CHAPTER XIV.
ON THE SEWARD PENINSULA.
The voyagers left Fort Yukon the same afternoon and soon recrossing the Arctic Circle, continued on the dreary Yukon Flats, where the river broadened to more than thirty miles. As there was almost perfect daylight at midnight they proposed to sleep on board and continue the journey.
In spite of the clouds of mosquitos, which managed to invade even the well-closed in cabin, they passed a restful night, the engine working perfectly, and soon passed into the narrower reaches of the Yukon, and in the early morning came to the town of Rampart.
Here is a federal court which people come nearly a thousand miles to attend. There was also a telegraph station the end of the line to St. Michael’s and Colonel Snow stopped only long enough to send certain despatches to that point. Then, again aboard the launch, they put on all speed, the purpose being to reach the mouth of the Tanana and Fort Gibbon that night. The day’s journey was almost as uninteresting as that through the Yukon Flats, for while the river was narrower, the banks were low, thinly wooded and monotonous. Along in the afternoon they reached the mouth of the Tanana and landed at the town of that name, next to which stands the military post of Fort Gibbon, where Colonel Snow was to be a guest until the arrival of the down river steamer from Dawson.
Two days later the steamer Amelia put in an appearance, and they boarded her, to find their aeroplane and baggage aboard. Swiftwater Jim, who was to journey up the Tanana, had stayed to bid them gooybye, and the boys parted with him with real regret. He promised faithfully that after he had made his “stake” he would come out to the “States” again, and would visit them at their homes. As the steamer backed out the boys gathered at the bow and gave him the Scouts’ salute and a hearty cheer.
The journey down the lower Yukon, while unimpressive as to scenery, was pleasant in many respects, as the boys made many acquaintances who were thoroughly acquainted with the river, along which were many old missions and Indian villages. At several of these stops were made, and the boys found many curiosities along the shores. At one place they visited a museum that contained three of the gigantic ivory tusks of the mammoth of which they had read a good deal since finding the narwhal’s horn.
“Gee,” said Gerald, “they must weigh nearly a hundred pounds apiece. If we ever find that cave with anything in it, it ought to be worth a good deal.”
“Do you suppose that the chief will show up at Seward?” asked Dick.
“Oh, yes; I think so,” said Rand. “I think he was very grateful for the way we treated him, and I understand these Indians are much like ours at home, and usually remember a favor.”