"Priddy soon dat fog shall lift," remarked Ole Petersen, an old sailor who was lounging about the dock. He nodded toward the mouth of the harbor, where now all could see the heavy veil of mist growing thinner. Little by little, even as the steady boom of the steamer's whistle came echoing in, the front of the fog-bank thinned and lifted, showing the white-capped waves rolling beneath. Suddenly a strong shift of wind descended from the canyon between two of the many mountain-peaks which line the bay, and broke the fog into long ribbons of white vapor. The sun shone through, and its warmth sent the white mist up in twisting ropes, which faded away in the upper air. At last there came into view the red-topped smoke-stacks and the gaunt, dark hull of the great ocean steamer, whose funnels poured forth clouds of black smoke which drifted toward the farther shore of the bay. "_Yucatan!_" sang out Rob--and Ole Petersen calmly seconded him with a nod--"_Yucatan!_" The gathered population of Valdez--men, women, children, and dogs--greeted the vessel with a general outcry of welcome. "In she comes," said Rob; and now, with two more long, hoarse roars from her giant whistle, the _Yucatan_ slowly forged ahead, and within half an hour majestically swept up to her moorings at the front of Valdez dock. II AFLOAT ON THE PACIFIC As the deck-hands cast ashore the light lines attached to the cable-loops, our young friends were among the first to lay hold and aid in dragging ashore the heavy cables which made fast the steamer to the dock-posts. Then they ran back amidships where the gang-plank was put out. The jingling of the ship's bells and general outcry from those on the dock or crowding along the rail of the vessel made everything a scene of confusion. Greetings were passed from ship to shore and back again. Friends now would meet, cargo would be discharged; touch with the outer world once more would be had. "But I don't see Uncle Dick anywhere," said John, ruefully, as he examined the throng of figures packed along the rail waiting for the gangway to be made fast. "Maybe he didn't come," suggested Jesse. "There he is!" shouted John; "he's waving to us, over there 'midships." "He's got something under his arm," said Rob, judicially. A tall, brown-faced man with a wide, white hat and loose gray clothing edged his way toward the head of the gangway. Catching sight of the boys, he called out a hearty greeting. "Have you got it, Uncle Dick?" asked John, excitedly, as at last the latter reached the dock.