If you boys have found one half the enjoyment in reading of the exploits of our young pioneers that the task has afforded the author in writing of them, his aim, which has been to instruct as well as to entertain, will have been accomplished. HARRISON ADAMS. May 1, 1916. [Illustration] [Illustration] CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE PREFACE v I THE LURE OF THE SETTING SUN 1 II WRECKED IN THE RAPIDS 11 III WOLVES IN THE TIMBER 22 IV THE BIRCH BARK MESSAGE 33 V WHAT THE PICTURE WRITING TOLD 44 VI STALKING THE BUFFALO 55 VII HUNTERS, ALL 66 VIII CHARGED BY A BULL 74 IX PLANNING A SURPRISE 82 X SPRINGING THE TRAP 96 XI BANISHED FROM CAMP 106 XII ON FISHING BENT 117 XIII GLORIOUS SPORT WITH THE TROUT 128 XIV PRISONERS OF THE DACOTAHS 139 XV WHEN STOUT HEARTS WERE NECESSARY 149 XVI THE ESCAPE 159 XVII SHELTER IN A HOLLOW TREE 170 XVIII THE STORM 180 XIX UNDER THE FALLEN FOREST MONARCH 190 XX THE RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY 199 XXI AT THE FOOT OF THE ROCKIES 211 XXII THE DEATH OF THE BULL MOOSE 222 XXIII HUNTING THE MOUNTAIN SHEEP 232 XXIV ON THE BURNING DESERT 243 XXV THE OASIS 254 XXVI AMONG THE NEZ PERCES 263 XXVII FROM SADDLE TO CANOE AGAIN 276 XXVIII AT THE FALLS OF THE COLUMBIA 287 XXIX NEARING THE SALTY SEA 298 XXX A MOMENT OF PERIL 308 XXXI THE END OF THE LONG TRAIL 316 XXXII TO THE RISING SUN--CONCLUSION 329 NOTES 337 [Illustration] [Illustration] LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE "THE TWO BOYS HAD TO . . . START UPON THE LONG JOURNEY INTO THE NORTHWEST" (_see page 148_) _Frontispiece_ "'HE TRIES TO STRIKE THEM AS THEY JUMP AT HIM'" 32 "'RUN FOR THE TREES, ROGER!' SHOUTED DICK" 74 "THEY PUSHED FORWARD, AND WERE SOON AT THE FALLEN TREE" 192 "'THERE! YOU CAN SEE HIM MOVE'" 235 "FULLY HALF OF THE FLAT HEAD INDIANS WENT WITH THE LANDSLIDE" 317 [Illustration] The Pioneer Boys of the Columbia CHAPTER I THE LURE OF THE SETTING SUN