200 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OR. CARA 
shore. At this rate we would be a long time in reach- 
ing Churchill. We had now been more than three 
weeks on the coast, and were still at least two hundred 
and fifty miles from our haven. 
Some different mode of travel must be adopted or 
we should never get in. The shore ice was forming 
rapidly and might now block us at any time. We had 
not more than enough meat for another day or two, and 
the game had all left the country. What was to be 
done? My brother and I talked the matter over during 
the night. The plan suggested itself of abandoning 
everything but rifles and blankets, and starting down 
the shore on foot. But then, how could the numerous 
large rivers, which were still open, be crossed? Again, 
to this plan there was the objection that having been 
in canoes all summer, our party, though still strong 
enough to paddle, was in very poor condition to walk. 
The only other feasible plan was then suggested. It 
was to abandon dunnage, instruments, rock collection, 
etc., everything except note-books, photographs, plant 
collection, rifles, blankets, and two small tents, and with 
these to start out in only two lght canoes, and with 
the increased force in them to travel for our lives. | 
This plan was decided on, and in the morning the 
men were set to work to cache all our stuff excepting 
the articles above mentioned. This occupied the whole 
morning, and to us it was a sad and lonely task, but as: 
it seemed to be the only way by which we might hope 
to escape from this dreary ice-bound coast, it was felt 
to be a necessary one. As secure a cache as we could 
build was made, and then with heavy hearts we turned 
our steps toward the shore. 
