40 PREPARING FOR DEPARTURE. 



remember them with a fresh dehght whenever I recall the circum- 

 stances that caused me to start upon this Labrador trip, for the 

 invigorating air of new scenes and a new climate. 



Friday, in the evening, we started from the hotel, with our bag- 

 gage, for the vessel. Arriving there we deposited our effects on 

 the wharf, whence they were speedily transported to the deck; 

 then the trunks were taken to the hold and the bags and boxes to the 

 cabin of the vessel, and we stationed ourselves to wait for the captain, 

 as we expected him to start that night. After waiting several hours, 

 and some after dark and consequently past supper time, — which 

 fact I mention since our dinner had been taken early and it was now 

 fast getting late, — he arrived in a great hurry, and then we learned 

 that the vessel must wait until high tide (it was then low and we 

 could see the muddy bottom near the vessel), which would not be 

 until about three next morning, before leaving ; the ladies of the 

 party not caring to sleep in so exposed a situation, the captain 

 kindly invited us to the hotel, where we all went with him, partook 

 of an oyster supper, and passed the night quite comfortably. The 

 vessel started in the morning for Berthier, where we were to meet 

 her the next day noon by a little steamer that runs from Quebec 

 and makes that place one of its stopping stations. The night's rest 

 had refreshed us and the next morning, quite disconsolately, we 

 wandered about the streets of the lower city, and the wharf whence 

 the steamer was to leave, waiting for the time of departure, which 

 came slowly. It was market-day, and the streets, especially the 

 square about the market, were crowded with all sorts and nationali- 

 ties of people buying their week's provisions ; we watched them for 

 a long time, and were especially amused in noticing the people 

 who failed to catch the ferry boat that landed not far from us. 

 Some ran for it and, leaping, caught it, but others running for it 

 failed to catch it ; and as the boats alternated with each other every 

 fifteen minutes, there was always some one in a state of frenzy 

 with the retreating ferry for a fault for which he alone was to blame ; 

 there were several old women with large baskets, evidently returning 

 home from market ; two or three priests ; and a number of other peo- 



