62 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CARAT 
him than he was fond of. Various reasons were given 
why he must remain at this place; but after much par- 
_ leying, and the offer of liberal inducements, he promised 
to secure a companion canoeman, and follow our track 
in the morning. With this understanding we parted, 
and proceeded along the south shore until evening, 
when, finding an inviting camping-ground in the open 
jack-pine wood, we went ashore, while the cooks soon 
prepared supper, with us the principal meal of the day. 
So far our fare had been exceedingly good, for it had 
been the policy to dispose of luxuries as soon as possible, 
in order to reduce the weight of the loads on the port- 
ages. Our limited stock of canned fruits was, therefore, 
used with a free hand at first. 
June closed with a bright, clear and unusually calm 
day, which was also marked by the absence of mosquitos 
and black flies. Under these unusual circumstances, 
at noon-hour, an event transpired which was seldom 
repeated during the remaining part of our journey, viz., 
the taking of a bath. 
Just as lunch was ready we were again joined by 
Moberly and his companion, an old Indian named Bovia. 
We were glad, if not a little surprised, to see them, for 
we had a suspicion that the guide had no serious inten- 
tion of keeping his promise. During the afternoon, 
however, as before, his canoe lagged far behind, not so 
much because of his inability to keep up with us, as 
because of his serene indifference and laziness. The 
paddles used by him and his comrade were like spoons as 
compared with our broad blades, and the position of old 
Bovia, as he pulled with one elbow resting on the gun- 
wale of his canoe, was most amusing. By this way of 
