CHAPTER X. 



La Eonde's Eeturn— Letters from Home— A Feast— The Journey to 

 Eed Eiver and back— Hardships — The Frozen Train — Three 

 Extra Days— The Sioux at Fort Garry— Their Spoils of War — 

 Late Visitors — Musk-rats and their Houses — Eat-catching — Our 

 Weather-glass— Moose Hunting in the Spring — Extreme Wariness 

 of the Moose — His Stratagem to guard against Surprise — March- 

 ing during the Thaw — Prepare to leave Winter Quarters — Search 

 for the Horses — Their Fine Condition — Nutritious Pasturage- 

 Leave La Belle Prairie — Carlton again— Good-bye to Treemiss and 

 La Eonde— Baptiste Supernat— Start for Fort Pitt— Passage of 

 Wild-fowl — Baptiste's Stories — Crossing Swollen Eivers — 

 Addition to our Party— Shooting for a Living— The Prairie 

 Bird's Ball— Fort Pitt — Peace between the Crees and Black- 

 feet— Cree Full Dress— The Blackfeet— The Dress of their 

 Women — Indian Solution of a Difficulty— Eumours of War — 

 Hasty Eetreat of the Blackfeet— Louis Battenotte, the " Assini- 

 boine" — His Seductive Manners — Departure for Edmonton — A 

 Night Watch— A Fertile Land— The Works of Beaver— Their 

 Effect on the Country— Their Decline in Power— How we crossed 

 the Saskatchewan— Up the Hill— Eggs and Chickens— Arrive at 

 Edmonton. 



On the llth of Marcli, as we were sitting in the hut 

 talking to two young Indians who had just arrived 

 from the plains with a message from Gajtchi Moh- 

 kamarn, to the effect that he should be compelled, by 

 huno-er, to eat the meat we had left in cache, if we 

 did not fetch it immediately, the door opened, and 

 in walked La Eonde. He was very emaciated, and 

 appeared feeble and worn-out. Bruneau arrived 

 soon after with a dog-sleigh, on which were a pem- 



L 



