296 PRIMITIVE BAFT. 



made of them, he would be accused of drawing the 

 long bow. 



We at last reached Moose River. Here deer were 

 abundant. I already felt rewarded for my labours ; 

 doubly so if we found the canoes. 



After passing a thoroughly refreshing night, un- 

 disturbed by mosquitoes or by wild beasts, we rose 

 early to inspect the locality. 



Both of us had come to the conclusion that we 

 were too far to the south, or, in other words, not 

 sufficiently down the course of Moose River to find 

 the birch-barks. To avoid the fatigue of walking 

 along the rocky margin of the streams, or penetrating 

 through the hemlock and cedar -swamps that in 

 places abut upon the water, we decided to build 

 a raft out of drift-wood, and upon it proceed pro- 

 vided cataracts or other obstacles did not occur. 



If we had been furnished with axes, forming a raft 

 would have been an easy matter, but as that was not 

 the case, nearly a day was lost in labouring to accom- 

 plish our purpose. However at length we succeeded, 

 and on the most primitive of crafts, bound together 

 with the stems of the wild grape-vine, we started 

 upon our voyage of discovery. For two days our 

 troubles were unceasing. First we got into a rapid 

 that threatened to dismember our boat ; next we 

 stuck on a rock ; and, lastly, we were in imminent 

 danger of going over a waterfall ; but being destined 

 for some other fate than drowning, we safely came 

 through all perils. 



