It was a relief when the wind dropped a little, but
then we could see it had risen again, roughening the water in the
distance some minutes before it reached us. As I watched the other
canoe slip down the long slope of a big wave I wondered, often, if
it would come up again, for it looked as if bound straight for the
bottom of the lake. Soon, however, it was on the crest of another
wave and ready to dip again. The most exciting part of the
experience was watching its motions. The perspective made them
seem more remarkable than those of my own, which indeed were
startling enough at times.
With glad hearts we felt the wind drop a little as we neared the
point. Then, bending to their paddles with all the strength of
their strong arms, the men carried the canoes beyond the breakers
to where we could turn our backs to the wind, and we slipped into
the quiet bay.
CHAPTER XI
STORM-BOUND ON MICHIKAMATS
We had not reached our haven too soon. Almost immediately the wind
rose again, and by noon was blowing so strong that we could have
done nothing in any part of Lake Michikamau, not to speak of
crossing the upper end in a heavy south wind.
