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Page 17
Having experienced very bad weather on our way, and consequently some
delay, we did not reach our new station until late in the evening of
the fourth day. I immediately sent back two of the men to the
interpreter, and retained three with myself, which placed me on a par
with my opponent in point of numbers. But he was now ready for active
operations, while I had every thing to prepare. I resolved, however,
to forego every personal comfort and convenience rather than allow him
to enjoy any advantage over me. I accordingly assisted in erecting a
small hut, which I intended should serve for dwelling-house for myself
and men, trading-shop, store and all.
A couple of days after our arrival, Macdonell was seen walking down to
the water's edge with a very cautious step, accompanied by one of his
men, bearing his canoe, basket fashion, on one arm, and a large bundle
on the other, from which, notwithstanding his steady pace, the
jumbling sound of liquor was distinctly heard.
"Holla, Mac, where are you going with your basket?"
"Why, I am going across to Herd's shanty, to get my axes ground."
"My dear fellow, how can you think of risking yourself in such a
gimcrack contrivance as that? I must absolutely send a couple of my
men along with you to see no accident happens to you."
Having a parcel of goods ready for emergencies of this kind, my men
started in a moment, and embarked at the same time as my neighbour. I
continued with my only man completing my castle; but the earth being
already hard frozen, no clay could be obtained for the purpose of
plastering; the interstices between the logs were therefore caulked
with moss; a large aperture being left in the roof to serve the double
purpose of chimney and window. I had formerly seen houses so
constructed--somewhere--but let no one dare to imagine that I allude
to "my own, my native land." Stones were piled up against the logs, to
protect them from the fire. The timber required for floor, door, and
beds, was all prepared with the axe; our building being thus rendered
habitable without even going to the extent of Lycurgus' frugal laws,
for the axe was our only implement.
My opponent returned in four days, having been at an Indian camp, not
far distant, where both he and our people traded a considerable
quantity of furs. This was our only trip by open water. As soon as the
river became ice-bound, we were again in motion.
To enter into minute details of our various movements would but prove
tedious; I shall therefore present a general sketch of our mode of
life at this period, and such occurrences as I may consider worthy of
note.
Macdonell had chosen his situation with great judgment. The majority
of the Algonquins take their start from the Grand River at this place
for their hunting-grounds. Some of them not being more than a day's
journey distant from us, the joyful intelligence soon spread amongst
them that an opposition party had been established in their
neighbourhood; they accordingly flocked about us as soon as travelling
became practicable on the ice, and generally brought with them the
means of ensuring a friendly reception. One party came in at this
early season with all their fall hunts, which they bartered for
liquors and provisions, and encamped close by, enjoying themselves,
until an event occurred that alarmed them so much, (being with some
reason considered by them as a punishment for the wicked life they had
led,) that with the utmost precipitation they struck their camp.
I was joined early in the month of January by a party of men and a
clerk, whom Mr. S. had ordered, or rather "requested," from Montreal;
and having, on the day of their arrival, received an invitation from
one of our Algonquin chiefs to pay him a _trading_ visit, I started
next day, leaving Mr. Lane in charge, accompanied by two men, and
reached the chief's wigwam late in the evening. As soon as I was
seated, he asked me if I had not met the Matawin Indians. On my
replying in the negative, he informed me that they had passed his
place early in the morning, loaded with furs, and that they expressed
their intention of proceeding to the post before they halted. These
Indians had all been supplied by myself in autumn to a large amount;
so that the intelligence acted on my nerves like an electric shock. I
felt much fatigued on entering the lodge, but I now sprung to my feet,
as fresh for the journey as when I had commenced it; and ordering one
of my men to return with me, left the other, an experienced hand, to
manage affairs with the chief.
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