160 



the name of my old guide, John Morel, and was 

 pleased to learn that he was well acquainted with the 

 rapids of the Discharge. He was promptly engaged, 

 instructed to secure an assistant, and turned over with 

 his canoe to friend Stocking. Ferdinand La Kuche 

 was selected to accompany him, and Paul Savard and 

 his brother Louis were allotted to the writer. Then 

 came the settling of the route to be followed. Our 

 decided preference for the Grand Discharge having 

 been strongly expressed, there was a hasty conference 

 of the four guides, resulting in the announcement of 

 their readiness to take us by the desired route. The 

 water was not yet very low, but they had decided 

 that it was low enough to enable us to pass in safety 

 through those rapids of the Grand Discharge that 

 could not be shot in bark canoes in the spring of the 

 year, and that there is no possibility of portaging, be- 

 cause they are often between islands that have to be 

 reached and crossed. 



The bulk of our baggage had been left at Roberval, 

 to be sent round to Chicoutimi by rail, and we carried 

 with us but little outside of our rods and fishing-tackle, 

 that little for the most part consisting of a few light 

 refreshments. Had we started on our trip upon the 

 arrival of the boat at the Island House, at 11 A.M., and 

 continued on our way without stopping to fish en 

 route, we could have finished the rapids before night- 

 fall, and have slept for the night at the end of our 

 canoe voyage, and in the farm - house, thirteen miles 

 from Chicoutimi, and some twenty-six from Lake St. 

 John, where buckboards have to be taken for the final 

 portage. Or instead of retiring for the night we 



