Even the dogs were given cause to rejoice that Christmas had at length come to their snowy land by receiving a double ration of dried fish, which put them into such good spirits that they spent the greater part of the night in a rollicking game of romps. On the Indian side of the fire unwonted good cheer so overcame the shyness of the villagers that the man ventured to ask questions regarding the intentions and destination of this sledge party of strangers. When these were stated by Kurilla he remained silent for a minute. Then he delivered a long and animated speech.
As a result of this, and when it was finished, Kurilla left his own side of the fire, and, approaching Phil, said,
"You go Forty Mile?"
"Yes. We all going to Forty Mile, of course."
"No like um Tananah?"
"Certainly I like the Tananah well enough. I shall like it better, though, when we have seen the last of it."
"No can see um now."
"Why not? There it is right out yonder."
"No. Him Kloot-la-ku-ka. Tananah so" (pointing to the way they had come). "You go so way" (pointing upstream); "get lose, mebbe; no fin; plenty bad. Yaas."
So, all on account of keeping Christmas, and trying to bring a little of its joy into the hearts of those children of the wilderness, Phil's mistake was discovered before its consequences became disastrous, and he was once more enabled to place his little party on the right road to Sitka.