ssisting with his paddle.

In the evening, I was walking out with my wife; and as we were passing
I thought we would look in and see how their work progressed, when to
my astonishment I saw Mrs. W----- sitting on a stone, weeping bitterly.
I perceived at once that something extraordinary had occurred, for her
dress was sadly torn and saturated with wet. Upon making an inquiry
respecting her appearance, and the causes of her grief, she told me the
sad story I have just related, adding, that they had only just got back
from their expedition, and that all her clothes, bed, and blankets were
wringing wet.

My wife, who had lately joined me, and was of a most kind disposition,
always ready to help those in distress, offered her an asylum for a few
days, and a change of apparel, which she thankfully accepted. Her
brutal husband cleared out the next day, and she joined him the week
following.

Some time afterwards, I was told that Mrs. W----- had committed
suicide, goaded, doubtless, to desperation by the ill usage of her
partner, and the hardships she had to endure. As this, however, is only
hearsay, I will not vouch for its truth; though from my knowledge of
the parties I am afraid it was only too true.

CHAPTER XVI.

PORCUPINE-CATCHING. -- HANDSOME BEHAVIOUR OF MR. GALT. -- OWLINGALE. --
INTRODUCTION TO THE SON OF THE CELEBRATED INDIAN CHIEF, BRANDT. --
EXPEDITION TO WILMOT. -- SHAM WOLVES. -- NIGHT IN A BARN WITH DR.
DUNLOP. -- THE DOCTOR AND HIS SNUFF-BOX. -- HIS BATH IN THE NITH. --
LOUIS XVIII. AND HIS TABATIERE. -- CAMP IN THE WOODS. -- RETURN TO
GUELPH.

ONE day, being out in the woods with an emigrant, examining a lot of
land, I was attracted by the barking of my dog, who had treed some
animal, which, upon coming up, I discovered was a porcupine. We cut
down the tree, a small beech, in which he had taken refuge, and secured
him alive. I did not notice my dog till I got home, when I found his
mouth was full of quills, which the porcupine, in self-defence, had
darted into him. The manner in which they accomplish this is, by
striking the object that offends them with their tail, when the outside
points of the quills, being finely barbed, if inserted ever so
slightly, retain their hold, and are easily detached from the porcupine
without pain.

I once lost a fine Irish greyhound, who was stuck full of quills in
this way, although I pulled out hundreds of them from his mouth, head,
and different parts of his