TO THE SUTHERLAND FALLS AND BACK.

Western Star, Issue 1549, 1 April 1891, Page 2

TO THE SUTHERLAND FALLS AND BACK.

i \ \ t (Continued from our last). “ That’s the way to servo him,’ said our skipper, addressing us as the vessel steamed out of the bay, leaving the boatman to make the best of his way homo. A fire was made in an oil can, converted into a stovo, the billy was boiled and tea made, which was partaken of as wo glided slowly past the lofty peaks on each side of us. Looking astern was to be seen Centre Island, which we passed before entering Boat Harbor, while immediately ahead was Loo Island, that seemed then to form portion of the mainland, while towering above it to the northward wore Mount Largs, Anau and tbo ocher Ah oine heights, averaging in altitude about GOOO feet. The Middle Fiord, ah the mouth of which the roughest water on the lake is experienced, is pasmd, and before wo breast Leo Island and reach the North Fiord, it has got pretty dark and a heavy rain has sot in Eor the night, which makes the passage not quite so agreeable as it otherwise would have boon. Ono of our party, who has done a considerable amount of boating on the Highland Lochs of Scotland, had chargo of the tiller during this part of the journey, and won our captain’s approbation for the way in which ho kept tho littlo vessel on her course. With tho rain pelting down noon us and tho wind dead ahead, tho remainder of tho trip was rather wearisome, as hour after hour passed without reaching our destination. By the time wo arrived at tho entrance to tho small cove at tho head of tho lake into which tho Clinton River runs it was past twelve o’clock, and it was nearly one Dofore wo wore safely moored off the boach at tho mouth of that river. Having disembarked wo could just discern the Government hut in a clearing on tho hillside about 100 yards off. Shouldering our swags wo were soon in front of tho hut, in which Gapt. Broderick told us a friend of Mr Uackinnon’s was staying. Knocking at tho demand calling out to rouse tho inmate, ho opens the door and with gun in hand poors out into tho darkness to see who his untimely visitors are. “ It’s all right, Captaiu,” says our skipper, who came up at this moment. “ I’ve brought up some tourists for Mao.” “ It’s well yon spoke, Broil,” says the man (who turned out to bo Capt. Duncan, a retired military officer, who to follow his new

avocation as an artist, in which ho is a groat enthusiast, has taken un his resilience with Mr Mackinnon, at his different camps on the shores of the lake). “I thought that you wore another Jot of escaped prisoncs Dora Milford, and I was just bringing my gun (which I keep loaded in case of emergency) to present, and had you proved other than friends, I would most cortainlv have fired.” We thanked tho Captain fir his good opinion of us, and a light having been struck wo went inside and surveyed our new quarters. We found tho house to bo substantially* built of sawn timber, and to contain two apartments. The tna.n one, in which there was a chimney with a largo fireplace, was about 16 x 13, and had three double bunks, while tho other, about 13 x 8, had two. “ Well, gentlemen,” says Captain Duncan, as he lit a fire with some dry bushwood he had at hand, “ while you nnroll your swags and mako up vour bunks, I’il get you some supper ready.” Tim teabilly was put on and another one containing :i toothsome stew was warmed up, so that tho day’s proceedings hid altogether a very agreeable termination. We all retired to our respective couches (two sleeping on the floor), and would soon have been in tho arms of Alorphens had not our skipper who seemed to be in high glee at the manner in which he has served the To Anau Downs people, related over and over again that memorable incident, with dramatic embellishment peculiarly his own, so that our dreams that night were slightly mixed with Brod’s soft soap exploit, [n the morning, while waiting on Mr Maokiunon returning, Capt. Duncan suggested that we should sail over in tho whaleboat to VVorsley Creek, which runs into the lake at the head of the short arm to the westward. This, and the small bay into which the Clinton runs gives the upper end of the lake very much the form of a fish’s tail Tho Worsley is about seven miles distant from the hut, and, accompanied by Capt. Duncan, who acted as our navigator, wo reached the mouth of the creek in about two hours. On out-way we obtained a gool view of the mountain scenery that was obscured by the darkness of the previous evening. With the exception of a light shower that wo experienced on our way over the weather was very fine, and the trip, done a good portion of tho way bv sailing, very pleasant After taking the boat a short distance up the ereek we came ashore and had an al fresco lunch on its bank. Three members of our party then waded the stream and went about a mile up tdie vallev to have a look at the Margaret Falls, which are about 300 ft high. On their return we pushed off and got back to camp just in time to save experiencing a southerly gale accompanied with heavy rain, which, cime on as soon as we reached the hut. About a couple of hours afterwards Mr Mackinnon and the two English tourists (Mr Frederick Smith, a retired London manufacturer and his noohew) returned from Sutherland Falls. They informed us that they had met with very rough and do Id weather on their way over, and tho visitors especially seemed glad to have got to tho end of their tramp. The new members of tho Clinton River household having having been made as comfortable as possible under tho circutn. stances arrangements were made for a start in the morning—our party to tho head of the valley en route for the Falla under the pilotage of Air MoKinnou, and Air Smith and his nephew under the oharge)of Capt Broderick in our old friend the To Uira. To be continued.