urbulent
sea. Two of them beat stoutly against the gale, but the _Edward and
Ann_ hove to for a time, her timbers creaking and her bowsprit catching
the water as she rose and fell with the waves. And so they put out
into the wide and wild Atlantic--these poor, homeless, storm-tossed
exiles, who were to add a new chapter to Great Britain's colonial
history.

{44}

CHAPTER V

WINTERING ON THE BAY

Little is known of the many strange things which must have taken place
on the voyage. On board the _Edward and Ann_ sickness was prevalent
and the ship's surgeon was kept busy. There were few days on which the
passengers could come from below-decks. When weather permitted,
Captain Macdonell, who knew the dangers to be encountered in the
country they were going to, attempted to give the emigrants military
drill. 'There never was a more awkward squad,' was his opinion, 'not a
man, or even officer, of the party knew how to put a gun to his eye or
had ever fired a shot.' A prominent figure on the _Edward and Ann_ was
a careless-hearted cleric, whose wit and banter were in evidence
throughout the voyage. This was the Reverend Father Burke, an Irish
priest. He had stolen away without the leave of his bishop, and it
appears that he and Macdonell, {45} although of the same faith, were
not the best of friends.

After a stormy voyage of nearly two months the ships entered the long,
barren straits leading into Hudson Bay. From the beginning of
September the fleet had been hourly expected at York Factory, and
speculation was rife there as to its delay in arriving. On September
24 the suspense ended, for the look-out at the fort descried the ships
moving in from the north and east. They anchored in the shallow haven
on the western shore, where two streams, the Nelson and the Hayes,
enter Hudson Bay, and the sorely tried passengers disembarked. They
were at once marched to York Factory, on the north bank of the Hayes.
The strong palisades and wooden bastions of the fort warned the
newcomers that there were dangers in America to be guarded against. A
pack of 'husky' dogs came bounding forth to meet them as they
approached the gates.

A survey of the company's buildings convinced Macdonell that much more
roomy quarters would be required for the approaching winter, and he
determined to erect suitable habitations for his people before
snowfall. With this in view he crossed over to the Nelson {46} and
ascended it unt