142 THE UPPER YUKON 



The route taken by the Chief led up to the 

 crest of this peculiar mountain. Each man 

 led his mount. The ascent was gradual 

 until the top was in sight, and then frequent 

 saddles or hogbacks were met with. The 

 ridge of this novel roadway was so sharp that 

 it was absolutely necessary to straddle it, and 

 always to keep one foot on each side of it. 



As we went ahead and led the horses, Billie 

 jogged quite placidly behind me, occasionally 

 reaching down with his long neck to pick 

 a blade or two of grass on one side or the 

 other of the sharp ridge. It was but poor 

 picking, and he evidently became dissatisfied, 

 not only with the want of grass, but with his 

 master's speed. 



The writer has somewhat of a reputation as 

 a fast walker and as a man who had led many 

 ''Hikes," but walking on level ground is 

 one thing, and on a knife-like mountain ridge 

 with an abyss on each side, is another. Now 

 without any preliminary warning, Billie 

 rudely and swiftly butted me in the rear with 

 his head, and with such force that I nearly 

 fell to my knees. My position was such that 

 it made it difficult to turn around and scold 

 him, without losing balance, and therefore 

 falling or sliding over one side or the other. 



