LAKE SUPERIOR. 49 



Our present men had already ascertained our in- 

 tended change, and we had hardly pushed off before 

 old Joe began upon us. He spoke French, the lan- 

 guage of communication between the natives and 

 travellers, and never shall I forget his reproachful 

 tone and manner. Perfectly respectful, he pictured 

 our enormities and unkindness in such eloquent 

 words that we hung our heads in shame. 



Never before had he, the chief of the Melicetes, 

 acquainted as he was with the whole length of the 

 lake, been displaced for younger men. The young 

 men were good voyageurs — that he did not dispute ; 

 but was it reasonable to prefer them to one who had 

 lived his whole life in the woods, or was it right to 

 brand with disgrace a guide who for two days had 

 served us, as we admitted, faithfully ? Unusual, in- 

 deed, was it to change the men, and should he have 

 this discredit cast upon him ? He had not been en- 

 gaged positively to accompany us ; but had we not 

 spoken to him and asked his advice ? Was he not 

 justified in expecting it? He was sorry and hurt 

 that we should have done so ; he had been j)leased 

 with us ; he knew that he could have pleased us ; 

 but could he rest under such an imputation ? Were 

 younger men better boatmen than ho ? Were they 

 better acquainted with the lake ? Were we dis- 

 satisfied with him so far? Why, then, had we 

 changed, unless indeed to offend him? His feel- 

 ings were wounded, and he felt sure that we must 

 regret our injustice. If we said that we had been 

 advised to do so, it must have been by persons who 

 3 



