Chapter XV

We commence to Cut our Way--The Pathless Primeval Forest--
The Order of March--Trouble with our Horses: their
Perversity--Continual Disasters--Our Daily Fare--
Mount Cheadle--Country Improves only in Appearance--
Futile Attempt to Escape out of the Valley--A Glimpse of
Daylight--Wild Fruits--Mr. O’B. triumphantly Crosses
the River--The Assiniboine Disabled--New Arrangements--
Hopes of Finding Prairie-Land--Disappointment--Forest
and Mountain Everywhere--False Hopes again--Provisions
at an End--Council of War--The Assiniboine Hunts
without Success--The Headless Indian--“Le Petit Noir”
Condemned and Executed--Feast on Horse-flesh--Leave
Black Horse Camp--Forest again--The Assiniboine becomes
Disheartened--The Grand Rapid--A Dead Lock--Famishing
Horses--The Barrier--Shall we get Past?--Mr. O’B.
and Bucephalus--Extraordinary Escape of the Latter--
More Accidents--La Porte d’Enfer--Step by Step--The
Assiniboine Downcast and Disabled--Mrs. Assiniboine takes
his Place--The Provisions give out again--A Dreary Beaver
Swamp--The Assiniboine gives up in Despair--Mr. O’B.
begins to Doubt, discards Paley, and prepares to become
Insane--We kill another Horse--A Bird of Good Omen--
The Crow speaks Truth--Fresher Sign--A Trail--The Road
rapidly Improves--Out of the Forest at last! 286

CHAPTER XVI.

On a Trail Again--The Effect on Ourselves and the Horses--
The Changed Aspect of the Country--Wild Fruits--Signs of
Man Increase--Enthusiastic Greeting--Starving again--Mr.
O’B. finds Caliban--His Affectionate Behaviour to him--
The Indians’ Camp--Information about Kamloops--Bartering
for Food--Clearwater River--Cross the Thompson--The
Lily-berries--Mr. O’B. and The Assiniboine fall out--
Mr. O’B. flees to the Woods--Accuses The Assiniboine of
an attempt to Murder him--Trading for Potatoes--More
Shushwaps--Coffee and Pipes--Curious Custom of the
Tribe--Kamloops in Sight--Ho! for the Fort--Mr. O’B.
takes to his Heels--Captain St. Paul--A Good Supper--
Doubts as to our Reception--Our Forbidding Appearance--
Our Troubles at an End--Rest 311