236 THE UPPER YUKON 



tain sides that seemed impossible of ascent. 



Once we were working down the side of a 

 rocky mountain in order to cross to another 

 one equally rough, when we came to a deep 

 chasm with a little stream of water running 

 through it away down below. To me it 

 looked an easy jump for Billie. He, however, 

 looked at the other side, and evidently made 

 up his mind that the landing was bad. He 

 turned abruptly around, and felt his way still 

 further down that side. Then he stopped, 

 looked at the far side, and perhaps noted a 

 flat place where he could land in safety, for 

 without any ado he gathered himself together 

 and made the jump as easily as a bob-cat or a 

 lynx could have done. Then without urg- 

 ing he commenced to climb the other moun- 

 tain as if he knew just what was wanted of 

 him. 



On another occasion we suddenly came to a 

 small brook running through a deep ravine 

 with a heavy growth of willow brush on each 

 side. He pushed through the willows and 

 when he jumped he threw his head as far back 

 as possible so that the willows would not strike 

 his eyes. 



To me he was always gentle and always 

 ready for his work. One day while stalking 



