132 THE UPPER YUKON 



every direction, both when in flight and when 

 feeding. Their coat of feathers had turned 

 nearly white, so as to be ready for the com- 

 ing winter. 



The following morning we were off in 

 search of bear trails. We saw many sheep, 

 but did not molest them. Still no signs of 

 Bruin. That night we went to bed early and 

 the next morning the Chief said we would 

 climb the great mountain that we had passed 

 two days previously. He averred that go- 

 phers would be there in abundance and at the 

 crest bear ought to be found in the early 

 morning digging them out. From our camp 

 the distance was four miles. Nothing worthy 

 of mention happened until we had climbed 

 half-way up the big mountain and it was 

 necessary to tether the horse and Billie, as they 

 could not get any farther on account of the 

 broken rocks. At this spot, on turning 

 around to scan the horizon we noticed seven 

 caribou cows coming down from the peak of 

 the great inclined plane which has already 

 been described. With the glasses we failed 

 to see any bulls in the herd. 



When the apex of the rocky mountain was 

 explored we were much disappointed in our 

 expectations, for neither gophers nor bears 



