n. This,
however, I found to be an utter impossibility. A sharp turn among the
rocky ridges, or a plunge into the dense dark forest, and they were gone
from my vision. Then my perplexities began. If, as some times
happened, the trail was through mud, or reeds and rushes I could
generally follow them in it; but, as more frequently happened, the trail
was over rocky ridges, or through dense forests, sometimes for miles,
and I was often completely bewildered and lost.

The trouble at first was, that being too perplexed, or too ignorant of
what was the safer course to pursue, I would quicken my pace and hurry
on--somewhere. On and on I would stumble under my heavy awkward load
until the sweat fell like rain from my brow and my back ached. More
than once when thus hurrying I have been startled by some savage beast,
that with a snort or a growl, dashed away in front of me. This only
added speed to my footsteps, and frightened now I would hurry on, until
utterly worn-out and exhausted I threw off my heavy burdens and sank
down on the nearest rock or log, tired out. Perhaps in my ignorance and
perversity I had wandered far away, even in an opposite direction from
that which I should have taken.

Fortunate was it for me that I had such men for my comrades. I knew
their worth and loyalty, as well as their ability quickly to find me.
As soon as they had safely reached the end of the portage they would be
on the alert for my arrival. If I delayed beyond what they thought to
be sufficient time they would set off on the back trail looking for me.
With that unerring instinct which so many of them possess in woodcraft,
and which to me always seemed perfectly marvellous, they soon found
where I had wandered from the trail. From this point they had not the
slightest difficulty in following and finding me. Without any chiding,
but with perhaps a pitying look and a quiet utterance that sounded like
"Good missionary, but him lost the trail," they would quickly pick up my
burdens, and safely guide me to our waiting canoe. All I had to carry
was perhaps the Book which I had with me, the reading of which, enabled
me profitably to pass the hours that often elapsed ere my faithful men
found me.

We lived on just what we could shoot, as it was impossible to carry
additional supplies in a birch canoe. Hunter's luck varies considerably
even in a land of game, and we at least had variety in our bill of fare.
Black bears being still