It
was quite possible that a good deal of time might have to be spent
looking for the trail, for it was old and would not be easily
found. It was hard to decide what was best to do.
Going ashore the men hastily examined the trail. The council which
followed resulted in a decision to keep to the river. The work
would be harder, but we should probably make as good progress and
reach Seal Lake as soon as by going through the lakes.
Above this point the river swings more to the north, and the
current grows swifter as you ascend. A little before noon we
landed at Point Lucie, a high, sandy point, which stands out into
the river at the foot of the first rapid. Here the trappers leave
their boats and make no attempt to take canoes farther up, but
portage their provisions and traps the remaining 40 miles to Seal
Lake. It seemed quite thrilling to have arrived at the wonderful
rapids I had heard so much about. It made me tremble a little to
think of sometimes being on them in a canoe, for there was so much
water, and the river looked so big.
Below Point Lucie a broad bed of loose rocks reached high up at its
foot, and in the curve of the point were great sand and gravel-
covered hummocks of ice. For some distance below us the farther
and right bank of the river was lined with huge ice-banks, still 10
and 12 feet thick, which extended up almost to where the river came
pouring out from the foot of Mount Sawyer, in a leaping, foaming
torrent. At this point the river spread out over a bed of loose
rocks about half a mile wide, which broke the water into channels,
the widest, deepest, and swiftest of which flowed along the farther
shore. The smaller and shallower ones curved into the bay above
Point Lucie. A short distance above us several of these united,
and from there the water was deep and swift and poured round Point
Lucie with tremendous force. Around the curve of the bay and
stranded in the river-bed were more ice-banks.
While George, Joe, and Gilbert were busy preparing lunch Job
disappeared into the woods. Some time later he came back with four
stout dry poles. They were about nine feet long and two and a half
inches in diameter at the lower end. After lunch the work of
shaving and shoeing them began, and the crooked knife came into
use. It was fine to watch Job's quick, deft strokes as he made
them ready. The "shods" George had brought from Missanabie. These
were made at Moose Factory, and were the kind used throughout the
James Bay country.
