ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OP CANADA 



of the island. Here they were unloaded, and after being 

 lightened, were lowered down through the boiling waters, by 

 means of lines from the shore and the assistance of poles on 

 board, to again receive their loads at the foot of the island. 

 Two or three scows were also similarly engaged in transport- 

 ing the cargo of the steamer, of which our supplies formed 

 part, and, much to our annoyance, there was considerable de- 

 lay on account of having to repair the tramway across the 

 island. "We were informed that the Grahame could not now 



•reach Chipewyan before the 20th of June, which would be 

 ten days later than we had expected to be able to leave that 

 place. However, we could only accept the inevitable, and try 

 to make the best use of the time. 



While Schott and his crews were thus engaged with their 

 transport, our own men were not idle. They had been told 

 that the rapid would have to be portaged, as no canoeman 

 would venture to run it; but having walked down the shore 

 and themselves examined the river, the Iroquois asked and 

 obtained permission to run it by taking one canoe down at a 

 time. Schott and his Indians thought them mad to try such 

 ^ venture, but seeming to have every confidence in their own 

 abilities, we determined to see what they could do. John 

 gladly chose the work of portaging along the rough boulder 

 shore and over precipitous rocks in preference to taking a 

 paddle, but the three Iroquois took their places, Louis in the 

 bow, Michel in the middle, and old Pierre in the stem. As 

 the three daring fellows pushed off from the shore into the 

 surging stream, those of us who gazed upon them did so with 

 grave forebodings. They had started, and now there was 

 nothing to do but go through or be smashed upon the rocks. 

 Their speed soon attained that of an express train, while all 

 about them the boiling waters were dashed into foam by the 

 great rocks in the channel. Presently it appeared as if they 

 were doomed to be dashed upon a long ugly breaker nearly 



-in mid-stream ; but no ! with two or three lightning strokes 



32 



