BEAR-HUNTING 



time. The labor situation looked ominous but peace 

 counsel ruled. We were tired but happy when we 

 took boat for camp, where we pulled off a very 

 successful trade banquet in honor of our good for- 

 tune. 



The next day found us at our main camp where 

 we discovered Czaroff entirely content with life. 

 When we came upon him he had his mouth full of 

 bacon and both hands in a kettle of stew. He had 

 gained about eight pounds in weight. Kuroki now 

 pleading disablement, we took on the fresher man 

 again, Czaroff making the next hunt, ten miles away 

 by dory to a new valley, in Kuroki's place. Again 

 we parted forces ; again we combed out twenty miles 

 of country with each party; again we made the in- 

 terior passes at the heads of our valleys; but this 

 time we found no bears nor any fresh sign. We had 

 now seen as much of the interior of Kodiak Island 

 as any white or other hunter ever did, perhaps, 

 and in three days' actual hunting had hung up three 

 hides. Others might have done as much. Our" 

 motto of business supremacy did not allow us to 

 loaf, as yet. Out must go the full field force once 

 more. We made a night voyage across an arm of 

 the sea that came very near being the last voyage 

 for all of us, but providentially made camp to find 

 Kuroki this time with his mouth full and both hands 



229 



