168
XVI. THE GRIZZLY HUNT 181
XVII. THE YOUNG ALASKANS' "LOB-STICK" 191
XVIII. BAD LUCK WITH THE "MARY ANN" 200
XIX. NEW PLANS 207
XX. THE GORGE OF THE MOUNTAINS 217
XXI. THE PORTAGE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS 226
XXII. EAST OF THE ROCKIES 232
XXIII. THE LAND OF PLENTY 236
XXIV. THE WHITE MAN'S COUNTRY 244
XXV. HOW THE ERMINE GOT HIS TAIL BLACK 249
XXVI. TRAILING THE BEAR 254
XVII. THE END OF THE OLD WAR-TRAIL 264
XXVIII. STEAMBOATING IN THE FAR NORTH 274
XXIX. A MOOSE HUNT 286
XXX. FARTHEST NORTH 294
XXXI. HOMEWARD BOUND 307
XXXII. LEAVING THE TRAIL 317

ILLUSTRATIONS

AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE _Frontispiece_

THE BEAR BROKE COVER WITH A SAVAGE ROAR _Facing p._ 186

MOISE AT HOME " 266

THE PORTAGE, VERMILION CHUTES, PEACE RIVER " 302

THE YOUNG ALASKANS
ON THE TRAIL

I

TAKING THE TRAIL

It was a wild and beautiful scene which lay about the little camp
in the far-off mountains of the Northwest. The sun had sunk beyond
the loftier ridges, although even now in the valley there remained
considerable light. One could have seen many miles over the
surrounding country had not, close at hand, where the little white
tent stood, the forest of spruce been very dense and green. At no
great distance beyond its edge was rough and broken country. Farther
on, to the southward, stood white-topped peaks many miles distant,
although from the camp these could not be seen.

It might have seemed a forbidding scene to any one not used to travel
among the mountains. One step aside into the bush, and one would have
fancied that no foot had ever trod here. There was no indication of
road or trail, nor any hint of a settlement. The forest stood dark,
and to-night, so motionless was the air, its silence was more complete
than is usually the case among the pines or spruces, where always the