as though
he were frozen. Indeed, that was what those thought who saw him there,
for suddenly a dog-sledge came round the corner of the hill and a loud
halloo greeted his ears.

"Boston men," he said to himself as he watched them, "lost the trail."

They had indeed lost the trail, and Ted Strong had begun to think they
would never find it again.

Chetwoof, their Indian guide, had not talked very much about it, but
lapsed into his favourite "No understan'," a remark he always made when
he did not want to answer what was said to him.

Ted and his father were on their way from Sitka to the Copper River. Mr.
Strong was on the United States Geological Survey, which Ted knew meant
that he had to go all around the country and poke about all day among
rocks and mountains and glaciers. He had come with his father to this far
Alaskan clime in the happiest expectation of adventures with bears and
Indians, always dear to the heart of a boy.

He was pretty tired of the sledge, having been in it since early morning,
and he was cold and hungry besides; so he was delighted when the dogs
stopped and his father said:

"Hop out, son, and stretch your legs. We'll try to find out where we are
before we go any farther."

Chetwoof meanwhile was interviewing the boy, who came quickly toward
them, "Who are you?" demanded Chetwoof.

"Kalitan Tenas," was the brief reply.

"Where are we?" was the next question.

"Near to Pilchickamin River."

"Where is a camp?"

"There," said the boy, pointing toward a clump of pine-trees. "Ours."

Ted by this time was tired of his own unwonted silence, and he came up to
Kalitan, holding out his hand.

"My name is Ted Strong," he said, genially, grinning cheerfully at the
young Alaskan, "I say this is a jolly place. I wish you would teach me to
fish in a snow-hole. It must be great fun. I like you; let's be friends!"
Kalitan took the boy's hand in his own rough one.

"Mahsie" (thank you), he said, a sudden quick smile sweeping his dark
face like a fleeting sunbeam, but disappearing as quickly, leaving it
grave again. "Olo?" (hungry).

"Yes," said Mr. Strong, "hungry and cold."

"Camp," said Kalitan, preparing to lead the way, with the hospitality of
his tribe, for the Thlinkits are always ready to share food and fire with
any stranger. The two boys strode off together, and Mr. Strong could
scarcely help smiling at the contrast between them.

Ted was the taller, but slim even in the furs whi