XXIV BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 



the Yankees. The steamer, however, ran aground some four 

 miles below the rendezvous. This caused' a considerable 

 delay and gave rise to much ill-humor among the boatmen at 

 having to row down to meet the steamer. The boat was- 

 heavily laden, the men surly, and night had closed in before 

 we heard the sound of the rapids ahead. The moon had now 

 risen, and the stars were shining brilliantly over the water, 

 which gave back the reflection of a glorious multitude of 

 heavenly bodies. A sight so surpassingly beautiful might 

 have stilled the most turbulent spirits, and I leaned back 

 against my husband's supporting arm and looked from sky 

 to star-lighted river, from the river up to the sky, with 

 unspeakable delight and admiration. But my reverie was 

 rudely broken by the grounding of the boat against the 

 rocky bank, and the loud protests of the men against rowing 

 another stroke or attempting the rapids that night. We 

 were two miles distant from the town, the dark forest lay 

 gloomy and dense before us, and I was weak from illness and 

 want of food. To pass the night on an open scow, exposed 

 to the heavy dews and chill air, would be death. It was ten 

 o'clock, and the outlook was not encouraging. How were we 

 to make our way through an unknown forest to the town 1 



" One of our fellow-passengers, whose hous* lay on the 

 opposite bank of the river, and who had engaged one of the 

 boatmen to put him across, yielded to Mr. Traill's entreaties 

 to allow us to accompany him. Remaining only long enough 

 at this settler's house to take a cup of tea, we procured the 

 services of a little Irish lad and a lantern to guide us through 

 the remaining bit of bush which still separated us from the 

 town, and set forth on our travels to seek a shelter for the 

 night. Our little Irish lad was very full of sympathy for the 

 ' English leddy who looked so tired.' He told us of how he 

 had lost both father and mother from cholera at Montreal, 

 and was alone in the world without anyone to care for him. 

 Our way was crossed by a little stream, over which the only 



