day of Snyder's
inquiry. Snyder, fearing the worst, became alarmed. He wired the
Commissioner as to the situation, and at the same time called Corporal
Dempster from Forty Mile and instructed him to get ready a party to go
in search of the lost patrol. The Commissioner flashed back instructions
to send out a search party, and it went without delay. It is evident
from his telegram that the Commissioner, who knew the perils of the
trail and had his hand on every part of the country, thought the trouble
was with the failure of the guide, because he asks why the Indian, who
was mentioned by Snyder, was discharged, and in order that no undue
risks be taken he says, "Send a well-outfitted party."

The party sent out was fully up to requirements. Corporal Dempster was a
noted traveller of those Yukon trails, and at the date of this writing
is out on the same difficult route, his strength unbroken by the
intervening years. For his party in search of Fitzgerald he chose
Constable Fyfe, ex-Constable Turner, and an Indian, Charles Stewart.
They had all been over the country again and again, and so knew it well.
They were all eager to go in the hope of reaching their missing
comrades. The broad outline of their duty was given them by
Superintendent Snyder, with the Spartan simplicity and directness
characteristic of the Mounted Police. It ran thus: "Corporal Dempster.
You will leave to-morrow for a patrol over the Fort Macpherson trail to
locate the whereabouts of Inspector Fitzgerald's party. Indians from
Macpherson reported him on New Year's Day at Mountain Creek. Fair
travelling from Mountain Creek is about twenty days to Dawson. I
understand that at Hart, no matter which route he took, he would have to
cross the divide. I think it would be advisable to make for this point
and take up his trail from there. I cannot give you any specific
instructions; you will have to be guided by circumstances and your own
judgment, _bearing in mind that nothing is to stand in your way until
you have got into touch with this party_."

Dempster and his men made a record trip, both going to Macpherson and
coming back. And this they did despite the fact that they had to face
high winds, blinding snowstorms and flooded ice, besides searching the
rivers that branched off the main route. They arrived back in Dawson on
April 17, 1911, gaunt and haggard. "It's the hardest patrol I ever
made," said Dempster, and that not by the perils of the way, which