THE LODE At daybreak next morning Thirlwell sent the _Metis_ up the lake to make a _cache_ of the provisions he did not need, and hide the canoes in the brush.

In the meantime, he scattered the ashes of the fire and buried the empty cans and all the chips he could find.

There was another party in the neighborhood, and he wanted to leave nothing to indicate that the spot had been recently occupied by a camp.

When the men returned the party set off along the beach, loaded with food and tools.

Walking across the stones and ledges was laborious, but he did not mean to leave a trail, and kept to the water's edge for some distance before he plunged into the bush.
After this, their progress was very slow.