Adventure and adventurers > Hudson Bay, or, Everyday life in the wilds of North America

42 ON BOARD THE " FRANCES.”
the packet-box and letter-bag, and soon after the
Frances stood in for the shore.
The Prince Albert had arrived almost at the same
moment with the Prince Rupert, and was now visited
by the second schooner, which soon returned to our
ship to take the passengers on shore. The passengers
who came out in the Prince Albert were on board—
namely, the Rev. Mr. Gowley, a clergyman of the Church
of England, and his lady; and Mr. Rob, a sort of cate¬
chist, or semi-clerical schoolmaster. They were mis¬
sionaries bound for Red River Colony; and as I had
some prospect of going there myself, I was delighted to
have the probable chance of travelling with companions
who, from the short survey I had of them while they
conversed with the captain and Mr. Carles, seemed
good-natured and agreeable.
Mr. Carles, Mr. Wiseacre, and I, now bade adieu to
the good ship which had been our home for such a
length of time (but I must say I did not regret the
parting), and followed our baggage on board the
schooner, expecting to reach the factory before dusk.
“ There’s many a slip ’twixt the cup and the lip,” is a
proverb well authenticated and often quoted, and on
the present occasion its truth was verified. We had
not been long under weigh before the ebb tide began to
run so strong against us as to preclude the possibility
of our reaching the shore that night. There was no
help for it, however; so down went the anchor to the
bottom, and down went I to the cabin.
Such a cabin! A good-sized trunk, with a small
table in it, and the lid shut down, had about as much