166 FOURTH EXPLORATION, 1880 



theif outfit started off for Rapid City. Owing to the heavy rain 

 which had been falling for some days, the trail was very bad in 

 many places. Lacking experience and being accustomed neither 

 to ask nor take advice, they made little progress and camped less 

 than a mile from the Landing, after having loaded and unloaded 

 their wagon four times. Scarcely any progress was made the 

 next day and the second night they camped at a water-hole in a 

 little hollow. A Canadian, passing by, told them to pitch their 

 tent on an adjoining hill as the mosquitoes would be bad that 

 night. In response, he was informed that they knew their own 

 business. How they passed the night is not known, but, early 

 the next forenoon, they reached the Landing again, sold their 

 outfit for what they could get and were off for more congenial 

 companionship in Winnipeg. On the same boat which took them 

 back were a number of others who, like themselves, through ig- 

 norance, self-will, or cowardice, had given up in disgust. 



I was camped on the south side of the river and, late one 

 evening, three young Englishmen crossed the river with two heavy 

 loads of goods and two prairie carts. While we were remarking 

 on their foolishness for starting so late, they passed us without a 

 word and proceeded on their way towards the Brandon Hills, to 

 which they were bound. They had not gone two hundred yards 

 when an axle broke and their load fell to the ground. We went 

 up to see what was the matter and, as soon as I learned the nature 

 of the accident, I offered to loan them a cart and had my men 

 assist them in loading it up, but I advised them then to stop all 

 night where they were, or leave part of their load. The leader of 

 the party now asked me my charge for the cart and assistance 

 and, as I only laughed at him, he said they had been told before 

 they left England to hold no communication with Canadians as 

 they would charge an exorbitant price for everything they sold, 

 and do nothing for you without pay. 



We became more confidential and I told them what we 

 thought of them and how we looked on their proceedings. As I 

 advised him to leave potatoes and flour and a large trunk in his 

 broken cart during the next day, he asked would it not be stolen? 

 I informed him that only white men stole and that Indians and 



