208 WITH GUN AND GUIDE 



last for several days ; then the men predict a sudden 

 freeze-up, and, presto! the long, long winter will be 

 upon them. 



Last winter the thermometer went to fifty-two de- 

 grees below zero, and the snow near Barkerville was 

 over seven feet deep ; so that winter away up here 

 means something more than a picnic. It means long, 

 cold nights, with little daylight, plenty of stars over- 

 head and a scarcity of heat from the all-powerful sun 

 god. 



We left Bear Lake camp early on Sunday morning, 

 our flotilla consisting of three boats, a house-boat, 

 manned by two men, to carry the provisions and outfit. 

 The other two boats carried three men each, two sports 

 and one guide. 



The day was fine, and as this was the real beginning 

 of our hunting trip it stirred my blood to feel that first 

 jump of the boat as Kibbee, the guide, pushed off from 

 the landing. How quickly the camp was left behind ! 

 Now all was before us a new country, a virgin forest, 

 new lakes, new rivers, new waterfalls, new mountains. 

 Nothing old, yet how very old, but all new to us. 



This trip is to be for us a recreation we are going 

 to tease the unknown " what is fresh and new in na- 

 ture is great, divine." We are seeking adventure. 

 The healthy imagination is a daredevil, a pick-lock, a 

 break-bolt. In all ages adventure, the great motive 

 for all we do, has been loved for itself. There is a 



