158 THE BED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
Accordingly, Nat stepped out to the farther end of the 
cave, and was delighted to find that an easy and well 
worn path led out into the open air, over a fern-draped 
rock, from which he did not doubt he could easily climb 
up to the camp. 
Retracing his steps, he lifted the smaller of the two 
puppies, as he called them, in his arms. The animal was 
bigger than he thought, and proved to be about all the boy 
could lift. Although he seemed very young and helpless, 
his claws were remarkably sharp, and in the course of a 
minute or two had inflicted one or two painful scratches 
on his captor's wrists. 
" Well," exclaimed Nat, out loud, I never in my life 
saw such a heavy puppy ! " 
There were bones scattered here and there about the 
mouth of the cave. 
" That's where the father and mother dog have had 
their suppers," thought Nat, pausing to take breath. 
To return for a few moments to the rest of the party : 
they all were so busily engaged in performing their 
various tasks that they did not for some time 
notice the absence of the youngest member of the 
expedition. 
Mr. Button walked down to the river bank^ in a vain 
hope of catching a glimpse of the lost raft. The terrible 
exertions of the day's walk showed him what a journey 
was ahead. He could hardly hope to reach Fort Selkirk 
inside of ten days. Could the boys, young and unaccus- 
