248. ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANZD 
reached our destination considered ourselves fortunate 
that we escaped without having to haul the dogs. 
At Norway House the difficulties of the journey, so 
far as my brother and I were concerned, were practi- 
cally ended. Enough strong, capable dogs were here 
secured to admit of our travelling in carry-alls for the 
remaining four hundred miles still separating us from 
West Selkirk, the northern terminus of the railway ; 
but of course the Indians had to stick to their snow- 
shoes. It was here decided to divide our party, and 
send the three western men home, assisted by the team 
of Eskimo dogs which had accompanied us the whole 
six hundred miles from Churchill. The valley of the 
Saskatchewan River would be their most direct course, 
in taking which route they would reach their several 
homes by travelling about the same distance as our- 
selves. Arthur Omen, the driver from Churchill, chose 
to go up the Saskatchewan with the western men, so 
that of the original party there only remained the two 
Iroquois, Pierre and Louis, to accompany my brother 
and myself. With the least possible delay four good 
dog-teams, as many drivers, and a guide were procured 
from Mr. J. K. Macdonald, the Hudson’s Bay Company’s 
Factor, who showed us much kindness, and two days 
before Christmas the last and longest division of our 
journey was begun. 
My brother and I were now warmly rolled up in robes 
and blankets and lying in our carry-alls. Supplies and 
baggage were all loaded upon the two remaining sleds, 
and with a driver trotting along beside or behind each 
