SOME EXCURSIONS, 9 1 from the wooded hills in the neighbourhood, and took care to obtain a plentiful store of oil from the seals which abounded on the shore. In obedience to his orders, and under his directions, the house was provided with a condensing apparatus which would receive the internal moisture, and was so constructed that the ice which would form in it could easily be removed. This question of heating was a very serious one to the Lieutenant. " I am a native of the Polar regions, madam," he often said to Mrs Bamett ; " I have some experience in these matters, and I have read over and over again books written by those who have wintered in these latitudes. It is impossible to take too many precautions in preparing to pass a winter in the Arctic regions, and nothing must be left to chance where a single neglect may prove fatal to the enterprise." "Very true, Mr Hobson," replied Mrs Bamett; "and you have evidently made up your mind to conquer the cold ; but there is the food to be thought of too." " Yes, indeed ; I have been thinking of that, and mean to make all possible use of the produce of the country so as to economise our stores. As soon as we can, we will make some foraging expedi- tions. We need not think about the furs at present, for there will be plenty of time during the winter to stock the Company's depdts. Besides, the furred animals have not got their winter clothing on yet, and the skins would lose fifty per cent, of their value if taken now. Let us content ourselves for the present with provisioning Fort Hope. Reindeer, elk, and any wapitis that may have ventured so far nofth are the only game worth our notice just now; it will be no small undertaking to provide food for twenty people and sixty dogs." The Lieutenant loved order, and determined to do everything in the most methodical manner, feeling confident that if his com- panions would help him to the utmost of their power, nothing need be wanting to the success of the expedition. The weather at this season was almost always fine, and might be expected to continue so for five weeks longer, when the snow would begin to fall. It was very important that the carpenters should make all possible use of the interval ; and as soon as the principal house was finished, Hobson set them to work to build an enormous kennel or shed in which to keep the teams of dogs. This doghouse was
