TED'S PRICKLY BEAR. 45 
his back. It was, in fact, no other than Nat himself, 
comfortably seated in a natural chair, formed by cutting 
a distorted birch close to the ground, and using the stump 
of a bent bough for a seat. A belt was carried around 
the Indian's waist, to steady the chair, but the weight 
came largely upon his forehead, which held the loop of a 
leather thong supporting this human piece of baggage. 
Mr. Button had seen Peruvian natives carry travellers in 
this way, over dangerous mountain passes, and Jim found 
that it worked to a charm. 
At about three o'clock the leader of the party uttered 
a cry of delight. 
Look ! " he said, pointing forward. " The head- 
waters of the Pelly ! " 
" What is the Pelly, father? " asked the oldest boy. 
The northern branch of the Yukon, Rob. Where 
that river joins the old ' Lewis,' or properly the Yukon 
itself, is Fort Selkirk, and there we shall find your mother, 
Flossie, and Dick." 
" Hooray ! " shouted Hugh, catching his father's enthu- 
siasm. " How long will it take to reach them ? " 
" I should think that by day after to-morrow we ought 
to come in sight of the chimneys of the old fort. As soon 
as possible we will build a raft, and finish our journey by 
water." 
An hour's fast walking brought the party to the edge 
of a small lake. On the southern shore were high bluffs, 
crowned with evergreen forests. Just before them lay a 
