NEWS FROM MR, M c LEOD. 9T/S 



dangerous ; for so slippery was the surface, that 

 the nicest caution was required to keep our foot- 

 ing, and a single false step would have sent us 

 sliding into the stream. As some defence to the 

 soles of the feet, I placed pieces of undressed 

 buffalo skin with the hair on between two pair 

 of moccassins and thick blanket socks, and 

 obtained by this means sensible relief; though, 

 even then, Peter Pindar's pilgrims, and the 

 happy thought of " boiling the peas," presented 

 themselves more vividly to my imagination, than 

 they had ever done before. 



About 1 a.m. of the 16th, on turning a point, 

 we discerned in front of us the usual mark of 

 piled stones, and soon increased our store with 

 two deer, a quantity just enough for as many days' 

 consumption. I learned from a note, that Mr. 

 JVFLeod's party were living upon the chance of 

 the day, feasting or fasting, as it might happen, 

 with seldom enough and never too much ; but 

 that this was the fifth cache he had made, so that 

 we had passed two unnoticed. Nor, under the 

 circumstances which have been mentioned, could 

 this be wondered at, though, as may easily be 

 believed, a keen look-out had been kept. Deer, 

 it was added, were scarce ; but the Indians held 

 out hopes of overtaking large herds in the course 

 of a few days, and for that purpose intended to 

 make a straight route to the next lake, keeping 



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