print at all I What if- His worst fears were realized when he saw the Indian's manner on looking at the track. H'm he grunted, with a slight start, as he stooped low to examine it. H'm I Him no bear I " What is it, then ?" "Him man's foot." "White ?" "No. Injun." "How old is the sign ? " "Half-hour, maybe." Here was intelligence, to be sure, of a decidedly unpleasant character. While they had been building their camp, dis- cussing their plans, roaming about the woods, dark forms had been flitting to and fro among the sha- dows of the forest, within a stone's throw. Glisten- ing eyes had been watching them, probably with looks of hatred. For a friendly band would have advanced at once, where the party of whites was so 44 The Red Mountain of Alaska. evidently a harmless one, with its four boys and one middle-aged man. The two guides now held a short consultation, and, on Mr. Dutton's return to camp, they darted into the woods. The hour spent before their return was one of extreme anxiety. The boys knew nothing of their father's apprehensions, and chatted merrily over the supper-getting, which, in the absence of the guides, they took into their own hands. If the Takheesh Indians, in the border of whose country they now were, should take the warpath, they were greatly to be feared. Their tribe had been foully treated by the traders, and, though few in numbers, the Alaska Indians are known to be among the fiercest and most implacable of their race when their evil passions are once roused. And if there was danger to his own party, what of the other, near by, containing his brother, wife, and daughter? While these thoughts were chasing one another through Mr. Dutton's troubled mind, Joe returned, and shortly afterward his comrade. The information they brought was not reassuring. They had struck the trail of the strange Indians, they said, in several parts of the surrounding forest, and, though they did not come upon the band, the guides were pretty sure that they were encamped just beyond a little ridge, about two miles south-west of Camp Prospect. They had probably been startled, Joe intimated, by the report of Rob's gun. The boys by this time had been acquainted with the situation, and the faces of the company were clouded. An Unseen Enemy. 45 "Well," said Mr. Dutton, at last, "we won't try to cross a bridge before we come to it. The Indians will not dare to attack us to-night, while we are all in camp, nor are they fond of roaming the woods after dark. We'll take turns keeping guard, however, and while one watches the rest shall sleep." It was still so early in the evening that no thoughts of sleep could be entertained for an hour or two. Mr. Dutton was determined that his boys should not worry away their chances for a night's rest. He therefore proposed telling stories until bedtime. "That is," said he, with a good-natured slap on Joe's broad shoulders, "I don't mean to do all the talking myself. You can begin, old fellow." The Indian's dark eyes lighted up. Taciturn as he was on ordinary occasions, he was renowned among his comrades as a recounter of marvellous tales and hair's-breadth escapes. Joe was a good story-teller, and he knew it. As full of airs as a young lady who is asked to play, and "has left her music at home," Joe coughed and smoked and pretended indifference, but, after the proper amount of urging, raised himself upon his elbow instead of squatting in the traditional Indian fashion, and, having replenished his pipe (which, however, soon died out), began as follows. I do not attempt to spell out his peculiar dialect, or indicate the expressive grunts and gutturals which served as punctuation marks. About ten years ago," he said, I was guiding, near Fort Churchill, with my brother, John Feather- top." 46 The Red J ;.::..- .': of Alaska. I didn't know you had a brother, Joe," interrupted Nat. "Dead now," remarked then resumed his story. "We started out, one fort, and by the end of the narrator, laconically, fine morning, from the the next day reached a " WE STARTED ACROSS THE LAKE." lake about thirty miles away, where the fishing was good. "Two men-white men-were with us. They were from a big town in the States-New--New-- "York ?" suggested Rob. "That's it. They paid us well, and were full of fun. On the lake we had two good canoes, hidden in the bushes at different points. John and I soon found one of them, drew the paddles from a hollow An Unseen Enemy. 47 log close by, and started across the lake for the other canoe. We paddled straight across a wide bay, in a north- east direction, took our bearings from a bunch of rocks just above water (there were half-a-dozen gulls'-nests on them, and the birds flew up slowly as we paddled past) ; then worked up to a point heavily wooded with black growth, and John landed. Pretty soon I heard a squirrel chatter, and right afterward a bird sound, like this." Here Joe imitated pretty closely the long, plaintive whistle of the hermit thrush. The boys nodded to their father, to show that they recognized the notes ; and Joe gravely proceeded. I knew then that something was out of the common, and that John apprehended danger ; other- wise he would not have called me at all, or would have sung out my name. The squirrel and the bird meant 'Trouble-come quick, but carefully.' If the bird had sung first, it would have meant, Stay there; I'm coming back.' "I answered the bird call, and stepped out of the canoe, pulling it up a little on a big rock. Then I went into the bushes and found John. "He was standing near an old pine stub that had been our landmark for the second canoe. It ought to have been just six paces from that stub, in a little overgrown run, covered with brush. The fir and spruce, with a few white cedars, grew so thick along the edge of the run that nobody would have found the canoe without a hard hunt and a hint as to its hiding-place. Nobody in the world knew of that place but John and I. The canoe was gone." 48 The Red Mountain of Alaska. Joe paused impressively, having dropped his voice to its lowest gutturals in pronouncing the two words, " Canoe gone "-and looked around the firelit circle of faces to observe the effect. The result of the survey proving satisfactory, he lighted his pipe anew with a blazing twig from the camp-fire. "But that wasn't the worst of it," he continued, more solemnly than ever. There wasn't the faintest sign of any stranger there. Not a track showed in the earth between that spot and the lake. Not a twig, as far as we could see in any direction, was broken or bent; even the boughs that had been thrown over the run were absolutely undisturbed. Simply, the canoe was not there. In some mys- terious way it had been drawn out from its hiding- place, and had totally disappeared. I said there was no track. Stop-there was one. John pointed it out after we had been there a minute. It was a mere touch on the moss-so light as hardly to bend down the soft tops-yet, here and there, plainly enough marked when once we had found one, were the prints of a child's or a young girl's foot. The strange part of it was the lightness. We found one spot where she or it had stepped fairly on a piece of soft, muddy soil. As I live, masters, the print was not half a day old, and was not so deep." Joe measured off about an eighth of an inch on his thumb-nail. Nat crept more closely to his father, and glanced over his shoulder. There was always something uncanny about Joe's stories ; and, indeed, Mr. Dutton began to repent having called for the performance on this particular night. An Unseen Enemy. 