196 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



some miners, wlio liad built a cabin about a quarter 

 of a mile from the Tort. Left alone by their depar- 

 ture in the spring, he lived a solitary and anxious 

 life, oppressed by fears of wolves, which howled close 

 by every night, and of grisly bears, reported to be in 

 the neighbourhood. He assured us that it was not 

 safe for him to remain longer at the cabin, since it 

 was built near some willow^s which were known to 

 be much frequented by these dangerous animals, 

 and he accordingly took up his quarters under one 

 of our carts. 



He was now attacked by a number of ailments 

 which required the Doctor's advice daily, and seized 

 these opportunities to urge his request. After sub- 

 mitting unflinchingly to active treatment for several 

 days, he at last confessed that his malady was imagi- 

 nary, and merely assumed as an excuse for obtaining 

 private interviews. But Cheadle maliciously refused 

 to believe it, assm^ed him he was really seriously 

 unwell, and compelled him to sw^allow a tremendous 

 dose of rhubarb and magnesia. 



After holding out several days, we were over- 

 come by his importunity, and agreed that he should 

 form one of our party, in spite of the rebellious 

 grumbling of Baptiste and the , Assiniboine. Mr. 

 O'B. thanked us, but assured us that we had in 

 reality acted for our own interest, and congratulated 

 us upon having decided so wisely, for he should be 

 very useful, and ask no wages. 



Mr. Hardisty, and the other officers of the Fort, 

 tried earnestly to dissuade us from attempting to 

 cross by the Leather Pass, alleging that the season 



