Next morning we found ourselves involved in a confused mass of islands through the openings of which we could not discern the shore.

The guide's knowledge of the river did not extend beyond the last portage, and our perplexity continued till we observed some foam floating on the water and took the direction from which it came.

The noise of a heavy fall at the Mountain Portage reached our ears at the distance of four miles and we arrived there at eight A.M.The portage was a difficult ascent over a rocky island between which and the main shore were two cataracts and a third in sight above them, making another portage.

We surprised a large brown bear which immediately retreated into the woods.
To the northward of the second portage we again found the channels intricate but, the shores being sometimes visible, we ventured to proceed.

The character of the country was new and more interesting than before.