seated, he asked me if I had not met the Matawin Indians.  On my replying in the negative, he informed me that they had passed his place early in the morning, loaded with furs, and that they expressed their intention of proceeding to the post before they halted.  These Indians had all been supplied by myself in autumn to a large amount; so that the intelligence acted on my nerves like an electric shock.  I felt much fatigued on entering the lodge, but I now sprung to my feet, as fresh for the journey as when I had commenced it; and ordering one of my men to return with me, left the other, an experienced hand, to manage affairs with the chief.

I arrived at my post about two next morning, when I found the Indians, some at our hut, some at our opponent’s, all of them approaching the climax of Indian happiness, and Mr. Lane in a state of mind bordering on distraction.  Neither he nor any of the men had ever seen any of these Indians before, nor did they understand a word of the language.  The Indians were honest enough, however, to give him their furs in charge till my return; reserving only a small quantity to dispose of at discretion.  My arrival was soon announced at my neighbour’s, and brought the whole bevy about me in an instant, only one individual remaining behind.  On inquiring into the cause of his absence, his companions replied that he had fallen asleep immediately after he had supped, and that they did not wish to disturb him.

A few hours afterwards I was not a little surprised to see my neighbour entering our hut hurriedly, who addressed me thus:—­

“My dear Mac, it is true we are in opposition, but no enmity exists between us.  A dreadful misfortune happened in my house last night.—­Come and see!”

I instantly complied with his request; proceeded to his hut, and saw the Indian who was said to be asleep, with his eyes closed—­for ever; a sad spectacle, for it was evident that the death of the poor wretch had been caused by intemperance; he was found in the morning lying on his face, and his body already stiff.  We were both alike involved in the same awful responsibility, for the Indians drank as much at one house as the other, though his death occurred at the establishment of the other party.  The Company only permit the sale of liquors to the natives when the presence of opponents renders it an indispensable article of trade, as it is by this unhallowed traffic that the petty traders realize their greatest profit.  Yet this plea of necessity, however satisfactory it may appear in a certain quarter, will not, I feel assured, be accepted in our vindication by the world, nor hereafter in our justification at that tribunal where worldly considerations have no influence.  Information soon reached the camp of the calamity that had happened, which promptly silenced the clamorous mirth that prevailed; and the voice of mourning succeeded—­the Indians being all in good crying trim, that is, intoxicated; for I have never seen an Indian shed a tear when sober.