244 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANAD 
beneath the shelter of the evergreens. Beyond this our 
course led through the woods to the north of the river, 
and by many winding ways we journeyed on. . : 
On the morning of the third day the assisting team 
from York, leaving its load with us, returned to the 
Factory. A readjustment of loads was then made, and 
with the two remaining teams we pushed on, though 
now more slowly, for Oxford House. 
At about noon on the Ist of December we were 
pleased to meet Mr. Mowat, returning with the long- 
looked for mail and party, all safe. The delay in 
the arrival of the mail had been caused by one of the 
Indians becoming ill soon after leaving Norway House, 
and having to return to that post. After a brief halt, 
each party now having the advantage of the other's 
track, we started on, pursuing opposite ways, they to 
their solitary home on the ice-bound coast of Hudson 
Bay, and we towards ours in the more genial south. — 
At this time the temperature remained pretty steady 
at about 25 degrees below zero, but with the exertion of 
the march during the day, and the shelter of blankets 
and the warmth of the camp-fire at night, we managed 
to keep fairly comfortable. 
About sixteen miles beyond a large stream known as 
Fox River we came upon an ancient track. This in 
earlier days had been travelled by oxen and Red River 
carts, and over it hundreds of tons of freight had annu- 
ally been hauled ; but now it was so grown up with 
trees that it often required the skill of the guide to keep 
it. The track led directly to Oxford, so that from this 
forward it was to be our road. 
