From the river tilt1, as they called it, where their camp was pitched, the Big Hill trail led to the northwest for fifteen miles, then fifteen miles to the westward2, where it took a sharp turn to the northward3, in which direction it continued for nearly thirty miles, then again swung to the westward for fifteen miles, where it terminated on the shores of a small lake. This was the trail previously4 hunted by Bob.
Douglas Campbell had visited the Big Hill trail the preceding winter, but had not remained to hunt, and it had therefore been unoccupied during the winter. For the season at hand it had been transferred to Dick Blake, while Dick's own trail, farther down the river, was to remain untenanted, and the animals given an opportunity to increase. Directly below the Big Hill trail and adjoining it was Bill Campbell's trail.
Bob had been informed by Mountaineer Indians who camped during a portion of each summer near the Eskimo Bay post, that by following a stream flowing into the river a short distance above the river tilt of the Big Hill trail, and taking a west-northwesterly direction, he would find a series of lakes running almost parallel with the river, and lying between the river and the Big Hill trail.
Tradition said that this stream and series of lakes had at one time been an Indian portage route around the Great Falls of the Grand River, but for many years it had been generally avoided by Indians because of its proximity5 to the falls, which were supposed to be the abode6 of evil spirits, a superstition7 doubtless arising from the fact that Indian canoes may have been caught in the current above the falls and carried to destruction below; and because of the impression and awful aspect of the falls themselves, whose thunderous roar may be heard for many miles, echoing through the solitudes8.
From the fact that this region had but rarely been traversed, and had certainly not been hunted by Indians for many generations, and that the animals within the considerable territory which it embraced had therefore been permitted to increase undisturbed by man, Bob argued that it must of necessity prove a rich trapping ground for the first who ventured to invade it. It was here, then, that he purposed establishing his first trapping trail.
The first step to be taken was to make a survey of the region, and with a quantity of steel traps, a limited supply of provisions, and Shad's light tent, the two young adventurers set forward in the canoe upon their scouting9 journey within the hour after Sishetakushin and Mookoomahn had left them.
A long portage and the ascent10 of a stream for several miles carried them that evening to the first of the series of lakes, where Bob's trained eye soon discovered unquestionable signs of an abundance of fur-bearing animals, sustaining his hope that the ground would be found virgin11 and profitable territory.
Their camp was pitched by the lake shore. At their back lay the dark forest, before them spread the shimmering12 lake, and to the westward a high hill lifted its barren peak of weather-beaten, storm-scoured rocks.
The atmosphere became cool as evening approached, and when supper was disposed of the fire was renewed, and, weary with their day's work, they reclined before its genial13 blaze to watch the sun go down in an effulgence14 of glory and colour.
Neither spoke15 until the colours were well-nigh faded, and the first stars twinkled faintly above.
"The most glorious sunset I ever beheld16," remarked Shad finally, breaking the silence.
"'Twere fine!" admitted Bob. "We sees un often in here, this time o' year. They makes me think o' what the Bible says th' holy place in th' temple was t' be like--'A veil o' blue an' purple an' scarlet17.' I'm wonderin', now, if th' Lard weren't makin' these sunsets just t' show what th' holy place be like, an' t' keep us from forgettin' un. I'm wonderin' if 'tisn't a bit o' th' holy place in th' temple o' Heaven, th' Lard's showin' us in them sunsets."
"I don't know," said Shad; "I don't remember it. I must confess I never read my Bible very much."
"I'll read un to you from my Bible when day comes," promised Bob.
Presently the aurora18 borealis flashed up upon the sky with the effect of a thousand powerful searchlights, the long fingers of light rising from the northern horizon to the zenith and flashing from east to west in a maze20 of every-changing colour--now white--now red--now yellow. It was a scene not only beautiful, but weird21 and awe-inspiring.
"I'm thinkin', now, o' th' northern lights," remarked Bob, when they had watched them for some time, "that they's flashes o' light from heaven. I'm thinkin' th' Lard sends un t' give us promise o' th' glories we'll have when we dies."
"That is a cheerful thought, at least," admitted Shad.
"Yes, 'tis cheerin'. Leastways, they always cheers me when I see un," declared Bob.
"Whenever I see them after this," said Shad, "I shall remember your suggestion--that they are the reflected glory of heaven, sent to inspire the dwellers22 upon earth."
As they arose to retire to their tent the dead silence of the wilderness23 was startled by the uncanny cry of a loon24. Bob stood for a moment and listened. Then, turning to the tent, he remarked:
"'Tis a bad sign, when a loon laughs at night like that!"
