BENIAH'S ARRIVAL 167 



bounded. I told him I knew the other " leaders " would 

 of course shrink from exposure, but they were as " chil- 

 dren " to him. I made him understand that I had no 

 doubt of his willingness to go with me ; that it was 

 merely a question of beaver-skins between us, and I was 

 prepared to pay him liberally. I placed him in such a 

 position that by refusing to go with me he tacitly ac- 

 knowledged that he was afraid, that he was no greater 

 than the other leaders to whom I had referred as children 

 when compared with him. 



The result was that before the meeting closed it was 

 midnight, but Beniah had promised me to go, provided 

 he could make up his party, and we were to start next 

 day for his lodge, which was in the woods about three 

 days east of Fort Rae, and six days' travel north from 

 Resolution. 



The little post of Resolution was shaken to its founda- 

 tion next day when it learned that we really intended start- 

 ing, and there was a great shaking of heads, and many 

 direful prophecies told for our benefit. But I felt sure 

 Beniah would not turn tail, since he had given me his 

 word ; and as for myself, I had been having nothing but 

 discouragement since first I set out. 



At noon my sledge was dragged into the post, and 

 packed with my outfit, which consisted of a winter cari- 

 bou-skin robe, lined with a pair of 4-point H.B.C. blankets, 

 and made into a bag (which I subsequently ripped open ; 

 the popular supposition that a bag is best is faulty ; you 

 can sleep much warmer in the unsewn robes, because you 

 can roll them about you more snugly), one heavy caribou- 

 skin capote, one cloth capote, one sweater, two pairs of 

 mittens, one pair moose-skin gloves, one pair leggings, 

 three silk handkerchiefs, eight pair moccasins, eight pair 

 duffel socks, one copper kettle, one cup, my rifle and hunt- 



