4 2 



EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



prepare our meal. They had to formulate satisfactory theories 

 regarding the previous visitors before they could bring their 

 minds to bear upon the work in hand. 



With two young metis, I left our escort of three trains at the 

 cabin, and started down the low-lying shore toward the Nar- 

 rows of Lake Winnipeg. Frequent light snowfalls caused the 

 sled to drag heavily so that we did not walk more than thirty 

 miles each day. One evening as we were about to camp, a dark 

 object in advance caused Donald, the man before the dogs (the 

 hero — or victim — of the breach of promise case of the previous 

 autumn), to halt; as we came up the boys discussed the strange 

 appearance for some time, and finally concluded that it could 

 not be Wenisk or Kakapasis, so it must be Pascapeet returning 

 from Reindeer Island. The supposed dog train grew larger as 

 we advanced and finally developed into a heap of broken ice! 



The dogs were shod with canvas "shoes," which caused the 

 driver no end of trouble and the dogs much suffering. The 

 shoes were narrow, shapeless bags and soon filled with ice 

 after leaving camp. They were intended to prevent the feet 

 of the animals from being cut by the sharp, granular under- 

 crust into which they were thrust in hauling. Judging from 

 later experience, I greatly question whether "dog-shoes" are of 

 any real service. 



The load was lightened daily as our own provision was con- 

 sumed and twenty-five or thirty pounds of fish were given to 

 the dogs. Several pounds were also cached for the return trip. 

 The problem of transportation of provision is as yet unsolved 

 by the Northern voyageur. He lacks the reindeer that can 

 forage by the way, nor has he the concentrated pemmican or 

 blubber of the arctic explorer. Scarcely any heavier form of 

 dog food than frozen fish can be found, and the length of sled 

 trips are accordingly limited to ten or twelve days' duration 

 unless game is to be had or camps found on the way. 



On the fourth night we encamped on a little island far out 

 from the western shore, with a clear horizon of snow-covered 

 lake upon all sides, save a few islands near us. The island was 

 encircled by drifts ten feet in depth. The temperature fell to 

 forty-five degrees below zero, so cold was it that a birch ax 

 handle snapped like a pipestem while cutting wood. I over- 

 heard Aleck saying to his companion during the night, " Kis- 



