88 Sir ALEXANDER MACKENZIE

paid no heed, and walked forward to observe
the river. Seeing that further progress by
water was impossible, he sent Mackay and
some men in the morning to look for a port-
age. They came back at sunset with the news
that they had succeeded in reaching the top
of the canyon after going nine miles through
very thick woods. “A kettle of wild rice,
sweetened with sugar, which had been pre-
pared for their return, with the usual regale
of rum, soon renewed that courage which dis-
dained all obstacles which threatened our
progress.” Next day (May 22) was almost
wholly consumed in getting the baggage and
canoe from the riverside up the precipice; the
canoe had to be warped up by a line fastened
to trees, so steep was the climb. They spent
two days more in forcing their way to the end
of the portage, across hill and valley and
through the débris of a forest fire. They
emerged on the 24th, exhausted and torn by
thorns, at the head of the rapids at a spot
where the great river narrowed to a width of
thirty-five yards and began a zig-zag course,
dashing in huge waves from cliff to cliff.