"Oh, they are doubtless working up toward the summit. If they cross first, we can hardly hope to catch them, for I have no doubt the Alsek ice is firm yet, and on that they can move as fast as we can." "Why is it we haven't overtaken them?" inquired Roly. "I suspect they don't stop on Sundays as we have." "Then it's not a fair race," said Roly. "They have an advantage over us." "Only an apparent one," observed Mr. Bradford. "They are likely to wear themselves out with such unremitting labor. We shall see." Two days later Pleasant Camp was reached, and the sleds were drawn up from the river flats to the top of a low plateau covered with a fine forest, mostly of spruce. To the west and north rose the massive white summits of the Coast Range, like giants guarding the gateways to the interior. A small party of Indians who had camped there were about to leave when the Bradfords arrived. Their household goods, consisting of blankets, kettles, pans, dried salmon, and a gun or two, were packed upon sleds, several of which were drawn by small, weak-looking dogs. There was one very old Indian who drew a light load upon a sled, while his wife, who was younger and stronger, bore a considerable burden upon her back. Her face was blackened to protect the skin from the blistering glare of sun and snow. The only other woman in the party carried on her back a baby warmly rolled in a blanket. She wore a sort of hood, a skirt which reached to the knees, and deer-skin leggings and moccasins, and travelled easily over the drifts on light, narrow snow-shoes of native manufacture. When these Indians had disappeared up the mountain trail, Long Peter, who had cast admiring glances at David's rifle and Roly's shot-gun whenever the boys had removed them from their cases, came forward with a tempting proposal. "You come with me," said he to the boys. "Plenty porc'pine here. Take guns and snow-shoes. Porc'pine much good." The boys were on their feet in an instant at the prospect of a porcupine-hunt. At last they were to have an opportunity to test their new weapons. But first they must obtain permission to go. "Aren't you too tired?" asked Mr. Bradford, when they bore down upon that gentleman. "Oh, no!" shouted both together. "Well then, you may go; but I think I'll go with you. I've no doubt you've listened very carefully to all my instructions, but you'll be pretty sure to be absent-minded in the excitement of the hunt. Do you remember the first rule, David?" "Yes," said David. "Never point a gun, loaded or unloaded, at yourself or any one else." "Correct," said Mr. Bradford. "What was the second rule, Roly?" "Never leave a loaded gun where it can fall down, or be thrown down, or disturbed in any way." "Right again. It was a violation of that rule which caused Lucky to be shot at Klukshu Lake, as your uncle told us. Now, David, the third rule."