main to head her off. As we neared her, we fired again. At that
she came about--it was the Virginia Lake. They took us on board,
bag, baggage, and canoe, and Steve was dismissed.

In an hour we were in sight of Rigolet, and I saw a Hudson's Bay
Company Post for the first time in my life. As our steamer
approached, a flag was run up in salute to the top of a tall staff,
and when it had been caught by the breeze, the Company's initials,
H. B. C., were revealed. The Company's agents say these letters
have another significance, namely, "Here Before Christ," for the
flag travels ahead of the missionaries.

The reservation of Rigolet is situated upon a projection of land,
with a little bay on one side and the channel into which Hamilton
Inlet narrows at this point on the other. Long rows of whitewashed
buildings, some of frame and some of log, extend along the water
front, coming together at the point of the projection so as to form
two sides of an irregular triangle. A little back of the row on
the bay side, and upon slightly higher ground, stands the residence
of the agent, or factor as he is officially called, this building
being two stories high and otherwise the most pretentious of the
group. It is commonly called the "Big House," and near it is the
tall flagstaff. Between the rows of buildings and the shore is a
broad board walk, which leads down near the apex of the triangle to
a small wharf of logs. It was at this wharf that our little party
landed.

Hubbard presented his letter of introduction from Commissioner
Chipman of the Hudson's Bay Company to Mr. James Fraser, the
factor, and we received a most cordial welcome, being made at home