"And why did you not say so before, sir?"
"You didn't give me a chance," answered Rivers, smiling.
"If I had known who you were, sir, that would have been an entirely different matter. I should have esteemed it a pleasure, sir, to have been able to assist you in any way."
He turned to the passengers, who had been listening to the altercation with great zest.
"Gentlemen," he said, "you see that only the American government itself can dare to delay a United States mail boat. Gentlemen, let me introduce Mr. Rivers, chief of the Geological Survey in Alaska."
CHAPTER XVII
CLAWED BY AN ANGRY BEAR
The first day of June saw the party safely in Fort Hamlin, having landed from the mail boat. The captain had shown a very great eagerness to be rid of them, as their presence reminded him of an incident in his trip which he preferred to forget.
"I am glad to have met you, sir," said the little officer to Rivers, as the geological party went over the side to their two canoes, "and to have been able to assist you thus far. But, sir, I trust the next time you have occasion to board a United States vessel, sir, you will not deem it necessary to adopt such summary proceedings."
"I am sorry, Captain," said Rivers, "but there really did not seem to be any other way of stopping you, and it was necessary."