noon
We agreed not to attempt shooting any rapids we might meet with , but rather to land and make a portage with our canoe . Two of us could carry her on our shoulders without difficulty , and , as Robin remarked , she weighed scarcely a feather when four of us lifted her . Though we intended camping on the left bank , we kept over to the right side , that we might have a better chance of seeing any party travelling towards Fort Black . The morning had been fine , and we expected to be able to continue on all day ; but before noon clouds gathered in the sky , from which a vivid flash of lightning darted towards us , followed by a tremendous peal of thunder ; then came in quick succession another and another flash , with deafening peals . The wind began to blow up the river , and its hitherto calm surface was broken into angry waves . Down rushed the rain , half filling our canoe . `` We must make for the shore , lads ! ''