8 THE WILDERNESS OF THE UPPER YUKON 



had never carried a pack. He was sure-footed, willing, 

 but had an annoying habit of constantly picking feed 

 when being led, and the conformation of his back was 

 not adjustable to the aparejo, which kept it sore all the 

 time. Nigger, a black, had never carried a pack, was 

 clumsy on his feet, and had a tendency to jump at critical 

 places. Shorty, a dark bay, was the best pack-horse of all. 

 He followed well without leading, and though constantly 

 lying down at every pause, would get up without shifting 

 his pack. He was the pet, and always kept nosing about 

 for sugar and bits of bread. Schoolmarm, a dark bay 

 mare, not accustomed to the pack, carried a Mexican 

 saddle on which were packed trifles and lighter material. 

 Each of us travelled on foot leading a horse, while Shorty 

 was driven ahead of the man in the rear. None of the 

 horses had worked for a long time, and the first day was 

 very trying for them. All kept lying down at every op- 

 portunity, thus showing great distress under their packs; 

 it was difficult to lead them, and leading was necessary in 

 that country. 



Soon after emerging from the swamp and coming out 

 on the railroad tracks, we reached Coal Creek and first 

 learned the difficulty and danger of fording. The stream 

 was swift and deep, and Rungius, falling in the ford, was 

 nearly carried down. Again we passed through a swamp 

 for two and a half miles, and, coming out on the track, 

 proceeded up the railroad and arrived at some log cabins, 

 called Robinson's Camp, twelve miles from the mouth, 

 about noon. While we lunched, a prospector who was 

 loitering about, volunteered to show us the way to the main 



