78 EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



next morning we found several excellent whitefish and large 

 inconnues in the net. We reached the Yellow Knife Bay at an 

 early hour and found a heavy sea running, against which we 

 slowly fought our way, being twice driven ashore to empty the 

 canoes of the water that broke over the bows. 



On the seventeenth day a beam wind blew steadily offshore 

 and compelled us to paddle continuously on one side to pre- 

 vent the canoe from veering head to the wind. On the eight- 

 eenth, and last, day of the trip a fair wind enabled us to sail. 

 We lashed two poles across the canoes, which were thus 

 securely held about fifteen inches apart. Two light masts, one 

 in each boat meeting at the top, supported the blanket-sail. 

 As the breeze freshened, the water piled up between the canoes 

 and poured in upon us. The primitive sail was reefed until it 

 was little more than a roll, yet we continued to make rapid 

 progress. The islands protected us from the waves of the open 

 lake; still we were running too great a risk. I would not have 

 continued had I not feared that the "Wrigley," which was then 

 due, would leave before our arrival. We were so wet with 

 spray that we did not seek shelter from the rain which fell 

 during the evening. We reached the post at 9 p. m., and I flat- 

 tered myself at the time that I presented a much better 

 appearance, as I glided easily up to the landing, than I had on 

 starting out. As I look back upon it now, I fear that I did not 

 present a very dignified appearance with a three weeks' beard, 

 clothing wet and soiled, and limbs cramped from sitting in the 

 canoe all the afternoon, with two or three inches of water in 

 the bottom. 



We had traveled over two hundred and fifty miles, and had 

 secured a number of valuable birdskins, though the conditions 

 were not favorable for such collecting. He who travels in a 

 large boat, with men to manage it, need have no difficulty in 

 making up half a dozen skins while the camp is being made. 

 But when a man paddles his own loaded canoe all day, it will 

 require all his pluck to induce him to attend to his duties as a 

 taxidermist in the evening. 



During my absence Mr. Joseph Hodgson had been placed in 

 charge of the post. This gentleman, a native Manitoban, edu- 

 cated at St. John's College, had spent the last twenty years in 

 the North. For several years he had had charge of McPher- 



