102 RECENT HUNTING TRIPS. 



of rain swept over the lake, accompanied by 

 thunder and a gale of wind. This, however, 

 did not last long, and as soon as it was over the 

 wind commenced to drop rapidly, and before 

 long the sun was again shining brightly in a 

 clear sky. 



It was four o'clock when we at last entered 

 the mouth of the South-west River, the water in 

 which Saunders declared to be lower than he had 

 ever seen it before — the natural result of an ex- 

 ceptionally dry summer. After paddling up the 

 river for an hour or so we came to a section of 

 it which perhaps could hardly be called a rapid, 

 but through which it was impossible to paddle, 

 as for a space of three hundred yards the bed 

 of the river was studded with rocks, amongst 

 which the water rushed at a great rate. With 

 the help of ropes and paddles, Saunders and 

 Wells — often wading themselves in water 

 above their knees — got the canoes safely 

 through all obstructions, and soon afterwards 

 we camped. 



When the day broke the following morning 

 the mist in the valley of the river was so dense 



