October 14, 1833
Cloudy sky in the morning; a cold and harsh wind from the east blowing across the prairie. At eight o’clock both thermometers [read] 40°F [4.4°C]. Müller, a German or Dutchman who had been drunk and tiresome yesterday, deserted this morning.44 Chardon and Deschamps rode after [and found] him. However, they contented themselves with asking Mr. Campbell at Fort William not to employ him, and they did not say a word to the deserter. He owes the company 100 dollars and will most likely return. The wind continued to blow very cold and harsh. At midday, one o’clock, 46°F [7.8°C]. Müller did not return. Most likely Mr. Campbell will employ him and this will lead to a rift between the two companies. In that case Mr. Hamilton will fetch Müller back by force. Today I found out that the interpreter, Charbonneau, had also joined the service of that company.
I went outside in the afternoon. The wind was very harsh and cold. In the forest I found magpies, crows, common ravens, the Canadian finches, and likely a goldfinch in its winter plumage but met no living human being. The small birds sit in overgrown areas of the prairie and live on the seeds of the Syngenesia. Aster, Soli dago, Helianthus(?), and a few others now have their wool or seeds. In the forest I found ripe ash seeds; Cornus sericea, with its greenish white berries and red leaves; and the seeds of roses, very much preferred by prairie hens (Tetrao phasianellus)—their crops are always full of them. On the prairie the roses grow up to one and a half feet high and cover the ground in places. Birds can also be found in [the bushes of] buffalo berries. The birds that still seem to be here include the following: Corvus corax, corone, pica; Fringilla canadensis; Quis Parus atricapillus; Tetrao phasianellus; Fringilla tristis; Alauda alpestris, A. magna (Sturnella); Fringilla erythrophthalma(?); Anas boschas, A. [——]; Anser canadensis; Cygnus ameri cana; Accipiter [spp.]; [and] among others, Aquila leucocephala; Cathartes aura; perhaps still a few more small birds from the finch species; and Alcedo alcyon.
I found a recently used prairie fox burrow and the burrows of the Arctomys hoodii; also holes dug up by the siffleux (Pseudostoma bursarius?). However, these animals are very seldom seen, especially now. Toward nighttime, it snowed a little. A snowy air was blowing. In the night, much snow.