302 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



foot? "We feared the alternative, yet were unwilling 

 to confess the probable extremity. We bad come too 

 far to turn back, even if we had been willing to 



retreat. 



After three days' travelling along the bank of 

 this rapid, to which we gave the name of Murchison's 

 Eapids, never out of hearing of its continual roar, 

 offensive to the ears of Mr. O'B., the valley 

 became narrower still, and we were brought to a 

 standstill by a precipice before us. We were shut 

 in on one side by the river, and on the other 

 by hills so steep and embarrassed that it seemed 

 hopeless to attempt to scale them, for we had tried 

 that before, and miserably failed. There was nothing 

 for it but to camp at once, and seek a way by which 

 to pass this barrier. The horses had not tasted 

 grass since leaving the marsh, four days ago, and for 

 the last three had fed upon the moss and lilies grow- 

 ing- amongst the rocks. They wandered to and fro 

 all the night, walking in and out between us, and 

 stepping over us as we lay on the ground. Mr. O'B., 

 too, passed a restless night in consequence, and 

 aroused us continually by jumping up and whack- 

 ing them with his great stick. The poor animals 

 grubbed up the moss from the rocks, and every- 

 thino- green within their reach had disappeared by 

 m^orning. The indefatigable Assiniboine started at 

 day-break to search for a path, whilst the rest of us 

 packed the horses and awaited his return. He came 

 back in an hour or two with the news that the 

 country ahead grew more and more difficult, but that 



