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Journal of a Voyage through the 



house that had been partly carried away by the ice and 

 water, at a short distance below the place where we had 

 appointed to meet. Nor was our surprise and apprehen- 

 sion diminished by the alarm which was painted in their 

 countenances. When we had landed, they informed me 

 that they had taken refuge in that place, with the determi- 

 nation to sell their lives, which they considered in the 

 most imminent danger, as dear as possible. In a very 

 short time after they had left us, they met a party of the 

 Indians, whom we had known at this place, and were 

 probably those whom we had seen to land from their canoe. 

 They appeared to be in a state of extreme rage, and had 

 their bows bent, with their arrows across them. The 

 guide stopped to ask them some questions, which my peo- 

 ple did not understand, and then set off with his utmost 

 speed. Mr. Mackay, however, did not leave him till 

 they were both exhausted with running. When the young 

 man came up, he then said, that some treacherous design 

 was meditated against them, as he was induced to believe 

 from the declaration of the natives, who told him that they 

 were goingto do mischief, but refused to name the enemy. 

 The guide then conducted them through very bad ways, 

 as fast as they could run ; and when he was desired to 

 slacken his pace, he answered that they might follow him 

 in any manner they pleased, but that he was impatient to 

 get to his family, in order to prepare shoes, and other ne* 

 cessaries, for his journey. They did not, however, think 

 it prudent to quit him, and he would not stop till ten at 

 night. On passing a track that w T as but lately made, they 

 began to be seriously alarmed, and on inquiring of the 

 guide where they were, he pretended not to understand 

 them. They then all laid down, exhausted with fatigue, 

 and without any kind of covering : they were cold, wet* 

 and hungry, but dared not light a fire, from the apprehen- 

 sion of an enemy. This comfortless spot they left at the 

 dawn of day, and, on their arrival at the lodges, found 

 them deserted ; the property of the Indians being scat- 

 tered about, as if abandoned for ever. The guide then 

 made two or three trips into the woods, calling aloud, and 

 bellowing like a madman. At length he set off in the same 

 direction as they came, and had not since appeared. To 

 heighten their misery, as they did not find us at the place 

 appointed, they concluded that we were all destroyed, and 

 had already formed their plan to take to the woods, and 



