DOWN TRAE ALAABAS CA 33 
through the boiling waters by means of lines from the 
shore and the assistance of poles on board, to again re- 
ceive their loads at the foot of the island. Two or three 
scows were also similarly engaged in transporting 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 Chippewyan 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 a 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 
stern. 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 
3 
