The Young Alaskans

ndly. When at length Rob awoke he saw that the sun was shining brightly down through the

fast, John," sa

"at least, nothing but more crackers an

pushing it open. "I say, it's a fine day! You can see the mountains all ar

exclaimed John, joining him at the

surface of the lagoon, which lay but a few yards distant from the front

ish," said John. "T

ing to the edge of the water. "Salmon!" he cri

e hut. All along the creek crows and ravens were flying in great flocks. From the heavy grove of cotton-wood beyond the creek there arose several great birds, soaring majestically across-eagles-also interested in the comin

," said John, ruefully. "But no

ines with big hooks under the back seat. Must have belonged to t

very well that the Alaska salmon will not take any sort of a bait or lure when they are ascending a stream; and these were the r

h a piece of cod-line the three large hooks at the end so that they made a gang or gaff. Taking

e asked of the others,

ere's a school comi

e. Presently, as he looked into the water directly at his feet, he could see scores of large, ghostly looking creatures, pale green or silvery, passing slowly by him, some of them so close as almost to touch his legs as he stood motionless. Once or twice he struck with his gaff,

this way-throw in some

of a mass of confused fish. A quick jerk, and he had a fine, fat fish fast, and the next

Rob. "They may not

he bush, and thus in a few minutes he

"What do you think of the chanc

already had a couple of

tch a lot of these fat ones and split them open the way the Indians d

ish when we have the chance, because no one

ng till after breakfast

t's build a little fire and, since we have no frying-pan as

missed the salt to which they were accustomed, they made a good breakfast from sal

matches, and we must not waste one if we can help it. We'll look around after awhile and see if we can sca

ed and contented. "Suppose we walk down

low sea-wall which has earlier been mentioned. The creek here turned in sharply toward the foot of the mountain, and across from where the boys stood a sheer rock wall rose several hundred feet. This shut off the view

At the last angle of the stream, where it turned against the rock wall, there was a pool perhaps fifty feet across and twenty feet in depth, and as the boys looked down into t

want any," said Rob. "We can catch th

so badly off here for a whi

along close above them, to join its kind in the great flocks that circled around above the salmo

e, and every nest with two eggs, and a good many of them good to eat. Do you see

here," said John, p

there, and maybe cross the next creek beyond, and so get out to those rocks on the point below. Or we can lau

creek?" asked Jesse. "We wouldn't have to row more than

We'll do that this very day. Supp

eek again. Suddenly Rob stooped down and parted th

ob?" asked Joh

ooked down eagerly. Rob rose to his knee

at the track of an elephant or a mastodon or som

be an elephant

track of a bear! What Uncle Dick said is true. Loo

quick as we can," said Jesse, anxiousl