3o8 THE UPPER YUKON 



tales are always interesting and instructive as 

 showing how the assimilation of foreign races 

 is accomplished. 



The third member of the trio went by the 

 name of Pete, although his real name is Ernest 

 Petrel. When a boy of fourteen he ran away 

 from his home and birthplace in Racine, 

 Ohio. After a wandering experience that 

 lasted a year and a quarter, he returned to his 

 home. Five years rolled by, and at twenty he 

 left his home for good, and now at forty he 

 has passed through much excitemen.t and en- 

 joys a great store of experience. 



His first journey was to the Indian Terri- 

 tory, where he became a cowboy and a herder 

 of cattle. He is of such a dark complexion 

 that his comrades affectionately call him 

 "Nigger," and he doesn't feel hurt at the name. 

 He has reached the time of life when he be- 

 lieves that it is "not good for man to be alone." 

 He's searching for a mate. By night and by 

 day he's thinking; first of the white woman 

 and her city ways, her refinement, and many 

 clothes, then of the maiden fair of Indian 

 birth. "She's so good and can cook so well — 

 so affectionate — so good with the rifle, and the 

 bow and arrow — so handy in making fires and 

 in helping with the trapping," he says. He is 



