Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail

ain Roberts. The "Farallon" was not as graceful a vessel as the Eastern steamers to which the boys were accustomed, but she appeared

e a few brave women who preferred roughing it with their husbands to staying behind in physical comfort, but alone.

w pretty and winsome she looked! David vowed then and there to bring her that bear-skin at all hazards. At last, when he could[19] see her no longer, he turned toward the stateroom o

mained half a day, Mr. Bradford procured two mining licenses which gave himself and David the right to locate claims in Canadian territory, cut timber, and take game and fish. These licenses cost ten dollars apiece, and no claim could be legally staked

and of British Columbia on the east. Here the scenery was of the most bold and rugged description, reminding the travellers of the Hudson where it breaks through the Catskills. On either side rose immense mo

l, or a cottage, or even a log-cabin, and yet I believe it will not be long before tourists will throng to this region. Now there," said he, pointing to a level plateau on the top of a forest-covered ridge which rose a hundred feet above the water,-"there is

everal hours until they came again into the lee of islands. Morning found them at Saxman, a vil

stook for a crow. Here, too, they first beheld an Indian totem-pole,-a great tree-trunk carved into grotesque shapes of beast and bird, and strange caricatures of t

ograph this strange column, but as the day was dark and a d

er Alaskan towns. The wharf was unlighted save by the steamer's lamps, but they picked their way without much difficulty. Most of the townspeople seemed to have retired, and only the saloons and dance halls showed sign

e main street, which was, however,[22] utterly impassable for any kind of wheeled vehicle, being a deep ditch far below the level of the board walk which skirted it. In this hollow what l

others were broken, and in the darkness an ankle might be sprained or a leg fractured by one fals

lection of tents interspersed with cheap frame structures. Here and there on tents and houses they could dimly distinguish flaming advertisements of museums and various catch-penny shows, b

ard deck and hold, from which freight was being discharged[23] upon the wharf. Captain Roberts informe

es are to go ashore here. They haven't had

p standing up. Their eyes were shut, and their heads kept drooping, drooping,

id he, "the poor brutes will ha

of a subdued character, was exceedingly beautiful. A bark and a barkentine were aground in this dangerous passage, though buoys and lighthouses were plentiful; but the steamer emerged safe

tremble. A second later there came another bump. Instantly bells rang and the engine stopped, while Roly jumped from the grating, and running to the bridge peered forward into the darkness. He could see nothing in that direction, nor coul

y heard a man say on the deck below them. "There's many of 'em

'em square," sa

roken the bell-wire and could only communicate with the engine-room by speaking-tube.

en buildings of very respectable size and appearance. It was a mystery how the town could grow any more, however, except[25] straight up in the air like New York, for it was surrounded by water on

snow. Glaciers flowed through the valleys between them,-great frozen rivers which no summer sun could melt. Of these, one of the largest and most graceful was the Davidson glacier on the we

ernoon the course was changed slightly to the west, and the steamer entered Pyramid Harbor, a beautiful circular sheet of water, fla

ch was an extensive salmon cannery. In front of the cannery[26] two wharves projected toward the bay,-

ides here," said Mr. Bradf

y foot, if I ain't mistaken. Reminds me o' the Bay o' Fundy, only

e man whom they had heard discoursing

seem to be running,"

they only run it in summer. There

eamer had blown her whistle as she entered the harbor, and two men could be seen walking down toward the end of the lower whar

ither of those

cond one looks like-no, it can't be. I declare, though, it does l

Pyramid Mountain

2

joyfully verified the identification. There could be no doubt that Uncle W

ype="