ANNOYANCE FROM THE GUIDES. 289 



many of the Yellow Knives andChipewyans, who 

 were carrying our pemmican to the Thlew-ee- 

 choh, had either eaten or made away with a 

 considerable portion of it ; not by reason of 

 any deficiency of provision, since they had abun- 

 dance, but from sheer indolence or wanton- 

 ness. Our guides also again annoyed us by 

 their mulish conduct ; for though directed to 

 hold themselves in readiness to accompany us, 

 when the moment of departure came one was 

 absent hunting, and the other was quietly loung- 

 ing on the bank, wrapped in his blanket, and 

 smoking his pipe with all imaginable unconcern. 

 I ordered him, with some signs of impatience and 

 displeasure, to equip himself, and come with me 

 without delay, which order was silently obeyed 

 after we had been kept waiting a full hour. 



As for the other absentee, I threw the respon- 

 sibility of his conduct on his old father, making 

 him answerable for the appearance of his son, 

 within the next forty-eight hours, with the bag 

 of pemmican which had been entrusted to his 

 care. Nor did I entertain the least doubt that 

 the requisition would be punctually complied 

 with, as he well knew that in default he would 

 thenceforth be scouted from our establishment. 

 Indeed experience had taught me the advantage 

 of assuming and maintaining an air of superiority 

 over the Indians. There is no need of unkind- 



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