49 "Hurry up, Joe," he exclaimed, "and get to the point of your story. What made the tracks around the run? Some light-footed Indian squaw, I suppose! " "No squaw," replied Joe, with dignity. Track too ver' light, you see." But, as I said, I will not try to give the story in Joe's peculiar dialect. Here is the rest of it, trans- lated into English. We could make nothing of the tracks, and pretty soon we paddled back to camp, after having searched the point over for the missing canoe. Not a sign of it could we find. When we returned to our two hunters, they laughed at us, but were angry, too, because they had but one canoe to fish from. Only one of them could go out at a time. "We took a few trout in the lake, but the fish did not rise well, and after a couple of days we pushed on to a small pond five miles above. "It was all white water between, so we had to carry. It took five trips to get across, for it's the hardest carry in all the north country.. "The last time we took the canoe. It was rather heavy for that style of craft, and there was one point, just opposite a big waterfall in the river, where it had to be lugged straight uphill for fifty rods or more. "John and I got underneath, and the New York men pulled on a rope hitched round the bows. It was a hard tug, but we got there at last. "We built a brush camp pretty near the shore of the upper pond, and laid out for a fortnight's stay at least. There was deer-sign in the woods, 50 The Red Mountain of Alaska. S| !and if the rises in the pond S' at sunset meant anything, they meant all the fish we Should eat, and more, too. .. Well, sir, if you'll b. believe me, we'd no -. i,. ooner got settled lown in camp than V -" .-verything began to g o wrong. John cut his hand that very '-1 "; night mending a leader, so he could "' hardly hold a pad- Sdle. One of S-. our blankets ,- 7-s' ,,, '"'- & had a hole ' burnt in it the next morning ; ' our best rifle missed fire when we had a fine buck ca- ribou in easy range ; it rain ed hard and was broil- ing hot by turns; and at last John,. UPHILL WORK. An Unseen Enemy. 5 through clumsy paddling with his lame hand, run the canoe square on to a rock, near the outlet, and put a hole through the birch. It's no use,' we agreed, he and I, the trip's be- witched. Whatever it was that took that canoe has sent us bad luck.' "Then we remembered an old story of how an innocent Indian girl was shot by trappers in that region years before; shot because some skulking chap in her tribe had stolen a pelt or two, and these fellows wanted to square the account. "John shook his head, and said he believed the spirit of the girl was abroad in the woods, and would be the death of us if we didn't go out.. "He wanted to tell the two gentlemen about it, but I told him they'd laugh at him, and we'd better wait a while before doing anything. "' H'm,' said John, 'if we want to go back, who can hinder?' "'You'd have to go alone,' said I, 'for I won't leave a party I've once taken into the woods, spirit or no spirit.' That night one of our two masters was taken with fever and chills, though he had been perfectly well an hour before. John looked hard at me as we sat by the fire, but I pretended not to see him. "Next morning the poor gentleman was rather worse than better. Part of the time he was out of his head, and kept raving about somebody he thought was trying to drown him in the canoe. Don't tip it over Don't tip it over I he'd cry, in the most awful way, starting up and then sinking back with a choking sound as if he were going under water. 52 The Red Alountain of Alaska. "As soon as I got a chance I called John out into the brush a bit. "'John,' said I, 'I had a queer dream last night.' "' So did I,' said he, quietly. "' I dreamed I found that canoe.' 'So did I.' "' It was placed across two flat, mossy rocks, and in it was the body of a young squaw-- "Before John had time to say, So it was!' (as I've no doubt his dream was exactly the same as mine) we were called to hold the sick man, who was now quite out of his head, and muttering strange things that nobody but John and I under- stood. "He grew quieter after a while, and slept. The other gentleman, worried and troubled as he was, took his rifle and started round the shore of the lake for game. Before long I heard the crack of his piece, and not a minute later a doe dashed past the camp. "Her tongue was out, and I could see that she was wounded; but she was out of sight with three bounds. As she went past us she half turned her head, and gave me one swift look from her big, f!iblit eyes. I'm an old hunter, sir, but I declare to you I never had a deer nor a living animal look at me so before. I found a single red spot on a green leaf in her tracks after she had gone. "This was at about noon. The master came back more tired and anxious than ever. As soon as dinner was over he wanted me to go and hunt up that doe. An Unseen Enemy. 53 Generally, I'd want no better job, for I knew by the way she ran that she was shot to death, and I wouldn't have to go far. But, sir, I hated to go. I'd have taken John, but he said he must stay in camp and gum that leak in the old canoe before dark. I left him getting his gum and some bark to burn and sear with. Well, it took longer than I thought it would. For upwards of three miles I tramped through the black growth to the head of the pond, follow- ing the trail, which wasn't the easiest to keep in sight. There wasn't a broken limb or even a bent brake; and on the ground scarcely a track, she was so light. The sun was well down, and it was getting pretty shady in the woods when I struck a plain carry, made by traders in old times, from the head of the pond to a chain of lakes and a post beyond. After following this about a hundred rods I came to a standstill. A small sheet of water was just in front of me ; but what I noticed most was a lot of big, mossy rocks along the shore. They were the very rocks that I had seen in my dream ! "And there, sir, not quite as I had dreamed it, but pulled up a little across the opening of the carry, was the lost canoe. I came up to it with a creeping all over me from head to foot. I knew what I should find there, even before I saw the patch of soft brown and white over the edge of the canoe. There, just as she had stumbled and fallen, in her last feeble effort to reach the water, lay the beautiful doe, the blood still flowing from the fatal bullet-hole. She was quite dead. 54 The Red Mountain of Alaska. Perhaps you'll laugh at me, sir, when I tell you I didn't cut her up ? "I took her out easy, and laid her on the moss, out of sight of the carry. She was a small, slender thing, and lifted easy. I threw some brush over her, and shouldered the canoe, which was not so large as the one we had brought with us from the first lake, and in five minutes was paddling down the lower pond as if all the spirits of the forest were after me. "At last I came in sight of John Feathertop, just putting the last touches on the bottom of the damaged canoe, and then, I confess, for the first time I breathed freely. "The gentleman asked me where the doe was, but I took no notice, and he supposed I felt bad at not finding her, so he said nothing more about it. "The next day the sick man was well enough to move, and we all started for home, although the two New Yorkers wanted to stay and finish their sport." Why did they go out, then ?" Because they could not stay without guides. And both guides refused, quietly and respectfully, but firmly, to spend another day in that locality. "We got out in safety, with the exception of the lighter canoe. That we left behind. Why? Because it had carried the dead; because the dead had claimed it; because it belonged to the dead. "John Feathertop and I, as well as Jim here, were poor enough ; but there wasn't money enough in all the Hudson's Bay territory to hire us ever to visit that lake again." (I.) "JOHN WAS PUTTING THE LAST TOUCHES ON.' (2.) I SHOULDERED THE CANOE." An Unseen Enemy. 