184 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



came we secured a couple of beds in a Frenchman's house, 

 and, as we tumbled in, congratulated ourselves upon a little 

 comfortable repose. It was an exceedingly sultry night, 

 and though we were both in a complete fever from the fly 

 poison circulating in our veins, the heat excelled the fever, 

 and our bodies were literally in a melting condition. We 

 endeavoured to find relief by lying upon the bare floor, 

 with no covering but a single sheet, and this arrange- 

 ment might have answered had it not been for the flood of 

 musquitoes which poured into the room, as one of us 

 happened to open a window to obtain fresh air. Every 

 spot on our bodies which the flies had left untouched, was 

 immediately settled upon by these devils in miniature. 

 They pierced the very sheets that covered us, and sucked 

 away at our blood without any mercy. Unwilling to 

 depart this life without one effort more to save it, we then 

 dressed ourselves and sauntered into the open air. We 

 made our way towards a pile of lumber, near the saw mill, 

 and without a particle of covering endeavoured to obtain 

 a little sleep, but the insect hounds soon found us out, 

 and we bolted for another place. Our course now lay 

 towards the rude bridge which spans the Esquemain, just 

 above the mill. Our intentions at the time, though not 

 uttered aloud, I verily believe were of a fearful character. 

 On reaching the bridge, however, a refreshing breeze sprang 

 up and we enjoyed a brief respite from our savage enemies. 

 We now congratulated ourselves upon our good fortune, 



