SQUIRREL AND CRANBERRIES. 51 



on the subject of rafting by the failure, another was not then 

 attempted, and the men continued tramping. Following the 

 river, they found its general course between the rapids and 

 Lake Wanimikapo, S. S. E. During part of that day and all 

 the next, they followed in the track of a large panther, but did 

 not get in sight of him. Acting on the principle that they 

 should save their strength as much as possible, camps were 

 gone into fairly early and were well made ; and this night, in 

 spite of the desperate straits they were in, both men enjoyed a 

 most delightful sleep. 



After this some time every morning was usually occupied in 

 mending shoes. All sorts of devices were resorted to to get 

 the last bit of wear out of them, even to shifting from right to 

 left, but finally Cole had to make a pair of the nondescripts 

 from the leather lining of his pack, which lasted him to the 

 vessel. Cranberries were found during the day and at inter- 

 vals during the tramp, and were always drawn upon for a meal. 

 About two quarts were added to the stock of provision, and 

 many a supper was made off a red squirrel and a pint of stewed 

 cranberries. 



Wednesday, the iQth, another raft was made, which took the 

 party into the lake. This was more comfortable than tracking, 

 yet they were in the water for several hours while on the raft, 

 which was made by lashing two cross-pieces about four feet 

 long on the ends of five or six logs laid beside each other and 

 from twenty to thirty feet long, all fastened with roots, and hav- 

 ing a small pile of brush to keep the baggage dry. The still 

 water of the lake made the raft useless, even in a fresh, fair 

 breeze, and so this one was abandoned two miles down, and the 

 weary tramping again resumed. Fortunately the water was so 

 low that advantage could be taken of the closely overgrown 

 shore by walking on the lake bed, and far better progress was 

 made owing to the firmer footing. Three days were used in get- 

 ting down the lake, during which time but one fish, a pickerel, 

 was caught, where they had expected to find an abundance. 



At the foot of the lake, tracks were seen, which it was thought 

 might be those of hunters. It was learned later that they were 



