"How far away is it?" asked Mr Ross.

"One day's journey," said Mustagan.

So it was decided that on the following Tuesday, if the weather
continued bright and fine, the start would be made very early from
Sagasta-weekee.

"No use going then," said Memotas, "if the days are not bright and cold.
No see any steam if no sunshine."

This was a great perplexity to the boys, and they appealed to Mr Ross
to help them out. But he wished them to have the real surprise that
Mustagan had in store for them, and so he told them to wait until they
could see it for themselves, when on the ground.

The weather was everything that could be desired. On Monday four trains
of dogs, with a full camping outfit and plenty of supplies to last for
five or six days, were prepared. The boys took their guns along with
them and plenty of ammunition. They were going to have their share of
shooting if there was any to be done. Mustagan, with a couple of his
sons and two dog-sleds, arrived very early, and the whole party started
while the stars were still shining. One of Mustagan's sons, who had
been with the old man when the den was discovered, ran on ahead of the
trains as guide. As the trail had been made by Mustagan and his son
when they returned after the discovery of the bears, this made the
travelling more rapid and agreeable.

Three or four times during the day's journey they stopped, and cutting
down some dry trees made up a big roaring fire, at which they warmed
themselves and cooked a hearty meal. About an hour before sundown they
reached the place. As it was too late to do anything that evening in
the way of bear-hunting, it was decided to make the camp and have a good
night's rest. This was not as easy a matter as it had been in some
other places. There was not at any one spot sufficient dry wood for a
good camp, especially if they should be attacked by wolves and thus
require for their safety a good bright fire all night. However, the
matter was arranged by making the dogs help. They were unfastened from
their sleds, and while some of the men cut down the dry trees, wherever
they could be found, the boys and one or two men hitched their dogs to
them and dragged them to the vicinity of the camp, where they were
speedily cut up into the desired lengths. There were numbers of green
balsams around, and so some of these were cut down and so arranged as to
be helpful in keeping off the cold winds. The frozen fish were th