Yet we had passed
the full number of lakes given in the map above this water. Even
so I did not believe it could be the big lake I had been looking
forward to reaching so eagerly.
As we paddled on at a rather brisk rate I sat thinking how
beautiful the river, the mountains, and the morning were. I had
not settled myself to watch seriously for the Nascaupee camp, when
suddenly George exclaimed, "There it is."
There it was indeed, a covered wigwam, high up on a sandy hill,
which sloped to the water's edge, and formed the point round which
the river flowed to the lake among the mountains. Soon a second
wigwam came in sight. We could see no one at the camp at first.
Then a figure appeared moving about near one of the wigwams. It
was evident that they were still unconscious of our presence; but
as we paddled slowly along the figure suddenly stopped, a whole
company came running together, and plainly our sudden appearance
was causing great excitement. There was a hurried moving to and
fro and after a time came the sound of two rifle shots. I replied
with my revolver. Again they fired and I replied again. Then more
shots from the hill.
As we drew slowly near, the men ran down towards the landing, but
halted above a narrow belt of trees near the water's edge.
