Saturday, September 26th.—­Temp. 28 degrees.  Wind N.E.  Rain in early morning, cold wind, warming in late P.M.  Clear at mid-day.  Dried blankets.  Travelled over our old course to our “long-lake-that-looks-like-a-river.”  Shot a large duck’s head off with rifle.  Had hopes of a few fish at place where we found them spawning on our westward way, but was fearful of the cold.  Left George cooking and went to try with Wallace’s rod, not over hopeful, as water was very high and weather cold.  Delighted to catch twenty very fair ones while lunch was cooking.  In P.M. took ninety-five more.  Estimated weight of catch 70 pounds.  We will stay here to-morrow and dry fish for journey.  This is a wonderful relief.  It means enough fish to put us through to our big lake, or nearly so.  We had no hopes of such a catch, and would have been delighted with just a meal or two.  Then it means, I hope, that we will find the trout biting at other spawning places, and catch enough to live on in spite of the cold weather.  We are happier than for weeks before for we believe this almost guarantees our safe return home.  Rain drove us from our camp fire just after George had declared, “Now we’ll talk about French toast, and what we’ll eat when we get to New York.”  So we all crawled into blankets and did plan and plan good dinners.

Sunday, September 27th.—­Warm day, partly clear, wind S.W.  Ate last of goose for breakfast.  Bully.

Monday, September 28th.—­Snow and clear by spells.  Stayed in camp to rest and feed up.  Were all weak as cats when we relaxed from the grub strain.  We kept smoke going under stage and lay in tent most of day.  Boiled fish for breakfast, roast smoked fish for other meals.  Like them rather better the latter way.

Tuesday, September 29th.—­Temp. 24 degrees.  Snow by squalls all day.  Wind W. Caught twelve good trout while boys were breaking camp.  Diarrhoea, which attacked me yesterday, came back when I started to carry the canoe.  Had to drop it and became very weak.  Boys went on with it about 1 1/4 miles and came back.  We camped on long lake.  I huddled by fire and wrote when it was not snowing.  We can catch up to our schedule if I am able to travel to-morrow for it is only an easy march, covered in less than a day before.  All talking about home, all happy to be going there.

Wednesday, September 30th.—­Boys carried canoe nearly to Pike Lake, while I made camp and went back and forth three times to bring up packs.  Then a happy camp nearer home.  To-night we planned, in case we have a long wait in St. John’s to get rooms for light housekeeping and not go to hotel.  Then we can cook what we want and need and live high—­beef bones for caribou, cereals with real cream, rich muscle-making stews of rice, beef, etc., tomatoes, etc.

Thursday, October 1st.—­Temp. 40 degrees.  Crossed to Pike Lake this A.M.  Lunch on west side, last of fish.  Nothing now left but pea meal.  Crossed lake, no trail on east side, hoping to get trout where I took a mess in outlet coming up.  Not a nibble.  Too cold or something.  Camped in lee of trees.  Boys had feed of blue berries while I fished.  Ate half stick of erbswurst.  Good camp-fire, but I rather blue and no one talkative.  So hungry for home—­ and fish.