62 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



him than he was fond of. Various reasons were given 

 why he must remain at this place ; but after much par- 

 leying, and the offer of liberal inducements, he promised 

 to secure a companion canoeman, and follow our track 

 in the morning. With this understanding we parted, 

 and proceeded along the south shore until evening, 

 when, finding an inviting camping-ground in the open 

 jack-pine wood, we went ashore, while the cooks soon 

 prepared supper, with us the principal meal of the day. 



So far our fare had been exceedingly good, for it had 

 been the policy to dispose of luxuries as soon as possible, 

 in order to reduce the weight of the loads on the port- 

 ages. Our limited stock of canned fruits was, therefore, 

 used with a free hand at first. 



June closed with a bright, clear and unusually calm 

 day, which was also marked by the absence of mosquitos 

 and black flies. Under these unusual circumstances, 

 at noon-hour, an event transpired which was seldom 

 repeated during the remaining part of our journey, viz., 

 the taking of a bath. 



Just as lunch was ready we were again joined by 

 Moberly and his companion, an old Indian named Bovia. 

 We were glad, if not a little surprised, to see them, for 

 we had a suspicion that the guide had no serious inten- 

 tion of keeping his promise. During the afternoon, 

 however, as before, his canoe lagged far behind, not so 

 much because of his inability to keep up with us, as 

 because of his serene indifference and laziness. The 

 paddles used by him and his comrade were like spoons as 

 compared with our broad blades, and the position of old 

 Bovia, as he pulled with one elbow resting on the gun- 

 wale of his canoe, was most amusing. By this way of 



