rection from
which the wind really comes. With it apparently striking you in the
face, you turn your back to it, and are amazed at finding that it still
faces you. Once, when on Lake Winnipeg, we saw one coming down upon us.
Its appearance was that of a dense fog blowing in from the sea. Very
few indeed are they who can steer their course correctly in a blizzard
storm. Most people, when so unfortunate as to be caught in one, soon
get bewildered, and almost blinded by the fine, dry, hard particles of
snow which so pitilessly beat upon them, filling eyes, nose, and even
ears and mouth, if at all exposed.

Once, when crossing Lake Winnipeg, to visit some wild Indians, whom we
found on our arrival in the midst of the hideous ceremonies of a dog
feast, I got caught in a terrible storm. My men had gone on ahead with
all the dogs, to have dinner ready in the camp on the distant shore,
leaving me miles behind, tramping along on snow-shoes. Down from the
north, with terrific fury, came the gale. I tramped on as rapidly as
possible, until I got bewildered. Then I took off one of my snow-shoes,
and, fastening it in a hole cut in the ice, I got ready to tramp in a
small circle around it to keep from freezing to death, when fortunately
I heard the welcome whooping of my Indians, who, seeing my danger, had
quickly turned round, and risking their own lives for mine, for they
could have reached the woods and shelter, aided by the dogs, had
fortunately reached me. There we stopped for hours, until the blizzard
had spent its fury, and then on we went.

I had a remarkable experience in a blizzard, which I will more fully
describe, as our escape was under Providence so much indebted to my
wonderful dog Jack.

I had started on one of my long winter trips to visit the few little
bands of Indians who were struggling for an existence on the Eastern
coast of Lake Winnipeg, and who were always glad to welcome the
Missionary, and to hear from him of the love of the Great Spirit, and of
His Son Jesus Christ. Their country is very wild and rough, very
different from the beautiful prairie regions of the North-West. To keep
down expenses, which in those Northern Missions are very heavy, I had
started out on this long trip with only this young Indian lad as my
companion. But as he was good and true, I thought we could succeed,
since I had been several years in the country, and had faced many a
wintry storm, and slept many nights in the