Did some tidying up out in the yard, got the last of the pyracantha s cut out. Men's bowls in pm and an after game beer. Hot tub in the evening and early to bed. Weather was unsettled again through the day. Seems like spring has been dragging for the last two years - global warming?

When I had followed this trail for a few miles, it began to turn more towards the east, so I left it and kept on due north, and came suddenly to the brow of a high hill or ridge that reached away to the northwest as far as I could see, but I could only see a short distance toward the east an account of timber.

The view before me was wonderfully wild and impressive.  I could see away to the northern horizon many miles distant, and apparently the whole landscape before me was as heavily timbered as that which grew along the base of the hill.

I anxiously scanned the country in every direction for a house, or for some sign of a settlement but none could be seen, I had eaten my lunch as I walked along to save time, but now I sat down, and considered what I should do.  My situation was rather disquieting.  It was now after one o’clock and it would be almost impossible to return to Smart’s crossing before dark, and to go forward appeared discouraging with what I could see before me.

I decided to go on, so followed along the brow of the hill toward the east, thinking to find an easier place to enter the woods than that before me, and came onto the Indian trail again, and followed it down the hillside into the woods.

The trail was covered with deep slushy snow.  After travelling a mile or so through this, the trees became smaller with clumps of willow here and there, and then a little further on became more open with smaller patches of prairie marsh and ponds.  I waded through thin ice that had formed on these ponds the previous night, and in places where it was shaded could walk on it.  I crossed several places with tall reeds in them, in water above my waist.  I became so thoroughly chilled that I last all feelings in my legs.  When I would come to a tree I would grasp a limb and pull myself up and work my legs vigorously to start circulation in them.

As the sun descended toward the horizon I became more uneasy about my prospects of reaching a shelter for the night, for I had no food and my matches had become watersoaked.

Presently I heard a dog barking and then the sound of wood choppers at work.  These were indeed joyful sounds to me, and I hastened on, and soon emerged from the bush onto a small prairie about a half mile across.  I could see on the other side of it two buildings and several men engaged in constructing another building.

I was not long in making my way towards them, and as I came near they stopped work, and gazed in astonishment at me, for they could not understand how any person could have come from that direction, and they could scarcely believe me when I told them I had come from the Assiniboine since morning.

They took me into the house and the women soon had a fine warm meal prepared for me, and I became warmed up a little.

This was on the south trail at a stopping place owned by Mr. Cook, and he had a toll bridge over a stream nearby.

I told them about my mission and was informed that Mr. Hudson, one of my opponents, lived six miles north, and Mr. McKinnon, the other, lived twelve miles west, on the south trail.

There was still some daylight to spare so I thought I would cut short the distance to Mr. Hudson’s, so they directed me how to reach the trail and after going along a mile or so became confused by trails leading to clumps of timber, and on seeing a house a short distance away, I turned towards it and reached it at dark.  The boys had just fed their stock and they took me into the house and gave me dry clothing to put on, and mine was hung up to dry.

This was Mr. Atkinson’s place.  He was away but his wife, two daughters and two sons were home.  They had a piano and were all good singers, but I was unable to join them for I had lost my voice, and could only speak in whispers, owing to my ice water baths during the day.  They were all so exceedingly kind, and I spent an enjoyable evening with them.

I fully regained my voice by morning.  A small stream flowed by the house, and it was now overflowing with the melting snow.  We were all puzzled to know how I was to get across it.  A hay rack was nearby and we put it into the water, with a rope attached to it so to pull it back, but when I got on it and pushed away from shore it sank and I was pulled out thoroughly soaked.

I then procured an axe and went along the stream to where there was some trees standing in the water, and I felled one so that when it fell across the stream the trunk would stay on the stump.  I then crawled across on it, and hurried along the road towards Mr. Hudson’s.  I found him at home and when I explained to him what I was after, he went with me to several of the neighbors, and held a meeting, and they agreed to give me their support, and gave me a letter to give to Mr. McKinnon which explained what they had done, and advised him to do likewise.