MEETING WITH MR. MCLEOD. 181 



ceive that the trees, though knotty, were of 

 greater girth, and that some small birch were 

 also thinly scattered about. As yet, however, 

 I had not seen any that would have answered 

 for planking, and began to fear that we should 

 have to send about one hundred and fifty miles 

 for that indispensable material. 



We had now reached the eastern extremity 

 of the lake, where, in my letter of the 19th of 

 August, I had directed Mr. M c Leod to build an 

 establishment. Proceeding onward over the mossy 

 and even surface of the sand-banks, we were ac- 

 cordingly gladdened by the sound of the wood- 

 man's stroke ; and, guided by the branchless trunks, 

 which lay stretched along the earth, we soon 

 came to a bay, where, in agreeable relief against 

 the dark green foliage, stood the newly-erected 

 framework of a house. Mr. M c Leod was walk- 

 ing under the shade of the trees with La Prise, 

 and did not hear us until we were within a few 

 yards of him. We were ranged in single file, the 

 men having, of their own accord, fallen into 

 that order ; and, with our swollen faces, dressed 

 and laden as we were, some carrying guns, others 

 tent poles, &c, we must have presented a 

 strangely wild appearance, not unlike a group 

 of robbers on the stage. 



This, however, did not prevent my friend 

 from testifying his satisfaction at our return. 



n 3 