"In what way?" asked Shad.
"'Tis said t' be a warnin' o' danger an' trouble."
In a series of portages from lake to lake they passed the next day through six lakes of varying size, caching traps now and again at convenient points for future use.
All the afternoon a low, rumbling25 sound was to be heard. Time and again they halted to listen. It was a changeless, sullen26, muffled27 roar. Finally, when they reached the sixth lake, later in the afternoon, their curiosity got the better of them and they climbed a barren eminence28 to investigate. As they neared the summit the roar increased in volume, and when they reached the top and looked to the southward they beheld a cloud of vapour.
"'Tis th' Great Falls o' th' Injuns!" exclaimed Bob.
"Where the evil spirits dwell?" asked Shad.
"Aye, where th' evil spirits dwell." Around them lay a rugged29 scene of sub-Arctic grandeur30. To the eastward31 the country was dotted with a network of small lakes similar to those through which they had been travelling, while to the northward a much larger lake appeared. The shores of these lakes supported a forest of black spruce, but every rise of ground was destitute32 of other growth than the gray caribou33 lichen34 which everywhere carpets the Labrador forest.
"There's a grand chance t' lay th' trails," said Bob. "We'll be makin' our trails along th' s'uth'ard lakes an' up t' that big lake, an' Ed's among th' lakes t' th' n'uth'ard."
"I'd like to see those falls," suggested Shad. "Can't we take the morning off to visit them?"
"An' you wants," agreed Bob. "We'll be buildin' a tilt down where th' canoe is, an' another on th' first lake, an' I'm thinkin' another on th' big lake above."
Accordingly the following morning, leaving their camp pitched and their canoe on the lake shore, they turned southward upon an exploring expedition. Their tramp carried them across a series of ridges35 and bogs36 and finally into a forest. With every step the roar increased, and at length they could plainly feel the earth tremble beneath their feet.
Suddenly they emerged from the forest to behold37 a scene of wild and sublime38 grandeur. They stood at the very brink39 of a mighty40 chasm41. From far above them the river rushed down, a stupendous torrent42 of foam-crested billows and swirling43 whirlpools, impatient to make its leap into the depths at their feet where it was presently to be swallowed up in a bank of mist, which shimmered44 beneath the two adventurers like a giant opal lighted by all the colours of the rainbow. Below the rainbow-coloured mist the river again appeared, rushing in fearful power past beetling45, frowning cliffs, which directly hid it from view. The very rocks upon which they stood trembled, and a reverberating46 roar rose from the canyon47 at their feet, so loud that conversation was well-nigh impossible.
[Footnote: These are the Grand Falls of Labrador. The river falls three hundred and sixteen feet with a single leap.]
For half an hour they stood enthralled48 by the scene, then they turned up the river, walking along its bank.
"'Tis an awful place down there," remarked Bob. "I'm not wonderin', now, th' Injuns thinks 'tis possessed49 by evil spirits."
"It is the most sublime scene I ever beheld," declared Shad. "One glimpse of it is worth all the trouble we've had in getting here."
The river gradually widened, but always with a strong current, even above the heavy white rapids, until some five miles above the falls it expanded into a large island-dotted lake. At the extreme lower end of this lake the old Indian portage trail was discovered, and following it the explorers late in the day reached their camp.
The following weeks were devoted50 to the erection of tilts52--small log cabins to be used in winter as shelter. One was established well up the shores of the large lake expansion above the falls, another upon the shores of the lake from which they had made their excursion to the falls, and still another upon the first lake above the river tilt of the Big Hill trail, while to the northward near other lakes four other tilts were erected53, at convenient distances apart, for Ed's use.
These tilts were all constructed upon the same general plan. They were on an average about eight by ten feet in size, with a slightly sloping roof so low in the rear Bob could scarcely stand erect51.
The chinks between the logs were filled with caribou moss54. The roof logs were covered with boughs55, over which was spread first a blanket of moss and then a coating of six inches of earth. Each was provided with a doorway56 about four feet in height and two and a half feet wide, which was fitted with a door constructed of lashed19 saplings covered with bark.
Within, a platform of flat stones was arranged to accommodate the sheet-iron stove, with a stove-pipe hole through the roof directly over it.
Long, springy saplings were utilised in erecting57 bunks58 at the rear and along the side of the tilt opposite the stove. These were later to be covered with spruce boughs, and would serve both as beds and seats, and were elevated some eighteen inches above the earth floor.
"They'll be warm an' snug," said Bob. "When frosty weather an' winter comes th' snow soon banks un up an' covers un up, roof and all, and makes un good an' tight."
