BAPTISTE DESERTS. 223 



Baptiste liad probably never intended to go with ns 

 further than this point, and had taken the opportunity 

 to raise a dispute in order to have some excuse for his 

 conduct. He had carried off one of the most valuable 

 horses, and a small amount of provision. It was 

 useless to attempt to follow him, unless we de- 

 termined to turn back to Edmonton. But we were 

 firmly resolved to proceed with our expedition, come 

 what might, although we could not conceal from our- 

 selves that the work would be very heavy. We had 

 thirteen horses to pack and drive through the thick 

 w^oods ; the one-handed Assiniboine, with his wife and 

 boy, were our only assistants; and Mr. O'B. represented 

 a minus quantity. At least six or perhaps seven 

 hundred miles of the most difficult country in the 

 world lay before us, and not one of the party had 

 ever previously set foot in this region. But we 

 resolved to trust to The Assiniboine, if he would 

 give his solemn promise to stand by us in every 

 emergency, having confidence that his wonderful 

 sagacity would be sufficient to find the road. We 

 therefore at once proposed to him that he should 

 be raised to Baptiste's position, and greater emolu- 

 ments, as guide— requiring only his solemn engage- 

 ment to go through with us to the end. We sent him 

 to consult his wife, and after a short conversation with 

 her, he came back to say that they were both deter- 

 mined to stick to us faithfully, and he felt no doubt 

 about being able to find the emigrants* track without 

 difficulty. 



On the next morning we again struck the 