57 As Joe concluded his story, with a furtive glance at the staring eyes about him, a loon in the lake below suddenly made night hideous with its maniac laughter. Mr. Dutton could feel little Nat shiver in his arms. CHAPTER V. RAFT-BUILDING. T was plain that Joe's story, instead of quiet- ing the boys, as their father had intended, had wrought them to a high pitch of nervousness, which would have to relax before sleep visited the little camp by the headwaters of the Pelly that night. "Now, boys," he exclaimed, in his cheery, wholesome tones, that of them- Y selves began at once to put to flight the imaginary terrors of the night, 'm going to tell you a story. The difference between mine and Joe's is, principally, that mine is true " Joe withdrew his pipe from his lips, and gazed reproachfully at Mr. Dutton; contented himself with a shake of his head at the idea of his veracity being questioned; and began to puff again at his tobacco. That is," added Mr. Dutton, changing his position in the tent so as to rest more easily, and at the same time face the boys, "the main facts are true. It's about a severe cold snap that took place in Atlanta, Georgia, not long ago." Thereupon he proceeded to narrate the following story, giving the negro dialect with such excellent effect as to make the boys laugh heartily at some points, and to bring tears to their eyes at others. Raft-Building. 59 Lex had been busy all day, partly in efforts to keep out from under customers' feet, partly in running errands. When he turned away from the store at night, and started for home, he was very tired. Hi!" chattered Lex, as he pattered along the side-walk, ain't dis yere cold, jes' " It was cold, and was growing colder. The sun had muffled itself in a bank of clouds as it hurried off to a warmer climate, turning a very cold shoulder indeed upon Lex and his surroundings. As soon as the sun was well out of the way, presto up dodged the sly breezes that had kept quiet since morning, and, spying the black boy on his way home, made for him with eager glee. They could not do much with his hair, to be sure, it curled so tightly and closely to his round head ; but, to make up for that, they pinched his ears and pulled off his tattered hat, tweaked his fingers and toes, whooped and hallooed at him, and threw dust in his astonished black eyes, until he felt as if he were in the paws of a sort of great Polar tiger, playing with him cruelly and breathing on him from her icy jaws. So the wind kept on blowing harder and harder, and the mercury in the thermometers sought to hide itself in their bulbs, until the very light of the moon above the chimney-tops seemed to come down frozen. Colder and colder it grew. In the North, people would not have been surprised at it, but Atlanta folks were not used to such cold, and it took them by sur- prise. George Alexander Jackson, or Lex," as he was called for short, hurried along till he reached a small cabin on the outskirts of the city, and, slamming the 60 The Red Mountain of Alaska. door behind him, stood shivering before the stove, whose firelight, shining out between the bars in front, fell pleasantly on the floor, and danced all about the white kitten, who blinked sleepily at Lex. "Well, Lex, got home f'm yo' wo'k agin, ain't ye ?" said a stout black woman, cheerily, coming up to him and drawing his woolly head to her motherly bosom. "Po' little boy He's done run all d' way home,- now, ain't ye, honey?" Lex bobbed his head, and squirmed with the cold. "Dar, dar, chile, you jes' stay right in mammy's arms till ye get wo'm an' comf'ble. Reckon 'twon't be so cold ter-morrer. An' de Lo'd will pervide I " Chloe Jackson was one of the old slaves who had " got religion," as her master had sneeringly said. Truly she had got" it, firmly enough, and not even her freedom in these later days was so precious to her. To Lex, religion as yet meant mostly-" mammy," and he would have been as much alarmed had she stopped using Scripture phrases as if she had stopped breathing. A comfortable sense of warmth stole through Lex's sturdy little frame as he watched his mother going about the room in her preparations for supper. On the table, bare but clean, were set three plates of different sizes, and in varied stages of repair; a small teapot, a plate of hoe-cakes, and a cracked mug full of a dark liquid that Lex's critical eye told him was molasses. A cup and saucer for Chloe herself completed the tea-set, and Lex was told to take his place beside his mother and sister, the latter being a year or two younger than himself. His father had gone quietly away to another country five years before, leaving his Raft-Building. .6 poor black earth-clothes in the little burying-ground outside the city. "Be quiet, chilluns! said Chloe, softly, raising her hand. Then she proceeded to say grace-rather longer than common, Lex thought, sniffing the hoe- cakes with his eyes shut. "0 Lo'd," she concluded, her voice beginning to tremble strangely, "bress dese yere chilluns 0 doan fergit yo' brack chilluns, what yo' led outen de wild'- ness, 0 Lo'd, an' don't let dese yere little ones freeze wid cold, or die fer want of food, an' doan, 0 Lord- Amen." Lex looked up, surprised at her abrupt close, and caught sight of two big tears rolling down her cheeks. 0 mammy mammy what ye done cry fer ? " he begged, laying his head again on her shoulder. " What makes y' ask Mass' Lo'd" (she never could break him of saying that) "ter keep us f'm freezin' ?' Dar, chile," she said, almost sharply, "doan ye go ter axin' questions. De Lo'd an' I done got two er free secrets what pickaninnies mus'n know nuf'n' 'bout. You jes' eat yo' supper an' be quiet." His thoughts diverted for a few minutes by this last suggestion, Lex busied himself with his bread and molasses. Then he asked,- "Mammy, who was it you read 'bout in de Bible dat got fo' or five thousand hoe-cakes fm a flock of crows ?" "Laws-a-me, jes' hear him cried mammy, an ill- suppressed chuckle of fun driving the anxiety out of her face for a moment. 'Twas meat, meat, chile, what dem birds bro't to 'Lijah." An' would dey brung meat to us, mammy, ef we wus mighty hungry ? " 62 The Red Mountain of Alaska. I reckon so, honey," said Chloe, with a sweet look of faith in her honest eyes. He's never fergot us yit." So Lex was satisfied, and returned to his post by the fire. Presently he looked up, with a little shiver. Mammy, please put some mo' wood on de fire." Mammy glanced up quickly, then came to the small stove, and stirred the brands together till they crackled and blazed again. "Lex," she said, quietly, "I'm gwine out fer a little while. You an' Bess stay here an' 'have yer- selves till I git back." Without further words she drew a faded shawl over her head, and went out into the bleak night. It was half-an-hour or more before she came back. She kept her shawl about her till she had sent the children out of the room on an errand, then deposited upon the floor a few sticks of wood she had brought in. When they returned she was replenishing the fire. "'Pears colder 'n ever," she said. You chillun 'd better go ter bed now." And they went, curling up in a heap of straw and under a patched quilt in one corner of the hut. Are ye sho' de crows will come, mammy ? yawned Lex, as she tucked the ragged edges of an old blanket around him. Sho', honey," she replied, heartily. "An' could-dey-brung-wood ?" but Lex was too sleepy to wait for an answer. It will be long before the Atlanta people forget the night of January 26th, 18-. The bitter wind, which only a few weeks before had urged a conflagration to do its fearful work, until a whole city seemed mount- Raft-Building. 