The canoe was much shattered, but as the gunwales were not broken, we easily repaired it.
In the evening a N.W.canoe arrived, with two of the partners.

They gave us an account of Mr.Franklin's proceedings and referred us to the brigade following them for a guide.
During the 20th it rained heavily, and we passed the day in anxious suspense confined to our tents.

A black bear came to the bank on the opposite side of the river, and on seeing us glided behind the trees.
Late on the 21st, Mr.Robertson, of the Hudson's Bay Company arrived, and furnished us with a guide, but desired that he might be exchanged when we met the northern canoes.

We took advantage of the remainder of the day, to cross the next portage, which was three-fourths of a mile in length.
On the 22nd we crossed three small portages, and encamped at the fourth.
At one of them we passed some of the Hudson's Bay Company's canoes, and our application to them was unsuccessful.

We began to suspect that Isle a la Crosse was the nearest place at which we might hope for assistance.
However, on the morning of the 23rd, as we were about to embark, we encountered the last brigades of canoes belonging to both the Companies, and obtained a guide and foreman from them.