r
organization, although Colonel Osborne Smith, as already stated, was
Commissioner for the purpose of swearing in the men.

And this younger French was evidently a "chip of the old block," because
he does not contemplate failure. In January, 1917, he wrote: "I hope to
make a successful trip, commencing in March next," but he knows it will
be a fight against the elements and against want, for he adds: "my only
difficulty will be the inevitable dog-feed question, which rises at
every point where a man moves in this country." He will have to depend
on game and game is always uncertain.

French was fortunate in his party having with him Sergt.-Major T. B.
Caulkin (later Inspector), a most reliable and persevering man who knew
the Eskimo country, and he had also police natives, Joe and "Bye and
Bye," with two other natives to assist. They were absent from their base
at Baker Lake about ten months of almost incessant travel amongst the
Eskimo, to whom on all occasions of meeting French explained the law of
the country in relation to human life and property. In that regard it
was a kind of missionary tour and did lasting good.

Getting into contact with the Eskimo tribe at Bathurst Inlet, French
secured many statutory declarations which established beyond all doubt
that two Eskimos who were known to be quiet and inoffensive men, had
been goaded by ill-treatment into turning on their tormentors and
putting an end to them. French had fulfilled his mission and did not
consider it necessary to arrest these men. But the patrol had impressed
upon these "ends of the earth" the lessons desired.

French's return was attended by great hardship. Game was scarce and
wild. So food for both men and dogs ran out again and again. Dogs were
shot as they became exhausted and fed to the other dogs. Deerskins were
chopped up and made into soup. Fuel oil became exhausted and sleds had
to be burned. As one of the party, French himself said, "It looked like
their last patrol," but they struck some deer and got food, which toned
them and their dogs up so that "they made the grade." But it was a close
call and every member of the party deserved the eulogy expressed by
French in which all who know the history include as chief the Inspector
himself. He had done good service throughout the years, but the Bathurst
Inlet patrol will always remain as an outstanding mark to his credit.

Similarly will the Bear Lake patrol go to the credit of Inspector C