The Log House by the Lake | Page 6

the blue surface of Lake Huron, while below them appeared,
surrounded by trees, a small piece of water, unnoted on most maps,
though covering an area as large as all the Cumberland Lakes put
together. In the smaller lake were several wooded islands, and there
were promontories, and bays, and inlets, with hills of some height near
it, adding to its picturesque beauty. A wood-crowned height separated
the smaller from the larger expanse of water, except in one place,
where a river, or an inlet it might be called, formed a junction, which
settlers on the shores of the former would not fail to prize.
"There is our future home," said Mr Ashton, pointing to the side of the
small lake nearest Lake Huron. "Philip and Peter, with the two men Mr
Norman sent up, will, I hope, have made some progress by this time,
and have got a roof ready under which you may creep. We shall soon
be at the village, and from thence we must cross the lake in a boat, as
the road round is impassable, or rather there is no road at all."
Harry, who had a small telescope slung at his back, said that he could
make out a wide clearing and a shanty in the middle of it. His parents
hoped that he was correct, though his younger sisters and brother
declared that they should be delighted to camp out in the bush for the
remainder of the summer. It was growing dusk as the travellers entered
the village, which consisted of a store, three or four log-huts, and half a
dozen shanties or sheds, some the abode of man, and some of beast,
and some shared by both. The store being covered in with planks, and
having three stories, was the building of by far the greatest pretensions.
One of the shanties was the future hotel of the place, at present,
however, affording accommodation to neither man nor beast. The
landlord stood at the door with his arms akimbo, and the air of a man
perfectly satisfied with himself and his belongings, as he watched the
approach of the waggons. He was active enough when they stopped

before his abode, hoping that some of the party would become his
customers.
"Well, strangers, you look spry after your journey. Glad to see you.
We'll become good neighbours, I guess," was his familiar but not surly
salutation. Mr Ashton took it in good part. "Thank you, my friend, we
have come along very well," he answered. "Can you tell me, Have my
son and his servant been here lately?"
"Your two young men were up here not ten minutes ago. They've gone
back to the boat, I guess. They're no great hands at liquoring. If you
shout they'll hear you."
"Philip a-hoy!" shouted Harry and Charley, their shrill voices sounding
clearly through the dark pine forest which shut in the settlement on
either side, and sweeping over the calm waters of the lake.
"Ay, ay; all right!" was the cheerful reply, and Philip, accompanied by
Peter, came rushing up in time to help his mother and sisters to unpack
from their somewhat uncomfortable conveyance. "It does not do to be
idle out here, and so, having our fishing gear, we were employing
ourselves while waiting your arrival in catching some fish for your
supper," he said, as he helped his mother to the ground. "Mr Job Judson
here did not quite approve of our proceeding, as he would rather we
had spent the time in his bar; however, I have brought him up some of
the proceeds of our sport to propitiate him, for he is an obliging,
good-natured fellow, at bottom. I wish him a better calling."
After all the family had alighted, and their affectionate greetings were
over, Philip exhibited the fine white fish he had brought for Mr Judson,
weighing some four or five pounds.
"We have half-a-dozen similar fish for our family supper, so we shall
not starve," he said, with a tone of satisfaction. "We have not broached
a cask of beef or pork since we came here."
"And we shall not, I hope, while a bird or beast remains to be shot, or a
fish to be caught," cried Harry.

As there was not a hut vacant in which to store the lading of the
waggons, Philip arranged to take the family across in the boat, with
their bedding and other necessary articles, and to return at once for the
remainder. "I am sure that if D'Arcy knew it he would help, but we
shall have a full moon up presently, and I would rather get the work
done now than wait for day, when the heat on the lake will be
considerable," he observed.
Mr Judson undertook to watch