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FULLY ILLUSTRATED BOSTON ESTES AND LAURIAT IMini.lSHF.RS /\)^Vr^<^ ^w V I OOPYRIOHT, 1889, By ESTES St LAURIAT. I ^•.J e:7 3 m TO MY COUSIN, WITHOUT WHOSE HELP THE DUTTONS NEVKK WOULD HAVE GONE TO ALASKA, I AM HEARTILY GLAD TO DEDICATE THIS STORY OF THEIR ADVENTURES. r^fi'j^y^ ! , CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAOK I. A Remarkable Letteu 13 11. Treed by a Moose 25 III. Ted's Prickly Bear o9 IV. Ax Unseex Enemy 48 V. Raft-Buildino G4 VI. Through the Enemy's Lines 8(5 VII. Out of the Frying-pan 81) VIII. A Startling Discovery 102 IX. From Victoria to Sitka . 113 X. Day and Night in Alaska 119 XL The Chilkoot Pass 123 XII. An Escape, and a Xew Enemy 140 XIII. Nat's Shaggy Pup 148 XIV. To the Rescue! 164 XV. Under the Earth 1()9 XVI. A Mystery Explained 184 XVII. A Reunion 199 XVIII. A Lesson in Bridge-Making 205 XIX. Captured by Brown Bears 216 XX. Halt! 230 XXI. Winter-Quarters 239 XXII. Peeschee's Marvellous Story 261 9 '^'m^irmmF "'mt'.' I* r^-T^p^^l-i iiW"* ^»««™»"WW" 10 CONTENTS. niAl'TKR XXI II. Christmas in Alaska XX J V. Thk Lfkutenant's Stouy C XXA'. tSxoWKi) vv .... XXVI. Pekschkk's Mai- A(iAiN XXVll. FoK LiFK OK Dkatii . XXVllI. WOLK ACAINST MaX . XXIX. OVEK THK IC'K . . . XXX. CONCLUSIOX .... ONCLIDK PAt;i; 201 28(» 298 314 311) 328 ■ 33G 339 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PACiH " ' To THE RESCUE ! ' SIIOl'TEI) THE HOYS " . . , . FrOVtitiftO'i'i' Peeschee's Map 23 "It was evident that affaius weke keaching a crisis" 35 " We started across the lake " 53 Uphill AVork 57 "I shouldered the canoe" 60 "John was putting the last touches on" 62 " Still on the raft rushed " 83 Ayan Moose Arrow 90 "The royal barge brought up the rear" 93 Chilkat Canoe 103 "The Indians were gambling in dead earnest" . . . 109 Sitka, Alaska 115 Looking up the Yukon 137 Chilkat Bracelet 140 "A Grizzly Cub, 'Drop it, Nat!'" 159 "It was no ordinary sight" 179 "He was studying the map" 195 Peeschee's Map , . 208 Building the Bridge , . . . , 211 "I come from the great medicine man" 223 A Council of War 233 "A dish of venison is smoking on the table" .... 253 "Within a rod of the hut were a dozen shadowy forms " 309 There was a sharp report, and with one leap she fell, 326 11 THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. CHAPTER I. A r?:markable letter. SPACIOUS, comfortable-lookinii: lioiise. in the outskirts of one of the largest nianufacturing towns of Massachusetts ; the dining-rooui is brightly lighted, and a wood fire blazet- and snaps cheerily in the open fireplace, for it is kte October, and the even- ing's are cold. Around tlie cosev tea-table are gathered the family, namely : John Dutton. Esq.. proj.rietor of the celebrated Sheldon Paper Mills; Mrs. John Dutton; Miss Florence Dutton. age fifteen, commonly addressed as ''Flossie." or "Floss:" and Masters Pio'oert, 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 introduction. 13 miw^ ^"^F 14 THE BED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. They are, in fact, members of the Button household, two of them actually signing that name as 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 (Button), decided brunette, nurse of all the childen suc- cessively, maid-of-all-work, and devoted slave to Miss Flossie's slightest whim ; Teddy (Button), remotely de- scended from County Kildare, red-haired, freckled, four- teen years old, errand-boy, helper, and mischief-maker in general, particularly attached to the oldest son: Carlo (Button), 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. Button 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 Buttons listen eagerly while he reads : — " FoKT Wrangel, Alaska Ter., Sept. 5, 1868. " My dear Brother, — 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 dispute^ with Rus- ^ ^^S^S^^^^^^Sm IS A BEMARKABLE LETTER. 16 I sian traders who are angry at having their hunting-ground sold over their heads — or under their feet, rather ! — and the treachery of the native Indians, as well as the reck- less behavior of our own troops, have kept my liands full and my head in a continual worry since the establishment of the post. Sometimes I wish the government had kept her seven millions in her pocket, and left this desolate counti-y to take care of itself. It was an immense respon- sibility to shoulder. Have you any idea of the size of the ' Northwest Territory,' old fellow ? Are you aware that it contains 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 dtv}'. 