It was another of those draining
waterways which scored the rock-bound river. The sound of the water
grew as they approached its outlet. Then, in a moment, it seemed they
were swallowed up by an inky blackness.

Charley came to a halt and uncoiled the rawhide rope which he had taken
from the canoe. He paid it out, and passed one end of it to his boss.
He fastened the other end about his waist. Half-way down its length
Bill took possession of it. It was a guiding life-line so that those
behind him should not lose the trail. Then the upward struggle began.

It was a fierce effort, as Charley's information had indicated. It was
a blind climb surrounded by every pitfall conceivable. The white men
had recollections of a climb of lesser degree, in full daylight, on the
far shore of the river. It had taken something like an hour of
tremendous effort. The difficulties and danger of it had been
incomparable with their present task. Not once, but a dozen times the
life-line was the saving clause for these men who had studied nature's
book in the northern wilderness from end to end. And none realized
better than they how much reliance they were placing in the hands of
the untutored Indian who was guiding them.

Never for a moment was Charley at a loss. His movements were precise,
definite. He threaded his way amongst tree-trunks and a tangle of
undergrowth with a certainty that never faltered. He surmounted
jutting, slippery crags as though broad daylight marked out for him the
better course. There were moments when he stood on the brink of a
black abyss into which heavy waters fell to a depth of thirty or forty
feet. But always he held the life-line so that the course lay clear
behind him for those who had to follow.

So the struggle went on. Higher and higher; up, up to what seemed
immeasurable heights. Always was there the threat of the water at
hand, a warning and a constant fear, as well as the main guide. There
was not a moment when life and limb were not threatened. It was only
the pliability of the moccasins, which each man was wearing, that made
the journey possible. It gave them foothold at times where no foothold
seemed possible. It was, as Charley had warned them, "much climb."

But the task had been contemplated by minds tuned to great purpose.
Nor was there anything in the nature of the northern world that could
daunt that purpose. Bill might have found complaint to offer in the
cool cont