24 THE LABRADOK PENINSULA. CHAP. ir. 



question was more imaginary than real, for we never 

 heard of it afterwards ; and Louis, when seen enveloping 

 himself in a capacious but rather dirty rug before choosing 

 his ground for the night underneath a canoe, replied to 

 the questions 



' Why, Louis, what did you want two blankets for ? ' 



'Don't want two blankets one enough.' 



' Then why did you want to go and fetch the other 

 blanket?' 



' Like it best,' answered Louis. 



' Do Indians ever have more than two blankets ? ' 



' No ; one blanket enough for Indian.' 



' Do you think the men will find yours at the fishing 

 station ? ' 



' link not ; tink they will have very hard work to find 

 other blanket,' said Louis, with a comical laugh. 



' Perhaps the blanket around you is the one you thought 

 you had left behind?' 



' May be,' said Louis, brightening up, and turning his 

 head to survey the rug. ' May be ; it looks very much 

 like it.' 



' Then you have not got another blanket, Louis ? ' 



'No!' 



Young seals were heard calling during the night, and 

 their dams were feasting on salmon struggling in the nets 

 stretched half across the river close to our camp. The 

 distant roar of the sea reached us at intervals, as gusts of 

 moist wind came up the river ; but the night was com- 

 paratively warm, and the early morning bright. After 

 breakfast we started for the Eapids, and in our progress 

 up the river found the vegetation much farther advanced, 



