BOURGEOIS - Toronto Public Library

370
CHARLES MACKENZIE
We now went on straight and got to Riviere La Souris, where
the bad weather again detained us. The snow was very deep
and fatIguing for the horses. Morrison made traines which did
not avail us much. I despached him a head to the Fort for assistance.
Having come to a lake, we pierced the ice for water
but, being shallow, we found it frozen to the bottom: we therefore
collected ice into heaps and, wood being near, we lighted
fire on the top of the heaps which, as they melted, made water
for the horses who licked them for drink.
At length Morrison returned with men and dogs who took our
baggage, I ancl one of the men took the horses in charge, but
the horses unfortunately gave up and I was under the necessity
of abandoning them. Next day, we got to the Fort, which was
the twenty third from the Missurie. The desertion of my men
at the Mandans, and the failure of the horses on the way home
cast a cold on my reception. However, when my returns were
examined and tile horses were recovered, my expedition was
.thought more of and, in the end, J had no reason to complain.