28 SLEIGH-DOGS. 



fellows, and barked at us and shook themselves as if in a 

 furious rage at our trespassing on their territories ; and dived 

 down into their holes the instant we came too near. They are 

 so quick that they can duck at the flash of a gun without being 

 hit by the shot, and we only got one, though we often fired 

 at them. A friend of mine, an officer in the American Army, 

 drowned some out by pouring water into their holes, but then 

 he had about a hundred soldiers to help him. 



On reaching Fort Carlton our party broke up, my com- 

 panions going forty miles north of the Fort, where they put up 

 a cabin, while I engaged a half-breed, named Badger, and his 

 Avife, and started for the Thickwood Hills, about ninety miles 

 North-west of Fort Carlton, where I intended to pass the 



winter. Mr. L kindly allowed us to buy winter supplies 



at the Fort, it being the rule that nothing but furs should be 

 received in exchange for supplies. Everything is valued at so 

 many skins per pound or yard, as the case may be ; the skin 

 referred to being that of a beaver, which is here valued at two 

 shillings, all more valuable furs being worth so many beaver. 



Before leaving the Post, I bought the best team of sleigh- 

 dogs they had there, giving a double rifle in exchange for them, 

 and I also got a second team, paying for them in money. 



When winter has once set in in these regions, horses are 

 useless, the snow falling to a depth of from two to three feet in 

 the open, and from seven to eight feet in the woods, where it 

 has no chance of melting, and all travelling must then be done 

 with dogs. I also bought two sleighs, and some elk-skins and 

 brass wire for making harness, the latter being used to stiffen 

 the collars. Having completed all our arrangements, we wished 

 everyone good-bye and started for our winter-quarters. 



