FROM ROCK LAKE TO STANLEY 75 



bodies, dried up the clammy, uncomfortable 

 wetness. Hardly a day passed that we kept 

 dry throughout. 



Below Otter Rapid was Otter Lake, and by 

 lunchtime we had almost completed the distance 

 on this nine-mile expanse of water, which was 

 full of high, wooded islands distributed in great 

 profusion, as on other lakes which I have pre- 

 viously described. 



About 2 p.m., on entering the river channel 

 between Otter Lake and Rock Lake, we en- 

 countered more rapids. Here again we took like 

 deer to the water and let the canoe down Stony 

 Mountain Rapid ; then passing on to Mountain 

 Rapid, which we had to portage. Below this 

 latter rapid we cooked the evening meal ; but 

 did not camp, for we were neaiing Stanley 

 Mission, and, excitedly eager for the society of 

 mankind after our long, lonely spell on the canoe 

 trail, had agreed to keep on and attempt to 

 reach the post to-night. A twelve-mile sheet of 

 open water lay before us through Rock Lake — 

 no more rapids between this and the Post. 



Memorable were the last two hours outside 

 Stanley Mission. Southwards down Rock Lake 

 we paddled in the full content of a perfect Northern 

 evening, praying wind would not rise to detain our 

 eager passage, lilting snatches of half-forgotten 

 popular songs, snatches of Joe's French-Canadian 

 songs of the Ottawa River, even snatches of 

 the old Scotch airs of boyhood were amongst 

 our mutual repertoire this evening : each timidly 

 singing with rusty, unskilled voice, but each 

 voicing surely the lifting of spirits from the 



