TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 51 



retrace our steps. By the time we reached the boat 

 the sky had become overcast, and lowering banks of 

 clouds looming on the horizon to windward betokened 

 bad weather. No time was lost, therefore, in making 

 for the small cove where we had parted from the 

 ladies, the men having a hard pull to get the dory 

 against a rising wind and tide. 



I was fully prepared for an indefinite period of 

 waiting, and was agreeably surprised to see the whole 

 party coming along the river bank soon after our 

 arrival. The natives, it appeared, had wisely advised 

 a hasty retreat in view of the threatening weather, 

 knowing that, although in the sheltered bay, an 

 Alaskan wind can make even inland waters danger- 

 ous. We noticed that Pete was carrying something 

 on his back, which on closer inspection proved to be 

 a fine specimen of a red fox. This had been seen 

 creeping along the river bank in quest of any form 

 of food, which was as yet scarce enough in these parts. 

 The ladies had tossed up in true sportsmanlike fashion 

 for who should take the chance of bagging reynard. 

 Agnes, who persistently declares that she cannot win 

 at any game of chance, maintained her reputation by 

 losing the toss, and thus a short stalk, and a good 

 long shot had rewarded Cecily with the first blood of 

 our expedition. But she, with true feminine caprice, 

 was less elated by the excellency of her shooting per- 

 formance, which had much impressed the natives, 

 than by the prospect of what a splendid muff that 

 skin would make on our return to civilization. 



Our return to the Lily was not unalloyed joy, for 



