CHAPTEE XII. 



Set out from Edmonton — Prophecies of Evil — Mr. O'B.'s Forebodings 

 —Lake St. Ann's— We enter the Forest— ARough Trail— Mr. O'B., 

 impressed with the Difficulties which beset him, commences the 

 study of Paley — Pembina River — The Coal-bed — Game — Curious 

 Habit of the Willow Grouse — Mr. O'B. en route — Changes wrought 

 by Beaver — The Assiniboine's Adventure with the Grisly Bears — 

 Mr. O'B. prepares to sell his Life dearly — Hunt for the Bears — 

 Mr. O'B. Protects the Camp— The Bull-dogs— The Path thi^ough 

 the Pine Forest — The Elbow of the McLeod — Baptiste becomes 

 Discontented — Trout Fishing — Moose Hunting — Baptiste Deserts 

 — Council — Resolve to Proceed — We lose the Trail — The Forest 

 on Fire — Hot Quarters — Working for Life — Escape — Strike the 

 Athabasca River — Fh-st Yiew of the Rocky Mountains — Mr. 

 O'B. spends a Restless ISTight — Over the Mountain — Magnificent 

 Scenery — Jasper House — Wild Flowers — Hunting the " Mouton 

 Gris" and the " Mouton Blanc." 



On the 3rd of June, 1863, we left Edmonton, amid the 

 good wishes of the kind friends we had made there. 

 But although they cheerfully wished us God speed, 

 we found from the men that public opinion at the Fort 

 had decided that our expedition would certainly end 

 most disastrously, Q) for they considered that the party 

 was too small, and comprised too many ineffectives, to 

 succeed in overcoming the difficulties we must neces- 

 sarily encounter. We were not much disheartened 

 by these croakings, however, and started for St. Alban's 

 in the afternoon. Here we were joined by our friend 



(^) From Dr. Rae, who crossed by the same pass the following 

 summer, we learnt that a report had reached Edmonton to the efiect 

 that we had all been murdered by the Assiniboine, who was returning 

 rich in the possession of our horses and property. 



