260 THE WILDERNESS OF THE UPPER YUKON 



rope holding them secure until the provisions were swept 

 from the bottom. As the eddy caught the boat, the sacks 

 began to float toward the bank and Jefferies was on hand 

 to save them. The axe and the extra rifle dropped in four 

 feet of water close to the bank. There was nothing to do 

 but to make camp and pass the night. 



August 26. The whole of the next day was devoted to 

 walking down the river in the hope of finding some of the 

 provisions, many of which were in small bags. We found 

 only one bag of rice and it was thoroughly soaked. But 

 we spread out the rice, dried it near the fire, and boiled 

 enough for a good meal. 



August 27. We knew that some lakes were not far 

 ahead, and then the gill-net could be set with a good chance 

 of catching fish. Early in the morning we started, and 

 in a little over seven and a half hours reached Lewis Lake. 

 The Prevost River enters the Ross about half a mile be- 

 low the outlet of the lake. For that distance from the 

 outlet the water is broken by shoals and riffles, while 

 ledges of rock occur along the bank. Thousands of dead 

 salmon were on the rocky bars, and fifty or sixty ravens 

 and two bald eagles were there to enjoy the feast. I was 

 towing the boat and the wind was blowing down river. 

 A ledge jutted out into the water and I had to wade well 

 out in order to pass around it, while Jefferies was push- 

 ing the canoe from behind. Heaving on the rope I 

 rounded the rocks and saw on the bar a hundred and fifty 

 feet ahead a magnificent male grizzly standing, head up, 

 one forepaw raised from the ground, ears cocked straight 

 up, looking at me. Quickly stooping low, I beckoned to 



