seven o'clock in the evening of June 14th
Nearly all the time he had a native guide to tell him what he might expect on ahead . `` One thing sure , '' he added , `` from all they tell me about the rapids of the Slave at Smith 's Landing , he would have had a hard time if he had run directly into the big current at the head of the falls without any warning . But I suppose for hundreds of years the natives hereabouts have known about those falls , and naturally that would be the first thing they would tell any new man in the country . '' It was seven o'clock in the evening of June 14th , at the end of a cold and dull day 's travel , that the boys found themselves in the Big Eddy along the bank of the post known as Smith 's Landing . This spot is directly above the Great Falls of the Slave River , and marks the place for unloading of the cargoes of the boats which must be portaged across the sixteen miles of land , or taken down by the hazardous passage through the rapids themselves . As the boat with its warning whistle drew up alongside the shore there thronged down to the side of the landing the usual crowd of natives , a few white men , many half-breeds , and countless dogs . On the bank above stood the usual row of whitewashed buildings which marked the Hudson 's Bay post , not very many in all , even counting the scattered cabins of the population which had drawn in about this upper post .