For some time after my arrival here, I had very little employment, there being a scribe already in the establishment, whose experience and industry required no assistance from me.  I thus found myself a supernumerary—­a character that did not suit me, but I was obliged to content myself for the present.  We were joined early in winter by some of the gentlemen in charge of posts, when we managed to pass the time very agreeably.  Mr. D——­, superintendent of the district, played remarkably well on the violin and flute, some of us “wee bodies” could also do something in that way, and our musical soirees, if not in melody, could at least compete in noise, numbers taken into account, with any association of the kind in the British dominions.  Chess, backgammon, and whist, completed the variety of our evening pastimes.  In the daytime each individual occupied himself as he pleased.  When together, smoking, “spinning yarns” about dog racing, canoe sailing, and l’amour; sometimes politics; now and then an animated discussion on theology, but without bitterness; these made our days fly away as agreeably as our nights.

While thus pleasantly occupied, a piece of intelligence was received, which caused the breaking up of our little society, and created some alarm.  A party of seven or eight Indians having been drowned on their way to Alexandria, in autumn, their relatives imputed the misfortune to the whites.  “Had there been no whites at Alexandria,” said they, “our friends would not have gone there to trade; and if they had not gone there, they would not have been drowned:”  ergo—­the white men are the cause of their death, and the Indians must be avenged.

Nothing, however, was known of their hostile intentions until winter, when Mr. F. had occasion to send a man to Stuart’s Lake with despatches, who, on arriving opposite to the Indian camp, found himself suddenly surrounded by the natives.  They advanced rapidly upon him, brandishing their arms, and uttering horrid yells, and would have dispatched him on the spot but for the interference of one of themselves, who nobly threw himself between the Canadian and the muzzles of the guns that were levelled at him, and beckoned him to flee.  He took to his heels accordingly, and never looked behind him till he reached the fort.

A little before Mr. Fisher had learned from his home guards that an attack on the fort was intended, and that they had been solicited by their neighbours to join in it, but had refused.  So far, indeed, from wishing to injure the whites, they consented to carry the despatches which conveyed the information I have just mentioned.  As Mr. F. urgently requested that assistance should be afforded him with as little delay as possible, it was determined that I should forthwith proceed to Alexandria, accompanied by Waccan, the interpreter, and eight men well armed.

Passing Fraser’s Lake and Fort George posts, we arrived at the Indian winter camp, which we found abandoned; but a well beaten track led from it in the direction of Alexandria, a circumstance which made us apprehensive that our aid might come too late, and prompted us to redouble our speed.  Our party consequently was soon very much scattered—­a most unmilitary procedure—­which might have proved fatal to ourselves, while we thought of relieving our friends.