therefore, probable
that there never were three happier travellers than Jacques, Harry, and
Hamilton, as they shouldered their guns and paddles, shook hands with
the inmates of Fort Pitt, and with light steps and lighter hearts
launched their canoe, turned their bronzed faces once more to the summer
sun, and dipped their paddles again in the rippling waters of the
Saskatchewan River.

As their bark was exceedingly small, and burdened with but little
lading, they resolved to abandon the usual route, and penetrate the
wilderness through a maize of lakes and small rivers well known to their
guide. By this arrangement they hoped to travel more speedily, and
avoid navigating a long sweep of the river by making a number of
portages; while, at the same time, the changeful nature of the route was
likely to render it more interesting. From the fact of its being seldom
traversed, it was also more likely that they should find a supply of
game for the journey.

Towards sunset, one fine day, about two weeks after their departure from
Fort Pitt, our voyageurs paddled their canoe round a wooded point of
land that jutted out from, and partially concealed, the mouth of a large
river, down whose stream they had dropped leisurely during the last
three days, and swept out upon the bosom of a large lake. This was one
of those sheets of water which glitter in hundreds on the green bosom of
America's forests, and are so numerous and comparatively insignificant
as to be scarce distinguished by a name, unless when they lie directly
in the accustomed route of the fur-traders. But although, in comparison
with the fresh-water oceans of the Far West, this lake was unnoticed and
almost unknown, it would by no means have been regarded in such a light
had it been transported to the plains of England. In regard to
picturesque beauty it was perhaps unsurpassed. It might be about six
miles wide, and so long that the land at the farther end of it was
faintly discernible on the horizon. Wooded hills, sloping gently down
to the water's edge; jutting promontories, some rocky and barren, others
more or less covered with trees; deep bays, retreating in some places
into the dark recesses of a savage-looking gorge, in others into a
distant meadow-like plain, bordered with a stripe of yellow sand;
beautiful islands of various sizes, scattered along the shores as if
nestling there for security, or standing barren and solitary in the
centre of the lake, l