32 CANADIAN WILDS. 



When the Indian saw me start in that direc- 

 tion, he said : "A-a-ke-pu-ka-tan" ( "Yes, yes, you 

 are able v ). 



The most difficult proposition to tackle is a 

 black spruce swamp. The trees are mostly of a 

 uniform size and height, the surface of the snow 

 is perfectly level, and at times our route lies 

 miles through such a country, and should there 

 be a dull leaden sky or a gentle snow falling, 

 there is nothing for the guide to depend on but 

 his ability to walk straight. 



It has been written time and again that the 

 tendency when there are no land marks is to 

 walk in a circle. 



By constant practice, those who are brought 

 up in the wilds acquire the ability to walk in a 

 straight line. They begin by beating a trail 

 from point to point on some long stretch of ice, 

 and in the bush, where any tree or obstruction 

 bars the way they make up for any deviation 

 from the straight course by a give-and-take pro- 

 cess, so that the general line of march is straight. 



During forty years in the country, I never 

 knew an Indian or white bushman to carry a 

 compass. Apart from a black spruce swamp, 

 it would be no use whatever. 



In going from one place to another, the con- 

 tour of the country has to be considered, and 

 very frequently the "longest way round is the 



