DOWN THE MUSKOKA RIVER 05 



obvious reason, do not say much about these places 

 difificult of access, but it is advisable to explore them 

 even at the cost of extra help. Canada is every year 

 becoming more and more the playground of the 

 American tourist, and the most accessible rivers and 

 lakes are being rapidly used up. Verbiini sap. ! 



We reached the mouth of the Muskoka River in 

 the afternoon, where a lumber dam has been erected. 

 There the most interesting and exciting part of our 

 canoe trip commenced. From the lake the river 

 courses down an inclined plane, reaches are traversed 

 where the water flows in unbroken current, but all 

 along the course sudden descents intervene, and the 

 roar of the Muskoka is heard far off. The rapids in 

 such places are not without danger to the canoe. 

 Sharp ledges of rock protrude, which any moment 

 may pierce the thin layer of bark, the only barrier 

 between it and the water. 



Mark paddled with consummate skill, and the 

 canoe sped over the seething flood, sinking into the 

 maelstrom of cross currents, each seeking to draw it 

 its own way. Rocking, swaying, plunging in turn, 

 it seemed to hold a charmed life. At incredible 

 speed it bounded over a miniature fall ; below it a 

 ledge of rock shot out in menace, and one held his 

 breath in momentary expectation of catastrophe. 

 The prow of the canoe, as if under magnetic influence, 

 seemed to be drawing straight for it, but in response 

 to a touch of the paddle it glided by, and something 



