o take. His former journeys up and down the Mackenzie had been
made in summer, and of course he had travelled by canoe, in company with
the traders and voyageurs. He only knew that to strike across the
country would be the shorter way. But "the shortest way is not always
the nearest," says the proverb; and although Lucien remembered this
prudent maxim, the others did not give it a thought. Before the end of
their journey they received a practical lesson of its wisdom--a lesson
they were not likely to forget. But they knew not what was before them,
and they started off in high spirits.

Their first three or four days' journeys were without any event worth
being chronicled. They travelled full twenty miles each day. The
Southerners had become quite skilful in the management of their
snow-shoes, and they skimmed along upon the icy crust at the rate of
three or four miles an hour. Marengo and his sledge gave them very
little trouble. There was full sixty pounds weight upon it; but to the
huge dog this was a mere bagatelle, and he pulled it after him without
any great strain. His harness was neatly made of moose-skin, and
consisted of a collar with a back strap and traces--the traces meeting
behind, where they were attached to the head of the sledge. No
head-gear was necessary, as Marengo needed not to be either led or
driven. The sledge consisted of two or three light planks of smooth
wood, laid alongside each other, and held together by transverse bands.
In front it turned up with a circular sweep, so as not to "plough" the
snow; and at the top of this curved part the traces were adjusted. The
load was, of course, carefully packed and tied, so that the overturning
of the vehicle did no damage whatever, and it could be easily righted
again. Marengo required no one to guide him, but followed quietly in
the tracks of the snow-shoes, and thus avoided the trees, rocks, and
other inequalities. If a rabbit or other creature started up, Marengo
knew better than to go galloping after it; he felt that he had a more
important duty to perform than to throw away his time upon
rabbit-hunting. Each night a spot was chosen for the camp by the side
of some lake or stream, where wood could be obtained for their fire.
Water was got by breaking a hole in the ice, and the little tent was
always set up in a sheltered situation.

Upon the fifth day after leaving the log-hut the woods began to grow
thinner and more straggling; an