Unconscious of the dangers gathering round, and little suspecting the dreadful scenes so shortly to be enacted in this region, we drove merrily along in the stage. As we went farther west, the prairies became more extensive, timber more scarce, and human habitations more rare. Prairie chickens and ducks were plentiful along the road, and the driver obligingly pulled up to allow us to have a shot whenever a chance occurred. On the third day we struck Red River, and stayed the night at Fort Abercrombie; and the following day, the 18th of July, arrived at Georgetown. The stage did not run beyond this point, and the steamer, by which we intended to proceed to Fort Garry, was not expected to come in for several days, so that we had every prospect of seeing more of Georgetown than we cared for. CHAPTER II. Georgetown--Minnesota Volunteers--The Successful Hunters--An Indian Hag--Resolve to go to Fort Garry in Canoes--Rumours of a Sioux Outbreak--The Half-breeds refuse to Accompany us-- Prepare to Start Alone--Our Canoes and Equipment--A Sioux War Party--The Half-breed’s Story--Down Red River--Strange Sights and Sounds--Our First Night Out--Effects of the Sun and Mosquitoes--Milton Disabled--Monotony of the Scenery--Leaky Canoes--Travelling by Night--The “Oven” Camp--Hunting Geese in Canoes--Meet the Steamer--Milton’s Narrow Escape--Treemiss and Cheadle follow Suit--Carried Down the Rapids--Vain Attempts to Ascend--A Hard Struggle--On Board at last--Start once more--Delays--Try a Night Voyage Again--The “Riband Storm”-- “In Thunder, Lightning, and in Rain”--Fearful Phenomena--Our Miserable Plight--No Escape--Steering in Utter Darkness-- Snags and Rocks--A Long Night’s Watching--No Fire--A Drying Day--Another Terrible Storm--And Another--Camp of Disasters-- Leave it at last--Marks of the Fury of the Storms--Provisions at an End--Fishing for Gold-eyes--A Day’s Fast--Slaughter of Wild-Fowl--Our Voracity--A Pleasant Awakening--Caught up by the Steamer--Pembina--Fort Garry--La Ronde--We go under Canvass.