63 ing to heaven in a chariot of fire, now with icy cold- ness crept in noiselessly, to counteract the efforts of the very element it had so lately helped. In the night Lex had a curious dream. He thought he saw his mother creep softly into the kitchen and bear the old pine table out of the house. Then there seemed to come a crackling noise, and presently the firelight shone out merrily through the little bars, and Lex felt warm and comfortable. Mammy stayed by the stove, occasionally throwing in bits of wood, until his dream carried him elsewhere. The next morning Lex was waked by hearing Bess crying softly beside him. "What's de matter, Bess ? he asked, sleepily. I'se s-so cold she sobbed, cuddling up close to him. But mammy's ears had caught the sound too, and she was beside her little black lambs in a moment, covering them with the shawl she had worn the night before. As she did so, Lex felt something soft and warm between him and Bess. It was the white kitten. It struck Lex as strange that the white kitten should prefer his bed to the floor underneath the stove, where she was usually found on other mornings. At that same moment he observed that the steam was not puffing from the tea-kettle, as was its wont. "Wh-what's de matter wid de stove, mammy ?" he stammered, rubbing his eyes. "Doan you bodder yo' head 'bout dat ar stove," said Chloe, with great cheerfulness. "I jes' let the fire go down a bit b'fo' breakfast dat's all." B-but-whar's de table ? " Chloe turned her head away at first, without answer- ing. She had loved the little four-foot table, at which 64 The Red Mountain of Alaska. she and her husband had sat so often, and it had been a sore sacrifice to burn it up. But she had all her motherhood stirred in defence of her children. She fought the cold as if it had been a living thing. Just then Bess, catching the look, gave a little miserable wail of distress and cold. At that cry the fierce light that sometimes comes into the mild eyes of her race flashed in Chloe's as she crouched by the little heap of straw, and glanced nervously about the room. There were only two wooden pieces of furniture that had survived the demands of that night; an old broken-legged stool, which her husband had brought from the plantation, and which had always been specially set apart for him; and a small shelf, high up on the opposite wall, on which were laid a worn Bible and hymn-book. Chloe rose, hesitated a moment, then stepped across the room, swiftly reached up, and, taking the two books from their resting-place, laid them carefully and reverently upon a few wisps of clean straw in a corner of the hut. Next, she gave the shelf a wrench that brought it down with a cloud of dust, and, without pausing,-as if she were afraid of repenting,- opened the stove-door and thrust in the fragments upon the glowing brands. All these proceedings Lex and Bess and the white kitten watched with intense interest, and with very dubious faces. Bess no longer cried, but had hard work to keep her lip from quivering. Kitty put out one dainty paw, shook it as if she had dipped it into cold water, curled up again in Lex's bosom, and made a brave attempt to purr. Lex privately thought it might be about time for Raft-Building. 65 the ravens. It comforted him a little, he hardly knew why, to think that they would be black, like himself -these chosen messengers from Heaven. He was cut short in his reflections by mammy. I'se gwine out again," she said, in a queer voice Lex had never heard. "I'se gwine out ter git somefin' for ye ter burn an' ter eat." "But dem-dem crows, mammy ?" I'se gwine ter look for 'em." And she was gone. "Mebbe dey mout 'light down round de house," meditated Lex. I'll jes' keep de cat inside de do', anyways." This time it was an hour before Chloe returned, weary, footsore, slow of speech, benumbed with cold. She had left the shawl, you see, over little Bess. In her pocket she brought a few chips, two bits of coal, and a fragment of bread-crust. With the remains of last night's supper, for which she had used the last crumb of provisions in the house, they made a meagre breakfast. The children were not allowed to get up, so they did not miss the table so much. Still the ravens did not come. Chloe dragged her- self out once more, and returned-empty-handed ! It was Sunday, and the church-bells, in the wealthier part of the dity, rang merrily. But congregations that morning were small. Those whose conscience per- mitted them to do so stayed at home. The lower streets were thronged with poor people, crying for bread and fuel. The little white kitten, and many other kittens that day, white and black, mewed pite- ously for the meat the ravens did not bring. Mammy," said Lex, I'se pow'ful hungry. Doan v' t'ink it's 'bout time for 'em ? " 66 The Red Mountain of Alaska. The three-legged stool had gone long ago. Mammy, her brave heart battling against the numb despair that was creeping over her, laid her poor rough hand on the boy's head, and sang :- "Oh, my way's cloudy- My way- Oh, send dem angels down." "Mammy !" Lex suddenly broke out, with a sharp cry, was dat 'Lijah white ?," Poor mammy Perhaps, if she could have had an image of Elijah's swarthy face as it really must have looked, she would have been comforted. As it was, she was fain to lay her finger on the child's trembling lips and go on singing. In the west the sun glowed in all its mockery of red light, like a painted furnace in a frame of ice. The wind,-ah, that remorseless wind !-springing up again, blew out the last spark of fire, and thrust itself through the wide cracks in the little hut. Still mammy sat stiffly, forming the words with her lips - Send dem angels down,- My way's clo-o-udy--" "Mammy," moaned Lex once more, "'pears like dem crows lost dar way, 'r else dey doan come to no brack folks. DAR DEY IS !" he shrieked out, all at once, jumping to his feet and almost upsetting mammy, who raised herself more slowly and listened. Yes i it was a low, heavy rumble of wheels over the frozen ground. Nearer and nearer it came. Chloe darted to the door. They were stopping-two big waggons, one loaded high with wood, the other with Raft-Building. 67 baskets of provisions of every sort conceivable. The driver was a wealthy resident of Atlanta, well known throughout the city, and, doubtless, throughout heaven, too, God bless him ! So the ravens had come, and Chloe and her little ones knew no more want that winter. The next morn- ing the following telegram quivered over the wires to the great Northern newspapers, in the files of which you can find it if you look :- "ATLANTA, GA., Jan. 27.-The severe weather of the past week caused great suffering among the poor. On Saturday it was learned that hundreds of poor women and children were huddling around their last burning stick of wood, and the Constitution of Sunday morning made an appeal to the citizens to send to the paper money, provisions, and fuel, which would be distributed by its business department. "At noon there were gathered together about sixty waggons, containing wood and provisions. Merchants worth hundreds of thousands of dollars took their places as drivers, each with a wood-waggon and a provision-waggon under his charge, and started on a tour of the city, working all day until nightfall. "All day the Constitution office looked more like a military supply dep6t than a newspaper office. Hun- dreds of sacks of flour, coffee, and sugar, sides of meat 'and hams, and on the sidewalk cords of wood were seen, while the streets were full of people, clamorous for relief. No distinction was made in the distribution in regard to colour." Who shall say, boys, that men are not still about their Father's business ? 68 The Red Mountain of Alaska. When Mr. Dutton concluded, Nat was already yawning, and the relieved expression of the other boys' faces showed that their pulses were beating calmly once more. Now," said the father, we'll go to sleep." It was easier to say sleep than to do it, after all. Never did a night seem so long to the boys as they lay huddled together in the tent. Perhaps little Nat, now that he had recovered from his nervousness, was the bravest of all. He said his prayers composedly, took off his jacket, and lay down in the tent with perfect trust in both his heavenly and his human father, feeling very sure that he would be well taken care of until morning. Mr. Dutton watched, rifle across his knee, until twelve o'clock. Then he called Rob, who kept guard till two. The guides relieved him, and he slept heavily for the next two hours. At four o'clock the whole camp was astir. Mr. Dutton, who had decided upon a definite course, gave his orders quietly. First, a good breakfast, in which hot coffee and Rob's rabbit played a prominent part. It was wonderful how much better they all felt after this. Teddy, reinforced by a huge lump from the savoury stew, declared himself ready to fight very Injun in Alashky."' No alarm had been given during the night, and all were alert for the day's work. Already the terrors of the dusky evening twilight seemed a thing of the past. "The first thing," said Mr. Dutton, cheerily, as they rose from their meal, "is to find some good large logs floating in the lake. Half-a-dozen will do." Raft-Building. 