"A shanty could soon be put up," said Hector; "for even Kate, wee bit lassie as she is, could give us some help in trimming up the logs."
"That I could, indeed," replied Catharine; "for you may remember, Hec, that the last journey my father made to the Bay, [Footnote: Bay of Quinte.] with the pack of furs, that you and I called a Bee [Footnote: A Bee is a practical instance of duty to a neighbour. We fear it is peculiar to Canada, although deserving of imitation in all Christian colonies. When any work which requires many hands is in the course of performance, as the building of log houses, barns, or shanties, all the neighbours are summoned, and give their best assistance in the construction. Of course the assisted party is liable to be called upon by the community in turn, to repay in kind the help he has received.] to put up a shed for the new cow that he was to drive back with him, and I am sure Mathilde and I did as much good as you and Louis. You know you said you could not have got on nearly so well without our help."
"After all," said Hector thoughtfully, "children can do a great many things if they only resolutely set to work, and use the wits and the strength that God has given them to work with. A few weeks ago and we should have thought it utterly impossible to have supported ourselves in a lonely wilderness like this by our own exertions in fishing and hunting."
"If we had been lost in the forest we must have died with hunger," said Catharine; "but let us be thankful to the good God who led us hither, and gave us health and strength to help ourselves."
CHAPTER IV.
"Aye from the sultry heat,
We to our cave retreat,
O'er canopied by huge roots, intertwined,
Of wildest texture, blackened o'er with age."
COLERIDGE.
"Louis, what are you cutting out of that bit OF wood?" said Catharine, the very next day after the first ideas of the shanty had been started.
"Hollowing out a canoe."
"Out of that piece of stick!" said Catharine, laughing. "How many passengers is it to accommodate, my dear?"