ounded out upon rough water, with the
screeching tempest upon us. David took the tiller, while I sat upon the
weather-rail to steady the boat. The Mayeta was now to be put to a
severe test; she was to cross seas that could easily trip a boat of her
size; but the wooden canoe was worthy of her builder, and flew like an
affrighted bird over the foaming waves across the broad water, to the
shelter of a wooded, half submerged island, out of which rose, on piles,
a little light-house. Under this lee we crept along in safety. The sail
was furled, never to be used in storm again. The wind went down with the
sinking sun, and a delightful calm favored us for our row up the
narrowing river, eight miles to the place of destination.

Soon after nine o'clock we came upon the Acadian town, Sorel, with its
bright lights cheerily flashing out upon us as we rowed past its river
front. The prow of our canoe was now pointed southward toward the goal
of our ambition, the great Mexican Gulf; and we were about to ascend
that historic stream, the lovely Richelieu, upon whose gentle current,
two hundred and sixty-six years before, Champlain had ascended to the
noble lake which bears his name, and up which the missionary Jogues had
been carried an unwilling captive to bondage and to torture.

We ascended the Richelieu, threading our way among steam-tugs,
canal-boats, and rafts, to a fringe of rushes growing out of a shallow
flat on the left bank of the river, just above the town. There, firmly
staking the Mayeta upon her soft bed of mud, secure from danger, we
enjoyed a peaceful rest through the calm night which followed; and thus
ended the rough passage of one week's duration--from Quebec to Sorel.

CHAPTER III.

FROM THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER TO TICONDEROGA, LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

THE RICHELIEU RIVER.--ACADIAN SCENES.--ST. OURS.--ST. ANTOINE.--ST.
MARKS.--BELOEIL.--CHAMBLY CANAL.--ST. JOHNS.--LAKE CHAMPLAIN.--THE
GREAT SHIP-CANAL.--DAVID BODFISH'S CAMP.--THE ADIRONDACK SURVEY.--A
CANVAS BOAT.--DIMENSIONS OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN.--PORT KENT.--AUSABLE
CHASM.--ARRIVAL AT TICONDEROGA.

Quebec was founded by Champlain, July 3, 1680. During his first warlike
expedition into the land of the Iroquois the following year, escorted by
Algonquin and Montagnais Indian allies, he ascended a river to which was
afterwards given the name of Cardinal Richelieu, prime minister of Louis
XIII. of France. This stream, which is about eighty miles long, connects
the