"But how do you get air enough to breathe?" asked Shad.
"Th' stove-pipe hole is made plenty big," explained Bob, "an' that lets th' bad air out, an' we mostly has a snow tunnel leadin' t' th' door so th' wind won't strike in, an' leavin' th' door off, th' good air comes in."
Nearly four weeks had been consumed in this work, and without waiting for the reappearance of their friends they began at once the distribution of supplies among the tilts, for September was nearly spent and winter would be upon them by mid-October, when ice in the lakes would render the canoe useless.
Therefore, with all haste they proceeded with their first canoe-load of provisions to the farthest tilt, built upon the shores of the lake expansion above the falls.
It was mid-forenoon of a beautiful, transparent59 September day when they reached the tilt. The supplies were quickly stowed beneath the bunks, the tent stove erected, and, halting only long enough to make tea, they launched their canoe for the return.
"We'll be makin' th' river tilt before we sleeps," said Bob. "They's a moon, an' we'll finish by moonlight, an' to-morrow we'll be gettin' out with th' next load. If we travels fast we can make th' river tilt before midnight, whatever!"
The portage trail left the river at a point some ten miles below the tilt, and as previously stated, at the lower end of the lake, where the current began to gather strength for its final tumultuous rush toward the falls.
They had paddled the distance in two hours, and were congratulating themselves upon their good progress as they turned the canoe toward the portage landing, when suddenly they were startled by a burst of wild, bloodcurdling whoops60, and a half-dozen strange Indians, guns levelled, rose upon the shore.
"Mingens!" exclaimed Bob.
A warning in the Indian tongue was shouted at them that they must not attempt to land. A shot was fired over their heads to emphasise61 the fact that the savages62 were in earnest, and with no alternative, and taken wholly by surprise, Shad at the steersman's paddle astern, swung the canoe out into the stream, still continuing down the river.
"Upstream! Upstream! Turn about!" shouted Bob.
In the excitement and confusion that followed the first few moments after the attack, much valuable time had been lost in ineffectual manoeuvres, and when the canoe was finally turned about they were far out into the stream, and it was found that the insidious63 current had caught them. Bob was the first to recognise the danger, and in a sharp, tense voice he commanded:
"Quick! Work for your life! If th' rapid gets us, 'twill carry us over th' falls!"
Then they paddled--paddled as none had ever paddled before. But already the powerful current had them in its grip. Slowly--slowly--but with increasing speed they were drifting toward the awful cataract64.
They would have braved the Indians now, and attempted a landing, but from a point directly below the portage trail, and extending to the white water of the heavy rapids the river bank rose in a perpendicular65 rampart of smooth-scoured rock, a full ten feet in height, offering no possible foothold.
For a little while they hoped, as they worked like madmen. Then the full import of their position dawned upon them--that they were hopelessly drifting toward the brink of the awful cataract.
Beads66 of cold perspiration67 broke out upon their foreheads. A sickening numbness68 came into their hearts, and as in a dream they heard the derisive69, exultant70 yells of the savages upon the shore.
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tilt
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| v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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solitudes
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| n.独居( solitude的名词复数 )；孤独；荒僻的地方；人迹罕至的地方 | |
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scouting
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| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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effulgence
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| n.光辉 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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dwellers
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| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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loon
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| n.狂人 | |
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rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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caribou
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| n.北美驯鹿 | |
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lichen
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| n.地衣, 青苔 | |
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ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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bogs
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| n.沼泽，泥塘( bog的名词复数 )；厕所v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的第三人称单数 )；妨碍，阻碍 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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43
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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shimmered
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
beetling
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| adj.突出的，悬垂的v.快速移动( beetle的现在分词 ) | |
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46
reverberating
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| 回响，回荡( reverberate的现在分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
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canyon
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| n.峡谷，溪谷 | |
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48
enthralled
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| 迷住，吸引住( enthrall的过去式和过去分词 )； 使感到非常愉快 | |
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49
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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50
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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51
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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52
tilts
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| （意欲赢得某物或战胜某人的）企图，尝试( tilt的名词复数 ) | |
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53
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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54
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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55
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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56
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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erecting
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| v.使直立，竖起( erect的现在分词 )；建立 | |
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bunks
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| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
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transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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60
whoops
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| int.呼喊声 | |
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emphasise
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| vt.加强...的语气，强调，着重 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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66
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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numbness
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| n.无感觉，麻木，惊呆 | |
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derisive
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| adj.嘲弄的 | |
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exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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