wns on our way."

Several large vessels were met under all sail, with numerous crews,
steering for the Saint Lawrence.

"Where can they be going to?" said Harry.

"To Liverpool, perhaps, or to some other English port, laden with wheat
from the Western States," answered Mr Norman. "Vessels have sailed all
the way from Lake Superior to England."

They saw, however, more things to wonder at than can well be recounted.
Not the least, in the eyes of the boys, was the fine city of Toronto,
with its numerous public buildings.

"Why, I thought that we were about to enter the backwoods by the time we
got thus far west, and here we are in the middle of as civilised a city
as any we have seen," exclaimed Harry, on their return from an excursion
through Toronto.

"We have many other fine towns still further west," said Mr Norman, who
had stayed at the same hotel. "If we go into the States we shall find,
several hundred miles off, Chicago, which has sprung up as if by the
wand of the enchanter. The secret of this rapid increase is its
peculiar position at the head of a great navigable lake, with a
background unrivalled in its corn-producing powers. In the course of
years we may hope to see cities, towns, and villages, rising at
intervals on British territory, directly across our vast continent,
united to those which have already appeared in British Columbia."

Mr Ashton having made all the enquiries in his power as to eligible
localities, set off with Philip to select a spot for the future abode of
the family. He was advised to rent a partially cleared farm, but his
sons especially entreated that he would purchase a tract of wild ground,
that they might have the satisfaction of feeling that with their own
hands they were bringing their own property from a state of nature into
one of cultivation. He yielded to their wishes, though, perhaps, the
plan he was advised to adopt would have more rapidly afforded them a
return for their outlay, and some of the luxuries of civilisation. Mr
Norman casually enquired the direction in which they proposed
prosecuting their search, and on hearing that it was to the north, he
remarked that he might possibly meet them.

We need scarcely say that the Ashton family employed their time
profitably in seeing all that there was to be seen in Toronto, and that
they made excursions to Hamilton, and to several other towns accessible
by railway. Mr Ashton lost no time in searching for the desi