Maudie was promptly backed into a convenient position; camp outfit and personal belongings unloaded and the site pre-empted by right of occupation. W., however, wished to return to Chemainus to visit some relatives and, as it was still early, decided to start at once, so, taking Maudie he departed, leaving the rest of us to enjoy a well earned rest. It is feared that W., once released from our restraining influence, behaved in a most disgraceful manner and narrowly escaped arrest, for, on finding his relatives away from home, he, with felonious intent, did break and enter by means of the cellar window, certain locked premises. Since the law of the land does not compel him to incriminate himself, only a surmise of his depredations can be made, but there is very good reason to believe that he did there and then take and convert, certain articles, such as soap and note-paper, to his own use. Certain it is that on his return to camp in time for lunch at 1:30 he had in his possession sundry viands and delicacies, which we charitably supposed to have been purchased. The rest of us, in the meantime, had put in a delightful morning, including a swim in the bay, the first salt-water bathing the Kid had ever enjoyed and for L. and B. the first for many years. Whether it was the insidious suggestion of W's depraved conduct, or a too hearty lunch, that caused B. to next fall from grace has never been definitely decided, but the fact remains that he wasted almost the whole of a glorious afternoon in slothful slumber and was justly punished by missing the view of the camp and surrounding hills from the opposite shore of the inlet, to which W., and L. and the Kid wandered while he slept. (The strenuous nature of the last ten days and nights coupled to his arduous duties of directing and rendering first aid to Maudie sufficiently excuse B's desire for restful slumber, without any necessity for the suggestion of sloth. 'Editor'). Looking North from the tiny promontory which formed our campsite we had a splendid view of the bay, the shore line on our side inclining slightly to the west for some distance till another larger point protruded was tree-covered to the waters edge, in the distance a beautiful rounded hill closing the view. On the right the point of a small rocky island overgrown with spruce and cedar some 200 yards across the water turned the inlet into an almost land-locked harbour within the bay and, and in the immediate foreground, at half-tide a fin of jagged rock running out from the Western shore towards the island. The water was ruffled only by the slightest of ripples, very clear, and gave back an almost perfect reflection of the trees in shadowy and sheltered bay, or sparkled merrily when fretted by the breeze. Some 400 yards in front the Eastern shore, tree covered to the skyline, but broken at the water's edge by rocks their colour in contrast to, yet blending with the dark blue-green of the spruce or brighter green of cedar, tamarack and fir, with here and there a touch of warm red from the trunks of the last named. At the Eastern corner of the island, which apparently was only separated from the far shore by a very narrow passage, a fine specimen of a tree the name of which not known to us - there were many such - with its copper-red bark, growing from the water's edge, gave a splash of added colour to the picture. Inland to the South the bay narrowed rapidly and at the end the land, sloping gently upward to some log buildings, had been partially cleared and laid out in small fields. Behind the buildings the trees again grew thickly and in the distance rose another tree grown hill. The whole scene, bathed in sunlight but toned down and softened by a slight haze, with an occasional flash of blue as a kingfisher flew from point to point or dived with a splash into the sea to emerge again scattering drops of water as he flew to some overhanging bough, was a picture to delight the eye and made us long for paints, the ability to use them, to reproduce the wonderful colouring. The effect of this beautiful spot on the several members of the party was expressed in strange and various ways. The Kid threw tons of stones, climbed trees and rocks. L. sat on a rock in the sunniest position he could find and fairly soaked himself in its beauty, while W., likewise sitting on a rock but at the water's edge pipe in mouth, bathed his feet in the water. But B. "….. still will keep its quiet beauty and a sleep", in grateful memory.

Towards six o'clock the urge of hunger gathered the wanderers in and supper was prepared under much more leisurely and comfortable conditions than we had so far experienced. Then, the dishes washed and beds made up, we lay or sat around the campfire, which was kept burning for the sake of light and company than for heat, the evening being so soft and warm that even jackets were not needed, watching the stars come out and the shadows close in, too comfortable and contented, listening to the sea, to carry on more than a desultory conversation, lazily discussing plans for the morrow or commenting on some particular impression or bit of scenery and, finally turning in with the comfortable feeling that for two full days at least we could forget that a return to the bare, windswept prairie and the sordid detail of acquiring the wherewithal for food and clothing was inevitable, and that on the morrow we should probably attain our objective, but even should any unforeseen obstacle prevent this the trip had been worth while.