"That's the way we do it, boys," said Uncle Dick, "in this part of the world--there goes the fast express. It would trouble the lightest of you to keep up with that boy on the line, too, I'm thinking. Some day," added Uncle Dick, casting a professional eye out over the wide ridge of rock which here blocked the river, "they'll blow a hole through that place so that a boat can get through. Who knows but one of you will be the engineer in charge? Anyhow, I hope so--if I don't get the job myself."
"You mustn't forget about that trip over the Yellowhead Pass, where your new railroad's going now, Uncle Dick," said Jesse, as they turned to walk again up the rough beach toward the mooring-place of the steamer.
"Don't be in too big a hurry, Jesse," returned his relative. "You've got a whole year of studying ahead of you, between now and then. We'll take it under advisement."
"What I believe I like best about this country," said Rob, soberly, "is the kindness of the people in it. Everywhere we have been they've been as hospitable as they could be. We don't dare admire anything, because they'll give it to us. It seems to me everybody gets along pleasantly with everybody else up here; and I like that, you know."
"It's a man's country," said Uncle Dick, "that's true, and I don't know that you'll be the worse for a little trip into it, although you come from a man's country back there in Alaska yourselves, for the matter of that. Well, this is the northern end of your trail for this year, my sons. Here's where we turn back for home."
They paused at the bend and looked once more back at the long, foaming ridge of white water which extended across from shore to shore of the stream which they had followed so far.
"All right," said Rob, "we've had a good time."
They turned now, and all tramped steadily back to the boat, which soon resumed her course up-stream.
Regarding their further stay at Fort Vermilion, or their return journey of several days southward to Peace River Landing, little need be said, save that, in the belief of all, the young hunters now had killed abundance of game. Although they saw more than a dozen bears on their way up the river, they were willing to leave their rifles in their cases, and spend their time studying the country and poring yet more over the maps which they were now preparing to show their friends at home.