d say; his head often
hanging over one side of the boat, and his tail over the other side.
The only partition there was between him and us was a single board a few
inches wide. Such close proximity to this animal for fourteen days was
not very agreeable; but as it could not be helped it had to be endured.

At times, during the first few days, the ox made some desperate efforts
to break loose; and it seemed as though he would either smash our boat
to pieces or upset it; but, finding his efforts unsuccessful, he
gracefully accepted the situation, and behaved himself admirably. When
storms arose he quietly lay down, and served as so much ballast to
steady the boat. "Tom," the guide, kept him well supplied with food
from the rich nutritious grasses which grew abundantly along the shore
at our different camping-places.

Winnipeg is considered one of the stormiest lakes on the American
Continent. It is about three hundred miles long, and varies from eighty
to but a few miles in width. It is indented with innumerable bays, and
is dangerous to navigators, on account of its many shoals and hidden
rocks. _Winnipeg_, or _Wenipak_, as some Indians pronounce it, means
"the sea," and _Keche Wenipak_ means "the ocean."

The trip across Lake Winnipeg was one that at the present day would be
considered a great hardship, taking into consideration the style of the
boat and the way we travelled.

Our method of procedure was about as follows. We were aroused very
early in the morning by the guide's cry of _Koos koos kwa_! "Wake up!"
Everybody was expected to obey promptly, as there was always a good deal
of rivalry between the boats as to which could get away first. A hasty
breakfast was prepared on the rocks; after which a morning hymn was
sung, and an earnest prayer was offered up to Him Who holds the winds
and waves under His control.

Then "All aboard" was the cry, and soon tents, kettles, axes, and all
the other things were hurriedly gathered up and placed on board. If the
wind was favourable, the mast was put up, the sail hoisted, and we were
soon rapidly speeding on our way. If the oars had to be used, there was
not half the alacrity displayed by the poor fellows, who well knew how
wearisome their task would be. When we had a favourable wind, we
generally dined as well as we could in the boat, to save time, as the
rowers well knew how much more pleasant it was to glide along with the
favouring breeze than to be oblig