■380* 
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i'hotu by Geurgc- Sliiras, 3ni 
TOWING OUR BOAT UP KENAI RIVIjR ON 
THE RETURN TRIP 
The two men in front devote their strength 
to pulling on a rope, while the one in the rear, 
by the use of a lo-foot pole bridled to the bow, 
steers the craft in and out around snags and 
rocks in shallow water. 
waves fell away harmlessly from the flat 
stern, because they were recedmg" with 
the same speed as the current. At such 
times the canoe, drifting rapidly with 
the stream and often g'oing" much faster 
in order to keep its course, would be 
deluged with spray, and occasionally a 
large wave would overlap the bow. 
To those who have occasion to run 
swift and crooked streams, where the 
backwoods craft is apt to be one of the 
easily constructed, box timbered kind, 
this method can be highly recommended 
as safe and comfortable. Were such a 
method in vogue on other Alaskan rivers 
many a miner's life would have been 
saved and many a valuable cargo carried 
safely to its destination. 
At a box canyon, some three miles 
above the lake and wdiere the river runs 
like a mill-course between high and per- 
pendicular clilts for nearly a quarter of 
a mile, we portaged over the canoe and 
our more valuable stuff, since I was un- 
willing" that any risk be ta^en. A week 
before a large boat, containing govern- 
ment supplies, was nearly lost at this 
point and, half filled, floated helplessly 
down the stream. 
When making this portage it became 
apparent that we had reached the first 
great fall and winter range of the moose, 
for the numerous and well-worn run- 
ways, the trees denuded of their bark 
and lower branches, together with an oc- 
casional shed antler, told the story. 
Here we camped for the night, near 
one of the few sloughs connected with 
the river, in hopes of a moose picture or 
two, but the high stage of water and the 
fact that the most of these animals were 
then at the edge of the timber line or in 
the great swamps west of the river val- 
ley only resulted in giving the mosqui- 
toes an unexpected but welcome meal. 
Shortly after starting the next after- 
noon the canoe, in making a quick rush 
to avoid going" under a log jamb, got 
ahead of us, and when overtaken, ten 
minutes later, we found Charlie clinging 
to a bush with one hand and bailing out 
with the other, having kept to the middle 
of the stream when rounding" a sharp 
bend, thereby running" into what the na- 
tives call "smoky water," wdiich adven- 
ture might have been avoided had we 
been in advance or had he known the 
river better. AMien asked about the mat- 
ter, he cheerfully remarked that it was 
now plain why Tom had given him all 
the canned goods — "because they were 
water-proof." 
PICTURESQUE SKILAK LAKE 
Finall}', the boats came to the first 
slack water and the next turn showed 
the lake, kiigher by several feet than 
usual at this season, but smooth and 
glowing in the quiet hour preceding" sun- 
set. For the first time the oars and pad- 
dles became necessary for locomotion 
and, relieved from tl:e continuous strain 
of watching for rocks, log jambs, rough 
water, and tumultuous whirl-pools, we 
enjoyed the placid surroundings to the 
utmost. 
Dividing" the mouth of the river was a 
low sandy island ablaze with a solid body 
436 
