MEETING OF THE WILD MEN 175 



removed from the overtmned sled and hustled into the Factor's 

 oflBce, where it was opened, and the mail quickly overhauled. 

 While the Factor and his clerk were busily writing despatches, 

 a relay of dogs was being harnessed, and two fresh runners were 

 making ready to speed the mail upon its northward way. 



Before long the Factor's letters were sealed and carefully 

 deposited in the packet box, which was lashed on the tail of the 

 sled, the forepart of which was packed with blankets, flour, 

 tea, and pork for the packeteers, and frozen whitefish for the 

 dogs. Then amid the usual handshaking the word ''Marchef" 

 was given, and to the tune of cracking whips, whining dogs, and 

 crunching snow, the northern packet glided out upon the lake 

 with the Indian track-beater hurrying far ahead while the half- 

 breed dog-driver loped behind the sled. Thus for over two 

 centuries the Hudson's Bay Company had been sending its 

 mails through the great wilderness of Northern Canada. 



THE DOG BRIGADE 



That afternoon five dog-trains arrived from outlying posts. 

 They had come to join the Dog Brigade that was to leave Fort 

 Consolation first thing in the morning on its southern way to 

 the far-off raihoad. As I wished to accompany the brigade, I 

 had arranged with Oo-koo-hoo that we should do so, as far as 

 we could without going out of our way, in returning to his 

 hunting grounds. So to bed that night we all went very early, 

 and at four o'clock in the morning we were astir again. Break- 

 fast was soon over, then followed the packing of the sleds, the 

 harnessing of the dogs, the slipping of moccasined feet into 

 snowshoe thongs, the shaking of hands, and the wishing of 

 farewells. Aheady the tracker, or track-beater, had gone 

 ahead to break the trail. 



'' M-a-r-r-che!'' (start) shouted the guide — as the head dog- 

 driver is called. Every driver repeated the word; whips cracked; 



