st trembling eagerness, till, greatly to my
joy, from the small bright spot caused by the concentrated rays a thin
thread of smoke began to ascend and spread over the moss. This I blew
gently, placing over it a few twigs at a time, until I soon had a brisk
fire burning.

The place where I had lighted my fire was not one at which I wished to
camp, but once having a fire, I could carry a burning brand and ignite
another in some more convenient situation. I was not long in selecting
a spot close under a rock, where I soon had a fire blazing up. I thus
had warmth, although I was still destitute of wholesome food; and,
indeed, I found myself weaker than I had ever before been.

I was not of a disposition to give way to despondency, but sombre
thoughts would intrude. I began to fear that I might not be able to
rejoin my friends; that they, unable to find me, would suppose that I
had met with some accident, and would at length make their way to the
fort by themselves. Had I possessed my rifle and knapsack, I should
have had no fear on the subject, but the only means I had of obtaining
food were precarious; and I could not cast off the thought that, should
I continue to grow weaker, I might ultimately perish.

I was soon shown, however, that I ought not to have desponded. I was
more successful with my beaver traps than I had expected; and,
imperfectly formed as they were, I caught no less than three animals in
them, which afforded me ample food, and greatly restored my strength.

Pushing on over a wooded height, I saw below me a beautiful lake two or
three miles long, and almost as many broad. I hastened down to its
shore, and having caught some grasshoppers on the way, I quickly had my
line in the water. Having chosen a favourable spot, scarcely a moment
had passed before I hauled out a salmon-trout a pound or more in weight.
In half an hour I had caught a dozen--as many as I could carry. I
therefore camped and cooked some of the fish, which afforded me a more
satisfactory supper than I had eaten for many days.

Seeing a stream running out of the lake, I next morning followed its
course. I cannot describe the beautiful waterfalls which I passed on my
way, or the scenery, which was altogether very fine. I hastened along,
believing that the stream, from the direction it took, would lead to an
outlet among the mountains.

I had thus gone on for some miles, when the canon down which I was
travelling widened, and s