PROSPECT FROM <c ROCK RAPID." 36l 



1 



resting against and supporting each other, so as 

 to form a triangular pyramid ; the other also of 

 three pioces, but so placed as to form three sides 

 of a parallelogram. The use of the last one I 

 could not divine, since it was too large for a fire- 

 place, of which, indeed, there was no trace, and 

 not secure enough for a cache. Among the 

 loose debris, a cache might have been made safe 

 even from the plundering wolvereens ; but in a 

 situation so exposed there could be no security. 

 I could only conjecture that it might, perhaps, 

 serve as a place of watch and concealment on 

 hunting or other excursions which might bring 

 the adventurer within reach of an enemy's arrow. 

 These piles, like those farther south, pointed 

 north-ecit, and not due south to Chesterfield 

 Inlet; which at this point was not more than 

 ninety- four miles from us, and towards which, 

 until the turn at the Rock Rapid (our present 

 encampment), the Thlew-ee-choh seemed to be 

 directly tending. 



The prospect before us, viewed with a telescope 

 from the commanding eminence of the rock, 

 extended to an immense distance ; but in no 

 manner aided to clear up the doubt of what 

 would be the ultimate course of the river. For 

 at the utmost limit to the south-east, mingling 

 with the white haze of the atmosphere, water 

 was distinctly seen ; which, by following the 



