Page:Across the sub-Arctics of Canada (1897).djvu/134

 were formed of dark Huronian schists and clay. The schists were chiefly micaceous and hornblendic, such as those occurring about the Lake of the Woods, and were found dipping at high angles.

Four or five miles to the east was a conspicuous range of snow-covered hills, probably six hundred feet in height, while between them and the river appeared a broad plateau, or a high level lake—which of the two we could not determine from the river bank. Time would not permit of our making side investigations when it was possible to be travelling, so on we sped, pulling at the paddles as well as being hurried along by the current. Thus for a time we made good progress, and as the long miles were quickly passed the spirits of our little party were cheered.

Late in the forenoon, as we were rounding a bend in the river, an Eskimo in his kyack was sighted ahead, and much to our amusement he was soon much farther ahead. The poor fellow, seeing our fleet of canoes, and being himself alone, evidently thought his safest move was to get out of the way, and this he did, leaving us farther behind at every stroke, though we were doing our best to catch him.

I shouted to him in his native tongue, but it was of no use; he did not slacken his pace until, some distance down the river, he reached an Eskimo encampment of several topicks. Here he landed, hauled up his kyack, and informed the other natives of our approach. All eyes keenly watched us. As we drew nearer they soon observed by our canoes and personal appearance that we were not Indians, as they had supposed, but were "Kudloonahs" (white men), the friends of the Eski