46 FOIREST AND STREAM. 
be oblig-ed to transport the captured animals any great 
distance by land. 
Snow to the depth of three feet covered the flat on 
which the town was situated, and in the timber on the 
high bhiff back of Tyonook it was tmich deeper. As 
four years had elapsed since I had done any hard 
walking, or mountain climbing. I occupied the three 
days which were necessary to repair the boat that was 
to convey us to Knik, in taking long shoeshoe trips 
through the timber. 
On the morning of May 2, in company with Mr. 
Hicks, McQuin, the owner of the sloop, and an Indian 
"deck hand," we left Tyonook for Kmk village, some 
75 miles northeast, where we hoped to secure our In- 
dian help and prepare for the trip proper. It is use- 
less for a small craft to attempt to navigate Cook In- 
let unless the strong tides are in its favor, so Ave 
started with the first of the flood. Not a breath of air 
was stirring, so the oars were used most of the day, 
but late in the afternoon the wind rose and whipped 
the calm water into a choppy sea. On nearing the gap 
in the mountains at the mouth of Turn-again Arm, it 
blew almost a gale, and as though our helmsman did 
not have enough hindrances, floating ice was encoun- 
tered, the bowsprit broke and we were compelled to 
furl the jib, which made it difficult to dodge the chimks. 
The storm tossed our little craft about in a most un- 
comfortable and alarming manner, and she frequently 
bumped against cakes of ice; a forerunner of what 
might be expected should we come in contact with 
larger pieces. Slowly we worked along under reefed 
sails, and at last ran in under the lee of Fire Island, 
and as the tide was turning, anchored for the night. 
At the head of Cook Inlet, and in the adjoining 
arms are mud flats, miles in extent. At low tide these 
flats are exposed, and during the winter as the 1ide 
ebbs and flows, ice forms and increases with each tide, 
until it reaches the thickness of the highest winter 
tide, from eight to ten feet. In the spring- these fields 
of ice break loose in great masses, and float back and 
forth with the tides, a severe menace to navigation, 
especially to small craft. So long as the floe is in mo- 
tion a boat can float in its midst, but should the ice be- 
come stranded the entire pack jams and the unfortu- 
nate craft that is so caught is crushed like an egg. 
A watch was kept during the night to fend off stray 
pieces of ice which might drag the anchor and set us 
adrift. When the tide turned in our favor it was too 
dark to proceed, and we lost two hours' time, conse- 
quently were unable to make Knik vilutge on that tide. 
We spent the ebb tide on a mud flat and as soon as the 
water had gained sufficient depth to float the boat we 
crossed to the opposite of the arm, where large quan- 
tities of ice compelled us to take in the sail and float 
with the pack. 
When within sight of Knik we saw that the ice on 
the flat in front of the village had not broken loose, but 
extended westward in a long arm; a wide channel of 
water to the south, and an extremely narrow one close 
to the north bank — the side we wished to take. At the 
THE TWO LAMBS WERE CAPTURED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 
THE MOUNTAIN BEHIND THE CROSS. 
mouth of the channel the floe was so compact that for 
a time it seemed as though we would be unable to force 
a way, and would be carried up the other side of the 
inlet. While the men used their oars, I jumped upon 
the ice and crowded the boat into the passage, and we 
floated up a channel between walls of ice. 
On nearing the village we were met by Mr. Tool 
and Mr. Palmer, agents for the Alaska Commercial 
and North American companies, respectively. Know- 
ing that the channel opposite Knik was blocked, they 
had walked down the beach to warn us not to ap- 
proach nearer, as there was danger of being caught in 
the jam at high tide. Acting on their advice we hauled 
in behind a chunk of stranded ice, and with the help of 
the natives, quickly unloaded the boat. When the tide 
turned, McQuin and his Indian "deck hand" started 
back. We watched them until they left the narrow 
channel and were lost to view in the ice pack. 
Mr. Tool kindly placed his cabin at our disposal and 
assisted us in many other ways while we remained. 
Fortunately, I had brought my outfit from Seattle and 
was not dependent on the traders for supplies, for we 
found that neither of them had a pound of food of any 
sort for sale, and the Indians were sadly in need of 
provisions, although there was an abundance of game, 
but they were too lazy to hunt. 
