54 THE UPPER YUKON 



"ranker." However, Billie walked past him. 

 x\gitated he was undoubtedly, but I flattered 

 myself that my affectionate treatment of him 

 had won the day. 



Another mile-stone was reached, and once 

 more there was trouble and once more I tried 

 the "loving" treatment, but in this case he 

 bolted, swung clear around, and started for 

 White Horse. Now that was not the direction 

 in which I wanted to go. A sharp cut with 

 the willow stick and a strong pull at the bridle 

 brought him to face the music, whatever it 

 might be. Then we discovered that a large 

 grizzly bear's fresh tracks crossed our trail, 

 and the Chief hastened to apologize for not 

 telling me that Billie was also always badly 

 frightened when he struck the fresh trail of a 

 bear. 



Without further excitement the "Meadows" 

 were reached, at 7.30 on the evening of August 

 fifteenth. 



In a walk of a mile that night after supper 

 six Arctic hares were seen, and from that time 

 on until the end of the whole trip we must 

 have seen many thousands of these agile but 

 rather foolish animals. It is hard to imagine 

 how the native Indians and the small white 

 population could get along without these 



