(_Photographs by Messrs. Fradelle & Young._)
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Having been asked to give some account of the commencement of my
literary career, I begin by remarking that my first book was not a tale
or "story-book," but a free-and-easy record of personal adventure and
every-day life in those wild regions of North America which are known,
variously, as Rupert's Land--The Hudson's Bay Territory--The Nor' West,
and "The Great Lone Land."
The record was never meant to see the light in the form of a book. It
was written solely for the eye of my mother, but, as it may be said that
it was the means of leading me ultimately into the path of my life-work,
and was penned under somewhat peculiar circumstances, it may not be out
of place to refer to it particularly here.
[Illustration: "WHERE I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK."
(_A Sketch by the Author._)]