88 Mackenzie’s Voyages

the air was filled with bustle and clamour; every wind was
heralded by a hurrying flight of wild-fowl who thus preceded
the storms. ‘he men needed no spur; they were on the
home-stretch and toiled steadily southward, paddling, sailing,
tracking and portaging with as much eagerness as the
moving hosts which continually passed them, darkening the
air with their myriads,

Five days after entering Slave River they had successfully
carried around the Portage des Noyés and encamped at the
upper end to dry their clothes, some of which were almost
rotten. Again the series of rapids had to be passed and their
canoes and what remained of their supplies carried eight hun- »
dred and twenty paces around Pelican Rapids, three hundred
and thirty-five around Mountain, one thousand at the next,
one thousand at the Portage d’Embarras, and three hundred
and eighty over the upper one, which brought them thank-
fully once more to Dog River, where it may be supposed
that they breathed easily and felt themselves virtually at the
end of all their toils and difficulties, Camp was made here
at four in the afternoon as all were in a state of great fatigue.
Some hours’ sailing helped them along next day, but there
were frequent showers of rain in the forenoon and two
“‘shower of snow” in the afternoon.

They ran into a war-party of the Knisteneaux in the even-
ing consisting of three men, five women, and children, who
from absolute hunger had separated from the main body
while in the enemy’s country, where in the course of their
wanderings they met a family of the hostile tribe whom they
destroyed. ‘They had no idea what had become of their
friends. These people appear to have been great sufferers
from their expedition. Mackenzie gave them some medical
attention, and provided them with necessary food and
ammunition.