'Travels in Alaska 



under ordinary conditions the glacier discharges its 

 drainage water into the river through only four or 

 five of the delta-channels. 



Our camp was made on the south or lower side of 

 the delta, below all the draining streams, so that I 

 would not have to ford any of them on my way to the 

 glacier. The Indians chose a sand-pit to sleep in; I 

 chose a level spot back of a drift log. I had but little 

 to say to my companions as they could speak no 

 English, nor I much Thlinkit or Chinook. In a few 

 minutes after landing they retired to their pit and 

 were soon asleep and asnore. I lingered by the fire 

 until after ten o'clock, for the night sky was clear, 

 and the great white mountains in the starlight seemed 

 nearer than by day and to be looking down like 

 guardians of the valley, while the waterfalls, and the 

 torrents escaping from beneath the big glacier, roared 

 in a broad, low monotone, sounding as if close at hand, 

 though, as it proved next day, the nearest was three 

 miles away. After wrapping myself in my blankets, I 

 still gazed into the marvelous sky and made out to 

 sleep only about two hours. Then, without waking 

 the noisy sleepers, I arose, ate a piece of bread, and 

 set out in my shirt-sleeves, determined to make the 

 most of the time at my disposal. The captain was to 

 pick us up about noon at a woodpile about a mile 

 from here; but if in the mean time the steamer should 

 run aground and he should need his canoe, a three- 

 whistle signal would be given. 



Following a dry channel for about a mile, I came 

 suddenly upon the main outlet of the glacier, which 



[98] 



