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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Three Boys in the Wild North Land, by 
+Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Three Boys in the Wild North Land
+
+Author: Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+Illustrator: J.E. Laughlin
+
+Release Date: April 27, 2007 [EBook #21245]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE BOYS IN THE WILD NORTH LAND ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
+
+
+
+
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land
+
+By Egerton Ryerson Young
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+THREE BOYS IN THE WILD NORTH LAND
+
+BY EGERTON RYERSON YOUNG
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE.
+
+WELCOME TO SAGASTA-WEEKEE--MR. ROSS, THEIR HOST--THE THREE BOYS--FRANK,
+ALEC, SAM--THE "PRINCE ARTHUR"--THE VOYAGE--THE ESQUIMAUX--ARRIVAL AT
+YORK FACTORY.
+
+"Welcome to this Wild North Land! welcome to our happy home in the Land
+of the North Wind!  Welcome, thrice welcome, all and each one of you!"
+
+Thus excitedly and rapidly did Mr Ross address a trio of sunburnt,
+happy boys, who, with all the assurance of a joyous welcome, had burst
+in upon him in his comfortable, well-built home, or "hunting lodge," as
+he preferred to call it, on the banks of the Nelson River.  This cozy
+but isolated home was situated some hundreds of miles up in the interior
+of the country from York Factory, on the Hudson Bay.
+
+Mr Ross had named his house "Sa-gas-ta-wee-kee," a beautiful Indian
+word which literally means a house full of sunshine.  Mr Ross had spent
+many years as an official in the Hudson Bay Company's service, as had
+his father before him.  A few years before this, being possessed of
+abundance of means, he had retired from active work in the great fur-
+trading company.  He had tried to settle down in an older, civilised
+land, but had found it impossible to content himself away from those
+regions where he had spent the best years of his life.  His wife and
+family were of the same mind, and so, after some years of travel in
+various lands, they returned to this northern country where they had
+spent so many happy years.
+
+Every year or so Mr Ross with some members of his family was in the
+habit of visiting what he loved to call the mother country.  So full was
+his life of varied and startling adventures, that he was often asked to
+give addresses on some of the fascinating experiences, through which he
+had passed.
+
+Among the crowds who listened to him with intense interest, as he gave a
+series of addresses in one of the great historic schools in the home
+land, were the three boys who are to be the heroes of this book.
+Although they were from different families and nationalities, yet they
+were congenial spirits, and were equally filled with the love of sport
+and spirit of exciting adventure.
+
+For such boys Mr Ross's addresses about the Indians, the wild animals,
+and the excitements of the hunt had the greatest fascination.  With Mr
+Ross they had become personally acquainted, and had induced him to visit
+their different towns, where he lectured, and to be the guest at their
+homes, where his delightful stories had charmed every member of their
+households.
+
+In some way or other they had persuaded their parents to consent to
+their spending a year or so in the wilds of the northern part of the
+great Dominion of Canada under the guidance of Mr Ross, who most
+importunately pleaded for this arrangement on behalf of the boys.  As it
+was impossible for them to return with Mr Ross on account of their
+studies, several months passed away ere it was possible for them to
+begin their journey; so he had returned alone to his home, and had made
+all preparations for entertaining them as members of his household for
+an indefinite period.
+
+Letters had been sent on in advance notifying Mr Ross of the probable
+time of the arrival of the boys.  But, as often happened in that wild
+country, where there was no postal service, the letters never arrived,
+and so the first intimation Mr Ross had of the coming of the boys was
+their bursting in upon him.  Abrupt as was their coming, of course they
+were welcome.  In all new lands there is an open-hearted hospitality
+that is very delightful, and this was emphatically so in the vast lonely
+region of the Hudson Bay Territory, where the white men in those days
+were so few and so widely scattered apart from each other.
+
+And now that they are snugly ensconced in the home of their good friend
+Mr Ross and his hospitable family, ere we begin to describe their many
+sports and adventures let us find out something about our heroes, and
+have them describe some of the exciting incidents of the long trip which
+they had already made on their journey to this Wild North Land.
+
+Frank, the eldest of the three, was the son of a Liverpool banker.  His
+friends had vainly tried to divert his mind from wild adventure and
+exciting sports, and persuade him to settle down to steady routine
+office work.  Failing in this, they had listened to Mr Ross's pleadings
+on his behalf, and had commented to let him have the year in the Wild
+North Land, hoping that its trials and hardships would effectually cure
+him of his love of adventure and cause him to cheerfully settle down at
+his father's business.
+
+Alec was from Scotland, a genuine son of "the mountain and the flood."
+While a good student when at school, yet, when at home on his holidays,
+his highest joy had ever been under the guidance of the faithful old
+gillie to follow on the trail of the mountain deer.  For a wider field
+than that offered by his native Highlands he had been so longing that
+his friends yielded to his importunities, and so now here he is with his
+comrades, full of eager anticipations.
+
+Sam was from what his mother used to call "dear, dirty Dublin."  He was
+full of life and fun; a jolly Irish boy of the finest type.  Storms and
+privations might at times depress the spirits of the others; but Sam,
+true to his nationality, never lost his spirits or his good nature.  So
+rapid had been his progress in his studies that he had pushed himself
+beyond his years, and so even his tutors had joined in his request that
+he should have the year off, which, spent in the invigorating air and
+healthful adventures in the Wild North Land, would doubtless be a
+blessing to both mind and body:
+
+In the good ship _Prince Arthur_, of the Hudson Bay Company, our three
+young adventurers set sail in the month of May from the London docks.
+They met with no adventures worth recording until after they had left
+the Orkney Islands, where they had called for their last consignment of
+supplies and the latest mails.  Here they also shipped some hardy Orkney
+men and Highlanders, who were going out in the employment of the Hudson
+Bay Company.
+
+The _Prince Arthur_ was a stanch sailing vessel, built especially for
+the Hudson Bay Company's trade.  She was employed in carrying out to
+that country the outfit of goods required in the great fur trade.  Her
+return cargoes were the valuable furs obtained in barter from the
+Indians.  Her port was York Factory, on the western side of the Hudson
+Bay.  Here her cargo was discharged and carried by scores of inland
+boats and canoes to the various trading posts in the different parts of
+that great country, which is larger than the whole continent of Europe.
+
+So remote were some of those posts from the seaboard, and so difficult
+and slow were the methods of transporting the goods, that several years
+passed ere the fur secured from them reached the London markets, to
+which they were all consigned and where they were carried each year in
+the company's ships.
+
+Although the _Prince Arthur_ was far from being a first-class passenger
+ship, yet she was a good, seaworthy vessel, with plenty of room for the
+few passengers who travelled by her each year.  These were principally
+gentlemen of the Hudson Bay Company's service and their friends, or
+missionaries going out or returning home.
+
+Letters from influential friends secured for our three boys the
+considerate attention of the captain and the ship's officers, and their
+own bright ways won the friendship of all the sailors on board.  On the
+whole they had a glorious passage.  Some fogs at times perplexed them,
+and a few enormous icebergs were so near that careful tacking was
+required, to prevent accidents.  The boys were filled with admiration at
+these great mountains of ice; some of them seemed like great islands,
+while others more closely resembled glorious cathedrals built in marble
+and emerald.  At times, as the western sun shone upon them, they seemed
+to take on in parts every colour of the rainbow.  With intense interest
+were they watched as they slowly drifted beyond the southern horizon.
+
+One of the most exciting incidents of the journey was a battle between a
+great whale and a couple of swordfish.  The unwieldy monster seemed to
+be no match for his nimble antagonists.  His sole weapon seemed to be
+his enormous tail; but vain were his efforts to strike his quicker
+enemies.  As far as could be judged from the deck of the ship, the
+swordfish were masters of the situation, and the blood-stained waters
+seemed to indicate that the battle would soon be over.
+
+In the southern part of Davis Strait they encountered great fields of
+floating ice, on which were many herds of seals.  The captain had the
+ship hove to and three boats lowered.  In each one he permitted one of
+the boys to go with the sailors on this seal-hunting expedition.  The
+seals, which are so very active in water, where they can swim with such
+grace and rapidity, are very helpless on land or ice, and so large
+numbers were killed by the sailors.  While the boys were excited with
+the sport, they could not but feel sorry for the poor, helpless
+creatures as they looked at them out of their great eyes that seemed
+almost human.  Some hundreds of skins were secured, much to the delight
+of the captain and crew, as the profit coming to them from their sale
+would be no inconsiderable item.
+
+At the mouth of Hudson Strait the captain again had the ship hove to for
+a day or so to trade with a number of Esquimaux, who had come in their
+curious canoes, called kayaks, from along the coasts of Labrador.  Their
+insatiable curiosity and peculiar fur clothing very much interested the
+boys.  These Esquimaux were shrewd hands at a bargain, but their
+principal desire seemed to be to obtain implements of iron in exchange
+for their furs.  They cared nothing for flour, rice, tea, coffee, or
+sugar.  They knew no other food than meat and oil, and so craved no
+other things than those that could be utilised in improving their
+weapons.  Guns were unknown among them, but they were very skillful in
+the use of the harpoon and the spear.  When they are able to secure iron
+from the white man they make their harpoon heads, spears, and knives out
+of this metal, but when unable to secure it they manufacture their
+weapons out of the horns of the reindeer or the tusks of the walrus or
+narwhal.
+
+They had among their other furs some splendid bear skins, and the boys
+were very much interested in hearing them tell through an interpreter
+how they, with their rude weapons, aided by their clever dogs, had been
+able to kill these fierce animals.  All were very much delighted when
+told by these friendly Esquimaux how that with two well-trained dogs
+nipping at the hind legs of a great bear they could keep him turning
+round and round from one to the other and thus get him so wild and
+excited that in his efforts to catch hold of the nimble animals, which
+were able to keep out of his grasp, he did not notice the arrival of the
+hunters, who were able to approach so closely that they could easily
+kill him.
+
+The ship crossed the great Hudson Bay, which is about six hundred miles
+in width, without any mishap, and safely dropped anchor in what the
+Hudson Bay officers call "the six fathom hole," some distance out from
+the rude primitive wharf.  The signal gun was fired, and soon a brigade
+of boats came out, and the work of unloading the cargo began.
+
+Our boys, eager as they were to land, were sorry after all to leave
+their snug berths in the good ship, where they had had some very
+delightful times during the thirty days that had elapsed since they had
+left the docks in old England.
+
+A few gifts were bestowed among their particular sailor friends, and
+then, with the "God bless you" from all; they entered a small boat rowed
+by Indians, and were soon on the land that skirts this great inland sea.
+Great indeed was the change which they saw between the populous cities
+of the home land and this quiet, lonely region upon whose shores they
+had now landed.
+
+Here the only inhabitants were the fur traders, with their employees,
+and the dignified, stoical Indians.  The only signs of habitations were
+the few civilised dwellings, called in courtesy the fort, where dwelt
+and traded the officers and their families and servants of the great
+fur-trading company, and not very far off was the Indian village of the
+natives, where the most conspicuous buildings were the church and
+parsonage of the missionary, who had been marvellously successful in
+planting the cross in these northern regions, and in winning from a
+degrading superstition, to the blessings of Christianity, some hundreds
+of these red men, whose consistent lives showed the genuineness of the
+work wrought among them.
+
+This great region, stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, far
+north of the fertile prairie region where millions will yet find happy
+and prosperous homes, has well been called "The Wild North Land."  The
+Indians call it Keewatin, "The Land of the North Wind."
+
+It has not many attractions for the farmer or merchantman, but it is the
+congenial home of the red man.  On its innumerable lakes and broad
+rivers he glides along during the few bright summer months in his light
+canoe.  Every waterfall or cataract has associated with it some legend
+or tradition.  Its dense forests are the haunts of the bear and wolf, of
+the moose and reindeer, and many other valuable animals, in the
+excitement of hunting which he finds his chief delight.
+
+To this land had come our three lads for sport and adventure, and we
+shall see how fully all their expectations were realised.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO.
+
+HUDSON BAY COMPANY--FRANK'S CANOE MISHAP--DUCK SHOOTING--CLEVER KOONA--
+GOOSE HUNTING--QUEER BATTLES.
+
+As our boys had come out to this great country for wild adventure and
+exciting sport, they were rather pleased than otherwise at the contrast
+it thus presented in comparison with the lands they had left behind.
+The fact was, they were simply delighted with the absence of the
+multitude, to whom they had been so accustomed, and were at once filled
+with high expectations.  Sam's explanation seemed to be the sentiment of
+them all when he exclaimed, "Sure if there are so few people in the
+country, there will be the more bears and wolves for us all to kill!"
+
+The work of unloading the ship was necessarily slow, and so some days
+would elapse ere a brigade of boats could be prepared to take the first
+cargo to Fort Garry, on the Red River.  The boys had been most cordially
+welcomed by Mr McTavish, the principal officer in charge at the fort,
+and by him they were all entertained most hospitably at his home.
+
+Mr McTavish was an old sportsman himself, as nearly all the Hudson Bay
+Company's officials are; and so, as soon as the boys had made the
+acquaintance, as they call it, of their land legs; after the heaving and
+rolling of the vessel, he had an old clever Indian hunter clean up some
+guns and take the boys out in the birch canoe on their first wild
+hunting expedition.  This first excursion was not to be a very
+formidable one; it was only a canoe trip several miles up the coast, to
+a place where the wild ducks and geese were numerous.  Like all white
+people, on their first introduction to the birch canoe, they thought it
+a frail, cranky boat, and were quite disgusted with it, and some of the
+tricks it played upon them, on some of their first attempts to manage
+it.  For example, Frank, who prided himself on his ability in pulling an
+oar, and in managing the ordinary small skiffs or punts on his native
+waters, seeing the light, buoyant canoe at the side of the little
+launch, boldly sprang into it, as he would into an ordinary boat of its
+size in the Mersey.
+
+To his utter amazement, and the amusement of the others he suddenly
+found himself overbalanced and struggling in the waves on the other
+side.  Fortunately, the water was not more than four feet deep, and he,
+being a good swimmer, was soon up and at once gave chase for the canoe,
+which had now floated out several yards from the shore.  In this he was
+encouraged by the laughter and shouts of his comrades and others, who,
+seeing that no harm had come to him from his sudden spill out of the
+light boat, were eager to observe how he would ultimately succeed.
+
+Quickly did he catch up to the boat; but, instead of listening to the
+Indian, who, in broken English, tried to tell him to get in over the end
+of the canoe, he seized it by the side, and there attempted to climb in.
+Vain were his efforts.  Very skillful indeed is the Indian who can in
+this manner get into a birch-bark canoe, and of course it is out of the
+question to expect an inexperienced white person to accomplish the feat.
+So light is the canoe, that, when thus seized hold of, it yields to the
+slightest pull, and often causes the person who thus takes hold of it to
+tumble over ignominiously in the water.
+
+Poor Frank was disgusted but not conquered, and so, amid the laughter of
+those on shore, he now listened to the advice and direction of the wise
+old Indian, who was the only one in the company who had not even smiled
+at the boy's mishap.  At the Indian's advice he again caught hold of the
+canoe, but this time by the end, and carefully bearing his weight upon
+it he was at length enabled to work himself into it.  Cautiously
+balancing himself, and seizing a paddle that happened to have been
+fastened in it, he paddled himself ashore amid the cheers of the
+onlookers.
+
+"Well done, Frank!" said the old Indian.
+
+He had done what some take months to accomplish.  He had conquered the
+canoe in his first attempt, and never after in his many adventures was
+he afraid of that bonny craft, in which he spent many happy hours, and
+in the paddling of which, he became the equal of many a clever Indian.
+
+Of course, there was some delay in the departure of the hunting party,
+as Frank had to return to his quarters at the Post and get on a dry suit
+of clothing.  This is, however, an operation that does not take a boy
+full of eager excitement long to accomplish, and so it was not many
+minutes ere the party set off on their promised excursion.
+
+The Indian decided that they should first go where the ducks were
+numerous, and to interest these young English lads they adopted a method
+of hunting them that was most novel and successful.  Indeed, it is a
+very rare method which was here successfully tried, on account of the
+difficulty of getting a dog so trained as to correctly act his part.
+But this old native, whose name was Ooseemeemou, had by great patience
+and kindness so drilled his clever dog that he acted his part with
+extraordinary cleverness and tact.  He called the little fellow Koona,
+which is the Cree for "snow," and was very appropriate, as the animal
+was of the purest white.
+
+Taking the dog into the canoe with them, and giving all necessary
+directions, they soon were gliding along the coast of the great bay.
+Numerous flocks of ducks flew over their heads; and far away in the
+distance the water seemed almost alive with the numbers of them on the
+dancing, sparkling waves.  This latter sight seemed to be what the old
+hunter was looking for, and so the canoe was quickly paddled ashore and
+carried up on the beach.  There he carefully guided the party along.
+They had to cautiously creep behind some low, dense willow bushes that
+grew on the shore, with only a broad fringe of white sand between them
+and the waters.
+
+Each boy, with his gun and ammunition, was now assigned his post behind
+a clump of bushes and given his final instructions.  They were full of
+excitement and curiosity, and wondered how it was going to be possible
+for them to reach with ordinary guns the ducks, which were carelessly
+swimming in multitudes some hundreds of yards out from the shore.  But
+they had not long to wait or conjecture.  When the old Indian had seen
+that all were in their right places he gave a low whistle, which was
+more like the call of a sea bird than a human voice.  So natural was it
+to a bird call that no bird around was startled by it; but the well-
+trained Koona, who had been left by the boat, fully knew its meaning,
+and now began his sagacious work.  Like a little white arctic fox he
+was, and like one be began his antics on the shore.  He frisked and
+danced around along the sand playing all sorts of antics.  He walked on
+his hind feet, turned somersaults in quick succession, and acted as
+though possessed with perpetual motion, but not one yelp or bark or any
+sound did he utter.
+
+A stranger would have imagined that his appearance and actions would
+have driven all the ducks that were near enough to the shore to observe
+him and his antics farther out to sea.  But just the reverse happened.
+A spirit of curiosity seemed to possess those nearest the shore, and as
+they began to swim in closer and closer, their movements influenced
+those farther out, until hundreds of splendid ducks were soon swimming
+nearer and nearer the sandy beach, on which the cunning dog kept up his
+unceasing and varied movements.  At first he had kept at some distance
+from the sands, back of which grew the clumps of willows behind which
+the hunters were hidden; but when he saw that his manoeuvres had
+attracted the ducks near the shore, he gradually worked down the sandy
+beach until he had them fairly opposite the muzzles of the guns.
+
+A low bird cry from his master was the signal for his change of tactics,
+and with loud, yelping, fox-like barking he sprang into the waves.
+
+The ducks, thus suddenly alarmed, instantly rose up in hundreds, and the
+simultaneous reports of the guns rang out, and between thirty and forty
+ducks, dead and wounded, fell back into the waters.  Our hunters, both
+the Indian and the three boys, sprang from their hiding places, and with
+Koona's aid secured their splendid bag of game.  This was rare sport for
+the boys, and gave them so much delight that old Ooseemeemou decided to
+postpone the goose hunt until the next day, and give the boys another
+opportunity of seeing the sagacity of Koona, the clever little dog that
+had contributed so much to the success of the expedition.
+
+They returned to their places, and were told to keep as much hidden as
+possible, as the ducks, now alarmed by the reports of the guns, and the
+death and wounding of so many of their numbers, would be shy and
+excited; and would keep flying around for some time ere they would again
+alight.  Koona in the meantime had curled himself up like a ball of
+white wool, and was also quite hidden from the sight of the flying
+ducks.
+
+In about half an hour the ducks began to alight again in the water.
+They were very alert and watchful, and seemed resolved not to be again
+so easily caught napping.  But ducks are silly things and are easily
+deceived, or have very short memories.  Anyway it was the case with
+these.  When a goodly number of them were again seen swimming about, a
+peculiar sound like the cry of a sea gull was heard, and soon Koona was
+observed moving very cautiously out to a little point on the sandy
+beach, just in front of the clump of bushes behind which his master was
+hidden.  Here he curled himself up into a little white bundle and
+remained perfectly still.  Soon after the boys were startled by the
+sounds of the loud quacking of ducks over the very place where Koona lay
+so still and quiet.  At first they were very much surprised at this, as
+not a duck was now seen flying in that direction.  A little closer
+investigation showed them that the quacking sounds were all proceeding
+from the mouth of the old Indian, who, like many of his people, was able
+to imitate so perfectly the cries and calls of the birds and beasts of
+the lakes and forests that at times even the most experienced are
+completely deceived.  In addition, this Indian was also a ventriloquist,
+and was able to so correctly throw his voice that the quacking of the
+ducks seems to be from the spot where the dog, now so motionless, was
+lying.  The old Indian afterward explained that the calls were of ducks
+that had found something of interest, and were invitations for other
+ducks to come and see, and when he had induced some of the ducks to take
+up the call they would go on repeating it until so many others took it
+up, and all would then be anxious to see what the fuss was all about.
+
+"Ducks," added the old man, "are like people, sometimes curious to see
+when there is not much after all to look at."
