The purpose of Azalia’s exploration was to wade over as large an area of lake bottom as possible and establish a certainty that it was free from deep step-offs, “bottomless” pockets and treacherous undertow. Soon it became evident that she had a bigger undertaking before her than she had reckoned on, for the bed of the lake sloped very gradually at this point, and Katherine Crane and Estelle Adler volunteered to assist her.