80 Thirty Years 



about two miles. The islands appear better furnish- 

 ed with wood than its banks, the summits of which 

 are' almost bare. Soon after we had encamped our 

 Indian guide rejoined us ; he had remained behind 

 yesterday, to accompany a friend on a hunting excur- 

 sion, without consulting us. On his return this even- 

 ing he made no endeavor to explain the reason of his 

 absence, but sat down coolly, and began to prepare his 

 supper. 



Showers of snow fell until noon on the following 

 day, but we continued our journey along the river, 

 whose banks and islands became gradually lower as we 

 advanced, and less abundantly supplied with wood, 

 except willows. We came up with an old Canadian, 

 who was resting his wearied dogs during the heat 01 

 the sun. He was carrying meat from some Indian 

 lodges to Fort Chipewyan, having a burden exceeding 

 two hundred and fifty pounds on his sledge, which 

 was dragged by two miserable dogs. He came up to 

 our encampment after dark. We were much amused 

 by the altercation that took place between him and our 

 Canadian companions as to the qualifications of their 

 respective dogs. This, however, is such a general topic 

 onversation among the voyagers in the encampment, 

 that we should not probably have remarked it, had 

 n »t the old man frequently offered to bet the whole of 



his wages that his two dogs, poor and lean as they 



