I2 8 EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



soon began to dance in an uncanny fashion, so that I had to 

 direct my course by the stars. The snow was deep and soft 

 and the dogs were nearly worn out, so that it was very late 

 when I approached the shore closely enough to see the dark 

 looming of spruce trees a few hundred yards in advance. A 

 large crack, with open water extending across my course, 

 caused delay; after passing this on a frail bridge, I encountered 

 ice which had several inches of water standing upon it. There 

 was just light enough to enable me to distinguish here and 

 there a black hole in which there appeared to be no bottom. 

 I had been warned to look for rotten ice at the head of the 

 river, and as the black patches appeared to be larger and closer 

 together as I advanced, I was compelled to turn back and wait 

 until daylight. Dragging the sled back to solid ice, I laid down 

 upon it and slept for three hours. When I awoke the sun was 

 shining upon my face and I could realize the danger which 

 I had been in. I had gone a half mile too far to the northward. 

 The ice was full of holes and I could not get ashore without 

 wading and picking my way very carefully. As I ascended 

 the bank I noticed a few sticks standing in circles here and 

 there in the river ice, and the ridges, which had once been fur- 

 rows made by the sleds passing to and from the nets, showed 

 that someone had wintered near by. A few wooden crosses, 

 enclosed by a dilapidated picket fence, stood at the entrance of 

 the river. The timber had evidently been cleared away, and the 

 graves and fish stages indicated the proximity of a settlement, 

 still no dogs greeted my approach; the waterfowl were making 

 discordant outcries from every pool, as if the place were de- 

 serted, and so it proved to be when, a minute later, I came in 

 sight of two cabins surrounded by such extensive staging as to 

 leave no doubt but that they were the property of the Com- 

 pany. 



Releasing the dogs from the harness, I spread the contents 

 of the sled upon the staging to dry, and, after drinking a cup 

 of tea, turned in to get some much-needed rest. The next 

 day I heard the occasional report of fire arms across the river, 

 but searched in vain for Indians. 



This delay was very annoying, the condition of the river ice 

 was growing rapidly worse, so that I could not travel far on it; 

 if I left my outfit it would prevent my traveling with the 



