104 
THE BED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
considerable stretch of the big Yukon itself, above and 
below old Fort Selkirk. They never go near the coast, I 
believe, but live along the large rivers, and in the winter 
time make long hunting excursions into the interior after 
caribou and moose." 
" And bear ? " 
" Not much," interrupted Hugh. " I heard Joe say 
that the Alaska Indians won't hunt the brown bear, he is 
so fierce." 
''It's strange that they have only rafts to go about in." 
" Down below, the tribe have plenty of canoes, and 
good ones, too, I've heard. They make them of birch 
bark, sewed with the fine roots of the spruce, well boiled 
to make them soft and tough." 
Whew ! " exclaimed Rob, at this point in the conver- 
sation, " isn't that salmon terrific ! I don't believe I can 
stand it much longer." 
If it was only salmon ! " remarked Hugh, sadly. 
But there are about four other smells, each worse than 
all the rest." 
" Hold on, boys," said their father. Ted, you stay 
near the door, and make sure that nobody is listening. 
There may be some one in the tribe who understands 
English." 
" Faith, it's meself that'll be glad to get a breath of 
air," said Teddy, taking his post as sentry, and laying 
hold of a good-sized stick, to keep the dogs away. 
" The question is," continued Mr. Button, " how shall 
