Chapter XVII: What Uncle Dick Thought

Our party of explorers, who by this time felt entirely civilized, went about the streets of White Horse with a certain air of superiority over the individuals who had never been farther north than this railroad town. They were the heroes of the hour, with their tales of the Rat Portage, over which no party had come in in recent years, and each of them had to tell to many listeners the story of this or that incident of the long trail. Old graybearded men listened with respect to what these young boys had to say, and a newspaper man was very glad to make a copy of some of Rob's careful diary, which he now began to value more and more.

All too soon they were to leave this place and to pass up over practically the original Klondike trail which came from the salt water over the White Pass and down the headwaters of the Yukon to this point. They did not visit the once famous White Horse Rapids, where so many of the boats of the Klondikers came to grief, but declared it would only bore them, since they had seen waters so much more imposing! The local inhabitants laughed at this, but admitted that many of the teeth of this once dangerous water had been extracted since the early days.

As Rob had said, Uncle Dick took time here to do a little of his correspondence. He sent out a message by wire once more to the families of his companions, and to this added a letter which he said would go north to Valdez with the boys themselves, in case he himself received news at Skagway which would make it impossible for him to accompany them to their homes.

One letter he wrote to the company which had sent him as its representative into this northern country, in the following terms:

"GENTLEMEN,--I have arrived at the head of the rails on the
Yukon to-day, completing the round from Edmonton to White
Horse safely within the three months' estimate handed you.

"I have investigated the transportation possibilities in
much of this upper country. It is possible that a railroad
north from Athabasca Landing might for a time prove
profitable. I do not myself believe to any extent in the
agricultural possibilities of that upper country. A few men
will be able to subsist there. Some grain can be raised in
many of the valleys of that upper country. The seasons are,
however, so short, and the difficulties of permanent
settlement so many, that while in my estimation the railroad
would be a benefit for a time to a few individuals, it would
not be a profitable permanent enterprise far to the
northward of its present terminus. I regard the Peace River
valley as about its permanent agricultural north, although
many traders and boomers may dispute that.

"As to the feasibility of a railway line connecting the
Yukon to the Mackenzie, I can see no reason whatever for
contemplating the matter seriously. In my passage across the
summit on the Rat Portage we found some squared timbers
which had been prepared there with a view to laying a sort
of tramway. The idea was long since abandoned by the
Hudson's Bay Company, which once purposed it. I cannot say
whether or not they intended to use steam transport. Since
then the country has wholly lapsed into its original wild
and bleak character. It is, in my opinion, and will and
should remain, a wilderness. Its resources would not in any
wise support any considerable transportation enterprise
permanently.

"The companions who went with me on this trip report well
and sound, and I commend them for the manner in which they
withstood the hardships, at times very considerable.

"My subsequent and more complete report will be made at the
offices of the Company at a later date.

"Respectfully submitted.
"RICHARD MCINTYRE."

The second letter was addressed to the mother of one of our young adventurers, and in this Uncle Dick wrote in rather less formal fashion:

"DEAR SISTER,--Here we are at the railroad, and within a
couple of hours will be steaming out across the mountains
for Skagway. All safe and sound. Never saw boys eat the way
these do, and cannot say whether or not we will have enough
money to get them home.

"Nothing much has happened since we left, as the cow-puncher
said when he killed the ranch-manager in the owner's
absence. We have made our trip around in two or three days'
less time than I had estimated, but, looking back over it, I
cannot say just how it all happened. We certainly have been
busy traveling. In ninety days we will have finished what is
estimated to be 5,280 miles, under all sorts of
transport--steam, paddle, sail, and good old North American
foot-work.

"The boys are all safe and sound, bigger and better than
when I took them over, so I don't see what you can say
against your erring brother after this.

"How did the youngsters behave? Well, I'll tell you when I
see you. They were fine, and that's all about it. They send
their love, and so do I, and some or all of us will see you
with the first boat north from Skagway. Rob has a full
diary, and John a good sketch map, so they'll be loaded for
you all right.

"Do I renew my promise never to take them on another trip?
Of course I remember that _promise_, but can I manage to
keep it, now that these chaps are such good travelers? I
don't know. Well, suppose we talk that over when we meet
again?

"From your affectionate brother
"DICK."

THE END

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:

1. Minor changes have been made to correct typesetter's errors; otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the author's words and intent.

2. In the list of illustrations, the page reference for the second illustration was incorrect; this has been changed to refer to the correct facing page.

End of Project Gutenberg's Young Alaskans in the Far North, by Emerson Hough