EQUIPPED FOR AN ARCTIC CRUISE 45 



One of the most entertaining of our companions 

 was the Rev. S. Hall Young, D.D. Small and thin, 

 with a sparse, gray beard and hair, his eyes quickly 

 observant behind spectacles, Doctor Young's insistent 

 voice penetrated every conversation on any subject, 

 and since he had spent most of the time in Alaska as a 

 missionary since 1879 he had a storehouse of informa- 

 tion. But a boimdless optimism for the country's 

 resources and prospects tinctured his opinions, and 

 laid them sometimes open to argument. 



Young was a strong chess and checker player, a 

 tireless reader, an enthusiastic hunter of every kind 

 of bird and animal, large or small. He killed a good 

 caribou on his sixty-sixth birthday, packed the head 

 four miles, wading an icy stream in doing so, and was 

 consequently flattened out by lumbago. He was super- 

 intendent of the Presbyterian missions in Alaska. His 

 daughter was Mrs. Kleinschmidt, and he was the guest 

 of his son-in-law for the summer. 



Collins, Elting and I sat on the bench against the 

 wall; and on the opposite side of the table Lovering 

 was placed between the two taxidermists. These were 

 "Professor" Kusche and Albrecht. Kusche was short 

 but strong, with rosy cheeks and a heavy moustache, 

 and was quiet and deferential. He laughed off and 

 avoided any argument, except those about birds or 

 insects. Kusche spent most of his time aboard skin- 

 ning the birds which Kleinschmidt and Dr. Young 

 brought in to be prepared, and in tramping for beetles 

 and birds when ashore. He was by profession a land- 

 scape gardener in charge of the grounds of an institu- 

 tion for the feebleminded in California. He was the 

 only man of our mess who foraged with his knife. 



