A REUNION. 
201 
ready for a start at half an hour's notice. The Chilkats 
had a rather battered and leaky canoe which they had 
found stranded among the rank willows by the water's 
edge, and in this shaky little craft the goods and passen- 
gers were conveyed across the narrow arm of the stream 
separating the island from the south shore. 
On the morning of the seventeenth day of the month, 
the w^hole company were seated outside their tents, on 
the high, abrupt bank of the river ; not, however, over 
ten feet above the surface of the water. 
As usual, their conversation turned on the conjectural 
whereabouts of their friends, and the length of time which 
they should Wait before giving up the undertaking and 
floating down the Yukon to the sea. 
Richard declared positively that he would not stir a step 
toward the mountain until he had his brother by his side. 
It seems to me," said Flossie, in her sweet voice, that 
now had a little weary inflection, " that I see something 
on the river, away up." 
They all shaded their eyes with their hands, and gazed 
eagerly. The view from this point covered at least two 
miles. 
" A raft, a raft ! " cried Richard, capering about like a 
boy, after a single glance at the approaching object 
through his field-glass. 
The color rushed to Flossie's pale cheeks. 
Oh, is it papa ! and Rob and Hugh and dear little 
Nat ! It can't be ! Oh, I feel better already ! " 
