We passed an old Canadian who was resting his wearied dogs during the heat of the sun.

He was carrying meat from some Indian lodges to Fort Chipewyan, having a burden exceeding two hundred and fifty pounds on his sledge which was dragged by two miserable dogs.

He came up to our encampment after dark.

We were much amused by the altercation that took place between him and our Canadian companions as to the qualifications of their respective dogs.

This however is such a general topic of conversation among the voyagers in the encampment that we should not probably have remarked it had not the old man frequently offered to bet the whole of his wages that his two dogs, poor and lean as they were, would drag their load to the Athabasca Lake in less time than any three of theirs.