NORTH-WEST CONTINENT OF AMERICA.

him in thofe parts, fhould accompany me; and he:accordingly fent him

to the Fort fome days before my departure; but the preceding night he

deferted with another young man, whofe application to attend me as a
hunter, being refufed, he perfuaded the other to leave me. I now
thought it right to repeat to them what I had faid to the chief of the
firft band, refpeéting the advantages which would be derived from the
voyage, that the young men might be encouraged to remain with me;
as without them I fhould not have attempted to proceed.

The firft obje& that prefented itfelf to me this morning was the young Monday 13.

man whom I have already mentioned, as having feduced away my in-
tended guide. At any other time or place I fhould have chaftifed him
for his paft conduét, but in my fituation it was neceflary to pafs over his
offence, left he {hould endeavour to exercife the fame influence over thofe
who were fo eflential to my fervice. Of the deferter he gave no fatis-
faGtory account, but continued to exprefs his wifh to attend me in his
place, for which he did not poffefs any neceflary qualifications.

The weather was cloudy, with an appearance of rain; and the Indians

preffed me with great earneftnefs to pafs the day with them, and hoped
to prolong my ftay among them by affuring me that the winter yet
lingered in the rocky mountains: but my objeé was to lofe no time, and
having given the chief fome tobacco for a fmall quantity of meat,
we embarked at four, when my young men could not conceal their
chagrin at parting with their friends, for fo long a period as the
voyage threatened to occupy. When I had affured them that in

three moons we fhould return to them, we proceeded on our courfe,
Welt