The one disappointment of the day was the failure of Thomas to be with them.  He had suggested at the time he departed for the Seal Lake trails in the autumn that he might come out of the wilderness for additional provisions at Christmas time, but it was a long and tedious journey, and they knew it was one he would hardly undertake unless pressed by need.

Christmas holiday week was always one of celebration at the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Post.  At this time trappers and Indians emerged from the silent wilderness to barter their early catch of furs and to purchase fresh supplies; and on New Year’s eve it was the custom of the men and women of the Bay to gather at the Post for the final festivities.  All day long sledge load after sledge load of jolly folk appeared to take part in the great New Year’s eve dance, and to enter into the shooting contests and snowshoe and other races on New Year’s day.

Eli and Mark Horn drove their team in at The Jug just at dinner time on New Year’s eve, and Eli invited Margaret to go on with them and visit Kate Hodge, the daughter of the Post servant.

“We’ll be short of lasses at the dance, and we needs un all,” said Eli.

“I’d like wonderful well to go,” said Margaret wistfully.

“Go on,” urged Doctor Joe.  “You’ll have a good time and the boys and I will make out famously here.  You get away seldom enough and see too few people.  ’Twill do you good, lass.”

“Aye, come on now!” Eli urged.  “We’ll take you over snug and warm in our komatik box.  Kate’ll be wonderful glad to see you, and we’ll bring you back the day after New Year.”

“I’ll go,” Margaret consented, her eyes dancing with pleasure.

“And there’ll be no prettier lass there,” said Doctor Joe gallantly, which brought a blush to Margaret’s cheek and caused Eli to chuckle.

Margaret hastened her toilet and was ready in a jiffy.  She was all a-flutter with excitement when Eli tucked her in a box rigged on the rear of the komatik, and wrapped her snugly with caribou skins.

“You must have had it in mind to capture Margaret when you left home, Eli,” Doctor Joe suggested with a twinkle in his eye.  “Men don’t take travelling boxes when they go alone.”

Eli grinned sheepishly as he broke the komatik loose, and the dogs dashed away.

It was a dull cold day with a leaden sky, and snow was shifting restlessly over the ice.  The wind was in the south-east, and as they entered the cabin David remarked: 

“There’ll be snow before to-morrow mornin’.”

When they had eaten supper that evening and cleared the table David stepped out for a look at the weather, and returning reported: 

“‘Twill be a nasty night.  The snow’s started and the wind’s risin’.  ’Tis wonderful frosty, too, for a wind.”

“Let’s see how cold it is,” said Doctor Joe, stepping out to consult his spirit thermometer.  “Thirty-eight below zero.  Frosty enough with a gale, and a gale’s rising,” he reported.  “I’m glad we’re all snug inside.”