is likely we shall find them camping on the big lake--either
Mountaineers or Nascaupee--and if we get to them they'll surely help
us."

"Yes," answered Hubbard, "if we get to them they'll help us; but these
miserable westerly and northwesterly gales may keep us on these waters
indefinitely, or even on the shore of Michikamau at a spot where we may
not be able to launch our canoe or reach the Indians for days, and that
would be fatal. The caribou migration is surely begun, and perhaps is
over already, and there's no use in going ahead."

I saw his point and acquiesced. "I suppose it's best to turn back as
soon as the wind will let us," I said; "for it's likely to subside only
for a few hours at a time at this season, and perhaps if we don't get
out when we can, we may never get out at all. But what does George
say?" I asked, turning to our plucky companion.

"Oh," said he, "I'd like to turn back, and I think it's safest; but I'm
goin' to stick to you fellus, and I'm goin' where you go."

"Well," said Hubbard, "what's the vote?--shall we turn back or go on?"

"Turn back," said I.

"Very well, then" he replied quietly; "that's settled."

The decision reached, George's face brightened perceptibly, and I must
confess we all felt better; a great burden seemed to have been lifted
from our shoulders. It had required courage for Hubbard to acknowledge
himself defeated in his purpose, but the acknowledgment once made, we
thought of only one thing--how to reach home most quickly. Hubbard was
now satisfied that the record of our adventures would make a "bully
story," even without the material he had hoped to gather on the George,
and his mind being easy on that point, he discussed with animation
plans for the homeward trip.

"We'll have to catch some fish here," he said, "to take us over the
long portage to Lake Disappointment. We ought to be able to dry a
good bit of namaycush, and on the way we'll probably have a good catch
of trout at the long lake [Lake Mary], and another good catch where I
used the tamarack pole. And then when we get to Lake Disappointment we
ought to get more namaycush."

"Yes," said I; "and the berries should help us some."

"What do you think the chances of getting caribou are?" Hubbard asked
George.

"We saw some comin' up," replied George, "and there ought to be more
now; I guess we'll find 'em."

"If we kill some caribou," continued Hubbard, "I think we'd better turn
to and build a