52 LAKE SUPERIOR. 



bar-keepers on these vessels is to supply the country 

 with eggs, and recollections of the baskets full that 

 we had seen hanging from the cross-beams of the 

 City of Cleveland came vividly to our minds. Leav- 

 ing Don to purchase the eggs, I pushed on with the 

 baggage. The former boarded the steamer as soon 

 as she touched the dock^ and, rushing to the bar- 

 keeper, demanded eight dozen eggs. He was in- 

 formed, however, that they were sold by the basket, 

 which contained fifteen dozen, and he could have no 

 less. Then it was that Don rose to the importance 

 of the occasion. Others might have doubted, hesi- 

 tated, or failed to make the purchase at all ; but he, 

 without a pause, grasped the basket, laid down the 

 money, and started for the head of the canal. Fif- 

 teen dozen eggs were a perfect mine of comfort ; 

 in their golden bosoms lay undeveloped numberless 

 egg-noggs, delicious cakes, and appetizing omelets, 

 and Don's character was established for ever. 



The wind, strong and contrary, was dashing foam- 

 crested waves against the piers of the canal, threat- 

 ening to make our journey a slow one ; our goods 

 and chattels Avere safely and carefully stowed, fill- 

 ing the barge as nearly as was desirable ; we had 

 even cast off and commenced our voyage, when 

 through the canal we saw approaching a tug-boat. 

 She was called the Bacchus^ and, like her jolly pro- 

 totype, willingly lent us her aid ; and giving us a 

 tow, made our old boat, for that occasion at least, a 

 fast one. She tore her way along, crushing the 

 waves with her high bow> throwing a mass of white 



