PELICAN RAPIDS 49 



eats heartily in the North. It was June 2 — 

 where we lunched on shore Pin Cherry Trees 

 were in blossom and Wild Strawberries, and 

 tiny purple Violets were in flower ; charming 

 colours before the great background of ever- 

 green forest. 



In late afternoon, when nearing the head of 

 Pelican Rapids, we came quietly downstream on 

 two moose standing in the cool water, browsing 

 contentedly on a bed of Water-lilies in the 

 solitude of a sheltered bay. Had it been open 

 season, or had meat been necessary to our exist- 

 ence at the time, they would have fallen easy 

 prey. When our scent was borne to them they 

 left the water, and vanished in the forest. 



Before sundown we portaged Pelican Rapids — 

 a roaring, tumbling force of water that one heard 

 rumbling in the distance long before one came 

 upon it. It was a wild, angry rapid, typical of 

 many on this mighty river — agitated waves when 

 eager escaping waters rushed together through 

 the narrow, bouldered gateway ; long, swinging 

 swells curling at the crests and breaking in silver 

 foam ; great waves rising over boulders and 

 rocks, and plunging into the depth beyond. 

 Below the entrance, ere the force died out in the 

 great deep pool at the bottom, were boiling 

 whirlpools ; and backwater eddies — swinging round 

 to the sides of the main stream and back into the 

 head- waters of the angry turmoil. On the shores 

 were dark rocks tilted at all angles and broken 

 limbs of trees stuck in crevices where high water 

 had lodged them. Everywhere the waters were 

 blue in the sunlight except where they broke 



