mainder of the voyage.

It would take us several days we knew, at all events, to perform the
voyage, for there were rapids to be passed; and though we might shoot
them, the attempt, without being well acquainted with the navigation,
would be hazardous, and it would be far wiser, Alick considered, to make
a portage, or in other words to carry our canoe on our shoulders
overland, till tranquil water should be reached.

"If we had fishing-lines and hooks we need have no fear of wanting
food," observed Martin. "I must try to manufacture some hooks and
lines."

"But where are you to find iron for the hooks or material for the
lines?" I asked.

"The first I'll form, as the Indians do, out of bone," answered Martin.
"They use them in the upper Saskatchewan, and on the lakes in the
neighbourhood. If we can shoot a deer, the skin and the inside will
supply us with material for the lines."

"But the deer must be shot first, and fitting bones found to make the
hooks; and then, as to bait?" I observed.

"We'll try various sorts. We may find grasshoppers or some other
insects on the shore, at which I should think several fish would bite,"
answered Martin. "If not, we must dig for worms, or try the insides of
the birds or beasts we may shoot."

"If we do happen to shoot any; but so much depends on that little word
`if,' that we must not be too sanguine," I remarked.

"At all events, we have already killed two swans, and should not be
doubting about our success for the future," answered Martin. "Just
think, David, how remarkably we have been hitherto preserved! We are
positively ungrateful to Heaven if we doubt that the same kind
Providence will continue to watch over us."

"Hush, boys!" said Alick. "We are again getting near the swans, and we
may kill one or two more if we approach them carefully. Get your guns
ready, but don't fire too soon. Stand by to lower the sail when I tell
you. Do you, Martin and Robin, be prepared to get out your paddles the
moment you have fired; while you, David, must reload in case the others
miss."

Soon after he spoke the wind failed us, and the canoe no longer stemmed
the current. The greatest caution was now necessary to get up to the
swans. Should we use our paddles, we should frighten them, and they
might escape us. The birds, as before, kept swimming slowly up the
stream. We waited in the hopes that the wind would again fill our sail.
We found that the canoe was slowly