At this part of the lake there occurs a deep bay or inlet(水湾, 小港), to save rounding which travelers usually strike straight【B1】from point to point, what is called in voyageur parlance(俗话) a traverse(横渡).These traverses are subjects of【B2】anxiety, and【B3】of delay to travelers．Being sometimes of considerable extent,【B4】from four and five—and in such immense seas as lake Superior—to four miles.
With boats, indeed, there is【B5】to fear,【B6】the inland craft of the fur traders can stand a heavy sea, and often ride out a pretty【B7】storm; but it is far otherwise with the bark canoes that are often used in【B8】．These frail craft can stand very little sea—their frames being made of thin flat slips of wood and sheets of bark, not【B9】than a quarter of an inch thick, which are sewed together with the fibrous roots of the pine【B10】by the natives, and rendered water-tight by【B11】of melted gum(树胶)．Although light and【B12】,【B13】, and extremely useful in a country where portages are【B14】, they【B15】very tender usage; and when a traverse has to be made, the guides have always a grave【B16】with some of the most sagacious(有远见的) among the men, us to the probability of the wind rising or【B17】 consultations which are more or【B18】marked by【B19】and tediousness in proportion to the length of the traverse, the state of the weather, and the courage or【B20】of the guides.
【B1】