"Thank you, cousin Emma, even for that slight admission," replied
Alfred, laughing.

"But what is that?" said Mary Percival, "at the point, it is a
village--one, two, three houses--just opening upon us?"

"That is a raft, Miss Percival, which is coming down the river," replied
Captain Sinclair. "You will see when we are nearer to it, that perhaps
it covers two acres of water, and there are three tiers of timber on it.
These rafts are worth many thousand pounds. They are first framed with
logs, fastened by wooden tree-nails, and the timber placed within the
frame. There are, perhaps, from forty to a hundred people on this raft
to guide it down the stream, and the houses you see are built on it for
the accommodation of these people. I have seen as many as fifteen houses
upon a raft, which will sometimes contain the cargoes of thirty or forty
large ships."

"It is very wonderful how they guide and direct it down the stream,"
said Mr. Campbell.

"It is very dexterous; and it seems strange that such an enormous mass
can be so guided, but it is done, as you will perceive; there are three
or four rudders made of long sweeps, and, as you may observe, several
sweeps on each side."

All the party were now standing up in the sternsheets of the _bateau_ to
look at the people on the raft, who amounted to about fifty or sixty
men--now running over the top to one side, and dragging at the sweeps,
which required the joint power of seven or eight men to each of
them--now passing again over to the opposite sweeps, as directed by the
steersmen. The _bateau_ kept well in to the shore, out of the way, and
the raft passed them very quickly. As soon as it was clear of the point,
as their course to Quebec was now straight, and there was a slight
breeze down the river, the people on board of the raft hoisted ten or
fifteen sails upon different masts, to assist them in their descent; and
this again excited the admiration of the party.

The conversation now became general, until the _bateaux_ were made fast
to the shores of the river, while the men took their dinners, which had
been prepared for them before they left Quebec. After a repose of two
hours, they again started, and at nightfall arrived at St. Anne's, where
they found every thing ready for their reception. Although their beds
were composed of the leaves of the maize or Indian corn, they were so
tired that they found them very comfortable, and at daylight arose quite
refreshed,