it fordable. So they all passed round, thereby avoiding the inland path, which is excessively fatiguing by reason of the hills, which it is necessary perpetually to mount and descend.[166] We encamped, to the number of seven, at the entrance of what at high water might be a lake, but was then but a flat of blackish sand, with a narrow channel in the centre. Here we made an excellent supper on the wild ducks, while those who were behind had nothing to eat.
{297} CHAPTER XXIV
Arrival at the Fort of the Mountains—Description of this
Post—Some Details in Regard to the Rocky Mountains—Mountain
Sheep, &c.—Continuation of the Journey—Unhappy
Accident—Reflections—News from Canada—Hunter's
Lodge—Pimbina and Red Deer Rivers.
On the 19th we raised our camp and followed the shore
of the little dry lake, along a smooth sandy beach, having
abandoned our little bark canoe, both because it
had become nearly unserviceable, and because we knew
ourselves to be very near the Rocky Mountains House.[167]
In fact, we had not gone above five or six miles
when we discerned a column of smoke on the opposite
side of the stream. We immediately forded across, and
arrived at the post, where we found Messrs. M'Donald,
