Leaving Daniel in charge of the remaining horses, we crossed on foot the fatal river, and with a single horse set out for Carlton.  From the high north bank I took one last look back at the South Saskatchewan-it lay in its broad deep valley glittering in one great band of purest ’snow; but I loathed the sight of it, while the small round open hole, dwarfed to a speck by distance, marked the spot where my poor horse had found his grave, after having carried me so faithfully through the long lonely wilds.  We had travelled about six miles when a figure appeared in sight, coming towards us upon the same track.  The new-comer proved to be a Cree Indian travelling to Fort Pelly.  He bore the name of the Starving Bull.  Starving Bull and his boy at once turned back With us towards Carlton.  In a little while a party of horsemen hove in sight:  they had come out from the fort to visit the South Branch, and amongst them was the Hudson Bay officer in charge of the station.  Our first question had reference to the plague.  Like a fire, it had burned itself out.  There was no case then in the fort, but out of the little garrison of some sixty souls no fewer than thirty-two had perished!  Four only had recovered of the thirty-six who had taken the terrible infection.

We halted for dinner by the edge of the Duck Lake; midway between the North and South Branches of the Saskatchewan.  It was a rich, beautiful country, although the snow lay some inches deep.  Clumps of trees dotted the undulating surface, and lakelets glittering in the bright sunshine spread out in sheets of dazzling whiteness.  The Starving Bull set himself busily to work preparing our dinner.  What it would have been under ordinary circumstances, I cannot state; but, unfortunately for its success on the present occasion, its preparation was attended with unusual drawbacks.  Starving Bull had succeeded in killing a skunk during his journey.  This performance, while highly creditable to his energy as a hunter, was by no means conducive to his success, as a cook.  Bitterly did that skunk revente himself upon us who had borne no part in his destruction.  Pemmican is at no time a delicacy; but pemmican flavoured with skunk was more than I could attempt.  However, Starving Bull proved himself worthy of his name, and the frying-pan was-soon scraped clean under his hungry manipulations.

Another hour’s ride brought us to a high bank, at the base of which lay the North Saskatchewan.  In the low ground adjoining the river stood Carlton House, a large square enclosure, the wooden walls of which were more than twenty feet in height.  Within these palisades some dozen or more houses stood crowded together.  Close by, to the right, many snow-covered mounds with a few rough wooden crosses above them marked the spot where, only four weeks before, the last Victim of the epidemic had been laid.  On the very spot where I stood looking at this sceiqe, a Blackfoot Indian, three years earlier, had stolen out from a