262 OUR RETURN JOURNEY 



helped us very much, leaving us twenty-three 

 miles from Manicouagan. Shortly after noon we 

 were at Point des Outardes and had a short rest 

 and a cup of tea with Mr. J. B. Ross, who has a 

 good old Scotch name, but is unable to speak a 

 word of English. He was very desirous that we 

 should remain there till morning and prophesied 

 bad weather. This was just what I expected 

 myself and what made me anxious to go as far 

 as possible that night. We had twelve miles to go 

 to the nearest settlement, which was the Govern- 

 ment Telegraph Station at Point Manicouagan. 

 Our friend's prophecy soon came through. About 

 3 p.m. a gale of S.-E. wind and snow set in. 

 Beyond the discomfort, we did not mind this 

 much, as I was travelling over very familiar 

 ground and reached the station shortly after 

 dark, in the midst of a blinding snowstorm. 

 Going over the winter portage, there remained 

 fifty-three miles more to cover in order to reach 

 home, and this we had expected to make in two 

 days. But this gale upset our calculations. As 

 there were no settlements before we reached God- 

 bout, we had to carry provisions for at least four 

 days, in case of delay or accident. Mr. Pelletier, 

 agent at Point Manicouagan, was very obliging 

 and gave us a comfortable room, and we enjoyed 

 a good night's rest. Next morning my wife ad- 

 vised me by wire that most of the able-bodied 

 men of the vicinity were to start out and break 



