240 TKAVEL, AD VENTURE, AND SPOET. 



attacking our store-ships whilst en route, and of fal- 

 ling upon our depots when left unguarded by the 

 advance of the Expedition, it was considered neces- 

 sary to construct a redoubt for their protection. This 

 entailed considerable extra labour upon the soldiers ; 

 but notwithstanding the frequent rains, the work 

 went on merrily, so that when the force left Thunder 

 Bay, the rear with its stores was perfectly secure 

 from any attack that could possibly be brought 

 against it by this Hibernian brotherhood. A com- 

 pany of militia was left behind, with two guns, as a 

 garrison for the redoubt. Of all known parts of the 

 world it may be truthfully stated that the Thunder 

 Bay region is the most subject to violent thunder- 

 storms whether owing to metallurgic influences or 

 to geographical position we do not know. Many 

 officers who had been " all over the world " admitted 

 they had never heard such appalling claps of thunder 

 before. On some occasions trees were blown down, 

 on others they were split into shreds. At times, 

 especially at night, the noise was such that the 

 ground seemed to shake, and it sounded so close that 

 one expected to see the tent-pole riven in two. Xow 

 and then these storms were accompanied by rain of 

 quite a tropical character, after which the numerous 

 streams became so swollen that bridges were swept 

 away, and long portions of the road, which had been 

 constructed with infinite toil, were completely de- 

 stroyed. Every such misfortune retarded progress. 



