The Survivor Read Online Free PDF

would he make from selling these trinkets to the odd sailors or visitors, or indeed any of the craftsmen who worked for Robin’s? None of the latter would have money to spare, working under the “truck” system. Which reminded him of his own plight: such a tough world out there; without salt, he’d cure very little meat for the winter. Without wheat for bread, without the molasses or sugar to preserve berries, he’d never make it through. The more he thought about it, the further the lovely Sorrel receded, and the more desperate his plight appeared.
    After helping himself to some breakfast from the food cupboard, he went outside to gather his things spread out to dry on bushes around the cabin. As he bundled them up to take back to his canoe, a vision of Sorrel flooded him with unconscious desires. Did that mean he was now open to having another wife? A momentary di version, perhaps, but she had led him to realize that if he were to attract any young lady’s attention beyond the first sprigs of conversation, he would certainly need something more tangible to offer than delightful descriptions of hopes and a few paltry dreams of survival. He would have to become a man of substance. A lot of work lay between these present doleful circumstances and his rather grandiose expectations.
    The poor old fellow had obviously gone down to stand at the dock, or some village corner, to try to raise money for their evening meal. Meanwhile, behind the cabin stood a jumble of logs for the fire. Had Sorrel made enough, or perhaps bartered her summer’s work, to acquire this fuel from the lumbering crews? He decided he had better cut and split some as a thank you for the old man, who so readily had given of his mite.
    As he chopped and sawed, he pondered his next step. He would look over the town today, checking for any possible work outside the Robin’s Company, though he knew little hope lay in that direction. And then what? He remembered his visit to New Carlisle two years ago, when he had met William Garrett Sr., former officer in His Majesty’s Militia and now a fine farmer. He had been given land, like many Carlislers, under a grant to all citizens who, after the American Revolutionary War, chose to head north and remain under British protection. These families were collectively known as United Empire Loyalists. Most of them had come north from what had been the Thirteen Colonies and now made up settlements here and in Douglastown, and many more in Upper Canada.
    So off to New Carlisle he would go: seek first William Garrett and his advice, even if it meant making contact with his three sons who had attempted to turn him in as a deserter, though admittedly when drunk. Would they not still want to gain the reward offered to tempt communities to turn in deserters? Might he not still be charged and thus incur a fatal punishment? A risk he had to run; he saw no other way. And of course, the thought of seeing the youthful Catherine again, after their fleeting moment together, was the incentive that moved him to action.

Chapter Five
    Thrusting ahead through the choppy waters of Chaleur Bay, Thomas Manning tried to plan whom to see and what kind of work he might apply for. What about working on William Garrett’s farm? No hope – his sons were quite sufficient for that task. What about another farm? There’d be a blacksmith, surely, perhaps two. And carpenters. He could take up a new craft. And he remembered the sawmills nearby. But with it all, he knew in his heart that money was in short supply hereabouts, and no one would really want to hire an apprentice.
    He might have to go miles further up the Coast as far as Bonaventure, another French settlement. The Bellerophon had once anchored in off the village, which appeared to be as big as New Carlisle. But the crew had told stories of how, during the French–English war, the settlers had begun burning down their town to keep it from the British. They were not likely to welcome him,