334 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



was walking along the shore afterwards, fired upon two brown 

 bears, and wounded one of them, which instantly turned and 

 pursued him. His companions in the canoes put ashore to his 

 assistance, but did not succeed in killing the bears, which fled upon 

 the reinforcement coming up. During the delay thus occasioned 

 we overtook them, and they continued with us during the rest of 

 the day. 



We encamped at the foot of a lofty range of mountains, which 

 appear to be from one thousand two hundred to one thousand five 

 hundred feet high ; they are in general round backed, but the outline 

 is not even, being interrupted by craggy conical eminences. This 

 is the first ridge of hills we have seen in this country, that deserves 

 the appellation of a mountain range ; it is probably a continuation of 

 the stony mountains crossed by Hearne. Many plants appeared 

 in full flower near the tents, and Dr. Richardson gathered some 

 high up on the hills. The distance we made to-day was fifty miles. 



There was a hoar frost in the night, and the temperature, at four 

 next morning, was 40° : embarking at that hour, we glided quickly 





down the stream and, by seven arrived at the Hook's encamp- 

 ment, which was placed on the summit of a lofty sand cliff, whose 

 base was washed by the river. This chief had with him only three 

 hunters, and a few old men and their families, the rest of his 

 band having remained at their snares in Bear Lake. His brother, 

 Long-legs, and our guide, Keskarrah, who had joined him three 

 days before, had communicated to him our want of provision, and 

 we were happy to find that, departing from the general practice of 

 Indian chiefs, he entered at once upon the business, without making 

 a long speech. As an introductory mark of our regard, I decorated 

 him with a medal, similar to those which had been given to the 

 other leaders. The Hook began by stating, " that he was aware of 

 our being destitute of provision, and of the great need we had c 



