66 ARRIVAL AT THE COAST 



Comforter coolly affirmed that we would never be able to cross the 

 the Grand Muskeg which was described as being infinitely worse 

 than the famous Dismal Swamp of Virginia. We were filled with 

 all manner of conjectures. One would tell us we could not cross 

 the rivers on our way and others said we would never get through 

 the Rocky Mountains. The end of it all was that Horetzky de- 

 cided to take the bit in his teeth and do what he thought best. 

 I may say here that it was Horetzky who had charge of Mr. Flem- 

 ing's party all the way from Fort Garry and, as he was an old 

 Hudson's Bay Company's clerk, he knew how to deal with the 

 half-breeds and Indians, therefore I was quite safe in being his 

 companion. 



'These conflicting and adverse statements, although rather 

 disheartening, did not prevent my choice of some well-defined 

 course and I determined to strike across the country to Fort As- 

 siniboine on the Athabasca and thence over the swampy and 

 barren grounds intervening between it and the Lesser Slave Lake. 

 But we had to bide our time. 



"Two Hudson Bay clerks, then at Edmonton, had received 

 peremptory instructions from their superior officer at Fort Garry 

 to immediately proceed to New Caledonia by way of Peace River 

 and, as a matter of course, all the resources of Edmonton in the 

 way of horses, men, and provisions were laid under contribution 

 in order to expedite their journey. Notwithstanding these draw- 

 backs, I set about making preparations for the journey as fast as 

 it could be done under the circumstances, but little assistance, 

 however, could be expected from the Company until Messrs. 

 Young and King had been disposed of. On the second of Sep- 

 tember, these gentlemen's preparations being completed, they took 

 their departure, kindly promising to smooth the way for us by 

 leaving advice of our expected advent at every post they should 

 pass, and, whilst bidding us farewell, expressed the wish that we 

 should meet again, only on the west side of the Rocky Mountains, 

 as they would travel with customary Hudson Bay celerity. The 

 Botanist, whose countenance during our affecting leave-taking of 

 Messrs. Young and King had assumed a rueful and comically sad 

 expression, especially upon their allusion to our keeping the rear 