69 There's a lot of them down there," said Hugh, pointing. I crept out on them yesterday when I was fishing." What are you going to do with them, papa?" asked Nat. I think it best that we should finish our journey, if possible, on a raft, though it will take all day to make one. We should be liable to lose our way by shore, and I've noticed that the undergrowth of bushes and deep moss is growing much more troublesome as we approach the coast." "But how about the Indians ? " "If they are really hostile, we shall be safest on our raft, for then they cannot reach us without coming into full view. Yes, by all means, it is best to take to the water." To the water, then cried Robert, seizing an axe, and starting for the point indicated by Hugh. To the water echoed all, and a general stampede toward the lake would have followed had not the leader checked it. Wait! wait! he called out, laughing. There's work here for some to do. Nat, do you straighten out all the pieces of cord you can find in the packs. They must be used for fastening the cross pieces together. Hugh, you may busy yourself about camp. Take down the tent, to begin with, and pack it up for transportation." But, father, I thought you said we should stay here another day. Sha'n't we need the tent- " Another day, my boy, but not another night No, we shall take the night boat,' and before sunrise to- morrow we must be thirty miles from here, if it can be done." 70 The Red Mountain of Alaska. Mr. Dutton now dispatched the two guides into the woods, to reconnoitre. They joined him shortly after- ward at the water's edge, and reported all quiet; no new signs of the enemy. How those axes did flash through the air I Branches were lopped off from the fallen trees where it was necessary, but for the most part they had been broken or rubbed away in the wild rush they must have re- cently made from their native heights, in the current of a glacial torrent. The ends of four of the largest logs were notched, and the big timbers saddled on each other. Then, although they lay quite firmly together, they were lashed with stout cords. Two other pieces were saddled across from side to side in the same way, at even distances between the ends of the oblong raft, and on these four cross-pieces was laid a dry, compact floor or deck of logs, running lengthwise of the raft, and secured by notching and tying at the outside corners. It was eight o'clock in the evening when the last log was fastened in its place. The day had passed without a visit from the savages, but there had been an indication of their presence which had disturbed Mr. Dutton. About the middle of the afternoon a light column of thin blue smoke had been seen to descend from just beyond the ridge before referred to. Within three minutes a similar smoke arose from a hill-top on the opposite side of the lake. Then both disappeared. It was plainly a signal. It looked as if the natives were gathering in force. Perhaps it was not a band of Takheesh after all, but some strange, unknown tribe from the interior, far more savage and uncivilized. Supper was eaten in silence. Raft-Building. 71 "Now," said Mr. Dutton, quietly, "we'll rest an hour or two under the mosquito tent." The netting had been left out for this especial purpose, an I the whole party crawled under its meshes, thankful to stretch themselves out on their blankets for even that short time. They had done little during the day except hard work, standing half the time up to their knees in water, while the mosquitoes were buzzing in swarms around their heads. Hugh had taken half-a-dozen trout, and Robert had shot a green-winged teal. At just half-past ten o'clock Dr. Dutton gave the signal for rising. They rubbed their stiff and weary limbs, and, one by one, scrambled, yawning, to their feet. Do up the blankets, boys. Joe, is the raft ready ? Have you got the poles on board, and the mast rigged with the braces ? " Yis." Now, Rob-that's it, take everything with you, and scatter the fire a little. Good-bye, Camp Prospect! " They stepped on board their rough craft, and the three men took positions with the long push-poles Joe had provided. "Now, then ; off she goes !" And off she went, away from the silent shore, toward the middle of the lake. A gentle breeze was blowing from the east. Mr. Dutton spread the cotton tent in such a way as to shelter the younger boys, and at the same time help their progress a little as a sail. From the time they left the shore they spoke in low tones, in order not 72 The Red Mountain of Alaska. to apprise any lurking enemy of their departure. In this way they moved slowly but steadily on their course down the lake, the little waves rippling against the sides of the raft, and a startled Quack now and then betraying the presence of a duck paddling about in the water. It was now near midnight, but they were so far north that they could have read a newspaper easily had such a commodity been furnished by the Alaska press. The mosquitoes were so voracious that the skeleton tent" was pitched on the raft, and afforded intense relief to those of the crew who could be spared to 'alke refuge under it. Hugh, Nat, Teddy, and Carlo were the first to take advantage of the netting, and in five minutes all four were fast asleep, Nat's head resting lovingly on Carlo's black fur. Robert came over to his father's side. Where are you aiming for, father ? How far do you expect to go ?" If the traders' and travellers' stories are correct, this lake is about a dozen or fifteen miles long, by an average of three wide. At'the foot of it, the river Pelly starts in a series of rough but not dangerous rapids. I studied this all out at home, for I could see that we were likely to travel on or beside the river, from its source to its union with the Yukon proper." And do you expect to cross those rapids to-night, sir ?" asked Robert, in amazement. I do," said Mr. Dutton, firmly. About ten miles from their foot the river widens into a small pond, which contains one island. On that island we shall camp-" Raft-Building 73 Look, father, what is that?" interrupted Rob, eagerly. It looks like a man swimming. Isn't it ?" A moment's scrutiny and a single question to the guides explained the true character of the swimmer. It was not an Indian or a white man. What they saw was simply the head of a large black bear, swimming across at the narrowest part of the lake. Robert was eager to get out his Winchester and shoot the animal, but his father said no. He did not dare to fire a gun, lest he should put the natives on their guard. "Besides," he said, we could not possibly secure either carcass or skin, and we must not join the large army of thoughtless people who take animal life for fun.' " The bear looked neither to right nor left, but swam on, and presently they saw him drag himself out of the water and disappear in the forest. The raft had now turned the bend of the horseshoe, and was heading north-west. The east wind, drawing in around the high hills I have already spoken of, on the southern shore of the lake, was still slightly astern, and helped the raft so that the poles were not used. They now drew near the opening which, they could plainly see, marked the exit of the Pelly River. Already they could hear the rush of the rip waves, where the fierce current contended with the eternal rocks. Bump went the raft on a huge