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 retiching (in Mt. 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 II i;i ^3^^ l-.IK4''W^''fl' HP" ■■ Jl ^ 16 THE RET) MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. of game. There is no place in the world where bears, black. l)rown, 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 districts 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. '■ 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, ^■ou have noticed, have you, that I have omitted an important item ? Vegetation, game, inhabitants, scenery — but nothing said about wealth ! '■ Yes. icealth. Reports must have reached you of the startling discoveries of Haley and others. Little did the Hudson's Bay fur-hunters dream that the}' 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. A REMARKABLE LETTER. 17 ears, "But I am not going to tempt you to rush for the liree ' diggings,' my boy. There s hetter game in the cover!'' lave over '- Wliat in the world does the man mean ! " exclaimed a ska Mrs. Button. " He's as mysterious as a sphinx, and here's erior the supper all getting cold. Let's have the rest of the and. letter afterwards." m of Whereupon arose a chorus of " Oh, no, no ! Read on. read on ! Never mind the supper yet — let's find out ? to what he means by ' better game ' ! " e on Mr. Button accordingly found his place again, and, lave holding the letter so as to get a little better light upon it, ein ? resumed his reading. " I know you will be incredulous when I say there is more valuable treasure to be found in Alaska than 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 speak- ing of Mercury, which is obtained almost entirely from the beautiful crimson ore known as ' Cinnabar.' " Mr. Button paused, and glanced about the eager circle of listeners. i ,JJW"!"»-l"il" mmm^mi^mm is THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. " 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 "yes to his interest in the subject. The vote was none the less emphatic because unex- pressed in words. The reading continued. i i "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 vapor being collected in condensers. I believe the metal can be even more economically sepa- rated by the use of an iron retort in which it can be readily volatilized, without the escape of vapors. 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 hundreth part of the world's annual product. nl A liEMARKAliLE LETTER. 19 "' What would you say, John, to fifty tons a year, or even one hiindml? In the countries I have mentioned, the ore crops out, or is found heh)\v the surface, in narrow veins, among nmch schist and slate. What would yoi'* say to a whole mountain of cinnabar ! " Mr. Button looked np with a prolonged " Wliew-w ! " and Carlo gave a short yelp. As no one else seemed disposed to conversation, the letter was resumed. " To make a long story short (for T can see now that vou arc ij-etting excited, as plainlv as if T were sitting with you hi your cosey dining-room in Sheldon, where you will probaljly read this letter), the following 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 gentle- man is a Chilkat Indian, whose name in honest English is ' The Fox.' Call him which you like, he has served us a irood turn. This is how it came about. "I was oft' hunting with a party of Indians from the vicinity of the fort. We were in camp about twenty miles inland from Wrangel. when something came bound- ing: into the circle of firelight like a deer. It was the Fox, who threw himself panting at our feet, his teeth chattering, and his face fairly gray with terror. As soon as he could talk we made out his story. He had left his village a week l)efore, on a trapping expedition. While y- T 'T' " '20 THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. iit work among his traps, lie liad accidentally run on to the line set by a wandering party of Tak-heesh natives from the interior, and had ignorantly — so he assured us a-gain and again — taken several pelts from their traps. " A dozen Tak-heesh had come suddenly- u})on him, taken him prisoner, and vowed he should die for the ott'ence. Poor Peeschee in vain asserted his innocence. To the stake he should go. On the second day of his captidty, 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 afternoon, 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 grateful as a dog, and, tlie day after Me reached Fort Wrangel, 