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Page 32
Towards morning the storm seemed to have expended its fury; and,
strange to say, in the midst of it I enjoyed two or three hours'
sleep. Nature had been so exhausted by protracted sufferings, that
(though the flies were driven to their covert) I believe I could have
slept upon a bed of thorns, covered with gnats and mosquitoes. As soon
as it was sufficiently clear to enable me to find my way, I quitted my
hemlock and fell on the portage path, which soon led me to another
small lake, and which I proceeded to circumambulate as usual, keeping
a sharp look-out for the path that led to the post; when suddenly the
report of a gun burst from an adjoining hill. At the same instant, I
observed a net pole standing in the water at the bottom of a small bay
close by, and directed my steps towards it; when on approaching it I
discovered a broad path ascending from the water's edge, and
immediately after the buildings of a sugar camp.
Allowing the party on the hill to blaze away, I followed the path, and
in less than half-an-hour came out upon the Rivi�re aux Li�vres,
immediately opposite the house. I perceived the men of the
establishment, with some Indians, all in a bustle; some preparing to
embark in a canoe, others firing. I sat down to gaze for a moment on
the most interesting scene I had ever witnessed, and then gave a loud
cry, which it was evident nobody heard, although the river is not more
than a stone-cast across. I made a second effort with better success.
The Indians raised a shout of triumph; the men hallooed,
"Le voil�! le voil�! Je le vois! Je le vois � l'autre bord! Embarquez!
embarquez!"
A few minutes more, and I found myself restored to at best a prolonged
life of misery and exile. Let it not be inferred from this expression
that I felt ungrateful for my deliverance; on the contrary, my escape
from a death so lingering and terrible made a deep impression upon my
mind. I afterwards gave a holiday to my men in remembrance of it, and
made them all happy for one day.
CHAPTER XIII.
NARROWLY ESCAPE DROWNING--ACCIDENT TO INDIAN GUIDE--AM NEARLY FROZEN
TO DEATH--MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN ALGONQUINS AND IROQUOIS--MASSACRE
AT HANNAH BAY.
Nothing occurred this year out of the usual routine, save an accident
that happened to myself, and had nearly proved fatal. A couple of
hounds had been presented to me by a friend, for the purpose of
hunting the deer that abounded in the neighbourhood. The dogs having
one day broken loose from the leash, betook themselves to the hills;
and the first intimation we had of their being at liberty, was the
sound of their voices in full cry on an adjacent hill. I instantly
seized my gun, and following a beaten track that led to a small lake
at the base of the hill, I perceived a deer swimming towards an island
in the middle of the lake, and only a little beyond the range of
gun-shot. An old fishing-canoe happening to be at hand, I immediately
launched it, and gave chase, without examining the condition it was
in. I proceeded but a short distance, however, when I perceived that
it leaked very much. I continued, nevertheless, to paddle, till I got
nearly half-way across to the island; but by this time the quantity of
water in the canoe had increased so much, that my ardour for the chase
began to give way to anxiety for my own safety. I perceived a large
hole in the stern of the canoe, now almost level with the surface of
the lake, through which the water gushed with every stroke of the
paddle. The fore-part appearing free from injury, I immediately
inverted my position,--a movement necessarily effected with much
difficulty in so small a craft; and having thus placed myself, the
stern was consequently raised a little higher. I then paddled gently
towards a long point projecting from the mainland, much nearer me than
the island; and although I used the utmost caution in paddling, the
canoe sunk under me some distance from the shore. The lake, however,
was fortunately shallow at this place, so that I soon found bottom.
Had there been the least ripple on the water, I could not have
escaped; but the weather was perfectly calm, and the lake smooth as
glass.
In the early part of next winter, I went again in pursuit of the deer;
and although I incurred no great risk of losing my life, I yet
experienced such inconveniences as seldom fall to the lot of amateur
hunters in other parts of the world. I left the house early in the
morning, and, starting a deer close by, gave chase, following the
track over hill and dale, until I reached a high ridge bordering on
Lac de Sable. Here the deer slackened his pace, and appeared, by his
track, to have descended slowly into a valley, where he remained until
I started him a second time. I still continued the pursuit, without
thinking of time or distance from the establishment. At length the
night evidently began to close, and I felt faint and exhausted from
want of food, and the exertions I had made during the day. I therefore
gave up the chase; but to retrace my steps by the devious path by
which I had pursued the deer, would have occupied the greater part of
the night; I therefore resolved on returning by a more direct course;
but the upshot was, that, after wandering about for some time, and
repeatedly falling on my own tracks, I passed the night in the woods.
Although nearly overcome with fatigue, I durst not think of lying
down, well knowing what the consequence would be; I therefore walked
backwards and forwards, on a beaten track, the whole night; and next
morning adopted the sure course of finding my way by my tracks of the
preceding day. Meeting an Indian by the way, who had been sent in
search of me, he led me by a short cut, and we arrived at the house
about two o'clock, P.M.
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