Fort Pitt was destitute of fresh dogs or drivers, and consequently a delay of some days became necessary before my onward journey could be resumed.  In the absence of dogs and drivers Fort Pitt, however, offered small-pox to its visitors.  A case had broken out a few days previous to my arrival impossible to trace in any way, but probably the result of some infection conveyed into the fort during the terrible visitation of the autumn.  I have already spoken of the power which the Indian possesses of continuing the ordinary avocations of his life in the presence of disease.  This power he also possesses under that most terrible affliction-the loss of sight.  Blindness is by no means an uncommon occurrence among the tribes of the Saskatchewan.  The blinding glare of the snow-covered plains, the sand in summer, and, above all, the dense smoke of the tents, where the fire of wood, lighted in the centre, fills the whole lodge with a smoke which is peculiarly trying to the sight-all these causes render ophthalmic affections among the Indians a common misfortune.  Here is the story of a blind Cree who arrived at Fort Pitt one day weak with starvation:  From a distant camp he had started five days before, in company with his wife.  They had some skins to trade, so they loaded their dog and set out on the march—­the woman led the way, the blind man followed next, and the dog brought up the rear.  Soon they approached a plain upon which buffalo were feeding.  The dog, seeing the buffalo, left the trail, and, carrying the furs with him, gave chase.  Away out of sight he went, until there was nothing for it but to set out in pursuit of him.  Telling her husband to wait in this spot until she returned, the woman now started after the dog.  Time passed,—­it was growing late, and the wind swept coldly over the snow.  The blind man began to grow uneasy; “She has lost her way,” he said to himself; “I will go on, and we may meet.”  He walked on—­he called aloud, but there was no answer; go back he could not; he knew by the coldness of the air that night had fallen on the plain, but day and night were alike to him.  He was alone—­he was lost.  Suddenly he felt against his feet the rustle of long sedgy grass—­he stooped down and found that he had reached the margin of a frozen lake.  He was tired, and it was time to rest; so with his knife he cut a quantity of long dry grass, and, making a bed for himself on the margin of the lake, lay down and slept.  Let us go back to the woman.  The dog had led her a long chase, and it was very late when she got back to the spot where she had left her husband-he was gone, but his tracks in the snow were visible, and she hurried after him.  Suddenly the wind arose, the light powdery snow began to drift in clouds over the surface of the plain, the track was speedily obliterated and night was coming on.  Still she followed the general direction of the footprints, and at last came to the border of the same lake by which her husband was lying asleep,