+
+So, because of the calls to come and look, the flocks kept flying or
+swimming nearer and nearer, and all there was to see was only a ball of
+something very white and still.  Not an hour before they were curious to
+see the antics of a lively little white dog; now they were curious to
+see him apparently motionless and dead.
+
+By carefully peering through the dense bushes, the boys, with guns
+loaded, were able to see the dog quivering with suppressed excitement,
+as the many quackings of the ducks told him of the success of his ruse.
+However, he was so well-trained that he would not move until the welcome
+signal was given him, and then with a bound and a bark he was up, and
+again, as the startled ducks rose up, the reports of all the guns rang
+out, and nearly as many more fine ducks fell before the simultaneous
+discharge.  This was capital sport for the boys.  Koona's sagacity, and
+thorough training, in being thus able to bring the ducks within range of
+the guns, first by his comical antics, and then by his perfect quiet,
+very much delighted them.  Their only annoyance was that when they
+wanted to pat and fondle him he resented their familiarity, and growled
+at them most decidedly.  Indian dogs do not as a rule take to white
+people at first, but kindness soon wins them, and they often become fast
+friends.
+
+The canoe was again launched, and the hunters proceeded a couple of
+miles farther and had some more capital shooting.  Very proud and happy
+were they with this, their first day of duck shooting, and often did
+they in after days have much to say of the marvellous cleverness of the
+spotless Koona.
+
+As the brigades were not yet ready to leave for the interior with the
+supplies for the trading posts, Mr McTavish readily consented to
+another excursion, quietly observing that the return of a few such well-
+loaded canoes would add materially to the fort's supply of food.
+
+This second excursion was to be to a more distant place, where were some
+favourite feeding grounds of wild geese.  They are very fond of a
+jointed quill-like grass, and when once they have found where their
+favourite food grows, there they resort in great numbers, and unless
+very persistently hunted will keep in the neighbourhood until they have
+about eaten it all.
+
+As the distance was so great, it was decided to make an all day trip of
+it, and so two canoes were requisitioned with two experienced Indians in
+each, one of whom, of course, was Ooseemeemou.  To him the boys had
+become very much attached, and, as he had some knowledge of English,
+they were able to get a good deal of reliable information from him.
+Some food and kettles were taken along with them, and old Ooseemeemou
+put in the bottom of each canoe a good-sized oilcloth and a couple of
+blankets, saying, as he did so, "Fine weather to-day, may not be so very
+long."
+
+Frank and Alec were given good places in one of the canoes, and Sam was
+placed in charge of the other two Indians.  Each boy was furnished with
+two guns and plenty of ammunition.  Being eager to get to the hunting
+grounds, they each selected a paddle, and were found to be not
+unskillful in the use of them, even in birch canoes, after a few lessons
+from their Indian attendants.
+
+With the best wishes of all who were not too busy to come down to the
+launch to see them off, they started on their excursion under the
+skillful, steady strokes of the Indians.  Aided by the boys, they were
+able to make about seven miles an hour, and so in about three hours they
+reached their destination.  The splendid exercise and the bracing air
+gave them all good appetites, and so they pulled up in a secluded little
+bay, where was to be found some dry wood.  Here a fire was kindled, the
+kettles were filled with water and boiled, and soon a good, substantial
+meal of the delicacies of the country were spread before them.  What the
+bill of fare was we know not, except that the principal part consisted
+of some of the ducks shot on the previous excursion.  The dinner thus
+prepared and eaten on the rocks was much enjoyed by the boys; but they
+were kept in a perpetual state of excitement by the numerous cries of
+the wild geese that could be distinctly heard as well as seen, as they
+kept flying in great lines or triangles to and from their feeding
+grounds.
+
+As this was a favourite resort for the Indian hunters, all preparations
+had been made for the goose hunting.  Large nest-like piles of dry hay
+with reeds and rushes had been gathered in certain favourite places.  In
+each of these a hollow had been formed in the centre like a bird's nest,
+large enough for two persons to cozily ensconce themselves, so low down
+as only to be observed by the geese when flying directly overhead.
+After dinner four of these big nest-like affairs were freshened up with
+some bundles of dry old grass, which was cut in an old disused beaver
+meadow.
+
+A number of old decoys, made to look like geese when feeding, were
+arranged in the right position, which always varies according to the
+direction of the wind.  Then Ooseemeemou, taking Frank with him, gave
+Alec and Sam each in charge of a clever Indian hunting companion.  One
+Indian, whose name was Oostaseemou, had a nest to himself.  Thus
+assorted, our party took possession of their four nests and awaited
+developments.  The boys were greatly amused at the queer little white
+cotton caps which each one had to put on.  Everything in the shape of
+colour had to be carefully hidden.  Geese are not easily alarmed by
+anything white, and will come quite near to persons thus dressed.
+
+While now waiting for the arrival of the game, the boys were each
+instructed how to act in case the geese should come within range.  They
+generally fly down with the wind and arise facing it.  Since the decoys
+are so arranged in the goose grass that the geese in coming down to join
+those already there must, in availing themselves of the wind to help
+them to alight, come within range of the nests in which are hidden the
+hunters.  Then, when the firing of the guns alarm them, and those unhurt
+rise to escape, they have to so use the wind to help them that they
+again come within range, and thus receive a second volley.  When the
+second volley is fired the dead and wounded are quickly secured by the
+hunters, who jump out of the nests and make chase after them.  There is
+lots of fun and some danger of ugly blows, for an old wounded goose
+sometimes makes a good fight.
+
+Fortunately for our young hunters, a good stiff breeze was blowing when
+they took their places in these queer nests, and, with their two guns
+apiece in position, patiently waited the arrival of the geese.  Several
+flocks had been seen in the distance, and their strange cries were heard
+on every side.  While the men were on the move getting things ready, of
+course none of the wary birds came within range.  However, now that all
+was quiet in the vicinity of the choicest feeding grounds, a few old
+out-guards which appeared cautiously flying over, seemed to have
+reported that nothing was to be seen but some patches of snow in the
+nests.  The Indians say that the geese mistake them, when dressed in
+white, for lumps of snow.  Soon after a great flock was seen coming with
+the wind from the south directly toward them.
+
+Old Ooseemeemou began to imitate the call of the geese, and throwing his
+voice so that it seemed from the decoys, it appeared as if they in the
+goose grass were saying, "Honk: Honk: Honk:" which the Indians say is
+the goose language for "Food, food, food."
+
+Ooseemeemou knew well how to imitate them, and so the great flock
+understood it as the call from some of their fortunate companions, and
+down they came with the wind passing in close range on the left-hand
+side of the hunters.  Bang: bang: bang! rang out the guns of the three
+boys and of the four Indians, and five or six great geese tumbled to the
+ground, some of them dead and others badly wounded.  The startled,
+frightened, surviving geese, that thought they were going to have such a
+feast among their fellows, had only time to turn round and strive to
+escape by rising up against the wind on the opposite sides of those dry
+nests.  This was what the clever Indians knew they would do, and so, as
+they came within range, struggling against the wind, each hunter, white
+and Indian, now used his second gun, and nearly as many more plump geese
+dropped to the ground dead and wounded.
+
+Now the fun began.  There was a hasty springing out of the nests, and
+every man and boy dashed off for his goose.  The Indians were wary and
+experienced, and so knew how to act; but our enthusiastic boys, in the
+excitement of securing their first wild goose, recklessly rushed in to
+the attack.
+
+Alec was the first to come to grief.  The old gander that he was
+pursuing had a broken wing, but as his legs were all right he led him a
+lively chase of several hundred yards.  Then, seeing that he was being
+overtaken, he stopped suddenly and, turning the well wing toward the
+boy, awaited his coming.  Alec, seeing him thus standing with one wing
+hanging broken to the ground, anticipated nothing but an easy capture,
+and so he thoughtlessly attempted to throw himself on the bird and
+quickly capture him in his arms.
+
+Poor fellow, when picked up he could hardly tell what had happened, only
+that it seemed to him he had been pounded with sledge hammers and had
+seen some thousands of stars.
+
+What had really happened was this: the instant Alec sprang forward and
+stooped to seize his game the goose with his unwounded wing had hit him
+such a blow on the head as to quite stun him, and this had been followed
+by several other blows in rapid succession.  Fortunately old Ooseemeemou
+was not far off.  He rushed to Alec's rescue and speedily dispatched the
+goose, and thus delivered the boy from the humiliating position of being
+badly whipped by a wounded goose.  Poor fellow, he carried in the black
+and blue marks on his body the effects of the fierce blows which had
+been rained upon him.
+
+Frank had conquered his without any mishap; but Sam, in reaching out to
+seize hold of the one he was chasing, had received such a blow from a
+wing on his elbow that he fairly howled with the pain, and was not able
+to fire another shot during the rest of the day's sport.  It was news to
+the boys when the Indians told them that an old goose with one blow of
+his wing has been known to kill a large fox or to break the leg of a
+man.  So the boys, while delighted with the success of their first goose
+hunt, ever after had a much greater respect for the poor despised goose
+than before.
+
+With the veering of the wind the decoys were changed so as to bring the
+geese down in the right direction in range of the guns, and sport
+continued until evening.  Then, after a hasty supper on the rocks in the
+glorious gloaming that exists for many hours in those high latitudes in
+the summer months, the canoes were loaded, and three very tired but
+happy boys who wanted to paddle went to sleep in the canoes long ere the
+hospitable home of their host was reached.
+
+The Indians are the kindest men in the world with whom to travel.
+Hardly knowing how it happened, the boys were carefully helped to their
+quarters in the fort.  Here their bruises were bathed, their suppers
+eaten, their prayers said, and then there was the long nine hours'
+dreamless sleep, "Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep."
+
+When next morning the boys were discussing the, to them, glorious
+adventures of the two preceding days, it was agreed among them that the
+accidents and honours were about even--that while Alec and Sam had had
+their laugh at Frank for his misadventure with the canoe, the tables
+were completely turned on them in the incidents of the goose hunt.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE.
+
+WRITING JOURNALS--FUR-LADEN BRIGADES--VALUABLE FURS--HUNTING
+PREPARATIONS--BIG TOM, THE FAMOUS GUIDE--THE START--FIRST CAMP ON THE
+ROCKS.
+
+Soon after breakfast and a glorious plunge bath in the cold waters of
+Hudson Bay, the lads were informed by Mr McTavish that the ship's cargo
+was now about unloaded, and that just as soon as the brigades, with the
+last winter's catch of furs, which were looked for every hour, should
+arrive she would with the first favourable wind begin the return
+journey.  He suggested that instead of hunting that day they should
+devote its hours to writing letters to their friends far away, as months
+would elapse ere another opportunity would be theirs.  Of course this
+kind suggestion was most gratefully accepted, and in an unused office in
+one of the buildings Frank, Alec, and Sam were soon busily engaged in
+this very interesting work.
+
+Before leaving home they had been furnished with regulation journals,
+and had been offered substantial rewards if they would write something
+in their books every day.  Readily had they promised; but, alas! when
+the Atlantic storms had for some days assailed them their good
+resolutions, stimulated by the promised rewards, failed most signally.
+During the first few days after starting they had so much to write
+about, and had so filled up the pages, that they all regretted that
+their books were not larger, or that they had not three or four pages
+for each day.  This, however, had all changed.  The pages were now too
+large, and it was a burden to write even a few sentences.
+
+We need not stop here to give any detailed accounts of these letters;
+suffice it to say they were just such as any of the bright, happy,
+boyish readers of these pages would have written under similar
+circumstances to their loved mothers and friends far away.  It was
+noticed that while they were full of fun and laughter while writing to
+their school chums and other young friends, yet when they came to the
+writing of the letters to their mothers there was a quiet time among
+them, and some tears dropped on the pages, and some throats had lumps in
+them.  All right, boys; we think not the less but much the more of you,
+because of the love and affection for your mothers, between whom and you
+now rolls the wide Atlantic.  Months will elapse ere letters from home
+will reach you, or you will have the opportunity of writing again; and
+so now, while you have the chance, send loving letters to the precious
+mothers, whose love excels all other earthly love.  Frank, Alec, and Sam
+all have, as you have, good mothers.  They never gave bad advice, but
+always the best counsel.  They never led the boys astray, but ever
+stimulated to a noble life.  They always loved and were ever more
+anxious to forgive and forget than the boys were to be forgiven.
+
+Great was the noise and excitement at the fort next morning, and very
+early were the boys astir to see what was the cause.  The long-expected
+brigades of boats had arrived with the cargoes of furs.  As they were
+all sorted in well-packed bales, weighing each about eighty or ninety
+pounds, the work of transferring them to the ship did not take very
+long.  One boat in running some wild and dangerous rapids had been
+submerged and nearly lost, with all its crew, who escaped only because
+they could swim like otters.  The cargo of furs had all gone under the
+waves ere rescued, and so it was necessary to open all the bales of fur,
+with which the boat had been loaded, and dry them in the bright sun as
+quickly as possible.  This work very much interested the boys, and, as
+the assortment of furs was a varied one, they had their first
+opportunity of seeing what rich and valuable furs this wild country
+could produce.
+
+There were no less than six varieties of foxes, the most valuable being
+the black and silver ones.  Then there were cross foxes, blue foxes, as
+well as white and red ones.  The rich otters and splendid black beavers
+very much interested them, and especially the prime bear and wolf skins.
+And as they looked at them and many other kinds their mouths fairly
+watered at the prospect of during the few months being engaged in the
+exciting sport of capturing the comrades of these in their native
+forests.
+
+Yes, they would succeed in some instances, as our book will tell; but
+now as they looked at these splendid skins lying so quiet and still they
+little imagined the dangers and hardships which would be theirs ere the
+fierce bears and savage wolves they were to assail would render up their
+splendid robes.
+
+Very much interested also were they in the hardy voyageurs, or trip men,
+who constituted these brigades.  Dark and swarthy they were, with
+beardless faces, and long black hair that rested on their shoulders.
+From remote and different regions had they come.  Here were brigades
+from the Assiniboine, Red River, Cumberland, and the Saskatchewan
+region.  Many of the boatmen were of the Metis--half-French and Indian;
+and they spoke a language that was a mixture of both, with some English
+intermixed that was not always the most polite.
+
+From the mighty Saskatchewan had come down that great river for a
+thousand miles, and then onward for several hundred more, brigades that
+had, in addition to the furs and robes of that land, large supplies of
+dried meat and tallow, and many bags of the famous food called pemmican,
+obtained from the great herds of buffalo that still, in those days, like
+the cattle on a thousand hills, thundered through the land and grazed on
+its rich pasturage and drank from its beautiful streams.  The men of
+these Saskatchewan brigades were warriors who had often been in conflict
+with hostile tribes, and could tell exciting stories of scalping
+parties, and the fierce conflict for their lives when beleaguered by
+some relentless foes.  Some of them bore on face or scalp the marks of
+the wounds received in close tomahawk encounter, and, for the gift of a
+pocketknife or gaudy handkerchief from our eager boys, rehearsed with
+all due enlargement the story of the fierce encounter with superior
+numbers of their bitterest enemies, how they had so gloriously
+triumphed, but had not come off unscathed, as these great scars did
+testify.
+
+Thus excited and interested did the boys wander from one encampment of
+these brigades to another.  The word had early gone out from the chief
+factor, Mr McTavish, that these boys were his special friends, and as
+such were to be treated with consideration by all.  This was quite
+sufficient to insure them a welcome everywhere, and so they acquired a
+good deal of general information, as they became acquainted with people
+from places, of which they had heard but little, and from others of some
+regions until then to them unknown.
+
+In addition to those already referred to, there were brigades from Lac-
+la-Puie, the Lake of the Woods, Cumberland House, Athabasca, and Swan
+River, and other places many hundreds of miles away.
+
+As each brigade arrived it formed its own encampment separate from the
+others.  Here the fires of dry logs were built on the ground, and the
+meals prepared and eaten.  When the day's work was over, the men
+gathered around the fire's bright glow and smoked their pipes, laughed
+and chatted, and then, each wrapping himself in a single blanket, they
+lay down on the ground to sleep, with no roof above them but the stars.
+
+As the goods brought from England in large bulk had to be made up into
+bundles, called in the language of the country "pieces," each weighing
+from eighty to one hundred pounds, that could be easily carried around
+the portages by the Indians, several days must elapse ere the return
+trip would be begun.  Very interesting were these days to the boys, as
+from camp fire to camp fire they wandered, making friends everywhere
+with the Indians by their hearty, manly ways.
+
+At first the wildest and fiercest looking fellows most attracted them;
+those wild warriors who could tell of scalping parties and horse-
+stealing adventures among the warlike tribes of the great plains.  After
+a while, however, they found themselves most interested in the brigades
+that could travel fastest, that had the record of making the fastest
+trip in the shortest time.  What at first was a surprise to them was
+that the brigades that held these best records were the Christian ones,
+who took time to say their prayers morning and evening and always rested
+on the Sabbath.  This proved that these hard-working men, who rested one
+day in seven, could do and did better and faster work than those who
+knew no Sabbath, but pushed on from day to day without rest.  Man as a
+working animal needs the day of rest, and with one off in seven will, as
+has been here and in other places proved, do better work in the
+remaining six than the one who takes no day of rest.
+
+Soon after the arrival of the brigades with the furs, which were
+estimated as being worth in London over three hundred thousand pounds,
+they were all safely stowed away in the vessel, and a favourable wind
+springing up from the south-west, the anchor was lifted, the sails
+hoisted, and the good ship _Prince Arthur_ started on her return voyage
+to the old land.  The boys waved their handkerchiefs and shouted their
+farewells until the vessel was far out on the dancing waves like a thing
+of life and beauty.
+
+To Big Tom, of the Norway House Brigade, had been intrusted the
+responsibility of safely taking the boys up from York Factory to the
+residence of Mr Ross.  His Indian name was Mamanowatum, which means, "O
+be joyful," but he had long been called Big Tom on account of his
+gigantic size.
+
+Ample resources had been sent with the boys to pay for all their
+requirements.  Mr McTavish had an experienced clerk look after their
+outfit and select for them everything needed, not only for the journey,
+but for their requirements during the year of their stay in the country.
+So they were here furnished with what was called the yearly supplies,
+as York Factory is the best place, keeping as it does large reserve
+supplies for all the interior trading posts.  The English boots were
+discarded for moccasins; fringed leggings manufactured out of well-
+tanned skins and various other articles of apparel more suitable to the
+wild country were obtained.
+
+Two good Hudson Bay blankets were purchased for each boy, and, as they
+had come to rough it, it was thought best to give them no tent, but each
+one had in his outfit a large piece of oiled canvas in case of a fierce
+rainstorm assailing them.  They were given the usual rations of food,
+with tea and sugar for so many days, and each lad was furnished with a
+copper kettle, a tin cup, a tin plate, a knife, fork, and spoon.  As
+luxuries they furnished themselves with towels, soap, brush, and comb.
+In addition to these supplies for this first trip there were sent up all
+that would be needed during the long months that they were to spend in
+the country.  The boys were specially anxious that the supply of
+ammunition should be most liberal.
+
+For weapons they each had a good double-barrelled breech-loading gun--
+then just beginning to come into use--which had been carefully selected
+for them ere they left home.  In addition they each had a first-class
+sheath knife with hilt, good for close hand-to-hand encounter with
+animals, and also useful in skinning the game when killed or in cutting
+kindling wood for a fire.  A first-class knife is an indispensable
+requisite for a hunter in the North-west.  Indeed, there is a saying in
+that country, "Give an Indian a knife and a string, and he will make his
+living and his way anywhere."
+
+A brigade in the Hudson Bay service consisted of from four to twenty
+boats; each boat was supposed to carry from eighty to a hundred pieces
+of goods or bales of fur in addition to the supplies for the men.  They
+were made out of spruce or balsam, and were like large skiffs, sharp at
+both ends.
+
+They were manned by nine men.  The man in charge was called the
+steersman; standing in the sharp angle of the stern, he steered the boat
+either by a rudder or a long oar, which he handled with great skill.
+The other eight men rowed the boat along with great oars, in the use of
+which they were very clever.  Each boat was provided with a small mast
+and a large square sail.  When there was no favourable wind the mast was
+unstepped and lashed on the outside of the boat under the rowlocks.
+Often for days together only the oars were used.  This was specially the
+case in river routes.  However, in the great lakes whenever there was
+any possibility of sailing the mast was stepped, the sail hoisted, and
+the weary toilers at the oars had a welcome rest; and often did they
+need it, for the work was most slavish and exhausting.
+
+In each brigade there was a boss who had control of all the boats.  He
+gave the word when to start in the morning and when to camp at night.
+His word was absolute in all matters of dispute.  He had the privilege
+of selecting the best boat in the brigade, and was supposed to always be
+at the front when dangerous rapids had to be run, or death in any form
+had to be faced; in storm or hurricane his boat had to be the first to
+face the trying ordeal, and his hand to be on the helm.  Only the well-
+tried old steersman of many years' experience could hope to reach to
+this position, and when once it was obtained unceasing vigilance was the
+price paid for the retention of the post.  One mistake in running the
+rapids, or a single neglect to detect the coming of the storm in time to
+get to shore and the furs securely covered over with the heavy
+tarpaulins, with which each boat was supplied, was quite sufficient to
+cause him to lose the much coveted position.  About the only liberty
+taken with him was, if possible, when the boats were crossing a great
+lake, with each big sail set, to try if possible by superior management
+of the boat to get to the distant shore ahead of him.
