252 
THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
new laborer, and, being in Alaska, he must do an Alaskan 
dog's work. All hands are now summoned to breakfast. 
Flossie takes her place with the rest, and begs permission 
to pour the tea. Teacups are scarce, you observe. The 
boys have one large tin dipper to pass round. 
Mr. Button bows his head and asks a blessing, as 
gravely as if he were in his own luxurious home in Shel- 
don. Then the merry hum of voices and laughter begins. 
" Mamma, Teddy is sure he heard a bear outside, last 
night ! " 
" Ho 1 was it a prickly one, Ted ? " 
" Sure, I heard him shniff at the door." 
" What would a b'ar want wid a do', chile ? He come 
down de chimbley arter you, 'f ye don' look out! " 
"Your sledge done, Solomon ?" 
" Sartin it is, ma'am. An' this 'ere black fellow wishes 
he'd gone home with them wuthless Chilkats — don't ye, 
Carlo?" 
Thump, thump on the floor, with a shaggy tail. 
" Mother, please give me some more currants — and Nat 
would like a little apple sauce." 
A strange request, this last, you think ? You do not 
know, then, that, before cold weather set in, Mrs. Dutton 
gathered several quarts of wild currants near the camp, 
and by great good-luck discovered a little natural planta- 
tion of crab-apple trees, such as grow luxuriantly in the 
interior of this great territory. The currants she dried 
for occasional consumption ; the apples she stored, and 
