om McPherson in canoes.'
This party had four Indian boys, who expected to take nine
days to get back to McPherson. This man must have gone on
down the Bell River alone.

"Did five hours before lunch, and six after, and still no
LaPierre House. Traveled until 10.15 and stopped to cook.
Rigged a light outrigger for our canoe for night travel,
which might be dangerous. We've got to travel day and night,
and take turns steering. Don't think we got over three and a
half to four miles an hour, it may be three miles only, but
think we did thirty-five miles to-day. No game and no fish
but a few grayling in the morning. We feel a little bit
glum. We can't tell where we are. Rigged a short sail, and
it helped us a little bit. Mosquitoes not quite so bad.
Making slower time than we hoped.

"_Tuesday, July 29th._--Tried to sleep in boat, and didn't
do very well. I steered part of the night, and Uncle Dick
part of the time. At 7 A.M. made LaPierre House. It is
eighty miles from the summit at least, and that is fully
twice as far as we were told that it was! Some said it was
only thirty miles beyond the summit. Saw signs where raft
had been built--maybe some Indians coming down-stream for
their winter quarters. Heard a man started across McPherson
to LaPierre House on the land trail with two dogs. Too much
plunder, and he nearly died. Don't know where he is now.
Rain and cold all day.

"Ate at midnight. We take turns paddling the best we can,
but John and Jesse get pretty tired. We let them sleep more.
Weather dismal and cold. It is hard for two to sleep in our
canoe and two to run it at night. Have been wet and cold a
good deal.

"_Wednesday, July 30th._--Breakfast in rain. Built a big
fire. We slept a little where we could be warm. Off at
12.50. Found a big river coming in from the left, and knew
that it must be the Porcupine. Struck it about 2 o'clock. A
big wind coming up-stream. At first we thought the Porcupine
was running to the left. Of course it had to run to the
right. Found the wind hard to buck with the canoe, so that
we stood still sometimes. At 6.30 went ashore, built a log
fire, and dried our clothes and beds. Everything very wet.
John and Jesse very tired and shivering. Both seem pretty
near exhausted. Wind b