PELICAN LAKE 51 



Small poplars grew chiefly on those islands and 

 a few white birch, while here and there a group 

 of spruce and pine showed darkly, and above the 

 tops of the other trees. Willows bordered the 

 narrow beach of light granite stones, which 

 maiked the line between water and soil. 



On Pelican Lake we encountered difficulties. 

 Crossing it in the canoe we faced a heavy head wind 

 and struggled against large waves which the heavily 

 laden canoe rode badly, for she rose stiffly to the 

 crests of the waves and pitched heavily into the 

 hollows between. We shipped more water than 

 was comfortable and, once or twice, shipped it 

 in ugly fashion until we feared damage to our 

 canvas-protected stores, which lay packed in the 

 centre of the canoe, if not a trifle anxious for our 

 own safety. Finally, about 3 p.m., we were 

 able to reach an island, and put ashore to wait 

 until the wind should drop. 



At 6 p.m. the wind had moderated and we were 

 able to go on, and reached the east shore of the 

 lake. But then again we were in difficulties, for 

 along those shores we searched until dark with- 

 out finding the "blind" (hidden) outlet from 

 the lake. 



It had, altogether, been a disappointing day 

 of hard work and little progress. 

 . Next morning early we found the channel 

 through to Primeau Lake, but again, during the 

 day, we were in trouble, for in the afternoon we 

 toiled up a deep bay which in the end blankly 

 terminated, and it took us until evening to return 

 to the position of our mistake. On a great 

 many waterways of the north, if without an 



