as they had come, into the sunset, which gilded all
the sea to rosy, golden beauty.

Ted's share of the potlatch was a beautiful blanket of Tanana's weaving,
and he was delighted beyond measure.

"You're a lucky boy, Ted," said his father. "People pay as high as
sixty-five dollars for an Alaskan blanket, and not always a perfect one
at that. Many of the Indians are using dyed yarns to weave them, but
yours is the genuine article, made from white goat's wool, long and soft,
and dyed only in the native reds and blacks. We shall have to do
something nice for Tanana when you leave."

"I'd like to give her something, and Kalitan, too." Ted's face looked
very grave. "When do I have to go, father?"

"Right away, I'm afraid," was the reply. "I've let you stay as long as
possible, and now we must start for our northern trip, if you are to see
anything at all of mines and Esquimos before we start home. The
mail-steamer passes Nuchek day after to-morrow, and we must go over there
in time to take it."

"Yes, sir," said Ted, forlornly. He wanted to see the mines and all
the wonderful things of the far north, but he hated to leave his
Indian friends.

"What's the trouble, Ted?" His father laid his hand on his shoulder,
disliking to see the bright face so clouded.

"I was only thinking of Kalitan," said Ted. "Suppose we take Kalitan
with us," said Mr. Strong.

"Oh, daddy, could we really?" Ted jumped in excitement.

"I'll ask the Tyee if he will lend him to us for a month," said Mr.
Strong, and in a few minutes it was decided, and Ted, with one great
bear's hug to thank his father, rushed off to find his friend and tell
him the glorious news.

CHAPTER IX

ON THE WAY TO NOME

"Well, boys, we're off for a long sail, and I'm afraid you will be rather
tired with the steamer before you are done with her," said Mr. Strong.
They had boarded the mail-steamer late the night before, and, going
right to bed, had wakened early next day and rushed on deck to find the
August sun shining in brilliant beauty, the islands quite out of sight,
and nought but sea and sky around and above them.

"Oh, I don't know; we'll find something to do," said Teddy. "You'll
have to tell us lots about the places we pass, and, if there aren't any
other boys on board, Kalitan and I will be together. What's the first
place we stop?"

"We passed the Kenai Peninsula in the night. I wish you could have
caught a glimpse of some of the waterfalls,