n on hands and knees and growled for his special
benefit. He was evidently not to be won by any such foolishness.

He was roused to an exhibition of slight interest by the tinkling music
of Musky's bells when the dogs were harnessed; and when everything being
ready for a start, Phil lifted him on the foremost sledge, and tucked
him into a spare sleeping-bag that was securely lashed to it, he
murmured: "Mamma, Nel-te go mamma."

The loads having been redistributed to provide for the accommodation of
the young passenger, this foremost sledge bore besides Nel-te only the
Forty-Mile mail, the sleeping equipment of the party, and their extra
fur clothing, the _chynik_, in which was stored the small quantity of
tea still remaining, what was left of the pemmican, and an axe. As with
its load it did not weigh over two hundred pounds, its team was reduced
to three dogs, Musky, Luvtuk, and big Amook. Serge still drove seven
dogs, and his sledge bore the entire camp equipment and stock of
provisions, except the recently acquired moose meat. This was loaded on
the last sledge, which was drawn by five dogs, and driven by Jalap
Coombs according to his own peculiar fashion.

As soon as the sledges were in motion, and Nel-te conceived the idea
that he was going home his spirits revived to such an extent that he
chirruped cheerfully to the dogs, and even smiled occasionally at Phil,
who strode alongside.

They crossed Fox Lake, passed up the stream that connected it with
Indian Trail Lake, and finally went into camp on the edge of the forest
at the head of the latter earlier than usual, because they could not see
their way to the making of any further progress. Although they felt
certain that there must be some stream flowing into the lake by which
they could leave it, they could discover no sign of its opening. So they
made camp, and leaving Jalap Coombs to care for it Phil and Serge
departed in opposite directions to scan every foot of the shore in
search of a place of exit.

On reaching this camping-place Nel-te looked about him inquiringly, and
with evident disappointment, but he said nothing, and only gazed
wistfully after the two lads when they set forth on their search. For a
time he hung about the camp-fire watching Jalap Coombs, who was too
busily engaged in cooking supper and preparing for the night to pay much
attention to him. At length the little chap strolled over to the
sledges, and engaged in a romp with the three d