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 tliere told me the wonderful story which set me to writing this long letter — an offence, John, which I seldom commit, you'll acknowledge. " What the Fox had to say was substantially this : Last autumn he made one of his solitary expeditions over the mountains, in search of furs. He penetrated far into the interior, reaching a district absolutely unknown to him before that trip. He describes it as abounding in game, t I i A REMAUKAliLE LETTEIi. ■21 and heavily wooded. There were nuiiiy 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 niglit 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 colunni of smoke ; ii was beyond a 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 Movmtain. After much struggling through jungles and morasses, fording streams, and encountering wild beasts by day and nigbt, he claims that he reached the base of the peak, and discovered the cause of its strange color. 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 specimen of cinnabar in the ore, deep crimson in color, promising to yield, if worked, an enormous percentage of weight of the pure metal. ''John, that was a mountain of mercury! It waits for some one to take those red heaps of granite and !.!l ^m oo THE UKl) MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. r> quartz, fuse thcni, and boar away such a fortune as you could not make in a century of prosperous mill operation at Sheldon. Will you come ? Shall we share the Red Mountain, old fellow, as we used to share the red apples in grandfather's orchard ? •• This is what I i)ropose. You have been in indifferent health for a good many months. You need a change ; you have a competent superintendent in practical charge of the mills; you always liked hunting 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 Y^dvon we can proceed together to the Rod Mountain, make a rough survey, lay out our claim, and the following spring counnence work in earnest. In other words, you can start from Sheldon as soon as the sprhig of '60 opens, reach the Alaska boun- dary 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, 1 admit, an important point. How shall we find this half-fabulous ' Red Mountain ' after wo have effected a union of forces at Fort Yukon ? Hero we must rely entirely on Peeschee. He proposes to start from the fort (which is situated on nearly 67° N. lat., 145" long. W.), and strike due south. Y^ou will be glad to hear this nxfi m m t , K^ ^im m9 i 'wmi i t»m cx,im^i^>^-arMiii A REM ABK ABLE LETTER. 23 when I add that the Arctic Circle pu.ssos directly through the fort. After travelling something over two hundred miles straight into the wilderness, the Fox says we shall tind ourselves at the foot of a lofty range of mountains. 9 -(((- ^^, ^^%r • *< • •• r\r\n /'^--^ From this point he bears away slightly to the east, and within three or four days expects to reach his old camp- ing-ground, from which he obtained his first view of the flaming peak. Now will begin by far our hardest fight with the forces of nature. Peeschee has drawn a map, i«ni 24 77//!,' liED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. which he professes to iinderstaiHl. and hy which he pro- poses to follow as nearly as possible his former route to the base of the luountain and up its steep sides. I have borrowed this map or chart, and will trace it here for you.* '' It's a curious-looking affair, but, Avith Peeschee as guide, I'd stake it against a government chart. P]verv mark on it means something to him. I'll give you his explanation at some otlier time. '• Now, then, once more, will you come ? " Your affectionate brother, "Dick Button. '• 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." * See Illustration, page 23. I*' smtmamMmmm CHAPTER II. TREED BY A MOOSE. JUST five months after the letter of Lieutriumt Richard Diitton was read aloud in his brotl lev's (x)- sey dining-room, a grimp of people are assem})led on the platform of the Sheldon railroad station. There is a tallish, brown- bearded gentleman, with clear, brig] it eyes, and an exceedingly gentle voice; a lady, of refined face and mannei, arid close beside her a young girl ; four boys, one of them freckled and sandy- haired ; a negro woman, with a red bandanna handker- chief around her black neck ; and a young NcAvfoundland dog, full of quiet surprise at all this commotion. Several large trunks and cases are piled upon the platform, await- ing transportation. Presently