40 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



foam and spray, rose buoyantly on the waves, and 

 again we breathed freely. It was a lucky thing for us 

 that the canoes were not loaded, for had they been they 

 never would have floated after that plunge, but would 

 have disappeared like lead in the billows. We after- 

 wards found we had taken the rapid in the very worst 

 spot, and that near the right side of the river we might 

 have made the descent free of danger. Without a guide, 

 however, such mistakes will sometimes occur in spite 

 of every precaution. 



Poor John, my bowman, was badly unstrung as a 

 result of this adventure, and declared that he did not 

 want to shoot any more waterfalls ; and for that matter, 

 others of us were of much the same mind. One more 

 small rapid, the Moberly, completed the series, and then 

 for a few miles we enjoyed calm water until, toward 

 evening, we reached Fort McMurray. 



This settlement, containing in all five small log build- 

 ings a warehouse, a store, the traders' dwelling and 

 two Indian houses is situated on a cleared tongue of 

 land formed by the junction of the Clear Water River 

 with the Athabasca, and is about two hundred and fifty 

 miles below the Landing. The site of the post is at an 

 elevation of forty or fifty feet above the water, but in 

 the immediate background, and on both banks of the 

 river, the ground rises abruptly, and is covered by a 

 thick growth of poplar, spruce and birch trees. At the 

 time of our arrival two parties of Indians, one Cree and 

 the other Chippewyan, occupying in all a dozen or more 

 lodges, were encamped at the place, and were to be seen 

 in groups here and there idly putting in the time, while 

 everywhere their mangy canines skulked and prowled 



