y. We had
had a constant favouring wind, but now suddenly, though we were running
with the tide, the wind turned easterly, and blew up the river against
the ebb. Soon it became a gale, to which was added snow and sleet, and a
rough, choppy sea followed.

I saw it would be no easy task to fetch our craft to the land. The waves
broke in upon us, and presently, while half of us were paddling with
laboured and desperate stroke, the other half were bailing. Lifted on
a crest, our canoe, heavily laden, dropped at both ends; and again,
sinking into the hollows between the short, brutal waves, her gunwales
yielded outward, and her waist gaped in a dismal way. We looked to
see her with a broken back at any moment. To add to our ill fortune,
a violent current set in from the shore, and it was vain to attempt a
landing. Spirits and bodies flagged, and it needed all my cheerfulness
to keep my good fellows to their tasks.

At last, the ebb of tide being almost spent, the waves began to
fall, the wind shifted a little to the northward, and a piercing cold
instantly froze our drenched clothes on our backs. But with the current
changed there was a good chance of reaching the shore. As daylight came
we passed into a little sheltered cove, and sank with exhaustion on the
shore. Our frozen clothes rattled like tin, and we could scarce lift a
leg. But we gathered a fine heap of wood, flint and steel were ready,
and the tinder was sought; which, when found, was soaking. Not a dry
stitch or stick could we find anywhere, till at last, within a leather
belt, Mr. Stevens found a handkerchief, which was, indeed, as he told me
afterwards, the gift and pledge of a lady to him; and his returning to
her with out it nearly lost him another and better gift and pledge, for
this went to light our fire. We had had enough danger and work in one
night to give us relish for some days of rest, and we piously took them.

The evening of the second day we set off again, and had a good night's
run, and in the dawn, spying a snug little bay, we stood in, and went
ashore. I sent my two Provincials foraging with their guns, and we who
remained set about to fix our camp for the day and prepare breakfast.
A few minutes only passed, and the two hunters came running back with
rueful faces to say they had seen two Indians near, armed with muskets
and knives. My plans were made at once. We needed their muskets, and the
Indians must pay the price of their presence here,