the train comes in sight, around a curve, and 2") "T^ 26 THE UEl) MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. slows up at tlio .station, ringing and hissing vigorously. People, (log, and baggage are liui-ried on board, the con- duetor waves his hand, and, with lenewed clangor of bell and liiss of steam, the train starts for Boston, bearing — yon know as well as I^ — the entini Dutton family away fronj their home. Dick Dutton was right. The letter could not be resisted. A favorable 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 oif the party are starting, this twenty-fifth day of March, 1800, 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 our 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 po.st. and start inland with him, meeting you at the fort." Mr. Dutton was astonished, but. as his wife's remark *MiaigaAiisatAmmi*mataKB>ssAmtirimM.itsm 'i^ '^m itH ' ii ^^ mimii i i t im fi ^ismii TliKKI) liV A MOOSK. 27 . (0. liiid ratlier the appeariinco of a docision than a suggestion, he wisely refrained from opposing it. "You shall certainly go, my dear, if you wish to." said this exemplary husl)and. And she did. Certain modilications of the original route had also heen made. The •• itinerary " was finally laid out as follows : — The '• military section," as Flossie ianghingly calli'd 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 G2° 45' north, 137° 22' west from Greenwich. There ! We've done with figures an^^. theoretical geog- raphy for a while ; practical geography we nnist study in spite of ourselves. Once in Alaska territory, we nuist examine our surromidings, 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. H- 28 THE liED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. hi b 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. Mi-s. Button,, Florence, and Chloe sailed from New York for Aspinwall. crossed the Isthnms, took steamer again at Panama, and reached San Francisco safely, after a journey of n.early six thousand miles. Here they rested a week, and completed their outfit necessary for a summer in the woods. On a brigiit morning In May they started in a sailing vessel for Vic- toria 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 " sur- mounted, and by the second week in June the party were descending the western slopes of the mountains within ' one hundred and fifty niih^s of Fort Selkirk. It was ten o'clock in the forenoon when Mr. Dutton, whose orders were obeyed by eveiy one in the expedition, 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 ex- posure 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 TliEED BY A MOOSE. 29 Indian guides, strong-limbed, quiet fellows, named Joe and .Hill. At Mr. Button's word, these two last named tlirew down their heavy packs, and drew themselves up with an air of relief. '- Ugh 1 " grunted Joe, wiping his forehead. '' Much hot comin'. No-see-'ems and skeeters dis night." " Midges ? Have you felt any, Joe ? " asked Mr. Button, recognizing the Indian term for those tiny tormentors. '^ No feel 'em. Smell 'em," said Joe, gravely, vsniffing the air. Mr. Button laughed, and turned his attention to select- ing a good " nooning " spot where they could spend the hottest hours of the day. Tliey 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, gray 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 30 THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. I • day, and l)efore long we shall have to rush to the settle- ments for our lives. They are the pest of Alaska, you know." " But, father, w^e 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 older brother made no further protest, but began preparations for a short hunt before dinner. ''1 won't be gone long, father," said he, shouldering his Winchester, and starting oft" 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, pack- ing our blankets through the woods. Good-bye. I'll keep within hearing of a gun-shot." And he was gone. Mr. Button 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, Avhile 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. Button then crept under its folds, and, stretched out comfortably on rubber blankets which had been first sj)read to keep out dampness, all four fell fast asleep. 1 ^r^WfglJlfflPWIWllg' TREED BY A MOOSE. 