RAFT-BUILDING. 81 
" I do," said Mr. Dutton, firmly. " About ten miles 
from their foot, the river widens into a small pond, which 
contains one island. On that island we shall camp — " 
" Look, father, what is that ? " interrupted Rob, eagerly. 
" It looks like a man swimming. Isn't it ? " 
A moment's scrutiny and a single question to the 
guides explained the true character of the swimmer. It 
was not an Indian or a white man. What they saw was 
simply the head of a large black bear, swimming across 
at the narrowest part of the lake. 
Robert was eager to get out his Winchester and shoot 
the animal, but his father said no. He did not dare to 
fire a gun, lest he should put the natives on their guard. 
Besides," he said, " we could not possibly secure either 
carcass or skin, and we must not join the large army of 
thoughtless people who take animal life ^for fun.'" 
The bear looked neither to right nor left, but swam on, 
and presently they saw him drag himself out of the water 
and disappear in the forest. 
The raft had now turned the bend of the horseshoe, 
and was heading northwest. The east wind, drawing in 
around the high hills I have already spoken of, on the 
southern shore of the lake, was still slightly astern, and 
helped the raft so that the poles were not used. 
They now drew near the opening which, they could 
plainly see, marked the exit of the Pelly River. Already 
they could hear the rush of the "rip" waves, where the 
fierce current contended with the eternal rocks. 
