ON SNOWSHOBS AND DOG-SLEDS 



Matheson kindly assisted us out of the difficulty by offering 

 to take the crippled Indian on one of his sleds. Thus 

 arrangements were completed, and, with nine days' pro- 

 visions, we bade our kind friends farewell, and, early on the 

 morning of the date mentioned, marched from the fort in 

 single file, forming into a long serpentine train, winding our 

 way to the southward across the broad frozen river. As we 

 departed, farewell salutes were waved from the doorway of 

 the little mission-house, and we felt that with them were 

 wafted the most sincere and hearty good wishes. 



At the outset, though we had greatly improved physically 

 during the stay at Churchill, we were still far from being 

 strong, and it was thought best for a time not to attempt 

 forced marches. The wisdom of this was clearly proven 

 before the first day's tramp was ended. That afternoon one 

 of my knees gave out, and soon became so badly crippled 

 that every step caused me the most excruciating pain, and 

 it was with the greatest effort I managed to hobble along 

 after the train until evening. We travelled about twenty- 

 one miles during the day, on an easterly course, across open 

 plains and snow-covered lakes. There was little timber on 

 the route until we reached the Eastern Woods, where it was 

 decided to camp. Upon the open plains we found the snow 

 hard and in good condition for travelling, so that the teams 

 trotted along easily with their heavy loads. 



Snowshoe travel was also comparatively easy for those 

 whose legs were sound, but the moment we entered the woods 

 down sank shoes and dogs into the soft, light snow. In soft 

 snow it is necessary for the guide or track-breaker to wear 

 very large shoes, that he may not sink too deeply, but those 

 who follow in his trail get along with the more ordinary size. 

 The snowshoes used by Jimmie, the guide, were about five 

 feet long and eighteen inches wide, whereas those used by the 

 rest of us varied from three to three and a half feet in length 

 and from ten to twelve inches in breadth. The guide's large 



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