IT being a bright, cold, frosty morning in the latter part of October,
the Indians all off to their hunting grounds and nothing much doing
around the post, I thought that I would take a day off and go and put
down some marten and fisher traps.
I got away about 7 a.m. and after paddling about six miles I arrived
at the end of the lake and took to the bush. Heading in a northerly
direction I trudged along, placing snares for fur at various likely
looking places, and so interested was I in my work that I did not
notice that the day was fast slipping by and night approaching.
It must have been late in the afternoon when I startled a flock of
partridges which got away before I could get a shot at them. After
following the direction in which they had gone for some distance and
failing to locate them, I thought, therefore, that I would hit the
trail for home, but after walking for some time I realized that I was
lost.
In the meantime, the wind was getting up and low, angry clouds were
scudding across the sky, which foretold, as a sailor would say, "a
dirty night." Not expecting to be so long away, I had not brought
provisions with me, so was beginning to feel hungry.
The sun had long since disappeared and the night was coming on, so I
thought it best to look for a good camping place. I luckily came across
a spot with any amount of dry and green wood, so started to make things
comfortable for the night. I first of all cut down some green trees and
with the branches made a shelter. Then I cut enough dry wood to last
the night, made a good fire and lay down in front of it. Fortunately,
having a good supply of tobacco and my pipe, I was able to make myself
comfortable.
About 8 o'clock, however, things changed for the worse. The thermometer
dropped and it began to blow and snow. It snowed more or less all
night, and having no blankets or overcoat with me, I was employed the
best part of the night in keeping the fire burning. The long night came
to an end at last. The wind dropped and the snow ceased falling. Soon
the sun appeared above the tree tops, looking warm and big. I was then
enabled to get my bearings. I took out my watch and pointed the hour
hand towards the sun. Midway between the hour hand and twelve o'clock I
knew was south. It does not matter what hour of the day one does this,
the result is the same.
By this means I was enabled to get my bearings, and knowing that I
had been travelling in a more or less northeasterly direction the day
previous I took a southwesterly course. After travelling for six hours
through thick bush, climbing over dead falls and crossing many creeks,
I struck the lake where I had left my canoe and found it a little over
a mile from where I came out to the lake.
Ice was forming on the lake and the country was white with a blanket
of snow. Having no mitts, my fingers got numbed from time to time. I
soon launched the canoe and made for home. At last the post came in
sight, and I can assure you that I received a great welcome. It was not
long before I had a moose steak put before me. This, washed down with
several cups of hot coffee, soon made me forget my experience of the
night.
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