A Trip to Alaska 
when these dances were more common, whilst 
in this state of temporary madness, the dancers 
ended their performance by tearing a live 
native dog to pieces with their teeth. This 
practice had to be stopped by law. Whilst they 
were at it, the authorities might have prohibited 
the dance altogether. It was a sight warranted 
to disgust the most case-hardened beholder. 
After my second tarpon-fishing trip to Florida 
and Aransas Pass, in Texas, which I have pre- 
viously mentioned, I was half inclined to go to 
Dawson City and the Klondike to try what luck 
I might have at prospecting for gold. But the 
time for the small investor had to a great extent 
passed—money was pouring into that district 
in shoals, and as my stock of ready money 
was rather limited I thought I might do 
better by going up to Cook’s Inlet, in Alaska. 
I had heard the most marvellous stories 
of the big moose that were to be obtained in 
the district, and also a report that a new wild 
sheep had been shot. I therefore decided that 
my money would be better spent in trying to 
obtain sport than in seeking the elusive nugget. 
Accordingly, I bought in Victoria what seemed 
to me to be the necessary outfit. Many of the 
articles, such as flour, bacon, tobacco, and the 
like, I could, as I found later on, have obtained 
nearly as cheaply at my destination, but I 
thought it best to be on the safe side, as little 
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