Part 7 (1/2)

”How very beautiful the foliage is on that point, mother,” said Alfred, first breaking the silence, ”what a contrast between the leaves of the sycamore, so transparent and yellow, with the sun behind them, and the new shoots of the spruce fir.”

”It is, indeed, very lovely,” replied Mrs. Campbell; ”and the branches of the trees, feathering down as they do to the surface of the water--”

”Like good Samaritans,” said Emma, ”extending their arms, that any unfortunate drowning person who was swept away by the stream might save himself by their a.s.sistance.”

”I had no idea that trees had so much charity or reflection, Emma,”

rejoined Alfred.

”I can not answer for their charity, but, by the side of this clear water, you must allow them reflection, cousin,” replied Emma.

”I presume you will add vanity to their attributes?” answered Alfred; ”for they certainly appear to be hanging over the stream that they may look and admire themselves in the gla.s.sy mirror.”

”Pretty well that for a mids.h.i.+pman; I was not aware that they used such choice language in a c.o.c.kpit,” retorted the young lady.

”Perhaps not, cousin,” answered Alfred; ”but when sailors are in the company of ladies, they become refined, from the a.s.sociation.”

”Well, I must admit, Alfred, that you are a great deal more polished after you have been a month on sh.o.r.e.”

”Thank you, cousin Emma, even for that slight admission,” replied Alfred, laughing.

”But what is that?” said Mary Percival, ”at the point, it is a village--one, two, three houses--just opening upon us?”

”That is a raft, Miss Percival, which is coming down the river,” replied Captain Sinclair. ”You will see when we are nearer to it, that perhaps it covers two acres of water, and there are three tiers of timber on it.

These rafts are worth many thousand pounds. They are first framed with logs, fastened by wooden tree-nails, and the timber placed within the frame. There are, perhaps, from forty to a hundred people on this raft to guide it down the stream, and the houses you see are built on it for the accommodation of these people. I have seen as many as fifteen houses upon a raft, which will sometimes contain the cargoes of thirty or forty large s.h.i.+ps.”

”It is very wonderful how they guide and direct it down the stream,”

said Mr. Campbell.

”It is very dexterous; and it seems strange that such an enormous ma.s.s can be so guided, but it is done, as you will perceive; there are three or four rudders made of long sweeps, and, as you may observe, several sweeps on each side.”

All the party were now standing up in the sternsheets of the _bateau_ to look at the people on the raft, who amounted to about fifty or sixty men--now running over the top to one side, and dragging at the sweeps, which required the joint power of seven or eight men to each of them--now pa.s.sing again over to the opposite sweeps, as directed by the steersmen. The _bateau_ kept well in to the sh.o.r.e, out of the way, and the raft pa.s.sed them very quickly. As soon as it was clear of the point, as their course to Quebec was now straight, and there was a slight breeze down the river, the people on board of the raft hoisted ten or fifteen sails upon different masts, to a.s.sist them in their descent; and this again excited the admiration of the party.

The conversation now became general, until the _bateaux_ were made fast to the sh.o.r.es of the river, while the men took their dinners, which had been prepared for them before they left Quebec. After a repose of two hours, they again started, and at nightfall arrived at St. Anne's, where they found every thing ready for their reception. Although their beds were composed of the leaves of the maize or Indian corn, they were so tired that they found them very comfortable, and at daylight arose quite refreshed, and anxious to continue their route. Martin Super, who, with the two youngest boys, had been placed in a separate boat, had been very attentive to the comforts of the ladies after their embarkation; and it appeared that he had quite won the hearts of the two boys by his amusing anecdotes during the day.

Soon after their embarkation, the name of Pontiac being again mentioned by Captain Sinclair, Mrs. Campbell observed--

”Our man Super mentioned that name before. I confess that I do not know any thing of Canadian affairs; I know only that Pontiac was an Indian chief. Can you, Captain Sinclair, give us any information relative to a person who appears so well known in the province?”

”I shall be happy, Mrs. Campbell, as far as I am able, to satisfy you.

On one point, I can certainly speak with confidence, as my uncle was one of the detachment in the fort of Detroit at the time that it was so nearly surprised, and he has often told the history of the affair in my presence. Pontiac was chief of all the Lake tribes of Indians. I will not repeat the names of the different tribes, but his own particular tribe was that of the Ottawas. He ruled at the time that the Canadas were surrendered to us by the French. At first, although very proud and haughty, and claiming the sovereignty of the country, he was very civil to the English, or at least appeared so to be; for the French had given us so bad a reputation with all the northern tribes, that they had hitherto shown nothing but the most determined hostility, and appeared to hate our very name. They are now inclined to be quiet, and it is to be hoped their fear of us, after the severe conflicts between us, will induce them to remain so. You are, perhaps, aware that the French had built many forts at the most commanding spots in the interior and on the lakes, all of which, when they gave up the country, were garrisoned by our troops, to keep the Indians under control.

”All these forts are isolated, and communication between them is rare.

It was in 1763 that Pontiac first showed his hostility against us, and his determination, if possible, to drive us from the lakes. He was as cunning as he was brave; and, as an Indian, showed more generals.h.i.+p than might be expected--that is, according to their system of war, which is always based upon stratagem. His plan of operation was, to surprise all our forts at the same time, if he possibly could; and so excellent were his arrangements, that it was only fifteen days after the plan was first laid that he succeeded in gaining possession of all but three; that is, he surprised ten out of thirteen forts. Of course, the attacks were made by other chiefs, under his directions, as Pontiac could not be at all the simultaneous a.s.saults.”

”Did he murder the garrisons, Capt. Sinclair?” said Alfred.

”The major portion of them: some were spared, and afterward were ransomed at high prices. I ought to have mentioned as a singular instance of the advance of this chief in comparison with other Indians, that at this time he issued bills of credit on slips of bark, signed with his totem, the otter; and that these bills, unlike many of more civilized society, were all taken up and paid.”