GRAND RAPIDS 5 



We set off in an old leaky birch canoe, on the 25th of Sep- 

 tember. We were to follow the lake shore to the base of Long 

 Point, twenty-five miles southeast of the post. This narrow 

 peninsula was appropriately named by Mackenzie, who, in 1801, 

 passed around the head of it, which projects twenty-five miles 

 from the main line of the coast. It is only five miles wide and 

 its central ridge of limestone is flanked on the north by a mus- 

 keg which gradually descends to the swampy little bays which 

 are enclosed by a barrier beach of sand. 



The Indians were establishing their camps along the shore 

 of the lake for the fall fishing, as we passed. The north wind 

 blew raw and chill; the mosquitoes had given place to sand- 

 flies; the smoky haze, the whistling wings of the migratory 

 water fowl, all betokened the approach of winter. 



After our "metsook" of bacon, bread and tea, Napasis spent 

 the evening in making "cakes." He used two canoe paddles 

 for a kneading board and a frying pan for an oven. 



We ate our metsook at sunrise the next morning and started 

 across the muskeg. We found abundant signs of the presence 

 of moose as we climbed over fallen trees and plodded through 

 swamps, sinking deep in the moss at every step. After five 

 hours of steady tramping we returned empty-handed for our 

 midday meal. This was soon dispatched and we were ready 

 for the trail again. Napasis led at a rapid pace, while I fol- 

 lowed in his footsteps to avoid breaking twigs, the sound of 

 which would have frightened the moose. 



Early in the afternoon Napasis discovered a fresh track 

 which he followed until he became satisfied from examining 

 the bushes upon which the animals had browsed, that they 

 were near at hand; he then left the trail and pursued a course 

 parallel to it according to the Indian custom. We kept on for 

 an hour when, as we were traversing a level stretch of burned 

 timber, we caught sight of two moose, seventy-five yards dis- 

 tant. Napasis fired at the exposed flank of one and broke a leg. 

 The other made off, and I supposed that it would soon dis- 

 tance us and began to empty my Winchester towards the fleeing 

 animal. " Nomuch" shouted Napasis, adding several emphatic 

 phrases which he translated by a beckoning sweep of his arm 

 as he began to run. Hatless and breathless we fairly flew over 

 brush heaps and bogs. After a run of half a mile we were 



