Too cold to fish.
Cloudy day, but got blankets aired and dried. River seems to run
to northeast of ridge of quite high mountains, 6 to 10 miles ahead.
Very tired or lazy to-day. May be meat diet, may be relaxation
from month of high tension. Think the latter. Mended pants. One
leg torn clear down the front. Patched with piece of flour sack.
Friday, August 14th. - George and Wallace left in canoe with tin
cups, tea and some caribou ribs, to scout river above and climb
hills. I put some ashes and water on caribou skin. Just starting
to shed. Studied map and Low's book. Wish we could descend this
river on way out and map it.
Saturday, August 15th. - Cloudy again this morning. Sprinkle or
two. Wallace and George not back. Wallace and George came at
dusk; tired out and none too hopeful. Found stream coming from a
little lake with two inlets. Followed one west to mountains; it
turned to a brook, ended in mountains. Other went so much east
they fear it ends in lakes there. Think maybe they lost the river.
Hungry as bears. Stayed out to explore this east branch. The
three days' inaction and their story of doubtful river, depressed
me. If the way to Michikamau is still so doubtful, after more than
four weeks of back-breaking work, when will we get there, and when
to the caribou grounds, and when home?
