ARRIVAL AT THE COAST 83 



Indians at that time, west of the mountains, could talk Chinook, 

 and, no matter of what tribe they were, they always understood 

 each other. We talked Chinook and enjoyed ourselves very 

 much and remained there for the evening. In the morning, when 

 we were leaving, Murdoch said to me that they had a number of 

 fine fish there and thought it would be wise if I should purchase 

 a few as our rations were getting low. I hadn't a cent of money 

 with me, but I did have a red bandanna handkerchief, that cost 

 twelve and a half cents, in my pocket. I pulled it out and held 

 it out to the old wife and let her know that I wanted fish for it, 

 and she brought out a pile of fine trout and Murdoch, who stood 

 by, took out all he wanted. 



Next day, we crossed the summit and began to go down to- 

 wards Quesnel, and we found the travelling much better, but the 

 cold increased. Our last night, before we reached Quesnel, was 

 the coldest we had experienced and it was hard work to keep 

 ourselves warm before we started to walk. Early in the after- 

 noon, we reached the Fraser opposite Quesnel and found the river 

 choked with ice moving slowly down with the current. The 

 ferry-man refused to cross and, as we had finished our provisions, 

 we were desirous to do so. He considered and then said, "If 

 you will take the risk, you may have the canoe and go over your- 

 selves, but I will not take you." Murdoch went out and took a 

 view of the river and said to me, "If you are not afraid to go I 

 will risk it." I said, "Certainly, I will go if you say you can 

 cross." After getting directions from Murdoch as to what I 

 should have to do, we entered the canoe and ran up alongside of 

 the ice about a quarter of a mile and as soon as we got an opening, 

 steered straight for the other side, but we were forced down 

 greatly by the accumulation of ice packs until, when we got past 

 Quesnel, we were still fifty yards from the shore and the whole 

 population of the village watched us. By hard work and God's 

 help, we reached the shore about one hundred yards below Quesnel 

 and were soon landed and my long journey had ended for I had 

 now only four hundred miles to go by stage and another two hun- 

 dred to Victoria and I would be in civilization again. 



I may as well mention now that I had been the ward of the 



