94 THE WILDERNESS OF THE UPPER YUKON 



day after day, while our patience was tested by doubts 

 as to the ability and disposition of the captain to take the 

 boat up to within a reasonable distance of the Forks. 



August 29. We were awakened by the boat striking 

 hard on a bar, and I heard the captain exclaim that he 

 would not go on. After two hours, we worked it off and 

 proceeded all day until we tied up opposite Plateau 

 Mountain. While gazing at the crest through my field- 

 glasses I saw seven or eight caribou feeding near the 

 top and gradually moving over to the other side. 



August 30. In the morning, just before starting, I 

 saw a single caribou walking along the crest of Plateau 

 Mountain, and we watched it for some time until it was 

 lost to view. This sight of game had encouraged us, 

 as all day we steamed on, making slow progress against 

 more frequent riffles and around sharper curves, until 

 seven o'clock, when the captain ran the boat hard on a bar 

 and it was decided to remain there until morning. Drift- 

 wood was abundant and a huge fire was made, so that 

 by its light we could see well enough to cut wood and 

 carry it on the boat. 



August 31. After pulling the boat off the bar she 

 again went hard aground, a hundred yards farther on, 

 owing to the usual stupidity of the captain, whose com- 

 plaints were becoming so intolerable that we were almost 

 ready to take to our canoes. After working three hours 

 to make it free, we steamed on again, stopping to pick 

 up a beaver which the half-breed, Louis, had killed the 

 night before. Its tail considered by many, especially 

 Indians, as a great delicacy was cooked and served, but 



