oute, though it
might have been possible to carry the canoe across the portages, as the
bales of peltries occupied less space than the cargo he had brought.
There was sufficient room, too, for the four additional people the canoe
had now to carry.

The day before we were to start, Ashatea appeared to be very unhappy.
It was, I concluded, at the thought of parting from Lily; but Lily
afterwards told me that it was more on account of Manilick, who still
refused to embrace Christianity.

"We must pray for him," said Lily. "Kepenau has taken every opportunity
of speaking to him, and putting the truth plainly before him; but though
he would very gladly make Ashatea his wife, he still remains firm in his
heathen belief."

We could no longer delay our return home, as the autumn was advancing,
and before long we might expect storms and frosts, which would make our
proposed voyage in the canoe both trying and dangerous.

The whole tribe came down to the bank of the river at early dawn to see
us off, as Uncle Mark wished to cross the lake before sunset. We should
have to encamp for the night, and continue our voyage up the river next
morning.

We made good progress down the stream, having the current with us, and
entered the lake just as the sun rose above what appeared like a sea
horizon, though we knew that the shore was not far off on the opposite
side. The calm lake shone like a burnished mirror. The shore we were
leaving was tinted with various colours, the higher ground here crowned
by groups of spruce-firs, and in other places rocky and barren, but
still picturesque in the extreme.

I took a paddle and sat by Lily. Reuben and Mike also made themselves
of use; while Uncle Mark sat with Dora at the bottom of the canoe. It
was the first voyage I had ever taken on the lake, and Lily and I agreed
that it would be very pleasant to have a canoe or small vessel of our
own, and to cruise round the shores, exploring every inlet and creek.

As the sun rose the heat became intense; not a breath of air stirred the
surface of the lake, and Lily, who had taken off her hat, was very glad
to put it on again. After paddling for some distance we landed to
breakfast, or rather to dine; for we did not intend to stop again till
we went on shore to encamp for the night.

Wild rocks fringed the shore, and we had to exercise great caution in
approaching it, for the slightest touch would have knocked a hole in the
bow of our canoe,