REACH THE AH-HEL-DESSY. 449 



river ; while the dog, as if conscious that it could 

 not escape, kept mouthing and playing with it. 

 The sick old Indian was seated by the fire, joining 

 in the half-smothered laugh which the sport cre- 

 ated. Hereupon I rose from my seat, and calling 

 the dog away, caught the mouse, warmed it by 

 the fire, and when it had somewhat recovered its 

 strength, laid it gently down at the entrance of a 

 burrow in the sand-bank, into which it soon dis- 

 appeared. I then threw in a piece of fat after it 

 for food. As I anticipated, the Indians were 

 not inattentive to what was passing ; and when 

 I pointed to the infirm old man near them, and 

 said that the helpless should be protected, they 

 understood the meaning of what had been done, 

 and with expressions of satisfaction promised to 

 remember it. 



The weather still continued squally, with 

 snow ; but the breeze being fair, the foresail was 

 hoisted, and about noon of the 24th we got to 

 the Ah-hel-dessy, where we were greeted by the 

 sight of berries. Some Indians encamped in a bay 

 made signs for us to go to them, which being 

 disregarded, they ran after us to say they had 

 plenty of meat : however they w r ere directed to 

 bring it to the Fort. The descent of this small 

 but abominable river was a succession of run- 

 ning rapids, making portages, and lowering down 

 cascades ; and much time was occupied in pre- 



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