RETURN OF ONE OF THE DESERTERS. 125 



despatched in different quarters to find out the 

 most favourable route to the large lake of which 

 we were in search. 



A set of observations gave the latitude 63° 

 23' 46" N., longitude 108° 8' 16" W., and vari- 

 ation 36° 0' E. — a position a little to the north 

 of the Cheesadawd Lake of Hearne ; though, 

 from the concurrent testimony of the Indians, it 

 would seem that the only one bearing the name 

 is situated between the Athabasca and Great 

 Slave Lakes. 



Towards evening the men returned ; and about 

 the same time, one of the Indian lads, who for 

 some trifling cause had separated from his com- 

 panion, and was now willing to join us again. 

 The former had succeeded in finding a chain of 

 small lakes, inclining to the eastward, and had 

 the good fortune to shoot a young deer : the 

 latter was unceremoniously dismissed with di- 

 rections to inform his tribe, that those who were 

 desirous of profiting by the expedition must pur- 

 sue a steady and honest course of conduct, and, 

 according to their own phraseology, abstain from 

 " speaking with two tongues ;" for by that means 

 alone could . they entitle themselves to any 

 benefit. He was refused even a particle of pro- 

 vision, — a rigour which I felt assured would be 

 made known, and produce a wholesome effect 

 upon the whole tribe ; for, though fickle and un- 



