Original - North Central Michigan College Library

Chapter nA JOURNEY ON THE PLAINSdepartedWE at an early hour and after amarch of about two miles ascended thetable land which lies above the river,and of which the level is two hundred feethigher than that of the land on which the fortis built. From the low ground upward the soilis covered with poplar of a large growth, butthe summit of the ridge is no sooner gained thanthe wood is found to be smaller and so thinlyscattered that a wheel carriage might pass inany direction. At noon we crossed a small rivercalled Moose River, flowing at the feet of verylofty banks. Moose River is said to fall intoLake Dauphin.Beyond this stream the wood grows stillmore scanty and the land more and more level.Our course was southerly. The snow lay fourfeet deep. The Indians traveled swiftly, andin keeping pace with them my companionsand myself had too much exercise to sufferfrom the coldness of the atmosphere; but oursnowshoes being of a broader make than thoseof the Indians, we had much fatigue in followingtheir track. The women led and wemarched till sunset when we reached a smallof whichcoppice of wood, under the protection268