He's called a kodiak because he hangs out down
on Kodiak Island and on the Alaska and Kenai peninsulas."

"Yes," said Skookum Joe, "he likes salmon better than a Siwash, and he set
on the river bank and fish for himself all day long."

"Smellum salmon," spoke up one of the Indians, pointing to the fire where
some skin of the rough, Indian smoked fish had been thrown by the
aborigines the night before.

"Wa-al," said Swiftwater, with a grin at the Indian, "I reckon they could
'smellum' some o' that seal oil o' yours down to Seattle."

The Indians set swiftly to work while the boys looked on curiously, and
soon had the enormous brown hide of the animal off the body. The latter
they cut up and such portions as were available they put aboard the boats.
A few steaks were cooked for the boys for breakfast, but, as Swiftwater
suggested, they found the meat dry and tough and very lean. The Indians
seemed to relish it, however, and the remaining dog ate enormously.

Swiftwater promised Jack that as soon as they reached their destination he
would arrange for the proper curing of the skin which he could have as a
trophy.

"No," said Jack, "that goes to the Patrol for the floor of our room back
in Creston, and if there is any glory attached to this matter that don't
really belong to that Indian with the ax, I shall be glad to hand that
over to the Patrol."

As they had all been aroused so early, Swiftwater gave orders for an
immediate start up Gold Creek as soon as breakfast was over, that they
might get in a long day and possibly reach their destination before night.
Just as they were aboard and were about casting off, one of the Indians
who had disappeared for a time came running down to the water with a small
bundle of fur in each hand. One was the skin of the wild cat killed the
night before; the other the skin of his dog crushed to death by the bear
that morning.

CHAPTER VII.

INTO THE WILDERNESS.

Skookum Joe, equipped with a dog tent and some provisions, had been left
on the point of the junction of the Lewes River and Gold Creek, to await
the arrival of the down-river steamer of the Yukon and White Pass Railroad
Company to arrive that day, and he waved them a friendly farewell as the
Indians slowly poled their boats out into the stream. The current of Gold
Creek was by no means as swift as that of the Lewes, and, while Swiftwater
Jim took command of one boat, Rand was made captain of the other. Both
bo