Young Lion of the Woods | Page 2

the very
early history of the English in Acadia.
We might have possessed a much fuller history of the times when great
difficulties and dangers opposed the settlers. When rushing rivers had
to be crossed without boat or bridge; when men and women often
found it necessary to contend single handed with Indians; and when, for
meeting the many obstacles that placed themselves in their path, our
ancestors were often but poorly equipped.
Whilst we take pride in the hardships cheerfully borne by our
forefathers in the early colonial days, may we not be sometimes
inclined to forget those fleet-footed, clever, dusky sons of the forest, to
whose generous aid they were not infrequently indebted for protection
from hostile men and savage beasts, and even sometimes for
sustenance?

When we have secured positive information that now and again there
have appeared among the brawny men of the forest noble specimens of
all that is true and kind, let us not fail to record their deeds of
faithfulness and heroism. The least we can do for such is to bring to
light their actions and preserve their history. When beneath the shade of
the forest, on the trackless desert, on the rushing river, in tempest and
thunder, or when watching in the vicinity of an old fort or near the log
cabin of the early colonists, the Red man has been found a faithful
friend and guide; should not his deeds of kindness, faithfulness and
bravery be recorded side by side with those of the noblest of the human
race?
The story related in the following chapters has been gathered from facts
stated in time-worn documents, which have been lying for generations
concealed in a wooden box. The only regret of the writer is, that it was
impossible for him to gain access to all the old musty and defaced
papers in the box. The old gentleman, in whose possession they were
found, is very old and eccentric, and by no effort or persuasion could
the writer induce him to part company with the documents, but for a
short time. But although the task of procuring them was extremely
difficult, and that of deciphering them afterwards was both difficult and
tedious, still the satisfaction of having rescued from decay and
destruction, what seems so interesting, is satisfaction sufficient for the
writer.
That portion of the documents relating the events in connection with
the first and second settlement of an English officer and his family,
during the last century, in a district which is now said to be one of the
most beautiful portions of Canada, is most instructive and interesting,
although at times, while deciphering it, the writer felt his blood quicken
in its pulsations, and tears forcing their way to the surface.
A few years previous to this English officers first attempt at settlement
in Nova Scotia, he came out to Quebec with his regiment. The
remaining portion of this introductory chapter will narrate some events
in connection with the early life of the officer, his coming to Quebec
with his regiment, his short stay there, and his return to his native

country:--
On board the transport Pitt, in the year 1765, at Cork, embarked
Captain Godfrey with his regiment, the 52nd foot, for Quebec, North
America.
On the passage the Pitt was wrecked in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where
Captain Godfrey with his regiment suffered many hardships.
The ship ran ashore in a dense fog, which had prevailed for several
days. The Captain remaining by the wreck for eleven days, assisted in
saving the lives of the soldiers wives and children, and in landing the
King's stores. The transport struck well up the gulf on the Nova Scotian
coast (now New Brunswick). The exact locality is not stated. The night
of the disaster was densely dark, and soon after striking the ship began
to pound and leak badly. Had the wind sprung up during the hours of
darkness not a soul on board would have lived to record the tale. Very
early the next morning, as Captain Godfrey was standing on the quarter
deck, conversing with the officer in charge of the ship, the rain began
suddenly to descend in torrents and the wind to freshen. The mist that
had enshrouded the ship for so many days, began to lift, and the sun
shone through by instalments. Soon it was seen that the Pitt was
hemmed in by rocks, almost wedged in among them. Fortunately the
storm soon abated, and the situation of the vessel kept her in an upright
position. The fog settled down again, and for the next ten days all on
board were kept busy in saving their effects and the King's stores.
At the end of ten days all on board were taken off. General Murray,