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[Illustration: FOR A MOMENT THE SENSATION WAS SICKENING]
SNOW-SHOES AND SLEDGES
_A SEQUEL TO_
“_THE FUR-SEAL’S TOOTH_”
BY
KIRK MUNROE
AUTHOR OF THE “MATES” SERIES “DERRICK STERLING”
“THE FLAMINGO FEATHER” “WAKULLA” ETC.
ILLUSTRATED
[Illustration]
NEW YORK AND LONDON
HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS
1903
BY KIRK MUNROE
FORWARD, MARCH! A Tale of the Spanish:American War. Illustrated.
THE COPPER PRINCESS. A Story of the Great Lakes.
THE PAINTED DESERT. A Story of Northern Arizona.
THE FUR-SEAL’S TOOTH. A Story of Alaskan Adventure.
SNOW-SHOES AND SLEDGES. A Sequel to “The Fur-Seal’s Tooth.”
RICK DALE. A Story of the Northwest Coast.
CAMPMATES. A Story of the Plains.
CANOEMATES. A Story of the Florida Reefs and Everglades.
DORYMATES. A Tale of the Fishing Banks.
RAFTMATES. A Story of the Mississippi.
Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, $1 25 per volume.
(The “Mates” Series, 4 vols., in a box, $5 00.)
WAKULLA. A Story of Adventure in Florida.
THE FLAMINGO FEATHER. A Story of Adventure.
DERRICK STERLING. A Story of the Mines.
CHRYSTAL, JACK & CO. and DELTA BIXBY. Two Stories.
Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth, 60 cents per volume.
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK AND LONDON
Copyright, 1895, by HARPER & BROTHERS.
_All rights reserved._
ARCTIC ALASKA
_Rivers of ice and a sea of snow,
A wilderness frigid and white;
Mystical skies with a tremulous glow,
And days that are turned into night._
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. ALLOWED TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES 1
II. A DANGEROUS BERTH OFF YUKON MOUTH 8
III. MEASLES AND MUTINY 14
IV. PHIL ASSUMES COMMAND AND ASSERTS HIS AUTHORITY 20
V. A PARSON AT THE WHEEL 27
VI. FLOATING ICE AND “CHY” 34
VII. THE “CHIMO” GOES INTO WINTER-QUARTERS 40
VIII. LIFE AT AN ARCTIC MISSION 46
IX. PHIL’S ESKIMO MILITIA 53
X. A SAD ROMANCE OF THE WILDERNESS 60
XI. THE BOYS CARRY THEIR POINT 67
XII. PHIL FEEDS HIS DOGS 74
XIII. MUSIC OF THE SLEDGE-BELLS 81
XIV. WINTER TRAVEL BENEATH THE ARCTIC AURORA 88
XV. PHIL HEARS FROM HIS FATHER 95
XVI. THE MATE’S STORY 102
XVII. JALAP COOMBS’S FOURTEEN PAIR OF FEET 109
XVIII. CHRISTMAS ON THE TANANA 116
XIX. A BATTLE WITH WOLVES 123
XX. CHITSAH’S NATURAL TELEPHONE 129
XXI. A YUKON MINING CAMP 136
XXII. THE NEW ARRIVAL AT FORTY MILE 143
XXIII. LAW IN THE GOLD DIGGINGS 150
XXIV. REAPPEARANCE OF THE FUR-SEAL’S TOOTH 157
XXV. SERGE DISCOVERS A CURIOUS CAVERN 164
XXVI. CAMPING ’MID PREHISTORIC BONES 171
XXVII. LOST IN THE FOREST 178
XXVIII. PHIL ASSUMES A RESPONSIBILITY 185
XXIX. A WILDERNESS ORPHAN 191
XXX. JALAP AND THE DOGS SING A LULLABY 198
XXXI. NEL-TE QUALIFIES AS A BRANCH PILOT 205
XXXII. THE FUR-SEAL’S TOOTH CREATES A SENSATION 211
XXXIII. LOST IN A MOUNTAIN BLIZZARD 217
XXXIV. COASTING FIVE MILES IN FIVE MINUTES 223
XXXV. HOW JALAP COOMBS MADE PORT 230
XXXVI. THE MOST FAMOUS ALASKAN GLACIER 237
