The object of the expedition being attained, the return trip was
begun, and the sight of the cached boat and provisions eagerly watched
for. On Aug. 15 the camp was sighted, but to their horror they saw
smoke issuing from the spot. It at once flashed upon their minds what
had taken place, and when they arrived they found that their fears had
been all too truly realized. Charred remains of the boat, a burned
octant, and a few unexploded cartridges were all that remained of the
meager outfit upon which they depended to take them to the mouth of
the river, a distance of over 250 miles. The camp fire, not having
been completely extinguished, had burned the boat and destroyed all
their provisions.

It was truly a hard outlook for them, but no time must be lost if
provisions were to be obtained. Hastily a raft was constructed, the
logs being bound together with spruce roots. In this way, by
alternately walking and rafting, the mouth of the river was reached
Aug. 29. On the way down the river five rafts had been made and
abandoned. The only weapon was a small pocket revolver, and with the
products of this weapon, mostly red squirrels and a few fish, they
lived until they reached the different caches. Many a meal was made of
one red squirrel divided between them, and upon such food they were
compelled to make the best time possible. On the way up the river the
shoes of one of the party had given wholly out, and he was obliged to
make a rude pair of slippers from the back of a leather pack. With
torn clothes and hungry bodies they presented a hard sight indeed when
they joined their friends at Rigolet on the 1st of September. The
party composed of Messrs. Bryant and Kenaston was passed by Cary and
Cole while on the way down, but was not seen. Probably this occurred
on Lake Waminikapon, the width of the lake preventing one party from
seeing the other. It seemed a waste of time and energy that two
expeditions in the same summer should be sent upon the same object,
but neither party knew of the intention of the other until it was too
late to turn back.

Grand River has long been a highway for the dependents of the Hudson
Bay Company. The company formerly had a post on Lake Waminikapon, and
another, called Height of Land, on the plateau. Provisions were
carried to these posts, and furs brought from them by way of Grand
River, the parties proceeding as far as the lake, and then, leaving
Grand River some distance below the canon