we have found out," said Rob.
"We couldn't get any idea of that country at all, and had to find it
out for ourselves."

"I'll tell you what I'll do, sir," said John. "When I get back home
and into Uncle Dick's engineering office I'll make you a tracing of my
map, and you can have it for your very own. I shall be very glad to do
that."

"And if you will I shall be very much in your debt, my young friend,"
said the archdeacon. "That will be fine, and I shall value it. I fancy
that many a Klondiker who was cast away in the winter-time in that
wild country would have been glad to have had such assistance as this.
But not even Harper or McQueston or any of the other early explorers
on the Peace and the Liard and the Mackenzie and the Peel and the Rat
and all these rivers running into the Yukon which have been so famous
for their gold--not one of these men, I will say, could ever make an
exact map of the country he had crossed. As for the traders--well, you
know that yourself. They don't want new-comers, and they don't help
them any too much." He sighed, spreading out his hands with but
partial resignation.

"It is a hard fight which the Church wages with the fur trade in the
North. We are antagonistic, although we live side by side, both
Anglican and Catholic missions, almost in the dooryard of the Hudson's
Bay Company and Revillons and all the smaller fry of independents
which are pushing in now. But we do our best.

"Now, then, young sir," he resumed, turning to Rob, "I have no doubt
that your notes are as good as this young man's map. I hope you will
keep up your diary just as I have done in much of my exploration work
in Alaska and the Northwest Territory. These things are invaluable in
later life."

Rob thanked his host very much, and promised to do as he advised.
Therefore, what he found of interest at this, the first considerable
American settlement they met on the Yukon, should prove worth setting
down in his own words.

XV

THE FUR TRADE

The memoranda which the historian of the party set down regarding Fort
Yukon had more or less to do with the scenes and incidents connected
with the fur trade which had come under his observation. But before
coming to these Rob put down a few things regarding the nature of this
American settlement on the great river of Alaska:

"_Saturday, August 9th._--We had forks and napkins at the
archdeacon's house. Went out to see the town. Indian tents
sc