88 PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE. 



in this instance, as they had proved to be in other 

 particulars on the two former expeditions. 



My resolution being taken, I divided my crew 

 into two parties. Five were to be left as an 

 escort for Mr. M'Leod, and four were to accom- 

 pany me in my search for the Thlew-ee-choh. 



It happened, fortunately, that there was at the 

 Fort a half-sized canoe, which was both lighter 

 to carry, and in other respects more convenient 

 than the larger one, for getting up the shoal 

 streams which we expected to find to the east- 

 ward. This was immediately, therefore, put in 

 repair; while Mr. M'Leod, who had the ser- 

 vice as much at heart as myself, gave me the 

 benefit of his assistance in arranging our future 

 operations. 



He undertook to wait and appease the Grand 

 Jeune Homme, under the disappointment which 

 it was thought he would feel at being rejected : 

 for, knowing from past experience the constant 

 trouble and anxiety that a leader, spoiled and 

 indulged as he had been, would probably have 

 given us, I deemed it more prudent, as it was 

 certainly more economical, to dismiss him alto- 

 gether, with a douceur for lost time, than to 

 rest my hopes, and possibly the safety of my whole 

 party, on the exertions of the most fickle and 

 wavering of his tribe. Such a step, moreover, 

 was necessary, by way of example, to moderate 