+
+The start was made about three o'clock in the afternoon, as is the
+general custom of these brigades of boats; the idea being only to go a
+few miles for the first day and thus find out if everything is in
+thorough working order, and that nothing has been forgotten.
+
+The camp was made on the bank of the river where dry wood was abundant,
+and where there was some sheltered cove or harbour in which the boats
+could safely be secured in case of violent storms coming up in the
+night, which was not an infrequent occurrence.
+
+Big Tom appointed one of the Indian oarsmen to look after the boys.  His
+duties were to cook their meals and select for their beds as smooth and
+soft a place as was possible to find on the granite rocks; or, if it
+happened to be in a soft and swampy place where the boats stopped for
+the night, he was expected to forage round and find some dry old grass
+in the used-up beaver meadows, or to cut down some balsam boughs on
+which the oilcloth would be spread, and then their blanket beds would be
+made.  These boughs of the balsam or spruce, when broken up, make a
+capital bed.  The boys, after a few nights' experiment with various
+kinds of beds, became so much attached to those made of the spruce or
+balsam that, unless very weary with some exciting sport during the day,
+they generally took upon themselves the work of securing them at each
+night's camping place.
+
+Tables were considered unnecessary luxuries.  The dishes were arranged
+on a smooth rock if one was to be found.  The food was served up by the
+Indian attendant, and the three boys and Big Tom sat down and enjoyed
+the plain but hearty meal.  It is generally the custom for the commodore
+of the brigade to take his meals with any travellers he may have in
+charge.  When they have dined, the Indian servant or attendant then sits
+down and has his meal.  After supper the Indians who have more quickly
+prepared and eaten their suppers, as they waste but little time in
+details, gather round the splendid camp fire, and for an hour or so
+engage in pleasant chat; and while having their evening smoke they show
+to each other their various purchases secured at York Factory.  At this
+post they are allowed to take up in goods half of their wages for their
+services, and carry them along with them in their boats.
+
+After a final visit was made by the different steersmen to their boats
+to see that everything was snug and tight, and a consultation with Big
+Tom as to the likelihood or not of a storm coming up, they all gathered
+round the camp fire for evening prayers.  Big Tom took charge of the
+evening service.  He first read from his Indian Testament, translated
+into his own language and printed in the clear, beautiful syllabic
+characters invented by one of the early missionaries.  After the
+Scriptures were read Martin Papanekis, a sweet singer, led the company
+in singing in their own language a beautiful translation of the "Evening
+Hymn."  When this was sung they all reverently bowed while Big Tom
+offered up an appropriate prayer.
+
+Very sweetly sounded the voices of these Christian Indians as here amid
+nature's solitudes arose from their lips and hearts the voice of prayer
+and praise.  The effect on the boys was not only startling but helpful.
+In their minds there had been associated very little of genuine
+Christianity with the Indians, but just the reverse.  They expected to
+meet them with tomahawks and scalping knives, but not with Bibles and
+hymn books; they expected to hear war-whoops, but not the voice of
+Christian song and earnest prayer.
+
+As the boys lay that night in their blanket beds on the rocks they could
+not but talk of the evening prayers, and perhaps that simple but
+impressive service did more to bring vividly and helpfully before them
+the memories of their happy Christian homes far away than anything else
+that had occurred since they left them.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR.
+
+THE EARLY CALL--THE PICTURESQUE ROUTE--THE TOILSOME PORTAGES--RIVAL
+BRIGADES--FIRST BEAR--ALEC'S SUCCESSFUL SHOT.
+
+So excited were the boys with their strange romantic surroundings that
+the first night they lay down in their beds, thus prepared not far from
+the camp fire on the rocks, they could hardly sleep.  It was indeed a
+new experience to be able to look up and see the stars shining in the
+heavens above them.  Then, when they looked around, on one side they saw
+the Indians reclining there in picturesque attitudes, smoking their
+pipes and engaged in quiet talk.  When they turned and looked on the
+other side there was the dense dark forest peopled in their young
+imaginations with all sorts of creatures, from the fierce wolf and
+savage bear to the noisy "whisky jack," a pert, saucy bird, about the
+size and colour of a turtle dove, that haunts the camp fires and with
+any amount of assurance helps himself to pemmican and other articles of
+food, if a bag is left open or the provisions exposed to his keen eye.
+Still sounding in their ears were his strange, querulous notes, forming
+not half so sweet a lullaby as the music of the waves that beat and
+broke a few yards from where they lay.
+
+But "tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep," came after a time, and
+in dreamless slumber soon were they wrapped, nor did they stir until
+early next morning.  They were aroused by the musical voice of Big Tom,
+from which rang out the boatman's well-known call:
+
+"Leve, Leve, Leve!"
+
+This is not Indian, but French, and has been taken by the Indians from
+the early French voyageurs, who long years before this used to traverse
+many parts of these wild regions to trade with the Indians.  Quite a
+number of names still remain in the country as relics of these hardy
+early French explorers.
+
+This ringing call met with a prompt response from all.  No one dared to
+remain for another nap.  At once all was hurry and activity.  The fires
+were quickly rekindled, copper tea-kettles were speedily filled and
+boiled, a hasty breakfast eaten, prayers offered, and then "All aboard!"
+is the cry of Big Tom.  The kettles, blankets, and all the other things
+used are hastily stowed away, and the journey is resumed.
+
+If the wind is fair the sail is hoisted and merrily they travel on.  If
+not, the heavy oars were brought out, and as they rose and fell in
+unison the boats were propelled on at the rate of about six miles an
+hour.  Three or four times a day did they go ashore, boil the kettles,
+and have a meal, for the air of that land is bracing and the appetites
+are always good.
+
+The route used for so many years by the Hudson Bay Company to transport
+their goods into the interior from York Factory is utterly unfit for
+navigation, as we understand that word, as the rivers are full of wild,
+dangerous rapids and falls.  Some of these rapids can be run at all
+times during the summer, others only when the water is high.  Many of
+them are utterly impassable at any time.  The result is that numerous
+portages have to be made.  As the making of a portage was exceedingly
+interesting to our boys, we will here describe one.
+
+The boats were rowed up against the current as far as possible and then
+headed for the shore.  Here at the landing place they were brought in
+close to the rocks and every piece of cargo was taken out.  These pieces
+were put on the men's shoulders, one piece being fastened at both sides
+by a carrying strap, which in the middle is drawn across the forehead.
+Then, using the first piece thus fastened, one or two more pieces are
+piled upon it and the Indian starts with this heavy load along the rough
+and rocky trail to the end of the portage.  This end is the place beyond
+the rapids where safe navigation again commences.  In quick succession
+the men are thus loaded until all the cargoes are thus transported from
+one side to the other.
+
+The boys were very eager to help.  So they quickly loaded themselves
+with their guns and blankets, and, striking out into the trail along
+which they saw the Indians were hurrying, they bravely endeavoured to
+keep those in sight who had started just before them.  To their great
+surprise they found this to be an utter impossibility.  The swinging jog
+trot of an Indian does not seem to be a very rapid pace, but the white
+man unaccustomed to it finds out very quickly that it takes long
+practice for him to equal it.  At first the boys thought that it was
+because they had loaded themselves too heavily, and so they quite
+willingly took a rest on the way; dropping their blankets and guns, and
+sitting down on a rock beside the trail, they watched with admiration
+the Indians in single file speeding along with their heavy loads.  Many
+of these men can carry on each trip three pieces, that is a load of from
+two hundred and forty to three hundred pounds.
+
+As Ayetum, the Indian who had charge of the white boys' cooking
+arrangements, was passing them as they sat there in the portage he said,
+in broken English:
+
+"White boys leave guns and blankets, Ayetum come for them soon."
+
+This was quite agreeable to the tired lads, and so they started up
+again, Frank saying as they did so:
+
+"Now we will show them that we can keep up to them."  Gallantly they
+struck out, but to a white boy running over an Indian trail where rocks
+and fallen trees and various other obstructions abound is a very
+different thing from a smooth road in a civilised land.  For a time they
+did well, but when hurrying along on a narrow ledge of rock an unnoticed
+creeping root tripped up and sent Sam flying over the side of a steep
+place, where he went floundering down twenty or thirty feet among the
+bracken and underbrush.  Fortunately he was not much hurt, but he needed
+the assistance of two Indians to get him up again.
+
+Thus rapidly passed the days as the brigade hurried on.  Not an hour was
+wasted.  It was necessary to move on as quickly as possible, as not
+twenty-four hours would elapse ere the next brigade would be dispatched
+from York Factory, and not only would it be a great disgrace to be
+overtaken, but the rivalry and strife of the boats' crews in the
+portages, in their efforts to see which could get their cargoes over
+first, would be most intense; and sometimes there is bad blood and
+quarrelling, especially if the brigades happen to be of rival tribes.
+
+Hence it was ever the plan of the great company that employed them all
+to keep them at least a day or two apart on these adventurous and
+exciting journeys.  To Big Tom and his men had been given the post of
+honour, and it was well-known that such was his skill as a leader, and
+so well was he backed up by his well-trained, stalwart men, that unless
+some great accident happened, no brigade following would have any chance
+of catching up to him ere his journey was finished.
+
+One day when passing through a lakelike expanse of the river they saw a
+large black bear swimming as fast as he could directly ahead of them.
+At length a cry was raised, "A bear! a bear!"  The men bent to their
+oars and there was an exciting chase.
+
+Fortunately for the pursuers, it was a wide open space and the bear was
+far out from land.  Even in these heavy boats the men can row faster
+than a bear can swim.  Knowing well the habits of the bear, the men's
+first efforts were to cut him off from the mainland, and thus oblige him
+to swim for one of the many islands which could be seen on ahead.  If
+they could succeed in this, of course he would have a poor chance, as
+the boats would speedily surround him there.  Bears know that they are
+not safe on islands when hunted, and so cunningly endeavour to keep from
+them; or, if so unfortunate as to be obliged to take refuge on one when
+closely pursued, they do not seem able to keep quiet and try to lie
+hidden and unseen, but just as soon as possible they make the attempt to
+reach the mainland, and there hide themselves away from their pursuers
+in the dense forest or underbrush.  This peculiarity of the bear is
+well-known to the Indian hunters; so in this case the first object of
+the men, as they would hardly be able to get near enough to this big
+fellow to shoot him in the water, was to head him off from the mainland
+and thus force him on an island.  In this they succeeded, as they
+anticipated.
+
+Frank, Alec, and Sam were, of course, intensely excited as the chase
+advanced.  In their Zoological Gardens they had often seen and watched
+various species of bears.  There, however, they were in captivity and
+could do no harm.  Here, however, away ahead of them like a great
+Newfoundland dog, was this big, fierce fellow, wild and free, making the
+race of his life, to escape from his relentless pursuers.
+
+At first he struck out for the mainland, and made the most desperate
+efforts to reach the shore; but when at length he saw one of the boats
+surely crawling along so that it would soon be between him and the point
+of land toward which he was swimming, he accepted the situation and
+struck off for a large island that seemed to be densely covered with
+trees and underbrush.
+
+Nearer and nearer came the boats, propelled so vigorously by the
+muscular, excited men, whose great oars rose and fell with all the
+precision of clockwork, as they saw they were sure of gaining on their
+prey.
+
+As Big Tom's boat was at the front, he said to the excited boys, who
+could hardly restrain themselves:
+
+"You boys want to shoot him?"
+
+Of course they did.  What boy under similar circumstances would not have
+given almost anything for a shot at a bear in a position like this?
+
+So the guns were quickly loaded, and under Tom's direction the boys were
+given a position one after another in the stern of the boat.  Grandly
+did the men row so as to bring the bear within range ere the island
+should be reached.  When the bear was about two hundred feet from shore
+Tom, who had had some difficulty in restraining the boys from firing,
+now ordered the men to cease rowing, and, as had been arranged with the
+boys, he gave the word to Sam to fire.  Quickly rang out the report of
+his gun.
+
+"Did you hit him?" said Big Tom.
+
+"I think I did," was Sam's odd reply; "for see, he is swimming faster
+than he did before I fired."
+
+This quaint answer was met by shouts of laughter from all who understood
+its comical meaning.
+
+"Now, Frank, it is your turn," said Big Tom.
+
+Carefully aiming for his head--and really there was not much of it to be
+seen, for a bear swims low in the water--Frank fired, and a howl and a
+vigorous shaking of the head told that he had been hit somewhere, but
+not enough to stop his progress.  The boat, under the momentum it had
+received from the oars, was still moving on about as fast as the bear
+was able to swim.
+
+"Now, Alec," said Big Tom, as the lad took his position in the stern of
+the boat, "when he tries to run through the shallow water near those
+rocks, your turn comes.  Hit him behind the shoulder, good young
+Scotchman."
+
+At the kindly mention of his nationality the blood of Alec suddenly
+rose, and he felt his hand grip that gun and his eye strangely brighten,
+and he resolved if possible he would make the shot of his life.
+Steadying himself, he waited until the bear was exactly in the place and
+position mentioned by the experienced old hunter, who stood just behind
+him.  Then he fired.  As the report rang out there was also heard a dull
+thud, that told that somewhere the fierce brute had been struck, but to
+Alec's mortification he gave some desperate bounds and finally reached
+the shore.  There among the rocks he suddenly dropped as in a heap.  A
+few seconds after, some of the Indians jumped overboard and cautiously
+waded toward him through the shallow water.  Their caution, however, was
+altogether unnecessary.  Alec's bullet had done its work, and the bear
+was stone dead.  The Indians found, when cutting up the body, that the
+ball had gone completely through him.  The wonder was that the great
+brute had been able to move at all after being so struck.  The bears
+have an immense amount of vitality, as hunters who shoot them often find
+out to their own cost.  So here was the first bear killed; Alec was the
+hero of the hour.  While modestly he received the congratulations, he
+naturally felt very proud over the accuracy of the shot that had brought
+down a great black bear.
+
+Speedily did some of the Indian hunters get out their knives and begin
+skinning the great animal.  While doing this they made a discovery that
+very much pleased Frank, and that was that his bullet had gone clean
+through the ear of the bear, and had thus caused his howls and the angry
+shakings of his head which had been observed by all after Frank had
+fired.  As a bear's ear is very small, Frank's shot was an exceedingly
+good one, when we take into consideration that he fired from a moving
+boat at such a small object as the bear's head.
+
+"First blood, anyway, for Frank," said Alec.
+
+So it had turned out to be, although Alec's had been the shot that had
+brought down the game.
+
+The beautiful black robe and the meat were soon carried by the stalwart
+men to the boats, and the journey was resumed.  That evening at the camp
+fire all had abundance of bear's meat for their supper.  It was very
+much enjoyed by all, as the meat of these animals is good, tasting
+something like young pork, with a gamey flavour.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE.
+
+ROBINSON'S PORTAGE--GUNPOWDER TRANSPORTATION--HOLE IN THE KEG--THE
+FRIGHTFUL EXPLOSION--ENSCONCED AT HEADQUARTERS--DELIGHTFUL HOME IN THE
+WILDERNESS--STURGEON FISHING--INVOLUNTARY PLUNGES.
+
+At Robinson's Portage there occurred a startling accident of a most
+unique character.  It caused much consternation both among the boys and
+the Indians.
+
+In one of the boats, which was most carefully guarded, were quite a
+number of barrels of gunpowder for the different trading posts.  Large
+quantities of this dangerous material are required for the Indians all
+over the country.  The company is very particular in its transportation,
+and only the most experienced men are allowed to have charge of the
+powder boat.
+
+When the brigade reached Robinson's Portage, which is a long one, some
+men who had charge of the powder carefully rolled or dragged the barrels
+across the portage, which has over its whole length a fairly good forest
+road.  The rest of the men, with their carrying straps, conveyed, as
+usual, the many "pieces," and piled them close to the landing stage.
+Three boatloads of supplies, as well as the cargo of gunpowder, had been
+taken across and piled up ready for reshipment.  Before bringing over
+the other cargoes and dragging the great boats, which were as usual to
+be dragged overland by the united strength of all the men, it was
+resolved to have dinner at the end of the portage where they had landed,
+and then go on with their work.  Wood was gathered and a fire was
+kindled and dinner was prepared.
+
+While the men were dining it was noticed that the fire had increased,
+and had at length reached in the dry grass the place where the powder
+kegs had been placed when they had been taken out of the boats, and from
+which spot they had been carried to the other end of the portage.  Soon
+the Indians and boys were interested in seeing a fuselike running of
+fire spluttering and flashing on the trail.  On and on along the road it
+sped, until at length it disappeared over the hill leading to the other
+end of the portage, where the barrels of powder and bales of goods were
+now piled.  For a moment or two the men continued their dinners; then
+suddenly there was a report so loud and so deafening that those who were
+standing were nearly thrown to the ground, and all were so shaken that
+it seemed as though a small earthquake had occurred.
+
+In an instant the cause was well surmised, and away they hurried as
+rapidly as possible to the other end of the portage.  A strange sight,
+indeed, met their gaze.  Some of the trees were badly shattered, and the
+parts of those left standing, instead of being covered with green
+foliage, were well decorated with coloured calicoes and ribbons,
+tattered blankets, men's clothing, and many other things.  The well
+piled up bundles and pieces had disappeared, and the contents seemed to
+be anywhere within the radius of half a mile.  A large quantity had been
+blown out into the river, and had gone floating down the stream.
+
+Where stood the piles of powder kegs was an excavation in the ground,
+but, alas! no powder was left.  All had gone to cause that great
+explosion that had borne such a near approach to an earthquake.  Of
+course, Big Tom and his men were a humiliated lot, as there is a great
+deal of ambition among these hardy boatmen to deliver their cargoes in
+as good condition to the Hudson Bay Company's officials as possible.
+But here was a disaster.  Three boatloads of supplies, as well as a
+cargo of gunpowder, were simply annihilated, or nearly so.
+
+Quickly did they set to work to secure what was in the water, but it was
+of little value.  Some of the most adventurous climbed the high trees
+and managed to pull off a few of the garments there securely lodged, but
+much was beyond their reach, and for several years the articles
+fluttered in the winds of winter and of summer, and vividly reminded all
+who passed over that portage of that singular disaster.
+
+And how had it come about?
+
+This was easily found out.  One of the powder barrels had a little
+unnoticed hole in it, and from this had silted out a tiny little stream
+of powder all along the whole length of the portage.  When the fire was
+kindled at the other end, where the dinner was cooked, it touched the
+beginning of this strangely laid fuse, which in running along had so
+interested those who had seen it at the beginning, but who had had no
+idea of there being any danger in it or of the damage it would inflict
+upon the supplies.
+
+"Well," said Big Tom, in his quiet way, "I am sorry for John Company to
+lose so much property; but he is rich, and it will not hurt him.  I am
+glad we did not do as is our general way--come over here and have our
+dinner near our loads.  If we had done so perhaps some of our arms or
+legs might be now hanging up there in the branches where those red
+calicoes and other things are."
+
+So, while all regretted the great misfortune, they were very thankful
+that there had been no loss of life or anybody even wounded.  With a
+will they set to work, and soon the other cargoes were carried over, and
+then the boats were dragged across by the united crews.  Soon were they
+launched and loaded, some with only half cargoes on account of the
+disaster, and then the journey was resumed.
+
+How Big Tom explained the story of the explosion to the Hudson Bay
+officials, and what were their answers, we know not; suffice to say, Big
+Tom was very glum for some time after, and was not anxious to have many
+questions put to him in reference to the interview.
+
+To the residence of Mr Ross the boys were escorted by a party of Hudson
+Bay clerks, after they had dined at Norway House.  All their outfits,
+which fortunately, like their owners, had escaped the explosion, were
+brought over a few hours later by some of the servants of the company.
+
+Of the hearty welcome which the boys received from Mr Ross and his
+family at Sagasta-weekee we have already made mention.
+
+During the evening the chief factor and some of the other officials of
+the fort, who had had advices of the coming of our three young
+gentlemen, Frank, Alec, and Sam, came over to meet them.  They most
+cordially welcomed them to the country, stating at the same time that
+they had received, by way of Montreal and Fort Garry, advance letters in
+reference to them, and would gladly carry out the instructions received,
+and do all they could to make the year's sojourn in the country as
+pleasant and interesting as possible.
+
+This was good news to the boys, and was especially welcome to Mr Ross,
+who, now that he was no longer actively in the employ of the company,
+was a little nervous about the reception which would be accorded to
+these young hunters, who in this way had come into the country.
+
+Strange as it may now appear, yet it is a well-known fact that persons
+coming into these territories were not welcome unless they came on the
+invitation and kept themselves completely under the company's direction
+and guidance.  However, the old despotic rules were being relaxed, and
+especially was it so in the case of our boys, as thoughtful friends at
+home, who had influence with the London directors, had so arranged
+matters that everything was most favourable for their having a
+delightful time.  That they had it these pages will surely testify.
