It differed from the last in having shores that were not alder-hidden, but open gravel banks.

Now did Quonab take a long, strong line from his war sack.

One end he fastened, not to the bow, but to the forward part of the canoe, the other to a buckskin band which he put across his breast.

Then, with Rolf in the stern to steer and the Indian hauling on the bank, the canoe was safely "tracked" up the "strong waters." Thus they fought their way up the hard river, day after day, making sometimes only five miles after twelve hours' toilsome travel.

Rapids, shoals, portages, strong waters, abounded, and before they had covered the fifty miles to the forks of Jesup's River, they knew right well why the region was so little entered.
It made a hardened canoe man of Rolf, and when, on the evening of the fifth day, they saw a huge eagle's nest in a dead pine tree that stood on the edge of a long swamp, both felt they had reached their own country, and were glad..