Sixteen miles were made next day by alternate rowing and tracking, the foot of Gull Island Lake was reached, and after dinner it was crossed in one and a half hours.  Then the heaviest work of the trip thus far was struck and camp was made, about half way up Gull Lake rapid.  Supper was made off a goose shot the previous day.  It was necessary to double the crews in getting up the latter part of Gull Island rapids, and finally a short carry was made just at noon to get clear of them.  From the fact that the light, beautifully modelled boats required four men to take them up the rapids we may get some idea of the swiftness of the river as well as the difficulties attending the mode of travelling.  As the river in its swiftest parts is never less than half a mile wide, and averages a mile, it can readily be seen that it is a grand waterway, well deserving its name.

Nine miles were made this day and camp was reached at the beginning of rough water on the Horse Shoe Rapid.  Here the first evidence of shoes giving out was seen.  Constant use over rough rocks while wet proved too much for even the strongest shoes, and when Cary and Cole returned there was not leather enough between them to make one decent shoe.  Rain made the night uncomfortable, as the light shelter tent let the water through very easily and was then of little use.  At other times the tents were very comfortable.  Upon arriving at the spot selected two men would at once set about preparing the brush for beds, pitching the tent, etc., while the other provided wood for the camp and for the cook, in which capacity Cary officiated.  I cannot do better than use Cary’s own words in reference to his “humble but essential ministrations.”  “Camp cooking at best is rather a wearing process, but the agonies of a man whose hands are tangled up in dough and whom the flies becloud, competing for standing room on every exposed portion of his body, can be imagined only by the experienced.”

The party believed that a good night’s rest was indispensible where the day was filled with the hardest kind of labor, and spared no pains to secure them.  Even on the return Cary and Cole, when half starved, stuck to their practice of making comfortable camps, and it is probable that the wonderful way they held out under their privations was largely due to this.  While many in their predicament would have thrown away their blankets, they kept them, and on every cold and stormy night congratulated themselves that they had done so.

[Loss of boat] On Saturday, Aug. 1st, the first accident happened.  Tracking on the Horse Shoe Rapids was extremely difficult and dangerous.  Shortly after dinner a carry was made, taking three and a half hours to track out a path up and along a terrace about fifty feet high.  Shortly after this the boat used by Cary and Smith capsized, emptying its load into the river.  The party were “tracking” at the time, Cole being nearly the length of the tow