From here we had an excellent view of the range 
gome sixty miles away; it was a mass of snow, and 
the Indians prophesied that we would have to use 
snowshoes, and said also that the ice in the Knik 
River had not broken up. 
From Mr. Palmer I rented a large flat-bottom river 
boat, properly called a "bateau." The majority of 
natives had gone up the Matanuska River to a "pot- 
latch" given by their kinsmen and we had difficulty in 
securing the three good men needed. At last Mr. 
Hicks made arrangements with two young men, 
known to the traders as Billy and Andrew, to accom- 
pany us. The conditions were that they should re- 
ceive a dollar a day, and five dollars each for every 
animal captured. They were to remain as long as their 
services were required, and if they deserted the amount 
OLD billy'' on THE GRASSY SLOPE. 
due them would be forfeited. The third Indian we 
hoped to secure had gone on a hunting trip, and learn- 
ing that he was camped near the mouth of the Knik 
River we thought he could be found on our way to the 
mountains. The day before departing, Andrew coolly 
informed us that he had decided not to go, fearing he 
would not be paid. There was no other Indian capable 
of taking his place, so Mr. Hicks told him as he had 
accepted provisions on credit for his mother he must 
keep his agreement. On May 6 we bade good-bye to 
Knik; its apology for civilization, and left for the 
mountains. 
From the start we encountered ice, but got away 
with the beginning of the flood tide, so managed to 
keep out of its way the first day. Near the head of the 
arm we saw smoke from Indian camps, and thinking 
that Jim's camp might be one of them, landed and pre- 
pared for night. 
No sooner was a fire built than it was surrounded by 
a crowd of Indians. Upon learning of my object, they 
gU3'ed my men unmercifully and said the plan was im- 
possible. They gave me to understand that the young 
sheep as soon as born could climb with almost the 
agility and ease of their parents, and could easily 
escape both white men or Indians. While I had no 
doubt that we could capture the lambs, I did fear that 
they might not live. 
Jim, who was with the party, had just returned from 
Hope City, and said that he had been told that a white 
man was coming from far away to catch sheep to "put 
in a box," as interpreted by Mr. Hicks. Jim was hired 
and left with us the following morning. 
The ice was running so thick that the oars could 
scarcely be used and our small boat was in danger of 
annihilation many times during the day. Had it been 
nipped in the ice, we probably could have reached 
shore by jumping from cake to cake, but its loss would 
have meant certain failure to the expedition, for it 
would have been impossible to secure more supplies 
and return to the mountains in time lor the lambing 
season. To say that I was relieved as the tide grew 
weaker and weaker, and we finally met the current of 
fresh water at the mouth of Knik River, and went into 
camp at midnight, well out of reach of the treacherous 
ice and tide, does not express it. To our joy we found 
that the ice had left the Knik River and that the val- 
ley was free from snow. 
Here Jim left his family camped in a cabin they 
usually occupied only during the trapping season. The 
following morning after his squaw and daughters had 
made for him several pairs of rough rnoccasins, we 
continued our journey under new conditions. The 
river was swift and shallow and we were_ obliged to 
tow or "line" the boat; one person remaining in the 
stern to guide it, while the others walked along the 
bank or in the edge of the water carrying the tow- 
line. Several times it was necessary to lighten the 
boat and reload it again after passing over shoals. 
Quick-sand was a source of trouble as well as amuse- 
ment, for one could not help laughing at his compan- 
ions as they suddenly dropped the line and frantically 
splashed through the water tq more solid ground. Jim 
ran no risk when at the head of the tow line, but car- 
ried an oar which he used to test spots that appeared 
suspicious, and to assist him when he did get into 
trouble. .As none of the Indians were able to get 
boots of? the traders at Knik, they_ were wet to the 
hips in ice cold water most of the time. 
We made a permanent camp at the outlet of a small 
stream running into the river about thirty miles from 
its mouth. This was to be our base or supply camp, 
and by clearing away the brush and cutting down a few 
trees we had an excellent view of the mountains some 
two miles distant. From the time of our arrival, sheep 
were in sight constantly; three to the west and three 
Uan. 17, tm- 
almost opposite camp, while a solitary old ram led a 
hermit's life on a mountain a little to the eastAvard. 