+
+As we have stated, very cordially were they received and welcomed by Mr
+Ross, whose home was on the mighty Nelson River, a few miles away from
+Norway House Fort.  This great establishment of the Hudson Bay Company
+was for a great many years the great distributing centre for the
+supplies sent out from England to the many smaller posts throughout the
+country.  The houses were very substantially built of hewn logs, boarded
+over and painted white.  They occupied the four sides of a hollow
+square, room only being left for two or three massive gateways.  The
+interior was kept during the summer months beautifully green, and was
+the favourite resort of officials, employees, and servants, and white
+and Indian visitors.
+
+The relations between Mr Ross and the officials from this large
+establishment were most cordial, and visits were frequently
+interchanged.
+
+The house which Mr Ross had built was as good as the material of the
+country afforded.  The walls were of squared logs, the interstices
+between them being made as nearly frost-tight as possible.  The outsides
+were well boarded, and so was the interior.  As there is no limestone in
+that part of the country, the partitions dividing the rooms were all
+made of timber.
+
+In the fall of the year, ere the ground freezes up, the house was banked
+up to the lower edges of the windows.  Double sashes were placed in
+every window.  As there is no coal in that part of the country, wood is
+used altogether in its place.  Great iron stoves are used, in which
+roaring fires are kept burning incessantly from October until May.  In
+this genuine native house the three boys were cordially welcomed, and
+soon felt themselves to be as members of the delightful family.
+
+Shortly after their arrival, of course, there were many conversations as
+to the various excursions that could be made, and the different hunting
+expeditions that would be possible.  While they expected to have some
+good times hunting the bears, beavers, wolves, reindeer, and other
+animals that were within easy reaching distance of their present
+headquarters, they were also ambitious enough to hope that they would
+have time to reach the haunts of the buffalo on the great western
+prairies, the musk ox in the far north, and even the grizzly bear in the
+mountain ravines.
+
+In the meantime they had much to interest and amuse themselves with in
+studying the habits and customs of the Indians, who were constantly
+coming to see Mr Ross, whom they found to be a universal favourite, and
+the wise counsellor and adviser of all when in trouble or perplexity.
+With the twelve or fifteen splendid dogs which were owned by their host
+they soon became fast friends, and with them they had many a run, either
+in the forests or along the shores of the great water stretches that
+were near.  Each boy soon had his favourite dog, and naturally did all
+he could to develop his intelligence and bring out all of his latent
+sagacity.  While in a measure they succeeded in this, they also found,
+in some instances, that in some dogs downright mischief and trickery
+could be about as easily developed as the more noble qualities.
+
+The canoes, of course, were tackled, and after a few laughable upsets
+they all soon became experts in the use of them, and had many a glorious
+trip and many an exciting adventure.  Often did they go in the company
+of Mr Ross and with some experienced Indians to the place still
+retaining the name of the Old Fort, although the buildings were
+destroyed long ago.  There the accumulated waters of some scores of
+rivers that pour into Lake Winnipeg rush out in one great volume to form
+the mighty Nelson River.
+
+Here in this picturesque region, rich in Indian legends, and the resort
+of various kinds of game, and a favourite spot for the fishermen, many
+happy days were spent by our young friends in fishing and hunting.
+Then, when wearied with the varied sport, delightful hours were passed
+away, as, gathered round the bright, blazing camp fires, they listened
+to various reminiscences of the past as given by white or Indian.
+
+These excursions often lasted for a number of days at a time.  The
+party, which often consisted of from eight to a dozen persons, carried
+with them in their canoes not only their guns and ammunition, but their
+kettles and supplies and blankets.  When the day's hunting was ended the
+supper was cooked at a fire made on the rocks, the principal item of
+which was supposed to be some of the game shot or fish caught.
+
+As the boys' dexterity in the use of the canoes increased, they became
+more adventurous in their excursions, and one day they struck out, of
+course in company with experienced Indians, from the Old Fort and went
+as far as to the mouth of the great Saskatchewan River.  The long trip
+across the north-west end of Lake Winnipeg was most exhilarating.  The
+boys up to that time had no idea that birch canoes could ride in safety
+such enormous waves, or be propelled along continuously with such
+rapidity.
+
+They camped on the shores of the great river, near the foot of the
+rapids, which are the only ones to be found in it for a thousand miles.
+Here they pitched their camp and lay down to sleep.  The music of the
+rapids was a pleasant lullaby that soothed them into refreshing slumber.
+
+Early the next morning they were visited by a number of friendly
+Indians, who informed them that the sturgeon were very numerous in the
+river at the foot of the rapids, and that excellent sport could be had
+in killing some of them.
+
+While the usual method of capturing the sturgeon is with large gill
+nets, a more exciting way is by spearing them at the foot of the rapids,
+where at times they gather in large numbers, or by shooting them as they
+spring into the air.  To spear a large sturgeon from a birch canoe, and
+not get an upset, is a difficult matter.  For a time the Indians alone
+did the spearing; but after the boys had watched them at it they
+imagined that it was not such a very difficult matter after all, and so
+asked to be allowed to try for themselves.  The Indians at first
+hesitated, as they well knew how really difficult it was, and thought
+that the boys had better keep at the safer sport of trying to shoot
+those that sprang, porpoise-like, out of the water.  This itself
+afforded great amusement, and, while exciting, was not very successful,
+as it is extremely difficult to strike a sturgeon in this way, so rapid
+are its movements.
+
+The boys had been fairly successful, and as the great fish, which were
+from five to eight feet long, when shot, floated down the rapid current
+some old Indian men and women, on the lookout in their canoes, were made
+the richer and happier by being allowed to take possession of the
+valuable fish as they came along.  This was the thought ever in the
+minds of the boys, that, whenever possible, no matter what they caught
+in the waters or shot in the forests, or elsewhere, if they could not
+use it all themselves, to have it reach some old or feeble Indians, who
+would be thankful for the gifts thus bestowed.  This conduct on the part
+of the boys was most commendable, and everywhere secured them the good
+will of the Indians, who are never jealous of those who, visiting their
+lands for, sport and adventure, do not merely kill the animals for the
+love of killing, but are also desirous that somebody may be benefited by
+having for their use the fish or animals thus slaughtered.
+
+As the boys were still anxious for an opportunity of trying their skill
+in spearing, they at length induced the Indians to let them make the
+attempt, even if they should not be very successful.
+
+To be ready for any emergency, the cautious Indians arranged their
+canoes so that if any accident should occur to these adventurous boys
+they could prevent anything more serious than a good ducking taking
+place.  In this method of capturing the sturgeon, the one using the
+spear takes his position in the front of the canoe, while the other men
+noiselessly paddle the boat against the current to the spot where
+sturgeon are seen to be quietly resting or rooting in the gravelly
+bottom of the shallow places in the current.
+
+Alec was the first to make the attempt at this new and rather uncertain
+sport.  In a good canoe manned by a couple of skilled Indians, he took
+his position in the bow of the canoe, and with a good strong fishing
+spear in his hands he steadied himself carefully in the cranky boat,
+while the men silently paddled him to a spot where the occasional
+appearance of part of a sturgeon above the water betrayed its presence.
+The sun shining gloriously made the day delightful, but its very
+brightness was the cause of Alec's discomfiture.
+
+Nothing more quickly disturbs sturgeon than a sudden shadow thrown on
+the water.  Alec, not knowing this, was being quietly paddled against
+the current, thus facing toward the west.  As it was now about noon, the
+bright sun was on his left.  In this position he ought only to have
+attempted to spear the fish on the left side of his canoe, where he
+would have thrown no shadow.  Ignorant of this, as soon as he observed a
+large sturgeon not far ahead of him he quietly indicated by signs to the
+canoemen which way he wished them to paddle, so as to bring him close
+enough to spear the fish.  The men from their positions not being able
+to see the sturgeon paddled as directed, and soon Alec was brought close
+enough to make the attempt.  The sturgeon seemed to be an enormous one,
+and so Alec, knowing that only a most desperate lunge would enable him
+to drive the spear through the thick hide of the fish, which was just
+now a little before him on the right, made the attempt with all the
+strength that he could possibly muster.
+
+But, alas, how different from what was expected!  As Alec threw himself
+forward to plunge the sharp spear into the body of the fish, he found
+that it met with no firmer substance than the water, and so, instead of
+the spear being buried in the body of the fish, the momentum of his
+great effort threw him out of the boat, and down he went head first into
+the river.  Fortunately the water was not deep, and as the other canoes
+were not far behind he was soon pulled into one of them, a bit
+frightened, but none the worse for his involuntary plunge.
+
+Nothing daunted, Sam was the next to volunteer to try his skill, and on
+being informed that Alec's trouble was that he had raised his arm with
+the spear so as to cast a shadow which had frightened the fish, he
+resolved not to make a similar mistake.  Taking his position as directed
+in the front of the canoe, his men paddled him where he would be able to
+strike his fish without casting his shadow.  Soon the appearance of the
+fins of a great sturgeon were seen, and noiselessly the Indians paddled
+Sam's canoe close up to it.  He was resolved if possible to succeed
+where Alec had signally failed.  When close enough to the large fish,
+which seemed to be utterly unconscious of the canoe's presence, Sam,
+taking the spear in both hands, plunged it well and true into the body
+of the great sturgeon, that up to that instant seemed to have been sound
+asleep.  However, there was a great awakening when it felt that spear
+thrust.  Giving a great spring, so strong and sudden that it seemed to
+fairly lift Sam, spear and all, out of the canoe, it started for the
+great lake.  Sam let go of the spear when he found himself being dragged
+over the side of the boat, but the Indians afterward declared that he
+hung on for some time, and had a ride on the back of the great fish.
+
+Like Alec had been before him, he was quickly picked up and dragged into
+another canoe.
+
+The Indians imagined that now that two of the boys had come to grief the
+third would not wish to attempt this risky sport.  Those lads of ours
+were not easily daunted, and so without any hesitancy Frank asked to be
+allowed to see what he could do.  Frank had this advantage, that he had
+observed what had caused Alec and Sam to fail in their attempts.  Arming
+himself with a sharp spear, he took the position assigned to him, and
+was paddled up to a place where the fish were numerous.  The spear that
+he had selected, instead of being one of the three-pronged variety, was
+more of a chisel shape, and exceedingly sharp.  With this in his hands,
+he firmly braced himself in the narrow front of the canoe, while the now
+intensely interested company watched his efforts.  Even Sam and Alec
+refused to leave until Frank had made his attempt.  Some sturgeon were
+observed very near, but Frank, even in the excitement of the moment, was
+not to be diverted from his resolve, and so had the Indians paddle him
+on and on until they brought him close to an enormous fellow, lying
+quiet and still on the gravelly bottom.
+
+With all his strength Frank struck him a blow, so quick and strong that
+the first intimation of danger to the fish was the sharp spear crashing
+through the strong bony scales, through flesh and vertebrae, into the
+spinal cord, just behind the head.  So instantaneous was the death of
+the great sturgeon under this fatal stroke that there was not even the
+usual spasmodic spring.  Like as a log might have lain there on the
+water, so did the great fish.  The only movement was, as is the case
+with most large fish thus killed, he rolled over, and at once began to
+float away on the current.
+
+"Well done, Frank!" shouted the dripping boys, who had pluckily refused
+to be taken ashore until Frank had made his attempt, in which he had so
+well succeeded.  The Indians were delighted and, in their way, quite
+demonstrative, and for long after, at many a camp fire, the story of
+that strong, true, successful spear thrust had to be described and acted
+out.
+
+Thoroughly satisfied with these first adventures at sturgeon fishing,
+the party went ashore, and at a large camp fire Alec and Sam dried their
+garments as well as possible.  Changes, of course, they had not on such
+an excursion.  However, they suffered but little inconvenience, and no
+bad results followed from their submersions.
+
+They spent another day or two at the mouth of the great Saskatchewan
+River, and in the canoes of some of the experienced Indians, who there
+reside, they several times ran the rapids.  This was wild and
+exhilarating sport, and was vastly enjoyed by the boys.  During the
+return trip nothing of very great importance occurred.  They shot a
+number of wild ducks from the canoes as they paddled along, and in due
+time reached Sagasta-weekee tired and bronzed, and full of the
+adventures of their first outing from the home of their kind host.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX.
+
+INDIAN IMPLEMENTS--CANOEING EXCURSION--GUNPOWDER VERSUS JACK FISH--LOON
+SHOOTING--SAM'S SUCCESSFUL SHOT.
+
+The Indians were originally very skillful in the manufacture of the few
+essential articles that were absolutely necessary for their use.  The
+style and curves of their graceful canoes, although only made of the
+bark of the birch tree and strengthened by supple bands of cedar or
+balsam, and made watertight by the gum of the pine or other resinous
+trees, have never been improved in any boat builder's yard in
+civilisation.  True, fancy canoes are being turned out for the pleasure
+and enjoyment of canoeists in safe waters, but whenever the experiment
+has been tried of using these canoes in the dangerous rivers of the
+Indian country they are not found to be at all equal to those
+manufactured by the natives.  In the manufacture of their paddles, and
+in the spring and lightness of their oars, they have never been
+surpassed; and, while often imitated, many a skillful white artisan has
+had to admit that after all his efforts there was a something of
+completeness and exact fitness for the work required about the Indians'
+production that he felt was in some way lacking in his own handiwork.
+
+To the Indian women and clever old men were left the duties of making
+the canoes.  Our boys were very much interested in watching them at the
+work of canoe building, but naturally annoyed at the spasmodic way in
+which they carried on their operations, as while perhaps for some days
+they would work incessantly from early dawn to dark, they would then lay
+off for days and do nothing but lounge around and smoke.
+
+As the weeks rolled on, and the boys became more and more acquainted
+with the natives, and acclimated and accustomed to the methods of
+travel, a more ambitious trip for their pleasure was arranged by Mr
+Ross.
+
+It was decided to go to the Old Fort, and after shooting and fishing
+there in the vicinity of the place previously visited, then to push on
+to Spider Islands, and after a short stay in order to enjoy the beauties
+of that romantic place, then to push on across the north-eastern part of
+the great Lake Winnipeg to Montreal Point, and there to hunt along the
+coast as far south as Poplar Point, if the sport were good and the
+necessary supplies of ammunition and other essentials held out.  The
+boys were wild with delight at the prospect, and were anxious to do all
+in their power to expedite the undertaking.
+
+The Indians of all these regions, in which our boys were hunting, do not
+now give much prominence to the old picturesque style of dress, with
+which we have all been so familiar.  Feathers and paints are with them
+now quite out of date; still their coats, pants, leggings, and moccasins
+are principally made of the beautifully tanned skins of the moose and
+reindeer, and handsomely ornamented with bead work, at which the Cree
+women are most skillful.  Of course Frank, Alec, and Sam were speedily
+fitted out in the dress of the country, and were quite proud of their
+appearance.  They were also very anxious to have the natives give them
+Indian names, as is quite customary.  The Indians, however, after some
+councilling, in which a large quantity of tobacco was smoked, decided
+that as the boys were to remain some time in the country they had better
+wait for the development of some strong peculiarities in them, or until
+some great event occurred that would suggest some expressive name.
+While disappointed with this decision of the council, the boys had to
+rest content.
+
+At first they found the use of the soft, pliable moccasin very strange,
+after the heavy boots of civilisation, and for a little while complained
+of a soreness in the soles of their feet.  These, however, soon
+hardened, and then they much preferred the soft Indian shoes to all
+others.
+
+On the contemplated trip Mr Ross decided that, in addition to some
+younger Indians, he would take with him two old, experienced men, who
+were perhaps the most famous hunters of their tribe.  One of these was
+our old friend, Big Tom; the other was called Mustagan.  He was almost
+as large as Big Tom, and had a wonderful record.  We shall hear much
+about him as these pages advance, and will be delighted to have him with
+us in many an exciting hour.
+
+Three canoes were employed on this excursion.  Mr Ross had Mustagan,
+another Indian, and one of the boys with him; while the other two
+canoes, which were not quite so large as Mr Ross's, had in each two
+Indians to paddle them, and one of the boys.  So when the party started
+it consisted of ten persons.  Everyone was well supplied with guns and
+ammunition.  The guns used were the muzzle-loaders of the country, as
+after some experiments with the breech-loaders there was found to be a
+good deal of difficulty in reference to the supplies of cartridges.  The
+usual camping outfit and supplies for a month's outing were taken along
+with them.
+
+While passing through Play Green Lake, they amused themselves one day by
+catching some very large jack fish, or pike, in the usual way.  It seems
+very surprising that the mere concussion of the air caused by the firing
+of blank charges of gunpowder could so stun or paralyse such enormous
+fish.
+
+As they journeyed on, a quiet "Hush!" from Mustagan caused them to look
+toward the shore, and there, not far up from the sandy beach, were to be
+seen four beautiful young deer.  As Mr Ross was anxious to get on, and
+nothing specially was to be gained by hunting these beautiful young
+creatures, they were not even disturbed or frightened.  The boys watched
+them for some time, and were delighted with their graceful movements as
+like young lambs they gambolled on the shore.  Genuine sport is not
+butchery of inoffensive creatures that cannot be utilised for the
+benefit of parties shooting them.
+
+They had some rare sport in trying to shoot the great northern diver,
+called in this country the loon.  It is a bird as large and heavy as the
+wild goose.  Its feathers are so thick and close that they easily turn
+aside ordinary shot.  Its bill is long and sharp, and with it in battle
+can inflict a most ugly wound.  The feathers on its breast are of snowy
+whiteness, while on the rest of the body they are of a dark brown colour
+approaching to black flecked with white.  Its peculiar legs are wide and
+thin; its webbed feet are so large that it can swim with amazing
+rapidity.  On land it is a very awkward and ungainly bird, and can
+hardly move along; but in the water it is a thing of beauty, and as a
+diving bird it has, perhaps, no equal.  It has a strange mournful cry,
+and seems to utter its melancholy notes more frequently before an
+approaching storm than at any other time.  The Indians, who are most
+excellent judges of the weather and quick to notice any change, have
+great confidence in the varied cries of the loon.  It is a marvellous
+diver, and is able to swim great distances under the water with amazing
+rapidity, only coming up, when pursued, for an instant, at long
+intervals to breathe.
+
+The loon is very hard to kill.  A chance long-distance bullet or a shot
+in the eye does occasionally knock one over, but as a general thing the
+Indians, none too well supplied with ammunition, let them alone, as when
+shot they are of but little worth.  Their flesh is tough and tasteless,
+and the only thing at all prized is the beautiful skin, out of which the
+Indian women manufacture some very picturesque fire-bags.
+
+As several of these loons were seen swimming in Play Green Lake as our
+party paddled along, Mr Ross decided to give the boys a chance to show
+their skill and quickness in firing at them, although he hardly imagined
+any of them would be struck.  The sportsman who would strike them must
+have an alert eye and quick aim to fire the instant they are up, as they
+are down again so suddenly, only to reappear again some hundreds of
+yards off in the most unexpected place.
+
+The three canoes were paddled to positions about a third of a mile
+apart, like as at the points of an equilateral triangle.  In this large
+space thus inclosed several loons were surrounded, and the work of
+trying to shoot them began.  Before beginning to fire, the boys had been
+warned never under any circumstance to pull a trigger if one of the
+other boats should be in line, no matter how distant.  Bullets even from
+an ordinary shotgun will sometimes so bound over the waves as to go an
+immense distance, and very serious injuries have resulted.  As has been
+stated, it is almost impossible to kill a loon even when struck with
+ordinary shot, so it was decided here to use either buckshot or bullets
+as the hunters preferred.
+
+Part of the fun of loon hunting is in the absolute uncertainty as to the
+spot where the bird, after diving, will next show itself.  It may appear
+a quarter of a mile away, or it may suddenly push up its bright head and
+look at you out of its brilliant eyes not five yards from the side of
+your canoe.  It has, when hunted, a certain dogged stubbornness against
+leaving the vicinity it was in when first assailed, and will remain in a
+small area, even of a large lake, although repeatedly fired at.
+
+Hardly had the canoe in which were Mr Ross and Frank with their two
+canoemen taken its position, when a beautiful loon rose up about a
+hundred yards away, and not having been frightened, as no gun had as yet
+been fired, he sat there in all his beauty on the water watching them.
+
+"Fire at him," said Mr Ross to Frank.
+
+No sooner said than done, and away sped the bullet well and true on its
+errand, and fairly and squarely hit the water exactly where the bird had
+been, but no bird was there.  Quicker than could that bullet speed
+across those hundred yards the bird had dived, and ere Frank could
+recover from his chagrin its brilliant eyes were looking at him from a
+spot not twenty yards away.  The loon had been facing the canoe when
+fired at, and in diving had come on in a straight line toward them, and
+now here he was, so close to them and looking so intently that he seemed
+to say by his appearance, "I've come to see what all that noise was
+about."
+
+So sudden was his appearance that no one in the canoe was ready for him,
+and ere a gun could be pointed he was down again and, swimming directly
+under the boat, rose again on the other side, more than a hundred yards
+away.  While this had been Frank's experience, the others had not been
+idle.  As was quite natural, there was a good deal of good-natured
+rivalry among them, as to which canoe would come, the honour of killing
+the first loon.  Mustagan, who had charge of one of these canoes, was an
+old hand at this work, and, as he was a keen hunter, had caught this
+spirit of rivalry that had arisen.  He determined to put his long
+experience with these birds against their cleverness, and it was
+interesting to watch the contest between him and them.  For a time his
+efforts met with complete failure, and the birds fairly outwitted him.
