LIFE OK DEATH? 



the low, flat plains we traversed were overgrown by clumps 

 of swamp willow, and around these many large flocks of 

 ptarmigan were seen. About three o'clock in the afternoon 

 we reached Grassy Island, at the foot of Button's Bay, 

 and two hours later gained the base of a long range of rocky 

 hills. "We skirted the foot of these for some time, until we 

 reached a low place in the ridge, where, dismounting to 

 lighten the loads, we turned up the steep pass, and after a 

 short climb to the crest found ourselves within full view of 

 Fort Churchill. It was not an imposing place, but even 

 though consisting of only four or five old frame buildings, 

 the sight to us was one of deep satisfaction. For a moment 

 we paused on the summit of the ridge, then at the crack of 

 the driver's whip the teams bounded forward, galloped down 

 the steep slope, sped across the plains below, and in a few 

 minutes landed us at the house of the Hudson's Bay Com- 

 pany's trader. Here, after extricating ourselves from the 

 various conveyances, we were presently received by a tall 

 young Scotchman, who announced himself as ]\Ir. Matheson, 

 Master of the Fort. 



CAMP SCENE ON WEST SHORE, HUDSON BAY. 



13 193 



