LAKE SUPERIOR. 87 



have table-cloths and napkins. You carry towels, 

 why not napkins ?" 



" Because you cannot stow a large number, and 

 if you have only a few, how are they to be kept 

 clean? The guides have enough to do without 

 trying to wash table-cloths with cold water and no 

 starch." 



" If that is so, I should take an extra man to wash 

 them." 



The next day we met with a loss. We had no- 

 ticed that the Indians, when they travelled, were 

 invariably accompanied by their dogs ; these were 

 rarely accommodated on board the canoes, and fol- 

 lowed along the shore, swimming the inlets or cross- 

 ing at the head, making often much longer journeys 

 than their masters, who passed from headland to 

 headland, but coming up with the camp at night to 

 partake of the frugal meal. Sometimes, however, 

 they strayed, and either lived on chance gleanings 

 from travellers or perished in the woods. There 

 were two ownerless dogs near our camp, and al- 

 though precautions had been taken by our men, 

 they succeeded in carrying off our only ham, leaving 

 us nothing to show for it but the empty bag. 



Don's appetite had been sharpened by open air 

 and exercise, and he expatiated at length upon dis- 

 appointed hopes of fried ham, broiled ham, ham 

 omelets, ham plain, and ham and eggs, and sug- 

 gested many new and doubtless excellent dishes, of 

 which ham was to be the principal part. . His advice 

 was valuable, but somewhat late. 



