ose to the fall; where,
by lifting them across a narrow point, they could place them in the
smooth water beneath. The attempt was made accordingly, by the leading
canoe; but the rock over which the current flows being smooth, and
covered with a slimy moss, the men slipped, and were in an instant
precipitated over the fall. When we saw the canoe rushing over the
brink, with the poor fellows clinging to it, we all concluded they had
reached the end of their voyage. Running down to the foot of the fall,
which was about eleven feet high, having previously ordered a canoe to
be carried across the point, and some shots to be fired to recall the
guide, who was now nearly out of sight, I was astonished to find the
canoe had not upset, although the men had got into it, and it was half
full of water, and so near the shore that I extended my arm to lay
hold of the bow. The next moment, however, the stern having come
within the influence of a whirlpool, it was hurried out into the
middle of the stream, and dashed with such violence against a rock,
that the crashing of the timbers was distinctly heard from the shore.
This shock, which had nearly proved fatal to the men, threw the canoe
into an eddy, or counter-current, which whirled it to the opposite
shore, where it was about to sink when assistance came.

In the evening, we arrived at the post of Bas de la Riviere, in charge
of an Orkney-man, by name Clouston, who had risen from the ranks, and
who, seeing what small fry he had to deal with, treated us somewhat
superciliously. Our stock of provisions being exhausted, we applied to
_Maister_ Clouston for a fresh supply: he granted us what I thought
very inadequate to our wants; but he said it was all that was allowed
by the Governor for the passage of the Lake. Here M. Thibaud found two
men with a small canoe, who had been sent by the Bishop of Red River
to convey him to his destination, waiting his arrival. We parted with
feelings of mutual regret.

We left this post late on the 16th, and had proceeded but a short
distance on the Lake, when a strong head wind compelled us to put
ashore. We now experienced constant bad weather, never completing a
day's sailing without interruption from some cause or other; and in
consequence of these delays, it was found necessary to curtail our
allowance of provisions. On the 20th, we pitched our tents near a camp
of Sauteux, from whom the men procured a small quantity of sturgeon,
in exchange fo