“The Leavings—what’s that?” asked Rob.
“I’ll tell you at breakfast,” said Uncle Dick. “Now hustle out and get the horses up.”
In half an hour they were all at breakfast, the better for some warm food and a cup of tea. “Now I’ll tell you,” said Uncle Dick, “why I’m in a hurry to-day. If we can make the Leavings by night, we’ll have a good camp-ground with plenty of grass for the horses. Besides, it gives us a good starting-place for the next day’s march.”
“But the ‘Leavings’—what is that or what are they?” demanded Rob.
“It’s the old traders’ name for the place where the trail leaves the McLeod River and starts west for the Athabasca.”
Rob fished his map out of his pocket. “I see,” said he. “The river bends south from here, and I suppose we go up the Sun Dance Creek and cut across to the other end of the bend—the place they call White Mud Creek. Then we hang to the McLeod straight on to the Leavings?”
“That’s right. It’s the best part of twenty-five miles, but it’s a good trail and not much muskeg.”
“Well, what is a muskeg, anyhow,” asked Jesse, “unless it’s just a mud-hole?”
“That’s precisely what it is—just a mud-hole,” answered Uncle Dick. “Under a muskeg there is clay or hardpan which won’t let the water through. So it is always full of mud. Drain the water off a muskeg, and it soon gets dry. They’ll have to do a lot of that work up here one of these days. But now I’ve told you why I want to make an early start this morning; and I want you to help hustle with the packs too. It’s time you’re learning about that diamond hitch.”