68 TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 



of these Aleuts. Very likely he did not feel the pack 

 he was carrying half so much as we did the two rifles. 

 Nature- suits her strength to the burdens, as the 

 burdens to the strength. 



" You do not mind my weight?" said the apologetic 

 fly in the elephant's ear. 



" Not at all," replied the elephant; " I really did 

 not know that you were there." 



We passed by a tract of country very much like 

 an Indian snipe jheel, and sure enough we saw a few 

 snipe rise from the marshy ground. 



The bear steak we took back to camp with us was 

 very dark in colour, the darkest flesh I have ever seen, 

 most unappetizing to look at, and the fibre was coarse 

 and tough. It was not really downright disagreeable 

 when cooked, but nothing very special. When the 

 bears get on to a fish diet the meat becomes very 

 strong and unpalatable. 



As our stores were ominously low we set about 

 repairing to the Lily, which lay at anchor not more 

 than five miles away, and she seemed a very pleasant 

 home, sweet home, to us as we climbed on to her deck 

 from out the dory. 



