APPENDIX, NO. I. 15 



quested to be left behind in order to repair their snow shoes ; 

 and such was the confidence placed by my people in the 

 natives that most of the party wished to be the individuals 

 to remain among them. I was induced to comply with the 

 first request from a motive of shewing the natives a mutual 

 confidence, and cautioning them to observe the utmost 

 regularity. 



Having myself again shaken hands with all the natives, and 

 expressed, in the best way I could, my intention to be with 

 them the following morning, we set out ; and they expressed 

 their satisfaction by signs on seeing that two of us were going 

 to remain with them. On reaching the river head, two of 

 the Indians struck off into our last night's resting-place ; one 

 of them I considered to be their chief; finding nothing here 

 he directed two of the four to continue on with us ; they pro- 

 ceeded with cheerfulness, though at times they seemed to 

 mistrust us. The banks of the river being narrow and 

 winding occasioned, at times, a considerable distance be- 

 tween me and the Indians, and one of them, having loitered 

 behind, took the opportunity on our doubling a point to run 

 off with great speed, calling out to his comrade to follow. 

 This incident I considered to be unfortunate, as we were now 

 nearly in sight of our party with the baggage. I thought it 

 not improbable but that he might have seen the smoke and 

 taken the alarm. Certainly no one act of any of my people 

 could have given rise to any such conduct ; he had, however, 

 evidently some suspicions, as he had frequently come up, 

 looked steadily in my face as if to read my intentions. I 

 had been most scrupulous in avoiding every action and 

 gesture that might cause the least distrust. In order to try 

 the disposition of the remaining Indian he was made to un- 

 derstand that he was at liberty to go if he chose, but he 

 shewed not the least wish of this kind. 



At 3 P. M. we joined the rest of our party, when the 

 Indian seemed to be startled on seeing so many more men ; 

 but this was but of momentary duration, for he soon be^ 



