canoes pulled out, "as if that half-breed who knows so much about this country got cold feet, I guess he wanted to rub it into David, and then lost his nerve."
The same day, with David and an Indian crew, Gordon started up-stream to reconnoitre the country, while his chief followed the ridge to the north on a flying survey.
Towering in the bow of Gordon's big Peterboro canoe old David piloted the craft up the quick-water of the swift river with a skill that only those born to the game possess. As they slowly bucked the current, driven by the setting-poles of David and the five voyageurs, Gordon's eager eyes followed the great ridge to the west searching for the opening that might mean a way through for the line. But in the middle of the morning, when he landed below a long stretch of white-water to get a better view-point for observation, it still loomed far to the south, hemming in the river.
"Can you pole this rapid, David?" asked Gordon.
"I pole it in small canoe, in dees boat, maybe."
"Those shores look pretty rough; where's the Indian portage?"
"Injun portage all dees water 'cross leetle lak'. You no see hill from de portage."
"I don't want to lose sight of that ridge. If you can pole it, go ahead."
There was murmuring and shaking of heads among the crew, but a few words in Ojibway from David served to reassure them, and he turned the nose of the canoe into the boilers below the white-water.
Up the first chute slowly moved the boat driven by
