the country had been burned over many years ago, and was very
desolate looking. The men, however, pronounced the place "Ma-losh-
an! Ma-losh-an!" (fine! fine!) and in less than an hour the tents
were pitched and made comfortable. New experiences seemed to be
coming thick and fast, for we had supper of porcupine down on the
rocks at the shore. I did not like it.

I used my air mattress that night, building it up at the head with
my dunnage bag, and at the foot with boughs. My hot-water bottle
was also called into requisition, for it was cold. They were both
better than I had hoped, and I slept as comfortably as if in the
most luxurious apartment.




CHAPTER III

CLIMBING THE RAPIDS

The call "All aboard," came at about six o'clock on Thursday
morning. We had breakfast, and started at 8 A.M. A cold northwest
wind was blowing, and an occasional light shower fell. The sand-
hills on either side of the river grew higher as we went up, with
always the willows along the water edge. Miles ahead we could see
Mounts Sawyer and Elizabeth rising blue and fine above the other
hills, and thus standing up from the desolation of the burnt lands
all about; they came as a foreword of what was awaiting us further
on.