XXXVII. BIG AMOOK AND THE CHILKAT HUNTERS 244
XXXVIII. THE TREACHEROUS SHAMAN OF KLUKWAN 251
XXXIX. INVADING A CAPTAIN’S CABIN 258
XL. IN SITKA TOWN 265
ILLUSTRATIONS
FOR A MOMENT THE SENSATION WAS SICKENING _Frontispiece_
ESKIMO HUT, MOUTH OF THE YUKON _Facing page_ 8
THE NATIVE PILOT DESERTS HIS POST ” ” 12
“HERE IS THE MAN WHO DID THAT THING” ” ” 18
THE ARRIVAL OF THE UNKNOWN ” ” 28
ARRIVAL OF THE DOCTOR ” ” 42
INDIAN GIRLS, ALASKA ” ” 58
“CAP’N PHIL’S FADDER GONE UP RIVER! YAAS, HE
FADDER!” ” ” 66
THE EXHIBITION DRILL AT ANVIK ” ” 78
MAKING CAMP THE FIRST NIGHT OUT ” ” 86
“YOU FADDER, YAAS” ” ” 94
A FEW MOMENTS LATER HIS DOGS STARTED AFTER THEIR
VANISHED COMPANIONS ” ” 106
“KIKMUK” ” ” 120
“NOW,” CRIED SERGE, “ALL MAKE A DASH TOGETHER!” ” ” 126
“WHY, MATEY, DON’T YOU REMEMBER THE OLD BRIG
‘BETSY’?” ” ” 140
“THAT’S A LIE!” SHOUTED THE PRISONER, HOARSELY ” ” 152
FOR A SINGLE MINUTE THEY GAZED IN BREATHLESS AWE ” ” 174
“COME, MAN. COME WIF NEL-TE. MAMMA SAY COME” ” ” 186
“A FLYING-FISH-CATCHER FROM OLD HONG-KONG――YO HO!
ROLL A MAN DOWN!” ” ” 202
THE FUR-SEAL’S TOOTH CREATES A SENSATION ” ” 214
SERGE’S METHOD OF LIGHTING A FIRE ” ” 242
JUNEAU CITY, ALASKA ” ” 248
THEY WERE WELCOMED BY THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF
KLUKWAN ” ” 254
A CHILKAT “PRINCESS” ” ” 256
GOVERNOR’S MANSION, SITKA, ALASKA ” ” 266
“AUNT RUTH, YOU’RE A BRICK! A PERFECT BRICK!” ” ” 268
SNOW-SHOES AND SLEDGES
CHAPTER I
ALLOWED TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
Of course, if every reader of this story had also read its forerunner
there would be no need of introducing its characters, for they would
already be old friends. We would merely meet them at the place where
they have been patiently awaiting us all this time, give them an
encouraging nod of recognition, and tell them to go ahead with their
adventures as fast as they pleased. That would be well enough for us
who are acquainted with them; but to those who may chance to read this
sequel without having first read the story that gives it a reason for
being, the references to people, things, and incidents of the past
that must necessarily be made from time to time would be confusing.
Therefore it seems fitting that those characters of the previous story
who are to figure with any prominence in this one should be properly
introduced; and in order to avoid the discriminating partiality of
the author, who would be apt to say too much concerning those whom he
fancied, or too little about those whom he disliked, each one shall be
given the privilege of introducing himself. To begin with, here is our
old friend Phil Ryder.
“Yes, that is my name right enough, and I want to say first thing
that I think it is high time some notice were taken of us, after the
unsatisfactory conclusion of that other book, and the wretched state of
uncertainty in which we were all left. It seemed to me the very worst
ending to a story that I ever heard of.”
“But, Phil, it wasn’t the end. There was to be a sequel.”
