the heaviest tasks of "making camp." A large number of stones were gathered at the highest point of the sand and gravel, and a rough fireplace constructed. Two of the

ion, and with the suggestion that he might see something worth shoo

it's a poor time of year for the meat. Still, there's a few cats and other varmints in

innocently inquired Jack, rememberi

ater l

et go of it," said the miner. "I'm talkin' of lynxes and the lou'g'rou (

ed or uttered a sound except to snarl at any stranger who came near them and absolutely refused to make friends with anyone. One of these accompanied Rand and the two Indian

t ready to start back when there came from a thicket forty yards distant a shrill scream that sounded like a child in distress. At the sa

dog is worry

h his axe in his hand the Indian ru

s rifle as he burst through the brush after the guide, and saw the dog and a mass of gray fur mixed up in a writhing rolling combat that tore up the grass and r

small task, for the former was made furious by the wounds he had received, Ran

ad animal over with his mocassin, so that its f

eturned to where his companion stood fastening his bundle, having apparently taken no interest in the contest. There was a short exchange of gutterals and then each of the Indians stooping down placed a ba

water, as Rand and the Indians returned, "and

ecimen, I don't believe I want to meet any of th

jest like a human. Ye can't tell a pan

which soon heated the stones to red heat. Three of these had been joined together to make a sort of three corner oven

, the party seated themselves and ate their repast from tin or thin wooden plates. A day of excitement and vigoro

ight mattresses that were part of the equipment; and Swiftwater directed that the Scouts should all "turn in" to this improvised barracks together, while he and Skookum Joe retired to the othe

illed the boys with aspirations to "camp out," and they were rather incli

sented being coddled, as Gerald chose to express it, a

r? I feel as if I was being sung to and th

tundra over there, and that swamp back beyond of starting the season with six fine cases of malaria on my hands. Until

reciation of the miner's thoughtfulness for their welfare led th

were a sufficient number of mosquitos about to remind the boys of Colonel's Snow's injunction

nly sounded like

ood old Jersey acc

said Rand, referring to the once most fa

s a mosquito I killed just noo. I thin

r of dawn. The fire on shore had died down, but the embers still shone. The Indian who had been on watch had risen from his seat and followed the dogs, which had run growling up the strip of sand toward the meadow which lay between the water and the

Indians were still asleep and Jack took the trail of

rd Jack's footsteps on the

it?" as

Indian, "maybe bear, do

gs ran around it in circles, merely growling and offering no attack. At a word from the Indian, however, they ran in

ax with him. Jack raised his rifle and fired, and a

before it could let out a cry. The Indian gave a yell and ran in on the enormous animal, and with a well-directed blow of the ax split its skull op

nd. By this time the early dawn of the high latitude had rendered all objects visible, and the boys had also joined Jack and the Indian, who was circl

ou fellers were lucky to get him on the first shot, for that breed can make an awf

with the Indian's blow, had slumped down upon its hindquarters. With the greatest difficulty they succeeded in straightening it out. Th

n the breast of the bear. "That spread, and did the business right away. A steel jacketed bullet would hav

realized what he had shot, was trembling with excitement as h

Gerald, "if ye insist grabbing all the glory for yourself this way

can see nothing for it. If this Patrol of Boy Scouts is to get any chance to make a reputation it

of it than ye did with Monkey," exclaimed Don, and, with the laugh that followed, poor Jack

ched on the sand before them, and found it to be nearly ten feet from

ookum, "tho' I did hear of a skin

ear of Alaska. Some say he isn't so fierce as the grizzly, but he is nearly twice as big, and there's certain seasons that he'll fight at the drop of the hat, as th

better than a Siwash, and he set on the ri

to the fire where some skin of the rough, Indian smoked

Indian, "I reckon they could 'smellum' some

they cut up and such portions as were available they put aboard the boats. A few steaks were cooked for the boys for breakfast, but, as Swiftw

ed their destination he would arrange for the prope

ston, and if there is any glory attached to this matter that don't really belon

bly reach their destination before night. Just as they were aboard and were about casting off, one of the Indians who had disappeared for a time came running down to the wat