"Where did you come into the river?" the chief asked. George
explained that we had come the whole length of the river, that we
had come into it from Lake Michikamau, which we reached by way of
the Nascaupee. He was greatly surprised. He had been at Northwest
River and knew the route. Turning to the others he told them of
our long journey. Then they came forward and gathered eagerly
about us. We told them we were going down the river to the post at
Ungava.
"Oh! you are near now,", they said. "You will sleep only five
times if you travel fast."
My heart bounded as this was interpreted to me, for it meant that
we should be at the post before the end of August, for this was
only the twentieth. There was still a chance that we might be in
time for the ship.
"Then where is the long lake that is in this river?" George
enquired.
"It is here," the chief replied.
We enquired about the river. All were eager to tell about it, and
many expressive gestures were added to their words to tell that the
river was rapid all the way. An arm held at an angle showed what
we were to expect in the rapids and a vigorous drop of the hand
expressed something about the falls.
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