162 Mackenzie’s Voyages

threatened to leave. Concluding that the distance? to salt
water was longer than they had expected, Mackenzie again
reduced their rations by one-third, which brought the amount
down to less than one-half of the normal allowance.

The river 2 thought to bea branch of the Fraser was crossed
again on a raft after a day’s travel through a country in which
no less than seven lakes were seen. Their guide finally left
them on the pretence of hurrying forward to warn the
tribes of their coming.

Once again Mackenzie found himself confronted by
distressing uncertainties, for here at a cross-roads, he was
without guidance, and his people, as on former occasions,
were recalcitrant, and expressed their desire to return;
but once again the leader persuaded them that it was, on the
whole, more convenient to proceed. The distance now could
not be great, the number of tribes to pass had decreased,
and those that they would now meet, having seen white men
before, would be disposed to treat the party with kindness.

As they were now surrounded with snow-clad mountains,
it was so cold that, with all their exercise, it was impossible
to keep warm. Consequently, their camps did not afford
them much comfort during the hours of sleep. “About
five, after we had warmed ourselves at a large fire, we pro-
ceeded on our dubious journey.” In an hour’s time they
came to a house from which smoke issued. Mackenzie’s
people were in a state of alarm, and followed him to the
house with reluctance. A man fled from its shelter, and
three women and several children within shrieked with
the abandon of those who expect to be immediately massacred.
Mackenzie ordered his interpreters to speak to the man
who was fleeing, but they themselves were so agitated with

1 They were not yet half-way across.
2 The trail crosses the Blackwater several times.