ACEOSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA 



lead, but our own men managed to keep the track, and 

 Charlie hobbled along behind. 



During the evening of the 6th and the morning of the 7th 

 of December we crossed a succession of thirteen small lakes 

 and some open plains, but the afternoon of the latter day 

 saw a marked change in the character of the country. With 

 the exception of two or three isolated patches, we had seen 

 nothing in the shape of timber of any value since leaving 

 York — indeed, I might say since leaving Churchill, or even 

 a thousand miles or so farther back on the road. But now 

 we had reached a heavy forest of white spruce, jack-pine, 

 poplar and birch trees, and the change was a pleasing one. 



For a distance of six or eight miles we trudged through 

 this heavy forest, and then, just at nightfall, reached the 

 shore of Back Lake, really an extension of Oxford Lake. 

 One of my brother's feet had become so sore during the day 

 that he had been obliged to walk with only one snowshoe. 

 On this account we had fallen several miles behind the 

 leaders of the party, and when we arrived at the shore of the 

 lake above described, nothing could we see of the outfit, and 

 both because of darkness and the hard surface of the snow, 

 it was with great difficulty we were able to follow the track. 

 It led away across the lake, and for a time we managed to 

 follow it. While doing so we carefully noted its bearing, but 

 soon the faint tracks could no longer be followed, for the 

 mght was becoming dark. We feared to lose them, as there 

 might be a change in their, course and then our bearing 

 would not lead us aright.' For a time, upon hands and 

 knees, we tried tp follow the trail, but could not keep upon 

 it continuously. 



Keeping as straight a course as possible, we pressed on 

 through the darkness toward the distant shore, the dark out- 

 line of which could just be discerned against the lighter sky. 

 At length we reached the shore, when, after passing through 

 Si narrow strip of woods, to our joy there suddenly flashed 



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