CHEADLe's return from CARLTON. 133 



Carlton, and the more distant forts. Dog- sleighs 

 arrived from all quarters — Edmonton, La Crosse, 

 Norway House, &c. — bringing letters for England, in 

 return for those brought for them by the Red 

 River train. It was a time of great excitement at 

 the Fort, and when the tinkling of sleigh bells gave 

 warning of an arrival, all rushed out to greet the 

 new-comers and hear the latest news. We naturally 

 expected a large batch of letters, the arrears of all 

 sent from home since we left, for we had as yet 

 received none. Dreadful was the disappointment, 

 therefore, when the Fort Garry express came in, 

 and the box of letters was seized and ransacked, 

 to find not one for any of us. The only hope left 

 was that La Ronde might bring some when he 

 returned. 



Cheadle was now anxious to return as soon 

 as possible, although without the pleasant intelli- 

 gence he had expected to carry with him. But 

 there was some difficulty in finding the means of 

 transport, and the cold was now so great that it 

 would have been dangerous to cross open country 

 without a sleigh on which to carry an ample supply 

 of robes and blankets. Ac last an English half- 

 breed, named Isbister, volunteered to accompany 

 him with his train of dogs, if he could travel rapidly, 

 so as to allow him to return to the Fort within three 

 days, in order to join a party of hunters going to 

 the plains. 



The ofier was gladly accepted, and at noon the 

 two set out. The north wind blew very bitterly, the 



