V. 



THE beginning of the next carry of a mile 

 and a half, called Pine Portage, is a short 

 distance above the island on the west side. 

 Sometimes there is a wagon waiting, at other 

 times not, though that matters little to the 

 guides. Packing is part of their day's work, 

 and it is surprising to the tenderfoot with what 

 ease and celerity they travel these portages 

 with their heavy and cumbersome loads. 



It is not unusual for them to carry over 

 these portages loads of more than two hun- 

 dred pounds; and once I timed an Indian 

 guide, whom I accompanied over this mile 

 and a half. He covered the distance in 

 twenty-five minutes, never stopping, while I, 

 weighed down with a couple of rods and a 

 few light traps, came puffing and panting just 

 inside the distance flag. His load was fully 

 37 



