90 THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
" Then it was not a war party that we saw ? " ex- 
claimed the leader. The arrow is pictured below. 
"No. Hunt." 
" But who or what are the Ayans ? " 
" Injuns round here/' said Joe, with a sweep of his 
arm. "No Takheesh yit." 
Mr. Dutton was greatly gratified at this information. 
The band they had come upon, then, was simply a hunt- 
AYAN MOOSE ARROW. 
ing-party of river Indians, who were probably attracted 
to the travellers by curiosity. When the gun was fired, 
or after the Indians had reached the shore, it was likely 
that one or two arrows had been discharged at the fast 
disappearing raft. No trouble, then, was to be appre- 
hended, after all. 
They were making leisurely preparations to break 
camp once more, when a slight splashing in the lake 
caused Teddy, who was nearest the water, to glance up 
from his work. A wild howl of despair broke from his 
lips. Mr. Dutton sprang to his feet, and followed the 
horrified gaze of the Irish lad; as he did so, his heart 
sank. 
No less than a dozen small rafts were flocking around 
the corner of the island, bearing at least twice that num- 
