"Is there any news from that quarter ?" "I had word through Ferdina Larouche, a son of Thadee Larouche of Honfleur, who got back from La Tuque last month.

He said that things were going well; the men were not having too bad a time." The shanties, the drive, these are the two chief heads of the great lumbering industry, even of greater importance for the Province of Quebec than is farming.

From October till April the axes never cease falling, while sturdy horses draw the logs over the snow to the banks of the frozen rivers; and, when spring comes, the piles melt one after another into the rising waters and begin their long adventurous journey through the rapids.

At every abrupt turn, at every fall, where logs jam and pile, must be found the strong and nimble river-drivers, practised at the dangerous work, at making their way across the floating timber, breaking the jams, aiding with ax and pike-pole the free descent of this moving forest.
"A hard time!" exclaimed Legare with scorn.

"The young fellows of to-day don't know the meaning of the words.