144

XVII. AT THE YELLOWSTONE 155

XVIII. WHERE THE ROAD FORKED 168

XIX. AT THE GREAT FALLS 187

XX. READY FOR THE RIVER HEAD 201

XXI. THE PACK TRAIN 210

XXII. AT THE THREE FORKS 226

XXIII. SUNSET ON THE OLD RANGE 235

XXIV. NEARING THE SOURCE 246

XXV. BEAVERHEAD CAMP 262

XXVI. THE JUMP-OFF CAMP 276

XXVII. THE UTMOST SOURCE 294

XXVIII. SPORT WITH ROD AND REEL 302

XXIX. THE HEAD OF THE GREAT RIVER 310

XXX. SPORTING PLANS 327

XXXI. AMONG THE GRAYLING 340

XXXII. AT BILLY'S RANCH 349

XXXIII. HOMEWARD BOUND 371

ILLUSTRATIONS

THEY TURNED AWAY FROM THE GREAT FALLS OF
THE ANCIENT RIVER WITH A FEELING OF
SADNESS _Frontispiece_

THEY SAW HIM SCRAMBLE UP THE BANK, LIE
FOR AN INSTANT HALF EXHAUSTED, AND
THEN COME RUNNING DOWN THE SHORE TO
THEM _Facing p._ 70

BEFORE ANYONE COULD HELP HIM HE WAS
FLUNG FULL LENGTH, AND LAY MOTIONLESS " 216

JESSE SUDDENLY STOOPED, THEN ROSE WITH AN
EXCLAMATION " 264

THE YOUNG ALASKANS ON THE MISSOURI

CHAPTER I

FOLLOWING LEWIS AND CLARK

"Well, sister," said Uncle Dick, addressing that lady as she sat busy
with her needlework at the window of a comfortable hotel in the city of
St. Louis, "I'm getting restless, now that the war is over. Time to be
starting out. Looks like I'd have to borrow those boys again and hit
the trail. Time to be on our way!"

"Richard!" The lady tapped her foot impatiently, a little frown
gathering on her forehead.

"Well, then?"

"Well, you're always just starting out! You've been hitting the trail
all your life. Wasn't the war enough?"

"Oh, well!" Uncle Dick smiled humorously as he glanced at his leg,
which extended before him rather stiffly as he sat.