156 My Dogs in the Northland 



Indians were groundless, for no sign seemed 

 to indicate a storm. Above them the stars 

 were shining with the usual brilliancy of an 

 arctic sky, for all the hazy appearances that- 

 had helped to make the wondrous visions of 

 the previous day had entirely disappeared. 

 Even the smoke as it rose up so perpendicu- 

 larly from the blazing log fire in front of 

 them gave no indication of the slightest 

 breeze. All nature was so calm and still 

 that it. could hardly be a matter of surprise 

 that these inexperienced young men should 

 make merry and have a little fun at the ex- 

 pense of the old Indians. In the meantime 

 these same old Indians paid but little heed 

 to their remarks. They knew from the ex- 

 periences of the past what was before them, 

 and even while they were being ridiculed 

 they were making all preparations to meet 

 the coming storm. 



Voyageur was given an extra fish by the 

 Indians at feeding time, and provided with 

 a deer skin on which to sleep, while at the 

 same time his travelling rope was fastened 

 to a tree, so that he should not skulk away. 



As decided on by the gentlemen in charge, 

 the start was made very early the next morn- 

 ing. The result was that they were many 



