In the Alaskan wilderness . tha sense of complete isolation and security, towake up in the darkness, hearing human voicesoutside the door, was an unwelcome experience. We had taken the precaution of fastening thedoor on the inside, but we knew that it could beeasily forced; therefore when we heard the men(we did not know whether there were two ortwenty or whether they were Indians or whitemen) begin to pry open the door we realizedthat the situation had to be faced no matter howit might develop. MacLaren, always prompt of action and astranger to fear, struck a match, lit the candleand was on h
In the Alaskan wilderness . tha sense of complete isolation and security, towake up in the darkness, hearing human voicesoutside the door, was an unwelcome experience. We had taken the precaution of fastening thedoor on the inside, but we knew that it could beeasily forced; therefore when we heard the men(we did not know whether there were two ortwenty or whether they were Indians or whitemen) begin to pry open the door we realizedthat the situation had to be faced no matter howit might develop. MacLaren, always prompt of action and astranger to fear, struck a match, lit the candleand was on his way down the creaking stairsalmost before I realized what he was about. Ifollowed, picking up the rifle as I went. By thetime I overtook him he was already opening thedoor and at once two men dripping wet came inout of the night. Their look of unfeigned sur-prise and their sincere English expletives at onceextinguished the feelings of uneasiness of which Inow felt rather ashamed. They had come on foot two days journey SO. through the woods from a claim or a prospectthat they had on a creek. They had run shortof provisions and had come to look for a sackof flour which they had heard had been left inone of the abandoned cabins. Feeling their waythrough the woods along an abandoned trail,they had lost their way and came upon our lodg-ings by chance in the darkness. They were goodexamples of the men who roam the wilds andkeep beyond the farthest outpost of at that time attracted all kinds—some ofthe very worst and some of the very best. Theprospector is a type by himself; you found himsometimes alone, but usually in pairs on lonelyrivers, sometimes inquiring what month it mightbe, but almost never asking for news of theforgotten world. We were soon on the most friendly terms withour visitors. They were men of good informationand engaging manner, with the stamp of thewilds strong upon them. Men who lead thatlife either end by shaking hands with the wil-lows,
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