boulder. Carlo became uneasy, and, getting out somehow from under the mosquito canopy, advanced gravely to the forward end of the raft. Thump went the raft again. Still it kept the 74 The Red Mountain of Alaska. main channel, and was not appreciably the worse for wear. A sort of steering oar had been arranged for this craft by the boys, and by a diligent use of this, as well as the push-poles, no great damage was done to the vessel or passengers. Presently the raft began to run more smoothly. She was passing swiftly down between the shadowy banks of the Pelly, picturesque and grand by daylight, but solemn and awe-inspiring in the dim, brown dusk of the northern night. Overhead, a thick bank of fog was stealing across the sky, concealing stars and moon. Still on the raft rushed. Strange shapes seemed to throng the banks. The boys thought they could see huge elks, gigantic serpents, even lions and tigers, along the shore. These were but the ghosts born of darkness and imagination. They hoped now that they were well beyond their unwelcome and unseen visitors of the night before. Certainly no Indian war-party could have kept up with them had they started on shore at the same time. The only danger was that some roving band of Takheesh had been warned by that column of blue smoke that a raft was going down the rapids soon. Every foot is clear gain," said Mr. Dutton. "We must be getting pretty well down to the little lake where I intend we shall camp. I believe there are some light rips just before we reach there, but I think we've got over the worst of- " A startled grunt from Joe, who was at the forward end of the raft, interrupted him. What is it, boy ? " Joe pointed ahead, and at the same moment Carlo gave a sharp, angry yelp. "STILL ON THE RAFT RUSHED." Raft-Building. 77 In the dim light could be seen a row of dark figures stretched entirely across the stream, about three hundred yards below them. Beyond a doubt they were Indians. In profound silence the raft swept forward, with its tremendous momentum, and in another moment it was upon them. CHAPTER VI. THROUGH THE ENEMY'S LINES. .- N catching sight of the shadowy line of enemies, Stretched across the river in the direct path of the swiftly moving raft, Mr. Dutton's first impulse had been to seize his rifle, which was fully charged with reserve cartridges, and was close at hand. The time was so short that he had barely an opportunity to cock the piece before the voyagers were in the very midst of the band of Indians, who crowded about the raft, and, half wading, half floating down- stream with the clumsy raft, began urging it toward the right bank of the river. Before any of them could climb upon the raft, Mr. Dutton discharged his rifle into the air; at exactly the same moment Carlo gave a fierce yelp, and Teddy, who for the first time realized the condition of affairs, uttered an unearthly howl of dismay. At the report of the rifle, the natives fell back in consternation, putting their hands to their ears ; and Through the Enemy's Lines. 79 the apparition of the huge, shaggy Newfoundland, together with Teddy's outcry, put a climax to their fright. Tumbling and splashing in the water, they made for the shore, and, before the Duttons fairly knew what had happened, the river was as silent as a grave, save for the rushing of the muddy waters around the rocks and the protruding logs of the raft. Out with yourpoles, boys Push for your lives-- they may be back, or send their arrows after us, at any minute cried the leader, seizing one of the long poles, and suiting the action to the word. The raft, which had already touched bottom, now glided off into deeper water, and soon was swinging down-stream without interruption, save an occasional thump upon a hidden boulder. For half-an-hour the voyage continued in perfect silence, Nat, Hugh, and Ted sleeping quietly in their tent, and the attention of the rest being concentrated on keeping the raft in the channel. Once it grounded on a sandbar, but the two Indians, leaping into the water and standing waist- deep, succeeded in heaving it off. At length, to the intense relief of all, the river began perceptibly to widen. The banks became more and more obscure in the mists of early morning. The speed of the raft slackened, and the poles now and then failed to touch bottom. Beyond a doubt, they were emerging into the broad lake to which they had been anxiously looking forward throughout the long night. As the daylight grew brighter, they could soon make out a low, wooded island ahead. Toward this they moved, and ere long the logs grated on the pebbles some half-dozen rods from shore. Again the Indians entered the water, but, like the 80 The Red Mountain of Alaska. raven from the ark, this time they did not return. They disappeared for a few moments ; then, having explored a small bit of the rocky island, came running back, not to climb on board, but to drag and push the raft a few yards nearer the shore. Carlo plunged into the water, and swam like an otter to the island. Nat, Hugh, Rob, and even Mr. Dutton himself, were carried ashore on the stout shoulders of the guides. It remained only to bring Teddy; but, to everybody's surprise, that valiant youth refused to set foot on dry land. Sure, I'm safer on the raft," he said. I'll not be going into the woods again till I see the sojers." So he was left to guard the ship. Blankets and tents were landed, a roaring fire made, and soon the whole party were sound asleep. CHAPTER VII. OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN. OUR friends slept well that -. ight,-or morning, rather, -- --it was ten o'clock before the camp was fairly astir. S Teddy begged to come ashore Sat last, and complained bit- terly of the muskayters," S who, he said, made such a noise about his ears that he was awake all the time he was sleeping. SJim waded out to the raft to bring him in. The Indian was observed to stoop and examine something closely near the end of one of the logs. He brought Teddy to land on his back, and then handed Mr. Dutton a fragment of a peculiar-shaped arrow, which he said he had found sticking in the raft. What do you make of it, Joe ? asked Mr. Dutton. The two Indians examined the ugly-looking shaft narrowly, and exchanged a few guttural remarks in their own tongue. Jim gave the verdict, laconically, as usual. "Ayan moose arrow." 82 The Red Mountain of Alaska. Then it was not a war party that we saw ? ex- claimed the leader. The arrow is pictured below. "No. Hunt." But who or what are the Ayans ?" Injuns round here," said Joe, with a sweep of his arm. No Takheesh yit." Mr. Dutton was greatly gratified at this information. The band they had come upon, then, was simply a hunting-party of river Indians, who were probably attracted to the travellers by curiosity. When the gun was fired, or after the Indians had reached the shore, it was likely that one or two arrows had been discharged at the fast disappearing raft. No trouble, then, was to be apprehended after all. AYAN MOOSE ARROW. They were making leisurely preparations to break camp once more, when a slight splashing in the lake caused Teddy, who was nearest the water, to glance up from his work. A wild howl of despair broke from his lips. Mr. Dutton sprang to his feet, and followed the horrified gaze of the Irish lad; as he did so his heart sank. No less than a dozen small rafts were flocking round the corner of the island, bearing at least twice that number of hideously painted and bedecked Indians. It was folly to resist. Grasping his rifle firmly, Mr. Dutton stood erect, and awaited their approach. The rest of the party followed his example, even Ted being rooted to the spot by utter terror. Out of tIe Frying-Pan. 83 The new-comers did not seem in a hurry to land, but paddled and pushed their rafts along slowly to- ward shore. One particularly ugly-looking old fellow, alone on a raft, was in advance of the rest. As soon as he came within speaking distance, he uttered