+
+Mustagan, however, was not discouraged, and he resolved on one more
+effort to succeed.  He had learned from observation that the loon with
+its marvellously brilliant eye seemed to be able to see the flash of the
+gun, and so quick were its movements that it could dive ere the bullets
+or other missiles reached it.  Acting on this knowledge, he rigged up in
+the canoe a kind of a barrier behind which Sam was seated, concealed
+from the sharp-sighted bird.  For a time they were not able to get a
+successful shot, although a great deal of ammunition was expended.
+
+Alec, with Big Tom and his other Indian canoeman, was equally
+unsuccessful.  The loons themselves seemed to have entered into the
+spirit of the thing, and kept bobbing up here and there, at most
+unexpected places, taking good care, however, that each time the bullets
+struck the spot where they were, they were somewhere else when it
+arrived.  It was at first strange to the boys that the bullets did not
+follow them in the water, but went bounding off and skipping over the
+surface often for great distances.
+
+At length, when Mr Ross began to fear that the ammunition had suffered
+enough, and the boys had had sufficient of this kind of shooting, which,
+after all, was a most capital drill at quick firing, and was about to
+stop the sport, Mustagan pleaded for time to try one more experiment.
+He had been watching the movements of a splendid loon, that had saucily
+and successfully challenged the guns from each boat in succession for
+quite a time.  Mustagan's quick eye noticed that the bird was not quite
+so vigilant as he had been, and resolved that he could be shot, and that
+Sam should have that honour.  Strange as it may seem to those who have
+not had the fun of trying to shoot loons, these birds get to know that
+the hunters they are to watch are those who handle the guns.  Knowing
+this, Mustagan had Sam well load his gun with buckshot and slugs.
+Swinging the canoe so that Sam would be completely hid by the barrier
+prepared, he with his gun rose up in a conspicuous manner flourishing
+his weapon, and thus kept the eyes of the bird on himself every time he
+arose.  This went on for some minutes, until at length, as Mustagan did
+not fire, although brandishing his gun about, the loon seemed to lose
+his caution, and remained up longer each time he came to the surface.
+
+This was what the wily old Indian was expecting, and so, speaking to
+Sam, he told him to be on the watch and soon he would have a successful
+shot.  Sam, however, had to wait for quite a time, so erratic were the
+loon's movements, and in such unexpected places did he suddenly come up.
+However, success generally comes to those who have patience long enough
+to wait, and so it was in this case.  The fortunate opportunity came at
+last, for there right in front of the canoe not fifty yards away rose up
+that beautiful bird, and the same instant from the unseen gun and lad,
+behind that little barrier, rang out the report which followed the fatal
+missiles that had done their work, for one of them had cut clean through
+the neck of the loon, severing the vertebrae, and there he lay in the
+water with the snowy-white breast uppermost.
+
+A rousing cheer told of the successful shot, and at once when the bird
+was secured the canoes were headed for the shore.  There a dinner was
+quickly prepared, and in glorious picnic style it was enjoyed by all.
+The loon was skinned by one of the Indian men, and subsequently was
+tanned in native fashion, and a beautiful fire-bag was made from it of
+which in after years Sam was very proud.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land, by Egerton R.  Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN.
+
+THE OLD FORT CAMP--SAM'S RACE WITH THE BEAR--INDIAN COMMENTS.
+
+As the day was now advancing, and they had already had so much sport,
+they decided not to try and reach the Old Fort on Lake Winnipeg, where
+the Nelson River begins, that evening.  So they paddled their canoes to
+the ashore and there formed a camp.  While the older members of the
+party remained at the fire, some of the younger and more eager ones took
+their guns and went off to see what they could shoot.
+
+Frank succeeded in bringing down a great pelican that, with some others,
+had been gorging itself with gold-eyes, a beautiful kind of fish,
+similar in appearance to large herring, but with eyes so bright and
+golden that the appropriateness of the name is at once evident to all
+the first time they see it.  Frank carried to the camp his great bird,
+but was disappointed when told that as an article of food it was about
+worthless.  One of the Indians, however, pleased him when he said that a
+very beautiful ornamental bag could be made of the great sac that hung
+down from its enormous bill.
+
+Alec was more successful, and returned soon after Frank with a number of
+fine ducks, which he carried hanging around him with their heads crowded
+under his belt in real Indian fashion.
+
+The different Indians, who had also gone off hunting, returned one after
+another, and so when supper was ready at the camp fire about sunset all
+were returned but Sam.
+
+Where was he?  Who had seen him last?
+
+These were the questions put, but no one seemed able to give any
+satisfactory answer.
+
+As it was supposed he would return any minute, the supper, which
+consisted principally of the fish they had caught and game shot, was
+eaten and much enjoyed.
+
+Still no signs of Sam.  Mr Ross began to feel uneasy, and now, as the
+shadows of the coming night were beginning to fall around them, he
+called Mustagan and some of the older Indians to him, and asked what had
+better be done.  Promptly they responded that he must be found ere the
+last glimmering light faded away and the auroras began to dance and play
+in the northern sky.
+
+"Let us at once get on his trail," said an old Indian, "and we will soon
+find him."
+
+So the question was again anxiously asked who had last seen him.
+
+But there was little need for an answer, as Sam, pale, excited, and
+panting for breath, suddenly dashed into their midst.
+
+"What is the matter?" said Mr Ross, while all the rest, with intense
+interest, waited for his answer.
+
+All poor Sam could say was, "The bear! the bear!" as he lay panting on
+the ground.
+
+Mustagan, quick to read signs, was the first to see what had happened,
+and so, hastily catching up his gun, and crowding down the barrel a
+bullet on the top of the buckshot, with which it was already loaded, he
+slipped out from the circle of light around the camp fire, in the
+direction from which Sam had come.
+
+Not five minutes was he gone ere the report of his gun rang out.  With
+all the imperturbable nature of an Indian he returned, and when within
+easy calling distance of the camp fire he asked for a couple of Indians
+to join him.  Quickly they glided away in the darkness.  It was not for
+a long time, however, that they were required.  Soon their voices were
+heard asking that additional wood might be thrown upon the fire in order
+that they might have a better light.  Why they needed it was soon
+evident, as they shortly afterward appeared dragging into the camp a
+splendid bear, the sight of which at first made Sam jump again, as
+though he would continue the journey he had so abruptly ended when he
+had dashed into their midst.
+
+When Sam had quieted down he told the story of his exciting adventure.
+
+Like the others, he had taken his gun and gone off to see what he could
+shoot.  As at first he did not meet with much success he pushed on and
+on until he reached a long stretch of sandy beach, on which he detected
+the fresh footprints of a bear.  Putting a bullet into his gun, he
+bravely started off to get that bear.  On and on he hurried, reckless
+and excited, until at length he saw the fine fellow, not two hundred
+yards away, sitting on a flat rock a little way out from the shore,
+busily engaged in capturing fish.
+
+Without any fear Sam pushed on until he was, as he thought, near enough
+to kill the bear that was sitting on his haunches with his back toward
+him, utterly unconscious of his presence.
+
+Raising his gun he fired.  That he hit him he was sure, as he said he
+saw the fur fly from a spot on his back.  The instant the bear felt the
+wound he gave a roar of pain, and, turning around, without a moment's
+hesitation dashed into the water and came for Sam.
+
+"All at once," said Sam in a most comical manner, "as I saw what a big
+fellow he was and his resolve to try and cultivate a closer
+acquaintanceship, I thought I had had hunting enough, and would like to
+go home and see my mother.  But, as this was impossible, I decided that
+the next best thing was to get back to the camp as soon as I could.  So
+I dropped my gun and started at a great rate.  However it did not take
+the bear long to get across that bit of water, and then on he came.
+
+"My! but he did run, and quickly did he gain upon me.  Then I dropped my
+brightly coloured beaded Indian cap, hoping that that would delay him.
+
+"But he only seemed to give it a sniff and a tear, and then on he came.
+Finding he was still gaining on me, I pulled off my leather coat and
+dropped it on the trail and hurried on.  Glancing behind me, I noticed
+that that seemed to make him suspicious for a time, as he carefully
+examined it.  This delay was fortunate for me, but soon, to my alarm, I
+found he was once more coming on after me.
+
+"It was now getting dark, but fortunately I knew the way, and so dashed
+in upon you in the manner I did, just about used up."
+
+The recital of Sam's adventure and narrow escape very much excited Frank
+and Alec, and Mr Ross looked grave and anxious, and seemed to be
+thinking of what would have been felt and said in the home land if,
+during the first few weeks after the boys had arrived in the Wild North
+Land, one of them had been killed by a bear.
+
+The Indians smoked their pipes and listened in silence to Sam's story,
+which was translated for those who did not understand English.  It was
+evident by their clouded faces that they were not pleased.  Their
+actions said, even before they uttered a word:
+
+"The young white brave should not have run away from a bear.  Suppose
+that the bear had not been killed, and after chasing the white hunter
+into the protection of the camp fire had escaped and gone and told the
+other bears of his success, what a rejoicing there would have been among
+the other bears!  And how bold and saucy all the bears would have been
+ever after!"
+
+Thus the Indians thought, for they have queer ideas about bears.
+Because of the handlike appearance of the paws of the bear they say
+there is a good deal of the human in them.  So they talk about them as
+holding councils and taking advice one from another.  And when they
+attack them, especially the Indians of these great Algonquin tribes,
+they always address them as Mr Bear, and apologise to them for being
+under the necessity of killing them.
+
+Thus these Indians at this camp fire were simply disgusted with Sam for
+running away from that black bear.
+
+So after a good smoke and much cogitation one of them, who was a paddler
+in Sam's canoe, turned to him and said:
+
+"You have a good knife?"
+
+"Yes," said Sam, and he drew the keen, sharp, double-edged weapon from
+its sheath in his leather belt, and handed it to him to examine.
+
+The Indian took it, and, after carefully examining it, passed it on to
+the other Indians, who all admired it.  But it was noticed that in their
+low utterances among themselves there was much of sarcasm, and even
+contempt, in some of their expressions.
+
+After some more smoking another Indian turned to Sam, and said:
+
+"No tree along the trail where the bear chase you?"
+
+"O yes," said Sam, "plenty of them.  But I was afraid to take time
+enough to try and climb up into one of them."
+
+This answer, which Sam gave in all honesty, was too much for the
+Indians, and the look of disgust that passed over their faces was a
+study.  However, the one who had asked the question about the tree spoke
+up and said:
+
+"No good climbing a tree.  Bear better climber than any hunter.  Tree
+only good for you to fight bear at the bottom.  Put back against tree.
+Black bear rise up and come to hug you to death.  He then never bite or
+tear.  Only hug.  He try to squeeze the life out of you.  So with good
+knife, and your back against a tree, keep cool.  Let bear come, and when
+he stand up on his hind legs and try to hug, you just give him your good
+knife straight in the heart.  Bear fall over dead.  You not hurt at all.
+All needed, keep cool all the time.  No brave white boy with good knife
+and plenty trees must ever run away from black bear any more."
+
+Thus he went on in his broken English to Sam's mortification, and he
+found that in using his good legs, that had often carried him in first
+in many a race at school, he had gone down very much in the estimation
+of the Indians, who think it is simply foolishness, as well as
+cowardice, if armed with anything like a decent knife, to refuse to give
+battle to a bear from the trunk of the nearest tree.  Thus the boys were
+getting points and learning lessons by experience in reference to
+hunting.
+
+Mr Ross did not chide the lad, but thought that it would have been
+better if, when he discovered the fresh track of the bear, he had
+immediately returned to the camp for assistance.  The fact is, Mr Ross
+was very thankful that nothing worse had happened.
+
+Frank and Alec listened with intense interest to Sam's account of his
+race back to the camp with the bear at his heels, and both declared that
+they would have done likewise.  Later on we will find that they were
+able to successfully adopt the Indian methods, much to their delight.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHT.
+
+PRESERVING MEAT--CUNNING PARTRIDGES--CELESTIAL PHENOMENON--THE FEARFUL
+HURRICANE--CAUGHT IN THE STORM--DISASTER--THE MISCHIEVOUS WOLVERINE--
+ALEC'S SHOT.
+
+The sun was shining brightly next morning ere the musical "Koos-koos-
+kah" rang out, calling them from their slumbers.  When the boys arose
+they found the big bear already skinned, and some portions of his hams,
+cut as steaks, were being broiled, while his spareribs were skidded on a
+couple of sticks, and were being roasted a nice brown colour, in front
+of the fire which burned so brightly on the rocks.  The savoury odour of
+the cooking breakfast was welcome to the boys.
+
+A hasty plunge in the fresh water of the lake was a refreshing bath, and
+soon they were ready for their morning meal.  Indians, if they have the
+chance, are not bad cooks, especially when working for those whom they
+respect; and so here, under the eye of Mr Ross, whom they so loved,
+they did their best.  With some of the supplies from home, added to the
+fish, duck, bear steaks, and spareribs, they had a breakfast of which
+any hunters might be proud.  The delicious bracing air, the wild
+romantic surroundings, the congenial friendship, the picturesque,
+attentive red men, gave to this meal on the rocks under the blue sky
+such an exhilaration of spirits to the boys that they were fairly wild
+with delight.
+
+Even Sam had forgotten in some degree his exciting race and fright in
+the rare enjoyment of the hour.  Soon after, preparations were begun for
+continuing the journey.  The question was, what was to be done with all
+the bear's meat, as there was too much to carry in their canoes, with
+the other supplies considered more necessary.  So the Indian plan of
+preserving meat fresh and sweet was adopted.  A hole was dug in the
+fresh earth to a depth of three or four feet, and here the meat, well
+wrapped up in the bear's skin, was deposited.  Meat will keep fresh and
+good in this way for many days.  The hole was then carefully covered up
+and packed down by the Indians.  Then on the top a large fire was
+kindled, and then allowed to burn itself out.  This was done to destroy
+the scent and thus save the "cache" from being discovered by prowling
+wolves and wolverines that would in all probability visit the camp not
+long after the hunters had left.
+
+Nothing of much importance occurred during the trip to the Old Fort.
+Their favourite camping ground was reached in due time, and the boys had
+a couple of hours' duck and partridge shooting ere they sat down on the
+rocks to dinner.  Each had something to say, but Frank most amused the
+party by a description of an old partridge that kept tumbling down ahead
+of him and acting in the queerest manner possible.  In fact, so amused
+was he in the queer antics of the bird that he could not find it in his
+heart to shoot her.  When Mr Ross heard Frank's story he said he was
+delighted to hear that he had not tried to shoot that partridge, as it
+was undoubtedly a mother bird with a brood of little ones not far off.
+Then he went on to tell not only of the cleverness he had often
+witnessed in the old mother birds themselves, but also how cunningly the
+little ones acted when suddenly disturbed.  They would apparently make
+themselves invisible.  Some would quickly disappear in little openings
+or under leaves, others would cleverly catch up old brown leaves in
+their mouths and suddenly turn over on their backs, and then lie still
+and quiet thus hidden under the leaves.  Mr Ross said he had seen them
+do this so quickly that he could hardly believe his eyes until he went
+and picked up the brown leaf and the little partridge that had so
+cleverly hid itself out of sight, and not until the little bird was in
+his hands did it show any sign of life.  Then, indeed, it was wild
+enough.
+
+During the afternoon the sky became hazy and slightly overcast.  The
+boys were treated to one of the peculiar phenomena not unfrequently seen
+in those high latitudes.  First, a great circle surrounded the sun, and
+at the east, west, and top and bottom in it were seen very vivid mock
+suns.  Shortly after another ring appeared inside this first one, and
+then another one on the outside of all, and in each circle there
+appeared four mock suns, clear, distinct, and startling.  In all there
+was the sun himself, in a beautiful halo in the centre, and around him
+were visible no less than twelve mock suns.
+
+While this sight very much interested the boys, the older Indians were
+somewhat troubled, and at once proposed to Mr Ross the removal of their
+camp to a sheltered spot where some dense forests of balsam and spruce
+would be a barrier against the coming storm, which they said was not
+more than an hour off.  Marvellously clever are these Indians in reading
+these signs in the heavens, and very rarely do they make mistakes.
+
+To the boys there was not in these beautiful visions in the heavens
+anything that portended a storm, and they were somewhat disappointed
+when told that in all probability there would be but little hunting for
+perhaps some days.  While this was not pleasant news, they willingly
+fell to work and did their share in removing to the place appointed.
+They were very much interested to see how skillfully the Indians cut
+poles, and, taking the oilcloths from the canoes, improvised a
+watertight roof over a "lean-to," as they called it, against the storm
+that they said would soon be on them from a certain point indicated.
+Large dry logs were cut and rolled into position to make a fire in the
+front of this improvised tent, under which they would have to find
+shelter.  Kettles, food, and blankets were brought up to this camp, and
+then the canoes were carried to a sheltered spot and turned over and
+fastened down with heavy logs and stones.
+
+Very busily were the men employed, and yet more rapid were the changes
+that were taking place in the heavens above and around them.  One by one
+the circles with the mock suns disappeared.  Dark clouds began to arise
+up in the north-west horizon, and rapidly they came up in the heavens.
+Vivid flashes of lightning were seen and the rumbling thunder was heard
+from the rapidly darkening clouds all around.  The birds that had been
+singing now seemed to fly off to dense coverts, and uttered only
+frightened cries.  A dense, stuffy sensation seemed to be in the air,
+and there for a few moments every sound was hushed, and a calm, the most
+profound and ominous, seemed to fall upon the whole face of nature.  Not
+a blade of grass or a tall reed in the marshy places near the shore made
+the slightest movement.  Nature was absolutely still.  It was the dead,
+weird quiet before the awful hurricane; the quietude of death before the
+elemental war.
+
+Only for a short time did it last, and to judge by the feverish haste
+with which the Indians, under Mr Ross's stern orders, worked, it was
+evident they knew the danger of this ominous calm, and what would
+speedily follow.  Large logs were piled up as a barrier behind the
+improvised tent, while every rope available was used to tie down the
+poles which held up the roof of canvas and oilcloth.  Poles were lashed
+across the top, and tied down with the fishing nets, which had to do as
+substitutes for something better.  Guns were well wrapped up in the
+oilcloth covers, and, with the axes, were placed at a distance from the
+camp.
+
+"Get under cover, and hold on to something fixed and strong!" shouted
+Mustagan, who had been on the lookout, and saw that the storm was close
+at hand.
+
+And it _was_ a storm!  A strange greenish appearance came into the
+north-west sky, and then suddenly there was heard and seen the oncoming
+tornado.  The clouds that during the calm had apparently become
+motionless in the heavens for a time suddenly became strangely broken
+and twisted, and then, as though impelled by some irresistible impulse,
+started with a speed that seemed incredible on their wild career.  There
+seemed to roll up before them the strange green colour in the sky, which
+now appeared like a great monster on the crest of the coming clouds.
+Blacker, denser, and darker, on they came.  Far away the sound of the
+storm could be heard, while now the forked lightnings and peals of
+thunder were almost incessant.
+
+Crouching under the shelter was our party.  Mr Ross and the three boys
+were in the centre, while the stalwart Indians took the outside
+positions, each man with a grip of iron upon the poles and canvas.
+
+Very strange and very different were the sensations of the boys.  "This
+is glorious!" said Alec, who had often, with his Highland friends, been
+caught in storms amid the hills of his beloved Scotland.
+
+"Wait until it is over," said the other boys, "and then we will tell you
+whether it is `glorious' or not."
+
+"Hold on!" shouted Mr Ross.  For, in almost an instant, a dark as like
+as midnight was on them, broken only by a vivid flash of lightning,
+while the very ground seemed to shake under the awful thunder.  Then the
+storm in all its fury was upon them.  How they escaped seemed a miracle.
+Great trees all around them were bent and twisted and broken, and went
+down in scores, until the air seemed full of the falling trunks and
+branches.  Large branches fell upon the frail roof under which they were
+sheltered, but fortunately, while some holes were made, none of them
+were large enough to break through or injure them, and those that did
+fall on them were really a benefit, as they helped to hold down the
+canvas over them.
+
+Fortunately these tornadoes are not of long duration.  With a speed of
+perhaps over a hundred miles an hour they sweep along with irresistible
+power in their wild career.
+
+Their fury is soon spent, and years may pass ere they occur again.  As a
+very heavy fall of rain immediately followed this hurricane or tornado,
+our party were obliged to remain under their frail tent, which, in spite
+of the fury of the winds, thanks to the strong arms of the Indians,
+skillfully directed by Mustagan, had been kept from being blown away.
+However, some of the larger branches that had fallen upon it had pierced
+the roof in some places, and now, like out of a huge funnel, about a
+gallon of water suddenly struck Alec on the back of the neck, and caused
+him to change his position, while he fairly howled from the suddenness
+of the dousing.
