ad been carried during the day, and we pitched our tent there
also in the usual awkward manner. The weather was very fine in the
evening, but soon after night-fall a tremendous storm burst upon us:
our tent was blown about our ears in an instant. We endeavoured to
compose ourselves to rest underneath, but found it impracticable. We
then attempted to pitch it anew, but our strength and ingenuity were
not sufficient for the purpose. We tried afterwards to find shelter
under the canoe (the rain pouring in torrents), but the crew were
already in possession, and so closely packed, that not an inch was
unoccupied. Thus baffled on every hand, we passed the night completely
exposed to the "pelting of the pitiless storm," learning a lesson of
practical philosophy which I have not yet forgotten.

We arrived at Fort Coulonge early the next day, when a portly old
gentleman, bearing a paunch that might have done credit to an
Edinburgh baillie, came puffing down to the landing-place to receive
us. We soon discovered that Mr. Godin was only "nominally" in charge
of the establishment, for that his daughter, a stout, masculine-looking
wench, full thirty summers blown, possessed what little authority was
required for the management of affairs.

We arrived on Wednesday. The father proposed setting out for Montreal
on Friday; the daughter objected the ill luck of the day: it was
finally determined that they should embark on Thursday, however late.
The necessary preparations were immediately commenced under her
ladyship's superintendence, and being completed late in the evening,
they embarked, leaving me perfectly alone. The contracts with the men
had just expired, which I proposed to renew, but the answer from one
and all was, "I shall follow my bourgeois." This was the result of the
old gentleman's arrangements (having been ordered off contrary to his
wishes), and which might have been anticipated by those who appointed
me to the situation; but it would have been derogatory to the exalted
rank of their highnesses to bestow any consideration on such trivial
matters as related to the comfort or convenience of a paltry
apprentice! Their neglect, however, might have been attended on this
occasion with serious consequences to the Company's interests, as I
had never seen any of the Indians of that quarter before, and knew
very little of their mode of trading. It was a fortunate circumstance
for myself that I understood the language sufficientl