NEW-YEAR'S AT LA BICHE 



37 



own hands, and deal with the wrangling Indians through 

 an interpreter. I finally secured "Shot" on a compro- 

 mise, intending to take no other man, but drive the sec- 

 ond train of dogs ourselves. Then I had a time getting 

 another four dogs and sledge. First the owners would 

 not hire a train without their own engagement (this after 

 I had spent two days trying to induce them to go with 

 me !), then no one man who had a complete train could 

 be found. At last I got two dogs from one Indian, and 

 one dog each from two different Indians. Meanwhile I 

 was waiting for " Shot," who was to come prepared for 

 the start so soon as the snow-shoes were finished, and 

 being worried thin by 

 the dog-owners' repeat- 

 ed visits and their clam- 

 ors for a new deal ; hav- 

 ing hired the dogs and 

 sledge, they wanted me 

 to pay an additional fee 

 for harness and wrapper, 

 or, if not, to give them 



a little tea or tobacco, 

 or moccasins. I was in 

 constant dread lest their 

 fickleness should eventu- 

 ally deprive me of a train, 

 and I cursed " Shot " 

 roundly for his delay. 

 Meanwhile, too, Heming 

 and I were conditioning 

 ourselves by some run- 

 ning every afternoon, and had settled to the conviction 

 that the hardest part of our trip appeared to be getting 

 started. 



EDMONTON FREIGHTER 



