42 BOWDOIN BOYS IN LABRADOR. 



first evidence of shoes giving out was seen. Constant use over 

 rough rocks while wet proved too much for even the strongest 

 shoes, and when Gary and Cole returned there was not leather 

 enough between them to make one decent shoe. Rain made 

 the night uncomfortable, as the light shelter tent let the water 

 through very easily and was then of little use. At other times 

 the tents were very comfortable. Upon arriving at the spot 

 selected two men would at once set about preparing the brush 

 for beds, pitching the tent, etc., while the other provided wood 

 for the camp and for the cook, in which capacity Cary offici- 

 ated. I cannot do better than use Gary's own words in refer- 

 ence to his " humble but essential ministrations." ''Camp cook- 

 ing at best is rather a wearing process, but the agonies of a 

 man whose hands are tangled up in dough and whom the flies 

 becloud, competing for standing room on every exposed portion 

 of his body, can be imagined only by the experienced." 



The party believed that a good night's fest was indispensible 

 where the day was filled with the hardest kind of labor, and 

 spared no pains to secure them. Even on the return Cary and 

 Cole, when half starved, stuck to their practice of making com- 

 fortable camps, and it is probable that the wonderful way they 

 held out under their privations was largely due to this. While 

 many in their predicament would have thrown away their blank- 

 ets, they kept them, and on every cold and stormy "night con- 

 gratulated themselves that they had done so. 



On Saturday, Aug. 1st, the first accident happened. Track- 

 ing on the Horse Shoe Rapids was extremely difficult and 

 dangerous. Shortly after dinner a carry was made, taking three 

 and a half hours to track out a path up and along a terrace 

 about fifty feet high. Shortly after this the boat used by Cary 

 and Smith capsized, emptying its load into the river. The 

 party were " tracking" at the time, Cole being nearly the length 

 of the tow line ahead, tugging on it, while Cary was doing his 

 best to keep the boat off the rocks. At the margin of the swift 

 unbroken current there were strong eddies, and in hauling the 

 boat around a bend her bow was pushed into one, her slight 

 keel momentarily preventing her from heading up stream again, 



