es with such a quantity of baggage as we then had, and we could
obtain no information that could be depended upon as to their ultimate
destination--it might be at the distance of a hundred miles, or only
ten.

My messengers were but two days absent; and I was not a little
mortified to learn from them, that Mr. S., instead of attending to my
suggestions, not only returned all the property I had sent, but nearly
an equal quantity in addition. He wrote me his reasons for doing so;
but I felt assured that he had no other object in view than to show me
that he was the superior, I the subordinate; and I resolved from that
moment, to perform no more extra duty.

After continuing a fortnight at our encampment, we again embarked,
when I ordered the third man in the large canoe into my own, and
tossing my paddle down stream, took my station in the middle of my
canoe. A few hours' paddling brought us to an old shanty in the island
of Allumette, where, to my great joy, I perceived my opponent intended
to fix his winter quarters. We accordingly commenced erecting a couple
of huts, a store, and dwelling-house, in close proximity to him. This
being the best season of the year for the natives to hunt, it was the
interest of all parties not to molest them; and we therefore employed
our time in preparing suitable accommodation for the winter.

On the completion of our arrangements, I set out, about the beginning
of October, on a visit to Fort Coulonge; and on the day after my
arrival there we observed a north canoe paddling slowly past, and
distinguished the features of every individual on board through a
telescope, but could recognise no one: however, to clear up the doubt,
the interpreter was sent after them in a small canoe, with
instructions to make a close scrutiny. They no sooner discovered that
he was in pursuit, than they ceased paddling. After a long
confabulation he learned that they were proceeding to Sault St. Marie,
where they intended to settle. I passed two days with my bourgeois,
and returned home, where we--our opponents and ourselves--watched each
other's movements, being our only occupation until the end of
November, when Mr. S. paid me a visit, which proved anything but
gratifying.

He (Mr. S.) had learned from some lumbermen, that the "Settlers for
the Sault Ste. Marie" were an opposition party conducted by Mr. AEneas
Macdonell, my predecessor at the Chats; and that he purposed to
_settle_ for the winter near