+
+"Is that sousing `glorious,' Alec?" asked Frank, who was doing his best
+to dodge the little streams that through some other rents were trying to
+reach him.
+
+"Well, no, not exactly," was Alec's answer;--"this beats anything I ever
+saw or heard of in the Highlands; and now that the worst is over I would
+not have missed such a thing for a good deal."
+
+"What do you think of it, Sam?" said Frank.
+
+Sam had cuddled down between Mr Ross and Mustagan, and, at the advice
+of the latter, had taken the precaution to double up a blanket like a
+shawl and throw it over his head and shoulders.  Very little wet had
+reached him, yet he had to confess that he had been terrified by this
+storm, which had excelled any dozen ever witnessed before in his life.
+
+"Think of it!" said, he; "faith, I have just been thinking which is the
+worst, being chased by a fierce old bear or frightened out of a year's
+growth by a tornado.  Next time, if I am to choose between the two, I'll
+tackle the bear."
+
+This answer caused a hearty laugh, and even the Indians, who had
+remained so quiet, yet alert to watch for any change in the storm,
+smiled at it and exchanged significant glances, and said that the boy
+would yet redeem himself.
+
+After a time the rain ceased, the blue sky appeared, and the sun shone
+out again.  But what a change met their gaze as they came out from under
+their quickly improvised tent and wandered about!  The beautiful forests
+seemed about ruined.  In one direction, like as though a great reaper
+had gone through a splendid meadow, and cut clean to the ground a great
+swath of grass, so had this cyclone gone through the forest.  In the
+centre of its path, not a tree had been left standing.  Every one had
+gone down before this irresistible force.  Fortunately it had swerved a
+little to the right as it passed by our friends, or they would not have
+escaped so well.  As it was, great trees had fallen all around, and it
+was a providential escape that had been theirs, and for this they were
+more than grateful as they saw by investigation more and more of the
+fury displayed by the effects of the tempest as it passed.  The spot
+where the canoes had been hid away was, of course, one of the first to
+which their steps were directed.  A great tree had fallen across one of
+them, that had not been placed low enough in the hollow between the
+rocks, and it was so crushed and broken as to be absolutely worthless.
+The others, however, had escaped, and were none the worse of the storm,
+although fallen trees were all around them.
+
+Blankets, supplies, and other things were overhauled, and everything
+that had caught the rain was soon drying in the warm sun, which was now
+smiling serenely upon them.  The mock suns, or "sun dogs," as they were
+commonly called, all disappeared with the storm of which they seemed to
+have been the harbinger.  Beautiful as had been their appearance, the
+boys all agreed that if their coming was to be so speedily followed by
+such a storm they would gladly dispense with them in the future; nor did
+they see them again until when, in the depth of winter, they showed up
+in their weird splendour and heralded forth a blizzard storm which
+played its wild pranks upon the boys most thoroughly.  But we must not
+anticipate.
+
+Mr Ross and the Indians quickly shifted the camp to a pleasant place.
+A fire was kindled and a hot meal was cooked and eaten, and then there
+was a consultation as to the future.  One canoe was destroyed; could the
+whole party go in the other two, or had they better return to Sagasta-
+weekee?  Mr Ross was anxious to hear whether the cyclone had done any
+damage at home, although he had not much fear, for it had apparently
+come from another direction.  However, it was eventually decided that
+three of the Indians should return home, and bring along with them
+another canoe, as well as news from the home.  They were also to call at
+the camp to take home the bear's robe and meat, which had been cached in
+the ground as we have described.  Very soon were they ready to start,
+and, to the surprise of Mr Ross, Alec asked to be permitted to go with
+them.  This request was readily granted, and soon in one canoe, with
+their four paddles at work, they were speeding along at a great rate.
+
+They pushed on without stopping, until they began to round the point of
+a narrow tongue of land, which would bring them into full view of their
+camp, although it was still some hundreds of yards away.  The instant
+the point was turned and the distant camping place came into view the
+Indian in the front of the canoe suddenly ducked down his head and
+whispered a sharp, quick "Hist!" and at once arrested the forward
+movement of the boat.  Noiselessly and quickly was the canoe paddled
+back out of sight.
+
+"What is the matter?" said Alec, who was surprised by the suddenness of
+this quick retrograde movement and of the quiet, suppressed excitement
+of the Indians.
+
+"Wolverine!" was the only word he heard, which was whispered from one
+Indian to the other.  The utterance of this one word made Alec no wiser
+until one of the men, who understood a little English, said, "Wolverine
+find the camp; smell the meat; dig him up; carry him away; we kill him."
+
+This was no easy matter, as the wolverine is, without exception, the
+most cunning animal in the woods.  He far outstrips in this respect the
+fox or wolf or bear.  What these Indians were going to do must be done
+quickly.  The first thing was to see that their guns were well-loaded
+with bullets.  The next was to find out if his quick eyes had seen them
+when for the few seconds they must have been visible when they rounded
+the point.  The wind was in their favour, as it was blowing from him to
+them.  The oldest of the crew was appointed the leader, the rest were to
+follow his directions.  First of all he quietly went ashore, and,
+noiselessly crawling through the underbrush across the point, he was
+able to see that the wolverine was still at work.  It was evident that
+he had not the slightest suspicion that his enemies, the hunters, were
+near him.  Returning to the canoe from this inspection, the leader gave
+orders that they were to paddle back into the deep bay so that there
+would be a possibility of their landing and getting in behind him, as
+their old camp which he was robbing was close to the shore.
+
+Very noiselessly and yet rapidly did they hurry back, and then as
+quietly as possible they landed at a suitable spot.  It was here decided
+that three of them, with their guns, should try and get into the rear of
+the camp, while Alec, who had not yet the ability to travel with the
+speed and quietness here essential to success, was to take his place
+just across the neck of land where, with his gun, he could command the
+shore if the wolverine, disturbed by those in the rear, should attempt
+to escape over the rocks in that direction.  Before leaving, the leader
+said to Alec:
+
+"Do not fire until you see the whites of his eyes, and then hit him, if
+possible, between them; or, if it is a side shot, strike him behind the
+foreshoulders."
+
+Alec was excited, but he soon conquered his nervousness, and prepared to
+play his part as well as possible.  His instructions were to wait for a
+few minutes ere he began to crawl to his assigned position.  He thus had
+an opportunity of witnessing the cleverness and alertness of the three
+Indians starting on their critical work.  Making a deep detour, they
+were soon out of sight in the forest, without making as much noise as
+the breaking of a single twig beneath their moccasined feet.  More like
+phantoms they seemed, as so quietly they flitted away.  When he thought
+it was time for him to move he began, Indian-like, to advance to his
+assigned position, imitating as far as possible the movements he had
+witnessed in the Indians.  To his great satisfaction, he reached the
+designated spot without any trouble.
+
+Carefully looking over the rocks and through some underbrush, he was
+able to see, through a pocket telescope which he fortunately had with
+him, the busy wolverine still at work.  Very interesting it was to watch
+him, even if it meant the destruction of all the meat.  The wolverine is
+about as large as a first-class retriever dog.  His legs, though short,
+are exceedingly muscular, and he has quite a bushy tail.  These animals
+are very powerful, and in breaking into an Indian's "cache" can remove
+logs and stones much larger and heavier than one man can lift.  They are
+very destructive when they find a "cache" of this description.  They not
+only have an enormous capacity for devouring the meat cached by the
+Indians, but they will carry away, and cunningly hide, large quantities.
+Over the whole they emit an odour so pungent and so disagreeable, that
+neither hungry Indians nor starving dogs will touch it.  The Indians
+simply detest the wolverine on account of its thievish propensities and
+its great cunning.  There is always great rejoicing when one is killed.
+As Alec, through his telescope, watched the mischievous, busy animal he
+became very much interested in his movements.  He was amazed at the
+strength which enabled him to dig out from the ground a hindquarter of
+the bear and easily carry it away to another place, where he cunningly
+hid it.  His next effort, which much amused Alec, was to take the bear's
+skin in his mouth and attempt to climb up into a tree that he might hide
+it among the branches.  It was laughable to see the skin slipping under
+his feet, and thus causing him to lose his grip, so that, with it, he
+fell heavily to the ground.  Failure, however, was not in his
+vocabulary.  Again and again he seized the robe in his mouth, and
+endeavoured to carry the awkward thing up that tree.  But, alas for him,
+his very determination proved his destruction.  So absorbed had he
+become in his efforts to succeed that he was, for once in his life,
+caught off his guard.  The three Indians had succeeded in getting behind
+him, and had thus cut off his retreat into the forest.  The first
+consciousness he had of his enemies was when three simultaneous shouts,
+from different parts of the forest behind him, told him of his danger.
+Cunning as he was, the Indians had clearly outwitted him.  They knew
+that the loud shouts from different parts at the same time was about the
+only way by which he could be puzzled, and this plan they had
+successfully adopted.
+
+For an instant only he waited, and then, as rapidly as possible, he
+started along the only route that seemed open to him, which was the one
+from which no sound had come.  This was the way that led him exactly in
+the direction where Alec was waiting for him.  This was what the Indians
+were anticipating.  Their hope was that Alec would make the successful
+shot; then, even if he failed, so narrow was the tongue of land on which
+the wolverine was running that they felt that by spreading out they had
+him so securely hedged in that it would be impossible for him to escape.
+
+In the meantime Alec had been watching him through his glass, until
+there fell upon his ears the shouts of the Indians.  When he saw the
+effect upon the wolverine he was amused at the sudden change.  While
+busy robbing the "cache" he seemed the monarch of all he surveyed, by
+his saucy appearance.  Now he looked and acted as a craven coward, whose
+one thought was in reference to his escape.  Alec, watching him, saw him
+spring upon a fallen log, and for an instant look in different
+directions toward the deep forest.  The prospect did not seem to satisfy
+him, for, springing down, he at once began his journey directly toward
+where Alec was in hiding.  When Alec saw this movement, he quickly put
+up his telescope, and, seizing his gun, prepared for his opportunity.
+It was fortunate that the distance over which the wolverine had to
+travel was considerable, as it enabled Alec to get his nerves steady and
+his hands firm.  When the wolverine had come about half the distance his
+cunning suspiciousness seemed to return, and, fearing some danger ahead,
+he stopped and acted as though he would like to retrace his steps and
+try some other plan.  Fortunately for Alec, the wind was still blowing
+toward him, and so the wolverine had not caught his scent.  While thus
+halting and undecided about his movements he was startled by another
+shout, which told him that his retreat was cut off, and so he quickly
+resumed his journey.  Knowing the cleverness of these animals, Alec had
+taken his position behind a rock, and there, with trigger drawn back, he
+awaited his oncoming.
+
+"Wait until you can see the white of his eyes," had been his
+instructions, and faithfully did he obey.
+
+With his strange, slouching gait, along came the treacherous, cunning
+brute until he reached a point where he stood fairly exposed on the
+lower one of some steplike rocks.  With eye keen and nerve firm, Alec
+stepped out from behind his cover, and ere the animal could get over the
+start of his sudden appearance the report of the gun rang out and the
+wolverine fell dead, struck by the bullet fairly and squarely between
+the eyes.
+
+Alec's shout of triumph brought the Indians to him on the run, and they,
+in their quiet way, congratulated him on doing what but few white
+hunters have ever done--he had had the honour of shooting one of the
+largest wolverines that had been killed in the country for a long time.
+
+While one of the Indians hurried across the tongue of land for the canoe
+and paddles it around to the camp, the rest of the party dragged the
+dead wolverine back to the scene of his depredations.  Here they had an
+opportunity of seeing the destructiveness of this animal.  Every pound
+of meat had been removed from the "cache," and so cunningly hid away
+that not one piece could be found except the one which Alec had seen him
+hide as he watched him through his telescope, and this piece was so
+permeated by the offensive odour that it was worthless.  Fortunately,
+the bearskin was none the worse for its overhauling.  While waiting for
+the coming of the canoe the men set to work and speedily skinned the
+wolverine.  The fur is not very valuable, but, to encourage the Indians
+to do all they can to destroy them, as they are so destructive on
+hunters' traps as well as supplies, the Hudson Bay Company always gives
+a good price for their pelts.
+
+A few hours' paddling brought them to Sagasta-weekee.  Here they found
+all well.  Fortunately, the cyclone had passed some miles to the west of
+them, and so they had escaped its fury.  Hunters, however, had come in
+who had been exposed to its power, and had some exciting tales to tell
+of narrow escapes and strange adventures.
+
+Mrs Ross had become alarmed when, from some Indians, she had learned
+that the march of the cyclone, was in the direction, in which Mr Ross
+and his party had gone.  She was pleased and delighted to welcome Alec,
+and to hear from him and the Indians the story of their deliverance and
+escape from accidents during the great storm.
+
+The skins of the bear and wolverine were opened out and much admired,
+and then handed over to some clever Indian women to carefully dress for
+their home-going.  The story of Sam's race from the bear very much
+amused them all.  Nothing, however, so much delighted the Indian hunters
+who gathered in as the destruction of that old wolverine.  It seems that
+same fellow had haunted that region of country for some years,
+destroying traps, robbing fish scaffolds and meat "caches," and playing
+with all the steel traps that the cleverest hunters could set for him.
+Now, however, his reign was over, and here was his hide--and a big one
+it was.  Alec was the hero, and, although he modestly disclaimed all the
+honour except the first-class shot, the Indians were very proud of him,
+and showed it in various expressive ways.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINE.
+
+MONTREAL POINT--THE GOVERNOR AND THE IROQUOIS--THE HERD OF DEER--OMINOUS
+SOUNDS--PACKS OF WOLVES--THE FIERCE BATTLE--WELCOME REINFORCEMENTS--THE
+VICTORY--PLAYING "POSSUM".
+
+As Mr Ross was anxious to get news from Sagasta-weekee and hear how his
+family and home had fared during the cyclone, Alec and the Indians
+started on their return trip early the next morning, taking with them a
+new canoe to replace the one that had been destroyed by a falling tree.
+They tarried not on the way, except to shoot a few ducks that were
+directly in their route.  The result was they arrived early in the
+forenoon at the Old Fort, and were glad to bring the good news that all
+were well at Sagasta-weekee, and that the storm had passed by several
+miles away from them.
+
+Of course the story of the destruction of the cache by the wolverine,
+and then his being killed, had to be told, much to the delight of Frank
+and Sam, as well as to the satisfaction of the older members of the
+party, who all rejoiced that at length that cunning fellow, that had so
+long been a terror and a nuisance, had been destroyed.
+
+As the storm had completely died away, and the weather seemed fine and
+settled, it was decided to have an early dinner, then push on to Spider
+Islands, and there camp for the night.  The rearrangement of their
+outfit was soon completed and the journey commenced.
+
+Lake Winnipeg is nearly three hundred miles long, and about eighty wide
+in its northern part.  It is thus like a great inland sea.  Great storms
+sweep over it at times with tremendous fury.  It has many shallows and
+sunken rocks.
+
+The result is, it requires careful navigation for vessels that need any
+considerable depth of water.
+
+There are some laughable stories afloat about the nervous, excitable
+captain of the first schooner, who carefully came up to the northern end
+of the lake from Manitoba and pushed on as far as Norway House.  He had
+secured as a guide an old Hudson Bay voyageur, who had piloted many a
+brigade of boats from Fort Garry to York Factory, on the Hudson Bay.  Of
+course the small boats to which he was accustomed did not draw nearly as
+many feet of water as this three-masted schooner.  Still he imagined he
+knew where all the rocks and shoals were, and quickly accepted the
+offered position as guide or pilot for the first schooner.
+
+In spite of his skill and care several times the vessel bumped against a
+rock, much to the terror and alarm of the captain, but all the
+satisfaction he could get out of the imperturbable old native was, as
+they repeatedly struck them:
+
+"Ah, captain, I told you there were many rocks, and there is another of
+them."
+
+Fortunately these rocks are very smooth, and as the vessel was moving
+along very slowly, she was not at all injured by the merely touching
+them.  When, however, she had, in passing over some sunken ones, nearly
+stranded on one or two, the peppery old captain could stand it no
+longer, and so he shouted to the guide:
+
+"Look here, old fellow, I'll not have my ship's bottom scratched any
+more like this."
+
+All the answer he could get from the stolid man was:
+
+"Um, bottom all right, only a few more rocks."
+
+And these few more rocks they managed to get over, much to the delight
+and amazement of the Indians, who had never seen such a large vessel
+before.
+
+With birch canoes, our friends had no such troubles among the rocks.  As
+the wind was fair the clever Indians fastened two paddles and improvised
+a sail out of a blanket for each canoe, and they were able to sail along
+at a great rate.  But it requires careful steering, as the canoe is a
+cranky vessel at the best, and only those thoroughly accustomed to them
+ought to try to sail them.
+
+The trip across to the Spider Islands was safely accomplished.  The boys
+were pleased with their run, which was most exhilarating.  Those who
+travel on the water only in great ships miss much of the healthful
+excitement and delight that is the portion of those who are brave and
+adventurous enough to take some of these trips in the light canoes of
+the Indians.
+
+The boys were charmed with the few picturesque islands, and had a joyous
+time of it, for the weather was most glorious.  Yet, as there was no
+game, except some passing ducks that lit at times in the little
+indentations that served as harbours, it was decided to push on to
+Montreal Point, which is the first landing stage on the mainland on the
+east side of Lake Winnipeg.  The point derived its name from the fact
+that in the old days of long trips made by Sir George Simpson, in the
+birch canoes manned by the famous Iroquois Indians, this was the first
+stopping place from Norway House on their return voyage to Montreal,
+some two thousand miles away.  Marvellous are the stories told of the
+skill and endurance of those matchless crews of Indians.  Sir George
+Simpson was a hard master, and pushed them to their very utmost.  No
+dallying along the road was allowed when he was on board.  He would put
+his hand over the side of the canoe into the water, and if with a swish
+the water did not fly up perpendicularly before him he would reprove in
+language that could not be misunderstood.
+
+Very strange does it now appear when we read of those days, or talk to
+old men who were participants in those events when the officials of the
+fur-trading company, from the despotic governor himself down to the
+lowest clerk, travelled over half the continent in birch canoes, manned
+by Indians or half-breeds, looking after the interest of the greatest
+fur-trading company the world has ever seen.  It is after all no wonder
+that they worked in a hurry when the weather was favourable, as there
+were times when storms swept over the lakes with such fury that, in
+spite of all their skill and anxiety to push on, they were detained for
+days and days together.  The wonder ever was that more lives were not
+lost in the daring recklessness that was often displayed.  A
+characteristic story of Sir George Simpson, so long the energetic
+governor of the company, is still repeated at many a camp fire.
+
+It seems that on one of his return voyages to Montreal from Norway House
+he was, if possible, more arbitrary and domineering than ever, and
+especially seemed to single out for his spleen a big burly fellow, a
+half-French and half-Iroquois voyageur.  This half-breed, who was making
+his first trip, stood all this abuse for time good-naturedly, and tried
+to do his best; but one day at one of the camping places, where Sir
+George had been unusually abusive and sarcastic, the big fellow turned
+on him and gave him one of the handsomest thrashings a man ever
+received.  The rest of the canoemen pretended to be so horror-stricken
+that they could not, or would not, interfere until the thrashing had
+been well administered to the governor, and then they made a noisy show
+of delivering the tyrant out of the clutches of their enraged comrade.
+
+When the governor recovered his voice, and was able to get the better of
+his anger and indignation at the fact that he, the great Sir George
+Simpson, had been treated with such indignity by a miserable voyageur,
+he vented in not very polished French his threats upon his assailant.
+He said:
+
+"Just wait until we reach Montreal, and I will soon clap this villain
+into prison, and have him kept there until the flesh rots off his
+bones."
+
+With this and other threats of what he would do, the governor worked off
+his passion.  The imperturbable canoeman, having obtained his
+satisfaction in the thrashing administered, returned to his duties, and
+paid no more attention to the threats of Sir George.  What cared he?  It
+would be many days ere Montreal was reached, and there were many rapids
+to run and portages to cross, and so there was no need of worrying about
+what was distant.  But the governor, although he had ceased to scold,
+became very glum and distant, and the voyageur began to think that
+perhaps it would go badly with him and he would have to suffer for his
+doings.  His fears were not allayed or lessened any by his chums, who
+conjured up all sorts of dire calamities that would befall him, and
+invented any amount of stories of pains and penalties that had been
+inflicted on others who had dared to resent his tyrannies.
+
+Thus the days passed, and at length they reached Lachine, at the end of
+the Ottawa River, not very far from Montreal.  Here the company had in
+those days a large trading establishment.  Shortly after they landed,
+and Sir George, who had been met by the officials of the company there
+stationed, went with them into the principal building and was in close
+consultation, while the feelings of the voyageur were not enviable.  As
+was feared, the big men were not long in consultation ere his name was
+called in a loud, stern voice.  There was nothing for him to do but
+obey, and so he marched up into the building and met the officials and
+Sir George.
+
+To his surprise and astonishment Sir George reached out his hand and
+there made a full apology for his hasty words and petulant temper, and
+stated that the thrashing he had received he had richly deserved, and
+that it had done him good, as it had opened his eyes to see that he had
+grown tyrannical and overbearing and was expecting more than
+possibilities of the men.  Then, to show the genuineness of his apology,
+he ordered the clerk to give to this man the best outfit of clothing and
+other handsome presents, and to charge the whole to his, Sir George's,
+private personal account.
