He at once restored the child to her mother's arms, observing, "that he
hoped she would give him the price of a quart of whiskey for his
trouble, for the child was main heavy, God bless her."

My wife, of course, did not dispute the payment. She was only too glad
to recover her little pet, whom she took good care not again to trust
to masculine keeping, however tired she might be. So Maria remained
safely in her mother's arms, for the remainder of the journey.

At length, when down-hearted and weary, the bright waters of the Huron
gladdened their eyes, on the morning of the sixth day, and a few
minutes afterwards they took possession of my log-cabin, and gave me
the happy surprise already recorded.

"I wonder you were not afraid of encountering such hardships, and even
danger, in travelling so many miles through the wild woods and on foot,
and with that heavy child to carry in your arms," was my remark to my
enterprising wife. She replied, "that there had certainly been more
difficulties than she had anticipated; but had they been double, it
would not have prevented her from joining me." So much for woman's love
and devotion.

During the summer months, we were plentifully supplied with fish. On
some days the harbour appeared to swarm with them. When the sun shone
brightly, you could see hundreds lying near the surface. There was no
difficulty in catching them, for the moment you threw in your bait, you
had a fish on your hook.

In the early part of the season, I used to make an imitation mouse of a