220 My Dogs in the Northland 



tain, there were times when some of them 

 would sadly disappoint me, as cunning 

 Caesar did on this occasion. 



I was making a journey to one of my re- 

 mote stations where the route was very 

 heavy. My sleds were fully loaded, as the 

 people to whom I was going were very poor, 

 and as yet not any too friendly towards the 

 missionary. So as a precautionary meas- 

 ure, I was loaded with sufficient supplies for 

 both the outward and homeward trip. Be- 

 fore starting, I had kept my dogs in their 

 kennels and had fed them up until they were 

 all in first-class condition. So in good spirits 

 we began the long journey of several hun- 

 dred miles. Soon, however, we all began to 

 feel the effects of the toilsome way through 

 the deep snow. There was not the faintest 

 trace of a road or path. It was uphill and 

 downhill; over rocks and fallen trees; now 

 struggling through dense underbrush and 

 then across rough frozen muskegs. And the 

 snow was everywhere ; a great mantle of the 

 purest whiteness covering everything to a 

 depth of from three to six feet, and through 

 it we struggled on and on for days and days. 

 With axes on our shoulders and snow-shoes 

 on our feet, the men of our party pushed on 



