“Were those Indians?”
“Yes; three siwashes and a klootchman, as they call themselves—three men and a woman.”
I began to regret that I had not taken more notice of them, and seeing how I leaned over to get another glimpse, Gunson continued—
“Oh, you’ll meet plenty more. But you see how civilised they are getting, carrying passengers aboard. I did not expect to find him here.”
“Do you know that boy then in the blue blouse?” I said wonderingly.
“Oh yes, I know him. I used to see a good deal of him right away yonder in the south; and now I see that he is getting naturalised here. Come up from ’Frisco, I suppose.”
“But you don’t mean that you know that particular boy?”
“Oh no. I was speaking of him as a class. He must have an object in coming across here.”
Gunson said this in a thoughtful way that I did not understand then; and as he saw that I was watching him curiously, he drew my attention to the mainland, towards which we were gliding.
“There,” he said, “you’ll soon be able to say goodbye to the sea. It will be canoes and legs for the rest of your journey.”