CHAPTER X 



THE DISCOVERY OF GLACIER BAY 



FROM here, on October 24, we set sail for 

 Guide Charley's ice-mountains. The handle of 

 our heaviest axe was cracked, and as Charley declared 

 that there was no firewood to be had in the big ice- 

 mountain bay, we would have to load the canoe with 

 a store for cooking at an island out in the Strait a few 

 miles from the village. We were therefore anxious to 

 buy or trade for a good sound axe in exchange for our 

 broken one. Good axes are rare in rocky Alaska. 

 Soon or late an unlucky stroke on a stone concealed in 

 moss spoils the edge. Finally one in almost perfect con- 

 dition was offered by a young Hoona for our brok- 

 en-handled one and a half-dollar to boot; but when 

 the broken axe and money were given he promptly 

 demanded an additional twenty-five cents' worth 

 of tobacco. The tobacco was given him, then he re- 

 quired a half-dollar's worth more of tobacco, which 

 was also given; but when he still demanded something 

 more, Charley's patience gave way and we sailed in 

 the same condition as to axes as when we arrived. 

 This was the only contemptible commercial affair we 

 encountered among these Alaskan Indians. 



We reached the wooded island about one o'clock, 

 made coffee, took on a store of wood, and set sail 

 direct for the icy country, finding it very hard indeed 



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