INLAND PACKS. 79 



skins each, were packed to the number of four 

 hundred skins. 



This made a very valuable package, and the 

 greatest care was taken of it the whole journey. 

 Valuing them at only $5 each, one of these boxes 

 represented the sum of f 2,000. 



We all saw that this mode of packing would 

 not last; as, taking the best of care, accidents 

 will happen, and they began the very year after 

 the order came in force. Leaving a disagreeable 

 job to the last, the men at each carrying place 

 avoided these boxes, and there was a struggle to 

 see who would not carry them. The sharp cor- 

 ners abraded the men's backs, and when carried 

 on top of a pack they hurt the back of the head ; 

 so, as a rule, they were generally left till the 

 last load, and then taken with bitter comments, 

 and a fervent wish that the promulgator of the 

 order for such packages were himself present to 

 portage them over the carry. 



Two of these marten boxes were left by one 

 of our crews in the middle of a brule. In mak- 

 ing the former trip some careless fellow must 

 have thrown down a half-burnt match; in a few 

 moments dense clouds of smoke arose in their 

 rear. The country was as dry as tinder, and 

 in the space of a very few minutes the flames 

 swept to the other end of the portage, licking 

 up in passing those valuable boxes and contents. 



