232 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



to avoid a precipitous cliff overlianging the river at 

 this point. Higher and higher still it led them, along 

 rocky ledges or up steep, green, slippery slopes, until 

 it reached the point where vegetation ceased, separated 

 by a rocky precipice from the height of perpetual 

 snow. The horses frequently stopped, and tried to 

 turn back from their arduous task, and Mr. O'B.'s 

 steed, a powerful roan stallion, in high condition, 

 coolly lay down and refused to proceed. Mr. 0*B. 

 slipped off with great celerity, remarking, " Poor fellow! 

 my weight is too much for him." The horse took ad- 

 vantage of the opportunity and began to descend, his 

 owner remarking, indifferently, that it was no use at- 

 tempting to fetch him, as he was far too exhausted to 

 proceed further. Milton and the bey, however, speedily 

 brought him back to the rest, and before long the 

 utmost height was reached. We were now fairly in the 

 Eocky Mountains, and even the woman and boy cried 

 out, '' Aiwakarken !" with delight and admiration at 

 the magnificent scenery around. On every side a 

 succession of peaks towered up, of strange fantastic 

 shape. To the west, the Priest's Eock, a pyramid of 

 ice, shone brightly above a dark pine-clad hill; to 

 the east, the remarkable Eoche a Myette ; in front 

 and behind, conical, pinnacled, and rugged mountains. 

 Hundreds of feet immediately beneath rushed the 

 torrent of the Athabasca. Emerging from the heart 

 of the mountains through a narrow gorge into the 

 wider valley, the river expands into a lake three or 

 four miles in length ; then again narrowing, flows in 

 several channels round wooded islands, to open out 



