Part 11 (2/2)

They reached the pack as it was about to sink, and after ten ht it out on the pebbly shore

By the middle of the afternoon all hands found the the half-dried-up stream back of the settlement Here there were nearly a hundred tents of miners and prospectors ere not quite ready to attempt the trip over Chilkoot Pass

The Indian who had rescued the doctor's pack stuck to the oods over to Lake Linder he and his companions would do the work for fifteen cents a pound

”What do you think of that rate?” asked Dr Barwaithe of Foster Portney, while Randy and Earl looked on with interest

”I don't know but that it's fair enough,” was the reply

”But wouldn't it be better to take horses from here and use Indians only over the pass? You knoe have about thirteen miles to travel before the pass is reached”

”We had better take the Indians froit 'eet used to walking it from here, too,” added Mr Portney ”It will do Randy and Earl soine they can tramp as well as any of us”

”We've trah the Maine woods, ere out hunting,” said Randy ”By the way,” he went on, ”I haven't seen any ga Indian, who rejoiced in the na for an answer, his squaw and two boys standing close by The squaas a tall, thin woreasy black down to the tip of her nose, the balance of her countenance being left its natural color, yellowish red The boys were sturdy lads of perhaps ten and twelve, as used to carrying heavy burdens as their parents

The bargain was struck with Saloods of the entire party packed over from that spot to the shore of Lake Linderman for fifteen cents a pound, the work to be acco The boys had expected to carry sooods, but at this Foster Portney shook his head

”You couldn't carry over forty or fifty pounds and maybe not that over the Pass,” he said, ”and I would rather pay the price and have you reserve your strength You can each carry a knapsack filled with food, in case you wander froh don't let this happen if you can possibly avoid it The best rule, in going over any pass, is to keep at least two other ht constantly”

In spite of the close proxiht was a comparatively warm one, and no inconvenience was experienced by the party in their tents They had two, one belonging to Mr Portney and the boys, the other being one Captain Zoss and Dr Barwaithe had purchased at Juneau forboth water and wind tight were alood to sleep in as a cabin

The outfits had been carefully parcelled out to the Indians, Sal a load of over a hundred and twenty-five pounds, his squaw carrying a hundred pounds, and the sons loads of about half that weight

Relatives of these Indians carried the remainder of the loads; for these Chilkoot people, like other red all they could in the family

Usually the journey to Lake Linderes, the first from Dyea to the entrance to Chilkoot Pass, and the second over the Pass itself and down to the lake, which may fairly be called the southern headwaters of the Yukon River This course was to be pursued by the present party, and bright and early on the followingthey started out on as destined to be the most perilous trip of their lives Captain Zoss went ahead with the Indians, while the boys and their uncle and the doctor kept in a bunch behind

At the start, the trip was along the bottom of a deep canon, on either side of which arose mountains and cliffs for the most part covered with snow and ice Down in this canon flohat is called the Dyea River, a s and here and there broadening out into a shallo over sand and pebbles Walking was rough, for at tireat rock to another or else let theh water and sand up to their knees The wind had calmed down, yet once in a while it sent upon them a flurry of fine snow fro ahead very fast!” puffed Randy, as he and the others ca for three hours, and I doubt if we have covered more than five miles”

”I heard at Dyea that the thirteen ood day's journey,” said Earl ”I' that load Salmon Head has strapped to his back”

”It would take et that load up,” said Randy ”I can't understand how those boys get along”

”It's a ,” said Foster Portney ”I dare say either of you can cut down a tree in half the tiain, the trail noing steeper and more barren A few stunted firs lined the canon, and here and there could be seen a half-dead vine twisted about the fir branches, and that was all, so far as vegetation went And this was co summer time!

”It must be dreariness itself in winter,” re side by side ”I never saw anything so desolate, not even in the wildest parts of Maine”

”It is this desolate look which has kept old there, but they preferred to re, at least, was enial