208 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANAD 
up in my blankets. The third team consisted of only 
four dogs and, in a carryall, hauled my brother and some 
of the baggage; and at the rear of the train trotted 
another full team of six dogs with Louis, the sick 
Iroquois, and the camp outfit. The rest of our men 
walked behind or beside the various sleds, resting them- 
selves by jumping on when the travelling was easy, as 
it often was when crossing level plains or frozen ‘Ponds 
—of which latter there were very many. 
The day was beautifully bright and pleasant for one 
travelling as I was, but for the drivers and dogs it was 
much too warm for comfort. In many places the higher 
eround was bare, and progress consequently slow. 
About noon a halt was made for lunch, and during 
this time the opinion was expressed by the drivers that 
we would not be ab‘e to reach the Fort until the next 
day; but upon being promised that if they would take 
us in without having to spend another night in camp 
they should have whatever remained of the supples 
they had brought us, they were induced to change their 
minds, and acting upon the new inspiration we were 
soon again on our way. In many places the low flat 
plains we traversed were overgrown by clumps of swamp 
willow, and around these many large flocks of ptarmi- 
gan were seen. About three o'clock in the afternoon we 
reached Grassy Island, at the bottom of Button’s Bay, 
and two hours later gained the base of a long range of 
rocky hills. We skirted the foot of these for some time, 
until we reached a low place in the ridge, where, dis- 
mounting to lighten the loads, we turned up the steep 
pass, and after a short climb to the crest found our- 
selves within full view of Fort Churchill. It was not 
