- 246 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANAD 
During the evening of the 6th and the morning of 
the 7th of December we crossed a succession of thir- 
teen small lakes and some flat open plains, but the 
afternoon of the latter day saw a marked change 
in the character of the country. With the exception 
of two or three isolated patches, we had seen nothing 
in the shape of timber of any value since leaving York 
—aindeed, I might say since leaving Churchill, or even a 
thousand miles or so farther back on the road. But 
now we had reached a heavy forest of white spruce, 
jack-pine, poplar and birch trees, and the change was a 
pleasing one. 
For a distance of six or eight miles we trudged 
through this heavy forest, and then, just at night-fall, 
reached the shore of Back Lake, really an extension of 
Oxford Lake. One of my brother’s feet had become so 
sore during the day that he had been obliged to walk 
with only one showshoe. . On this account we had 
fallen several miles behind the leaders of the party, and 
when we arrived at the shore of the lake above de- 
scribed, nothing could we see of the outfit, and both 
because of darkness and the hard surface of the snow, it 
was with great difficulty we were able to follow the track. 
It led away across the lake, and for a time we managed 
to follow it. While doing so we carefully noted its 
bearing, but soon the faint tracks could no longer be 
followed, for the night was becoming dark. We feared 
to lose them, as there might be a change in their course 
and then our bearing would not lead us aright. For 
a time, upon hands and knees, we tried to follow the 
trail, but could not keep upon it continuously. 
