The spring was now fast approaching, the ice so bad as to render travelling dangerous, and but little snow on the ground.  Still, I determined on paying a visit to these Indians, in order to retrieve the loss, if possible, sustained through the mismanagement of the interpreter.  They might yet be in want of some supplies, poor fellows; and we were all so anxious they should want for nothing we could spare for their accommodation;—­we, therefore, good, humane souls, supplied them even at the hazard of our lives.

CHAPTER IX.

EXPEDITION TO THE BEAR’S DEN—­PASSAGE THROUGH THE SWAMP—­CUNNING OF THE INDIANS—­A SCUFFLE—­ITS RESULTS.

I set off on this trip accompanied by another interpreter recently sent from Montreal, and one of my men, all with heavy burdens on our backs, the season not allowing the use of sledges.  The second day we arrived at an Indian lodge about half-way to the Bear’s Camp, where I learned that our opponent at the lower outpost had given our people the slip, but had been induced to return from the supposition that the extensive swamp in his way was impassable, being so inundated as to present the appearance of a lake.  Urged on, however, by youthful ardour and ambition, I determined to make at least one attempt ere I relinquished the enterprise; although I acknowledge that the idea of overcoming difficulties deemed insurmountable by an opponent, had as much to do with the resolution as the desire of doing my duty.  Followed by my men, I accordingly plunged in, along the margin of the marsh; the water reached our middle, but we found it to decrease in depth as we proceeded, though never below the knee.  The water being very cold, our legs soon became quite benumbed; nevertheless we moved onward.  A certain passage in history occurred to my mind, which records the perseverance of a great man in a like situation.  I too persevered, though with a different object in view.  We all have our hobbies.  I waded for furs, he for glory.  We occasionally met with large trunks of trees as we proceeded, on which we mounted, and restored the circulation to our limbs by stamping upon them; and thus, after five or six hours’ painful exertion we reached dry land, where a rousing fire and a hearty breakfast made us soon forget the miseries of the swamp.

We reached the old bear’s den next evening, who, with his party, expressed much surprise to see me at such a season, and in recompense for my exertions, “traded"[1] every article of goods I had.

    [1] Anglice,—­bought.

There were here seven Indians, who, notwithstanding the frequent visits that had been paid them, in the course of the winter, by the people of the lower posts, had still upwards of forty packs of beaver.  I got one pack, with which I set off on my return, pleased enough.  We found the water in the swamp so far subsided as to permit an easy passage; but the ice on the Grand River was so much worse that we were compelled to travel in the woods the greater part of the way.