CHIPPEIWVAN, LO BLACK, LAKE. 59 
its meaning. It was Mr. Reed with his party return- 
ing from Fort Fond du Lac (now a small winter post 
only) to Chippewyan with the last winter’s trade. We 
had been told we would likely meet him on the lake, 
and here he came before the breeze in his big York 
boat. As he approached and sighted us he made in to 
where we were, and ran his boat on the sand beach. 
Besides Mr. Reed, the young » 
trader, there were with him two 
French priests returning from 
their season’s labor among the 
Indians. One of them, now an 
old man, had spent the greater 
part of his life in mission work 
in this district, and was about 
laying down his commission, to 
be succeeded by his younger 
companion. As it was nearly 
noon, our men were instructed, 
though it was raining heavily, 
to kindle a fire and prepare 
lunch for the party. Beneath 
some thick fir-trees a _ shelter 
; ’ A TYPICAL NORTHLAND 
was found, and the tea being FATHER. 
made and lunch laid out on 
the ground, we all seated ourselves about, and spent 
a delightful half-hour together. But to us every hour 
was precious, and without further delay we wished each 
other God-speed, and continued our courses. By night- 
fall the log-reading showed our day’s travel to be thirty- 
two knots, equivalent to about thirty-seven miles. So 
far we had been fortunate in finding comfortable camp- 
