THE CRILKOOT PASS. 129 
"Dat's a po' contrivance," she said, anxiously, as she 
watched a broad-shouldered Chilkat lift Florence and 
carry her across to the opposite bank. "He'll go an' 
drop me, sho'." 
" But how are you going to cross, Chloe ? " asked her 
mistress, amused. 
" I dunno. Mis' Button, I dunno. 'Pears like I done 
got far's I c'n go." 
" Oh, nonsense, Chloe," and Mrs. Button gathered up 
her skirts preparatory to her own embarkation. If I 
can go, you can." 
A compromise was finally effected by employing two 
Indians, instead of one, to carry the black woman, who 
uttered various uncouth cries at every step of her bearers, 
and clung so tightly to their necks as almost to choke 
them. 
The scenery grew more and more wild as the expedi- 
tion advanced. Baird's Glacier seemed fairly to overhang 
the valley. Heavy clouds rested on the summits of the 
highest mountains during the day, rising only as evening 
came on. 
That night, the air was much colder than before ; big- 
ger fires and more blankets were called into requisition. 
The canoes were now concealed in the bushes, a few 
yards from the shore, and the baggage packed upon the 
backs of the Indians, the men carrying about one hun- 
dred pounds each, and the boys less weight, proportion- 
ately to their strength. 
