re than a few moments the boats
pulled up at the western end of what was to be their first portage.

"Now," said Moise, "we'll show those boy how a Companee man make the
portage." He busied himself arranging his packs, first calling for the
tent, on which he placed one package after another. Then he turned in
the ends of the canvas and folded over the sides, rolling all up into
a big bundle of very mixed contents which, none the less, he fastened
by means of the strap which now served him as support for it all.

"I know how you did that," said Rob--"I watched you put the strap down
inside of the roll."

"Yes," said Moise, smiling, "she'll been what Injun call tump-strap.
White man he'll carry on hees shoulder, but Injun an' _voyageur_,
she'll put the tump-band on her head, what? That's best way for much
load."

Moise now proceeded to prove the virtue of his remarks. He was a very
powerful man, and he now swung up the great pack to his shoulders,
although it must have weighed much over a hundred and fifty pounds and
included almost the full cargo of the foremost boat.

"Throw something on top of her," said Moise. "She'll been too light!
I'm afraid I'll ron off, me."

"Well, look at that man," said Jesse, admiringly. "I didn't know any
man was so strong."

"Those Companee man, she'll have to be strong like hox!" said Moise,
laughing. "You'll ought to seen heem. Me, I'm not ver' strong. Two,
three hondred pounds, she'll make me tire."

"Well, trot on over, Moise," said Alex, "and I'll bring the boat.
Young gentlemen, each of you will take what he can conveniently carry.
Don't strain yourselves, but each of you do his part. That's the way
we act on the trail."

The boys now shouldered their small knapsacks and, each carrying his
rifle and rod, started after the two stalwart men who now went on
rapidly across the portage.

Moise did not set down his pack at all, but trotted steadily across,
and Alex followed, although he turned at the summit and motioned to
Rob to pause.

"You'd hardly know it," said Rob, turning to John and Jesse, who now
put down their packs, "but here we are at the top of this portage
trail and the top of the Peace River pass. Here was where old Sir
Alexander really turned toward the west, just as we now are turning
toward the east. It's fine, isn't it?"

"I'm glad I came," remarked John.

"And so am I," added Jesse; "I believe we're going to have a good
time. I like those two men awfull