PERILS THAT MUST BE ENDURED 295 



the slightest desire to make the trip, and money did 

 not seem to tempt them. The route had such a bad 

 name from disasters to previous expeditions, that we 

 reluctantly had to give up the project, although the 

 doctor and I would have gladly walked the entire 

 distance and carried a light pack into the bargain. 

 Still it was imperative that we should have horses to 

 carry the provisions, clothing, etc., and men owning 

 the horses didn't care about risking them on the trail. 



The next thing we tried was to find some one 

 familiar with the Lower Bear Kiver, to go down with 

 us either in a boat or canoe to its mouth, where it en- 

 ters the Frazer Kiver. There are two bad canyons in 

 the Bear Kiver which at certain stages of the water are 

 dangerous. One man who went through four years ago 

 told us that no money could hire him to undertake it 

 again. 



There were accounts of another man who had made 

 his will before risking the trip, and yet he came out 

 alive ; of another who had swamped, but was saved. 

 This man we met a strong, robust young fellow. He 

 agreed with us that if we would pay for a new boat 

 and give him ten dollars per day he would take us 

 through to the Frazer by way of the Bear Kiver. We 

 therefore engaged him, and he promised faithfully to 

 meet us at the mouth of Bear Lake on September 26th 

 to start on the following morning. 



In accordance with this agreement, Dr. Hughes and 



