The crew were put at work immediately to build a log shack for shore
quarters, which was shortly accomplished. This shack was of ample size
and was furnished with a stove brought from Halifax for the purpose,
some chairs, a table and a kitchen outfit.
The skipper, the mate and the cook remained on board at first, but the
crew were given permission to go ashore and hunt and trap in the hills
back of the harbour, an opportunity of which they promptly took
advantage.
As the cold weather came on and the ice formed thick and hard around
the vessel it seemed unnecessary to keep a watch aboard, and as the
shack was much more roomy than the cabin, and therefore more
comfortable, all hands finally took up their quarters in it.
As the winter wore on livyeres began to pay frequent visits to Skipper
Sam from up and down the coast, and they all brought furs to trade.
With the approach of spring the skipper found to his satisfaction that
he had already collected more pelts than he had been able to purchase
on his previous spring's voyage in the South, and at prices that even
to him seemed ridiculously low. These furs were duly stored aboard the
_Maid of the North_, and by the first of May she had a cargo that
could have been disposed of in Halifax or Montreal for several
thousand dollars.
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