EXPEDITION TO THE LAURENTIAN HILLS. 187 



gathered in great armfuls of balsam and hemlock boughs for 

 beds, ate supper, wrapped our blankets about us, and slept our 

 first night in the Canada woods. Already we had begun to 

 feel a fresh vigor pulsating in our veins as we tramped the 

 virgin soil, drank the pure water, and breathed the perfumed 

 atmosphere of the woods. How new and rich the sensation 

 of tramping all day in the rain and swamp-water, through 

 unknown forests, and lying down at night on evergreen boughs 

 to dream of friends far away ! 



The next morning, Mr. Hutchms, who had been reconnoi- 

 tering in a different direction, came up with us and reported 

 he had found a better route. As there was no prospect of 

 reaching the lake short of several days' travel, by this route, 

 and as our provisions were nearly exhausted, we cooked a 

 meal of red squirrels, and retreated. A definite plan was 

 now arranged. A mile and a half east from McK.'s was Bass 

 Lake. From Bass Lake to Salmon Lake there was an outlet 

 five miles long. This outlet was reported navigable with ca- 

 noes, but no one had voyaged through it for several years. 

 P , who lived on Bass Lake, said the thing was practi- 

 cable. We concluded to try it. On an island in Bass Lake 

 grew lofty pines suitable for canoes. P was an experi- 

 enced builder of that kind of craft. We would go to Bass 

 Lake, build canoes, transport our baggage to the shore of that 

 lake, and set sail paddle, rather down the " Outlet." We 

 worked cheerfully, happily, and hard for a week ; built three 

 canoes, got our baggage across from McK.'s, loaded our ves- 

 sels, and started. 



VOYAGE DOWN THE OUTLET. 



It was morning ; perhaps we should get to Salmon Lake, 

 four or five miles distant, by nightfall. The mouth of the 

 outlet was shallow and narrow, so that we had to deepen it 

 with pick and shovel the day before. No matter ; it would 

 grow deeper. One canoe was fifteen feet long, and thirty 

 inches across the gunwale, carrying three hundred pounds of 

 baggage. Three persons occupied and managed it. The 



