CHAPTER V. 
RAFT-BUILDING. 
T was plain that Joe's story, instead of quieting 
the boys, as their father had intended, had 
wrought them to a high pitch of nervousness, 
which w^ould have to relax before sleep visited the little 
camp by the headwaters of the Pelly that night. 
'^Now% boys," he exclaimed in his cheery, wholesome 
tones, that of themselves began at once to put to flight the 
imaginary terrors of the night, /'m going to tell you a 
story. The difference between mine and Joe's is, princi- 
pally, that mine is true ! " 
Joe withdrew his pipe from his lips, and gazed reproach- 
fully at Mr. Dutton ; contented himself with a shake of 
his head, at the idea of his veracity being questioned ; 
and began to puff again at his tobacco. 
That is," added Mr. Dutton, changing his position in 
the tent so as to rest more easily, and at the same time 
face the boys, " the main facts are true. It's about a 
severe cold snap that took place in Atlanta, Georgia, 
not long ago." 
Thereupon he proceeded to narrate the following story, 
64 
