40 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. CHAP. in. 



The canoe was a small one, and contained two Indians. 

 In a few minutes she returned to our side of the river and 

 again disappeared behind the jutting rocks, leaving us in 

 anxious suspense and doubt. In half an hour two canoes 

 suddenly show themselves at the point, shoot out into the 

 stream, and, crossing the river, disappear from view in a 

 small bay on the opposite shore. With a glass I see the 

 men attach a rope to the canoes, and one by one drag 

 them against the foaming torrent, round the sharp edges 

 of the rock swept by the swollen tide of the Moisie. 

 Now they take to their paddles and make about 300 

 yards, to the edge of another point of rocks, past which 

 a surging torrent rolls ; they tie the canoes together, and, 

 while two men ' fend off,' the others pull them round the 

 point, with difficulty finding footing on the rough but 

 almost perpendicular rocks which dip straight down into 

 the water. Now they carry the canoes cautiously over a 

 gently-sloping shelf wet and slippery as ice ; here they 

 rest awhile, and discuss the best mode of crossing the 

 river, which the Indians point out. After a long struggle 

 with the stream, they reach a part of the beach oppo- 

 site a bar in the river, an island or peninsula at low 

 water, and, gliding across the current which separates it 

 from the mam shore, gather fresh strength for the chief 

 difficulty which lies before them the passage of the 

 main stream. They must reach the foot of the eddy on 

 this side, or they will be swept down and perhaps be 

 broken against the rocks at the first bend. They are 

 making signs and pointing to the water at their feet : now 

 the Indians strike the water with their paddles, both 

 canoes being on the bar. What are they doing ? Looking 



