Canoe trip to Oxford--Serious accident.
In the autumn of 1861, father and Mr. Sinclair and William made a
canoe trip to Oxford House. On the return journey they had an
accident in the upsetting of their canoe in a rapid. It was in the
early morning, and father had his heavy coat on and was otherwise
handicapped for such a time. But faithful William swam to the
over-turned canoe, and then pushed it end on to father, at the same
saying, "Keep up, master. I am coming!" and when near with the
canoe, "Now, master, take hold. Hold hard, master!" and these two
thus passed through the rapid, and swinging into an eddy at its foot
were saved. Mr. Sinclair swam ashore at once, being in light working
costume.
[Illustration: THE UPSET]
They lost most of their outfit, including my gun, which father had
taken along.
That same fall, William was bitten on the point of the finger by a
jack-fish he was taking out of the net. He caught cold in the wound
and inflammation set in, and though father and mother did all they
could to help him, mortification followed and he died.
Night and day father was with the poor fellow, and we all mourned for
him, for his was a noble heart and he was one of God's heroes.