before, when his heroic, but unsuccessful, efforts to save Mr.
Hubbard's life had brought him to Donald Blake's house. Through
the courtesy of M. Duclos, in whose service he was employed at the
time of my arrival, he was released that he might go with me. The
men were splendid, capable-looking fellows, with an air of quiet
dignity and self-possession about them, which comes from conscious
ability and character. Gilbert was a bright-faced, merry-hearted
boy, with a reputation for being a willing worker, which he fully
lived up to on the journey. All seemed thoroughly to enjoy the
prospect of the trip, and their assurance greatly added to my ease
of mind.

A deeper touch of anxiety was added for me by information obtained
at Rigolette to the effect that the Hudson's Bay Company's steamer,
_Pelican_, my only means of return to civilisation before the
closing in of winter, would be at the post at Ungava, my
destination, the last week in August. That left us two months to
make the journey, which, at the shortest, would carry us across 550
miles of Labrador wilderness. It seemed a great deal to expect,
but the men were confident and only eager to be started.

The task of unpacking, rearranging, and completing my outfit was
not accomplished when night came. A number of the things I had
counted on procuring at the posts were not to be had--the stores
being almost empty of supplies. However, M. Duclos and Mr. Cotter
of the Hudson's Bay Company cheerfully raided their own domiciles
to supply my lack; substitutes were improvised, and shortly after
noon on Tuesday the outfit was completed and loaded into the
canoes. To my great satisfaction they were found to carry the load
easily, riding well out of the water.