OFF FOR LAC LA BICHE 27 



was inconsiderable. Moreover, there were others abroad ; 

 for the morrow was New-Year's, and Indians and half- 

 breeds were making their way to the company post to 

 partake of the feast which is provided for them annually. 

 They came from either side, and fell into the now well- 

 beaten track we were all travelling; men and women, old 

 and young, some walking, but the majority riding in a 

 sort of box set upon runners, locally known as a " jump- 

 er," and drawn by a nondescript kind of beast which we 

 discovered upon close scrutiny to be an undersized, un- 

 derfed horse, but that more nearly resembled an over- 

 grown jack-rabbit. 



And thus with the dying sun of the last day of 1894 

 we made our entree into La Biche with the gathering of 

 the clans. 



