134 THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
shoes, which they had brought on their backs for that 
purpose. 
Now they came to a frozen lake. One swallow, swiftly 
darting across its still, white expanse, was the only sign 
of life. 
Nightfall — or what would have been nightfall at 
home — came down upon them while they were still 
tramping wearily through the snow, and it was nearly 
midnight when the broad waters of Lake Lindeman 
stretched out before them. Tents were hastily pitched, 
and, thoroughly exhausted, the whole party threw them- 
selves down on their blankets and forgot snow, ice, weari- 
ness, and mosquitoes, yes, even apprehensions of the 
sullen Ayans, in refreshing sleep. 
We have already seen how Mr. Dutton and the boys 
built their raft near " Camp Prospect." It is needless to 
describe the process again. Lieutenant Dutton went to 
work with his forces in much the same way, and the- 
result was a craft considerably stronger and handsomer 
than the former — as government work is usually more 
thorough than that of private contractors ! In addition 
to ropes at the corners of the raft, the logs were fastened 
together with stout wooden pins, driven into auger holes 
which had been bored for that purpose at the points where 
the logs were mortised and saddled. An elevated deck 
of spruce poles, high and dry above the water, furnished 
comfortable quarters for the gentler members of the expe- 
dition. 
