ACEOSS THE SUB-AKCTICS OF CANADA 



wretched condition from the effects of severe dysentery, caused 

 by exposure and starvation, and was unable to walk. 



On the morning of the iTth, feeling somewhat revived 

 after a long night's rest, I undertook to go hunting ptarmigan, 

 which we were glad to find were plentiful in the woods about 

 us. Had it not been for the fact that our ammunition was 

 almost exhausted, the occurrence of these birds in abundance 

 would have afforded us greater consolation; but being, as we 

 were, reduced to a dozen or two cartridges, the opportunity 

 for living on feathered game seemed limited to a short period. 

 Before I had walked a hundred yards from camp, I was 

 forced to realize how weak I had become, and after making 

 a circuit of about half a mile and shooting only two or three 

 birds, I was scarcely able to crawl back to the tent. On my 

 return, Frangois, taking the shot-gun, went out and returned 

 in the evening with a fine bag of game. 



On waking the next morning, my brother amused us by 

 relating an extraordinary dream, in which he imagined he 

 was luxuriating in good things, and particularly sweet cur- 

 rant cakes, for which he was exhibiting a wonderful capacity. 

 But alas ! with the visions of the night the cakes had vanished, 

 and for breakfast he was forced to be content with unseasoned 

 boiled ptarmigan. 



At about one o'clock in the day, as we were seated within 

 the tent partaking of our second meal, we were suddenly 

 startled by hearing the exclamation, " Hullo, Jim !" The 

 eagerness vsdth which we scrambled over dinner and dishes to 

 the tent-door can better be imagined than described, and on 

 looking out, sure enough there was Jim returning. Was he 

 alone ? IN'o, thank the Lord ! Behind him, a moment later, 

 emerged from the woods a number of men, followed by teams 

 of dogs and sleds. One after the other thfere came scamper- 

 ing along no less than four teams, hauling long, empty sleds 

 capable of furnishing accommodation for our whole outfit. 

 After a hard two days' tramp, .Jim and John had reached 



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