76 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



crossed the river, and deposited tlie cause of our troubles 

 in the bush some miles away. 



In the morning Keenamontiayoo came to our 

 lodge, but did not renew his importunities. Our firm- 

 ness the day before had produced a most salutary 

 effect. We were, however, so much disgusted with our 

 experience of the last two days, that we resolved to 

 give up the idea of fixing our winter residence here, 

 and retreat to La Belle Prairie, putting a distance of 

 nine or ten miles between our troublesome neighbours 

 and ourselves. 



We retraced our steps accordingly the next day, 

 and set up our lodge on the banks of the lake of the 

 Beautiful Prairie. The site selected for our dwelling 

 was the middle of the wooded promontory which had 

 before attracted our admiration. As it was now the 

 end of October, it was necessary to use all speed in 

 putting up a house, lest the winter should set in before 

 our work was completed. And, moreover, we were 

 obliged, for the same reason, to be content with a 

 building of very small size, and the simplest construc- 

 tion. La Eonde acted as architect, and proceeded to 

 work in the following manner. 



A rude enclosure, fifteen feet by thirteen, was first 

 made of rough poplar logs, morticed together at the 

 corners of the building. The logs, however, did not 

 by any means lie in apposition, and the spaces between 

 them would admit of a hand being passed through. 

 As yet there was neither door, window, nor roof, and 

 the walls were but six feet high in front, and little 

 over five feet behind. These deficiencies were, however, 



