172 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



waves, which crackled as we passed over them. 

 There was not a cloud upon the horizon, the wind 

 had entirely fallen, and the snow-laden branches of 

 the trees hung as in a scene in an opera. In spite 

 of the cold, we felt perfectly comfortable, for the 

 air was as pure and light as on a mountain top. 



The snow had quite obliterated all traces of the 

 path, but the Indians had no difficulty in finding 

 their way by the trees and the landmarks of the 

 neighbourhood. The desert was before us as far as 

 the North Pole, and it was not without a certain 

 emotion that we penetrated that thicket of ancient 

 trees, under whose branches we made our way as 

 well as we were able. At last we halted at the foot 

 of a hill to take breath. Our Indians trampled on 

 the snow to harden it, and then collected a sufficient 

 amount of dry twigs to form a couch ; after which 

 they discovered a spring of water, deliciously cold 

 and pure. In the quiet solitude of Nature we could 

 hear the murmur of the stream slowly trickling 

 under the snow, and only betraying itself by a little 

 break here and there in the roof of snow which 

 overhung it. 



About mid-day we had amply dined, and had 

 started once more upon our journey. After three 

 hours and a half of very difficult travelling, we 

 reached the banks of a stream where we resolved 

 to pass the night. Neither M'Lean nor myself 

 were sorry for this arrangement, for we were both 



