A Trip to Alaska 



when these dances were more common, whilst 

 in this state of temporary madness, the dancers 

 ended their performance by tearing a live 

 native dog to pieces with their teeth. This 

 practice had to be stopped by law. Whilst they 

 were at it, the authorities might have prohibited 

 the dance altogether. It was a sight warranted 

 to disgust the most case-hardened beholder. 



After my second tarpon-fishing trip to Florida 

 and Aransas Pass, in Texas, which I have pre- 

 viously mentioned, I was half inclined to go to 

 Dawson City and the Klondike to try what luck 

 I might have at prospecting for gold. But the 

 time for the small investor had to a great extent 

 passed money was pouring into that district 

 in shoals, and as my stock of ready money 

 was rather limited I thought I might do 

 better by going up to Cook's Inlet, in Alaska. 

 I had heard the most marvellous stories 

 of the big moose that were to be obtained in 

 the district, and also a report that a new wild 

 sheep had been shot. I therefore decided that 

 my money would be better spent in trying to 

 obtain sport than in seeking the elusive nugget. 

 Accordingly, I bought in Victoria what seemed 

 to me to be the necessary outfit. Many of the 

 articles, such as flour, bacon, tobacco, and the 

 like, I could, as I found later on, have obtained 

 nearly as cheaply at my destination, but I 

 thought it best to be on the safe side, as little 



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