142 -R^^ MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
" When shall we try it ? " eagerly inquired Rob and 
Hugh, in a breath. 
" When ungaik (grouse) call t'ree times." 
And she was gone. 
Preparations for departure were hastily made. The 
rifles, of which, fortunately, the Ayans had not yet seen 
fit to deprive them, were carefully examined. 
''What day of the month is it?" asked Nat, while 
they were resting on their arms, listening for the signal. 
The twenty-ninth of June, my boy." 
And how far are we from the old fort, papa ? " 
''About two hundred and fifty miles." 
" Then, if we start to-night, we shall get there before 
the tenth of July, sha'n't we, sir ? " 
"Please God," replied his father, earnestly, "we shall 
be there by the fifth, at the latest. Then we can prepare 
for trouble, and, if they have not yet arrived, we can 
even go up the Yukon a bit to meet them. But I think 
they will be there, for we allowed several days to spare, 
and Dick always was a prompt fellow." 
For half an hour nobody spoke. Then Teddy started up 
and put his hand to his ear. The others listened intently. 
" Oo-oo-oo ! " the sound came faintly from the forest. 
The Buttons started to their feet and peered out of the 
hut. What was their disappointment to find that the 
Indian — presumably Loklok — occupying the hut oppo- 
site and almost adjoining their own had left his front 
entrance wide open, so that it would have been almost 
