246 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



During the evening of the 6th and the morning of 

 the 7th of December we crossed a succession of thir- 

 teen small lakes and some flat open plains, but the 

 afternoon of the latter day saw a marked change 

 in the character of the country. With the exception 

 of two or three isolated patches, we had seen nothing 

 in the shape of timber of any value since leaving York 

 indeed, I might say since leaving Churchill, or even a 

 thousand miles or so farther back on the road. But 

 now we had reached a heavy forest of white spruce, 

 jack-pine, poplar and birch trees, and the change was a 

 pleasing one. 



For a distance of six or eight miles we trudged 

 through this heavy forest, and then, just at night-fall, 

 reached the shore of Back Lake, really an extension of 

 Oxford Lake. One of my brother's feet had become so 

 sore during the day that he had been obliged to walk 

 with only one showshoe. On this account we had 

 fallen several miles behind the leaders of the party, and 

 when we arrived at the shore of the lake above de- 

 scribed, nothing could we see of the outfit, and both 

 because of darkness and the hard surface of the snow, it 

 was with great difficulty we were able to follow the track. 

 It led away across the lake, and for a time we managed 

 to follow it. While doing so we carefully noted it& 

 bearing, but soon the faint tracks could no longer be 

 followed, for the night was becoming dark. We feared 

 to lose them, as there might be a change in their course 

 and then our bearing would not lead us aright. For 

 a time, upon hands and knees, we tried to follow the 

 trail, but could not keep upon it continuously. 



