William Murray Graydon

From Lake to Wilderness or the Cruise of the Yolande William Murray Graydon

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 Excerpt: ... vices, and only with the greatest difficulty could the boys induce him to yield the point. When this vexed question had finally been settled, the concluding arrangements were quickly made. The Ojibway agreed to take the boys to Lake Wabalong, which lay about sixty miles northeast of Blue Rock. It could easily be reached by paddling three miles down the coast to the mouth of the Wabalong River and then descending that narrow and tortuous stream. The Indian showed the boys his canoe--a light birchen craft, roomy and wellribbed with cedar. When he came to look over the stores on board the yacht he could scarcely repress an occasional sniff of contempt. He chose four light guns, the stoutest of the fishing-rods, and a very few of the supplies--a scant outfit of tinware and cooking utensils, salt and pepper and coffee. With some hesitation he admitted the small peak tent, the boys wisely leaving everything to his judgment. By his advice they purchased at the store a quantity of pork, hard-tack and flour. They also bought from the agent, in his capacity of Canadian fishery overseer, a permit to angle in the Ontarian streams. This cost them ten dollars. The preparations were pushed along with such alacrity that by half-past eleven all was ready for the start. The boys stepped into the canoe, and seated themselves. Norry squatted on a pile of luggage in the bow and faced his companions, who had been provided with paddles. Toboggan sat in the stern. "Now go," said the Indian, quietly, and at once the four paddles drove the graceful craft swiftly across the bay. The boys shouted lusty good-byes, and the agent and his clerk waved their caps and cheered. The Indian dogs barked, and a few O jib way spectators grunted approvingly. The jutting arm of the bay soon hid the...