Page:Silversheene (1924).djvu/183

 wide, extending all along the coast of Alaska. It is covered with reindeer moss and creeping willow, also many varieties of flowers. The wild caribou were likewise occasionally seen. But for the better part the tundra is a seemingly lifeless waste.

After the tundra had been passed they came into the mountainous country which was heavily timbered. Here the wild roses along the shores of the mighty river were much in evidence. They were small single roses, but very luxuriant.

Richard Henderson wanted no better fun than to sit upon the deck of the steamer and watch this wonderful panorama of nature unfold. It was always a guess as to just what the next bend in the river would diselose. Sometimes the river was broad and deep but often it was turbulent, with dan—gerous rapids. At the mouth of the Tanana river Dick transferred his outfit to a still smaller steamer bound for Fairbluffs. He had intended to look up a companion at Fairbluffs for the rest of his trip, but as