13 



of Governor Archibald, was proud of the fact that always on 

 the tenth day of their start from Crow Wing at the stroke of 

 noon from the Fort Garry bell he landed Sir George at the 

 steps of the Chief Factor's House. Relays of horses enabled 

 him to do this, rain or shine ; and the sliglitest stoppage in 

 muskeg or stream found McKay wading in to bring Sir 

 George on his broad shoulders to dry land. 



Fortunately for me, a more experienced head than mine 

 had chosen the horses, selected the cart and saddle, and sug- 

 gested the outfit for the journey ; and, thougli I found soon 

 after starting, that there were wrinkles in camp and travel 

 that experience only can teach, still I acknowledge my in- 

 debtedness to my friend, and proceed to enumerate the outfit 

 which he deemed sufficient to land me and the Canadian 

 friend, who was to accompany me, safely at Crow Wing ; and 

 I give these in the order of their importance. 



Two Red River ponies, who disdained oats and had never 

 eaten of aught save prairie grass, dry or green, " Blackie" and 

 " Bichon," both good types of their hardy class, short barrels, 

 sturdy legs, long manes, and tails which touched their fet- 

 locks ; differing in disposition, however, Blackie having a bad 

 eye and uncertain temper, with a disposition to smash things 

 with his hind legs, which would have been fatal to a buggy, 

 but was energy thrown away on a cart, when one knew how 

 helpless he was with a clove hitch around the root of his tail 

 with one end of a short piece of shaganappi, the other end of 

 which was tied to the front cross bar of the cart, the eight or 

 ten inches distance between the attached ends affording but 

 little scope for the exercise of powers such a.'- Blackie un- 

 doubtedly possessed. This peculiarity was not the only one of 

 Blackie's, which would have placed him second to Bichon in 

 this narrative, had he not some qualities useful indeed in time 

 of trouble. He had a practice of trying to bolt when his har- 

 ness was loosed, to escape the inevitable hobble without which 

 Blackie, whose leadership Bichon, the tractable and gentle, 

 always followed, would have left us on the prairie to our own 



