CHAPTER XI

THE PARTING AT MICHIKAMAU

Pete and Easton had taken their course through small, shallow, rocky
lakes until they neared the base of the round hill. Here the canoe
was left, and up the steep side of the hill they climbed. "When we
most up," Pete told me afterward, "I stop and look at Easton. My
heart beat fast. I most afraid to look. Maybe Michikamau not there.
Maybe I see only hills. Then I feel bad. Make me feel bad come back
and tell you Michikamau not there. I see you look sorry when I tell
you that. Then I think if Michikamau there you feel very good. I
must know quick. I run. I run fast. Hill very steep. I do not
care. I must know soon as I can, and I run. I shut my eyes just
once, afraid to look. Then I open them and look. Very close I see
when I open my eyes much water. Big water. So big I see no land when
I look one way; just water. Very wide too, that water. I know I see
Michikamau. My heart beat easy and I feel very glad. I almost cry.
I remember corncob pipe you give me, and what I tell you. I take pipe
out my pocket. I fill him, and light him. Then I sit on rock and
smoke. All the time I look at Michikamau. I feel good and I say,
'This we call Corncob Hill.'"

And so we were all made glad and the conical peak had a name.

Pete told me that we should have to cut the ridge to the south of
Corncob Hill, taking a rather wide detour to reach the place. A chain
of lakes would help us, but some long portages were necessary and it
would require several days' hard work. This we did not mind now. We