A NATURAL BRIDGE. 279 



numerous traces of tlie emigrants' visit, but what line 

 they had taken we could not make out, although we 

 searched diligently till night came on. Next morn- 

 ing The Assiniboine was up betimes, and crossing 

 the west channel by a natural bridge, formed by the 

 accumulation of driftwood against a sand-bar, soon 

 discovered the trail leading up the north-west branch 

 in the direction of Cariboo. He followed this for about 

 a mile, when it came suddenly to an end. The ravine 

 was narrow, the sides steep and heavily timbered, 

 and lofty, limestone mountains loomed up ahead. 



The emigrants had evidently found the work of 

 cutting a road to Cariboo so arduous that they had 

 abandoned the task, and turned their faces southward 

 to seek Kamloops ; ' and agreeably to this surmise The 

 Assiniboine discovered another trail leading down the 

 river in that direction. The time had now come when 

 we must make our final decision whether to try and 

 reach Cariboo or follow the trail towards Kamloops. 



We held a council, and after much discussion at last 

 agreed that it would be impossible, with our weakened 

 forces, worn-out horses, short suppHes, and little axe, 

 to cut our way through the almost impenetrable 

 country to the west. It was with a feeling of bitter 

 disappointment that we gave up our cherished idea of 

 finding a road direct to the gold-fields, but the attempt 

 would have been madness, and we very sulkily com- 

 menced transferring the packs to the mainland on the 

 west. The drift-wood bridge saved us from the labour 

 of making another raft, but carrying the baggage on 

 our backs proved no light work. The footing on the 



