On Tuesday it rained, and we did not break camp till the following morning, when at 9 A.M. we were off for Lake Michikamau.  Travelling was now much less difficult than it had been, though the river continued rapid.  Our course, a few miles above Seal Lake, turned directly west, and as we entered Lake Wachesknipi high hills appeared ahead, showing deepest blue and purple under the cloudy sky.  Again we made nineteen miles, taking on the way one partridge, two geese, and a muskrat, and camping in the evening at the foot of Red Rock Hill.  Here we were destined to remain for two days on account of storms of wind and rain.

How I disliked the rainy days, for I was not very patient of delay.  There was little one could do in camp, and lounging in a tent when you are not tired has few redeeming features.

After noon on Thursday Job set off to climb the hill.  In the evening when I went out to supper the ground under the tarpaulins, which were strung up for shelter on either side of the fire, was covered with fresh cut shavings.  Job had returned, and was carefully putting the finishing touches to a new axe handle.  He said he had been up among the clouds, and reported two heavy rapids and a little lake a few miles ahead.

The following afternoon, albeit it was still raining, the men prepared to climb the hill again, and I wanted to go too.  Job, however, assured me that it would be impossible as the hill was altogether too steep and slippery.  I was much disappointed.  It seemed such an ignominious sort of thing too, to be an explorer, and have one of my party tell me I could not do something he had already done, and was about to do again, just for the mere pleasure of it.

That it might not be too trying I had George go with me in the canoe up to the rapids.  The first one, Seal Rapid, was almost three miles above our camp, and it came down from the west swinging to the south round a high sand-point and entering a small lake expansion.  We landed at the head of a little bay south of the point, and crossed to the rapids.  They were very wild and fine, but fortunately they did not extend far, and about three-quarters of a mile of portaging would put us on smooth water again.  Here for the first time we found the rocks along the shore and in the river-bed of varied and beautiful colours.  There were among them red and green and blue of many and exquisite shades—­the greens being particularly beautiful.  From near the head of the bay several small lakes extended westward, and through these we thought the Indians probably made their portages.  It was quite late when we returned to camp, the journey back being a rather hard paddle against a strong head wind.  The men had already returned from the hill, bringing a few partridges with them.