190 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



ficient quantity of deer-skins for winter 

 clothing for themselves, and dresses for the 

 Canadians, who would need them if they 

 had to travel in the winter." Finding him 

 so averse to proceed, and feeling at the 

 same time how essential his continuance 

 with us was, not only to our future success, 

 but even to our existence during the winter, 

 I closed the conversation here, intending to 

 propose to him next morning, some modifi- 

 cation of the plan, which might meet his 

 approbation. Soon after we were gone, 

 however, he informed Mr. Wentzel, with 

 whom he was in the habit of speaking con- 

 fidentially, that as his advice was neglected, 

 his presence was useless, and he should, 

 therefore, return to Fort Providence with 

 his hunters, after he had collected some 

 winter provision for us. Mr. Wentzel hav- 

 ing reported this to me, the night was 

 passed in great anxiety, and after weighing 

 all the arguments that presented themselves 

 to my mind, I came reluctantly to the de- 

 termination of relinquishing the intention o 

 going any distance down the river this sea* 



