THE EED EIVER EXPEDITION. 239 



it flies away out of harm's reach with what sounds at 

 the time like a chirp of mocking disdain and pity for 

 your earth-bound impotence. Your only hope of 

 safety is either a change of wind, or being able to 

 reach a swamp, a lake, or a large river, before your 

 swift and relentless pursuer overtakes you. 



Any one who has ever witnessed the landing of 

 an army at a point which is to become the base of 

 further operations, will easily understand how little 

 time was left for either mournful or poetical reflec- 

 tions upon the manner in which such a fair spot had 

 been converted into a dismal wilderness. Work, 

 work, work, from daylight until dark, and often even 

 until late at night, getting stores, horses, waggons, 

 &c., &c., ashore, and conveying them from the beach 

 to the several depots appointed for their reception. 

 Eoad-making and opening out communications be- 

 tween the camps, which the nature of the ground 

 rendered it impossible to have in one place, gave 

 employment to a large number daily. It was decided 

 to establish a large depot of supplies and ammunition 

 at Prince Arthur's Landing, which we could draw 

 upon in case of need, or upon which we could fall back 

 in the event of any untoward disaster ; a hospital 

 was equipped for the reception of the wounded if 

 there should be any, and to which all who fell sick 

 during the advance were to be sent back. As the 

 Fenians had declared their intention of fitting out 

 an armed vessel on Lake Superior for the purpose of 



