322 RECENT HUNTING TRIPS. 



for Selkirk, three hundred miles distant. The 

 river was in flood, as the ice had only just gone 

 out, and rowing and floating alternately on the 

 strong stream day and night, racing against 

 ■death to the children from starvation and cold, 

 my wife was prepared to attempt the passage 

 ■of the Pelly Canyon by night — a most terrible 

 risk to run — in order to reach Selkirk as soon 

 as possible, for I was before my time, and she 

 did not expect to meet me on my return 

 journey. 



" It was very fortunate she did so, for my 

 poor little children were near death's door, 

 from starvation and exposure to the bitter 

 cold, when I got them ashore." 



On the afternoon of Friday, August 24th, we 

 reached the cabin near the mouth of Russell 

 Creek, which had been built three years 

 previously by the trappers John Barr and 

 George Crosby. 



Finding no one here, and having letters for 

 Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong, I walked up to their 

 camp at the mine — twelve miles of bad trail. 

 Starting from the river soon after four I got there 



