CHAPTER XXIV 

 THE VOYAGE ACROSS THE LAKE 



HITHERTO I have endeavoured to group my observa- 

 tions on each subject; I shall now for a change give 

 part of the voyage across Great Slave Lake much as 

 it appears in my journal. 



"July 16, 1907. Left Fort Resolution at 9.40 A. M. 

 in the York boat manned by 7 Indians and Billy Loutit, 

 besides Preble and myself, 10 in all; ready with mast 

 and sail for fair wind, but also provided with heavy 

 16-foot oars for head- winds and calm. Harding says 

 we should make Pike's Portage in 3 or 4 days. 



"Reached Moose Island at 11.30 chiefly by rowing; 

 camped. A large dog appeared on the bank. Free- 

 say recognised it as his and went ashore with a club. 

 We heard the dog yelping. Freesay came back saying: 

 'He'll go home now.' 



"At 1.30 went on but stopped an unnecessary half- 

 hour at a saw-mill getting plank for seats. Reached 

 the Big, or Main, River at 4.10; stopped for tea again 

 till 4.50, then rowed up the river till 5.40; rested 15 

 minutes, rowed till 6.30; rested 15 minutes, rowed till 

 7; then got into the down current of the north branch 

 or mouth of the Slave; down then we drifted till 8, 

 then landed and made another meal, the fourth to-day, 

 and went on drifting at 8.30. 



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