A STARTLING DISCOVERY. 107 
We are too far north for that," explained his father. 
" The Indians are more and more like Esquimaux in 
their habits and dress as we near the Arctic Circle, which, 
you will remember, passes directly through Fort Yukon." 
A more alarming sound than the medicine-man's harsh 
voice was now heard at the other end of the village. It 
was the report of a musket. 
" Ah ! " exclaimed Mr. Button, starting at the noise, 
" so they have guns ! It nmst be one of the old smooth- 
bores, with flint locks. Dick said they still turned up, 
once in a while, among the savages." 
" How did they get them, father ? " 
Why, when the Russian traders purchased furs from 
the Indians, in the old times, they used to set a musket 
upright, and pile skins around it until they reached the 
muzzle. That amount was considered a fair exchange for 
the gun." 
Further conversation was interrupted by a sort of 
embassy of four Ayans, who waited upon the strangers 
with a birch-bark dish piled high with dried salmon, 
together with a generous slice of bear meat, roasted over 
one of their smoky fires. 
The boys would have preferred to provide their own 
supper, but it was thought polite to accept the hospi- 
tality, if such it was, of their hosts. They therefore 
made low bows of thanks, and partook in a gingerly fash- 
ion of the viands set before them. 
Several of the Indians joined the group at the door- 
