186 THE ARCTIC PRAIRIES 



These were the Indians whose abandoned dogs made 

 so much trouble for us in the days that followed. 



At 4 P. M. of 23d of July we were stopped by a long 

 narrow floe of broken ice. Without consulting me the 

 crew made for the shore. 



It seemed they were full of fears: "Wha"t if they 

 should get caught in that floe, and drift around for 

 days? What if a wind should arise (it had been 

 glassy calm for a week)? What if they could not get 

 back?" etc., etc. 



Preble and I climbed a hill for a view. The floe was 

 but half a mile wide, very loose, with frequent lanes. 



" Preble, is there any reason why we should not 

 push through this floe using poles to move the cakes? " 



"None whatever." 



On descending, however, I found the boys preparing 

 to camp for "a couple of days," while the ice melted 

 or drifted away somewhere. 



So I said, "You get right into this boat now and 

 push off; we can easily work our way through." They 

 made no reply, simply looked sulkier than ever, and 

 proceeded to start a fire for meal No. 5. 



"Weeso," I said, "get into your place and tell your 

 men to follow." 



The old man looked worried and did nothing. He 

 wanted to do right, but he was in awe of his crew. 



Then did I remember how John MacDonald settled 

 the rebellion on the river. 



"Get in there," I said to Preble and Billy. "Come 

 on, Weeso." We four jumped into the boat and pro- 

 ceeded to push off with all the supplies. 



