TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 281 



way through some of the dense underwood whilst 

 tracking the moose. 



To make matters worse it commenced snowing 

 sharply, and in the cool evening the flakes lying 

 thick on trees and ground helped to disguise any 

 distinctive trees or landmarks which we had passed, 

 and might under different circumstances have recog- 

 nized again. 



After wandering somewhat aimlessly for some time 

 Ralph sat down on a fallen tree, and began to revile 

 his fate and luck, etc., etc. As he tersely put it, 

 " to miss the largest moose we had yet seen was bad 

 enough, but to get wet through, and have to spend 

 the night out cold and hungry in an Alaskan forest 

 was the utmost limit which his patience could en- 

 dure." This was rather amusing, since Ralph prides 

 himself on being somewhat of a philosopher even 

 under the most trying conditions. There came to 

 my memory some old lines which I had seen in- 

 scribed on the wall of a hunter's hut in the back- 

 woods of western America, and quoting them as near 

 as my memory could recall the words, I said 



" It is easy enough to look pleasant 

 When life goes along like a song, 

 But the man that's worth while, 

 Is the man with a smile, 

 When everything goes dead wrong." 



Had we not got three brace of grouse in our 

 pockets ? Had we not plenty of matches, fuel galore ? 

 If the worst came to the worst we could roast a 

 grouse on a stick, which is food for the gods any 



