84 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



more scattered, and of more stunted growth. On this- 

 account it is impossible to lay down any definite line a& 

 the limit of the forest. Outlying patches of spruce and 

 tamarack might still be found here and there in the 

 most favored localities, but as a whole the country was- 

 now a vast, rolling, treeless wilderness. 



On the evening of the 28th of July we reached the 

 north end of an expansion of the river, named Barlow 

 Lake. Our supply of meat was already running low. 

 Being quite unable to carry provisions with us for the 

 whole trip, we had, in starting, taken only a limited 

 quantity of this kind of food, trusting to our ability to 

 replenish the supply from time to time by the way. Up 

 to this time, however, we had seen nothing in the shape 

 of game since leaving Lake Athabasca, excepting the 

 one black bear, and he made good his escape. Plenty of 

 old deer-tracks were to be seen, but not a single deer, 

 and in consequence we were beginning to feel some 

 anxiety. If game should not be found within a week 

 or ten days, we would have to return, or proceed with 

 the probability before us of starvation. 



We had only begun to think seriously on this question 

 when on the evening above-mentioned, just as we had 

 gone ashore to camp, a moving object was noticed on a 

 little island out in the lake. By means of our field- 

 glasses we could tell it was a deer, and I need hardly 

 say that no time was lost in manning a canoe and pull- 

 ing for the island. As we approached the deer watched 

 us closely, and soon satisfied of danger, bounded into the 

 air, galloped to the farther side of the island, plunged 

 into the water, and struck out for the nearest shore. 

 The rate at whicli the frightened animal tore its way 



