38 ON SNOW-SHOES TO THE BARREN GROUNDS 



At last, on Friday, January 4th, the impatiently awaited 

 " Shot " arrived, with his dogs and sledge in good condi- 

 tion, but the sledge of the second train broken so badly 

 as to necessitate its repair. " Shot " had also brought 

 with him a young Cree Indian called John, whom he rec- 

 ommended as a good runner ; and afterwards, when Hem- 

 ing fell ill, and John and I pushed on into the country 

 alone, I forgave " Shot " much of what I had harbored 

 against him because of his bringing me that Cree. It was 

 noon before the sledge had been mended and we were 

 ready to begin packing up for the start. Our personal 

 luggage consisted of a change of shirts and heavy under- 

 wear, three silk pocket-handkerchiefs, an extra pair of 

 Irish frieze trousers, a heavy woollen sweater, stout gloves 

 to wear inside the native-made mittens, two pairs of Hud- 

 son's Bay Company four-point blankets, a rabbit-skin robe 

 (of native manufacture, and very warm), " stroud " leggings, 

 a caribou-skin capote lined with blanket, a knitted hood, a 

 worsted tuque, " duffel " socks, snow-glasses, several pairs 

 of moccasins, hunting -knife, strong clasp-knife, a 45.90 

 Winchester, half-magazine, and 150 cartridges, pills, and 

 mustang liniment ; I had, besides, a compass, my camera 

 (in a strong zinc box), note-books, and some iodoform, an- 

 tiseptic lozenges, and sterilized gauze bandages, in case 

 amputation because of freezing became necessary. Our 

 provisions included bacon, tea, flour, and a few pounds of 

 potatoes Mrs. Gairdner was kind enough to boil and mash 

 and freeze into a pan for us ; our one luxury or rather 

 mine, for Heming does not smoke was tobacco. In all 

 we had just 357 pounds, which I was careful to determine, 

 for I was sure " Shot " would be grumbling about the load, 

 and swear we had 600 pounds on each sledge, and I wished 

 to be prepared with figures, as I had said we should go light 

 purposely to make good time. We took only one night's 



