12 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



Anthony, six miles distant — the commencement of 

 the Grreat Pacific Eailroad, projected to run across to 

 California, and already laid out far on to the plains. 

 From St. Anthony a " stage " wagon runs through 

 the out- settlements of Minnesota as far as Greoro^etown, 

 on the Eed Eiver. There we expected to find a 

 steamer which runs fortnightly to Fort Grarry, in the 

 Eed Eiver Settlement. The " stage," a mere covered 

 spring-wagon, was crowded and heavily laden. Inside 

 were eight full-grown passengers and four children ; 

 outside six, in addition to the driver ; oti the roof an 

 enormous quantity of luggage ; and on the top of all 

 were chained two huge dogs — a bloodhound and New- 

 foundland — belonging to Treemiss. Milton and Tree- 

 miss were fortunate enough to secure outside seats, 

 where, although cramped and uncomfortable, they could 

 still breathe the free air of heaven ; but Cheadle was 

 one of the unfortunate " insides," and suffered tortures 

 during the first day's journey. The day was fright- 

 fully hot, and the passengers were packed so tightly, 

 that it was only by the consent and assistance of his 

 next neighbour that he could free an arm to wipe the 

 perspiration from his agonised countenance. Mosqui- 

 toes swarmed and feasted with impunity on the help- 

 less crowd, irritating the four Avretched babies into an 

 incessant squalling, which the persevering singing of 

 their Grerman mothers about Fatherland was quite in- 

 effectual to assuage. Two female German Yankees 

 kept up an incessant clack, " guessing " that the 

 " Young Napoleon " would soon wipe out Jeff*. Daids ; 

 in which opinion two male friends of the same race 



