CAMP FIRES IN THE YUKON 25 



to accompany the expedition, came into the store 

 and was introduced all around. Fisher, we after- 

 wards learned, was a most amiable man who had 

 lived in the wilderness for years, a man of immense 

 general efficiency around a camp, and a culinary 

 artist of real ability, and withal a smile that was 

 both perennial and contagious, even under circum- 

 stances that were trying. Bruce was particularly 

 happy on this evening as this was his annual visit to 

 town after a' year's isolation in the wilderness, but 

 we had to insist that he vise the grub list. 



All went well until he came to the item : " Ten 

 cakes common soap." Bruce looked at the item a 

 moment and scratched his head and, turning to us 

 with a look of wonderment, said: " Ten cakes of 

 soup." We then explained it was " soap " not 

 " soup," whereupon Bruce commenced to grin and 

 finally exploded: " Awh, hell, cut it out; we don't 

 need it. Why, McGee, who was panning up on the 

 creek, had four cakes of soap that he had for three 

 years and when he went outside he tried to give 'em 

 away, but nobody would take 'em; they was all 

 right, too, 'cause three of 'em never had the wrap- 

 pers off and the other one didn't even have the let- 

 ters on it wore off." This was rich, but did not 

 sound well from a cook, but our doubts were need- 

 less as Bruce was the most cleanly cook it has been 

 my joy to know. 



The morning of August 6 found us attired in 



