52 ON SNOW-SHOES TO THE BARREN GROUNDS 



under way. He exasperated me to such a degree that, 

 knowing an indulgence to my feelings would result in his 

 refusing to go at all, I remember confiding to Heming the 

 great hope that my legs would prove as stout as they had 

 at other times, and enable me to set such 

 a pace as should make " Shot's " tongue 

 hang out before we reached McMurray. 



Whether the pace was too hot or he 

 too lazy I cannot say, but certainly when 

 we were once started he kept me busy 

 urging him to faster gait ; his train was 

 invariably so far behind as to delay us 

 ten to fifteen minutes at every " spell " 

 (rest), which meant a loss of from six to 

 ALGONGI'S SHOES, e ight miles in a day's travel. It must 



LakeTemiscamuga, ^^ ^^ j^ beC aUSe he is a half- 



3 feet long 



breed of massive bone and great strength 

 and over six feet in height. He evidently thought me 

 a " moonyass," as a " tenderfoot " is called in this coun- 

 try, with whom he could play any game he chose ; and 

 when he discovered his mistake he grew sulky, devel- 

 oped a lame knee, subsequently a sore back, and delayed 

 the morning start by his reluctance to turn out when 

 called and the length of time he consumed in packing 

 the sledges. The only day of the four he was with me 

 on which I got him to set off promptly and travel smart- 

 ly was the last one, when the prospect of reaching a de- 

 serted cabin for the night's camp carried him on. I could 

 have forgiven him the lagging behind, for the going was 

 hard, and he had none of the incentive that added ner- 

 vous to my physical energy, but his avariciousness at La 

 Biche and his sullenness on the road hardened my heart, 

 and I cut out his work on a scale that, I fancy, made the 

 parting between us one for mutual congratulation. 



