. Alaska and its resources. s, could we pass through thatline of breakers in safety. I hardly dared to hope we already heard them roaring on the bar, and could see theirwhite caps dimly. We were all so thoroughly drenched that wecould be no wetter. The old Mahlemut never flinched. Withhis eye on the breakers, as we drew nearer and nearer, he satsilent and rigid as a carved image. The younger men crouchedin the bottom of the boat. The little Eskimo lad looked fright-ened, but did not stop bailing for a moment. I threw off myhunting-shirt, and made ready for swimming. As we were justupo
. Alaska and its resources. s, could we pass through thatline of breakers in safety. I hardly dared to hope we already heard them roaring on the bar, and could see theirwhite caps dimly. We were all so thoroughly drenched that wecould be no wetter. The old Mahlemut never flinched. Withhis eye on the breakers, as we drew nearer and nearer, he satsilent and rigid as a carved image. The younger men crouchedin the bottom of the boat. The little Eskimo lad looked fright-ened, but did not stop bailing for a moment. I threw off myhunting-shirt, and made ready for swimming. As we were justupon the breakers I glanced at the steersman. He moved not amuscle of his weather-beaten face. The next moment a crashannounced that our outriggers were broken. I threw myselfupon the kyak and, with the young Kaviak, held it for a momentin place. The crest of the advancing roller struck us on thestern, deluging us with water, and before I had time to realize itanother followed it, almost burying us ; and for a second I thought. THE YUKON TERRITORY. I3I we were going down. She rose again, however, more than halffilled ; and shaking the water out of his scanty hair, the old mansaid calmly, Here is the river, there is the fort. We were insmooth water. The last breaker had carried us over the bar. All hands bailed for dear life, and as soon as we had freed theboat from a dangerous amount of water we pulled for the we found ice, and were obliged to pull half a mile to finda landing-place. The Innuit shouted at the top of their lungs,and we were soon answered. Eskimo of all ages and bothsexes came out from their dens, helped to haul up the boat, andunloaded her above high-water mark. I expected to find theflour and sugar, which were in bags, entirely spoiled. Popofif, theUnalaklik bidarshik, finally awoke, and opened the gates. Withthe help of the natives, I carried the goods into the storehouse,dismissed the men, who took refuge with their friends in thevillage, and, quite e
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookpublisherbosto, bookyear1870
