Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail

n. Nor could the little party at Pyramid Harbor accomplish the work they had planned. Roly was in good trim again, excepting a very sore chest, but the Indian canoe which had tran

he boat he had hired. In the mean time, letters were

th. Breakfast was hurriedly finished, and by the time the boat's keel grated on t

one sled on board. She could carry[55] the other supplies, however, and one passenger in addition to the boatman. Uncle Will

waded into the water in their high rubber boots, and pushed the heavily laden vessel away from the

for the most part it was hard travelling, the sleds apparently weighing more and more as they proceeded. Roly found himself look

m his face. "If an empty sled is so hard to pull over these s

Will, encouragingly, "than it is to overcome the friction of a light weight

e going to-day

5

We shall not try to

d see imperfectly through the trees. The water dashed over a perpendicular cliff ab

in soon toward the shore. It became evident before long, however, that the craft was in trouble. She was well out from the land, but seemed to be stationary. The shore party, sl

after a moment's observation; "and the

" asked David, eager

ere, and then see what can be done. I don't think we can wade out to the boat yet,

5

t by the Mysterious Thirty-six seemed to bear out. Indeed, Roly examined the interior carefully, half expecting to see the glimmer of gold coins in the darker crevices, but he found only a piece of canvas which might have been part of a money-bag. A closer examination showed that it was p

re the numerous tents had stood. David pointed these out to Roly delightedly

off in high spirits. They advanced with some difficulty, for the mud was often adhesive, clogging[58] their boots at every step until they came to sandier stretches. At all the channels, most of which were easily crossed, althou

ad brought bacon, hard-tack, and some cooking utensils, in order that dinner might be prepared as soon as they could cro

tide. The boatman sailed away before the water receded, carrying with him a package of letters which he promised to

tent and hear the snowflakes tap upon the canvas! The fitful gusts[59] that swept past their frail dwelling threatened to overthrow it, but the anchor logs were heavy and the tent was strong, and it offered so perfect a shelter that, had the occupants not heard th