George
insisted that it was but two miles to the canoes, but to me it
seemed quite four.
Lunch over, we rested a little, and then armed with two kodaks,
note-books, revolver and cartridges, bowie knife, barometer and
compass, I was ready for my climb. Before starting George said: "I
think you had better take your rubber shirt. It is going to rain
this afternoon."
I looked at the sky. It was beautiful, with numbers of silvery
clouds floating lazily over the hills. It didn't look like rain to
me, and I had something of a load as it was, I said: "No, I don't
think I shall. I should rather not have any more to carry. It is
not going to rain."
George said no more, and we started. At the little bay reaching in
at the foot of the mountain we parted, and I went on up the hill.
It seemed beautiful to be going off without a guard, and to think
of spending an hour or two up on the hill top, quite alone, with a
glorious sky above, and the beautiful hills and lakes and streams
in all directions. I should be able to get some characteristic
photographs and it was a perfect day for taking them. No time was
wasted on the way, and the two hours proved all I had hoped.
The canoes did not come, however, and knowing that the men must
have had ample time to make the portage, I decided to go down to
the lake. Certainly by the time I reached it they too would be
there, for a thunder-shower was coming.
When only a little way from the summit, I looked down into the
valley and there, quite near where I was to meet the men, I saw
something, which looked like a huge, brown bear, lying down. I
stopped and watched it for a while, hardly knowing what to do. I
had been deceived often, but this was not a mere black spot. It
had definite shape and colour. Though I knew but little about the
habits of bears, it did not seem the thing one would expect of a
bear, to be lying there on the moss and rocks at that time of day.
Still I did not know.
Finally, I concluded that the quickest way to settle the question
was to go and see. I had my revolver, and if it proved a real bear
I would not this time aim "any place; just at the bear." I hurried
on trying to keep the disturbing object in sight, but I could not.
When the valley was reached it was nowhere to be seen, and I
concluded I had again been deceived.
The storm had now come on, and there was still no sign of the
canoes. I decided that if I must be drenched and devoured, for the
flies were fearful, I might as well be doing something interesting.
I set off for the ridge on the further side of the lake with
something of the feeling a child has who runs away from home, for
it had been constantly impressed upon me that I must never go away
alone, and I recognized the justice of the demand; but I meant to
be careful, and probably should not go very far. Wading across the
brook, which drains the lake to the river, I climbed up the ridge
and was delighted to get a fine view of the falls. I went on to
the top, but still there was no sign of the canoes, and I walked
northward along the ridge. It was like a great mound of rock set
down on the surface of the earth, its top rounded and smooth and
bare, while on either side it dropped abruptly almost to the level
of the lake, ending in a precipice a mile from where I had climbed
it. When I reached its northern end I could see the little bay to
which the men had carried the outfit.
Imagine my astonishment when, looking across, I saw the two canoes
turned upside down over the stuff to keep it dry, and the men
around a fire drinking tea. I was not a little annoyed to find
that they were quite so ready to leave me alone in the
thunderstorm, knowing that I had nothing to protect me, till
suddenly I remembered how I had been advised to take my rubber
shirt - and then I thought I understood. I was to have a lesson in
taking good advice when I could get it.
I laughed a little and thought: "Oh! I know something better than
that. This afternoon I shall I 'go where I like and do what I
please,' like the little fly, and have 'one good time.'"
Taking out my revolver I fired two shots to let them know where I
was, and started back along the top of the ridge to look for a
place to climb down. There was a still higher ridge between me and
the river, and I knew that from it I could see more. I stopped to
take a photograph of a great boulder set on top of some smaller
rocks, and while doing so heard two rifle shots from the other
shore. Evidently they had just discovered where I was. I fired
once more in reply, and then disappeared down the other side of the
mountain.
It was steep, and I laughed to think how terrified they would be if
they could see me; but this afternoon as I had thrown off
restraint, I chose the first place where descent was possible, and
let myself down along a rather wide crevice where some earth had
gathered, and a few bushes were growing.
