234 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
referred us to the brigade following them for a 
guide. | 
During the 20th it rained heavily, and we 
passed the day in anxious suspense confined to 
our tents. A black bear came to the bank onthe 
opposite side of the river, and on Seelng us, 
glided behind the trees. 
Late on the 21st, Mr. Robertson, of the Hud- 
son’s Bay Company arrived, and furnished us 
- With a guide, but desired that he might be ex- 
changed when we met the northern canoes. We 
took advantage of the remainder of the day, to 
cross the next portage, which was three-fourths 
of a mile in length, ies 
On the 22nd we crossed three gmall portages, 
and encamped at the fourth. At one of them we 
passed some of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s 
canoes, and our application to them was unsuc- 
cessful. We began to suspect that Isle dla 
Crosse was the nearest place at which we might 
hope for assistance. However, on the morning 
of the 23rd, as we were about to embark, we en-. 
countered the last brigades of canoes belonging 
to both the Companies, and obtained a guide and 
foreman from them. Thus completely equipped, 
we entered the Black Bear Island Lake, the 
Navigation of which requires a very experienced 
Pilot. Its length is twenty-two miles, and its. 
