*' THE ASSINIBOINE." 177 



without many misgivings as to tlie wisdom of allow- 

 ing what we thought would be supernumeraries on 

 a journey so difficult as om*s would be across the 

 mountains, and through a country where food would 

 be difficult to obtain. But this arrangement, which 

 appeared of such doubtful wisdom at the time, 

 eventually proved our salvation. 



" The Assiniboine,'' although he possessed but 

 one hand — the left one having been shattered by the 

 bursting of a gun, which left but two fingers — ^was 

 as usefal and expert as if he were unmaimed. His 

 gentle and insinuating manners, which had so fasci- 

 nated us, belied his character, for he was passionate 

 and violent, and although his countenance beamed 

 forth benevolent, and he cooed softly as any dove 

 when at peace, yet, when angry and excited, his 

 aspect became perfectly fiendish, and his voice 

 thundered like the roar of a lion. But he proved a 

 valuable servant in our many difficulties afterwards, 

 and we never regretted being misled by his seduc- 

 tive manners. We learnt subsequently that he had 

 killed another half-breed in a drunken squabble, and 

 had been dismissed the Company's service and ex- 

 communicated by the priest in consequence. The 

 murdered man was, however, a notorious bully, the 

 dread and terror of all the half-breeds. Every one 

 agreed, moreover, that the provocation had been 

 excessive, and the deed done in a moment of 

 passion. 



We left Fort Pitt on the 28th of April, choosing 

 the road on the north side of the river, as it was 



M 



