, 1897-09-01
THE KLoND1KE COUNTRY.
Experiences OF a Party o. Young Ex-
plorers.

written about it. one OF the most inter.
estin& of which Is "S~now-Shoes and
S,edges," by Kirk Munroe. 1t is a story
for boys. but it contains some interest
ing pictures OF life in the mining coun-
Try OF the far northwest, from which
we shall make a few selections. One OF
TIE experiences of the party Of young
explorers whose adventures the story
reia:es vas in learning to drive the
Digs that to a great extent rake the
place of our beasts OF burden. Says the
author:
''To Phil Ryder. however. there was
no vanishing about the seven dogs that
he was attempting to drive. They were
right before his eyes, where he was OBJ
liged to keep them pretty constantly.
too, for if he looked away for an in
slant, they knew it. and seized the op-
%portunity for mischief. There was not
a lump Of ice, a hillock OF snow, or a
bit Of drift thai one or all O; them did
no. wish to smell OF and investigate.
II there was an obstruction to be passed,
three of them would try to go on one
side of it n four on the other. At sight
OF a rabbit scurrying across the frozen
field, they would give tongue and set
forth in hot pursuit. Above all, each
of the five belonging to the original
team was spelling for a fight with one
Or both Of the newcomers, to whom
Phil had given the names Of Loiter and
Brassy. If he gianc;d back to shout to
Serge. Musky would double on his traces
ing Lofter, who would abjectly roll on
his back with a howl OF apprehension;
A.mook would snap at his heels; Luvtuk
would wheel upon Brassy; and by the
time Phils eyes again rested on his
team, they would be engaged in such a
battle as would gladden. the heart OF a
city gamin. Then Kruilla would rush
back. seize Pills whip, and crack it
about their ears with such frighttul re-
ports that, in their frantic efforts to es-
cape. the offending dogs would only en-
tangle themselves still more hopelessly.
In the meantime. the other teams, thus
forced to a halt, would sit on their
launches. or lie in comfortable atti-
tudes. and lift their voice in sympa-
thetic howls."
Not the least OF the terrors of this
frozen north Is an attack by wolves.
which are there almost as ferocious as
one the Russian steppes. Mr.. Munroe
gives this cou Of such an attack:
That night. while the camp was bur-
led in the profound slumber that follow
ed a day OF unusually hard work, and
the fire had burned to a bed OF GOALS, the
single, long-drawn howl Of a wolf was
by the night wind. As though it were
a signal, 1t was answered from a dozen
different directions at once. The alert
dogs sprans from their snowy beds with
bristling crests, and hurled back a chal-
!enge Of fierce barkings; but this. being
an incident Of nightly occurrence. failed
10 arouse the tired ~sleepers.
Within a few minutes the dread howl
ings had so increased in volume that
they seemed to issue from scores Of saw
age threats and to completely encircle
the little camp. 1t was as il all the
wolves OF the forest, rendered desperate
by famine, had combined for a raid on
the supply Of provisions so kindly plac-
ed within their reach. Nearer and
nearer they came, until their dark forms
could be seen like shadows OF evil omen
lifting among the trees and across the
open moonlit spaces.
THE dogs, at first eager to meet their
mortal foes. now huddled together, ter
rified by overwhelming numbers. Still
the occupants OF the camp sept, uncon-
scious OF their danger. Suddenly there
came a rush, an unearthly clamor Of
savage cutlery. and the sleepers were
aroused to a fearful Weakening by a con-
fused struggle within the very limits OF
the camp and over their recumbent
forms. They sprang up with yells OF
terror, and at the sound OF human voices
the invaders drew back, swapping and
snarlimg with rage.
Timber woives!' shouted Serge.
Your rifle, Phil! Quick!
Embroidered by this reinforcement.
the dogs advanced to the edge Of the
camp space. but with low growis In place
OF their former defiant barkings.
Phil was trembling with excitement;
but Serge, steady as a rock, was throw
ing the No. As from the double-barrel
and ~re!oading with buckshot, at the
same time calling 10 Chitsah to pile
wood or the fires and to the other In
dians not to fire until all were ready.
Jalap Coombs. seized an axe, and, for
getful Of the bitter cold, was rolling VI
his sleeves as though he proposed to
fight the wolves single-handed. At the
same time he denounced them as pirHtea
and bloody land-sharks, and dared them
to come within his reach.
Are you ready?' cried Serge; 'ther
fire.! And with . a that woke tn,
forest echoes for miles. the four gum
poured their contents into the dens>