144 THE BED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
Joe and Jim were wide awake, and had managed, dur- 
ing the earlier hours of the night, to edge the raft off 
from the banks, so that it swung free in deep water, held 
only by the rope. 
One dark form after another crept on board. A 
quick sweep of Joe's sharp hunting-knife severed the 
tightly drawn hawser, and away swept the raft to 
freedom. 
" Glorious ! glorious ! " exclaimed Mr. Button, in low 
tones, gazing back at the fast dwindling village, where 
nothing was stirring but the wolfish dogs, who howled a 
dismal farewell from the landing. 
The energies of all the party were now bent on keeping 
the raft free from obstructions. Once they grounded on 
a mud flat, but, by poling the free end of the raft up- 
stream, they got the force of the current to help them, 
and presently swung off again. The sun rose brightly 
shortly after two o'clock, but the refugees dared take no 
moment of rest. Hugh managed to secure half a dozen 
grayling as they swept along, and these were cooked over 
a fire of twigs hastily collected at the lower end of a 
small island, where they ventured to halt a few minutes 
after ten hours' steady progress. 
At noon they reached another lake, and here their 
advance was slow, as hardly a breath of wind was stir- 
ring. The rays of the sun were intensely hot, and the 
attacks of both mosquitoes and gnats incessant. 
By six o'clock they had reached the lower end of the 