“Well, you didn’t say so, and nobody knew, and I for one have been
greatly mortified ever since, without a chance to say a word on the
subject either. Now, as to myself, if any one cares to know who I am,
and where I am, and how I got here, I am the son of Mr. John Ryder,
of New London, Connecticut. He is a mining expert, and is at present
engaged to investigate some properties near Sitka, Alaska, where I was
to have joined him last May. It is now September, and I haven’t got
there yet, though I have been travelling steadily ever since April,
and trying my very best to reach Sitka. I’m sure it isn’t my fault
that things have happened to take me most everywhere else, and finally
to drop me away up here in northern Alaska, two thousand miles or
so beyond Sitka. I’m on the right track now, though, for I am on a
steamboat belonging to Mr. Hamer, bound up the Yukon River. It will
take me to the head of navigation. Then all I shall have to do will be
to cross the Divide to Chilkat, and take another steamer for Sitka,
which place I expect to reach before the winter is over. Then my
father’s anxiety will be relieved, for I suppose he is anxious, though
I can’t see why he should be. He must know that I am perfectly well
able to take care of myself, and will turn up all right some time.
Both he and Aunt Ruth seem to think that I am careless and liable to
get into scrapes, while really I never do anything important without
the most careful consideration――that is, whenever there is time for
considering.
“For instance, I didn’t decide that to go up the Yukon was the very
best and shortest way to reach Sitka until I had talked it all over
with Serge. I’m awfully glad it is the best thing to do, though, for it
is so much more interesting to travel over a new route than back by the
one you have just come. That’s one reason I wouldn’t pay any attention
to that schooner we passed soon after leaving St. Michaels, though she
did seem to be trying to signal us. I was afraid she might be bound
south to Oonalaska, or even to Sitka itself, in which case our plans
would have been all upset again. I should have hated that, for if there
is any one thing I believe in it is sticking to a plan and carrying it
out after it is once decided upon. So does Serge, who is one of the
very best fellows that ever lived, even if he is a little slow. I am
mighty glad to have him for a travelling companion, for he is true as
steel and awfully level-headed. I only wish old Jalap were with us,
for he is about the best fun of any one I know. I don’t suppose we
shall ever see him again, though; and, now that I come to think of it,
it does seem as if we ought to have made a search for him on Oonimak
before leaving in such a hurry. But as we were prisoners of war on
board the cutter, I don’t exactly see how we could have done anything
but what we did. Here comes Serge now, and you really ought to know
him; so allow me to――”
“Hold on, Phil; we are to introduce ourselves, you know, and I don’t
want to be handicapped by all the nice things you would be certain to
say about me. Yes, I am Serge――Serge Belcofsky, born in Sitka long
after Alaska became part of the United States. I went to school there,
of course, but after graduating I still longed for a better education
than Sitka afforded, so I shipped aboard a homeward-bound whaler for
New London, Connecticut, where I went to school for a year. There I
met Phil Ryder, who was not only the most popular fellow and the best
athlete in the whole school, but who became the best friend I ever had.
If he wasn’t, I should never have given him the fur-seal’s tooth which
a Chilkat chief gave to my father. On his death my mother gave it to
me, and soon after it passed into Phil’s hands he lost it. Since then
it has turned up so many times, in such mysterious ways, and has had
so much to do with shaping our fortunes, that I can’t help believing
at least part of the old tales concerning it. Anyhow, the way it has
managed to follow us right up to date is certainly wonderful. It isn’t
likely that we shall see it again, though, now that the old Eskimo has
got hold of it, for he evidently realizes its value.
“Where am I now? On a river steamer bound for Sitka by way of the
Yukon, of course. You see, I left New London almost a year ago and
started for Sitka on the schooner _Seamew_. At Victoria, British
Columbia, who should I meet but Phil Ryder, who also shipped on the
_Seamew_. She got to Sitka, but we didn’t, and though we seem to be
headed that way now, while Phil is confident that we are going straight
there, no one knows what may happen. I hope my dear mother isn’t
worrying about me. If I was only sure of that, and that I should land
Phil in Sitka some time, I know I should enjoy this trip immensely.
But, as Mr. Coombs says――”
“Hold hard there, hearty! You may allow that I’m a thousand miles away;
but I’m not. And when it comes to taking words out of my very mouth,
you’ll find that I’m right alongside. As my friend old Kite Roberson
uster say, ‘A man what can’t speak up for hisself hadn’t orter be
allowed to vote.’ My name is Jalap Coombs, half Yankee and half British
subject, late mate of the _Seamew_, now acting cap’n of the schooner
_Philomeel_, in which me and Mr. Ryder is sarching for the slippery
young chaps what has jest now interdooced theirselves. A while ago we
thought we had ’em, but things happened, and now we’re all at sea again
without an idee of how the wind’ll blow next. But as old Kite uster
offen say, ‘When you don’t know what _to_ do, the best thing is to do
nothing.’ That is what we are liable to do for some time, seeing as the
_Philomeel_ are hard and fast aground on a mud bank, with a nor’ wind
blowing all the water outer Norton Sound.”
