50 ON SNOW-SHOES TO THE BARREN GROUNDS 



acquiesced in a decision which must have brought him 

 keenest disappointment. 



We had stepped aside for our conference, and I have 

 little doubt "Shot" fancied us planning something for 

 his discomfort, and was much relieved on learning he was 

 to return to La Biche. I decided on " Shot " instead of 

 John, because he understood English enough to admin- 

 ister to Heming's wants in case of his collapse. Then, 

 through "Shot's" interpretation, I had to win John's con- 

 sent to go on with me, and I experienced a very disquiet- 

 ing half-hour indeed while John underwent the elaborate 

 process of making up his mind. First he refused ; then 

 he demurred because he had never been in that part of 

 the country before, and was as dependent on " Shot " for 

 guidance as we were ourselves. And again he objected 

 because he could not speak nor understand a word of 

 English, and I was as deficient in 

 Cree. However, finally he consent- 

 ed if I would give him a few pres- 

 ents, the nature of which I have now 

 forgotten ; and after we had eaten, 

 the two Indians set to work divid- 

 ing the supplies and repacking the 

 sledges. It was not a very elabo- 

 rate task, and did not take long. We 

 had eaten the last of the potatoes, 

 and so when the bacon and the tea 

 and the flour had been divided, the 

 blankets separated, and Heming and 

 I had indicated which was which of 



the two seamless sacks that contained our personal lug- 

 gage, the sledges were packed and the dogs headed in op- 

 posite directions. 



Then we went our separate ways, and I took up my 



JOHN 



