RECREATION 



go and find out. As Rainy Lake was single island well up toward the east- 

 near the boundary line, thus offering ern shore. We rowed thither in the only 

 an easy escape in view of the dangers boat the lake could boast, the property 

 of this step into the dark, and, besides, of the lumber company. The beauty of 

 was on the railroad, we decided for the the spot and its desirability as a camp 

 lake of ominous name — a name well- site appealed to us at once. 

 deserved, as we discovered. Rain forbade a start the next morn- 



We bought at llnntsville a staunch ing, but after another one of the hos- 



canoe — Peterborough model — which by pitable Mrs. Blake's dinners we set out 



its good behavior in all kinds of weather with high anticipations. We found our 



became an honorary member of our possessions in a shanty of an abandoned 



household under the Christian name of lumber camp where I had my first ex- 



"Hilda." The Canadians excel in hos- perience as a pack animal. The initia- 



pitality and canoe building. We were tion took the form of carrying an 



offered a birch canoe for a third of the eighty-pound canoe down a steep bank 



sum, but, romance and drowning aside, to the edge of the water. The start 



the lone Indian's canoe is a botch beside was easy and graceful. The canoe 



the slim cedar skiff of his Canadian caught the spirit of the descent and 



brother. Our craft was 16x3 feet, with gained enthusiasm at every bound, for 



the slight bulge below the gunwale, I had quickened my pace, not wish- 



which makes the difference between life ing the canoe to reach its destination 



on the water and death in it. before I should. The race came near 



Rainy Lake station proved to be a ending in kindling wood and humilia- 

 sawmill surrounded by a few forlorn tion, but we managed to break the 

 houses, apparently built for a day and force of one another's fall by joining 

 a night. The presence of a lone couple forces and coming down en masse, 

 dumped in that desolate spot was an Few joys are comparable to home- 

 interesting spectacle to the two or three building, even though that home be but 

 individuals that sidled around us, but a tent. It was with great zeal that we 

 when they found that we were only a landed and took possession of the island 

 couple of fools who had come five hun- in the name of the Fresh Air Life. We 

 dred miles to camp in this lonely spot, felt the heart throbs of primitive man 

 curiosity gave way to astonishment, as- as we hewed our tent poles and set up 

 tonishment to pity and pity to kindness. our little cross tree, for at last we 

 We had been told that all we needed to could live the simple life. Accelerated 

 do was to slide our canoe from the train by the rumble of distant thunder, we 

 into the water. We were now informed soon had our light canvas stretched 

 that the lake was filled for a third of its over the poles and firmly fastened by 

 length of three miles with logs, and guy ropes. To one who was not a 

 that not even a canoe could get through lover of forest freedom, the inspection 

 "Now, the best thing you fellows can of this flimsy home and the prospect 

 do," volunteered one of our new ac- of a month's sojourn therein through 

 quaintances (the other "fellow" was my all the changes of sun and storm must 

 wife), "is to have the section gang take have been forbidding indeed, but to us 

 your canoe and duffle on a hand car to it seemed cosy and delightful. After 

 w T here the water is open." That even- setting up the cots and bringing in our 

 ing we acted on this advice, after find- boxes and enough fuel to last over a 

 ing temporary lodging in the sawmill rainy day, we found that we had barely 

 boarding house and spending the after- room in which to turn around, but we 

 noon inspecting the lake under the came to live in the open, not in tents, 

 guidance of John Urquardt, fire ranger The opening looked out upon a ledge 

 and gentleman. At a point one mile of rock that sloped toward the water 

 from the western end the lake widened and made a landing place, 

 into a beautiful sheet of water, with a We were now in the real wilds, only 



