40 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 
foam and spray, rose buoyantly on the waves, and 
again we breathed freely. It was a lucky thing for us 
that the canoes were not loaded, for had they. been they 
never would have floated after that plunge, but would 
have disappeared hke lead in the billows. We after- 
wards found we had taken the rapid in the very worst 
spot, and that near the right side of the river we might 
have made the descent free of danger. Without a guide, 
however, such mistakes will sometimes occur in spite 
of every precaution. 
Poor John, my bowman, was badly unstrung as a 
result of this adventure, and declared that he did not 
want to shoot any more waterfalls; and for that matter, 
others of us were of much the same mind. One more 
small rapid, the Moberly, completed the series, and then 
for a few miles we enjoyed calm water until, toward 
evening, we reached Fort McMurray. 
This settlement, containing in all five small log build- 
ings—a warehouse, a store, the traders’ dwelling and 
two Indian houses—is situated on a cleared tongue of 
land formed by the junction of the Clear Water River 
with the Athabasca, and is about two hundred and fifty 
miles below the Landing. The site of the post is at an 
elevation of forty or fifty feet above the water, but in 
the immediate background, and on both banks of the 
river, the ground rises abruptly, and is covered by a 
thick growth of poplar, spruce and birch trees. At the 
time of our arrival two parties of Indians, one Cree and 
the other Chippewyan, occupying in all a dozen or more 
lodges, were encamped at the place, and were to be seen 
in groups here and there idly putting in the time, while 
everywhere their mangy canines skulked and prowled 
