290 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



wisely said by the great lyric ; but lie was never lost 

 in a forest, you see. Now, what I tbink ougbt to be 

 done is tbis : tbe Doctor and Tbe Assiniboine are 

 strong vigorous fellows ; let tbem go five or six miles 

 abead and investigate tbe country, and tben we sball 

 travel mucb more easily to-morrow." Tbe two 

 " vigorous fellows " were, bowever, generally too 

 mucb jaded by bard work during tbe day to adopt 

 bis advice, and declined tbe proposal. 



Tbe valley continued to run nearly due soutb, 

 and ranges of mountains separated only by tbe 

 narrowest ravines came down from tbe N.E. and 

 N.W. up to it on eacb side at an angle of 45^. 

 Tbese proved serious obstacles to our progress, rising 

 almost perpendicularly from tbe water's edge. 



On tbe 1st of August we came in sigbt of a fine 

 snowy mou.ntain wbicb appeared to block up tbe valley 

 abead, and we boped tbis migbt be tbe second of 

 two described to us as landmarks by tbe old woman 

 at Tbe Cacbe, wbicb sbe stated was not far from Fort 

 Kamloops. To tbis Milton gave tbe name of Mount 

 Cbeadle, in return for tbe compliment pre\dously paid 

 bim by bis companion. Tbe river also became wider 

 and less rapid, and at one point divided into several 

 cbannels, flowing round low wooded islands. Only 

 one snowy mountain could be seen to tbe rigbt, to 

 wbicb we gave tbe name of Mount St. Anne ; but 

 tbe road Was as encumbered as ever. 



After cutting a patb for two days, Tbe Assiniboine 

 Was almost disabled by tborns in bis bands and legs, 

 and as we bad not accomplisbed more tban two or tbree 



