s or sparkle with suppressed passion--it is but just to
add that passion in his case was usually suppressed, for he was a lover
of peace, as most truly great and powerful men usually are:

"Let us see now," he said, sitting down in front of Le Roux, "how our
resources stand. In my canoe there will be the four Canadians and the
German. Then there's our Indian friend, English Chief and his two
wives, who will embark in the second-sized canoe. The two young Indians
whom we want to accompany us with their wives must make up their minds
to-night, else I will start without them. Your own canoe with goods for
trade and provisions, will not be fully loaded; I shall therefore place
in it the provisions that we can't carry, and when we come to the place
where you are to stop and trade, and where I shall bid you farewell, we
shall doubtless have eaten our lading down sufficiently to take the
whole on board. See, by the way, that the goods and trinkets to be
given in presents as we go along are not placed in the wrong canoe."

"They are already laid with the other goods, and also the nets and
ammunition by themselves," said Le Roux, rising and laying down his
pipe.

At that moment Reuben Guff entered with his friends. The surprise of
Mackenzie was great on beholding them, but greater still was his delight
when he learned their errand. The young Indians were forthwith told
that their services would not now be required, and our friends--
including Swiftarrow's wife, Darkeye--were at once added to the
exploring party.

Next day the expedition set forth from Fort Chipewyan and swept over the
broad breast of the Lake of the Hills.

We will not trace their course over known ground. Suffice it to say
that their troubles began at once. Soon after leaving the lake they
came to a rapid part of the river which flows out of it, where they were
obliged to land and carry canoes and goods to the still water further
down, but here the ice was still unthawed on the banks, rendering the
process of reloading difficult. Soon after they came to a place called
the _Portage_ _d'Embarras_, which is occasioned by driftwood filling up
the channel of the river. There they entered the Slave River, where
there is a portage or carrying-place named the Mountain, the landing at
which is very steep and close to the fall. Below this fall there is a
mile of dangerous rapids--and here they met with their first disaster.

Reuben and Swiftarrow having