34 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



and before they were half cooked, devoured them, far 

 more greedily than if they had been canvass-backs at 

 Delmonico's, or the Maison Doree. The total con- 

 sumption at this memorable meal consisted of two 

 o-eese and four ducks : but then, as a Yankee would 

 express it, they were geese and ducks " straight " — 

 i.e., without anything else whatever. We slept very 

 soundly and happily that night, and at daybreak were 

 awakened by the puffing of the steamer ; and running 

 to the edge of the river, there, sure enough, was the 

 International. The captain had already caught sight 

 of us, and stopped alongside ; and in a few minutes 

 we were on board, and engaged in discussing what 

 seemed to us a most delicious meal of salt pork, bread, 

 and molasses. We had been sixteen days since leaving 

 Greorgetown, and were not sorry that our canoeing was 

 over. On the following day we reached Pembina, a 

 half-breed settlement on the boundary-line between 

 British and American territory ; and the next, being 

 the 7th of August, arrived at Fort Garry. Directly 

 we came to anchor opposite the Fort, a number of 

 people came on board, principally half-breeds, and 

 amongst them La Ronde, who had been out with 

 Milton on his previous visit to the plains. He in- 

 dulged in the most extravagant demonstrations of 

 dehght at seeing him again, and expressed his readi- 

 ness to go with him to the end of the world, if 

 required. 



He informed us that our arrival was expected. 

 Two men, who had left Greorgetown after our departure 

 from that place, had arrived at Fort Grarry some days 



