No more portages interrupted our course but a swift current hurried us towards the quarter in which our anticipated discoveries were to commence.

The passing cliffs returned a loud confusion of echoes to the sprightly canoe song and the dashing paddles and the eagles, watching with half-closed eyes on the pine-tops, started from their airy rest and prepared their drowsy pinions for the flight.
About twenty miles from the Forks are some salt pits and plains, said to be very extensive.

The height of the banks was reduced to twenty or thirty feet and the hills ranged themselves at an increased distance from the banks in the same variety as those of the Clear Water River.

At sunset we encamped on a small sandy island but the next morning made a speedy retreat to the canoes, the water having nearly overflown our encampment.

We passed two deserted settlements of the fur traders on opposite banks at a place called Pierre au Calumet.