Flies about gone. Proverb - On a wet day build a
big fire.
Wednesday, August 26th. - Temp. at 5 A.M. 40 degrees. Bright and
clear save for one shower in P.M. Started happy. Shot goose with
pistol after long chase. Goose would dive repeatedly. Shot
several times at rather long range. Paddled 20 to 25 miles on big
lake running east and west. No outlet west. Came back blue and
discouraged. Passed our camp of last night to climb a mountain on
N.E. side. Caught very pretty 2-lb. pike trolling. Wallace and I
got supper. George went to climb mountain, found river this side
(west) of mountain, running into this lake from N.W. What is it?
Low's Northwest River? Can't see what else. Glad again. Very
hopeful. Sick and very weak. Diarrhoea. Pea meal and venison and
goose liquor. Better. Bright northern lights.
Thursday, August 27th. - Bright and lightly clouded by spells. No
rain. Northwest River panned out only a little stream. N.G.
Guess we must portage. Desperate. Late in season and no way to
Michikamau. One more try for inlet, and then a long nasty portage
for the big lake. See little hope now of getting out before
winter. Must live off country and take big chances. Camping near
where we camped last night. Going up Northwest River and hunting
outlets some more, took our time. Ran across geese this A.M. I
went ashore and George and Wallace chased them close by. Shot
leader with rifle. Then two young ones head close in shore. I
killed one with pistol and two others started to flop away on top
of water. Missed one with pistol, and killed other. While
exploring a bay to N.W., we landed to climb ridge. George found
three partridges. I shot one, wounded another, pistol. Camped to-
night cheerful but desperate. All firm for progress to Michikamau.
All willing to try a return in winter. Discussed it to-night from
all sides. Must get a good place for fish and caribou and then
freeze up, make snowshoes and toboggans and moccasins and go. Late
home and they will worry. Hungry for bread, pork and sugar. How I
like to think at night of what I'll eat, when I get home and what a
quiet, restful time I'll have. Flies bad by spells to-day.
Friday, August 28th. - Temp. 6 A.M. 56 degrees. Back to northwest
end of lake where bay runs north. Portaged to small shoal lakes
and camped on north side, ready to start in A.M. Fixed moccasins
in preparation for long portage. Made observation of sun and moon
to-night, hoping to get longitude. All very tired, but feel better
now. No bread today. No sugar. Don't miss latter much, but
hungry for bread. Good weather. Shower or two. Writing by camp
fire.
Saturday, August 29th. - Temp. 6 A.M. 38 degrees.
