travels in Alaska 



good lasting fire of resiny silver-fir roots, and a leafy- 

 bed beside it. I now told him I would run down the 

 mountain, hasten back with help from the boat, and 

 carry him down in comfort. But he would not hear of 

 my leaving him. 



"No, no," he said, "I can walk down. Don't leave 

 me." 



I reminded him of the roughness of the way, his 

 nerve-shaken condition, and assured him I would 

 not be gone long. But he insisted on trying, saying on 

 no account whatever must I leave him. I therefore 

 concluded to try to get him to the ship by short 

 walks from one fire and resting-place to another. 

 While he was resting I went ahead, looking for the 

 best way through the brush and rocks, then return- 

 ing, got him on his feet and made him lean on my 

 shoulder while I steadied him to prevent his falling. 

 This slow, staggering struggle from fire to fire lasted 

 until long after sunrise. When at last we reached the 

 ship and stood at the foot of the narrow single plank 

 without side rails that reached from the bank to the 

 deck at a considerable angle, I briefly explained to 

 Mr. Young's companions, who stood looking down at 

 us, that he had been hurt in an accident, and re- 

 quested one of them to assist me in getting him 

 aboard. But strange to say, instead of coming down 

 to help, they made haste to reproach him for having 

 gone on a "wild-goose chase" with Muir. 



"These foolish adventures are well enough for Mr. 

 Muir," they said, "but you, Mr. Young, have a work 

 to do; you have a family; you have a church, and 



[54I 



