of our course considerably[.] We now went on straight and got to Riviere a La Souris where the bad weather detained us several days without making much progress. The snow was now very deep and fatiguing for the Horses[.] Morrison made trains which however did not avail us much – we soon passing again through the plains we threw them away[.] The Horses began to fail and I dispatched Morrison to a head to the Fort for assistance[.] Having come to a lake we pierced the ice ice for water – but there was none the water being shallow it was all frozen to the very bottom[.] To make amends for this misfortune what was to us an additional misfortune – we collected ice into heaps wood being near we lighted fire on the top which in measure as the ice melted the horses licked of the ice liquid – and served them as drink[.] At length plenty of men and dogs came to meet us and took charge of our baggage[.] Roi and I Kept the horses in charge – but unfortunately they gave up and we were I was under the disagreeable necessity of leaving them in the middle of a large plain without without Shelter or and without provender – excepting what they could scrape scrape from under the snow – my own two horses were of the number[.] They were my only property nor had I scarcely a shirt to my back nor a blanket to sleep in at the time[.] Next day we got to the Fort – which was the twenty third day from the Mississouri[.] The desertion of the men at the Mandanes – the failure of the horses on the way injured my reception with M^r Rocheblave[.] However when my returns were examined and the horses recovered my journey was thought more of and I had no reason left to complain. End.

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