During the first half of the seventies, there was no railroad to the shores of Lake Superior in Bayfield County. In January, 1876, it was necessary for me to reach Bayfield on important business. A very poor road had been cut through the woods from Old Superior to Bayfield, crossing the streams running north into Lake Superior. United States mail was carried on toboggans drawn by dogs, and conducted by Indian runners. [Illustration: "The party subsisted well, until it arrived at Ely". (Page 150.)] The snow was deep, and no trail was broken on the morning that I arrived at Superior hoping to secure some kind of conveyance to take me through to Bayfield, but I found no one who would volunteer to make the journey. In this dilemma I sought the owners of dog teams, and succeeded in purchasing two rather small dogs that were young and full of life, as well as well trained. These I hitched to a toboggan and started on my journey of ninety-five miles to Bayfield. The morning was mostly gone when the start was made, and that night was spent in a small cabin on the Brule River. The cabin had been erected for the use of the Indian mail carriers, and was unoccupied. It contained a stove, however, and wood was handy outside. The next morning an early start was made, and our train reached Bayfield, as I remember, about one o'clock in the afternoon. The return journey was made by the same route. I had become acquainted with the smart dog team, so that the return journey was rather enjoyable than otherwise. I took advantage of the down grades to get a little rest by throwing myself flat upon the toboggan, dismounting as soon as the up grades were reached. I had become greatly attached to the dogs, therefore I put them in the express car, on my return from Duluth, and brought them with me to Minneapolis. The thought to do this was prompted by thinking of the little daughter at home, then two and one-half years old, and of her baby brother, yet in arms. A suitable sled was at once ordered made, with a seat for little sister. To the sled, the dogs were harnessed abreast, and the dogs and child were never happier than when out on the streets for exercise. There were only two miles of street car track in Minneapolis at that time, and that little track was remote from the family home. The city was then small. Passing teams on the streets were infrequent, so that it was perfectly safe for her to be out in her tiny conveyance, accompanied always either by her father or by her admiring uncle. CHAPTER XII. Wolves--Log Riding. Many experiences of meeting or seeing the more dangerous of the wild animals have been related by men whose occupation as woodsmen has made it necessary at times to go for days, unaccompanied into the woods, and miles distant from any human habitation. Personal experience leads me to believe that man is safe, nearly always, except when such animals are suffering from hunger.