ACROSS THE PORTAGE
Six o'clock the next morning found every one up and ready for a dip. Mr. Anderson, having heard of the fact that Pud was bound to have his morning dip no matter how cold the water, thought to have some sport with him.
"Pud, have you seen our famous shower bath?" asked Mr. Anderson quietly.
"No. Where is it?" said Pud.
"It's just up this little stream. It's a little cold for me, but they tell me that you like cold water in the morning."
"Oh, yes," said Bill, "Pud has to have his cold shower every morning, winter or summer."
"Lead us to it," said Bob.
Mr. Anderson then led the boys up a path which finally came out right under a fifteen-foot waterfall. It certainly looked like a natural shower bath, for the water was broken in its fall by the jutting rocks. Bill put his hand into the water and pulled it back with a jerk.
"Some cold," said he.
Bob did the same.
"Me for the lake. That's too cold for my blood," was Bob's remark.
It was certainly up to Pud. He tried the water and could hardly restrain himself from pulling back.
"Fine, fine," said Pud, as he pushed under the down-rushing water and stood there for a minute. He came out almost breathless because of the contraction of his muscles by the cold water.
"Won't you indulge?" asked Mr. Anderson, turning to Bill and Bob.
"No, thank you," said Bill. "To tell the truth, I really prefer the lake."
"Well, I'll beat you to it," said Bob, and off they dashed down the path. In a moment Mr. Anderson and Pud heard them splash as they plunged into the lake.
"That's some cold shower," said Pud.
"I thought that you would like it," said Mr. Anderson seriously.
Pud looked at him said nothing as they went down the path. As they came out at the lake, Mr. Waterman said,
"Pierre objects to our using the stream for bathing purposes, as we use it for our drinking and cooking."
"I didn't think of that," said Mr. Anderson.
"Neither did I until he spoke to me about it," said Mr. Waterman.
"That's too bad," said Pud. "I thought I was going to have a real cold shower every morning."
He said it so seriously that neither Mr. Waterman nor Mr. Anderson knew whether he really meant it or not. To Bob later, Pud stated that the intervention of Pierre was providential for he had never been under such a real icy shower before.
After their swim they all sat down to breakfast and enjoyed every bit of it. After breakfast they spent some time cleaning up the camp. They got everything ship-shape in their tents first and then they cleared up a part of the beach. The boys enjoyed this as the experience of wielding an axe was new to then. They also had cause for wonder at the way in which their two leaders used the axes. They went at things very strenuously and seemed to be able to hit just where they wished. Bob commented on their skill, but they both stated that they were mere beginners in comparison with the guides.
About nine o'clock Mr. Waterman called a halt, and they got ready for their little journey. They took along just a loaf of bread and a small tin in which butter, salt and pepper were packed. The boys took along their rods and Mr. Waterman carried a small rifle. In explanation of the latter he said that they might have a shot at a duck or a partridge. They took two canoes. Bob went with Mr. Waterman, while Pud and Bill carried Mr. Anderson as a passenger. To their surprise, Mr. Waterman led the way just around the bend and then to the opposite shore. The boys had not noticed a path, but on landing they could see a trail leading off along a little stream that emptied into the lake at this place. On landing, Mr. Waterman fixed the paddles in the right way, took up the canoe and was off. Bob carried his gun, and he had all he could do to keep up with his leader. Mr. Anderson also wished to make the first portage, but Pud prevailed, and after a little trouble, they started off. Pud was soon puffing and blowing, for the path was steep. Mr. Anderson led the way for the other two had been lost to view even before the second party got started.
"This isn't so easy as it looks," said Pud to Bill.
"If you're getting tired, I'll take it," answered Bill.
"Not on your life. I've got to learn the knack of this portaging, for I mean to do a lot of it this summer, and I might just as well get used to it now as any time," said Pud, between his puffs.
"Let the weight rest on forearms, head and shoulders and you won't mind it," said Mr. Anderson. "As you say, there's a knack to it. Also, it takes muscles that we don't use right along, and for that reason it's rather tiring at first."
