The Discovery of Glacier Bay 



to believe the woodless part of Charley's description 

 of the Icy Bay, so heavily and uniformly are all the 

 shores forested wherever we had been. In this view 

 we were joined by John, Kadachan, and Toyatte, none 

 of them on all their lifelong canoe travels having ever 

 seen a woodless country. 



We held a northwesterly course until long after 

 dark, when we reached a small inlet that sets in near 

 the mouth of Glacier Bay, on the west side. Here we 

 made a cold camp on a desolate snow-covered beach 

 in stormy sleet and darkness. At daybreak I looked 

 eagerly in every direction to learn what kind of place 

 we were in; but gloomy rain-clouds covered the moun- 

 tains, and I could see nothing that would give me a 

 clue, while Vancouver's chart, hitherto a faithful 

 guide, here failed us altogether. Nevertheless, we 

 made haste to be off; and fortunately, for just as we 

 were leaving the shore, a faint smoke was seen across 

 the inlet, toward which Charley, who now seemed 

 lost, gladly steered. Our sudden appearance so early 

 that gray morning had evidently alarmed our neigh- 

 bors, for as soon as we were within hailing distance 

 an Indian with his face blackened fired a shot over 

 our heads, and in a blunt, bellowing voice roared, 

 "Who are you?" 



Our interpreter shouted, "Friends and the Fort 

 Wrangell missionary." 



Then men, women, and children swarmed out of 

 the hut, and awaited our approach on the beach. One 

 of the hunters having brought his gun with him, 

 Kadachan sternly rebuked him, asking with superb 



