Harmon's journal. 



189 



zon. Even while the light lasted, I knew not 

 which way to steer ; but it soon became so dark, 

 that I could not distinguish any object, at the 

 distance of more than ten yards from me. I had 

 no means of striking fire ; and without this cheer- 

 ing element, it would have been uncomfortable 

 and unsafe encamping. I must have suffered se- 

 verely with the cold; and might have been torn 

 in pieces by wild beasts, which are numerous in 

 this region. I concluded it best, therefore, to 

 continue walking, until the light of the morning 

 should enable me to find the bank of the river. 

 Contrary to my expectation, however, a kind 

 Providence directed my way, out of that dreary 

 swamp, where at every step, I sunk up to my 

 knees in snow, mud and water. 



With great joy, about ten o'clock, I reached 

 the river side, which I followed down, some dis- 

 tance, where I found our people, encamped 

 around a large and cheering fire. During the 

 greater part of this excursion, the rain poured 

 down in torrents. 



Wednesday, 17. North West end of the Rocky 

 Mountain Portage. In the morning, Mr. S. my- 

 self and our company, left the fort ; and, this 

 evening, we reached this place, where we find 

 some of our people, repairing four, crazy, old ca- 

 noes, in which, I should suppose that no one 



