AN EXPLORATION TO MOUNT McKINLEY. 409 



osity by leaping into the sea, but was promptly hauled out, and on 

 striking- the beach took to his heels. After the entire outfit had been 

 dragged ashore by the infinite labor of all hands, the presence of great 

 numbers of Indians and dogs necessitated a guard, so I stood watch 

 while the others slept. The chilly night air made the employment of 

 chasing the Indian or '"Siwash" dogs, as they are called, not unaccept- 

 able. A relief was called at 5, and I turned in and slept as one only 

 can sleep who has been active for twenty-four hours. 



The important question was which route should be chosen to the 

 base of the mountains, for the crossing of the swampy and_ heavily 

 timbered lowland area which interA'ened presented the most serious 

 difficulties. The agent of the trading company, who was first interro- 

 gated, was rather skeptical of the proposed plans; and well he might 

 be, for he had seen more than one exploring expedition start out with 

 high hopes only to return disappointed a few months later. Should 

 we go westward directly toward the mountains our northeasterly 

 course along the base of the range would be blocked b}^ glaciers; should 

 we take a more northerly" course we would become lost in a maze of 

 swamps and encounter a number of turbulent rivers. Such were the 

 stories told by the white men, and the Indians, who were assembled in 

 solemn conclave, were equall}" discouraging. 



Through the medium of signs, eked out by a few Russian words, I 

 held a long parley with an old Indian chief over a map of his hunting 

 grounds which he drew for me, but when I pointed out my proposed 

 route far beyond the bounds of his knowledge he gravely shook his 

 head as if to sa}' that I was attempting the impossible. Some of the 

 more experienced traders admitted that we might reach the base of 

 the range during the course of the summer, but when we unfolded our 

 plans for extending our journey to the Tanana, and even the Yukon, 

 they smiled knowingly and told us when we could catch the last steamer 

 in the fall, before the ice blocked Cook Inlet. 



As a matter of fact, the "zone of influence" of many of the long- 

 established Alaskan trading posts extends hardh' a day's journey from 

 the settlement, and many traders of long residence are astonishinglv 

 ignorant of the "hinterland." The Indian's knowledge is always con- 

 fined to the hunting grounds of his tribe, and he is apt to regard the 

 region beyond Aery much as the old cartographer represented unex- 

 plored areas, as the abode of hideous monsters. He magnifies unknown 

 dangers, and this fact, together with his ignorance of the use of horses, 

 makes his advice in regard to routes of little value. 



The part}' paid small heed to the stories of dire failure and disaster 

 which were recounted, for all but two of its members were veterans 

 of thi-ee or four years' standing in Alaskan explorations and had made 

 more tiian one successful trip in the face of similar gloomy prophecies. 

 While some were reconnoitering to choose a route, the packers, Fred 



