240 
THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
about somebody else. Won't you tell a man all about 
it when we get home, papa, and let him make a book 
of it ? " 
And put you in ? " 
Yes, and Carlo, and all ! " 
" Illustrated?" 
" Of course, papa." 
Solomon set up a great laugh. 
I'd jest like to see a picter o' me drawn into a book," 
said he. " Haow pooty 'twould be ! Make it sell like 
hot buns ! " 
" Well, I know you aren't very nice-looking," said Nat, 
frankly, " but you're awfully strong, Solomon, and I 
guess you're real good, too. I'd have a picture of you 
chopping down that tree for a bridge ! " 
Solomon laughed again, as he exchanged his rifle for 
an axe, and gave the fire a kick with his heavy boot, to 
settle the red brands ; and remarked that " ef he wus 
goin' to set fer his picter, he guessed he'd better be 
buildin' a haouse to den up in, over winter," — a figure 
taken from the hibernating habits of his neighbor, Ursus 
Arctos, of Alaska. 
The men now went to work with a will. The sounds 
of axes, the rustle of flying chips, the crackling and 
crashing of falling trees filled the air with cheery sounds 
and delicious woody smells. 
"I'm hungry as an ox," said Rob, when dinner-time 
came. " Best forenoon's work I ever did yet." 
