PREFACE TO ELEVENTH EDITION



As the eleventh edition of this book goes to press, the opportunity
is given for a brief prefatory description of a pilgrimage to
Hubbard's death-place in the Labrador Wilderness from which I have
just returned.

For many years it had been my wish to re-visit the scene of those
tragic experiences, and to permanently and appropriately mark the
spot where Hubbard so heroically gave up his life a decade ago.
Judge William J. Malone, of Bristol, Connecticut, one of the many
men who have received inspiration from Hubbard's noble example, was
my companion, and at Northwest River we were joined by Gilbert
Blake, who was a member of the party of four trappers who rescued
me in 1903. We carried with us a beautiful bronze tablet, which
was designed to be placed upon the boulder before which Hubbard's
tent was pitched when he died. Wrapped with the tablet was a
little silk flag and Hubbard's college pennant, lovingly
contributed by his sister, Mrs. Arthur C. Williams, of Detroit,
Michigan. These were to be draped upon the tablet when erected and
left with it in the wilderness. Our plan was to ascend and explore
the lower Beaver River to the point where Hubbard discovered it,
and where, in 1903, we abandoned our canoe to re-cross to the Susan
River Valley a few days before his death. Here it was our
expectation to follow the old Hubbard portage trail to Goose Creek
and thence down Goose Creek to the Susan River.

Of our journey up the Beaver River suffice it to say that we met