282 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
floating on the water, and took the direction from 
which it came. The noise of a heavy fall, at the 
Mountain Portage, reached our ears, at the dis- 
tance of four miles, and we arrived there at eight 
A.M. The portage was a difficult ascent over a 
rocky islarid, between which and the main shore 
were two cataracts, and a third in sight above 
them, making another portage. We surprised a 
large brown bear, which immediately retreated 
intothe woods. To the northward of the second 
portage we again found the channels intricate, 
but the shores being sometimes visible we ven- 
tured to proceed. The character of the country 
_ Was new, and more interesting than before. The 
mountainous and strong elevations receded from 
the banks, and the woods crept through their 
breaches to the valleys behind; the adventurous 
pine alone ascending their bases, and braving 
Storms unfelt below. 
‘Overset and swept away by the current. An 
account of this misfortune was speedily conveyed 
