RECREATION. 



2 33 



one was dressed in his or her best, evi- 

 dently expecting some visitor beyond 

 the ordinary. Joe explained that he 

 had sent up from Gananoque to say we 

 should have supper here. 



From the time we arrived until we 

 left the house, at nine o'clock, Joe had 

 so much to say to his cousin that I 

 scarcely saw anything of him. On ask- 

 ing him where he had been, he said his 

 cousin had been anxious to show him 

 two new calves and a litter of pigs, and 

 he had been down to the barn to see 

 them. 



Just before we started, being left 

 alone again, I went to the front door to 

 look out and see what the night was 

 like. The clouds were heavy and flying 

 fast. The rain was pattering against the 

 windows, while the swaying and moan- 

 ing of the trees showed we were in for a 

 bad night. In the face of this, Joe pro- 

 posed crossing the river in its widest 

 and most exposed part, instead of going 

 through the islands where we could at 

 least have shelter, part of the way, from 

 the raging storm. 



While standing at the door looking 

 at the racing clouds I overheard the 

 following conversation: " Is he safe? 

 Can you trust him?" Joe answered: 

 V Sure ; I've rowed him seven years. 

 Him true gentleman I'd lay down 

 my life on it. He never would do poor 

 guide bad turn. He's safe. No, Bob, 

 I feel safer with him than alone. But 

 Lord it's a rough passage we'll have. 

 How the wind does howl !" 



There was something mysterious 

 about this. I felt uneasy ; calling 

 Joe, I retired to the dining room. Joe 

 soon appeared looking the picture of 

 innocence and unconsciousness. I re- 

 peated the conversation I had heard, 

 and demanded from him an explanation. 

 He hesitated, looked around the room, 

 up to the ceiling, and then to the floor. 

 At last, in a sheepish way, he explained 

 that he was taking back two bottles of 

 Scotch whiskey to some friends in Clay- 

 ton; as it was a dutiable article, if he got 

 caught it might give him some trouble. 

 He didn't suppose I'd give him away, and 

 that was what he was telling his cousin. 

 I thought it but a small matter, and con- 

 cluded to make no objection. 



We covered ourselves with our oil- 

 skins and sou'westers. Thus clothed 

 we were fairly protected against the 



sleet and rain. About half-past nine 

 we took the water. As the boat settled 

 I noticed that her natural buoyancy was 

 materially reduced and she sat deep in 

 the water. I asked Joe if she hadn't a 

 lot of water in her. He said : 



" No, guess it's the pig over here. 

 She's a beauty. Weighs 300 pounds." 



He took to his oars and worked up in 

 the lea alongside Howe Island, until we 

 struck Chockrow flats. From here we 

 could occasionally see the flicker of one 

 of Clayton's electric lights. Joe looked 

 carefully over his boat, shifted the pig 

 back a little, hoisted his sail, and made 

 straight for Hickory Island. As we left 

 the land and began to catch the full 

 force of the wind, the boat began to 

 pitch and labor heavily. In less than 

 ten minutes we were in a veritable boil- 

 ing cauldron. The river was a contin- 

 uous line of white caps. As soon as a 

 wave broke the wind caught the foam, 

 lifting it and carrying it along until it 

 looked like a snow-storm. It froze and 

 cut our faces and hands like needles. 

 Water struck the side of the boat and 

 came over. She was too heavy to rise 

 quickly enough to prevent it. This kept 

 me constantly bailing. Before we had 

 gone a mile through this, I would have 

 risked my eternal salvation to be back 

 on terra firma once more. After three- 

 quarters of an hour's battling we reached 

 the end of Hickory Island and ran 

 under its lea, not a moment too soon, 

 for with all my bailing we had fully six 

 inches of water in the boat. Another 

 quarter of an hour and we should have 

 been swamped, in spite of me. We 

 drew the boat up on the beach and let 

 the water out; then I lit a cigar and 

 rested for a time. 



The rain began to let up and the wind 

 moderated. Before starting again, Joe 

 took out a Winchester rifle from a tar- 

 paulin, loaded it and laid it down along 

 side his seat. Then he advised me to 

 see that my own gun was handy, in 

 working order and ready for use at a 

 moment's notice. I was told to use it, 

 too, if necessary. I thought this pre- 

 caution simply absurd for a couple of 

 bottles of whiskey, and a dressed pig. I 

 told Joe that rather than fire a shot, I 

 would pay the duty, if we were over- 

 hauled. Then Joe said : 



" This here pig happens to be 400 

 pounds of opium. If the officers catch 



