50 Srr ALEXANDER MACKENZIE

spent in opening trade with the Red-Knife
Indians, a new canoe was purchased, and a
guide secured. Leroux was left behind to
continue the trade and to build a fort if he
found it worth while.

“We left this place at three this morning,
our canoe being deeply laden, as we had
embarked some packages that had come in
the canoes of M. Leroux. We were saluted
on our departure with some vollies of small
arms, which we returned.” The limits of
previous journeys had now been passed, and
they were facing the unknown; Pond’s con-
jectures and Indian reports were all Macken-
zie had to guide him, and from these he knew
that the exit from the lake was at its western
end. For four arduous days they coasted
along the dangerous north shore, menaced by
floating ice and by high winds which rapidly
raise a heavy sea in the broad waters of the
western part of the lake. The guide proved
useless and led them out of their way; his con-
duct so enraged the English Chief that he
threatened to kill him. At last, on rounding
a point on the morning of June 29, they found