268 



THE ARCTIC PRAIRIES 



No doubt these were the same 12 flocks as those 

 observed on the previous days, but still it rejoiced my 

 heart to see even that many. I had feared that the 

 species was far gone on the trail of the Passenger 

 Pigeon. 



But this is anticipating. We were camped still on 

 the island north of the traverse, waiting for possible 



water. All day we watched 

 in vain, all night the surf 

 kept booming, but at three 

 in the morning the wind 

 dropped, at four it was obvi- 

 ously calmer. I called the 

 boys and we got away be- 

 fore six; dashing straight 

 south in spite of rolling seas 

 we crossed the 15-mile stretch 

 in 3 J hours, and turning west- 

 ward reached Stony Island 

 by noon. Thence southward 

 through ever calmer water our gallant boat went spin- 

 ning, reeling off the level miles up the river channel, 

 and down again on its south-west branch, in a glorious 

 red sunset, covering in one day the journeys of four 

 during our outgoing, in the supposedly far speedier York 

 boat. Faster and faster we seemed to fly, for we had 

 the grand incentive that we must catch the steamer at 

 any price that night. Weeso now, for the first time, 

 showed up strong; knowing every yard of the way he 

 took advantage of every swirl of the river; in and out 

 among the larger islands we darted, and when we 



Billy's springle 



