AFLOAT IX A GALE. 255 



\\Y both paddled vigorously. The wind, by this time 

 blowing almost a sralc. drove us on through the lonu\ 

 open reaches of water at a wonderful and exhilarating rate. 

 We finally worked our way through the two or three 

 specially diflicult passes in the Hooded limber and drift 

 wood and came to the " fish hawk's nest," a point beyond 

 which the river becomes in fact the lake. 



Looking out upon the dark and amiry water, we saw 

 that the \\a\es were hiuh and roiiii'li. The wind was rush 

 iiii: with terrilic fury down from the lon^ level of Dead 

 Creek, and expending its full force upon the loun' and broail 

 -treteh of water \\e must inevitably descend and cross on 

 our \\a\ to the home camp. The shores wen- marshes and 

 drowned lands. There was no landing near us where a 

 temporary ramp eoiild In- made. ( Mir provisions were low. 

 The prospect of a niirlit without shelter, probably in our 

 boat, wit.h a fierce rain storm brewing, was not aureeahle. 

 We wen- very tired. The next day was to be the last in 

 camp. All these considerations nmde us really anxious in 

 proceed, de-pite the forbidding out look, but we did not 

 intend taking many risks, for we were in no position to 

 redeem a blunder, and could hope for no aid from others 

 in case of disaster. 



We approached Dead Creek I Jay at its head, in the lee; 

 ventured a little amoni!; the waves; scanned the wild, 

 tumbling waters and the mad white-caps; ventured a little 

 further; questioned whether we should try the passage 

 down lo the next narrow water. />/ fnnti n <H'<1 <lin<i <IN u*< 

 </ii< xtioiK'tl ; until finally, somewhat to our alarm and quite 



