26 
THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
slows up at the station, ringing and hissing vigorously. 
People, dog, and baggage are hurried on board, the con- 
ductor waves his hand, and, with renewed clangor of bell 
and hiss of steam, the train starts for Boston, bearing — 
you know as well as I — the entire Button family away 
from their home. 
Dick Button was right. The letter could not be 
resisted. A favorable answer had been sent, thorough 
preparations made during the winter months, the mill 
wound up to run for a full year without the personal 
supervision of the owner — and off the party are starting, 
this twenty-fifth day of March, 1869, on their long and 
divided journey. 
All the family, I said. You see, there has been a 
slight change of plan. After the letter had been care- 
fully considered, and it had been voted unanimously that 
Mr. Button and the boys should make the trip to our 
northwest province, Mrs. Button had unexpectedly 
asserted herself. 
" Bick's plan is a good one," she said, " with one 
exception." 
What is that, my dear ? " inquired Mr. Button, 
mildly. 
" I do not propose to stay at home while you are off in 
the woods for a year. Florence and I will take the 
regular San Francisco route to Sitka, join Bick at his 
post, and start inland with him, meeting you at the fort." 
Mr. Button was astonished, but, as his wife's remark 
