OR, THE LAKE LANDS OF CANADA, 99 



owned and managed, in the autumn of 1880, by a good- 

 natured and accommodating German, familiarly called 

 " Chris," of whom I shall have something to say hereafter. 

 My attempt to negotiate for the transportation of my 

 party and our luggage with Mr. Bess ended in a failure. 

 Further inquiry at the hotel-office afforded nothing satis- 

 factory. It is true I learned that there was no one living 

 in the village, owning horses, who would be willing to take 

 us to our destination. This was not in the least encour- 

 aging. I was determined, however, to go forward on the 

 following day if it were possible. I made inquiry in re- 

 gard to the feasibility of obtaining a team or transportation 

 from some farmer living in the vicinity. The first objection 

 made to this plan by the bystanders was, " You will find 

 it impossible to get a messenger to go into the country 

 among the farmers to-night ; it is too late," although it 

 was not yet ten o'clock. I had already been more than 

 two hours engaged in my efforts to secure transportation, 

 but without success. At this moment I discovered Chris, 

 and immediately approached him, when he extended his 

 hand and asked if I was out on another hunting expedi- 

 tion. I answered in the affirmative, and then made known 

 to him my pressing wants. He said, " I am here with my 

 old team, but my wagon is already loaded with merchan- 

 dise for Maganetawan, some portions of which is in urgent 

 demand." I saw that here was my only chance. Chris 

 would like very much to oblige me ; it was not easy for 

 him to say " no." He told me that within a few weeks he 

 had been very unfortunate, his dwelling-house had been 

 burned, with all his household furniture ; that a portion of 



