The Voyageurs

This is the artwork used for the illustration in Heming's adventure novel, The Drama of the Forests (1921). The caption for the illustration reads: "The departure of the Fur Brigade was the one great event of the year. In manning six-fathom canoes the bowmen are always the most important; the steersmen coming next in rank, while the others are called 'midmen.' The brigade would paddle incessantly for about two hours; then they would 'spell,' and paddles were laid aside 'one smoke.' The soft, rich voices of the crews blended as they quietly chatted and joked and…"