r
king as we do celebrating our anniversary of Independence. Well, it
does me good to look at you. I vow if I don't feel quite loyal. Come,
let us drink the old gentleman's health agin. I guess, I feel as dry as
a sand-bank after so much hollering."

The setting sun warned us to discontinue our pastime and prepare for a
move. Before doing so, however, the squire again came forward, and
after thanking us for our attendance, loyalty, &c., he proposed "we
should give three cheers more for the King, and three for Queen
Adelaide," which were given with all the power of our lungs, not a
little aided by sundry potations imbibed by the loyal in drinking their
Majesties' healths during the day's proceeding.

Three cheers were then given for the Canada Company, three for the
Commissioners, and three for the old Doctor. Thus terminated the
proclamation of our sovereign in the Bush.

Mr. Prior had kindly issued invitations to the _elite_ to a ball and
supper at Reid's Hotel, which was well attended. The refreshments were
excellent, the supper capital; and the dancing was kept up with great
spirit till day-light warned us to depart.

The next day, I started for Guelph with the Yankee mill-wright, whom I
found a clever, shrewd man. He told me he had travelled over a great
part of the Western States and Canada; but in all his wanderings he had
never seen a section of country, of the same size, that pleased him
equal to the Huron tract.

"I guess, when this country of your'n is once cleared up, and good
roads made, and the creeks bridged, there won't be such another place
in all creation."

"What makes you think so?" I enquired.

"Wal, just look what a fine frontage you have on that 'ere big pond (he
meant Lake Huron) and good harbours and land that can't be beat not no
how. All you want is 'to go a-head,' and you may take my word for it
that this will be the garden of Canada yet."

We had only one horse between us, which belonged to the Doctor, so that
we were obliged to ride turn about. In this manner we got on pretty
well, so that by four o'clock we were within two miles of old Sebach's.
The day had been excessively hot, and for the last hour we had heard
distant thunder. We, therefore, pushed on with redoubled energy, in
hopes of escaping the storm.

Ever since I had witnessed the devastating effects of the whirlwind
which passed through Guelph, and which I have described in a previous
chapter, I had a dread of being ex