182 THE WILDERNESS OF THE UPPER YUKON 



ning their skins, catching and drying fish, making moc- 

 casins, robes and clothes; and in the execution of their 

 artistic products of beadwork and porcupine-quill work, 

 she was as efficient and creative in design as the best of 

 them. She spoke English perfectly, and also the Indian 

 language of her race. Her knowledge of animal life, 

 based on interested observation and experience, was so 

 accurate that I have never found reasons to doubt her 

 assertions about it. She was accompanied by four little 

 daughters, the oldest five years, the youngest born the 

 preceding winter healthy, active, bright-eyed little crea- 

 tures, very pretty, and with the sweetest of dispositions. 

 They were truly little wild sprites of the wilderness in 

 which they had been born and bred. The two youngest 

 were born on the banks of the Pelly, each in midwinter 

 when the thermometer registered many degrees below zero 

 and when Mrs. Hosfall was in her cabin entirely alone 

 her husband being absent on the trapping line. When 

 one considers the conditions, and realizes that Mrs. Hos- 

 fall was obliged, unaided, not only to endure confinement, 

 but also to keep her fire burning and to cook and care for 

 the other children at the same time, the fact that she 

 passed through it all successfully provokes some reflec- 

 tion on the advantages of leading a natural life. The 

 highest tribute to the character of Mrs. Hosfall is the 

 fact that she is not only beloved by all trappers, pro- 

 spectors, and other white men who have known her, but 

 she is absolutely respected by them. 



The boat steamed ahead and the next morning arrived 

 at Granite Canon, where the experienced captain directed 



