The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-01-11
CHAPTER XIII.
On Secret CervicA

If the world was lost through wo-
man. she alone can save it.-Louis
de Beaufort.
In the days of which I write, our
civilization was, as l may say, so
embryonic. that it is difficult for
us now to realize the conditions
which then obtained.
We had several broken railway
systems north and south, but there
were not then more than five thous-
and miles of railway built in Amer
lea. All things considered, | felt
lucky when we reached New York
less than twenty-four hours out
from Washington.
Up the Hudson l took the crack
steamer Swallow. the same which
just one year later was sunk while
trying to beat her own record of
nine hours and two minutes from
New York to Albany. She required
eleven hours on our trip. Under
conditions then obtaining, it took
me day and half more to reach
Lake Ontario. Here, happily, /
picked up frail steam craft, own
ed by an adventurous soul who was
not unwilling to risk his life and
that of others on the uncertain and
ice-filled waters of Ontario. With
him | negotiated to carry me with
others down the st. Lawrence. One
delay after another with broken
machinery, lack of fuel. running
ice and what not, required five days
rc@re Of my time ere reached Mon
treal.
could not be called either Off
Ger or spy, yet none the less | did
not care to be recognized here in
the capacity of one overcurious. |
made up my costume as that of
an innocent free trader from the
western fur country of the states,
and was able. from my earlier ex-
periences, to answer any questions
as to beaver at Fort Hall or buffalo
on the Yellowstone or the Red.
Thus passed freely in and about
all the public places of the town,
and inspected with a curious per-
sonal interest all it's points of in
terest.
AS | moved about from day to
day, making such acquaintance as |
could, found In the air a feeling
of excitement and expectation. The
hotels, bad as they were, were
packed. The public places were
noisy, the private houses crowded.
Gradually the town became half
military and half-savage. Persons
OF importance arrived by steamers
up the river. on whose expanse lay
boats which might be bound for
England-or for some of England's
colonies. The government-not yet
removed to Ottawa. later capital of
Ontario-was then housed in the
old Chateau RameZay built so long
before for the French governor,
Vaudreuil.
Here, had reason to believe, was
now established no less "A person
age than Sir George Simpson, gov
ernor of the Hudson Bay company.
Rumor had it at the time that Lord
Aberdeen of England himself was
at Montreal That was not true,
but | established without doubt that
his brother really was there, as
well as Lieutenant William Peel of
the navy, son of Sir Robert Peel,
England's prime minister.
| was not a week in Montreal be-
fore | learned that my masters
guess, or his information, had been
correct. The race was on for Ore
gon,
All these things, say. saw go
on about me. Yet in truth as to
the inner workings of this | could
gain but little actual information,
| saw Englands ships, but 1t was
not for me to know whether they
were to turn Cape Hope or the
Horn. | saw Canada's voyageurs.
but they might be only on their an
nual journey. and might so no
farther than their accustomed posts
in the west In French town and
English town. among common sol
diers. voyageurs. inn keepers and
merchants. | wandered for more
than one day and felt myself still
helpless.
That Is to say. such was the case
until there came to my aid that
greatest of all allies. Chance.
Ito be continued.)