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.
