126 THE ARCTIC PRAIRIES 



and now at the right time he returned and silently 

 threw at the cook's feet a big 6-pound Pike. It was 

 just right, exactly as it happens in the most satisfac- 

 tory books and plays. It seems that he always carried 

 a spoon-hook, and went at once to what he rightly 

 judged the best place, a pool at the junction of the 

 two rivers. The first time he threw he captured the 

 big fellow. Later he captured three smaller ones in 

 the same place, but evidently there were no more. 



That night we had a glorious feast; every one had as 

 much as he could eat, chiefly fish. Next morning we 

 went on 4^ miles farther, then came to the mouth of 

 the Nyarling Tessi, or Underground River, that joins 

 the Buffalo from the west. This was our stream; this 

 was the highway to the Buffalo country. It was a 

 miniature of the river we were leaving, but a little 

 quicker in current. In about 2 miles we came to a 

 rapid, but were able to paddle up. About 5 miles 

 farther was an immense and ancient log-jamb that 

 filled the stream from bank to bank for 190 yards. 

 What will be the ultimate history of this jamb? It is 

 added to each year, the floods have no power to move 

 it, logs in water practically never rot, there is no pros- 

 pect of it being removed by natural agencies. I sus- 

 pect that at its head the river comes out of a succession 

 of such things, whence its name Underground River. 



Around this jamb is an easy portage. We were far 

 now from the haunts of any but Indians on the winter 

 hunt, so were surprised to see on this portage trail 

 the deep imprints of a white man's boot. These were 

 made apparently within a week, by whom I never 



