LAKE SUPERIOK. 109 



make nothing of the fishing, had become possessed 

 of the best agates, and had explored the river tho- 

 roughly, we proceeded to reembark. 



The wind was, for the first time, in every way 

 favorable ; but ere we had reached Point aux Mines 

 it had become so violent that Frank, alarmed at the 

 increasing roulan, began to talk of his wife and 

 eight children, and how sorry they would be if he 

 were drowned ; and when the wind further in- 

 creased, and Frank began to talk of his nine chil- 

 dren, we concluded it was time to stop and put 

 into a port of distress. In truth, those open, heavily 

 laden boats are not the safest of vessels in a sea- 

 way, and yawing about as they do before every 

 wave, have to be watched carefully lest they broach 

 to and fill. 



Charley enjoyed Frank's terror, and would have 

 kept on as a matter of pride till his employers were 

 satisfied; but Frank, with streaming hair, staring 

 eyes, and blanched countenance, was a picture of 

 distress, and if we had not given permission, would 

 have taken it to run behind the first friendly point. 



This proved to be Point aux Mines, where in 

 former days a copper mine had been located, and 

 the shafts and buildings, dilapidated it is true, and 

 fast crumbling to pieces, remained to mark the 

 traces of man's enterprise. The point had been 

 purchased by a company from the Crown ; but as 

 the latter failed to pay the Indians, who were the 

 rightful owners, they, with the assistance of many 

 of the Canadians, among whom was our friend 