We derived considerable pleasure watching "old Billy," 
as we named him, descend to his feeding grounds from 
the lofty retreats where he passed the night. His 
hunger appeased, he spent the day sunning himself on 
prominent peaks, or loafing about the grassy slopes 
until night, and then returned to the crags. One af- 
ternoon while I was away Mr. Hicks secured several 
fine photographs of the old fellow, who appeared little 
alarmed at seeing him. If the Indians or wolves have 
not killed "old Billy," he probably haunts that locality 
yet. 
At this time of the year, the ewe sheep gather by 
themselves and keep close to the crags for protection. 
They become very watchful as the lambing season ap- 
proaches, and at the proper time a female will separate 
from her companions and seek the rocks, where the 
lamb is born. It remains with its mother until strong 
enough to join the band. It was my intention to locate 
several bunches of ewes and watch them closely until 
the lambs appeared, then to attempt their capture. We 
intended not to approach nearer than was absolutely 
necessary to distinguish rams from ewes, which with 
the field glasses could be done from a distance of two 
miles. 
We remained at this camp long enough to determine 
that all the sheep seen were rams. During this time 
Mr. Hicks and one of the Indians took a two days' 
trip to the westward and crossed the range, but saw no 
ewes. 
It was about then that our Indians became trouble- 
some. My mission was somewhat of a novelty to 
them. Undoubtedly they had expected to shoot every- 
thing they saw, and on learning that it would not be 
allowed they complained and became sullen. I called 
them together and explained that I had traveled a 
long distance to catch sheep, and could not permit fir- 
ing, as that would frighten the animals and ruin our 
pro.spects, but they could not see it in that light. Jim 
said he was hungry for meat, and that he had never 
before worked for a white man who vvould not allow 
him to kill game. They had shown an inclination to 
disregard my orders, and once refused to leave camp 
because I prohibited the carrying of fire arms. I ac- 
cused them of acting like children or old persons, an 
allusion that undoubtedly cut deep, for they dislike 
such comparisons. The climax was reached one even- 
ing when I saw a ripple some distance up stream, and 
believing it to be a muskrat, gave Andrew permission 
to shoot it with the twenty-two rifle, which would make 
little noise. After pushing the boat from shore, he 
discovered that the animal was an otter. Jim rushed 
into the tent for his large caliber rifle, which if dis- 
charged would alarm the game for miles. In answer 
to my command not to fire, he replied that the otter 
was worth four dollars and he proposed to kill it. 
Snatching my rifle, I threw it to my shoulder and 
shouted "Big gun scare sheep, no shoot, Jim!" 
Whether it was the tone of my voice, or the click of 
the lever as the cartridge slipped into the chamber, 
BRINGING A LAMB DOWN FROM THE CRAGS. 
that caused him to turn, I know not, but when he saw 
the muzzle of my "Savage" pointed at his head, he 
dropped his gun in the mud and replied, "All right, me 
no shoot," then jumped into the bateau and the two 
went in pursuit of the otter with the small gun only. 
While this incident did not prevent Jim from grumb- 
ling continually, he never again refused to obey orders. 
Our two pairs of field glasses did not lie idle, for 
while some of the party were in camp scanning the 
mountains, others made excursions in the hope of locat- 
ing more sheep, or finding a locality more favorable for 
our work. Having discovered that the sheep within 
sight were rams, we left the base camp on May i6, and 
Avith ten days' provisions went up the stream as far as 
possible, drew the boat upon the bank, and shoulder- 
ing our packs of about fifty pounds each, continued on 
foot. At noon, after crossing a "muskeg" or peat bog, 
we stopped for lunch and while making tea a band of 
five sheep was seen high on the rocks almost opposite. 
It is remarkable how far Indians can see game. 
Many times they discovered sheep with the naked eye 
that could scarcely be detected with the glasses. Yet, 
when one remembers that they never use their eyes in 
artificial light, and that from infancy hunting has been 
their only education, it is not so surprising. 
Our next camp was pitched on the bank of a stream 
about 15 miles east of the one just left, 
Jim had become very disagreeable of late. I no- 
ticed that he had considerable to say to the other I»- 
