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

78 THE LADIES , THE GWICH ' I N, A N D THE RATSamuel "Scot!;y" McIn9re(alias Capt. Cameron).second from right in groupphoto at Herschel Island.1923· (fudge LucienDubuc is on the left') PMA3685. Identificationsoccur in Judge LucienDubuc. Scrapbook.PM 79.23811 D.scows and schooners lay anchored in the river. Across the river were thosestunted spruce trees of the Arctic forest and far away that brilliant line of blue.the Richardson range of mountains. Every day we enjoyed summer sunshinewhile two feet underground the earth was still frozen.Sometimes I would persuade him to visit Gwen and would convoy himstealthily up our outside staircase, since he preferred to give a wide berth to nuns.Then he would hold us both entranced with his stories, and Gwen would forgether plastered foot and the wearisome delay and the tedium of inaction in thesheer delight of listening to him.I can see the old man now, with his cold blue eyes and unshaven face. his blackshirt, guiltless of stud or necktie. knitted brown cap running to a point. wornblue trousers and mukluks made of seal-skin reaching to his knees. We neverreally heard his history. but one anecdote after another would. like a series ofsparks. light up bits of his past. or reflect some corner of his rugged independentmind that, in all the devious wanderings of the man, had kept a certain stiffintegrity.