31 ^>^ 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. Button awoke it was high noon. The guides were already preparing the noon meal, one of them build- ing a good fire, laying the sticks all one way, for conven- ience of cooking ; the other engaged in dressing a line mess of trout which bore witness to Hugh's success. Nat strayed about the camp, looking for flowers — the delicate Linncea. or twiu-liower, the violet, the cornel, and others familiar in the home woods. The oldest boy had not returned, and Mr. Button began to feel anxious about him. He fired his rifie three tunes, 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 l)y 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 ritle, and plunged into the woods, in the direction the missing boy had taken. When Robert left the camp, he had no definite inten- tion, 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 iu Britisli America. His Winchester rifle had half a dozen cartridges in it, and Robert was a t V ■MMMiH T^ 32 THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. P i good sliot. He liad no fear of missing a partridge or ptarmigan at thirty 3'ards, with a single ball. The forest floor was encumbered with i'allen and de- cayed logs, into wiiose crumbling sides lie sank so often th:it his progress was slow. There was very little under- growth to impede his way, however, and within half an hour he reached sliarply rising ground, wliich told him he was at the foot of the hill he had seen from camp. Up to this i)oint he had kept within hearing of the stream, l)ut now he turned off at right angles, thinking 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 I " said Rob to himself, with some dissatisfaction, '' we have struck civilization again I Here's a regular route for fur-traders, I've no doubt. Well," he solilo- quized, as he sauntered lazily along the path, '• I might as well — halloo ! " He stopped and examined a track that was plainly out- lined 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 that no man had left th.'it footprint. It was undoubtedly 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 -^ 'jJI'.JtSijJW'*^'''?' TREED BY A MOOSE. 38 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 him- self 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 succes- sion of dull blows, like that of a farmer driving a stake into the ground. A sudden turn of the path brought him unexpectedly ^& mttm fVK' gum, 34 THE RED MOILYTAIN OF ALASKA. I upon a singular scene. About a hundred yards away, the trail was blocked by a huge, dark form. It stood aljout four feet nigh, and was covered with long, shaggy fur of a dirty brown color. Robert recognized the animal at once, although it was back to him. It was the Brown Bear, Ursiis Arctos, of the cold countries. It was witli 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 attitude ? 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 tbc 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 neighbor. 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 team- sters 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, 1 > ' ti! IT WAS EVIDENT THAT AFFATUS WEUE REACHTXCr A CRISIS. ^ k«*.«i T <««■ TliKKh nr A MOOSK 87 while his eyes seemed fairly to (lash lire. His lon*^.. ungainly head dro()[)ed lower : it was evident that affairs were reaching a crisis, and Robert conchided it was time to act. An old hunter would ha\e 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 centn; of the moose's broad breast, and tired. 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 tlr , and rose on his haunches to meet his antagonist. So it happened that the ritle 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 u'un, and enrao-ed bv the stino; of the ball. The im- O CD *.- (—> petus 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 simultaniiously 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 'V, (i 38 TIIK lih'l) MOr.\T.ll\ OF ALASKA. Iiiiu, was a goo.l-slzod spr.ico. witli two or tlirec bouglis, or stiihs of thoiii, close to tlie ground. Uv had to drop his ,-ille, and indued had no time to .spare, for by a conuiion impulse both the hite enemies rushed against their coninion foe. Pvobert drew a long breath as he seated himself, not very eomfortablj-. on a stom. branch, souie tw(>nty feet Irom tlie ground. To his relief, the bear concluded that Ills honor had been vindicated, and and>led ot^' 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 snort- ing fiercely, he continued to charge up and down, under the tree, until at last, perc(>iving that his hated assailant was for the time out of his reach, he sullenly connnenced a slow walk to and fro, like a sentinel on guard duty; now and then casting vindictive glances into the ever- gi'een boughs overhead. Faintly three rifle shots came echoing through the woods, hut Kobert could not reply. He had giu-n 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 ? 