THE YOUNG FUR-TRADERS. 319

charge of the district. It need scarcely be added that
the young men were overjoyed on receiving this almost
unhoped-for intelligence, and that Harry expressed his
satisfaction in his usual hilarious manner, asserting some-
what profanely, in the excess of his glee, that the gov-
ernor-in-chief of Rupert’s Land was a “regular brick.”
Hamilton agreed to all his friend’s remarks with a quiet
smile, accompanied by a slight chuckle, and a somewhat
desperate attempt at a caper, which attempt, bordering
as it did on a region of buffoonery into which our quiet
and gentlemanly friend had never dared hitherto to ven-
ture, proved an awkward and utter failure. He felt this,
and blushed deeply.

It was further arranged and agreed upon that the young
men should accompany Jacques Caradoc in his canoe.
Having become sufficiently expert canoemen to handle
their paddles well, they scouted the idea of taking men
with them, and resolved to launch boldly forth at once
as bona-fide voyageurs. To this arrangement Jacques,
after one or two trials to test their skill, agreed; and
very shortly after the arrival of the express, the trio set
out on their voyage, amid the cheers and adieus of the
entire population of Norway House, who were assembled
on the end of the wooden wharf to witness their depart-
ure, and with whom they had managed, during their
short residence at that place, to become special favourites.
A month later, the pastor of the Indian village, having
procured a trusty guide, embarked in his tin canoe with
a crew of six men, and followed in their track.

In process of time spring merged into summer—a
‘season chiefly characterized in those climes by intense
heat and innumerable clouds of musquitoes, whose vicious
and incessant ‘attacks render life, for the time being, a
burden. Our three voyageurs, meanwhile, ascended the
Saskatchewan, penetrating deeper each day into the heart