Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail

rest at the village across the Chilkat. The shore was lined with canoes of various sorts and sizes, and the river at this point was free from ice. They could hear t

l, most of them not unlike two-story New Englan

o white inhabitants, would you?" said Uncle Will, who, w

does it happen that the In

e Chilkats moved in. And not only are the Indians well housed, but, through the influence of the traders and missionaries, they have adopted the dress and, to a large extent, the manners of civilization.

resent the head and fore-legs of a frog, surrounded by a circle of black paint,

r at the circus last summer. A colored man put his head through a hole in a sheet, and if you hit him you got

d that Roly should throw a snowball a

ilar to those on the totem-poles.[71] The ashes of some Indian of the family which has the frog as its symbol are entombed in a

found Long Peter looking intently at a gro

two women!" he exclaim

d, incredulously; "this is a

ght ago. I met a few of her people on this trail when I came out to the coast, but didn't see this party. They must have camped off the regular trail, and h

party ahead, which consisted of two young men, a tall and rather slender young woman, and a matronly person whom they at first supposed to be the mother of the others.

e are many on the more frequented trails. We were bound for Copper River; but our steamer proved unseaworthy, and was obliged to

k, madam," said Unc

r rash undertaking?" s

what we intended; because if we had, and then failed, we should be the laughing-stock o

s is a family party, then?" and he wondered wh

m Mrs. Shirley. These are

t the Indian," said Mr. Bradford

7

move your supplies with only two men an

he same ground, for we have a year's provisions with us. It is very slow work, especially

daged foot, and asked if it

he young man, "t

e to dress the wound. There was a medical man with a large party whic

to cross this wide rive

at numerous company of white men and Indians. They made light work of the fording, carrying their sleds over bodily, loads and all, as many men taking hold as could find room; and when their own loads were across, they generously[74] came back for ours.

hem outdo us. It's surely our turn now, an

unwilling to cause you extra labor and delay, but in our p

placed under the rear end, and the only able-bodied man of the other party, who insisted on doing his share, grasped the sled from behind. In this manner they lifted their load, and started down the snowy bank into the water, which was shallow at first, but grew deeper as they neared the opposite shore. It was quite necessary that all should keep step, but as they entered the dee

ced himself as well as he could against the current, "the water came

you came?" said D

was also wet, and resolved that he, too, would make ligh

set down the sled and paused to recover their breath. The men, being taller and we

n this country. Pour the water out of your boots, if there's much in them, for you needn't

empty sled for the other half of its load. In half an hou

have you any preference as to the manner of transport

assment. "But really, if another way could be found, I should prefer it. You

Uncle Will

first. The young woman accordingly seated herself upon it, grasped the sides firmly, and w

ew miles farther a second great river, the Klaheena, also flowing into the Chilkat from the west. I