the chief cities contain very large
populations, Montreal having 100,000 inhabitants, and Quebec and Toronto
not many thousands less, and possessing likewise all the advantages
required by civilised communities, yet a very few miles away from them
the stranger may find himself in some wild district where he might
suppose that the foot of man had never trod. In the summer, steamers on
water compete with locomotives on land in conveying passengers; and when
time is not of consequence, the route by water is generally preferred.

A few days only were spent at Quebec by the Ashtons after their arrival,
before they embarked on board one of those wonderful constructions, an
American steam-boat, to proceed up the Saint Lawrence to Montreal. The
entrance was in the side of the vessel, and on the main deck, which
appeared lumbered up from one end to the other with casks, chests, and
packages, a flight of steps led to an upper deck, which had the
appearance of a long gallery, fitted up as a drawing-room, with sofas,
easy chairs, and every luxury. The glazed roof was supported by
pillars, but no access could be discovered to any spot where helmsman,
captain, or crew might be posted. Harry, after many enquiries, found
that the wheel was on a platform on the roof forward, where the captain
and pilot stood. He pronounced the vessel to be constructed on two huge
arches, having a vast Thames wherry below, with a superstructure of
picture galleries on a wide platform extending far over her gunwale on
either side.

Montreal, the head of the ocean navigation, was reached; and then by a
series of magnificent canals the rapids of the Saint Lawrence were
avoided; the lake of the Thousand Isles, with their rocky bases and
tree-covered summits, was passed, as were several larger and thriving
towns, and Lake Ontario was entered.

At Kingston they embarked on board another steamer, which was far more
like an ordinary vessel than the one they had just quitted. Who should
come on board, just before she left the wharf, but Mr Norman. A few
hours afterwards, when Harry and Charley came on deck, they uttered an
exclamation of surprise as they looked around. "What, is this called a
lake, Mr Norman? Why, where is the land?"

"Out of sight," answered their friend, laughing. "North, south, east,
west of us. It is rather hazy to the north, or you would see the
pine-fringed shore. We shall soon again see it, as we have to touch at
several to