PÈRE DUCHAMP--MR. S.'s INSTRUCTIONS--UNSUCCESSFUL--TRADING
EXCURSION--DIFFICULTIES OF THE JOURNEY--LOSE OUR WAY--PROVISIONS
FAIL--REACH THE POST--VISIT TO AN ALGONQUIN CHIEF--HIS ABUSIVE
TREATMENT--SUCCESS.


Mr. Siviright arrived about the latter end of August, accompanied by
another junior clerk, and a few days afterwards the opposition were
seen passing. I embarked with my fellow-scribe, and arrived next day
at the lower outpost, when I was much disappointed to find my old
interpreter, whom I had with me at the Chats, in the service of our
opponents. He was my Indian tutor, and took every pains, not only to
teach me the language, but to initiate me in the mysteries of the
trade, in which he was justly considered an adept. Our opponents
offered him a high salary, which he would not accept until he had
previously made a tender of his valuable services to the Company, whom
he had faithfully served for a period of thirty years and upwards. He
requested a small addition to his salary, which was refused.

My regard for the worthy old man, however, was not in the least
diminished by the circumstance of his being in opposition. Père
Duchamp and I had still our friendly _tête-à-tête_ whenever we had an
opportunity. The autumn passed without any incident having occurred
worthy of note, I and my opponent being occupied in the usual
way,--watching each other night and day, chasing each other, and
circumventing each other when we could.

Late in the month of October, I was surprised to observe a couple of
middle-sized canoes, deeply laden, put ashore at our opponent's, where