C Ihe Ladies c cu. V'VVAN - History and Classics, Department of

30 THE LADIE S , THE GWICH ' IN, AND THE RATSS Distributor atFortSmith,1927·G19 Blanchet.NAG PA20206.At Fort Fitzgerald and Fort Smith we became involved in an orgy of sociability.The moment after supper we hurried out to collect wild flowers and see therapids a mile below the settlement where the Mackenzie, a vast brown river,spread out into combed and crested ripples, roaring wickedly.We turned in early, exhausted by long daylight hours and short nights of sleep.I was ready for bed when the judge knocked at our door and summoned us tocome ashore and be sociable."Put your clothes on over your nightgown," said Gwen. Which I did.We went to call on the factor's wife and sat in an overheated, airless room,making conversation with our fellow-passengers since our hostess remainedsilent. At last the factor came in and real talk began; about moose, buffalo, trappers,trade and about a peculiar man named Hornby who had been living in theBarren Grounds on raw rabbits, eating them, fur and all, without any other meator any fuel. At long last coffee and toast appeared and the talk dribbled on in athinner stream about steamers, Eskimo trials, furs and the factor's new wireless.