By this time they had topped the little divide between the two lakes and they began to descend. Pud began to have his troubles, for like all novices, he carried the canoe poorly. He came near to falling several times, and it was with a sigh of relief that he came out on the shore of a small lake. Bob and Mr. Waterman were in their canoe off the shore, evidently waiting for them.
"How's the portaging?" yelled Bob, as soon as Pud came in sight.
"Fine," said Pud. "But I have a crease here in the back of my neck that will be sore for a week."
They were soon off again, with Bob leading. The lake opened out and they found themselves in a stretch that gleamed a good mile ahead of them. All at once Bob slowed down and Mr. Anderson called on the boys to stop paddling.
"He sees something," said Mr. Anderson.
All eyes were on Mr. Waterman as he got his gun ready. Over to the left the boys saw three ducks swimming, and they knew that this was the reason for their stop. "Bang!" went the gun, and one of the ducks toppled over, but the other two disappeared as if by magic.
"Pick up the bird," yelled Mr. Waterman to Mr. Anderson.
"All right," replied the latter.
Mr. Waterman looked around carefully, and a minute later the two ducks arose to the surface some distance farther on. Bob and he took up their paddles and tried to get within a reasonable distance again. They had scared the birds so that they kept swimming away, keeping out of distance. At last Mr. Waterman laid down his paddle and got his rifle again. This time he missed, for it must be remembered that he was shooting with a rifle and not with a shotgun. It was only after three more trials that he bagged his second duck and it took a good hour longer to get the other one. For some reason the birds did not want to leave the lake and they were all three finally in Mr. Anderson's canoe.
"That will make another fine pot-pie," said Bill.
"We haven't any pot to make it in," said Pud.
"We'll have it back at camp," said Mr. Anderson. "These ducks, with some dumplings and flour gravy, will be some dish."
They made for the far end of the lake and then got out. By this time it was nearly twelve o'clock, and they debated whether to climb the mountain then or wait until they had had something to eat.
"I tell you what to do," said Anderson. "You fellows go and climb this mountain. I'll stay here, catch a few fish, then build a fire and have everything ready for you when you return."
This was considered a good plan, so the three boys and Mr. Waterman set out. There was no trail this time, but Mr. Waterman strode ahead with confidence.
"Have you been over here before?" asked Bob.
"Oh, yes," replied Mr. Waterman. "I want to come here again several times before the summer is over, for when we get to the top of this mountain you will see something that very few city dwellers have ever seen, namely, a real primeval forest."
"I thought that this was all primeval, way up here," said Bob.
"No," was the reply. "The big lumber companies see to it that there is but little first growth any place where they can get the lumber to tide water."
"Well, how is it that we'll see first growth up here, then?" asked Bill.
"You'll see when we get there," replied Mr. Waterman.
He walked on and they followed. Pud was saying nothing, but he was having his troubles keeping up. He looked ahead at Mr. Waterman, who was apparently sauntering along, and he wondered how he did it. Fortunately for him, Mr. Waterman was very observant, for he noted Pud's distress and slackened his pace or stopped to point out some great pine tree or other object worth noting.
"Do you smell him?" suddenly said Mr. Waterman, as he stopped and looked around carefully.
"Smell whom?" asked Pud, stopping in his tracks.
"The bear," said Mr. Waterman. "Can't you smell something in the air? I can. A bear has been here not very long ago. Ah, there are his tracks." He pointed to an old pine stump, which had been clawed recently. The boys looked at the stump, but they saw no tracks.
"Come here," said Mr. Waterman, as he strode over the stump. "Bears like grubs, ants, and things of that kind, so you will often know that bears are around by noting stumps, hollow trees, etc., when they have clawed at them."
The boys came over. Bob looked at the stump and then down at the ground.
"There's a track," said Bob, as he pointed at a rather big print in the soft earth on the lower side of the stump. Sure enough, they could plainly see the footprint of the bear.
