which he could obtain a good view of it, and sat down to sketch,
while his companions unloaded the canoe and lifted it out of the water.
Then Jasper collected together as much of the baggage as he could carry,
and clambered up the bank with it, until he reached the still water at
the top of the fall. Here he laid it down and returned for another
load. Meanwhile Arrowhead lifted the canoe with great ease, placed it
on his shoulders, and bore it to the same place. When all had been
carried up, the canoe was launched into the quiet water a few hundred
yards above the fall, the baggage was replaced in it, and the travellers
were ready to continue their voyage. This whole operation is called
_making_ _a_ _portage_. It took about an hour to make this portage.

Portages vary in length and in numbers. In some rivers they are few and
far between; in others they are so numerous that eight or twelve may
have to be made in a day. Many of the portages are not more than an
eighth of a mile in length, and are crossed for the purpose of avoiding
a waterfall. Some are four or five miles in extent, for many long
reaches in the rivers are so broken by falls and rapids, that the
voyagers find it their best plan to take canoes and baggage on their
backs and cut across country for several miles; thus they avoid rough
places altogether.

Jasper delayed starting for half an hour, in order to give Heywood time
to finish his sketch of the fall. It began to grow dark when they again
embarked, so, after paddling up stream until a convenient place was
found, they put ashore and encamped within sight of another waterfall,
the roar of which, softened by distance, fell upon their ears all that
night like the sound of pleasant music.

CHAPTER SIX.

THE OUTPOST.

On the morning of the second day after the events which I have described
in the last chapter, our three travellers arrived at one of the solitary
outposts belonging to the fur-traders. It stood on the banks of the
river, and consisted of four small houses made of logs. It covered
about an acre of ground, and its only defence was a wall of wooden
posts, about two inches apart, which completely surrounded the
buildings.

"This fort is a namesake of mine," said Jasper, when they first sighted
it; "they call it Jasper's House. I spent a day at it when I was
hereaway two years ago."

"Who is in charge of it?" asked Heywood.

"A gentleman named Grant, I believe," replied Jas