+
+A couple of hours were quite sufficient to take the boys and Indians
+across the wide open expanse of lake that lay between Spider Island and
+Montreal Point on Lake Winnipeg.  When drawing near the coast they were
+pleased to see some deer sporting on the shore.  It is a peculiarity of
+some animals when on the edge of a lake, that while they are exceedingly
+alert and watchful against surprises from the land, they seem to have no
+idea of danger from the water side.  The result is, the experienced
+Indians can, by cautious stalking, get quite near to them.
+
+This is true of some of the deer tribe, and here the boys had an
+illustration of it.  These deer are called in that country by the
+Indians "wa-was-ka-sew."  They are very graceful in their movements and
+full of play.  The canoes were halted two or three hundred yards from
+the shore, and the movements of the small herd were watched with great
+interest by the boys.  Then Mr Ross quietly passed the word that an
+effort would be made to get a successful shot or two.  As the guns then
+used were not to be depended upon to accurately carry a bullet more than
+a hundred yards, it was decided to back up and make a long detour and
+land some hunters ahead of the deer in a clump of timber toward which
+they seemed to be moving.
+
+Noiselessly the paddles were plied, and when they were several hundreds
+of yards out they rapidly paddled on to the designated place, which was
+perhaps half a mile ahead of the deer.  As Alec had had such a
+successful time with the wolverine, it was decided that this was Frank
+and Sam's opportunity, so they, with one of the younger Indians from
+each boat, under the leadership of Mustagan, were cautiously landed,
+each one with his gun, knife, and hunting hatchet.  Then the boats put
+out again from the shore to watch the progress of events.
+
+Not long were they kept waiting, for hardly had they reached a position
+where they imagined their presence would not be observed before they saw
+that the deer had become very much excited, and at first had all huddled
+close together on the shore.  Mr Ross and the rest at first thought
+that they must have observed the canoes or had caught the scent of those
+who had landed.  A moment's observation revealed that this was not the
+case.  The very position of the deer showed that the fears were caused
+by enemies behind them, and they had not long to wait ere they were at
+first heard and then seen.  Faintly coming on the wind were heard the
+blood-curdling howls of a pack of wolves.
+
+To judge by the movements of the herd of deer it looked as though the
+beautiful creatures seemed to think of defence.  The bucks formed a
+compact line, with their antlered heads down toward the point, from
+which the rapidly increasing howls were coming, while the does and young
+deer crowded in behind.  Not long did they there remain.  A louder
+chorus of horrid sounds reached them, which seemed to tell of their
+triumph at having struck the warm scent of their victims.  These
+dreadful howlings were too much for the timid deer, and so with a rush
+they were off with the speed of the wind, running directly toward the
+point where Mustagan had placed the two boys and the Indians.  It was
+very fortunate for them that in this hour of peril they had the cool-
+headed and courageous Mustagan in command.
+
+He had been watching the deer from his hiding place and had observed
+their sudden fear and precipitate retreat.  His long experience at once
+came to his help, and so, before his acute ear had caught the sound of
+the distant howlings of the wolves, he was certain of their coming.
+With a celerity most marvellous he gathered in the boys and Indians and
+quickly explained how matters stood, and told them that their bullets
+would probably be required for other game than deer.
+
+Taking a hasty survey of the ground along which he was sure the deer
+would fly, pursued by the wolves, he arranged his men, keeping the boys
+with himself.
+
+His instructions were to let the deer go by unharmed by them; then, as
+the wolves followed, for each to pick out one and fire.  Then, if
+attacked by the rest of the pack, they were to close in together and
+fight them with their axes and their knives.  If, however, they were not
+attacked after they had fired, they were to again load their guns as
+quickly as possible.
+
+"Down to your places!" sternly spoke Mustagan.
+
+And hardly a moment passed ere the herd of deer flew by, some of them so
+close to the hidden hunters that they could almost have touched them
+with their guns.
+
+"Steady, boys!" were Mustagan's whispered words to the white lads, who,
+crouching down near him with their fingers on the triggers of their
+guns, had caught his cool, brave spirit; and although the blood-curdling
+howls of the wolves were now distinctly heard they flinched not in the
+strain of those trying moments.
+
+As Frank and Sam's guns were on this excursion only single-barrelled,
+while the rest were double-barrelled, Mustagan said:
+
+"When first wolf reach that stone, Frank, kill him.  Then Sam hit the
+next one.  Then I kill some.  Then other Indians fire.  Perhaps other
+wolves run away.  Perhaps not, so have axes handy."
+
+This advice was not neglected, for each axe, keen-edged and serviceable,
+was at the side of its owner.
+
+"Now here they come!" shouted Mustagan.
+
+Nothing can be more trying to brave hunters than was such a position as
+this.  The travellers in Russia and elsewhere who have been assailed by
+packs of these fierce wolves, sending out their merciless, blood-
+curdling howlings, can appreciate the position of Frank and Sam.  Yet
+they were true as steel, and when the word was given by the old Indian,
+in whom they had such implicit confidence, the guns were raised, and
+with nerves firm and strong they fired with unerring accuracy, and two
+great grey wolves fell dead, pierced through by the death-dealing
+bullets.
+
+Then Mustagan fired.  He was too wise a hunter to waste a bullet on a
+single wolf, if with it there was a possibility of killing two; and so,
+as the two leaders who had been a little in advance of the pack had
+fallen, he fired at two who were running side by side.  His bullet first
+went through the body of the one nearer to him and then broke the back
+of the second.
+
+In a second or two there rang out the reports of the other guns, and as
+many more of the wolves lay dead or dying on the ground.  Now was the
+uncertainty of the battle.  Wolves are the most treacherous and erratic
+animals to hunt.  Sometimes they are the most arrant cowards, and will
+turn and run away at the slightest appearance of resistance or attack.
+At other times they will continue to advance against all odds.  Their
+courage and ferocity seem to increase with their numbers, and are of
+course greatest when they are half-famished for food.  Gaunt and half-
+starved those fierce ones seemed to be.  And so, when the guns suddenly
+rang out and numbers of them fell, the others were at first somewhat
+disconcerted; but the hot scent of the deer was close, and the fact that
+their enemies were invisible made them determined not to yield at this
+first alarm.
+
+With a rush the survivors, perhaps about twenty in number, dashed into
+the thicket, into which the deer had disappeared, and from which their
+enemies had fired upon them.  Sudden as was this rush it was not quicker
+than the movements of the hunters, who had closed in together, and with
+axes in hand were ready for their wild, mad attack.  Mustagan and his
+three Indians were in front, while the two boys were placed a little in
+the rear.
+
+As the pack came on some of them seemed disconcerted by the appearance
+of the hunters, and especially by the loud shouts which, at Mustagan's
+orders, they now made.  All wild animals seem to have a dread of the
+human voice.  And thus it was on this occasion.  Some of the wolves were
+startled and fell back, but numbers of them resolutely dashed on to the
+attack.  Then it was axe against teeth, and one wolf after another fell
+dead or badly wounded under the heavy, skillful blows.  Frank and Sam
+each had the satisfaction of finishing off some of the wounded ones.
+
+But the conflict was a fierce one; and how it would have gone with them
+eventually is hard to say, but it was victoriously ended by a welcome
+arrival of additional forces.  Mr Ross and the others in the canoe had
+also been watching the deer, and had seen their startled movements and
+sudden flight.  This had caused them to use their paddles as vigourously
+as possible and make for the shore.  Ere they reached it the howling of
+the wolves fell on their ears.  Then they had seen the rapid flight of
+the herd, and soon after the wild rush of the wolves not far behind
+them.  So, as speedily as possible, Mr Ross and the party had landed in
+the rear and had hurried on.
+
+The firing of the guns of Mustagan and his party plainly told them of
+danger, and also indicated the position of their friends.  So they
+cautiously hurried along, and were in good time to pour, from the side,
+a volley into the wolves, that were now making a fierce attack on the
+men and boys.
+
+This second attack was too much for the wolves, and so with howls of
+baffled rage they turned to the east, and soon disappeared in the
+forest, to be seen no more.
+
+Many and sincere were the congratulations of all at their success and
+deliverance.
+
+This was the largest pack of wolves that had been seen or heard of in
+this part of the country for years.  The great northern wolves do not,
+as a general thing, hunt in very large numbers, as do the smaller wolves
+of the prairies or of the steppes of Russia, or as the brown wolf used
+to do in the new settlements of Canada and in some parts of the United
+States.  A pack of eight or ten of these big, fierce northern wolves was
+considered by the Indians as many as generally hunted together; although
+sometimes, when a few got on the trail of a large moose or reindeer,
+that led them for a long time, they were apt to be joined by others
+until they mustered quite a number.  So Mustagan's idea was that a
+number of small, separate packs had been on the trail--it may have been
+for days--of the different deer, which had at length gathered in this
+herd.  All they could do, of course, was thus to conjecture; but here
+was the startling fact--they had encountered the largest pack of great
+northern wolves seen in that land for years at least.
+
+There was still something to be done.  While a number of dead wolves lay
+where they were shot, others badly wounded were making desperate efforts
+to escape.  These had to be killed, and while some were being dispatched
+with axes by the Indians, to the boys was given the pleasure of sending
+the deadly bullets into others, and thus quickly putting them out of
+misery.
+
+"Be careful," said Mustagan, "as you move around among the apparently
+dead ones.  Wolves are most treacherous brutes, and sometimes badly
+wounded ones will feign to be dead when very far from it.  By doing this
+they hope to escape the extra bullet or fatal blow of the axe that would
+quickly finish them.  Then when the hunters are off their guard, or
+night comes on, they hope to be able to skulk away."
+
+This cunning feigning of death when wounded or captured is not confined
+to wolves.  There are several other animals that often try to play
+"possum" in this manner.
+
+This warning advice of the old Indian did not come too soon, and
+fortunate indeed it was for one of the party.
+
+The skins of some fur-bearing animals are not considered _prime_ when
+they are killed in the summer months; the bitter cold of winter very
+much thickens and improves the fur.  However, sometimes the bears and
+wolves are almost as good then as in the colder months, and bring nearly
+as high a price in some foreign markets.  As soon as the work of killing
+the wounded ones was apparently over, Mr Ross began feeling the fur of
+them as they lay around, ere the Indians commenced the work of skinning
+them.  To the boys, who were closely following him, he explained the
+difference between what they called in the fur trade a _prime_ skin and
+one of inferior value.  After several had been tested in this way, and
+all signs of movements on the part of any of the wolves had ceased, they
+happened to come to one very large fellow, settled out flat on his
+belly, apparently stone dead.
+
+"Here is the finest one we have seen thus far," said Mr Ross, as he
+stooped down and began pulling at his dark grey fur, while the boys
+stood around with their guns held by the barrels in their hands with the
+butt resting on the ground.
+
+While listening to Mr Ross's explanations in reference to the different
+grades of skins, Sam's sharp eyes fancied they detected a slight quiver
+in the eyelids of the fierce brute, that was apparently unconscious of
+the thorough way in which Mr Ross was pulling his fur and testing it in
+various places.  Not wishing to be laughed at, Sam said nothing about
+his suspicions that life was still there, but he nevertheless, without
+attracting attention, so changed the position of his loaded gun that it
+would not take him long to fire if necessity arose.  And very soon the
+occasion came.  As Mr Ross moved around to the front of the animal he
+stooped down to feel the thickness of the fur that grows between the
+short ears.  No sooner had he done this than with the fury of a demon
+the wolf sprang up at him, and made a desperate attempt to seize him by
+the throat.
+
+Mr Ross was completely thrown off his guard, but fortunately as the
+brute sprang at him he threw up his arm, and thus saved his throat.  But
+the arm was pierced by the sharp teeth, that seemed to penetrate through
+the clothing and flesh to the very bone.  However, that was his last
+spring and his last bite, for before even Mustagan or anyone else could
+seize a weapon the report of Sam's gun rang out, and the wolf fell, dead
+enough this time.  Sam had put the muzzle within a yard of his side, and
+the charge had fairly torn its way through him.
+
+So savage had been the attack, and so viciously had the wolf fastened
+onto the arm of Mr Ross, that, when the brute fell over dead, the jaws
+remained set with the teeth in the flesh, and so Mr Ross fell or was
+dragged to the ground by the weight of the animal.  Mustagan and the
+others had to use the handle of an axe to force open the jaws before the
+wounded arm could be released.
+
+"Well done, Sam," was the chorus that rang out from all.  After Mr
+Ross's arm had been stripped, and some decoction of Indian herbs, which
+were quickly gathered, had been applied, Sam told of his suspicions when
+the eyelids quivered, and of his precaution in getting his gun ready.
+Of course it would have been better if he had mentioned it at the time,
+but he feared to be laughed at, and he said that he thought at the time
+that perhaps the wolf's eyelids had the same habit as a snake's tail, of
+moving for some time after the animal is dead.
+
+The dead wolf was examined for other wounds, and found to be shot
+through the body, behind the ribs, where no vital organ had been
+touched.  This shot had given it a momentary paralysis, which had caused
+it to drop so flat upon the ground.  The Indians' idea was that it
+recovered itself while they were all around it, and so it cunningly lay
+still, hoping to get away when they left, but Mr Ross's handling was
+too much of an insult to be ignored, and so it suddenly sprang at him as
+described.
+
+Of course this wounded arm must be promptly attended to more thoroughly
+than it could be on this wild spot, and so every Indian was set to work
+to skin the wolves, and then the home trip began.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TEN.
+
+ROMANTIC COURTSHIP--THE HAPPY FAMILY--A CANOE PICNIC--MUSTAGAN--A
+PROWLING BEAR--A WOMAN'S SHOT.
+
+When the full details of the battle with the wolves came out, and the
+fact of the prominent part that Sam had played in the rescue of Mr
+Ross, his family were at first very much excited at his narrow escape,
+and then full of congratulations for Sam for his shrewdness, and the
+promptitude with which he acted.
+
+We have as yet said but little about this interesting family, and so we
+will use some of the time while Mr Ross is recovering from his wounds
+in giving a few details which we are sure will be most interesting, as
+some of them partake most decidedly of the romantic.
+
+Mr Ross, like many a Hudson Bay official, was rather late in life in
+choosing his wife.  His busy life in the service, where on each
+promotion he was removed from one post to another, made it almost
+impossible to set up a home.  When he decided to do so his plan was very
+romantic.  In those remote, lonely regions there are not many white
+families from which the young gentlemen in the service can select wives.
+The result is, many of them marry native women, or the daughters of
+mixed marriages contracted by the older officials.  These women make
+excellent wives and mothers, and, being ambitious to learn, they often
+become as clever and bright as their white sisters, to many of whom they
+are superior in personal appearance.  Into many a cozy home can the
+adventurous tourist go, and never would he dream that the stately,
+refined, cultured woman at the head of the home, honoured by her husband
+and beloved by her children, if not of pure Indian blood, was at least
+the daughter or granddaughter of a pure Indian.
+
+Very romantic is the story of Mr Ross's love adventure, and here it is
+given for the first time.  Long years before this, when Mr Ross was
+comparatively a young man, he saw in one of the Indian villages a little
+dark-eyed native girl, who looked to him as beautiful as a poet's dream.
+Although she was only ten or twelve years old, and he approaching
+thirty, he fell desperately in love with her, and said she must yet be
+his wife.  He knew her language, and soon found that the bright and
+beautiful child was willing some time in the future to be his bride.
+
+So it was arranged that she should be sent to the old land to be
+educated.  Fortunately good Bishop Anderson was returning to England in
+connection with his work in the Red River Settlement, going by the
+Hudson Bay Company's ship.  Wenonah was placed in charge of his family
+on the voyage, and at the journey's end was sent to a first-class
+school, called "The Nest."  Here at Mr Ross's expense she was kept for
+several years, until she was not only highly educated as a student, but
+loving, interested ladies taught her, in their kindness, the things
+essential for a good housekeeper to know.
+
+When she was about twenty years of age she returned to the Hudson Bay
+territories, and was married by the missionary to Mr Ross, who had so
+well-earned the skillful, loving wife she ever proved to be.  Over
+twenty years of wedded life had been theirs before Mr Ross retired from
+the service, and several more had passed ere our story opened.  Two sons
+were away from home as clerks in the company's service at some remote
+stations similar to those in which most of the officials had begun their
+apprenticeship.
+
+At home were two bright girls about ten and eight years of age, and a
+younger brother hardly six, whose name was Roderick.  The names of the
+girls were Minnehaha and Wenonah.  A delightful home was theirs, even if
+in a place so remote from civilisation.  Mrs Ross had devoted much of
+her time to the education of her children.  The house was furnished with
+a splendid library, which Mr Ross himself had gathered with a great
+deal of care.  For music, the piano and harp were their favourite
+instruments, and several members of the family were able to play
+exceedingly well.  So well cultured were they that they would be
+considered a well-educated and intellectual family in any land.
+
+There was for a time some anxiety about the wounds which Mr Ross had
+received when the wolf so savagely sprang at him.  However, he was under
+the careful treatment of Memotas, the Christian Indian doctor, whose
+fame was in all the land, not only for his marvellous skill, but for his
+noble, upright character.
+
+During the days of Mr Ross's recovery, when it was thought best for him
+to keep quiet, so that there might be the more rapid recovery, there
+were no long excursions made by the boys.  The fact was, they had been
+so surfeited with excitement that they were quite contented to remain at
+Sagasta-weekee and revel in its library, where they found many an
+interesting volume.
+
+Of course this did not mean that they were not much out in the canoes
+and among the wigwams of the Indians, who were camped about on the
+various points within easy reaching distances.  The natives were always
+delighted to see the boys, and utilised what little English they
+possessed in order to impart to them as much information as possible.
+The visits to Big Tom and Mustagan were always a great pleasure.  As
+Mustagan talked English they were not obliged to have an interpreter,
+and so enjoyed his company very much, and were always delighted when
+they could get him talking on his arctic adventures and narrow escapes
+in polar regions.  He was a man with a marvellous history, as he had
+been employed in no less than five arctic expeditions.  He was with Sir
+John Richardson and Dr Ray on their desperate expeditions, when they so
+courageously and persistently endeavoured to make the sullen North
+reveal the story of the destruction of Sir John Franklin and his gallant
+comrades.  Some of his wonderful adventures we must have from his own
+lips after a while.
+
+Although Mrs Ross was, as has been stated, such a refined and cultured
+woman, still she had all her nation's love for the canoe and outdoor
+life.  The result was, many short excursions were undertaken by her and
+her children to various beautiful and picturesque spots within a few
+miles from home.
+
+On these excursions one or two faithful well-armed old Indians were
+always taken, as it might happen that a fierce old bear or prowling wolf
+would unexpectedly make his appearance.  That this precaution was
+necessary was clearly proved by an adventure that had occurred some time
+before the arrival of the boys.  Mrs Ross, accompanied by her three
+youngest children, had taken a large canoe, manned by a couple of
+Indians, and had gone to spend the day at Playground Point, which was
+ever, as its name would imply, a favourite spot for old and young,
+Indians and whites.  They had with them a large basket of supplies, and
+anticipated a very pleasant outing.  They reached their destination in
+good time, and in various ways were intensely enjoying their holiday.
+They had all wandered some distance from the spot where they had landed,
+and where the canoe had been drawn up on the beach by the Indians.
+These men, after seeing that everything was made right, and that there
+were no signs of prowling wild beasts around, had, as Mrs Ross
+suggested, taken their axes and penetrated some distance into the
+interior of the forest, to see if they could find some large birch
+trees, the bark of which would be suitable for a new canoe.
+
+After the young folks had amused themselves for time with their sports
+they began to think it was time for a raid upon the lunch basket, and so
+Mrs Ross, who had been sitting on a rock reading, shut her book and
+accompanied them back to the canoe, where they had left their supplies.
+An abrupt turn in the path brought them in plain sight of the canoe,
+which was about a hundred yards directly in front of them.  There was a
+sight at which they had to laugh, although there was a spice of danger
+mixed with it.  Seated up in the canoe, with a large hamper in his lap,
+was a good-sized black bear deliberately helping himself to the
+contents.  Gravely would he lift up in his handlike paws to his mouth
+the sandwiches and cakes, and then he cleared out with great
+satisfaction a large bowl of jelly, spilling, however, a good deal of it
+on his face.
+
+Mrs Ross would have endeavoured to have noiselessly retreated back with
+the children, but the sight of their dinner disappearing down the bear's
+throat was too much for them, and so ere the mother could check them, a
+simultaneous shout from them alarmed the bear and quickly brought his
+meal to a close.  The sudden shouting and the apparition of these people
+were too much for him, and so, jamming what food he had at that instant
+in his paws in his mouth, he sprang out of the canoe into the water, and
+began swimming at a great rate toward a small island that was directly
+out from the mainland.  Seeing him thus retreating, and wishing to keep
+him at it, Mrs Ross and the children, with all the display and noise
+they could make, rushed forward, and thus, if possible, caused him to
+redouble his efforts to get away.  This was the wisest thing they could
+have done.  A bear is quick to notice whether his presence causes alarm
+or not.  A bold front will generally cause him to retreat, while on the
+other hand, if he sees any signs of cowardice, or thinks he can terrify
+his enemies and cause them to fly from him, he is not slow in being the
+aggressor and making the attempt.
