OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN. 97 
Anxious as they were concerning the future, the invol- 
untary visitors could not help marvelling, as they swept 
down-stream, at the scenery on both sides of the river, 
w^hich was for the most part bordered by high hills, heav- 
ily wooded with spruce and fir. Along the horizon 
stretched gigantic forms of the Rockies and their outlying 
spurs, ending in snowy summits, from which flowed enor- 
mous glaciers, all in plain sight whenever the clouds were 
swept aside. No wonder a recent traveller says that 
" before long we may hear Switzerland spoken of as the 
Alaska of Europe ! " 
A commotion was caused by a crashing among the 
bushes just ahead. 
" Look ! " cried Hugh, eagerly. There comes another 
Indian, waving his arms ! " 
" Ugh ! Moose ! " grunted Joe, after one glance at the 
object. 
Hugh was not the first hunter in these far-away forests 
to mistake the broad, spreading antlers of the moose for 
the brandished arms of a man, as they were seen approach- 
ing through the low underbrush. 
The Indians quickly fitted their many-barbed moose 
arrows to their bows, but before they could shoot, the great 
creature had caught the sound of Hugh's voice, and went 
crashing off into the depths of the woods. 
Seeing that Loklok appeared much surprised and 
excited by the sight of the moose, Mr. Button inquired of 
his guides if this animal was not common thereabouts. 
