The Land of the ll'innnishe 



scramble over and along the face of huge 

 rocks piled on each other and surmounted 

 by chevaux de frise of bushes and fallen 

 timber, has to be made before the rapid 

 is reached which leads to the Caron. On 

 account of the scenery it is worth all the 

 hard work ; the gens de Mistook fish out 

 with bait any stray winanishe to be found 

 among the rocks. 



From the Vache Caille to Chicoutimi 

 is about twenty-eight miles by the river, 

 and in fair weather the descent is a de- 

 lightful run, even if the Gervais Rapid be 

 in such humor that the two-miles portage 

 of rocks must be made. A bright sun 

 shines upon us as we leave the point of 

 Alma Island and cross the eddy to a place 

 half a mile or more away, where it is safe 

 to enter the lower end of the Vache Caille 

 Rapid and shoot it. Here and there we 

 halt for a parting cast over pools that have 

 before yielded good fish, and then pass on 

 to the head of the Gervais to reconnoitre ; 

 for no one can tell from hour to hour 

 whether this fickle rapid may be run or 

 not. Now, fortunately, it is in an amiable 

 mood, and only twice does it force us to 

 land for a short portage. With such 

 water under the canoe, miles are quickly 

 passed, and presently less turbulent currents 



79 



