"I was in the woods cutting timber for a day and a half. During the
whole of that time I was sure I heard footsteps near me in the snow,
although I could see nothing. On the evening of the second day, in
consequence of heavy rain, I returned home early. I knew my cattle had
plenty of food, but something forced me to go to the hay-pook. While
there, in a few moments I stood face to face with old George Gaulton.
I was not frightened. We stood in the rain and talked for some time.
In the course of the conversation the old man gave me a message for
his eldest son, and begged me to deliver it to him myself before the
end of March. Immediately afterwards he disappeared, and then I was
terribly afraid."

A few weeks later Shenicks went all the way to Savage Cove and
delivered the message given to him in so strange a fashion.

A word of apology and I close. In an early letter to you I recall
judging harshly a concoction called "brewis." Experience here has
taught me that our own delicacies meet with a similar fate at the
hands of my present fellow countrymen. I offered Carmen on her arrival
a cup of cocoa for Sunday supper. After one sniff, biddable and polite
child though she was, I saw her surreptitiously pour the "hemlock cup"
out of the open window behind her.

_May 23_

Many miles over the hills from St. Antoine lies one of the wildest and
most beautiful harbours on this coast. Nestling within magnificently
high rocks, the picturesque colouring of which is reflected in the
quiet water beneath, lies the little village of Cremailliere. It is
only a small settlement of tiny cottages beside the edge of the sea,
but it has the unenviable reputation of being the worst village on the
coast. In winter only three families live there, but in the
summer-time a number of men come for the fishing, and they with their
wives and children exist in almost indescribable hovels. Some of these
huts are just rough board affairs, about six feet by ten, and resemble
cow sheds more than houses. If there is a window at all, it is merely
a small square of glass (not made to open) high up on one side of the
wall. In some there is not even the pretence of a window, but in cases
of severe sickness a hole is knocked through for ventilation on
hearing of the near approach of the Mission doctor. The walls have
only one thickness of board with no lining and the roofs are thatched
with sods. There is no flooring whatever. Not one person in
C