a loud harangue in a jargon which neither white men nor guides could understand. The word Ayan was repeated several times, and Mr. Dutton gathered, after a while, that the stranger was introducing him- self. The native's next move was to push his raft in until it grounded, and then, looking over his shoulder to see that his companions were following closely, he gathered up his long marmot-skin blanket, and, step- ping into the water, waded solemnly ashore. The other Indians had bows and arrows, but this one, who was clearly a man of influence in the tribe, now advanced with arms outspread, to show that he was unarmed. "What in the world does the old fellow want ? " murmured Hugh. Probably inquiring the way to Boston," answered Rob, in the same tone. Looks as if a little civiliza- tion would do him good." The old Ayan halted at a few paces' distance, and, to every one's surprise, pointed to Teddy, at the same time making a gesture towards the rafts, and moving his jaws in imitation of eating. The cold perspiration broke out on the boy's freckled face. He was absolutely too frightened to speak. The Ayan chief stepped forward boldly, and laid his hand on Ted's shoulder. This familiarity, however, was indignantly resented by Carlo, who bounded to the rescue with a deep growl, and doubtless would 84 The Red Mountain of Alaska. have attacked the stranger had not little Nat held him by the collar. "I don't think he wants to hurt us," said Nat, looking up with a fearless smile into the dark face of the Indian. The Ayan's grim features relaxed, and he patted Nat's head several times, in token of amity. An animated pantomime now ensued, aided by the other savages, who had come ashore, and crowded round the whites with intense but apparently not ill- natured curiosity. Joe, the guide, was the first to catch an inkling of their meaning. They want us go visit village," he interpreted to Mr. Dutton. "Have plenty eat. Injun women want to see white men." "Are you sure, Joe, they don't mean harm to us ?" "No hurt. See, no war arrows-only moose." After a short consultation with the boys, Mr. Dutton decided that it would be wise to accept the invitation, which, as he said to Robert, was like that of royalty -in effect, a command. The moment this decision was made known, the Indians pounced upon them and carried them to the large raft. In an incredibly short space of time every- thing was on board, including the passengers, Teddy being borne last, struggling every step of the way, on the shoulder of a brawny Ayan. A dozen savages now gave the raft a push that sent it out into deep water. The chief, whose name was Loklok (signifying "Bear," they afterward learned), accompanied the whites as an honorary escort. The small rafts, each manned by one to three Ayans, went ahead to show the way, the royal barge, so to speak, "TIlE ROYAL BARGE WAS BRINGING UP THE REAR." r r Out of the Frying-Pan. 87 bringing up the rear. In this manner the whole flotilla moved slowly down the lake, aided by the breeze, which still blew freshly from the east. Well, I say," remarked Hugh, in an interval of poling, "this isn't so bad It reminds me of the day when the President visited Boston, and the governor and staff turned out in barouches to re- ceive him." I can't say that I altogether like the looks of old Governor Loklok, if that's his name," replied Rob. "And Carlo is of my opinion, it's plain to see." The dog had never taken his eyes off the chief, and watched narrowly every movement of those dark legs, as if he were ready to seize them on very slight provocation. Oh, he's all right. It's only a way the old fellow has. He wanted Ted to go ahead with him, I guess, as a sort of sample." Much as to say we're going to be sold." "Not by a good deal We'll keep our eyes open, and let 'em have a taste of Winchester sauce if they come any shines on us. Hullo, here's the outlet." The rushing of waters could plainly be heard, and presently the raft shot down the narrow channel, where the banks were steeper than they had yet seen them. The rapids were rougher than before, but there was a much greater volume of water than in the upper courses, and they suffered no greater disaster than an occasional bump, which would nearly upset them all. One grave obstacle which had to be constantly avoided was the occurrence, at sharp bends of the river, of whole clumps of dead trees, which had fallen where the earth had caved in, and now leaned out toward the middle of the river, with their scraggy branches 88 The Red Mountain of Alaska. only half submerged. These had to be dodged with great alacrity, and the Newfoundland was once fairly swept off into the ice-cold stream, to the great delight of the persecuted Loklok. In some places these fallen clumps of earth had left huge caves in the high banks, and the ice could be seen dripping into the stream beneath. Now and then the party were startled by a loud report as of a musket; not for some time did they discover that the noises were merely caused by the breaking off and falling of these heavy masses of earth, trees, and rocks. Anxious as they were concerning the future, the involuntary visitors could not help marvelling, as they swept down-stream, at the scenery on both sides of the river, which was for the most part bordered by high hills, heavily wooded with spruce and fir. Along the horizon stretched gigantic forms of the Rockies and their outlying spurs, ending in snowy summits, from which flowed enormous glaciers, all in plain sight whenever the clouds were swept aside. No wonder a recent traveller says that before long we may hear Switzerland spoken of as the Alaska of Europe " A commotion was caused by a crashing among the bushes just ahead. Look!" cried Hugh, eagerly. "There comes an- other Indian, waving his arms !" Ugh Moose grunted Joe, after one glance at the object. Hugh was not the first hunter in these far-away forests to mistake the broad, spreading antlers of the moose for the brandished arms of a man, as they were seen approaching through the low underbrush. The Indians quickly fitted their many-barbed moose Out of the Frying-Pan. 89 arrows to their bows, but before they could shoot, the great creature had caught the sound of Hugh's voice, and went crashing off into the depths of the woods. Seeing that Loklok appeared much surprised and excited by the sight of the moose, Mr. Dutton inquired of his guides if this animal was not common there- abouts. The Indians informed him, correctly enough, that in Alaska and the adjacent British possessions large game is scarce in the summer time, being driven away by the dense swarms of mosquitoes, and follow- ing the melting snow line up the flanks of the moun- tains. By one o'clock Mr. Dutton estimated that they must have made thirty miles from the island where they had spent the night. Everybody was hungry, and it was intimated to the chief that it was time for dinner. The old fellow looked black, but presently gave a few sharp orders to his band, who once more plunged into the ice-cold water, waist-deep, and drew the raft ashore. While some were building a fire, and others produc- ing pieces of strong-smelling dried salmon for the meal, Hugh took the opportunity to try his rod in the stream, using a small red-and-white fly. At the third cast he had a hungry rise ; in a couple of minutes a fine spotted grayling of perhaps half-a-pound weight was flopping about the timbers of the raft. The Ayans were immensely impressed by the young angler's performance, and instantly a dozen eager hands were stretched out beseechingly for the rod. Indeed, the Duttons soon found that, while the natives assumed a vast deal of dignity on absurd occasions, they were not above begging for every movable thing they saw in their guests' possession. This trait gave the latter 90 The Red Mountain of Alaska. some uneasiness, but Mr. Dutton had already made up his mind to give his dark-skinned entertainers the slip before daylight the next