We fully expected to reach our destination in the course of a few days, and set to work to prepare our raft with great confidence. This occupied the whole of the 26th, for we determined to use very large timber, for greater safety. We worked away in relays, and between the spells of labour washed for gold, but did not succeed in finding any traces of it. The sand at the side and in the bed of the river was full of innumerable particles of shining talc, which glistened very brightly in the sun, and The Assiniboine, believing it to be gold, drew our attention to it as an encouraging sign that we were approaching our destination. The waters rose during the day, and were a foot higher by evening, sinking to their former level during the night: the alternate effect of the sun and night frosts on the mountain snows. The weather was bright and oppressively hot, and the mosquitoes and tiny sand-flies so numerous that we could obtain little sleep. By evening we had all the timber cut and carried down to the water’s edge ready to tie together. On the morning of the 27th, Mr. O’B., one of whose good qualities was early rising, surpassed himself--whether in consequence of being disturbed by mosquitoes, or from anxiety for the public good, remains uncertain--and turned out with the earliest peep of dawn. Rousing Cheadle, with the request that he would get up immediately, as he had something of importance to communicate, he took him aside and said, “In the first place, Doctor, I hope that you and Assiniboine will be very careful indeed in crossing the river, for you know I think you managed very badly indeed last time, I may say disgracefully so. It was a mercy we were not all drowned; look what an escape _I_ had! Now, if you will take my advice, you will keep perfectly cool and collected-- _animosus et fortis appare_--but _æquo animo_, you know; not shout at one another as you did before; Assiniboine quite frightened me with his strong language. But I have a very particular favour to ask, and that is, that you and Lord Milton will agree to postpone crossing the river until to-morrow, for I am oppressed with a most fearful presentiment that if we make the attempt to-day we shall all be lost--every one of us drowned, Doctor. Think of the responsibility, before it is too late; you and his lordship are answerable for our lives.”