200 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



shore. At this rate we would be a long time in reach- 

 ing Churchill. We had now been more than three 

 weeks on the coast, and were still at least two hundred 

 and fifty miles from our haven. 



Some different mode of travel must be adopted or 

 we should never get in. The shore ice was forming 

 rapidly and might now block us at any time. We had 

 not more than enough meat for another day or two, and 

 the game had all left the country. What was to be 

 done ? My brother and I talked the matter over during 

 the night. The plan suggested itself of abandoning 

 everything but rifles and blankets, and starting down 

 the shore on foot. But then, how could the numerous 

 large rivers, which were still open, be crossed ? Again, 

 to this plan there was the objection that having been 

 in canoes all summer, our party, though still strong 

 enough to paddle, was in very poor condition to walk. 

 The only other feasible plan was then suggested. It 

 was to abandon dunnage, instruments, rock collection, 

 etc., everything except note-books, photographs, plant 

 collection, rifles, blankets, and two small tents, and with 

 these to start out in only two light canoes, and with 

 the increased force in them to travel for our lives. 



This plan was decided on, and in the morning the 

 men were set to work to cache all our stuff excepting 

 the articles above mentioned. This occupied the whole 

 morning, and to us it was a sad and lonely task, but as 

 it seemed to be the only way by which we might hope 

 to escape from this dreary ice-bound coast, it was felt 

 to be a necessary one. As secure a cache as we could 

 build was made, and then with heavy hearts we turned 

 our steps toward the shore. 