1#M mL- CHAPTER III. TED S PRICKLY BEAR. SOON as Joe, tlie younger and more au:ile of Mr. Dutton'.s two Indian guides, struck into the for- est, he formed a definite plan of action in his mind. He had seen his vountj: master start off in his expedition, and had noted the direction lie 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 infjillible guide back to camp. Swiftly and stealthily as a cat the Indian glided through the dark shadows of the forest, in and out among the trunks of the evergreens. Now and then he would utter a grunt of satisfaction as his quick glance fell upon a 39 40 THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. i^ l)roken twig, or ;i red mass of cniuibling wood where Robert had phiced an incautious foot. Arriving at the bear path, he did not hesitate a moment, but followed it with a swift, shambling gait like the awk- ward trot of the animals who had trodden down the path for him. When he perceived the big track in tlie mud, he started, paused, and examined it carefully ; then felt of 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 sudden!} come to a standstill, listen eagerly, and then creep forward on hands and knees. Presently he dropped flat on the ground, and l)egan wriggling forward as silently as a snake, but more slowly. From his perch, Robert caught sight of a dark iigure crouching on the niosi; a hundred feet away, to the lee- ward. 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 furiously. 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. n iiiiii TED'S PliHKLY 11 KAIL 41 The sliglit noise he made in coekin*;' tlio piece caused the moose lo look up quickly, half turning as he did so, and exposing his hroad, hrown side. A shot rang out, and another. The moose started for the tree like lightning, hut hefore he had covered half the distance he fell headlong. To leap to his side and i)lunge the keen hlade of the knife into his throat \va hut an instant's work for the Indian, who had despatch 'aany a moose in his day. As Rohert descended stiffly from his tree, and saw the poor creature's huge hulk stretched out, helpless and still, he felt a pang of remorse. "It's too had, Joe," he said, gazing at his pro.strate enemy. '• H'm. You no kill 'ini, he kill you," remarked the other, in soft gutturals. - You lucky git 'way from 'im, VIS. They cut several slices of meat from the moose, and Joe took especial pains to carry away the muzzle, or upper lip, which is esteemed a dainty among hunters. The magnificent antlers they were of course o'uliged to leave hehind. The Indian had as yet made no allusion to the hear. When thev had travelled ahout half way to the camp, and had heen walking in silence for some time, he sud- denly asked : — " You shot at hear, too ? " Robert laughed rather shamefacedly. li ■! 1 I T 42 rilE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. m '- Yes, I did, Joe. I guess I didn't hurt him much, and I'm glad 1 didn't. One of those splendid creatures is enoui2;li to kill in a dav." •' You no lire when you see 'im 'gain," remarked tiie Indian. •' No hurt poor bear," he added. Hob caught the twinkle in his companion's eye. "• You're laughing at me, old fellow I " he cried, good- naturedly. '• Never mind, I'll pay 3'ou up some day." '■ No shoot bear when vou '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 Mi-. Button's look of relief at his api:)roach. '• T 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 hardshi})s of this wild coun- try. 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, health}' face. '• Well, well." said Mr. Button, brightening. '' we're all in safe keeping, no doul)t. Tell me about your adven- ture. Rob. It's too late to move further to-night, and we I TEDS PRICKLY BE Mi 43 could hardly find a better camping-ground. The tents. boy c. ' " 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 lie described the big gaiH' he had seen, two tents of light, strong drilling were taken from the packs and pitched. They were of the " Shelter " form, with side ilaps that were secured to the ground by pegs. These were necessary to keep out the little winged tormentors 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 nothimj' 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 