we stopped at a log-hut, the only inn on the road,
and Jack brought me some food and told me to be quiet, and that we would
be off early in the morning.

"The second day passed much as did the first, except that I had lost all
fear of being overtaken. The confession is somewhat humbling, but the
truth is, I was not considered worth sending after. `Let the chiel
gang,--wie sae little brains in his head he's sure to fall on his feet,'
observed the doctor, when informed of my flight--so I was told. In the
evening of the second day we reached Holland's Landing, at the south end
of Lake Simcoe. Settlers had begun to take up the land on either side
of the lake: they were chiefly naval and military officers, forced into
idleness at the end of the war, without any previous training for the
life they were to lead, or knowledge of what would be required of them
as settlers. The naval men did the best, and many of them succeeded, as
did a few of the military men, but the greater number, after a few
years' trial, I might say months, left in disgust, or ruined. Many
never came even to occupy their grants. Jack's business was to supply
these gentlemen with goods, which most of them came to fetch at
Holland's Landing.

"As he was going no further, I had now to consider how I was to perform
the rest of my journey West. While standing in the bar of the store
with Jack, who should come in but a trapper, known to him, Jean Baptiste
by name, to make some purchases. `Whither bound, friend Baptiste?'
asked Jack. I could make out clearly enough the meaning of his reply,
but I cannot repeat the extraordinary mixture of Canadian, French,
English, and Ojibbeway, in which it was couched. He intimated that he
was going a few days' journey west, over ground where there was then an
abundance of beaver, martin, mink, and other fur-bearing animals, which
are rare enough now. Jean Baptiste showed his Indian origin by his
long, Jewish-like countenance, dark eyes, and raven black hair. He was
dressed in skins, the hair being inside, in spite of the heat, his
leggings and waistcoat ornamented with bead-work and gaily-dyed
porcupine quills, and mingled with coloured fibres and worsted.

"I slept in Jack's cart, and just at daybreak Baptiste came and roused
me up. I thanked Jack heartily for his kindness, and with a stout stick
in my hand, with which he presented me, set off to follow my
strange-looking guide towards his camp. Here, under