route. Less than a mile away we found two small lakes, and climbing a
ridge two miles farther on, we had a view of the river, which, so far
as we could see, continued to be very rough, taking a turn to the
westward above where our canoes were stationed, and then swinging
again to the northeast in the direction of Nipishish, which was
plainly visible. The Indians, instead of taking the longer route that
we were following, undoubtedly crossed from the old cache to a point
in the river some distance above where it took its westward swing, and
thus, in one comparatively easy portage, saved themselves several
miles of rough traveling. It was too late for us now, however, to
take advantage of this.

Pete and I hurried back to the others. The afternoon was well
advanced, but sufficient daylight remained to permit us to proceed a
little way up the river, and portage to the shores of one of the
lakes, where camp was made just at dusk.

Field mice in this section were exceedingly troublesome. They would
run over us at night, sample our food, and gnawed a hole as large as a
man's hand in the side of the tent. Porcupines, too, were something
of a nuisance. One night one of them ate a piece out of my tumpline,
which was partially under my head, while I slept.

The next morning we passed through the lakes to the river above, and
for three days, in spite of an almost continuous rain and wind storm,
worked our way up stream, "tracking" the canoes through a succession
of rapids or portaging around them, with scarcely any opportunity to
paddle.

On the afternoon of the third day, with the wind dashing the rain in