80 Thirty Years 
about two miles, The islands appear better furnish- 
ed with wood than its banks, the summits of which 
are almost bare. Soon after we had encamped our 
Indian guide rejoined us; he had remained behind 
yesterday, to accompany a friend on a hunting excur- 
sion, without consulting us. Onhis return this even- 
ing he made no endeavor to explain the reason of his 
absence, but sat down coolly, and began to prepare his 
supper. 
Showers of snow fell until noon on the following 
day, but we continued our journey along the river, 
whose banks and islands became gradually lower as we 
advanced, and less abundantly supplied with wood, 
except willows. We came up with an old Canadian, 
who was resting his wearied dogs during the heat of 
the sun. He was carrying meat from some Indian 
lodges to Fort Chipewyan, having a burden exceeding 
two hundred and fifty pounds on his sledge, which 
was dragged by two miserable dogs. He came up to 
our encampment after dark. We were much amused 
by the altercation that took place between him and our 
Canadian companions as to the qualifications of their 
respective dogs. This, however, is such a general topic 
of conversation among the voyagers in the encampment, 
that we should not probably have remarked it, had 
not the old man frequently offered to bet the whole of 
his wages that his two dogs, poor and lean as they 
