Part 11 (1/2)
Foster Portney and Captain Zoss had been fortunate enough to secure passage up to Dyea, on a little steamboat, which was to leave early the next day The craft was a freight boat, but carried passengers whenever she could get theoods to this craft, Fred Dobson helping them carry their loads Doctor Barwaithe had also secured passage in the craft, and soon became one of the party
Later on, reed that the five should stick together until the Klondike region was reached The for those who travelled by the overland route into Alaska By suchlost in thethe as easier, for eachthe rest, so that only one set of packs had to be unstrapped and packed again, instead of the lot Besides this, the building and sailing of a boat down the lakes and through the rapids by one man was next to impossible
It was very difficult to obtain accommodations at any of the so-styled hotels in Juneau, so all hands encahter, Fred Dobson ular party In theFred approached the captain of the boat for a situation, but was turned off in language far froes
”Got it ashore in a hurry, for we're on the point of sailing,” and with a wistful good-by to Randy, Earl, and the others, the squire's son leaped to the dock Five minutes later the lines were cast off, and the wheezy, overloaded craft started northward on the Lynn Canal
The distance frohteen miles, past Berner's Bay and Katsehan River into Chilkoot Inlet and finally up Dyea Inlet The run for the laciers on one side and mountains covered with snow and ice on the other
”Gracious, this is a touch of winter and no hed steadily on her way, and they stood by the rail taking in the desolate sight ”See how those little icebergs sparkle in the sunshi+ne”
”Far off to the west of this canal is the great Muir Glacier,” said Foster Portney ”It is the largest glacier in the world That island which we just passed is Douglas, and there is situated the great Treadwell Mine, one of the richest gold ot to climb mountains like that?” questioned Earl, as he pointed to the snow-capped suot to climb 'em?” burst in Captain Zoss ”Why, them ain't an ant hill to the ones we're to crawl over, lad Just wait till we get up into Dyea Inlet, and you'll catch sight o' ive you the yellow shakes, as the boys call it Now I don't want to discourage ye,” he went on, as he saw Earl take a deep breath ”I want to prepare ye for the wust, that's all That pass--the Chilkoot--is the wust part o' the whole trip, being about three-quarters of a h and betwixt mountains twice that size”
”Well, we can clirade isn't too steep,” said Randy
The captain turned away and smiled to hiet safely over to Lake Linderman, the first of the lakes on the other side of the e
It ell that they had dressed the on the glaciers the air was filled with a mist which chilled them to the bone The channel was filled with loose pieces of ice, and ever and anon the stea with a crash which was clearly heard by all on board
After a few hours of gazing at the laciers and snow-covered hills and mountains, the boys turned their attention to those on board It was a motley collection of people Most of theof Canadians, Germans, and half a dozen Indians The latter were of the Chilkoot tribe, and interested Randyelse They were a round-faced, stalwart set of fellows, and several of them had bands of black painted across the upper parts of their faces
”They paint the black around their eyes as a preventive of snow-blindness,” explained Foster Portney ”As soon as either of you find your eyes hurting froles”
Dinner on the steamer was served under the rather scanty shelter on the upper deck But fifteen could be accommodated at once, and as there were over sixty people on board, it took some time to satisfy them all The fare was principally beef stew, bread, coffee, and rice pudding, but the cold air gave every one a good appetite, and the boys did full justice to all that was offered the-in ti accommodations were limited Berths were at a premium, and had been secured by the more fortunate ones when the steaathered his party around him in the shelter of the wheelhouse, on deck, and here they slept huddled together like sheep in a cattle car
”Not like stopping at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, is it?” said his uncle to Randy ”But never mind; as soon as we leave Dyea we'll have all the roo like this keeps a felloarm,” said Randy, who felt somehow as if he was out for a lark But by and by, when somebody passed over him in the dark and slipped on his chest, he did not think it quite so h, and at daybreak all were stirring, for they had reached Dyea Inlet, and a landing was expected before noon A stiff breeze was blowing, and the Inlet, a long, narrow arry waves blowing froained, and half an hour later an anchor was dropped, and the voyage so far as the steamer was concerned was over
CHAPTER XI
THE START FROM DYEA
Randy and Earl found Dyea but a small settlement There was one store which had been established for so up to acco into the place The total white population did not nue number of Indians,--men, women, and children,--all anxious to obtain employment as pack-carriers over the mountains
The steamer had anchored soet the packs ashore in the heavy sea that was running
Four small boats were employed for the purpose, andthe transfer to land
”There goes one ofout Dr Barwaithe, as a sunwales capsized just as the shore was struck A wild scraoods
The doctor would have gone into the icy water also, but he could not swi the scene rushed up to the est of the redain on the spot At once the Indian and his helper leaped into the surf and swa and bedding, and was beco rapidly water soaked