THROUGH THE FOEEST AND HOME AGAIN 



little delay as possible preparations were made for departure. 

 Two dogs from our Churchill team were purchased out- 

 right from Jinmiie, who happened to be the owner of them, 

 and a third having been secured from Morrison, the Indian, 

 we only required one more to make up a fair team, and this 

 was procured from the Doctor. Another team was hired 

 from the Company, and it was at first thought, with the aid 

 of these two, we might comfortably make the twelve days'' 

 trip to Oxford House. But when supply bills were made 

 out it was found that, with the assistance of only two teams 

 for so long a trip, each man would have to haul a heavily- 

 loaded toboggan. The Doctor therefore, with some difficulty, 

 raised a third team to accompany us for two days on the 

 journey. 



The next necessary preparation was the procuring of a 

 guide and drivers for the teams. As the mail-carriers and 

 two other Indians, Mr. Mowat's companions, had already 

 gone to Oxford House, few men were left at the Fort who 

 knew the route; but happily a man was found who turned 

 out to be another brother of our guide from Churchill. He 

 was a very dark Indian, younger than Jimmie, and of much 

 less noble appearance, and was known by the name of Charlie. 

 He was said to be well fitted for the purpose, and we felt that 

 a brother of our guide could not be a very poor man. Our 

 party, including Arthur Omen, the driver from Churchill, 

 who had determined to accompany us out of the country, 

 was now complete. Twelve days' rations, consisting of 

 bacon, flour, sugar and tea, were served out to each man, 

 with a warning to make them last through the trip or suffer 

 the consequences. The flour was then baked up into the 

 more convenient form of cakes. Dog-fish was also provided, 

 and all being loaded upon the three sleds and two tobog- 

 gans, the second stage of our sledding journey was begun on 

 Tuesday morning, the 28th of November. The dog-sleds 

 were not the same as those we had used in traversing the 



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