LOST IN THE "WOODS. 247 



pulled down the lake, and again entered the narrow 

 river that pierced so adventurously the dark bosom of 

 the forest. The fatiguing task of carrying our boats 

 was performed over again, with the additional burden 

 of a deer we had partially consumed. At one portage 



P , with two rifles and an overcoat as his part of 



the freight, started off in advance of the rest. We 

 were each of us too much engaged with our own af- 

 fairs to notice the direction he took ; but supposing, ol 

 course, he was ahead, pushed on. But as we came tc 

 the next launching place, he was nowhere to be found. 

 "He has gone on, I guess," said one, "to the next 

 carrying place." "We shouted, but the echo of our 

 own voices was the only reply the sullen woods sent 

 back, and one was despatched farther on to ascertain 

 whether our conjecture was true. The report was 



soon brought back that P was nowhere to be 



found. I, by this time, began to feel somewhat 

 alarmed, for the lost one was my brother, and taking 

 Mitchell with me, hastened back towards the spot 

 Where he had parted from us. I shouted aloud, but 

 the deep waterfall drowned my voice, and its mo- 

 notonous roar seemed mocking my anxious halloo. I 

 then fired my rifle, but the sharp report was fol- 



