12 TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 



mitted to undertake cleansing operations. We dis- 

 covered that the curt notice was addressed to 

 remittance men only, and a good many of them 

 board at even somewhat expensive hotels. The 

 hotel proprietors know that in between remittances 

 John Chinaman frequently turns rusty, and says, 

 " Me no washee no more," driving his patrons 

 perforce to the bedroom washing-basin. It is an 

 interesting sight on a moon-lit night to see the upper 

 windows of some of the hotels and boarding-houses. 



At nights around us for we were not in the heart 

 of the town a few early frogs commenced their 

 evening concert, singing in twisting notes their long 

 drawn-out chirps. So many together made a really 

 big vibrating noise, and the sopranos and contraltos 

 combined to create a most harmonious whole. I 

 liked to hear them, and looked forward to the little 

 choir's entertainment. I tried to get a specimen of 

 the warblers, but they were too wary for me, and as 

 I approached quietly and furtively, I invariably 

 caught nothing but the sound of a gentle splash, 

 as each frog dived for safety. Then silence awhile. 

 After a few moments, a trying-it-on sort of chirrup, 

 then another in more assertive tones, and soon all 

 the swamp was ringing again with the gay fairy- 

 like music. 



Our next procedure was to advertise in a local 

 paper for a sealing schooner. There are many of 

 these strong and powerfully-built ships lying idle at 

 Esquimalt. They are about seventy tons burden, 

 and real stalwarts, able to withstand the terrific seas 