barkina: of a dog. close by the camp. All hands seized rifles and axes, and ran to the rescue. •• Oh, nuu'ther ! Oh. save me. quick I She's comin' a ft her me. sure ! Come quick wid yev grns ! " A moment later a shout of laughter went up from the rescuers. Even the taciturn Indians smiled. There \vas the valiant Teddy, with his hair fairly standing on end, glaring wildly at a small ])lack animal, which crouched in a tree, about ten feet from the irround. '' Sure. I have fixed it wid me eyes." said Teddy. " I hnve a slipell on it, I have. If 1 look off, it'll jump." 44 THE III::. MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. "Why, what is it, Ted ? " inquired Mr. Button, puttin, on a sober face. '^ to 1.™ &„e I looked to see the ould one come ™.l,i„, ""to the bushes ivery minute, and that'., why I called All thi« time Carlo was barking furiously al the little annual, whatever it was. •'I think the safest way." said Mr. Button, s-^pressinc. a smde once n,ore. ■■ is to leave Teddy here for a while tl vatc the beast. If the .she-bear attacks vou. be sure to call us. led," he added, nraking as if he wJuld walk otf But the Iri.,h boy set up a mournful wail that would Have touched a heart of stone. ■• Ocli. don't lave ,ne, snr ! I'll be kilt entirely ' " "Oh Ted!" called out Hugh, who could no loucre- keep sdence. -.killed by a-hedgehog! Think of V'- Uon t you see his prickles ? " Poor Teddy grew even redder than before as he ev,.n- ■t'l^d Jl.e animal ane«-, and for the Hrst tin>e noticed the He slunk back to camp, and it was a long time before tlie boys ceased to allude to •' Ted's prickly bear " ■flic night passed quietly, and an early start was n , le next n,omi„g. Before they halted for th,.ir noon r, s, tho.v had tnade a good fifteen miles, due west. Nat was ,red. and when they started for tbel. ,.r.e,.noon tran.p. •ft.", the older and larger Indian. !,ad a a.risus pack upon If k amm TED'S I'lUCKLY IiEA:\ 45 Ms back. It was, in fact, no other than Nat himself, flonifortabiy seated in a natural chair, formed by cutting- a, distorted birch close to the ground, and using the stump of a bent bough for a seat. A belt was carried around the Indian's waist, to steady the chair, but the weight came largely upon his forehead, which held the loop of a \eather thong supporting this human piece of baggage. Mr. Button had seen Peruvian natives carry travellers in this way, over dangerous mountain passes, and Jim found that it worked to a charm. At al)out three o'clock the leader of the party uttered a cry of delight. " Look : " he said, pointing forward. '" The head- waters of the Pelly ! " " What is the Pelly, father?" asked the oldest boy. ''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 youi- mother, Flossie, and Dick." '' Hooray 1 " shouted Hugh, catching his father's enthu- siasm. •• How long will it take to reach them ? " '' I should think that by 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 blutt's, crowned with evergreen forests. Just before them lay a mmmiS saBam . mf\ ■ 1 1 JHMi 46 Trr?J RED MOUXTAiy OF ALASKA H little inoado'.v. Its bright green grass was dotted with dandelions and buttercups; butteriiies. red and yellow, tioa^.ed gracefully in the sunshine. A cloud of waterfowl rose from the reeds near by. and. flying low over the sniooth water, plunged into it again not half a mile away, with a deal of splashing. :.. >reeze stirred the surface of the lake; the hills along k .shore were reflected as in a miiTor. '^Beautiful, beautiful:" nmrunu-ed Mr. Button, baring his head for a moment, and gazing over tlio ti'anquil scene. -Why should not one settle here, and spend his days within sight of this lo\ely sheet of water? No cares, but plenty of — " •• Mosquitoes ! " interrupted one of the Indians, gravely. The boys burst into a shout of hiughter at the sudden conclusion of their fathei-'s soliloquy, and ran gleefully down to the water's edf^'e. " See, father, see ! " cried little Nat presently, holding up a small brown animal in his arms. It was a vouno- marmot, a species which furnishes to the Indians of the interior their blankets, these being niad(> of numerous skins of the little creatures, .sewed tocrether. After an insjiection by all the boys, the captive Avas permitted to waddle off at the top of his speed, presuma- bly in the direction iiis parents had taken. "Camp, boys, camp!" called Mr. Dutton. and all liands set busily to ^vork, preparing foi- the night. The tent was pitched on the