Portaged
all day mostly through low or swampy ground. Happy to be going
home. Camped tonight on second old camping-ground. George and
Wallace brought up outfit while I made camp and got wood.
Wednesday, September 23rd. - Rain by spells. W. wind. Clear in
evening and cold. Portaged all day. Crossed barren ridge. Had
big feed of moss-berries and cranberries. Wallace had apparent tea
sickness and vomited. Erbswurst same as yesterday. Feel quite
weak to-night. Had carried canoe a good deal. A good deal
depressed till camp fire. Then good again. Bright, crisp night.
Dried clothing and got warm. Talked long by fire of home.
Blankets very damp. Hard time keeping warm at night.
Thursday, September 24th. - Temp. 28 degrees. N.E. wind. Snowing
in morning. Quite cold last night, but clear and crisp till toward
morning when it snowed. Blankets very damp, but by drying clothes
at fire and getting good and warm, we slept warm and well. Dreamed
M. and I were at Missanabie. How I do wish I could see her again
at home. Thinking too much maybe, about home now. Makes too big
contrast. Snow covered ground by noon. Disagreeable morning, but
a little crisp wintriness helped it some. Plodded along on a pea
soup breakfast, wondering what the outcome will be - a little.
Nasty weather makes one wonder - and thinking of M. and home. Then
came a happy event. George had said last night be could kill a
wild goose this A.M. if I would let him take rifle. Did so, half
convinced by his confidence, and knowing he was a big goose shooter
down on "The Bay." He had started ahead. Had seen flock light in
pond ahead. Wallace and I heard four shots. Came to where George
had left pack. He was coming with no goose. "You can kick me,"
said he, "but I got a goose." We took canoe to his pond. He had
killed one goose, which was drifting ashore, and wounded another,
which sat on shore and let George end it with a pistol. Never was
goose more gladly received I'll venture. I promised George two
cook-books and a dinner as a reward.
Friday, September 25th. - Temp. 28 degrees. Wind N.E. Snow
squalls. Half goose breakfast. Pea soup, thin, for dinner. Half
goose, supper. Goose is bully. When done eating we burn the bones
and chew them. Nasty day. Portaged to old camp on small lake and
stopped. All day I have been thinking about childhood things and
the country. I want to get into touch with it again. I want to go
to Canada, if possible, for Christmas. I want to go somewhere in
sugar making. So homesick for my sweetheart. Fairly strong
despite short grub.
Saturday, September 26th. - Temp. 28 degrees. Wind N.E. Rain in
early morning, cold wind, warming in late P.M. Clear at mid-day.
Dried blankets.
