soon drove us in ; a pole was cut, the paddle 

 retrieved, and the little contretemps had 

 this for its sequel: — 



*I was paddling up a great river of the 

 North Shore with six Indians, carrying in 

 supplies for the winter hunt. Each of us 

 had his own canoe and a full load. We came 

 to the foot of a fall where the river drops 

 twenty-two feet sheer, and has hollowed 

 out the rock behind into an immense ca- 

 vern. The water inside there boils and 

 rages; everything that comes down is 

 drawn in and churned to bits. It is but a 

 short portage up the rocks at the side and 

 you put the canoes in only a little way 

 above the fall, but you must get ofif quickly 

 and paddle hard, for the water is very 

 swift. I was the last to launch, and I put 

 the paddle hastily against the stones and 

 pushed with all my strength. My hands 

 came away empty!! A crevice held the 

 blade and the canoe was driving out to mid- 

 stream. The other paddle was in the 

 bow: think of the folly! I crawled to it 

 on my belly over the pile of baggage. 

 The draw of the fall had me then — stern 

 foremost. There was no time to shift, or 

 turn the canoe. It was too late. . .' 



183 



