Beyond the natural reach of the canot du Nord, the lesser craft of
the natives, the smaller birch barks, took up the trail, and passed
even farther up into the unknown countries; and beyond the head of the
ultimate thread of the waters the pack-horse, or the travois and the
dog, took up the burden of the day, until the trails were lost in the
forest, and the traveler carried his pack on his own back.