Part 18 (1/2)
”You had a narrow escape!” exclaimed Randy, when Earl's story was told
”If you hadn't shoved hiored you to death”
It was quite dark by the time they went into ca on the choicest of venison steak The re up to dry, while a portion of it was thoroughly salted
In addition to the fire in the ca blaze was lit on the shore, that Dr Barwaithe and the othersthe _Wild Goose_ But the night wore aithout interruption, and by six o'clock the nextcraft was renewed
”We're ish Lake, I reckon,” reo through, 'ceptin' she was bottom side up and minus our traps, which I don't hope fer, eh?”
The entrance to Tagish Lake was reached, and they were speculating on what to do next, when Randy shouted, ”Here they come, and they have the _Wild Goose_ in tow!”
His announcement proved correct, and quarter of an hour later Wodley sent his own craft up to the bank with a swish through the water-grass and tundra, orto show itself on every side The _Wild Goose_ was close behind, and they noted with satisfaction that she seemed to be in the same condition as they had left her
”We found her stuck in the mud on the other side,” announced Dr
Barwaithe ”The wind had just sent her along and left her, and the only dae done is to some of the provisions which were soaked by the rain and snow”
”We can be thankful it's not worse,” replied Foster Portney ”If she had not turned up, I don't knoe would have done”
Dr Barwaithe had becoiven Mrs Wodley soe quantity of quinine, for the wo frequentlyfor both parties to haul their boats into Tagish Lake, and once on that broad sheet of water, all sail was set for the six miles of river which connects that body of water with Marsh Lake, called by many Mud Lake, on account of its shallowness and soft botto, Earl and Randy, under the directions of their uncle, sorted over the provisions, putting aside for i wet This had scarcely been finished when the end of Tagish Lake appeared in sight
”There is some sort o' a camp ahead,” announced Captain Zoss ”Don't look like er miner's strike, either Injuns, I'll bet!”
The captain was right The caouts The Indians nureeable Randy and Earl had yet beheld Each was painted froreasy black and red paint, and all wore filthy skin suits which could be s to Randy's notion The Indians tried to sell them some fish, but the members of the party declined, and pointed to the deer ed Earl to let hi of beautiful pike, and the youth h he would have liked to keep the trophy, carrying it up into the gold regions was out of the question The deer meat had been divided with the Wodley party, and now a similar disposition was made of the fish
The day was fine, with the wind in the right direction, and soon they ca, and heavily fringed on all sides with timber and brush On several occasions they ran in water so shallow they were in danger of going aground; but the sharp eyes of Captain Zoss saved theht of the fifty-e, the last of the lakes they were to traverse on the way to the gold regions
”By day after to-morroe'll strike the White Hoss Rapids,” said Captain Zoss ”Then, I reckon we'll have jest sech a time as we had up ter Homan Rapids”
”Excuse h in a lifeti to Wodley,” put in Foster Portney ”He has been through the rapids, and he says he will give us a hand e get there He advises taking the boats through almost empty”
The captain ”allowed” this would be safer, although, to be sure, it would also be farnot left in the boat would have to be carried over the roughest kind of a trail, running some distance away from the stream
The two parties camped side by side, and it made each feelthese lofty and cold-lookingover him if no companion were at hand
”How aI can't understand,” observed Randy ”I lost in those mountains over yonder! It makes a fellow shi+ver to think of it!”
”Men have been lost out here,” replied Dr Barwaithe, gravely, ”and lost so thoroughly they have never been heard of again If a ets lost in the mountains, and he is of a nervous temperament, the chances are that after a week or a uess that is ould happen tome? A mosquito, I declare! Who would expect to find one of those pests at this season of the year?”
”You'll get h presently,” replied Foster Portney ”Don't you re the short summer here the insects are apt to worry the life out of a person”
”I suppose they thrive in this moss that I see around,” said Earl ”What did you say it was called, Uncle Foster? tundra?”
”Yes, tundra, Earl The moss is thicker than this up in the north and covers everything If it wasn't for the ht thaw out more in the su in, and the ground is as hard as in ht feet below the surface”