tion had been made as
to the fishing; during the two days we were at Broad Cove we caught all
the trout we cared for. Having received word that the Virginia Lake
had returned to St. Johns, and would again sail north on Tuesday, June
30th, Hubbard and Mrs. Hubbard on the morning of that day took the
train to St. Johns, to board the steamer there and see that nothing of
our outfit was left behind. George and I broke camp in time to take the
evening train on the branch road to Harbour Grace, where, it was
agreed, we should rejoin the others, the steamer being scheduled to put
in there on its way north.

When I had our camp baggage transferred next morning to the wharf, and
George and I had arrived there ourselves, we found also waiting for the
steamer several prospectors who were going to "The Labrador," as the
country is known to the Newfoundlanders, to look for gold, copper, and
mica. All of them apparently were dreaming of fabulous wealth. None,
I was told, was going farther than the lower coast; they did not
attempt to disguise the fact that they feared to venture far into the
interior.

Around the wharves little boats were unloading caplin, a small fish
about the size of a smelt. I was informed that these fish sold for ten
cents a barrel, and were used for bait and fertiliser. My astonishment
may be imagined, therefore, when I discovered that on the Virginia Lake
they charged thirty-five cents for three of these little fish fried.

At ten o'clock our boat came in, and a little after noon we steamed out
of the harbour, Hubbard and I feeling that now we were fairly on our
way to the scene of our work. Soon after rejoining Hubbard, I learned
something more of the mysterious ways of the Reid-Newfoundland Company.
The company's general passenger agent, avowing deep interest in our
enterprise, had presented Hubbard with passes to Rigolet for his party.
Hubbard accepted them gratefully, but upon boarding the steamer he was
informed that the passes did not include meals. Now such were the
prices charged for the wretchedly-cooked food served on the Virginia
Lake that a moderately hungry man could scarcely have his appetite
killed at a less expense than six dollars a day. So Hubbard returned
the passes to the general passenger agent with thanks, and purchased
tickets, which did include meals, and which reduced the cost
considerably.

The Virginia Lake is a steamer of some seven hundred tons burden. She
is subsidise