228 
THE BED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
out of sight. Even then the wailing notes, like a dirge, 
could be heard floating after them down the valley.* 
With all haste the camp was reached, goods packed, 
and the party put in marching order. By noon they 
came once more to the village. To the surprise of all, 
not a living being was in sight. The wigwams were 
perfectly deserted, and not even a dog was to be seen. 
Evidently, the Brown Bears feared a summary punish- 
ment from the mighty medicine-man, or " Shaman," to 
use the native term, who bore about upon his august per- 
son the image of their savage prototype. 
At last Florence descried a dark face peering down 
from one of the caves, high above them ; then another, 
and another. The squaws had taken to earth, and, while 
there, were certainly safe. 
Peeschee alone stayed behind, and, when he had given 
the expedition time enough to gain a dozen miles by hard 
walking, he called in low, soft tones to the women. One 
by one, they came trooping in. 
The Fox pointed silently to the sunlight, just gilding 
the topmost boughs of the far-off spruces on the hilly 
horizon, as it sank from sight. 
Then he drew from his pouch the copper trinket, the 
looking-glass, and a half-pound package of tea. These 
* If any of my boy readers should think that Peeschee spoke in more lofty 
strains than would be possible for a degraded Alaskan Indian to use, let him send 
to the proper source for a copy of an address recently made at Met-lah-Kah-tla by 
one of the natives, in which much more stately language was employed than 
that employed by the humble guide of the Button expedition. 
