218 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



shore to shore. Being anxious to get away as early 

 as possible, arrangements were made with the Com- 

 pany's agent for a start for York Factory on Mon- 

 day morning. The assistance of one dog-team, with 

 driver and guide, was with some difficulty secured, but 

 three other teams were to accompany us a great part of 

 the way, viz., to Stony River, where in the month of 

 September the Company's servants had been obliged to 



abandon a boat- 

 load of supplies 

 because of se- 

 vere weather, 

 the month in 

 which we had 

 been canoeing 

 on the coast five 

 hundred miles 

 farther north. 

 A bill of ne- 



ICE-BLOCK GROUNDED AT LOW TIDE. CCSSary SUp- 



plies was pre- 

 pared, and these were weighed out and put into sacks. 

 Men and teams were sent off to obtain a supply of dog- 

 meat an indispensable commodity from a shanty on 

 the south side of the river. When they reached the 

 place they found it in possession of five polar bears 

 three large ones and two cubs. Along with the dog- 

 meat were brought back the skins of one old bear and 

 the two cubs. During Sunday the thermometer fell to 

 21 below zero, making the river-ice strong and per- 

 fectly safe. 



