94 FORT CONFIDENCE. 



unkindness was shown to her; her husband was, 

 I believe, really fond of her ; and her sledge was a 

 light one, being loaded only with things belonging 

 to herself. 



Soon after what may be considered a great event 

 in the simple annals of Fort Confidence — the de- 

 parture of so numerous a body of hangers-on — we 

 had a visit from a Dog-rib who had been residing on 

 the other side of the lake, at the plentiful fishery 

 opposite Fort Franklin. Our visitor, a stout, able- 

 bodied fellow, came empty-handed, and introduced 

 himself as a very serviceable man, who had been of 

 great use to our two fishermen stationed at Fort 

 Franklin. "We readily understood that the truth 

 concealed under this self-praise was, that he had 

 been living by their labours, perhaps bringing in 

 a little wood for them occasionally, but really 

 sharing in the produce of their nets. On ques- 

 tioning him more closely as to the object of his 

 coming, he at length said that he came to look for 

 a wife. Had he no wife? Yes, he had had one, 

 but an Indian had taken her from him. Had he 

 an aversion to his wife that he had parted from her 

 without a struggle ? No ; his wife was a very good 

 wife ; she suited him very well. Then why did he 

 not fight for her ? " You see," said he, " it was a big 

 Indian that took her ! I am a little fellow, what 

 could I do ! " This hero met with little countenance 



