200 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



men, to reach either Cariboo or Fort Kamloops at the 

 grand fork of the Thompson, as circumstances might 

 render advisable. 



Mr. O'B. utterly ignored the difficulties of the long 

 journey before him in his delight at the prospect of 

 escaping from the wilds of the Saskatchewan, so un- 

 congenial to his classical tastes and peaceful habits, to 

 the more civilised society of British Columbia. But 

 although insensible to the more obvious dangers of 

 penetrating through an unknown country, without road 

 or guide, his peace of mind was seriously disturbed by 

 the reflection that a man so savage as the Assiniboine 

 would form one of the party. He came to us one day, 

 with most serious aspect and lengthened visage, re- 

 questing a private interview on business of great 

 importance. We immediately w^ent aside with him, 

 and he began : " My lord, and Dr. Cheadle, I am sure 

 you will thank me for a communication which will 

 enable you to escape the greatest danger. I have been 

 credibly informed that this ' Assiniboine ' — the man 

 you have engaged — is a cold-blooded murderer, a 

 villain of the deepest dye, who has been excommuni- 

 cated by the priest, and is avoided by the bravest half- 

 breeds." We assured him that we already knew all 

 about it, and as the deed had been done in a fit of 

 anger, and under the greatest provocation, we had 

 decided that we were not justified in depriving our- 

 selves of the services of a man so eminently qualified 

 for the undertaking we had in hand. 



" What !" said Mr. O'B., "you don't mean to tell 

 me that you really intend to trust your lives with such 



