MR. o'b. studies paley. . 205 



were found in plenty as far as Peace River, and game so 

 abundant that starvation was unknown. He had been 

 thirty-eight years in the country, seventeen of which he 

 had spent as the solitary host of Jasper House, and told 

 us that Cariboo deer and bighorns were so numerous 

 when he first went there, that a " green hand" and a 

 boy supplied the establishment with ample provision 

 during one winter, when the regular hunter had 

 died. Mr. Fraser had not seen Fort Grarry for 

 thirty years, and for fifteen had not been further 

 than Edmonton, yet he was happy and contented as 

 possible. 



When we left Lake St. Ann's the track led us 

 immediately into the densest forest, where the ground 

 was boggy and rotten, thickly covered with fallen 

 timber. The horses sank in up to their girths, and 

 every few yards were obliged to jump over the ob- 

 struction in the path. Mr. O'B. was now deeply im- 

 pressed with the difficulties he encountered, and 

 declared that, although he had visited many countries, 

 he had never known what travelling meant before. 

 His assistance was limited to good advice, for he 

 was afraid to approach a horse, and when his help 

 was required to load the animals, he was invariably 

 missing. We generally ferreted him out, and found 

 him, hidden in the bushes, quietly smoking his pipe, 

 and diligently studying the last remnant of his 

 library, the only book he took with him — Paley's 

 " Evidences of Christianity." 



On the second day after we left Lake St. Ann's, 

 the road became rather better, there being a few 



