again,
but we've had a fine time. I think John and Jesse are both a
little taller. Uncle Dick says I am, too.

"But it will be fine to get home again. Uncle Dick says he
is going to write and telegraph from White Horse once more.
So good-by to the Yukon. And good-by to the Rat and the
Mackenzie, too! Fine doings!"

XVII

WHAT UNCLE DICK THOUGHT

Our party of explorers, who by this time felt entirely civilized, went
about the streets of White Horse with a certain air of superiority
over the individuals who had never been farther north than this
railroad town. They were the heroes of the hour, with their tales of
the Rat Portage, over which no party had come in in recent years, and
each of them had to tell to many listeners the story of this or that
incident of the long trail. Old graybearded men listened with respect
to what these young boys had to say, and a newspaper man was very glad
to make a copy of some of Rob's careful diary, which he now began to
value more and more.

All too soon they were to leave this place and to pass up over
practically the original Klondike trail which came from the salt water
over the White Pass and down the headwaters of the Yukon to this
point. They did not visit the once famous White Horse Rapids, where
so many of the boats of the Klondikers came to grief, but declared it
would only bore them, since they had seen waters so much more
imposing! The local inhabitants laughed at this, but admitted that
many of the teeth of this once dangerous water had been extracted
since the early days.

As Rob had said, Uncle Dick took time here to do a little of his
correspondence. He sent out a message by wire once more to the
families of his companions, and to this added a letter which he said
would go north to Valdez with the boys themselves, in case he himself
received news at Skagway which would make it impossible for him to
accompany them to their homes.

One letter he wrote to the company which had sent him as its
representative into this northern country, in the following terms:

"GENTLEMEN,--I have arrived at the head of the rails on the
Yukon to-day, completing the round from Edmonton to White
Horse safely within the three months' estimate handed you.

"I have investigated the transportation possibilities in
much of this upper country. It is possible that a railroad
north from Athabasca Landing might for a time p