188 THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
and goods against injury, and in filling up the hole under 
their feet. 
By half past four the rain had ceased, the sun blazed 
out with tropical fervor, and a glowing rainbow spanned 
the sky. 
Un route/'' called the lieutenant, cheerily, bustling 
about among the Indians, and urging them to the work 
of resuming the voyage down-stream. Mrs. Button had 
expressed her earnest wish to leave the fort, with its 
unpleasant associations, and camp further down on the 
banks of the Yukon. Besides, she said, they would be 
lessening the distance between the two parties, and every 
mile of hill and dale made the separation harder to bear. 
By five o'clock, the raft, with all the company on board, 
swung off into mid-stream, and floated slowly downward, 
past the mouth of the Pelly, down which the husband and 
sons were really pursuing their toilsome journey. But 
the dark hills gave no hint of the secret they held, and 
the Pelly, the Upper Yukon, and old Fort Selkirk were 
soon out of sight. 
For two days they rafted down-stream. On the even- 
ing of the second day they passed two Takheesh Indians 
paddling up-stream. The Indians were friendly, and, on 
being questioned by the Chilkats, informed them that no 
party of whites had descended the river within the last 
fortnight. 
Here was a poser. Poor Mrs. Button was almost dis- 
couraged again, and even the sturdy lieutenant hardly 
