ership of the party, because, being intimately
acquainted with the land, both as to its character, form, and resources,
he was naturally fitted to be their guide.

"It seems to me," said Captain Trench, as they sat down to rest one
afternoon on a sunny bank by the river side--out of which Olly had just
pulled a magnificent trout--"that the climate of this island has been
grossly misrepresented. The report was brought to us that it was a wild
barren land, always enveloped in thick fogs; whereas, although I am
bound to say we found fogs enough on the coast we have found nothing but
beauty, sunshine, and fertility in the interior."

"Does not this arise from the tendency of mankind to found and form
opinions on insufficient knowledge?" said Hendrick. "Even the Indians
among whom I dwell are prone to this error. If your discoverer Cabot
had dwelt as many years as I have in this great island, he would have
told you that it has a splendid climate, and is admirably adapted for
the abode of man. Just look around you--the region which extends from
your feet to the horizon in all directions is watered as you see by
lakes and rivers, which swarm with fish and are alive with wildfowl; the
woods, which are largely composed of magnificent and useful trees, give
shelter to myriads of animals suitable for food to man; the soil is
excellent, and the grazing lands would maintain thousands of cattle--
what more could man desire?"

"Nothing more," answered Paul, "save the opportunity to utilise it all,
and the blessing of God upon his efforts."

"The opportunity to utilise it won't be long of coming, now that the
facts about it are known, or soon to be made known, by us," remarked
Trench.

"I'm not so sure about that" said Paul. "It is wonderful how slow men
are to believe, and still more wonderful how slow they are to act."

That the captain's hopes were not well founded, and that Paul's doubts
were justified, is amply proved by the history of Newfoundland. At
first its character was misunderstood; then, when its unparalleled
cod-fishing banks were discovered, attention was entirely confined to
its rugged shores. After that the trade fell into the hands of selfish
and unprincipled monopolists, who wilfully misrepresented the nature of
this island, and prevailed on the British Government to enact repressive
laws, which effectually prevented colonisation. Then prejudice,
privileges, and error perpetuated the evil state of thin