The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-04-25

the way-stopping now and then. and
floating silently along, TO get shot
at goose r1duck-lthat it-wss late
in the day when we reached the out.
let. , toLs CgE-F...
The river here divided into scv.
ernI branches, filled with fluvials, and
so very shallow that II, was with dinl-
Guilty We could get the boat along, be-
ing obliged 10 get out and wade We
encamped on a low point among
rushes and young willows. where was
a quantity of driftwood. which sery-
ed for our fires. (Hooper?) The even
Ing was mild and clear. We made
pleasant bed OF young willows; and
geese and ducks enough had been kill
ed for an abundant supper at night,
and for breakfast the next morning.
The stiffness OF the night was enliv-
ened by millions Of water fowl.
THE next day (Sept. 9TH was
clear and calm; the thermometer at
sunrise al 40 degrees. AS Is usual
with the trappers on the eve OF any
enterprise. our people had dreams.
and theirs happened to be bad one
ono which always preceded evil
and consequently they looked very
gloomy this morning. but We hurried
through our breakfast, In order to
make an early start, and have all the
day before us for our adventure. The
channel in a short distance became
so shallow that our navigation was
at an end. being merely a sheet OF
soft mud. with few inches Of water.
and sometimes none at all. forming
the low-water shore OF the lake. All
of this place was absolutely covered
with fIocks OF screaming Dloyer-
I'VE took off our clothes, and get
ting overheard, commenced dragging
the Matchmaking. by this operation.
very curious trail, and a very dis
agreeable smell in stirring up the
mud, as We sank above the knee at
every step. The water here was stlll
fresh. with only a. insiDid and dis
agreeable taste, probably derived from
the bed OF fetid mud After proceed
ing this way about a mile. We came
10 Il small black ridge, on the bot
tom. beyond which the water be-
came suddenly salt, beginning grad
ually to deepen. and the bottom was
sandy and firm. II was a remarkable
division, separating the fresh water
OF the rivers from the briny water OF
the lake, which was entirely saturated
with common salt Pushing our lit
tic vessel across the narrow boun
dary, we sprang on board, and at
length were afloat on the waters Of
the unknown sea.
I'VE did not steer for the noun
tninous Islands, but directed our
course towards the lower one, which
II had been decided VIC should first
visit the summit OF which was form
ed like the crater at the upper end
OF Bear River valley, So long as we
could touch the, bottom with our pad
dies. we were very gay: but grad
ually as the water deepened, we be-
came more still In our frnil batteau
OF gum cloth dlstendcd with air, and
with pasted seams Although the day
was very calm. there was consider
able swell on the lake. and there
were white patches OF foam on the
surface. which were SLOWLY moving
indicating the set of cur
rent In that direction, and recalling
les |
THE water continued to deepen
as we advanced-the lake becoming
almost transparently clear. Of an ex-
tremely beautiful bright green color:
and the spray. which was thrown In
to the boat and over our clothes, was
directly converted into n crust Of com
mon salt. which covered also our
hands and arms Captain said Car
son. who for sometime had been
looking suspiciousIy at some whiten-
ing appearances outside the nearest
islands. what ara those yonder?-
won't you take look with the glass;
We ceased padding for a moment and
found them to he the caps Of the
waves that were beginning to break
under the force of a strong breeze
that was coming on the lake.
The form OF the boat seemed TO be
an admirable one. and il rode on the
waves like q water-bird. but. at the
same time 1t was extremely slow In
its progress When We were lit
tie more than half way across the
reach, two of the divisions between
the cylinders gave way. and 1t re-
ouired the constant use Of the bellows
to keep In sufficient quantity OF
air For a LONG time we scarcely
seemed TO approach our Island but
we worked across the rough
er sea of the open channel, into the
smoother water under the Ice of the
island, and began to discover that
what We took for long row of peli-
cans, ranged on the beach. were only
low cliffs whitened with salt by the
spray OF the waves and about noon
we reached the shore. the tranSpar-
eucy OF the water enabling us to see
the bottom at a considerable depth,
1T was a handsome broad beach
where We landed. behind which the
hill into which the island was gath
cred. rose somewhat abruptly. and
point of rock at ono end lnclosed il
in a sholtering way and as there was
an abundance of drift-wood along the
shore It offered MS a pleasant en-
We did not suner our
frail boat to touch the sharp rocks,
but. getting overheard. discharged tho
baggage. and lifting it gently out OF
the water. carried Ii to the upper
part OF the beach which was compos
ed OF very small fragments of rock.
"Amopg the Successive banks OF
the beach, formed by the accession
Of the waves. our attention, as we ap-
preached the Island. had been attract
ed by one 10 to 20 feet in breadth.
of dark brown color Being more
closely examined, this was found to
be composed, to the depth Of seven or
eight and twelve inches. entirely of
the larvae OF insects or. in common
language. OF the skins OF worms.