"Will he come after us?" inquired Pud, looking around rather anxiously, with his eyes resting finally on Mr. Waterman's rifle.
"I'll answer your unasked question first," replied Mr. Waterman. "No, this gun would be worse than nothing for a bear. It would only wound him, and that would only make sure of an attack. As for your real question, there is not one chance in a hundred that the bear will come for us. The bears in this part of the country are well-known black bears and they have hardly ever been known to attack men unless wounded or backed into a corner. Judging by the fact that I smelt this bear even before I noticed this stump, I would guess that we disturbed him and that as soon as he smelt us, away he went, and he's probably a mile away by this time."
They then went on, and after a good climb they came out on the top of the mountain. Mr. Waterman first led them to the southern side. The slope fell quite abruptly to a little lake far below.
"Do you see the St. Lawrence?" asked Mr. Waterman.
Mr. Waterman then pointed to the south, and about fifteen miles away they could see the broad St. Lawrence stretching as far as the eye could reach.
"I thought that was a cloud," said Bill. "I see now that it is water, and away off there to the right I can see a big steamer making for Quebec."
Mr. Waterman then pointed out several lakes, giving them names and telling them that they would visit practically all of them before the summer was over. He told them that Lac Parent, on which they were camping, was hidden from view by the mountains next to the one on which they stood. It was a fine day and Bill thought that he could distinguish the Andirondack Mountains far off to the south in the United States. Mr. Waterman stated that this might be true, as they had been seen from this vicinity on very clear days. After thoroughly enjoying the view to the south, Mr. Waterman turned away and they went in a northeasterly direction. In a little while they came to another side of the mountain. In a short time Mr. Waterman led them out onto a bold rocky precipice that stood out from the mountain. They looked down into a gulch hundreds of feet below. They gazed at an immense coliseum, the sides of which were lined with giant trees. It was the wildest bit of scenery that the boys had ever looked on.
"That looks just like some of the mining camps in the Rockies," said Bob. "I've seen pictures of several that look just like this."
"That's just what struck me when I first looked down from this rock," said Mr. Waterman. "It certainly does look as if there might be some kind of mineral down there. As yet, I have not been able to find time to go down to the bottom. Those trees interest me. They are the finest I have ever seen. I can't see any lake down there, but there must be some outlet for the water."
"Why not come over here some time and go down there and investigate?" said Bill.
"We'll do that, and I'll bring you along. Let's go down the gulch a bit so you can get a look at some of these great tamaracks and cedars. You won't see them any place else."
They followed their leader, who gave them another hour of hard climbing, though he finally brought them out, half way down the mountain.
"Ye gods!" cried Mr. Waterman, as he looked at his watch. "It's after two o'clock. Let's hurry, for Mr. Anderson will think that we are lost."
Suiting action to the word, he plowed along, and though the boys were not sure in what direction they were going, they soon came out on a lake. Mr. Waterman gave a cry, which was answered immediately, not far off.
In another moment they saw Mr. Anderson putting off in a canoe. They all got in, though it brought the gunwale of the canoe down pretty close to the water. Paddling carefully, they soon landed, to find a fire burning, several fish all ready cleaned and ready for the fire, and bread all ready buttered.
"We forgot the frying pan," said Pud. "How are we going to cook the fish?"
"That's easy," said Bob. "Haven't you ever cooked fish on a stick over the fire?"
"Never," replied Pud.
"Well, you have something to learn, then," said Mr. Anderson. "You'll find pointed sticks all ready, so get busy, as it's getting late and we must be on our way."
The boys found the sticks all ready prepared, and it was not long before they were all sitting around the fire, eating fish with one hand and holding another trout over the fire with the other. The two men had often cooked fish this way and they did theirs to a turn, but the boys more often than not had theirs burned outside and half raw within. But their exercise had given them such appetites that the fish disappeared as if by magic. They stopped when there was no more bread nor fish.
"You boys are some feeders," said Mr. Anderson. "I thought I had more fish than we could eat."
