14000 MILES 



strange ideas of that country. We went to the different 

 boat-landings and made all sorts of inquiries; then 

 returned to the hotel for dinner and decision on some- 

 thing. 



The city was so full of M. D.'s and their friends that 

 the washing of our phaeton had been neglected, and as 

 the proprietor stood at the door when we, drove to the 

 hotel, we thought we would appeal to his authority in 

 the matter. "Why," he said, "are you driving your- 

 selves; where are you going? Come right into the office 

 and let me plan a trip for you." We took our map and 

 followed along, as he mentioned point after point in 

 northern Vermont where we would find comfortable 

 hotels ; and he seemed to know so much of the country 

 about that we asked finally how it would be driving in 

 Canada? Would it be safe for us? "Safe! You can go 

 just as well as not. You can drive after dark or any time 

 — nicest people in the world — do anything for you." 

 Then he began again with a Canadian route via St. Ar- 

 mand, St. John, St. Cesaire, St. Hilaire, and we began to 

 think the country was full of saints instead of sinners as 

 we had fancied. We ran our finger along the map as he 

 glibly spoke these strange-sounding names and found he 

 was headed straight for Berthier, the very place we 

 wanted to go to. We stopped him long enough to ask 

 how far from St. Hilaire to Berthier. 



"Berthier! Drive to Berthier! Why, bless me, your 

 horse would die of old age before you got home !" 



Evidently he had reached his limits. Berthier was 

 beyond him. We, however, could see no obstacles on our 

 map, and it was only "an inch and a half" farther (to be 



155 



