86 COURSE DETERMINED. 



" We can descend the Fraser afterwards/' he said, " and 

 reach New Westminster before winter. If we went 

 north we should have to winter in the mountains, and 

 I do not think that would be prudent in an unknown 

 country, where there may or may not be resources 

 sufficient to support us." 



Gaultier did not offer any opinion of his own as 

 to any particular route, but he said that he doubted 

 the wisdom of undertaking such a journey as that 

 which Jake suggested, through regions where prob- 

 ably few white men had ever penetrated, and which 

 must be inhabited by fierce and dangerous tribes. 



" Wai, young fellurs," said Jake, " it's all one to this 

 coon whur we goes ; though I reckon that ef we want 

 skins we'd better go whur they grows. That's all I 

 hev to say." 



" Can we ascend the Peace in our canoe, Jake ? " 

 asked Pierre ; " I have never been up it further than 

 Fort Vermilion." 



" I han't neither," answered the old hunter ; " but ef 

 we goes that-a-way I reckon that we'll be able to canoe 

 it for long enuff fust afore we hev to give in." 



Finally, then, it was determined to ascend the Peace, 

 and to trust to chance for being able to get through 

 with the canoe. 



In the meantime, free from care, the hunters floated 

 down the Athabasca, conversing on the productions of 

 the country, or on their prospects of a successful trip. 

 At times Pierre woke the echoes with a light-hearted 



