Amp via the short route with the exception of Mr. Waterman, who went
back via the road with a load of provisions. As he left, he stated that
he would camp at the ford that night and would expect them all over
there very early in the morning to help him with the stuff. The party
separated and the next morning even before daybreak, they all left the
home camp and headed for the ford. The fact that the boys were quite
willing to go along and would really have felt slighted had they been
left behind showed how much they had developed since coming up to the
camp. They not only thought nothing of getting up before daybreak and
going off over two lakes but they knew that when they got there, they
would merely load themselves down with grub and come back. What would
have seemed to them a big day's work only a few weeks before, they were
now eager to do before breakfast. Such is the way of the wilderness. Men
get to see that every one must do his share and a little discomfort is
scoffed at. The boys enjoyed the early morning paddle through the two
lakes, while the portaging of the canoes was by this time mere child's
play to them. They really thought nothing about it and took their turn
when traveling light just as a matter of course. The improvement in Pud
was the most noticeable. He had lost weight and was quicker on his feet
and handled himself much better. They arrived at the ford to find Mr.
Waterman busy getting everything ready to move out. He had things in
good shape and in ten minutes they were on the back trail. There were so
many of them that the weight assigned each was comparatively light and
they walked away at a rapid pace. Before seven o'clock, they were back
on Lac Parent and with appetites that would have been the delight of an
epicure. Jack was the only one that had remained behind and as soon as
they disembarked, he called them. They all came running. He had salmon
steaks, hot biscuits, porridge with milk and apricots. They certainly
enjoyed the meal, went fishing as usual. Coming back about eleven
o'clock, they went in for a swim and got a lot of enjoyment out of this.
In spite of the northern clime in which they were, the shallowness of
the lakes permitted the water to get pretty well heated by the hot July
and August sun, and swimming was a real pleasure. It was only now and
then when they stru
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