over--eager for the time when they may assume the
responsibility of manhood. Such a time comes earlier to the lads of
The Labrador than with us. In that stern land there is no idling and
there are no holidays, and every one, the lad as well as his father,
must always do his part, which is his best.

Fort Pelican, the nearest port at which the mail boat called, was
seventy miles eastward from The Jug. With the uncertainty of wind and
tide the boat journey to Fort Pelican usually consumed three days, and
with equal time required for return, the voyage could seldom be
accomplished in less than six days. Lem Horn and his family lived at
Horn's Bight, thirty miles from The Jug, and fifteen miles beyond, at
Caribou Arm, was Jerry Snook's cabin. Save an Eskimo settlement of
half a dozen huts near Fort Pelican and the families of Lem Horn and
Jerry Snook, the country lying between The Jug and Fort Pelican was
uninhabited. It was unlikely that evening would find the travellers in
the vicinity of either Horn's or Snook's cabins, and therefore it was
to be a camping trip, which was quite to the liking of the boys.

The boys washed the old fishing boat and packed the equipment and
provisions for the voyage. Margaret baked three big loaves of white
bread, and as a special treat a loaf of plum bread. The remaining
provisions consisted of tea, a bottle of molasses for sweetening,
flour, baking-powder, fat salt pork, lard, margarine, salt and pepper.
The equipment included a frying-pan, a basin for mixing dough, a tin
kettle for tea, a larger kettle to be used in cooking, one large
cooking spoon, four teaspoons and some tin plates. Each of the boys as
well as Doctor Joe was provided with a sheath knife carried on the
belt. The sheath knife serves the professional hunter as a cooking
knife, as well as for eating and general purposes.

For camping use there was a cotton wedge tent, a small sheet-iron tent
stove, three camp axes, some candles and matches, a file for
sharpening the axes and a sleeping-bag for each. Men in that land do
not travel without arms, and it was decided that David should take a
carbine and Andy and Doctor Joe each a double-barrel shotgun, for
there might be an opportunity to shoot a fat goose or duck.

Thomas's big boat had two light masts rigged with leg-o'-mutton sails.
Just forward of the foremast David and Andy placed some flat stones,
and covering them with two or three inches of gravel set the tent
stove