broken it must, as it seemed to these observers, have meant
destruction of the man in the canoe. Yet the two went on about their
work calmly, hauling up close to the foot of the falls, then lifting
out their canoe, portaging above, and, with a brief salutation,
passing quickly on their way up the stream.

"That's the way we do it, boys," said Uncle Dick, "in this part of the
world--there goes the fast express. It would trouble the lightest of
you to keep up with that boy on the line, too, I'm thinking. Some
day," added Uncle Dick, casting a professional eye out over the wide
ridge of rock which here blocked the river, "they'll blow a hole
through that place so that a boat can get through. Who knows but one
of you will be the engineer in charge? Anyhow, I hope so--if I don't
get the job myself."

"You mustn't forget about that trip over the Yellowhead Pass, where
your new railroad's going now, Uncle Dick," said Jesse, as they turned
to walk again up the rough beach toward the mooring-place of the
steamer.

"Don't be in too big a hurry, Jesse," returned his relative. "You've
got a whole year of studying ahead of you, between now and then.
We'll take it under advisement."

"What I believe I like best about this country," said Rob, soberly,
"is the kindness of the people in it. Everywhere we have been they've
been as hospitable as they could be. We don't dare admire anything,
because they'll give it to us. It seems to me everybody gets along
pleasantly with everybody else up here; and I like that, you know."

"It's a man's country," said Uncle Dick, "that's true, and I don't
know that you'll be the worse for a little trip into it, although you
come from a man's country back there in Alaska yourselves, for the
matter of that. Well, this is the northern end of your trail for this
year, my sons. Here's where we turn back for home."

They paused at the bend and looked once more back at the long, foaming
ridge of white water which extended across from shore to shore of the
stream which they had followed so far.

"All right," said Rob, "we've had a good time."

They turned now, and all tramped steadily back to the boat, which soon
resumed her course up-stream.

Regarding their further stay at Fort Vermilion, or their return
journey of several days southward to Peace River Landing, little need
be said, save that, in the belief of all, the young hunters now had
killed abundance of game. Although they saw more than a do