HOMEWARD BOUND 265 



that was new to me. There was quite a nice 

 little organ and the whole congregation joined 

 devoutly in the hymns ; altogether the service 

 was most impressive. 



The Glencoe turned up at 1 o'clock on the 

 26th and the next afternoon we reached 

 Placentia, where the train was waiting. We 

 got away about 5.30, but did not reach St. 

 John's (80 miles) till 2 a.m. the following morn- 

 ing, a very poor performance. The engine 

 could not pull us up the inclines. We made a 

 rush and each time stuck half-way and had to 

 run back a couple of miles to make a fresh try. 

 However, it seemed a usual occurrence, for 

 every one on board took it quite philosophic- 

 ally, many recounting their reminiscences of 

 when they had to stop all night in the train. 



In the train was Mr. Job, just returning from 

 a good grouse shoot. He told me he had in his 

 office a sixty-four pointer caribou stag shot by 

 an Indian and bought by his brother. He 

 very kindly allowed me to see it the next day, 

 and a very remarkable head it was; I could 

 make out at least sixty points. 



I left St. John's at 6 p.m. on the 29th and 

 as we reached Gaff Topsails, about the highest 

 point of the railway, sleet and light snow were 

 falling and a bitter wind was blowing across 

 the open barrens. Descending to the Humber 



