IV 



UNDER WAY FOR Me MURRAY 



WITH several Indians running before to escort us be- 

 yond the post in approved style, we left La Biche at a 

 pretty brisk gait, and maintained for a good hour a pace 

 which must have carried us six miles. But Heming and 

 I were so delighted at being finally and really under way 

 that no speed those Indians could have set would have 

 been too stiff for us. As we ran we now and again de- 

 livered ourselves of congratulations that were expressive, 

 if brief and somewhat disconnected in de- 

 livery. We had been delayed three days, 

 and a half at La Biche, fussing with Ind- 

 ians that had more time than energy, 

 more promise than execution, and who 

 broke contracts as rapidly as they made 

 them. Gairdner had annoyed me a great 

 deal, and no doubt we had worried him 

 not a little, breaking in upon the even 

 and lethargic tenor of his monotonous 

 life with our " outside " (as the great world 

 is called by the denizens of this lone land) 

 hustling ways. But now that it is all 

 past, and the trip successfully made, I am 

 willing to forgive and be forgiven. 



We did not expect to go far that night ; our chief de- 

 sire was to get started ; and, besides, we knew we should 

 pass several Indian houses, where we must stop, that 



LUMBERMAN'S 

 SHOE, 



Ottawa River, 

 3)^ feet long 



