Chapter I: Preface

I have been asked to write this narrative of the life of Bishop Bompas for boys and girls. The scenes among which his strenuous course was run—the lands of the Red Indians and Eskimo—have always appealed to the imagination of the young; and the endurance which he showed in his amazing journeys, and the dauntless courage with which he faced innumerable perils for his Master’s sake, give to his labours a character of heroism which they will be sure to recognize.

I have been able to add some new matter to that which appeared in “An Apostle of the North.” Part of the chapter on “How the Bishop got his Mail” has been taken from an article of mine which appeared in the _Pacific Monthly Magazine_ in 1908, and which the publishers have kindly given permission to use.

I am indebted to Miss Agnes C. Laut for extracts from her most interesting book, “Pathfinders of the West.”

* * * * *

This work was begun at Whitehorse when the thermometer stood at 60° below zero. It was continued a few weeks later among the roses and orange groves of sunny California, and is now completed in far Eastern Canada, at St. John, the grey old loyalist city by the sea.

I hope and trust that it may kindle in the hearts of some of those who read it a longing to follow in the footsteps of Bishop Bompas, and to volunteer, like him, for service in these distant outposts of Christ’s Church militant here in earth.

H. A. C.

_Easter, 1910._

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. ROMANCE OF EXPLORATION 13

II. EARLY DAYS 23

III. FORWARD TO THE FRONT 31

IV. IN DANGER AMONG THE ESKIMO 39

V. ESKIMO LIFE 52

VI. OUT OF THE NORTH 62

VII. BACK TO THE WILDERNESS 70

VIII. A TERRIBLE JOURNEY IN WINTER 78

IX. THE LITTLE ONES OF THE FLOCK 89

X. A RACE WITH WINTER 97

XI. TIMES OF FAMINE 105

XII. MID DRIFTING ICE 114

XIII. INDIAN WAYS 121

XIV. STIRRING DAYS AT FORTY MILE 140

XV. FLOODED OUT 148

XVI. HOW THE BISHOP GOT HIS MAIL 153

XVII. THE GOLDEN KLONDYKE 163

XVIII. THE MOUNTED POLICE 174

XIX. “FAINT, YET PURSUING” 185

XX. LIGHT AT EVENTIDE 194

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

THE BISHOP AND AN INDIAN ON A RAFT _Frontispiece_

CANOE-TRAVELLING IN NORTH-WEST CANADA _page_ 20

A SNOW-HOUSE MADE ON THE MARCH ” 56

WINTER TRAVELLING. A MISSIONARY’S INDIAN HELPER ” 68

AN INDIAN ENCAMPMENT ” 74

DOG-SLED IN NORTH-WEST CANADA ” 80

FEEDING THE DOGS ” 84

THE MISSION SCHOOL AT CARCROSS ” 90

AN INDIAN BOY SLIDING DOWNHILL ” 94

THE DOGS RESTING AFTER A HARD DAY’S WORK ” 94

TROUT-SPEARERS BRINGING SUPPLIES FOR A MISSION STATION ” 108

AN INDIAN SUMMER CAMP AT PEEL RIVER ” 122

AN OLD INDIAN DESERTED BY HIS PEOPLE ” 126

TAKING THE MAIL INTO DAWSON IN SPRING ” 154

PACK-HORSE SUPPLIES IN 1898 ” 158

GOAT-TEAM WITH SLED ON THE TRAIL, 1896 ” 164

A MINER’S GOLD-PAN ” 168

PROSPECTORS AND MINERS ON THE TRAIL ” 170

THE RUSH TO THE KLONDYKE. ONE OF MANY STRANGE CRAFT ” 172

BREAKING TRAIL ” 174

THE ROYAL NORTH-WEST MOUNTED POLICE ” 176

THE MOUNTED POLICE COOKING A MEAL ” 178

THE DAWSON—FORT MACPHERSON MAIL ROUTE ” 182

INDIAN BOYS AT WORK AND PLAY ” 190

ON THE TRAIL ” 194

THE BODY OF BISHOP BOMPAS TAKEN IN A BOAT FROM THE
CHURCH TO THE GRAVEYARD ” 198

AN APOSTLE OF THE NORTH

(_Written by the author of this book, when he first saw Bishop Bompas arrive at Whitehorse, in June, 1904._)

We saw him come—there was no loud acclaim:
He stood among the crowd, so frail and spare;
His humble garb marked his still humbler mien,
Whilst gently waved his scanty, silvery hair.
He stood alone, as stands some ancient pine
Amidst a stirring land and busy mart,
And strove to grasp the new and unknown ways,
Which were so strange to his intrepid heart.

But as I gazed upon that trembling form,
And marked the lisping words which slowly fell,
A vision rose before me, grand and clear,
Which thrilled my soul like some sweet vesper bell.
I saw a lonely region, cold and drear,
I saw the sad wild natives of the North
Pass slow before me, Christless, base, forlorn.
And as I thus beheld there passed straightforth
A lonely man—ay, more than common man—
’Twas one of God’s great heroes, brave and strong,
Who gave up home and friends and comforts all,
And for Christ’s sake passed forth to conquer wrong;
In lonely wilds, in wigwams foul and drear,
Midst sickness, famine, plague, and sore distress,
He pressed straight on, true soldier of the Cross,
His only aim to comfort and to bless.

And so he stands as stood his Master, Christ;
Brave leader he, no matter what the cost;
True teacher he, whose every word was love;
Good Shepherd of God’s children strayed and lost.
And this we know, when broken lies the bowl,
The after-glow of his devoted life
Will lead men on to do and dare for Christ,
And win for Him through darkness, pain, and strife.

ON TRAIL AND RAPID BY DOG-SLED AND CANOE