ACEOSS THE SUB-AKCTICS OF CANADA 



of the fawn, so quickly but silently I proceeded. Again and 

 again the noise was heard, and each time nearer than the last. 

 My advance was continued cautiously, until very soon, in a 

 thicket of scrub only a few yards ahead, I noticed the moving 

 of some branches. Still no deer could I see, but in creeping 

 up closer, at a distance of not over twenty yards, I suddenly 

 came within full view of an immense black bear, seated on 

 his haunches and occupied in rubbing the mosquitos ofE his 

 nose. Although taken by surprise at the proportions of the 

 supposed calf, I dropped on one knee, and, levelling my rifle, 

 fired at the back of bruin's head, whereat he also exhibited 

 considerable surprise, leaping into the air, makiiig several 

 delirious revolutions, and bolting away into the gloom of the 

 swamp. Though without doubt badly wounded, it was 

 too dark to follow him. The gloom had already spoiled my 

 aim, so without further pursuit I groped my way back to 

 camp. 



During the following day the ascent of Wolverine Eiver 

 was continued, and three short portages, the longest one being 

 half a mile, were made. As we proceeded northward the 

 banks of the river became more rocky. In many places bald 

 hill-tops were visible, rising two or three hundred feet above 

 the level of the river. Such timber as there was consisted of 

 spruce, birch and jack-pine. 



On the 14th, Birch Lake, a small body of water about nine 

 miles long by two wide, was discovered and surveyed, and 

 near its northern extremity a large, rapid stream was found 

 discharging its foaming waters. Judging the course of this 

 stream to be our route, a portage of half a mile was made past 

 it. This brought us to the southern extremity of another 

 larger lake, which we assumed to be the Indians' so-called 

 " Big Lake," and which, in honor of the then Director of the 

 Geological Survey we have named Selvryn Lake. Being too 

 wide to admit of both shores being sketched from our line of 

 survey, this lake was traversed on the east side only. 



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