June 6th

To day as usual church parade and after that I went for a short walk. After dinner Captain Winder, Brisebois, Jackson and myself had our horses saddled and went for a short ride. We went out on the prairie. Old Satan was looking well and feeling well – the evening was fine and we enjoyed our ride very much. I dare say when you have read my last letter that you will wonder what has become of the flower I said I had inclosed for you. I was having it pressed in a book in the Hospital – and kept your letter open over night in order to put in the flower in the morning – but I was called in such a hurry to send away my letters that I had to close it and send it away at once. I will send it to you in this whenever it goes.

May 22nd

I slept well and sound last night but wakened up about sun rise and from then until 9 o’clock I dozed and dreamed – I thought that you and I were taking a voyage down the Old Man’s River – we began way up in the mountains and came down running rapids, shooting immense waterfalls in hourly danger from the Indians, from wild beasts and from sunken rocks. Finally I got hurt and the boat drifted helplessly along until I gave the paddle to you and from thence all dangers and hardship seemed past – we joined the Belly River, then the Saskatchewan then Lake Winnipeg, our boat growing larger and larger – passing Lake Winnipeg – we came to Superior and down the chain of Lakes to the St. Lawrence and so to the Sea. I thought immense crowds came to the banks and shores to see us pass – wherever we stopped thousands of sick and lame came to be cured – and it was you that healed them and to you were vociferated the thanks and blessings of the thankful crowd. I was lying down in the boat and looking at you so pleased and happy at seeing them look to you for help, and I thought you did not know that it was I that healed them. At last we came to England, and I took my degrees there – still every one seemed to think it was you who took them. Finally I thought I died – and you who had tended me so kindly and carefully died too – we were not buried because we were alone on the broad ocean, but we took wings and flew to the land and lived together on a high and lonely mountain, and taking long flights from there we accomplished a vast deal of good in many ways. And then we both rose to heaven and I was refused admittance – but by your prayers they let me in – and having entered we were exalted high above the other angels. I never seemed now to think that I owed it all to you, but we were happy so “happy for ever and ever ------Was it not a queer dream?

Well to return to facts. Capt. Winder and I left here taking some lunch, at 7.30 a.m. The voyage down the river was delightful it was a warm bright sunshiny day – the trees lining the banks were all so beautiful and green. Quantities of ducks and geese started up from each side of us, but as we were obliged to be down at Fort Kipp as soon as possible and did not know within twenty miles how far it was we did not stop to hunt them. Some of the cut banks presented a most curious conformation in their strata – all in wavy lines – we saw some coal and a great deal of sandstone – in places the prairie 100 or 150 ft. above us had sunk down to the level of the river in huge land slips – the course of the river is very tortuous – in some places very swift rapids – but generally very free from rocks. We stopped at 11 o’clock in a nice little clump of bushes and had our lunch, it was a real picnic. Our lunch however consisted of nothing but some bread and cold bacon and a cup of the river water – we were quite used to both and very hungry too so it tasted very good. We stopped for about an hour, to rest and have a smoke and then proceeded down. A high wind had now sprung up and in some places bothered us by blowing us from one side of the river to the other. In one of the most dangerous places on the river where the channel was narrowed by huge rocks on either side and sunken ones in the middle and the current ran [ ? ] and foaming down like a mill race – the wind was so strong that blowing dead ahead us and we aided by the current and paddling with all our might remained stationary. Gradually we began to descend and at last got down into a sheltered nook and then the stream took us down like a flash. We arrived at Fort Kipp about 2 o’clock, found our horses not yet arrived – they came in about 3 and after feeding them grain and hay – we left at 5 o’clock and arrived at Fort McLeod at 6.30. I rode old Satan, who is now full of life and beginning to get fat he canters beautifully his trot is rather rough. He is a fine old chap. I am going to show him your photograph to see if he will remember all that I have told him.

I had sick parade at eight o’clock last evening after we came in, and then retired early being as you may well imagine very tired.

May 8th

This being Saturday there was no drill - so we spent the morning making another cricket bat and after lunch we adjourned to the prairie and had a grand game. A double cricket and a scratch [?] eleven. I am sorry to say that the side on which I was was badly beaten. My underhand bowling was more effective than the swift over[…?] of young Wilson. Before the game was finished a large herd of horses was seen coming over the hill and soon Major Walsh had arrived. The horses all looked in splendid condition and as far superior to the […] of the country as a thorough bred from a hackman’s horse.

A Mail was also brought. I was disappointed o not receiving a letter – there were two papers, one from you the Can. Ill. News containing the picture of the Lancer & Evening Guard parade. The other was a Globe with the chess from Jack. I did not see Old Satan – I looked for him amongst the horses, but as they were not driven into the Fort I must have passed him over in the crowd crossing the [ ? ]. Major Walsh tells me Satan has been quite sick all winter but has lately been picking up quite fast and looks very well. I will see the old fellow tomorrow.

I must close this now. It is just one sheet and a half. So Good Night and pleasant dreams.

With much love I am
Your own Barrie.