FROM THE LOCKHART TO THE PASCOE 563 



February 10. The boat on her trial trip got somewhat injured, 

 and it took till dinner-time to caulk her with clay, and cover her 

 with canvas pack-covers. She was then launched, and Crosbie, 

 Layland and Hamil crossed the river to cut the SCRUB at the 

 landing. Hume and I went up the river to look for a crossing, being 

 of one mind in caring little for boating. I stripped and tried for 

 fords in several places, but was carried off my feet every time. 

 At last I ran a near chance of drowning, being thoroughly exhausted 

 before regaining the bank above a reach of dangerous rapids. We 

 gave up the attempt and reconciled ourselves to the boat. 



After dinner we got the horses ACROSS CANOE CREEK, which was 

 fordable, and swam them across THE PASCOE. Macdonald and 

 Charlie rode across on " Brownie " and " Moonlight." It was 

 very hard to get some of the horses to face Canoe Creek, " Coen " 

 and " Greyhound " getting quite mad and breaking away into the 

 bush. All swam the river in gallant style. 



The river began to rise while we were getting the horses across, 

 and had risen 6 inches before we had done. It fell again 7 inches 

 before nightfall. 



A few heavy showers fell in the night, but did not last long 

 enough to raise the river. 



February n. The great "work of getting our loads across the 

 river was accomplished to-day. We carried the prospectors' 

 things down, and in return Crosbie and Hamil ferried us and our 

 baggage across. The river and creek were rising steadily all the 

 time, and had risen 3 feet by two o'clock, when the last of our 

 things were landed. The ferrying of the last two boat-loads was 

 a very severe struggle, the force of the current having increased 

 very much with the rise in the water. Carrying the loads down 

 (about 150 yards) and packing them up the bank on the north side 

 was hard work, the day being very sultry. In the afternoon 

 thunderclouds gathered and a few light showers fell. 



We camped on the left bank of the Pascoe. (CAMP 37.) 



