270 



BIG GAME SHOOTING IN ALASKA 



on the face of the earth. Under such circumstances, the 

 discomforts of wet and cold, bad cooking, or hardships, any 

 of which, even taken separately, would cause us grievous 

 vexation at home, are here but trivial matters, and are taken 

 cheerfully as they come, all in the day's march. Fortunate 

 indeed is the man who, if his inclinations lead him to do so, 

 can turn his back on the life of cities and, having escaped 

 from his friends and creditors, shake the dust from his feet, 

 and with rifle and blankets strike out for such a land as this. 



Coast Scenery, Queen Charlotte Islands. 



Leaving Kodiak on the evening of the 26th, we reached 

 Valdez early on the morning of the 28th. During this run 

 the sea was anything but calm, and the number of empty 

 seats at meals in the saloon spoke eloquently for the feelings 

 of many of the passengers. 



The Judge and Marshal from Cook's Inlet were amongst 

 our fellow-passengers, and although I had no particular dis- 

 like to the Judge, who probably only did what he considered 

 his duty in the recent trials, it was not surprising that I did 

 not force my company on the Marshal. My first move on 



