“Seems hard though, after floating down the Richelieu the way we did,” Tom responded.
But they paddled easily, and while their progress was slow compared to their journey down the Richelieu, the shore slowly faded in the distance. Situated on a great bend in the river some distance above Sorel, is Montreal, the metropolis of Canada, of which the boys had heard so much, and here they arrived the next afternoon, after spending the night on one of the smaller islands. It had been decided to spend at least one day ashore before continuing the journey up the river.
CHAPTER XIV—IN MONTREAL
Montreal, a city rich in historic interest, was a place of great fascination for the Comrades and their chums. It was Pod’s first visit to a city of any size, and his curious stares and delighted exclamations were both pleasing and amusing to the other boys.
“If I didn’t know better,” Pod remarked, as they started up town, having left their canoes in charge of a boat captain on the river front, “I’d say Montreal was bigger than New York.”
“Montreal has 350,000 people,” said Chot; “at least, that’s what my guide-book says.”
They were walking along one of the principal business thoroughfares, when Tom collided with a young fellow who was hurrying in an opposite direction. Each begged the other’s pardon, then Tom uttered an exclamation of delight.
“Well, look who’s here!” he cried.
“Eh?” said the other. “Well, if it isn’t Tom Pratt.”
“What are you doing in Montreal, Sam Green?”