ll the bears come out of the
mountains and feed along the valleys on red willow buds and such
things. They even swim from the shore to the islands, in search of
willow flats. Besides, there are plenty of saskatoons, I don't doubt,
not far back from the river. The bears ought to be down out of the
high country by this time, and if you really care for a hunt, there
ought to be plenty of good places below here."

"It isn't dark yet," said Rob; "suppose we break camp and run down
just a little farther this evening. If the flood comes in behind us,
we're just that much ahead."

They acted on Rob's suggestion, and, passing rapidly on down the now
slightly discolored water, they soon left the Finlay gap behind them.
Their journey was but brief, however, for soon they heard the boom of
the rapids below them.

"On shore, queek!" called Moise to Rob, who was in the bow of the
leading boat.

XV

IN THE BIG WATERS

The sound and sight of the Finlay rapids, at the head of which the
leading boat now paused, gave Rob his first real idea of how wicked a
great mountain river can be. He looked back to see whether the
_Jaybird_ and her crew were well warned of the danger. But Alex soon
brought the other boat alongside at the landing place, on the south
side of the stream, above the rapids.

"Well, here we are," said he. "Now you may see what some real rapids
are. Those little ripples up above didn't amount to much."

"She looks pretty bad," said Rob. "Could anybody run a boat through
there?"

"Old Sir Alexander probably did it, but he had a big birch-bark. I'd
take it on with a good man and a good boat. We could very possibly
even get one of these boats through if we were obliged to, but there
is no use taking any risk. We can line down through the worst of it,
or even run the boat ashore if we like."

"Me, I'll rather ron the rapeed than walk on the bank with boat," said
Moise.

"Never mind, Moise," said Alex, "we'll not have to walk far with her.
We'll camp here to-night and look it over in the morning. It's always
better to tackle rough work in the morning rather than in the
evening."

The young travelers slept none too well that night. The sound of the
rapids coming through the dark and the feeling of remoteness here in
this wild mountain region proved depressing to their spirits. They
were glad enough when at length toward dawn they heard Moise stirring
about the camp. By the time they had their breakfast fi