122 Srp ALEXANDER MACKENZIE

from this to determine his longitude with approximate accuracy. “T had now deter- mined my situation,” he writes, “‘which is the most fortunate circumstance of my long, pain- ful and perilous journey, as a few cloudy days would have prevented me from ascertaining the final longitude of it.” That is the note of the true explorer.

(6) The Return

Mackenzie’s problem now was to get back to Fort Chipewyan before winter set in, with his men weary and his supplies almost gone. He had learned in England of Van- couver’s expedition, and there is some slight evidence that he had hoped to meet Van- couver’s vessels and return by sea. If he had entertained this hope, he had never built upon it; in any case it had now vanished, and the return by land must begin at once. His imme- diate situation was perilous; the hostile Indi- ans were hanging round, and Mackenzie kept the young chief with him only by force. They travelled all the night of July 22, pressing for- ward eagerly to leave their enemies behind.