peech made by Reuben will suffice to describe the spirit that
animated him.

"It don't do, Lawrence," said he, "to go for to interfere wi' them as
leads. Be they wise or be they foolish it on'y makes matters wus to
interfere wi' leaders, my lad; therefore it's best _always_ to hold your
tongue an' do yer dooty. What Monsieur Mackenzie is, it ain't for the
likes of you and me to pretend for to judge. He _seems_ to me an able,
brave, and wise man, so my colours is nailed to the mast, d'ye see--as
was said by the immortal Lord Nelson--an' I've made up my mind to follow
him to the end, through thick and thin. It's little right I would have
to claim to be a pioneer if I didn't hold them sentiments."

"Them sentiments," we need scarcely add, were heartily echoed by his
Indian friend and his son.

The appearance of deserted native encampments still further confirmed
Mackenzie in his belief that he had at length reached the land of the
Esquimaux. Round their fireplaces were found scattered pieces of
whalebone, and spots were observed where train-oil had been spilt. The
deserted huts also corresponded in construction with those which were
known to be built elsewhere by the denizens of the far north. Several
runners of sledges were also found, and the skulls of a large animal,
which was conjectured to be the walrus. Here the land was covered with
short grass and flowers, though the earth was not thawed above four
inches from the surface; beneath that all was frozen hard.

The pioneers had now at last reached the entrance of what appeared to be
a lake, which was in the neighbourhood of the Polar Sea, if not that sea
itself; but the variety of channels, the strength of currents, the
shallowness of the water and quantity of ice with which it was beset,
with the ignorance of their guide, rendered it impossible to make any
further advance that season. The object of the expedition, however, had
been accomplished. The largest northern river of America, estimated at
2000 miles in length, had been traced from its source to its outlet in
the Polar Sea; the nature of the country and its inhabitants had been
ascertained; coal and copper ore had been discovered; the region had
been wrenched from the realms of _terra incognita_, and the energetic
pioneer fixed the position of his most northerly discoveries in 69
degrees 7 minutes north latitude. Another fact which proved that they
were within the influence of the sea was the rise