g was prepared. Guns were stowed away, and
although sometimes ducks or other game would come near, they were not
disturbed. Generally two religious services were held and enjoyed. The
Testaments and hymn-books were well used throughout the day, and an
atmosphere of "Paradise Regained" seemed to pervade the place.

At first, long years ago, the Hudson's Bay Company's officials bitterly
opposed the observance of the Sabbath by their boatmen and tripmen; but
the missionaries were true and firm, and although persecution for a time
abounded, eventually right and truth prevailed, and our Christian
Indians were left to keep the day without molestation. And, as has
always been found to be the case in such instances, there was no loss,
but rather gain. Our Christian Indians, who rested the Sabbath day,
were never behindhand. On the long trips into the interior or down to
York Factory or Hudson Bay, these Indian canoe brigades used to make
better time, have better health, and bring up their boats and cargoes in
better shape, than the Catholic Half-breeds or pagan Indians, who pushed
on without any day of rest. Years of studying this question, judging
from the standpoint of the work accomplished and its effects on men's
physical constitution, apart altogether from its moral and religious
aspect, most conclusively taught me that the institution of the one day
in seven as a day of rest is for man's highest good.

Thus we journeyed on, meeting with various adventures by the way. One
evening, rather than lose the advantage of a good wind, our party
resolved to sail on throughout the night. We had no compass or chart,
no moon or fickle Auroras lit up the watery waste. Clouds, dark and
heavy, flitted by, obscuring the dim starlight, and adding to the risk
and danger of our proceeding. On account of the gloom part of the crew
were kept on the watch continually. The bowsman, with a long pole in
his hands, sat in the prow of the boat, alert and watchful. For a long
time I sat with the steersman in the stern of our little craft, enjoying
this weird way of travelling. Out of the darkness behind us into the
vague blackness before us we plunged. Sometimes through the darkness
came the sullen roar and dash of waves against the rocky isles or
dangerous shore near at hand, reminding us of the risks we were running,
and what need there was of the greatest care.

Our camp bed had been spread on some boards in the hinder part of our