Perhaps he had cut things rather fine, but Captain Davies was a good navigator and would push on.

Although the narrow waters below Montreal, where the stream runs fast between the islands, would be open, Lake St.Peter was freezing, and the liner _Parthian_ had some trouble to get through.

Still the channels were not yet blocked, and when Davies had passed the Narrows he would get open water down the gorge to Quebec.
Allowing for cautious navigation, Davies ought to be near Rimouski at the mouth of the river, and his passing would, no doubt, soon be telegraphed from the signal station.

Cartwright admitted that to get the message would be some relief.
By and by his bookkeeper came in.
"Direct cablegram from Davies, sir." Cartwright took the form and frowned.

The message was not from Rimouski and ran: "Delayed Peter; passing Quebec." "Awkward, sir," Gavin remarked sympathetically.
"Very awkward," said Cartwright.