"I'm just getting into action," said Pud, as he licked off his fingers and looked around for more. But more there was not, so they got into their canoes and were off down the lake. When they came to the portage Bob took the canoe and marched off into the bushes followed by Mr. Waterman carrying rod and gun. Bill insisted on carrying the canoe back, and he did very well considering that it was his first experience. He also found the going down hill rather difficult, but he soon balanced the canoe properly and had no more trouble. When they got to the end of the trail they saw Bob and Mr. Waterman just rounding the point for camp. They set out after them, but by the time they arrived, they found them already stripped and in the water.
"Come on in, the water's fine," yelled Bob.
"We'll be with you in a minute," said Bill.
On getting out of the canoe they found that the guides had already been busy with the landing. Four logs had been split in two and were ready at the chosen place. Mr. Anderson carried the ducks to the cook tent and he came back to assure the boys that they were in for a rare treat for supper.
"Jack's back, and he said that he would see to this pot-pie himself."
The boys turned at once to note the new guide. They found a rather old man, sharp of feature and eye but not very strong-looking.
"I thought he was a big fellow," said Bob.
"Oh, no," replied Mr. Waterman. "Jack's not very big, but he can tote quite a load over the hardest kind of portage. He's a wonder with the axe, and he can cook like a French chef. You'll find that out to-night."
After a fine swim and bath the boys were quite content to lie around their tents until they heard the welcome call to supper.
"I feel as empty as a barrel," said Pud, as he walked over to the table. "Gee, I'm stiff. I won't be able to get out of my blankets to-morrow."
"That just shows how soft you are," said Bob. "I'm a little stiff myself, but not very much. The back of my neck is sore."
"So is mine," said Bill.
"That's where you rest the canoe when portaging," said Mr. Anderson, who had heard the remark. "You'll get a real callous there before the summer is over. Just for curiosity, feel Pierre's neck some time. He has been at this all his life, and he has a regular muscle there."
What those hungry fellows did to that pot-pie would be a shame to tell. It disappeared very quickly, while the biscuits that Jack made tasted even better than those that mother used to bake. Even the big dish of prunes that topped off the meal was relished.
"Take me to my little bed," said Pud as, with a sigh, he saw the last prune disappear from his plate.
"Impossible, impossible," said Bob. "I think after that meal that you'll have to go around and not dare to cross the bridge over the trout pond. You'll break through."
"Not an extra step," said Pud. "In fact, I've been wondering for the last five minutes if I can get to my tent. I'm so stiff I can hardly move." It was indeed only with difficulty that Pud could navigate, for he had put in a hard day for a fat boy.
"If I survive the summer," said Pud, with a twinkle in his eye, "just watch me tear that old line to pieces this fall. This life should put the stuff into anybody."
"Yes," said Mr. Waterman, as he winked at Bob, "this was a rather easy day. Later we'll do some real work and cover some ground. I wanted to break you in easily at first."
"Now, what do you think of that?" queried Pud of Bill, as they crossed the trout pond to their tent. "He says this is an easy day. I wonder what he thinks of doing when he gets real strenuous?"
"I guess he was joking," replied Bob. "Personally, I think that we had just about all the exercise to-day that we need."
"Jack's some cook, isn't he?" queried Bill, as they sat before the fire a short time later.
"We're all agreed on that," said Bob. "I never tasted a better supper than we had."
"If we can get some duck and partridge now and then, we'll certainly live high," said Pud. "I could get along with the trout alone, for I have never tasted anything better than that."
"I was going over and make the guides tell me some of their experiences to-night," said Bob. "To tell the truth, I'm tired, and I think I'll get to bed early. Anyway, I think I'd better wait a while until I get back my French again. They talk pretty good French. It's a sort of dialect, but I can understand them pretty well. I am told that it is easier to understand their patois or dialect than many of the dialects in France itself."
Shortly after night had fallen the boys turned in, and they were soon fast asleep, all weary after their strenuous day.