DANGEROUS EXPLOIT. 143 



recollection of those persons who have visited 

 Quebec, the singular effect produced by the mass 

 of tinned roofs and steeples which used to crown 

 the heights of that place. 



Of the danger which attends the traversing 

 these acclivities we had nearly received a serious 

 proof, for we narrowly escaped losing one of our 

 best and most active seamen in an attempt to 

 descend by one of these inclined planes. While 

 some observations were being made upon the 

 beach, a sailor of the name of Spinks had ob- 

 tained leave to accompany the boat's crew in pur- 

 suit of a herd of deer that were browsing upon 

 the hills. The ardour of the chase led the party 

 beyond the limit of the prescribed range, and 

 when the signal was made for their return to 

 the boat some of them were on the top of the 

 mountain. Spinks, an active and zealous fel- 

 low, anxious to be first at his post, thought he 

 would outstrip his comrades by descending the 

 snow which was banked against the mountain, 

 at an angle of about 40° with the horizon, 

 and rested against a small glacier on the left. 

 His height was about two thousand feet, and 

 in the event of his foot slipping, there was 

 nothing to impede his progress until he reached 

 the beach, either by the slope, or the more 

 terrific descent of the face of the glacier. He 



