208 LEAVING THE LONE LAND 



old school of pioneers, for he had served all his 

 life with the Company, as had his father before 

 him. He had had one break in his life, when he 

 had as a boy been sent to Scotland to be educated. 

 A point which proved the Factor's worth was the 

 fact that he was popular among the Indians, 

 not only at his own Post, but far out on the trails : 

 indeed, in this way I had heard of him long 

 before I met him. And Indians are sure in their 

 judgment, for they are gifted with extraordinarily 

 keen penetration, and are, moreover, very exact- 

 ing critics. 



In the early morning of January 7, with strange 

 companions and fresh dogs, I resumed my journey 

 south on Heron Lake. 



We travelled hard all day and camped at night 

 at a settlement of Cree Indians, a little above 

 Birch Portage on the Sturgeonweir River. Here, 

 at this settlement, one could surely tell, in the 

 manners of the Indians, of nearer approach to 

 civilisation, for in small but essential ways they 

 differed from the natives in the Far North ; their 

 reserve and inherent culture if I may use the 

 word were less. 



Especially were the children more bold. In 

 the Far North they were wont to retire, at a white 

 man's approach, to hiding within their teepees, 

 like frightened rabbits to their warrens ; here, 

 however, they ventured outdoors to stand in 

 awed groups some distance in the background, 

 gazing in wonderment at the white man and his 

 belongings, the while their eyes, and downcast 

 glances at each other, plainly told their full 

 curiosity. 



