218 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCFICS OF CANAD 
shore to shore. Being anxious to get away as early 
as possible, arrangements were made with the Com- 
pany’s agent for a start for York Factory on Mon- 
day morning. The assistance of one dog-team, with 
driver and guide, was with some difficulty secured, but 
three other teams were to accompany us a great part of 
the way, viz. to Stony River, where in the month of 
September the Company’s servants had been obliged to 
abandona boat- 
load of supplies 
because of se- 
vere weather, 
the month in 
which we had 
been canoeing 
onthe coast five 
hundred miles 
farther north. 
A bill of ne- 
ICE-BLOCK GROUNDED AT LOW TIDE. cessary sup- 
plies was pre- 
pared, and these were weighed out and put into sacks. 
Men and teams were sent off to obtain a supply of dog- 
meat—an indispensable commodity—from a shanty on 
the south side of the river. When they reached the 
place they found it in possession of five polar bears— 
three large ones and two cubs. Along with the dog- 
meat were brought back the skins of one old bear and 
the two cubs. During Sunday the thermometer fell to 
21° below zero, making the river-ice strong and _per- 
fectly safe. 
