The day before the party set off, I arrived accidentally at the house, taking a survey of numerous bodies of woodcutters belonging to the establishment with which I was connected.  The only time anyone can penetrate into the interior in the winter season, the lakes and rivers being frozen over; even the Bay of Exploits, though salt water, was then (the end of January) frozen for sixty miles.  Having proposed to accompany the party, they immediately consented.  Our equipments consisted of a musket, bayonet, and hatchet; to each of the servants a pistol; Mr. ——­ and myself had, in addition, another pistol and a dagger, and a double-barrelled gun, instead of a musket:  each carried a pair of snowshoes, a supply of eight pounds of biscuit and a piece of pork, ammunition, and one quart of rum; besides, we had a light sled and four dogs, who took it in turns in dragging the sled, which contained a blanket for each man, rum and other necessaries.  We depended on our guns for a supply of provisions, and at all times could meet with plenty of partridges and hares, though there were few days we did not kill a deer.  The description of one day’s journey will suffice for all, there being but little variation.  The snow was at this time about eight feet deep.

On the morning of our departure we set off in good spirits up the river, and after following its course for about twelve miles, arrived at the Rapids, a deer at full speed passed us; I fired, and it fell; the next instant a wolf, in full pursuit, made his appearance; on seeing the party, he halted for an instant, and then rushed forward as if to attack us.  Mr. ——­ however, anticipated him; for taking a steady aim, at the same time sitting coolly on an old tree, he passed a bullet through the fellow’s head, who was soon stretched a corpse on the snow; a few minutes after another appeared, when several firing together he also fell, roaring and howling for a long time, when one of the men went and knocked him on the head with a hatchet.

And now, ye effeminate feather bed loungers, where do you suppose we were to sleep?  There was no comfortable hotel to receive us; not even a house where a board informs the benighted traveller that there is “entertainment for man and horse;” not even the skeleton of a wigwam; the snow eight feet deep,—­the thermometer nineteen degrees below the freezing point.  Every one having disencumbered himself of his load, proceeded with his hatchet to cut down the small fir and birch trees.  The thick part of the trees was cut in lengths, and heaped up in two piles; between which a sort of wigwam was formed of the branches:  a number of small twigs of trees, to the depth of about three feet, were laid on the snow for a bed; and having lighted the pile of wood on each side, some prepared venison steaks for supper, while others skinned the two wolves, in order, with the dear skin, to form a covering to