bank of a tiny streani that fell a-ji >'««iHi<,»lMH»k.. TED'S PRICKLY BEAR. 47 Tnusically over a mossy ledge, into the lake itself. The boys cut and broke arnifuls 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 olf with his gun. and Hugh with hshing-rod and flies, as usual. Mr. Button took shelter behind a mosquito net, and registered hi his diary the events of the day. the various sorts of plants and li vine 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 l)oys who woidd like to know just wliere the party was encamped may make a cross on tlieir maps at exactly lat. (51° oO' N., long. 128° 10' W. from Greenwicli. If the map is a good one, they will find this lake, sliaped somethhig like a horseshoe, with the open end toward the north. On the east baidc of the right-hand arm of the horseshoe was '^ Camp Prospect," as Mr. Button named their halting- place. ( CHAPTER IV. AX UXSEEN ENEMY. :l ^HE afternoon had been so bright, friends seemed so near, and camp was so pleasantly situated, that the Buttons looked for- ward to a peaceful, rest- ful night. Tliey were doomed to serious dis- appointment. 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 announced an important dis- covery. " Sure, it's a bear this time," he stammered, lookino- over his shoulder. '- Ye've tould me toime and toime 48 H AN UNSEEN ENEMY 49 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' Avan, tues an' all Oh, wirra, wirra, he'll ate us up before morn in' 1 " •• Hush, Teddy," exclaimed Mr. Button, authoritatively. " Tell us where you saw the track.'' '• Jist bey ant in the bushes." "Come, -Joe, we'll look at it." The rest wanted to follow, but Mr. Button bade them stay where they were. He had uncomfortable n;isgiviugs regarding that track, with its toes so plainly marked. What if it were not a bear's footprint at all ! What if — His worst fears were realized when he saw the Indian's manner on looking at the track. •• H'm I " he grunted, with a slight start, as he stooped low to examine it. - H'm ! Him no bear ! " " What is it, then ? " " Him man's foot." "White?" '' No. Injun." •• How old is the sign ? " "' Half-hour, mayl)e." Here was intelligence, to be sure, of a decidedly unpleas- ant character. While they had been building their camp, discussing iheir plans, roaming about the woods, dark forms had been flitting to and fro among the shadows of the fore.st, within a stone's throw. Glistening eyes had been watch- I ! 50 TIIK RED MOUXTAiy OF ALASKA. \ i ing thorn, probably witb looks of hate. For a friendly band Avould have advanced at once, where the party of whites was so evidently a harmless one, with its fonr boys and one middle-aged man. The two guides now held a short consultation, and, on Mr. Button'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 appre- hensions, 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 boidei's of whose coun- try they now were, should take the warpath, they were greatly to be feared. Their tribe had been foully treated l)y the traders, and. though few in lunnbers, the Alaska Indians are known to be amoiiL!; the fiercest and most im- placable of their r;;ce 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 ^Ir. Button's troubled mind, Joe returned, and shortly afterward his conu'ade. 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 ::^^ .I.V rXSEEX EXEMV. 61 ridge, about two miles southwest of Camp Prospect. Tliey had probably been startlod, Joe intimated, by the report of Rob's gun. The boys by this time had been acqujiinted with the sitiiation. and the faces of the company were clouded. '•' Well," said Mr. Button, at last, '■ we won't try to cross a bridge befori' 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 earlv in the evening that no thoughts of sleep could be entertained for an hour or two. Mr. But- ton was determined that his boys should not worrv awav their chances for a night's rest. He therefore pro[)osetl 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 auioiio- 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 nuisic at home," Joe coun-hed and smoked, and pretended indifference, but, after the proper amount of urging, raised himself upon elbow instead of ! I ■^•: ^w — ^" l» oli TJIK RED MOLWTAIN OF ALAHKA. squatting in tlic traditional Indian fashion, and, having n'[)lL'ni.siiL'(l his pipe (which, however, soon dii-d out), began as follows. I do not attempt to spell out his pecu- liar dialect, or indicate the expressive grunts and gut- turals which served