242 THE UPPER YUKON 



down the following day, and we were told 

 that their outfit and ours would both be placed 

 in the same car. This would save the rail- 

 road company the expense of sending two cars 

 where one would do as well. 



The mountain scenery going down to Skag- 

 way was equally as grand as it had been on 

 the trip up, but we had seen so many moun- 

 tains and canyons in the meantime that were 

 higher and grander in every way that the im- 

 pression left on the mind was not so vivid as 

 on the first trip. 



Skagway seemed to be completely filled 

 with people waiting for the Vancouver 

 steamer, which was to leave that evening. 

 Most of them were miners, business men or 

 visitors from Dawson getting "out" before the 

 Yukon River should freeze over. We were 

 therefore unable to obtain accommodations on 

 that boat, as every berth was taken. 



A Seattle steamer was expected to arrive 

 the next day, so a stateroom was secured on 

 her and we waited patiently for her arrival. 

 At noon her sonorous whistle announced her 

 arrival. Her freight for Skagway took but 

 little time to lift out of her hold, and the down 

 cargo was as quickly stowed in the vacant 

 space; so the vessel was soon ready to com- 



