154 Mackenzie’s Voyages

they disputed and quarrelled among themselves. About sunset the canoe struck on a snag which tore a hole in the bottom, whereupon the crew unburdened themselves of their pent-up wrath without reserve. “‘I left them as soon as we were landed and ascended an elevated bank in a state of mind which I scarce wish to recollect, and I shall not attempt to describe.”

On Friday, 28 June, their canoe, now an absolute wreck, compelled them to build a new one, which they began in latitude 53° 2’ 32”.1 The work was well forward next day, and Mackenzie, who had regained his poise and felt himself again master of the situation, took the opportunity to “un- fold his sentiments” to his men by lecturing the foreman of the canoe-making job, “‘who, though a good man, was remarkable for the tardiness of his operations.” This, of course, was not Mackay, who, except for his laxity in letting guides escape on several occasions during the small hours, was in all other respects a man deserving of praise. ‘The leader left nothing unsaid, and the man was much mortified that he had been singled out when, as a matter of fact, he did not deserve Mackenzie’s displeasure more than the others. This, however, was Mackenzie’s method of having it out with his crew, for while addressing the foreman of the canoe- builders, he was really laying down the law to the crowd, for he intimated that he was no stranger to their late con- versations, from whence he concluded that they wished to put an end to the voyage. He suggested that they should be explicit and tell him at once of their determination not to follow him farther. He concluded by saying that what- ever plan they had meditated to pursue, it was his fixed and unalterable determination to proceed, in spite of every difficulty that might oppose, or danger that should threaten

1 Canoe Island is about two miles above Cottonwood River.