“And to think that I, John Ryder, after spending the whole summer in
searching for my son Phil, should at length have actually got within
sight of him away up here almost to the North Pole, only to have the
young scamp sail away and disappear again, as oblivious of my presence
as though I had never existed! And now this miserable accident, that
puts an end to my following him any farther! Oh, it is too bad! too
bad! I did think that all this miscarriage of plans and getting lost
and being whisked off to all sorts of out-of-the-way places was purely
accidental, or only owing to the extraordinary carelessness for which
Phil has always been noted. Now, however, I must confess that it
really does look as though he were ready and willing to go in any
direction save towards Sitka. I can’t conceive what inducements that
trader-fellow of whom Nikrik told us can have offered to entice my son
up the Yukon at this time of the year. From all accounts the trader
must be a pretty bad lot, and I tremble to think of what may happen to
my Phil under his influence. What did Nikrik say his name was?”
“Gerald Hamer is my name, and though I have never had the pleasure of
meeting Mr. John Ryder, from what I have seen of his son I should judge
him to be a man well worth meeting. Phil is certainly a fine fellow,
as well as the best rifle shot I ever ran across, and I am more than
glad to have him join my expedition. That boy Serge, too, is a trump,
and together they make a strong team, for while the first is impulsive,
careless, and inclined to carry things with a dash, the other is cool,
steady as a rock, and slow to act, but certain to get there in the
end. As for myself, I am leading an expedition up the Yukon with the
intention of establishing a trading-post at Forty Mile, a mining camp
some two thousand miles up the river. I hope to reach there in this
steamer, the _Chimo_, before navigation closes. Then I expect to go out
over the Chilkoot Pass by snow-shoes and sledges, and so finally reach
San Francisco in time to bring up a new stock of goods for next summer.
It is now so late, though, that I begin to have my doubts as to whether
this plan can be carried out, for I fear we shall be frozen in long
before reaching Forty Mile. I heard one of the clerks at the Redoubt
bet that we would not reach Nulato.”
“Yes, I, Simon Goldollar, made that bet, and I am willing to repeat it.
I hope they won’t get to Forty Mile. If they don’t we’ll head them off
yet, and teach them that none but the company can trade on the Yukon. I
am one of the company’s most trusted clerks, and though I only came out
last summer, I think I see a way to winning promotion by breaking up
the plans of this impudent would-be trader in our territory, and I am
going to propose my scheme to the agent at once. I am the more anxious
to carry it out now that Phil Ryder, whom I hate, has turned up again,
and is evidently some sort of a partner in this new concern. He thinks
I stole his money when we crossed the continent together, but I didn’t.
Even if I had we would now be quits, for he has stolen the fur-seal’s
tooth from me. I know where it is, though, and I’ll have it back
before long. I’ll find some chance to get the best of him, too, before
he leaves the Yukon, and I’ll give him cause to regret that he ever saw
it or Redoubt St. Michaels, either. See if I don’t.”
“At last I am allowed to speak, and I must say I think I should have
been the first to be presented, for I am the Fur-seal’s Tooth. My
origin is mysterious, the wonderful carving with which I am covered is
unique, and of course my ultimate fate cannot be foretold; but whoever
has read of me in the book that bears my name must admit that I exert
a powerful influence over the affairs of men. It is said of me that he
who gives me away gives good luck with me. He who receives me as a gift
receives good luck. He who loses me loses his luck, and he who steals
me steals bad luck that will cling to him so long as I am retained in
his possession.
“Although I am now in the hands of a wretched Eskimo, I propose to
leave him very shortly, to continue my travels until I reach my proper
resting-place, and to exert a very considerable influence upon the
forthcoming story. If you doubt my word, just bear me in mind and watch
for my appearance.”