n 
THE MAINE WOODS. 
Erelong we recognized some rocks and other features 
in the landscape which we had purposely impressed on 
our memories, and, quickening our pace, by two o’clock 
we reached the batteau.* Here we had expected to 
dine on trout, but in this glaring sunlight they were slow 
to take the bait, so we were compelled to make the most 
of the crumbs of our hard bread and our pork, which 
were both nearly exhausted. Meanwhile we deliberated 
whether we should go up the river a mile farther, to 
Gibson’s clearing, on the Sowadnehunk, where there was 
a deserted log-hut, in order to get a half-inch auger, to 
mend one of our spike-poles with. There were young 
spruce-trees enough around us, and we had a spare 
spike, but nothing to make a hole with. But as it was 
uncertain whether we should find any tools left there, 
we patched up the broken pole, as well as we could, for 
the downward voyage, in which there would be but little 
use for it. Moreover, we were unwilling to lose any 
time in this expedition, lest the wind should rise before 
we reached the larger lakes, and detain us; for a moder¬ 
ate wind produces quite a sea on these waters, in which 
a batteau will not live for a moment; and on one occa¬ 
sion McCauslin had been delayed a week at the head of 
the North Twin, which is only four miles across. We 
were nearly out »of provisions, and ill prepared in this 
respect for what might possibly prove a week’s journey 
round by the shore, fording innumerable streams, and 
threading a trackless forest, should any accident happen 
to our boat. 
It was with regret that we turned our backs on Che- 
* The bears had not touched things on our possessions. They 
sometimes tear a batteau to pieces for the sake of the tar with which 
it is besmeared. 
