210 TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 



up the whole of the stores into packs such as men 

 could carry. Women too, for we meant to do our 

 share. It is rather extraordinary how little seems so 

 much, and how much seems so little when it comes 

 to carrying one's all in an expedition like ours. 



For two days we rested by the river, dawdling 

 away the time, prospecting around for points and 

 things of interest, until we all felt thoroughly fit and 

 ready to take on the big trek before us. I found a 

 shed antler of a caribou, very old, in a hollow near 

 the stream, which was encouraging as a precursor 

 of the hoped for hunting. 



Our little band set out into the wilderness, crawling 

 laboriously up hill and down dale, for all the world 

 like a small colony of loaded giant ants. The ground 

 was very heavy going, the small stones hurt the 

 feet so, even through shooting-boots. They were 

 rubber-soled, and may be that made all the difference. 

 Big journeys are wearisome enough when accom- 

 plished with unladen shoulders, but impeded by 

 multitudinous packs we found the task of "getting 

 there " a trying affair enough. It was always a very 

 joyful moment when one might lay one's burden 

 down, and remember that holiday was the order of 

 the hour until to-morrow. 



To save trouble Cecily and I shared one tent be- 

 tween us, and the Leader and Ralph slept in the open. 

 They seemed to think that until rain fell, or necessity 

 demanded, it was such a nuisance to have to undo the 

 carefully made up packages. We had enough open 

 as it was. 



