ae Skat aateres a ee a 4 by y f ras Se Bee matty eer ees SNRs fp ents Ei ra a Te PSP LR I at eS TE PRRCE LR TG WCE Cea ree Pies re eps aie a peer Sees ~< TO CARIBOO AND BACK }-- CHAPTER ELEVEN WHERE WAS BETTY? It was the beginning of September before the travellers were ready to launch their rafts and trust themselves to the dangers of the river about which the Indians told such frightening tales. Yet those same Indians assured them that Fort George was only ten “sleeps” away, sup- posing they should have the good fortune to survive the rapids, rocks, and falls that lay ahead and escape shipwreck on the way. The professor was merely a traveller like the rest, but he was looked upon as the head of his own party; and indeed of all the Ontario people, because of his age and superior learning. Whenever there was a dispute or conflicting opinions it was he who gave the decision which was generally a wise one. He had been called on to name the captains of the four rafts, and he selected La Foi as the one of most experience to go with the first raft. But for the one on [132]