Tyonak 
hoping they would be of use in “ holding up” 
bears. After looking around I went into the 
store to ask if there was any sort of accommoda- 
tion to be obtained, but was met with the reply, 
“IT reckon not; you'll just have to camp on the 
beach.” I therefore proceeded with Dawson’s 
help to put up my tent, and to hang up my 
mosquito net inside, after which I sat down 
on the beach to determine what to do next. 
Close by were several men bringing planks of 
timber ashore from the steamer. One of them 
accosted me thus: “Say, will you give us a 
hand with this here lumber up the beach ?” 
“ Sure,” I assented. I was going to give them 
a hand, for I had nothing particular to do, so I 
helped them to pack up that wood, which, it 
seemed, they meant to use for constructing two 
boats. I little thought at the time how these 
men would repay my efforts, but that is another 
story to be told later on. Anyhow, they seemed 
glad of the help, and offered to make Dawson 
and myself paying members of their mess, which 
we were glad enough to accept. They had quite 
a comfortable shack, to which they made me 
welcome during the few days I spent with 
them. These five men were drawn from all 
sorts and conditions. I got on excellently with 
them from the first. One was a broken-down 
doctor, who was exceedingly well informed and 
well read. Drink had evidently been his ruin, 
21I1 
