Bob Hunt in Canada

by George W. Orton

"It's dangerous, all right," said Bob. "If we had been tipped over going down that Devil's Cauldron, it would have been five to one against our ever getting out."

"It would have been a hundred to one," replied Mr. Waterman. "At the same time, if no accident occurs, one should come through all right if one knows how to handle a canoe. I have been tipped over three or four times in all my life, and generally the accident was due to my own carelessness."

They spent another happy night around the fire, with Pierre telling them more of his experiences.

"It is only on small trips like this that one can get Pierre to talk," said Mr. Waterman. "When a bunch is along he either feels that he has no right around the fire with the others or he is too busy to get into the humor."

"He has certainly had some experiences," said Bob.

They determined, before they sought their blankets, that the next day they would go down to the mouth of the Portneuf River and then get the St. Lawrence steamer up to Escoumains. They decided to do this so that they would save time, as Bob and his party had to leave the woods in a very few days. Then again, they were all eager to find out what luck Bill and Mr. Anderson had had in getting in a claim on the gulch. Nothing exciting occurred the next day, as it was smooth sailing, or rather canoeing, until they hit the St. Lawrence. At this place the St. Lawrence is about forty miles wide. There was a southerly wind, so they kept to their original plan and took the river boat to Escoumains, arriving there about four o'clock in the afternoon. Mr. Waterman hustled around and soon had a pair of little Canadian horses. These hustled away with them and the two canoes, and by dark they were at the ford once more.

The next morning they were up early, and by seven o'clock they were back on Lac Parent. Jerry's cheery halloo proved to them that they had been expected. They found Bill and Mr. Anderson already back, and Mr. Waterman was very much pleased with the way they had gotten results.

"The gulch is ours, then," said Mr. Waterman. "We can easily raise the money, as land is cheap down here."

"We won't have to pay the money until it is regularly surveyed, and that will not be until next summer, I expect," said Mr. Anderson.

"I hope that it will keep, for I want to have three or four days' good fishing before I go," said Bob.