The Young Alaskans on the Trail

I do along the river," said John, after

ains are fine. See how pink they are over where the snow is-t

ins," said Alex, "and I've

be a hunter

ings of the Company, and pay for them with our furs and robes. But we'll be hunters for this

n, who looked as though he could

l be better if we let it hang over night. If we ate t

liver the day

packs. For that matter, it won't hurt us maybe to try a little piece of meat roasted on a stick before the fire, the way the Indians cook. That, with

to make bread," began John,

and mix it up in the sack. All outdoor men know that trick. An Injun would take a stick and roll around in that white dough and roast that dough ball before the fire alon

ce. For though their meal was really very frugal, they enjoyed it hear

s the near-by ridges when at lengt

where we're going

t like an umbrella. We won't keep much fire, but if I get cold in the night, not having any

ou ought to get under

e push the ashes back from our fireplace and lie down on the ground where it has been made warm by the fire. Injuns sometimes do tha

s they would see Alex lying quite asleep, and again he would be sitting up smoking his pipe, leaning against the trunk of the tree. In some way, ho

ks in them," said John

oo," Rob added. "I forgot to bring

reakfast, all right. The animal heat will be all out of it now, and we'll have a hearty

s still low over the eastern mountains, and pr

e," said Rob, "and I'm mighty glad we've

n in a dozen hunts," said Alex. "Ga

Mackenzie and Fraser, and all those old fellows, they'll tell abo

ns," Alex replied; "but not buffalo and caribou a

st of the meat, and we'll go about half-way down toward the boats on our first trip. As you probably can't travel as fast as I can, I'm going ahead, but I'll blaze the trees as I go. Then I'll drop my load an

d Rob. "We've often fol

almost at a trot, loaded as he was, and as the boys found the big ram's head a heavy load for them to carry between them on the stick, they met him

ail down the hill, and put a branch across two or three

they that it seemed but a short time before presently Alex joined them

We won't come back for the second trip at all now, and we'll take our time

sn't want to co

we look at it among our people. In the old times, when Sir Alexander came through, a hunter did nothing but hunt. If he

asked John, anxiously. "I don't want t

o the place! I'll explain to him,

has never bee

ace. Besides, our trail will be as plain as a board-w

ed at the boat encampment on the banks of the river, where they were greeted with great joy by Jesse and Moise. Then, although it was not

s making a gesture toward the mountains off to the east, and Moise nodding a quiet assent. After a time, wit

meat?" demanded John, "and b

and just about as fast. Moise used to be a good man, though he say

e. "Two hundred pounds! I shouldn

ackets, each of ninety pounds, was the regular load, and some men would take three. That was two hundred and s

id Rob. "That, and following out the trails of

heep meat, as we used to the meat of the buffalo in the old days. We'll smoke it a little, cutting it thin and spreading it in the sun. By keeping

se came trotting down the base of the timbered ridge above the camp, and, still smoking and still

d in Winnipeg I'll got hondred dollars for each one, me, maybe so.

upper, don't y

while, then those sheep meat he'll

s another story to-night

"We stay here maybe two, three day now, so to-morrow I think we'l