im a cheer.

As the boat steamed out into the Kootenay River scores of the nattiest
little gasoline launches flying flags escorted him for the first mile
or so, chugging along beside the _Nasookin_, or falling in our wake in
a bright procession of boats. Encouraged by the "movie" men they waved
vigorously, and many good "shoots" of them were filmed.

At Balfour, where the narrow river, after passing many homesteads of
great charm nestling amid the greenery of the low shore that fringes
the high mountains, turns into Kootenay Lake, the Prince went ashore.
Here is a delightful chalet which was once an hotel, but is now a
sanatorium for Canadian soldiers. Its position is idyllic. It stands
above river and lake, with the fine mountains backing it, and across
the river are high mountains.

Over these great slopes on this grey day clouds were gathered, crawling
down the shoulders in billows, or blowing in odd and disconnected
masses and streamers. These odd ragged scarves and billows look like
strayed sheep from the cloud fold, lost in the deep valleys that sit
between the blue-grey mountain sides.

The Prince spent some time visiting the sanatorium, and chatting with
the inmates, and then played golf on the course here. The C.P.R. were,
meanwhile, indulging themselves in one of their habitual feats. The
lakes make a gap in the line between Nelson, or rather Balfour siding,
and Kootenay Landing at the head of the water. Over this water-jump
the whole train, solid steel and weighing a thousand tons, was bodily
carried.

Two great barges were used. The long cars were backed on to these with
delicate skill--for the slightest waywardness of a heavy, all-steel car
on a floating barge is a matter of danger, and each loaded barge was
then taken up the lake by a tug grappled alongside.

At Kootenay Landing the delicate process was reversed, and all was
carried out without mishap though it was a dark night, and the
railwaymen had to work with the aid of searchlights. Kootenay Landing
is, in itself, something of a wonder. In the dark, as we waited for
the train to be made up, it seemed as solid as good hard land can make
it. But as the big Canadian engine came up with the first car we felt
our "earth" sway slightly, and in the beam of the big headlight we saw
the reason. Kootenay Landing is a station in the air. It is built up
on piles.

CHAPTER XIX

THE PRAIRIES AGAIN

I

In cold weather and through a