morning, if it were possible. The meal dragged rather slowly, though it was helped somewhat by Hugh's contribution. The mos- quitoes were now reinforced by a kind of small black fly, much like those of the Rangeley Lakes and Adirondacks, and their attacks became so determined that the voyagers were glad to be on the move once more. After an hour's progress, the light rafts of the Ayans began to forge ahead. One by one they dis- appeared beyond a bend of the river, until the larger craft was left to itself. "It's a temptation," said Robert, reflectively, eyeing the morose chieftain, "to give this old chap a good ducking in the river, and leave him to shift for him- self." Don't disturb him in any way," cautioned his father, earnestly. Our safety lies in his friendliness toward us. We are much outnumbered, and so far from our friends that if our whole party were mas- sacred no one outside the tribe would know of it." Joe, the guide, was plainly of his employer's opinion, for he took from his pocket a small piece of tobacco, and offered it to the chief. Loklok seized it eagerly, and popped the precious morsel in his mouth, as if to make sure of it. There are no two commodities, Joe knew, so dear to an Alaskan native as tobacco and tea. It was of no use to ask an explanation of the sudden disappearance of the Ayans, for The Bear could not understand a word of English. The far-off bend in Out of th/e Frying-Pan. 91 the river was reached in due time, and the raft swung heavily round in the swift current. All were occu- pied in keeping it clear of the rocks, when a loud exclamation from Loklok caused them to look up from their work. The chief was standing at his full height, his blanket drawn round his shoulders, and an ex- pression of patriotic pride on his wrinkled face, as he majestically pointed ahead. A glance showed the reason for this sudden change in Loklok's demeanour. On the right bank of the river, about an eighth of a mile below them, a long line of Indians was drawn up, with faces turned eagerly toward the raft. Others ran wildly up and down the shore, gesticulating and screaming frantically. Mr. Dutton involuntarily tightened his grasp upon his rifle, while the boys clustered in the bows of the raft to gaze at the strange scene. Loklok alone was unmoved, save by pride in the array before him. A rope was now carried ashore, and every Ayan rushed for it, including women and children, pulling away until the raft grounded with a bump. The moment it was made fast, the line of Indians commenced a low, monotonous noise, which was evi- dently intended.for singing. At the same time they placed their arms akimbo, and swayed from side to side in a kind of dance, their long hair swinging to and fro. At a word from The Bear the dance ceased, and the travellers were conducted-all save Joe and Jim, who absolutely refused to leave the raft-to the clump of eight or ten houses which composed the village. Mr. Dutton pointed to his tent-pack, and intimated 6 92 The Red Mountain of Alaska. by gestures that he would prefer to occupy his own quarters for the night. But Loklok shook his head, and pointed firmly to one of the huts, a little larger than the rest. They were all obliged to enter, stooping low at the entrance, and there The Bear left them, evidently relieved at having his curiosities securely caged. Now at last the party had a chance to reflect upon the situation, and discuss plans for the morrow. CHAPTER VIII. A STARTLING DISCOVERY. i THE hut in which our friends found I .themselves was a small affair, built of spruce boughs, which were laid against a ridge-pole in such a way as to form a semicircular wall. A caribou hide was thrown over the upper part of these, on the outside, leaving only a small space for the escape of smoke, which hung heavily in the apex of the hut, rising from embers left in the centre by the previous occupants, who had evidently but just been hurried out of the guest chamber. A dozen split salmon were hanging from the rafters, drying in the smoke, at an altitude unpleasantly near the noses of the new-comers when they stood up. Every few minutes, a native dog, of which there ap- peared to be dozens about the place, would put his head in at the door and snarl viciously, until scared away by Carlo, who had declared war with the whole canine tribe at the outset. "I say, father," remarked Hugh, as the weary five threw themselves down at the greatest possible distance from the smouldering spruce-knot fire, "there's no danger of getting lost in this hotel, any way." 94 The Red Mountain of Alaska. Sure, it's the hotel itself is lost," dolefully. Get out, ye baste !" with of the lean village curs. This is a summer village," said added Teddy, a kick at one Mr. Dutton. - ~- 3 _- -.; -0-- CHILKAT CAIOE. "Where these fellows live in the winter I'm sure I don't know." Have you ever heard of the tribe before ? asked Rob, who had been examining his surroundings curiously. A Startling Discovery. 95 "Yes, I remember that Dick mentioned them in one of his letters. They claim the whole country watered by the Pelly River-which they call the Ayan-and a considerable stretch of the big Yukon itself, above and below old Fort Selkirk. They never go near the coast, I believe, but live along the large rivers, and in the winter time make long hunting excursions into the interior after caribou and moose." "And bear ? " Not much," interrupted Hugh. "I heard Joe say that the Alaska Indians won't hunt the brown bear, he is so fierce." "It's strange that they have only rafts to go about in." "Down below, the tribe have plenty of canoes, and good ones, too, I've heard. They make them of birch bark, sewed with the fine roots of the spruce, well boiled to make them soft and tough." "Whew!" exclaimed Rob, at this point in the conversation, isn't that salmon terrific I don't believe I can stand it much longer." If it was only salmon !" remarked Hugh, sadly. " But there are about four other smells, each worse than all the rest." "Hold on, boys," said their father. "Ted, you stay near the door, and make sure that nobody is listening. There may be some one in the tribe who understands English." Faith, it's meself that'll be glad to get a breath of air," said Teddy, taking his post as sentry, and laying hold of a good-sized stick, to keep the dogs away. The question is," continued Mr. Dutton, how 96 The Red Mountzain of Alaska. shall we get away from here? These fellows are good-natured enough, but somehow I don't wholly trust them. Once or twice I caught old Loklok exchanging glances with some of his big subjects, and I didn't like the look in his eyes." I say, let's part company with the whole crowd as soon as possible," urged Rob. "I feel about them just as you do, father. They looked at my rifle to-night as though they'd eat it. I don't believe they'll be satisfied until they've laid hands on every- thing in our packs. They could hardly keep from fighting over Hugh's rod there while he was catching the grayling for dinner." "Whist! came from the doorway. "There's an Injunn going' into the house beyant." As beyant was only a foot or two away, caution was certainly necessary. The huts were mostly in pairs, and the Duttons had noticed, on entering theirs, that, in common with the rest, it directly faced a duplicate of itself, with only a narrow passage-way, a foot or two in width, between. Sure, it's the would 'Bear' himself added Teddy softly, peering out of the door. "If Loklok is to occupy that hut for the night," said Mr. Dutton, decidedly, "it's of no use for us to think of leaving by the front door. We must make our way out of the rear of the hut, and that very early in the morning, before the Ayans are up. Fortunately, this hut was a little removed from the others in the village, and the back was toward the forest. Look out I" sang out the faithful Irish boy fr z,,, .1 . . . < I THIE INDIANS WERE GAMBLING IN DEAD EARNEST.' [p. 102. :il On! .1 ~"P~.~~ ;' :-;\i I % ~~~ I~L~ |