Ture Great Journey 127

the way. They went down the Parsnip to the
Forks of the Peace in three days, compared
with eleven spent on the ascent. On the 21st
they crossed the great portage around Peace
River Canyon. On the 24th:

As we rounded a point and came in view of
the fort, we threw out our flag and accompanied
it with a general discharge of our firearms;
while the men were in such spirits and made
such an active use of their paddles that we
arrived before the two men whom we left here
in the spring could recover their senses to an-
swer us. Thus we landed at four in the after-
noon at the place which we left on the ninth

of May.

They had been absent one hundred and
sight days, seventy-five of which were spent
on the outward trip and only thirty-three on
he return. Their whole journey, except for
the few miles on the Pacific, had been through
-ountry never before seen by white men. On
his, as on the Arctic voyage, there had
een no loss of life or serious accident. The
reat riddle Mackenzie had set himself was
inswered; and he records at the end of his

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