THE GREA T BEAR LAKE, Ar9 was therefore situated beyond the Arctic Circle, but three degrees south of the seventieth parallel, north of which the Hudson's Bay Company proposed forming a new settlement. Fort Confidence, as a whole, much resembled other factories further south. It consisted of a house for the officers, barracks for the soldiers, and magazines for the furs — all of wood, surrounded by palisades. The captain in command was then absent. He had gone towards the east on a hunting expedition with a few Indiana and soldiers. The last season had not been good, costly furs had been scarce ; but to make up for this the lake had supplied plenty of otter-skins. The stock of them had, however, just been sent to the central factories in the south, so that the magazines of Fort Confidence were empty on the arrival of our party. In the absence of the Captain a Sergeant did the honours of the fort to Jaspar Hobsou and his companions. This second officer. Felton by name, was a brother-in-law of Sergeant Long. He showed the greatest r^diness to assist the views of the Lieutenant, who being anxious to rest his party, decided on remaining two or three days at Fort Confidence. In the absence of the little garrison there was plenty of room, and dogs and men were soon comfortably installed. The best room in the largest house was of course given to Mrs Paulina Barnett, who was delighted with the politeness oi Sergeant Felton. Jaspar Hobson's first care was to ask Felton if any Indians from the north were then beating the shores of the Great Bear Lake " Yes, Lieutenant," replied the Sergeant ; " we have just received notice of the encampment of a party of Hare Indians on the other northern extremity of the lake." " How far from here 1 " inquired Hobson. " About thirty miles," replied Sergeant Felton. '* Do you wish to enter into communication with these Indians ? " " Yes," said Hobson; " they may be able to give me some valuable information about the districts bordering on the Arctic Ocean, and bounded by Cape Bathurst. Should the site be favourable, I pro- pose constructing our new fort somewhere about there." " Well, Lieutenant, nothing is easier than to go to the Hare en- campment." " Along the shores of the lake ? " "No, across it ; it is now free from ice, and the wind is favour D
