A MODERN HERCULES. 39 



water, whilst a cold wind blew from tlie north 

 wdiich was far from comfortable. 



We pitched onr tents that night near the old 

 landing stage, and the next morning, which 

 was bright and fine after the sun had dispersed 

 the mists, carried all onr belongings over a 

 rough trail through the forest to the nearest 

 point on Lake Bois Franc. It took us three 

 journeys to get everything across. On one of 

 these, George Crawford excited my admiration 

 by carr^^ing a bag of flour (100 lbs.) on his 

 back, and the heaviest of the canoes, weighing 

 probably another eighty pounds, balanced on 

 his head. With this load he walked the mile and 

 a half of the portage ^vithout stopping to rest. 



I found the Indian way of carrying a 

 pack, the weight of wdiich, though it rests on 

 one's back, is supported to a considerable 

 extent by a broad leather strap passed across 

 the forehead, a most excellent one, and the 

 easiest method of carrying a heavy load, though 

 liable at first, and especially when w^alking on 

 uneven ground, to strain severely the muscles 

 of the neck. 



