A WINTER WITH THE LUMBERERS 189 



have met with a misadventure in the forest, but I followed 

 his trail so far on the road to St. Catherine's as to convince 

 me that he was making for that settlement, especially as 

 it was soon discovered that he had taken all the provisions 

 that he could find in the men's huts. We afterwards 

 learned that he safely reached the coast, and departed 

 for Quebec. 



I have related this somewhat blackguardly affair, as 

 it gives a good picture of what camp life in the back- 

 woods often is. Kid gloves and refined manners must 

 hold a second place in the wilds of America. The man 

 who comes here must be able to blister his hands without 

 a murmur, and if not exactly a fighting man, should be 

 able to give and take a blow. The Christian precept of 

 resisting not evil is one that I, in common with all men 

 who desire to do what is right, respect ; but I take it as 

 being purely personal in application. The man who has 

 the safety and welfare of a party in his hands must 

 defend then: interests at any cost ; and is justified, in 

 such circumstances as those I have narrated, in defend- 

 ing, even at the cost of some violence, the charge 

 committed to his care ; that is my view. 



The departure of M'Cullough was a good riddance. 

 The camp became a different place at once. Drunkenness 

 and gambling ceased, and there were no more fights. 

 The men admitted that they benefited by having the 

 spirits placed under control, and served out to them in 

 moderate quantities when their work was done, the time 

 when they most needed a little stimulant. Men every- 

 where must be amused in some form, must have some 

 relaxation, and if this is not supplied to them they will 

 fall back on their own resources, and those resources, 

 unfortunately, of men of toil usually take a mistaken 

 turn. It is therefore the bounden duty of a man in 

 charge of others, and who invariably holds his position, 

 or ought to, on account of his superior intelligence, to 

 provide proper amusement for those dependent on him. 



