t was that
fallen trees were very numerous. Some of them were so tangled together
that it was at times easier to cut through than make the long detour to
get around them. Knowing this, the guide carried with him an axe
instead of a gun.

An old, experienced, powerful train of dogs went first. The sagacious
leader never swerved from the tracks of the guide. No matter how
winding or difficult the trail, he never wandered from it. Sometimes he
could see the guide straight ahead, while the path seemed to veer at
right angles. While the sight of the guide ahead might stimulate him to
greater effort and speed, still he knew his duty was to keep in the
well-defined track. A straight cut to the guide might run him into a
dangerous gully or over a steep precipice. So, knowing his duty,
perhaps taught it by bitter experience--and dogs have long memories--he
tried his best in his doglike way to do his duty.

Mr Ross's train followed next. They were jet-black in colour, and were
large, magnificent dogs. They were so trained that they as readily
responded to his calls as a good horse does to the pulling of the reins.

Then following came the boys with their three trains. Frank, having the
largest dogs, had the lead. Sam came next, and then Alec with the
lightest but by far the fleetest train in the whole party. Behind was
another sled of Mr Ross's with more supplies, and then, bringing up the
rear, was a sled belonging to the two Indians who owned the beaver
house. While one of them drove the train, the other, on account of the
many fallen trees in the way that had to be cut out, was on ahead with
Memotas, the guide.

As they thus set off they made quite a display. The boys were simply
wild with the excitement of the hour. They looked very picturesque in
their handsome outfits. Their deerskin suits, over the warmest of
flannel underclothing, were very beautiful, as they were made under Mrs
Ross's direction by the most clever Indian women. They were beautifully
adorned with bead and silkwork and trimmed with fur. Their overcoats,
as before stated, were made of the heavy white blankets of the Hudson
Bay Company. These blankets are very warm and firm, as they are
especially made for that cold country. The caps and mittens were of the
finest fur. Their moccasins were extra large, to allow for the
additional wrapping of duffel required over the warm woollen hose. They
also had warm leggings of strouds, beautifu