ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA 



fast was partaken of by the light of the camp-fire and at the 

 first streaks of dawn the journey on sleds to Churchill was 

 begim. 



Out of the woods there was comparatively little of the 

 snow left. Under cover of the trees it was still deep, but too 

 soft and heavy for the teams, so we kept along on the open 

 plains between the woods and the shore, and made fair 

 progress. 



The arrangement of our party was as follows: As guide, 

 an Indian named James Westasecot led the way some distance 

 ahead of the train. Next after him came a team of six big 

 Eskimo dogs, hitched two and two abreast to a long sled 

 carrying the big canoe, in which Michel was given a passage. 

 Following this team was another hauling the smaller canoe, 

 in which I was rolled up in my blankets. The third team 

 consisted of only four dogs and, in a carryall, hauled my 

 brother and some of the baggage ; and at the rear of the train 

 trotted another full team of six dogs with Louis, the sick 

 Iroquois, and the camp outfit. The rest of our men walked 

 behind or beside the various sleds, resting themselves by 

 jumping on when the travelling was easy, as it often was 

 when crossing level spaces or frozen ponds, of which latter 

 there were very many. 



The day was beautifully bright and pleasant for one travel- 

 ling as I was, but for the drivers and dogs it was much too 

 warm for comfort. In many places the higher ground was 

 bare, and progress consequently slow. 



About noon a halt was made for lunch, and during this 

 time the opinion was expressed by the drivers that we would 

 not be able to reach the Fort until the next day; but upon 

 being promised that if they would take us in without having 

 to spend another night in camp they should have whatever 

 remained of the supplies they had brought us, they were 

 induced to change their minds, and acting upon the new in- 

 spiration we were soon again on our way. In many places 



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