constructed--somewhere--but let no one dare to imagine that I allude
to "my own, my native land." Stones were piled up against the logs, to
protect them from the fire. The timber required for floor, door, and
beds, was all prepared with the axe; our building being thus rendered
habitable without even going to the extent of Lycurgus' frugal laws,
for the axe was our only implement.

My opponent returned in four days, having been at an Indian camp, not
far distant, where both he and our people traded a considerable
quantity of furs. This was our only trip by open water. As soon as the
river became ice-bound, we were again in motion.

To enter into minute details of our various movements would but prove
tedious; I shall therefore present a general sketch of our mode of
life at this period, and such occurrences as I may consider worthy of
note.

Macdonell had chosen his situation with great judgment. The majority
of the Algonquins take their start from the Grand River at this place
for their hunting-grounds. Some of them not being more than a day's
journey distant from us, the joyful intelligence soon spread amongst
them that an opposition party had been established in their
neighbourhood; they accordingly flocked about us as soon as travelling
became practicable on the ice, and generally brought with them the
means of ensuring a friendly reception. One party came in at this
early season with all their fall hunts, which they bartered for
liquors and provisions, and encamped close by, enjoying themselves,
until an event occurred that alarmed them so much, (being with some
reason considered by them as a punishment for the wicked life they had
led,) that with the utmost precipitation they struck their camp.