CHAF. vii. THE COLD-TFATER EIVER PORTAGE. Ill 



' Is the current less rapid when we get a mile or two 

 beyond the Gorge ? ' 



' Worse.' 



' How far up is the river very bad ? ' 



' The farther you go up, the more rapid is the river ; it 

 gets worse and worse, until canoes cannot be hauled, or 

 paddled, or poled up it, even in summer, when the water 

 is low.' 



4 Shall we soon get to the portage ?' 



' The portage is on the other side of that bend two 

 points away ; we leave the river then, and go to the 

 lakes.' 



Suddenly the countenances of the voyageurs changed, 

 as they heard Louis' interpretation of the young Nas- 

 quapee's answer to my last question. They shouted, 

 laughed, joked, and sang ; took off their caps to the 

 Moisie, and expressed regret that they would soon be 

 compelled to leave it. 



Louis muttered, thoughtfully, ' Ka-pi-ta-gan, Ka-pi-ta- 

 gan.' 



' What is Ka-pi-ta-gan ? ' I asked. 



' Ka-pi-ta-gan is Montagnais for " portage." 



' WeU, why are you calling out Ka-pi-ta-gan in such a 

 melancholy strain ? ' 



' Michel just tell rue the portages are long, very long. 

 He say, too, that the portages are high, very high ; many, 

 very many. I think those men will not laugh so loud 

 when they are halfway across one of the portages : w r e 

 shah 1 see.' 



' What is the name of the first portage we come to ? ' 



' Michel says, Cold-water River Portage.' 



