CHAPTER IV 



EXPEDITION INTO NEW GROUND UP THE GANDER RIVER 



" Dere's lots o' things in this world wot seems to strike us 

 rough at the time, but which turns out the best in the end," 

 was a frequent remark of my philosophical friend Little 

 Bob ; and with this he addressed me as I met him at the 

 commencement of my second expedition, looking like a 

 scared fox in the mundane wilds of Water Street. Towns 

 were not to the liking of this man o' the woods, and we 

 were discussing the disappointing fact that the steamer for 

 North Labrador had departed on the previous day and 

 would not be back for another month. It was disgusting, 

 to say the least of it, as I had made my preparations care- 

 fully before leaving England, and meant if possible to add 

 the barren-land caribou, of the north-eastern corner of 

 America, to my collection of hunting trophies. 



The loss of a month in the autumn means nothing in 

 some countries, but in North Labrador winter closes down 

 with a sudden snap about the beginning of October, and 

 there you must remain with the Esquimaux till the next 

 summer, if the last boat from the south fails to reach 

 Nain and the north ports. As I had also hoped to hunt 

 again in Newfoundland in the second season, it was clearly 

 the best plan to make one good expedition in that delight- 

 ful country, rather than to try and effect under pressure 

 two shooting trips in the two countries both so wide 

 apart. 



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