, 1897-09-01
With frightful howlinzs the pack !

hk4P "1ll
cleaning eyes and frothing mouth. Ere
a u could be leveled, Jalap Coombs
stepped forward TO NEE. him, and, win
a mighty, swinging blow, his heavy axe
crushed the skull OF the on-coming beas,
as enough it had been an e~gg-shell. In
stantly the dogs were upon him and
tearing fercely at their fallen enemy.
With the first sho. Phil's nervous
ness vanished. and as coolly as Serge
himself ne followed. with leve,ed rifle,
The movements Of the yelling pack i in
heir swift circling. At zach patch o.
mooalit space n Or more OF the fierce
brutes fell before his unerring fire, I'M
Ill every shot OF his magazine was ex-
hausted.
Now" cried Serge, we must scat
ser them. Every mar lake a fire-brand
in each hand, and all make a dash to-
gether.'
"'Yelling.' added Jalap Coombs.
TIT plan was no sooner proposed
han adopted. Musky. Lnvtuk, big
A.mook, and the rest. inspired by their
masters courage. Joined in the assault;
ana before that fire-bearing, yelling, on
rushing line Of humanity and dogs the
gaunt forest raiders gave way and fled
n all directions.
"The whole battle had not lasted more
han five minutes. hut it resulted in the
death Of 10 wolves"
The reception Of the young explorers
at Forty Mile Camp in the midst Of win
ter is described as follows:
Lets give them a vol,ey,' suggest
ed Serge. It's the custom of the coun-
try. you know
S the guns were taken from their
deerskin coverings. and at Phil's word
OF command. a roar from donble-barrel
flint-lock. and Winchester woke glad
echoes from both sides 0; the broad val
ley and from the rugged Yukon cliffs
beyond. Then. with whoopings, and
cheers. and frantic yelping of dogs. the
sledge brigade dashed on toward the
welcoming lights.
"'Hello the camp" yelled Phil. as they
approached the dark cluster Of cabins.
"'On deck reared Jalap Coombs. as
though he were hailing a ship at sea.
"lHello yourself" answered a gruff
voice-the first hail in their own tongue
that the boys had heard in many a
week. Who are you? Where do you
come from? And what's all this racket
about?'
white men, replied Phil, with dog
sledges. up from Yukon mouth
Great Scott! You don't say 50! No
wonder you're noisy! HE. boys! Here's
the first winter outfit that ever came
from Yukon mouth to Forty Mile.
What's the matter with giving them a
salute?'
Nothing at all!' cried a score Of
voices, and then volley after vol.ey ran
forth. until it seemed as though every
man there must have carried a loaded
gun and emptied it Of all six shots in
honor o. the occasion.
Men came running from all direc-
lions. and before the shooting ceased the
entire population Of the camp. some 300
N number, were eagerly crowding about
he newcomers. plying them with ques-
ions and struggling for the honor OF
Shaking hands with the first arrivals
OF the year.
Are we really the first to come up
dhe rlver?' asked Phil.
ITO be sure you are. Not only that,
but the first to reach the diggings from
any direction since navigation closed.
But how did you come? Not by the
river, l know, for when I heard your
shooting twas clear away up the creek
I'VE came by the Tanana and across
the Divide answered Phil. There's an
olher party coming by way OF the river,
though, and we were afraid they might
get in ahead of us
"'Hark to that, boys! One train just
arrived and another coming! l tell you.
Old Forty Mile is right in it. Daily ex-
press from all points. through tickets
20 Europe, Arup, and Arrap; morning
papers and opera houses, circus and
aheaters. Looks like the boom had
struck US at last. But say, stranger.
what is the news from be.ow?'
New steame on her way up the
river, with saw-mill, mining machinery.
and best stock OF goods ever seen in
Alaska replied Phil, quick to seize the
opportunity and anxious to make his
business known while he still had the
field to himself. We have come from
her. and are on our way to San Fran
cisco to send up a new stock for next
season. So we have only stopped to
take your orders and find out what will
be the most acceptable
"'Hurrah!' yelled the crowd. wild
with excitement. Send us a brass
rand shouted one. In swallertails and
white kids added another. What's the
matter with moving the Palace hotel
up here?' suggested a third, seeing a
San Francisco isn't in 1t any longer wich
Forty Mile. Especially send along the
cafe
Come. fellows. let up cried the mar
- n --N---. A.