48 ON SNOW-SHOES TO THE BARREN GROUNDS 



thunder as the ice cracked under us. It was a curious 

 sensation, too, to have these explosions at our feet, vibra- 

 ting towards the shores in successive and receding detona- 

 tions, like the rings which 

 widen and follow upon one 

 another when you have 

 thrown a stone into a pond. 

 On one occasion water fol- 

 lowed the cracking, and we 

 were obliged to run hard, 

 until we stopped for din- 

 ner, to keep our feet from 

 freezing. 



The going was exceed- 

 ingly difficult all day long, 

 in deep snow, across lakes, 

 through bunches of stunt- 

 ed spruce, and over the re- 

 doubtable muskeg, where 

 the sledges required con- 

 stant handling, and never 

 by any chance remained 



right side up for more than a few moments at a time. 

 Still, the weather remained clear, and when we camped, 

 at six o'clock, the stars were shining brightly, and we 

 had left Hart Lake thirty-eight miles behind us, Heming 

 and I running the last nine miles in one hour and forty 

 minutes. 



WAPITI HUNTER 



