In spite of their failure they were less discouraged than the previous evening, for this failure, in a way, was having a sedative and healthful effect.

It convinced them that there was a hard and perhaps long task ahead of them, and that they could not expect to find their treasure winnowed in yellow piles for them.
Early in the evening Mukoki returned laden with caribou meat, and with the news that the first break in the chasm walls was fully five miles below.

The adventurers now regretted that they had chopped down the stub, for it was decided that the next work should be in the stream above the fall, which would necessitate a ten-mile tramp, five miles to the break and five miles back.

When the journey was begun at dawn the following morning several days' supplies were taken along, and also a stout rope by means of which the gold hunters could lower themselves back into their old camp when their work above was completed.

Rod noticed that the rocks in the stream seemed much larger than when he had first seen them, and he mentioned the fact to Wabigoon.
"The floods are going down rapidly," explained the young Indian.