FORT RAE 3j 



result, it was hard to convince them that I really could pay- 

 when their assistance was required. 



On the third day we were again favored with a fair wind 

 which carried us nearly to Yellow Knife Bay. The wind died 

 out in the afternoon and the metis amused themselves in firing 

 at passing crows, shouting " vent derriere J '" if the bird fell; not- 

 withstanding the fact that two crows were killed, the breeze 

 failed to freshen, and we paddled until an hour after darkness 

 set in before reaching the bay where we expected to catch an 

 abundance of both trout and whitefish. The canoe had to be 

 hauled out each night as a change in the direction of the wind 

 might cause its destruction upon the rocks. It required the 

 united efforts of the whole party to beach it, as the pine lining 

 was water soaked and heavy. 



On the fourth day the wind blew with such violence that it 

 was impossible to cross the ten-mile traverse before us. Not 

 without danger of being swamped we set the net and several 

 cod hooks for trout. Ordinarily lake trout may be caught 

 along that shore weighing from ten to fifty pounds each, but 

 not one could we catch during the trip. 



High overhead the cry of the little vvavey was frequently 

 heard, as the V-shaped columns sailed swiftly southward, 

 quartering upon a northwest wind. Several loons, attracted 

 by the sight of the light colored canoe, or lured by a shining 

 tin pan, approached within gunshot, but none were secured. 

 The supply of ammunition was now running low; the last bul- 

 lets were cut into cubes and rolled into rough shot in a frying 

 pan. Thus far every gull, crow, or raven that came within 

 range had been fired at, and the same laugh followed the shot 

 whether the bird fell or escaped. The Indians' guns were of 

 the pattern known in the country as "trade guns." They were 

 of small bore, long, single- or double-barreled, muzzle-loaders 

 of light weight. Twelve to fifteen pellets of BB shot were 

 used to each load. These guns will carry ball with tolerable 

 accuracy up to a distance of a hundred yards. The balls 

 weigh twenty-five or twenty-eight to the pound. 



At night Emile, who spoke French fluently, and Vitall would 

 rise at unseasonable hours and gabble about fish and dogs, the 

 principal topics of conversation with these people, with cease- 

 less repetition of " Wah wah," "Mon Dieu," etc., until sleep 

 became impossible. 

 6 



