WADING THROUGH ICE-WATER 121 



so to know if they could trust me in bushcraft. 

 It was a test — perhaps a stern test — for think 

 of it if I had been a tenderfoot, and lost, and out 

 at night in bitter cold ; probably they did not 

 even know if I had matches to make fire : if one 

 had not, God help him ! 



There was nothing for it now but to face the 

 crossing and endure a cold plunge, so, with my 

 pack held high, I waded into the icy water, which 

 I was glad to find came no higher than my chest, 

 and I was able to cross without swimming, which 

 would have been an even more unpleasant ex- 

 perience, with the current and heavy pack to 

 deal with. Thereafter I passed onward to my 

 cabin at a hurried pace to keep up circulation, 

 so that my body and limbs would not be frozen. 

 I reached my destination about 5.30 p.m., shortly 

 after dark — and none too soon, for by that time 

 the garments that had been under water were 

 frozen stiff and rasped awkwardly against my 

 limbs, while alarming cold was getting at my 

 body. 



Later in the evening I tramped through the 

 woods into Fort Du Brochet and the Indians were 

 glad to see me. I noticed, though I then knew 

 not their purpose, that they exchanged furtive 

 glances, but made no remark that might infer that 

 my appearance was other than ordinary. 1 



At the Post the day's experiences were re- 



1 I may here say that from that day I went among the Indians, 

 and hunted and travelled with them, and knew I was henceforth 

 accepted as one of themselves, and was given a Chipewyan 

 name which meant " Caribou Antler " — a thing that was thin, 

 but hard and strong. 



