280 Thirty Years 



northward of Rum Lake, and holds a course to the 

 sea parallel to the Copper-Mine.) In short, their 

 despondency had returned, and they all despaired of 

 seeing Fort Enterprize again. However, the steady 

 assurances of the officers, that we were actually on the 

 hanks of the Copper-Mine Eiver, and that the dis- 

 tance to Fort Enterprize did not exceed forty miles, 

 made some impression upon them, which was increas- 

 ed upon our finding some bear-herry plants, which is 

 reported by the Indians not to grow to the eastward 

 of that river. Then they deplored their folly and im- 

 patience in breaking the canoe, being all of opinion, 

 that had it not been so completely demolished on the 

 23d, it might have been repaired sufficiently to take 

 the party over. We again closely interrogated Pel- 

 tier and Vaillant as to its state, with the intention of 

 Bending for it ; but they persisted in the declaration, 

 that it was in a totally unserviceable condition. 

 Si. Germain being again called upon, to endeavor to 

 construct a canoe frame from willows, stated that he 

 was unable to make one sufficiently large. It became 

 .iry, therefore, to Bearch for pines of sufficient 

 size to form a raft ; and being aware that such trees 

 grow on the borders of Point Lake, we considered it 



to tracfi its shores in search of them ; we, there- 

 lure, resumed our march, carefully looking, but in 



vain, iui- a fordable part, and encamped at the cast 

 end of I'nint Lake. 



