e imagination of this youth--Coppernose, as Lawrence
Guff facetiously styled him--was so wrought upon by the dreadful
description of the great river, that he manifested a strong desire to
draw back; but by the timely addition of a small kettle, an axe, a
knife, and a few beads to the gifts already bestowed on him, he was
eventually persuaded to venture.

Before departing, poor Coppernose took a ceremonious leave of his
family. He cut off a lock of his hair, and divided it into three parts.
One of these he fastened to the top of his wife's head, and blew on it
three times with the utmost violence, at the same time uttering certain
cabalistic words. The other two portions he fastened with the same
formalities to the heads of his two children.

Even at the last he hesitated, and was finally made to enter the canoe
more by force than by persuasion!

A few days later, and our pioneers were fairly embarked on the great
river, whose course to the mouth it was their object to explore.

The expedition was now somewhat reduced, owing to Monsieur Le Roux
having been left behind. It consisted of three canoes--the large one
with Mackenzie and five men; a small one, with English Chief and his two
wives, and Coppernose; and another small one, containing Reuben, his
son, Swiftarrow, and Darkeye. Two of the Canadians were also attended
by their wives; so that the party numbered sixteen souls, five of whom
were women. They all kept company as much as possible, but English
Chief was frequently left behind by the large canoe; while Reuben and
his friends, being the hunters as we have said, were necessarily absent
for considerable periods in search of game.

One evening as they were descending a beautiful sweep of the river under
sail in grand style, the English Chief--leaning composedly back in his
canoe, while his right hand slightly moved the steering paddle, and his
teeth grasped his beloved pipe--said quietly to Coppernose, of course in
the Indian tongue--

"A pretty guide you are, not to know something more about a river so
near to your own wigwam."

Coppernose, who was a humble-minded man, smiled slightly, and shook his
head as he said--

"All red men are not so adventurous as the English Chief. I never had
occasion to travel in this direction, and do not know the way."

"Boo!" ejaculated English Chief; meaning, no doubt, fiddlededee!

"But I know of a river," continued Coppernose, "which falls into this
one from th