RAFTING ACROSS THE ATHABASCA. 245 



inscribed, and a statement that they crossed on the 

 IGth June, or nearly three weeks before. 



In the morning all set to work, cutting and carry- 

 ing timber, Mr. Macaulay working w^ith the rest ; but 

 Mr. O'B., as before, could not be found. As the last log 

 Avas carried down to the water, he suddenly came up 

 with — " Oh ! dear, can I be of any use, my lord ? — can 

 I help you. Doctor?" We expressed our sorrow that 

 he Avas too late, but The Assiniboine was very angry, 

 and vowed he should not come on board the raft. It 

 required the exercise of all our authority to overrule 

 his determination, and we saw in this occurrence signs 

 pregnant of future trouble. By noon the raft was 

 ready, and we drove our horses into the stream. When 

 we had seen them safely across, w^e rewarded our half- 

 breed friends by dividing the last remains of our rum 

 amongst them — a treat they appreciated above every- 

 thing — and bidding a hearty good-bye to Mr. Macaulay 

 and the rest, pushed off on our adventure. The stream 

 at this place was deep, wide, and tranquil, and we 

 crossed without difficulty or mishap. Before we were 

 fairly over we found that we had left one of our two 

 remaining axes behind ; but we did not turn back to 

 regain it, since it was no light matter to navigate so 

 large a raft. Had we known how sorely w^e should 

 need this axe afterwards, we should not have spared 

 any trouble to obtain it. 



We landed on a sparsely timbered flat, where the 

 trees had all been destroyed by fire, packed the horses, 

 and travelled a few miles before sundown. By noon 

 on the following day, still following the Athabasca, 



