Soon they came to an impassable rapid, and Rolf had his first taste of a real carry or portage.

Quonab's eye was watching the bank as soon as the fierce waters appeared; for the first question was, where shall we land?
and the next, how far do we carry?
There are no rapids on important rivers in temperate America that have not been portaged more or less for ages.

No canoe man portages without considering most carefully when, where, and how to land.

His selection of the place, then, is the result of careful study.

He cannot help leaving some mark at the place, slight though it be, and the next man looks for that mark to save himself time and trouble.
"Ugh" was the only sound that Rolf heard from his companion, and the canoe headed for a flat rock in the pool below the rapids.