258 ! Journal of a Voyage through the 



to pursue this plan, that they threw every thing which 

 they had into the river, except their blankets. I was all 

 this time sitting patiently on a stone, and indulging the 

 hope that, when their frantic terror had subsided, their 

 returning reason would have disposed them to perceive 

 the rashness of their project; but when I observed that 

 they persisted in it, I no longer remained a silent listener 

 to their passionate declarations, but proceeded to emplov 

 such arguments as I trusted would turn them from their 

 senseless and impracticable purpose. After reproving 

 my young Indian in very severe terms, for encouraging 

 the rest to follow their mad design of passing the moun- 

 tains, I addressed myself generally to them, stating the 

 difficulty of ascending the mountains, the eternal snows 

 with which they were covered, our small stock of provi- 

 sions, which two days would exhaust, and the consequent 

 probability that we should perish with cold and hunger. 

 I urged the folly of being affected by the alarm of danger 

 which might not exist, and if it did, I encouraged them 

 with the means we possessed of surmounting it. Nor did 

 I forget to urge the inhumanity and injustice of leaving 

 the poor sick Indian to languish and die. I also added, 

 that as my particular object had been accomplished, I had 

 now no other but our common safety; that the sole wish of 

 my heart was to employ the best means in my power, and 

 to pursue the best method which my understanding could 

 suggest, to secure them and myself from every danger 

 that might impede our return. 



My steersman, who had been with me for five years in 

 that capacity, instantly replied that he was ready to follow 

 me wherever I should go, but that he would never again 

 enter that canoe, as he had solemnly sworn he would not, 

 while he was in the rapid. His example was followed by 

 all the rest, except two, who embarked with Mr. Mackay,*" 

 myself, and the sick Indian. The current, however, was 

 so strong, that we dragged up the greatest pail of the way, 

 by the branches of trees. Our progress, as may be ima- 

 gined, was very tedious, and attended with uncommon 

 labour ; the party who went by land being continually 

 obliged to Wait for us. Mr. Mackay's gun was carried out 

 of the canoe and lost, at a time when we appeared to stand 

 in very great need of it, as two canoes, with sixteen o r 



* It is but common justice to him, to mention in this place that I had 

 every, reason to be satisfied with his conduct. 



