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38 T H R O U G H T H E M A C K E N Z I E B A S IN
So far it had been the rain and consequent bad tracking
which had delayed us; but still we were too weak- handed
to make headway without help, and it wa3 at this juncture
that the Police contingent stepped manfully into the breach,
and volunteered to track one of the boats to the lake. This
was no light matter for men unaccustomed to such beastly
toil and i n such abominable weather; but, having once put
their hands to the rope, they were not the men to back down.
W i t h unfaltering " go " they pulled on day after day, landi
n g their boat at its destination at last, having worked i n the
harness and at the sweeps, without relief, from the start
almost to the finish.
Meanwhile all enjoyed good health and spirits i n spite of
the weather. There were f a i r grounds for the belief that M r .
Ross, who had set out by t r a i l from Edmonton, would reach
the lake i n time to distribute to the congregated Indians
and half- breeds the Government rations stored there for that
purpose, and, therefore, our anxiety was not so great as it
would otherwise have been.
Our trackers being thus reinforced, the outlook was more
satisfactory, not so much i n increased speed as i n the certainty
of progress. The r a i n had ceased, and though the sky
was s t i l l lowering, the temperature was higher. Tents were
struck, and the boats got under way at once, taking chances
on the weather, which, instead of breaking up i n another
deluge, improved. Eight men were now put to each Hue,
Peokus, a remarkable old Blackfoot Indian, captured and
adopted in boyhood by the Crees, and who afterwards
attracted the attention of us a l l , being detailed to lead the
Police gang, who, raw and unused to the work, required an
experienced tracker at their head.
The country passed through hitherto was rolling, hilly,
and densely forested, but, alas, with prostrate trunks and
fire- blasted " rampikes," which ranged i n all directions in
desolate profusion. The timber was Banksian pine, spruce,
poplar and birch, much of i t merchantable, but not of large
size. It was pitiful to see so much wealth destroyed by
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| Title | Page 44 |
| OCR | 38 T H R O U G H T H E M A C K E N Z I E B A S IN So far it had been the rain and consequent bad tracking which had delayed us; but still we were too weak- handed to make headway without help, and it wa3 at this juncture that the Police contingent stepped manfully into the breach, and volunteered to track one of the boats to the lake. This was no light matter for men unaccustomed to such beastly toil and i n such abominable weather; but, having once put their hands to the rope, they were not the men to back down. W i t h unfaltering " go " they pulled on day after day, landi n g their boat at its destination at last, having worked i n the harness and at the sweeps, without relief, from the start almost to the finish. Meanwhile all enjoyed good health and spirits i n spite of the weather. There were f a i r grounds for the belief that M r . Ross, who had set out by t r a i l from Edmonton, would reach the lake i n time to distribute to the congregated Indians and half- breeds the Government rations stored there for that purpose, and, therefore, our anxiety was not so great as it would otherwise have been. Our trackers being thus reinforced, the outlook was more satisfactory, not so much i n increased speed as i n the certainty of progress. The r a i n had ceased, and though the sky was s t i l l lowering, the temperature was higher. Tents were struck, and the boats got under way at once, taking chances on the weather, which, instead of breaking up i n another deluge, improved. Eight men were now put to each Hue, Peokus, a remarkable old Blackfoot Indian, captured and adopted in boyhood by the Crees, and who afterwards attracted the attention of us a l l , being detailed to lead the Police gang, who, raw and unused to the work, required an experienced tracker at their head. The country passed through hitherto was rolling, hilly, and densely forested, but, alas, with prostrate trunks and fire- blasted " rampikes," which ranged i n all directions in desolate profusion. The timber was Banksian pine, spruce, poplar and birch, much of i t merchantable, but not of large size. It was pitiful to see so much wealth destroyed by |
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