+
+Mrs Ross, well knowing some of the characteristics of bears and their
+habits, was not to be taken off her guard, and so she was resolved to be
+prepared for every emergency.  Her first precaution was to take out one
+of the guns and load it well with ball.  Then she explored the lunch
+basket to find out the extent of the bear's raid upon it.  To the
+children's sorrow they found that the best part of the contents, from
+their standpoint, of the hamper was gone.  The cakes and most of the
+jam, which in that country is such a luxury, being imported all the way
+from England, were all gone.  However, there were some packages of bread
+and butter and cold meats, and so they did not starve.
+
+But what about the bear?  The island which he had now reached was not
+more than a quarter of a mile away from them.  No other one was near,
+and a frightened bear dislikes to be on an island.  He seems to be
+conscious of the fact that he is at a disadvantage, and so he will
+endeavour to leave it for the mainland as quickly as possible.  Mrs
+Ross knew this, and so she felt, after she had thought it over, that, in
+all probability, very soon after the bear had reached the island, and
+observed its limited area and lack of dense forests, in which he could
+hide himself, he would take it into his head for his own personal safety
+to quickly return to the mainland.  With this knowledge of the bear's
+habits, she resolved to be ready for him in case he made the attempt.
+The first thing she did, however, was to endeavour to recall the men who
+were at work in the forest.  This was done by taking the other gun from
+the boat and heavily loading it with powder.  This when fired made a
+very loud report.  Three times in quick succession did Mrs Ross thus
+heavily load the gun and fire.  She well knew that if the men were
+within hearing the sounds of these three reports, when there were only
+two guns, would indicate that something was wrong, and that it was
+necessary for them at once to return.
+
+But while the reports were heard by the men and caused them to start on
+their return at once, as was desired, they also startled the bear, and
+so alarmed and frightened him that he immediately sprang into the water
+and began swimming for the mainland.
+
+The situation was exciting and decidedly interesting.  Here on the
+mainland was a lady and three young children.
+
+Their Indian protectors were a couple of miles or so away in the rear,
+and directly in front, swimming toward them, was a great black bear.
+When halfway across from the island he veered a little in order to reach
+a point of rock that projected out a little from the mainland not two
+hundred yards away from where were Mrs Ross and the children.  The
+majority of people would gladly have let the animal escape.  Mrs Ross
+and her children, however, were not of this opinion.  His skin would
+make a beautiful robe, his flesh was good for food, and his fat was the
+substitute for lard in that land, and was therefore valuable.  Then,
+worst of all, had he not eaten the cakes, and especially the jam?  So,
+of course, mother must shoot him when he comes near the shore, if the
+Indians do not arrive in time.  Thus thought the children, anyway.
+
+Mrs Ross first took the precaution to load both guns with bullets.
+Then launching the canoe, she had her children get into it, and giving
+the older two their paddles, which, young as they were, they could
+handle like the Indian children, she gave them their orders.  She would
+go to that point toward which the bear was swimming, keeping herself
+well hid from his sight.  When he was near to the shore she would fire;
+if she did not kill him with the two shots, or only badly wounded him,
+she would, after firing, hurry to a spot where they were to wait for her
+in the canoe, and then embarking with them they would all be safe on the
+water, as they could paddle much faster than the bear could swim, even
+if he should try to catch them.
+
+These were wise precautions in case things did not go as were
+anticipated.  Everything was soon arranged, and then Mrs Ross, taking
+the guns, dropped back a little in the rear, and quietly and quickly
+reached a good position behind a rock, not far from where it was now
+evident the bear intended to land.  Carefully arranging her weapons, she
+waited until the animal was about fifty or sixty yards away, when
+resting one of the guns on the rock, she took deliberate aim at the spot
+between the eyes and fired.
+
+No second ball was necessary, for suddenly the head went down and a
+lifeless body rose and fell on the shining waves.  The bear was stone
+dead, and all danger was at once over.
+
+A shout from the children caused her to look, and there she saw it was
+caused by the arrival of the two Indians, who, almost breathless, had at
+that moment come into view.
+
+As though it were a matter of everyday occurrence, Mrs Ross said to her
+men as they reached her:
+
+"Please carry the guns back to the landing place; tell the children to
+come ashore; and then you two take the canoe and go and bring in that
+dead bear."
+
+The anxiety that had been in the minds of these two Indians during the
+last twenty minutes, while they had been running two or three miles,
+quickly left them, and there was a gleam of pride in their dark eyes to
+think that this cool, brave woman, whose unerring shot had thus killed
+the bear, was of their own race and tribe.
+
+Mrs Ross, although cultured and refined and the wife of a great white
+man, was always the loving friend of her own people, and did very much
+for their comfort and happiness.  Here was something done by her that
+would, if possible, still more exalt her in their estimation; and so
+this story, with various additions and startling situations added on,
+long was a favourite one in many a wigwam, and at many a camp fire.
+
+The bear was soon dragged ashore and skinned.  It was then cut up and
+the meat packed away in the canoe.  And the children rejoiced that that
+bear would never, never steal any more jam.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ELEVEN.
+
+THE WONDERFUL STORY OF APETAK, THE GRATEFUL INDIAN, AND THE DESCRIPTION
+OF THE TRIP TO AND VIEW OF THE SILVER CAVE, AS TOLD BY MR. ROSS AT
+SAGASTA-WEEKEE.
+
+"Tell us a true story to-night," said little Roderick, the youngest in
+the family and the pet of all, as he climbed up on his father's knee.
+
+"Yes, please, Mr Ross," said Sam, "tell us that wonderful story your
+father told you about the old Indian and the silver cave."
+
+It was a capital night for a good story.  The rain was pattering against
+the window panes, while the winds, fierce and wild, were howling around
+the buildings, making it vastly more pleasant to be inside than out,
+even on a first-class hunting excursion.
+
+As Sam's request was re-echoed by all, Mr Ross cheerfully consented,
+and so, when they had gathered around him and taken their favourite
+places, he began:
+
+"My father was in the service of the Hudson Bay Company for many years.
+He began as a junior clerk and worked his way up until he became a chief
+factor, which is the highest position next to that of the governor.
+During his long career in the service he was moved about a good deal
+from one post to another.  The result was, he became acquainted with
+various parts of the country and with different tribes of Indians.
+
+"Many years ago, when he had been promoted to the charge of a fairly
+good port, the incident I am about to tell you took place.  As master in
+charge my father was, of course, as all Hudson Bay Company's officers
+are, very anxious to make large returns of fur each year.  The dividends
+were greatest when the sales were largest.
+
+"Father had perhaps a hundred hunters at his port, who all were more or
+less skillful and successful in this fur hunting.
+
+"There was one old Indian whom we will call Apetak, who was, by all
+odds, the most skillful hunter father had.  Not only was he successful
+in bringing the greatest quantity of furs to the port, but he was most
+fortunate in being able to capture more of the valuable black and silver
+foxes and other of the richest fur-bearing animals.  His great success
+as a hunter thus made him very much of a favourite with my father.  But,
+in addition, he had many very excellent qualities which made him
+respected and trusted by all, both whites and Indians.
+
+"One winter, however, he nearly lost his life.  Shortly after the ice
+had formed on one of the great lakes in his hunting grounds he shot at
+and wounded a great moose.  The animal, mad with the pain of the wound,
+dashed out of the forest and made for the lake, on which was but a
+covering of thin ice.  He was only able to run on it a few yards ere it
+broke under him and let him through into the water.  Apetak did not like
+to lose the animal, as there was good meat enough on him to keep his pot
+boiling for weeks; so he made a noose in a lasso and tried to get near
+enough to throw it over the moose's head, and thus to burden him until
+he could get help to get the body out.
+
+"But unfortunately for him he ventured too far out on the poor ice and
+broke in.  He managed to get out, but the day was bitterly cold and he
+suffered very much.  A bad cold settled upon his lungs, and it seemed as
+though he must die.  When my father heard of this he sent his own dog-
+sled and plenty of blankets to Apetak's wigwam and brought him to the
+trading post, and had him put into a warm, comfortable bed and well
+cared for.  He kept him there all winter, and it was not until spring
+that he was strong and well.  He had thus lost that winter's hunt, as he
+had not been able to set a trap or fire a gun.  However, my father gave
+him the necessary supplies in view of his past services, and for this he
+was very grateful.
+
+"With the bright spring weather he regained his usual health and once
+more entered upon his work.  But he could never forget my father's
+kindness, and was anxious in some way to show his gratitude.  Money
+there was none then in the country, as everything in the way of trade
+was done by barter.  He could not give a present of the rich and
+valuable furs, as he well knew father would not be allowed to accept of
+them, as the company had made a very strict law against anything of the
+kind.  They demanded that all the furs should go into their sale shops,
+and not one of their officials, from the governor to the lowest clerk,
+dare accept as much as a beaver skin as a present from an Indian.
+
+"Thus was Apetak troubled because he had no way of showing his
+gratitude.  The spring passed away and the summer was about half gone
+when one evening Apetak, who had not been seen around the trading post
+for some weeks, suddenly returned.
+
+"During the evening he asked for the privilege of having a few minutes'
+talk with my father.  This, of course, was readily granted.  To my
+father's great surprise he had a strange request to make, and it was
+this: He wanted my father to allow him to blindfold his eyes, and in
+that condition take him on a journey of several days' duration into the
+more remote wilderness.  There would be travelling both by the canoe and
+walking on land.  Then at the right time he would uncover his eyes and
+show him a sight that would please him very much indeed.
+
+"This was a very strange proposition, and for a time my father
+hesitated; but knowing so well the reliable character of Apetak, and
+having in his constitution a good deal of the spirit of adventure, he at
+length consented.  Apetak imposed some conditions upon him that were
+very stringent.  One was that he was under no circumstances to divulge
+to anyone the fact that he was going away blindfolded.  Another was that
+when the journey was completed, and he was safely back at home, he was
+not to try and get there again.  And the last was that for so many years
+he was never even to mention or refer to the matter to anyone, white or
+Indian.  These seemed rather hard conditions, but as father's curiosity
+had now been aroused he at length consented, and in a day or two he said
+to his head clerk:--
+
+"`I think I will go off on a bit of an excursion for a few days.'
+
+"As these were of frequent occurrence, there was no stir or curiosity
+excited.  So, leaving orders as to the business for a few days, he and
+Apetak started off with their guns, blankets, and the usual outfit in a
+birch canoe.  When away from the post Apetak got out the mask, with
+which he blindfolded my father.  It was a most thorough one, not a ray
+of light penetrating it.  When it was fastened on Apetak said:--
+
+"`It will be all right, and you will not be sorry for this trip.'
+
+"Taking up his paddle again, Apetak really began the journey.  At first
+he paddled the canoe round and round, until my father was completely
+bewildered and knew not the north from the south.  Then on and on the
+strong Indian paddled for hours.  Of course he and my father talked to
+each other, and they laughed and chatted away at a great rate.  They
+landed at some portages, and Apetak helped father across, then he went
+back for the canoe and supplies.  Thus on they went for several days.
+At the camp fire long after the sun was down Apetak would remove the
+mask that so blindfolded father, and leave it off until nearly daylight.
+But he never took it off until he had so confused him that, when his
+eyes were uncovered he could not tell which way they had come.  Early in
+the afternoon of about the fourth day Apetak said:--
+
+"`We are nearly at our journey's end.  Soon I will show you what I have
+brought you so far to see.'
+
+"This was good news to my father, who had begun to feel this travelling
+so long with the close covering on his face very irksome.
+
+"Shortly after, Apetak stopped paddling, and, after helping my father to
+land, he lifted his canoe out of the water, and hid it carefully among
+the bushes.  Then, placing a large bundle on his back, including his axe
+and gun, he started on a land journey of some miles.  As my father was
+led along, although he could see nothing, he knew by the rush of air,
+and the way they went up and down hill, that they were in a very broken
+country.
+
+"`Here is the place,' said Apetak.  `Now very soon I will uncover your
+eyes, but before I do it you must follow me into the earth.'
+
+"Then he led my father into what seemed to be an opening on the side of
+a great hill or mountain, and, entering first in, he told my father to
+walk close behind him and keep his hand on him so that he would not be
+lost.  Sometimes the opening was so low that they had to stoop down, and
+in other places they had to squeeze through between the rocks.  After a
+time they stopped.
+
+"`Now,' said Apetak, `I will take off the covering from your face, but
+you will see nothing till I make a light.'
+
+"So it was just as Apetak said.  When the covering was removed from the
+eyes so dense was the darkness that my father saw no better than he did
+with it on.
+
+"However, that great bundle on Apetak's back was composed of torches for
+this place.  And so when the Indian struck a light with his flint and
+steel, and lit up some of these torches, they both could see very well.
+At first sight what my father saw was a great cave, like a large church
+or cathedral, here in the hill or mountain.  Strangely broken was it in
+places, and great columns, like stalactites, were very numerous.  There
+were others that looked like filigree work.
+
+"Said Apetak: `Look at these great things that look like old lead
+bullets.'
+
+"Said my father: `Sure enough, as my eyes became accustomed to the
+place, lit up by these flaming torches, I discovered that a great deal
+that I thought was native rock was really metal.  At first I thought it
+was lead, as so long exposed there it looked like old lead pipes.  But
+when I tried to scrape it with my knife I found it was too hard.  Then
+Apetak used his axe, and managed to cut down a little for me, and to
+scrape or hack it in some other places, and, lo, it was pure silver.
+
+"`At this discovery,' said my father, `I was amazed, for here, visible
+to the eye, were thousands of pounds of silver.'
+
+"We both continued to look around and examine it until we had burnt all
+but the last torch.  It seemed in some places as though the softer rocks
+had gradually dissolved and left the silver here just as we found it.
+In other parts it looked as though in some remote period intense fires
+had melted it, and it had run down and then hardened in these strange
+formations.  Anyway there it was in vast quantities and in various
+forms.
+
+"`How did you find it?' asked my father of Apetak.
+
+"His answer was: `I was hunting in this part of the country, and I
+caught a fine silver fox by one hind leg in a trap.  Just as I came up
+he succeeded in cutting off his leg with his teeth and thus got away.
+I, of course, ran after him, when he suddenly disappeared in the mouth
+of this cave.  As his skin was so valuable I hurried and got some birch-
+bark and balsam gum, and made a large torch, and tracked him by the
+blood from his leg into this place.  My torch went out before I caught
+him, and I was very much frightened for fear I would here die; but I
+managed to find the opening, and got out.  Then I made plenty of torches
+and came in again.  I had to search quite a while before I found my fox
+and succeeded in killing him.  Then I looked around to see what kind of
+a place it was into which the fox had led me.  For the first time I now
+saw all this metal.  I first thought it was lead and would supply me
+with bullets.  I tried to cut it with my knife and could not succeed.
+Then I saw that it was good metal which you call silver, and I knew you
+would be pleased to see it.  So that is the reason that I have brought
+you here.'
+
+"Soon after my father was again blindfolded and brought safely back to
+his home.  He was very much pleased with his wonderful adventure, and
+honourably carried out his part of the agreement.  He never in after
+years attempted to find the cave, nor did he even speak about it for
+many years.  But it is there, nevertheless, and some day the world will
+be startled by the story of its discovery, and of the richness of its
+hidden stores."
+
+With intense interest the boys, as well as the others present, listened
+to this wonderful story.  When it was concluded very many were their
+questions and comments.
+
+Then Sam, springing up on a chair, said:
+
+"I move a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Ross for this splendid story
+about the cave, and when it is discovered may I be on hand!"
+
+Alec seconded the motion and added:
+
+"With great pleasure I second this motion, and may I be a good second,
+close at hand when Sam rediscovers the cave!"
+
+Frank put the motion, and it was carried unanimously.
+
+Mr Ross gracefully responded, and as the fierce storms were still
+raging without, and they listened to the howling of the winds, their
+thoughts went out to those who were upon the stormy seas, and so they
+heartily sang the beautiful hymn wherein is the expressive prayer:
+
+  "O hear us when we cry to Thee
+  For those in peril on the sea."
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWELVE.
+
+NOVEL FISHING--GUNS AND GAFF HOOKS--FRANK'S PLUNGE--LIGHT-HEARTED SAM
+AND HIS STORY--STRANGE BATTLE--PUGNACIOUS JACK FISH.
+
+The boys were quite fascinated by the wonderful story, which is
+undoubtedly true, of the silver cave.  Their imaginations were fired,
+and they longed to start off to find those treasures of silver that in
+that hidden cave somewhere in the foothills of the northern Rockies are
+still hidden away from man's curious, greedy gaze.  Uncertain as are the
+whereabouts of Captain Kidd's long-sought-for treasures is the locality
+of the cave of silver.
+
+Long years ago Apetak, the old Indian, died and carried with him to the
+grave the knowledge of its whereabouts, and old Mr Ross, honourable man
+that he was, made no attempt to find it; neither did he state his
+impressions as to its locality beyond what is mentioned in his recital
+of the story.  But it shows how a good Providence has his treasures of
+wealth for the generations to come.  By and by, when it is needed, it
+will be found and utilised, as will the vast resources of other mineral
+wealth which this great new country has in reserve when the supplies in
+older lands begin to be exhausted.
+
+However, in a few short days the story of the silver cave was less and
+less talked about, and the lads with Indian attendants were more or less
+busily employed in various undertakings.
+
+Sam, who was an enthusiastic fly fisherman, was quite amazed and
+disappointed on finding that there was so little of his favourite kind
+of fishing in this part of the country.  However, although there was a
+lack of success in that kind of fishing, there were many other methods
+that were very successful.  One plan that very much interested them was
+fishing with a net attached to the small end of a pole.  This they used
+in the water, in the same method in which they had been accustomed to
+catch moths and butterflies, with their lighter and frailer nets.  They
+felt quite elated when a large whitefish or lively trout was brought up
+in the almost invisible net.
+
+One day Mr Ross organised a fishing excursion for them, and equipped
+three canoes, with a couple of Indians in each to paddle them.  He
+placed one boy in charge of each of the canoes, and sent them off in
+high spirits to see which canoe would return with the largest load of
+fish.  To the boys alone was to be left the work of securing the fish.
+The Indians were only to attend to the paddling, and as the men in the
+canoe that succeeded in securing the greatest load were to receive, in
+addition to their wages, a flannel shirt apiece they all keenly entered
+into the spirit of the expedition.
+
+All was needed in each boat for this kind of fishing was a good gun and
+a gaff hook with a long handle.  The boys decided to go to Jack River,
+which takes its name from the number of jack fish that used to swarm in
+its waters.  Not many hours' paddling brought them to their destination,
+and then the fun began.
+
+To start even they drew up side by side, and then at the given word away
+they all paddled toward a distant spot, where the Indians knew the fish
+were likely to be found in large numbers.  So evenly matched were the
+canoemen that they were not far apart when they arrived at the
+designated locality.  So they widened the space between their canoes,
+and noiselessly paddled up to where the disturbed waters, and many back
+and tail fins told of the presence of the gamey fish.
+
+For the first firing it was decided that it should be simultaneous, and
+then after that it was each canoe for itself, and they were not to meet
+till they reached Mr Ross's launch.
+
+This method of fishing is very novel.  The guns, heavily loaded with
+powder, are fired as nearly over the fish as it is possible to be done
+from the canoe.  The concussion of the air seems to so stun them that
+they stiffen out on their backs, and there lie apparently dead for a
+minute or so.  The men hunting them, aware of this, the instant they
+have fired immediately set to work with their long-handled gaff hooks,
+and gather in as many as they can ere the fish return to consciousness,
+and those not captured instantly swim off.
+
+When all have been secured at that place as the result of that one heavy
+discharge of the gun, the canoe is paddled away to another spot where it
+is observed that the fish are plentiful near the surface and the process
+is repeated.  So for this kind of fishing all that is necessary is the
+gun, with a plentiful supply of powder, and the gaff hook.  A good deal
+of skill is required for the efficient management of the hook in seizing
+the fish so that it can be successfully landed over the side of the
+canoe.
+
+For a time the success of the boys was about equal, but they did not
+capture after each shot anything like the number of fish that their
+able-bodied, experienced Indians would have done.  It is no easy matter
+to lift a twenty or thirty pound fish by a hook over the side of a
+canoe.  The boat itself is so cranky, and the fish themselves are
+generally so full of life and fight, that there is a good deal of risk
+and excitement, after all, about this kind of sport.  It is no uncommon
+thing for an upset to occur in the risk and glorious uncertainty of
+capturing a large, gamy fellow who makes a stubborn fight.
+
+The three canoes gradually separated, and to judge by the frequent
+reports of the guns they were having a good deal of sport.  About eight
+p.m. they were all back at Sagasta-weekee, and each had a different
+story to tell.
+
+Frank had over a score of very fine fish, and had had only one fall into
+the water.  He had hooked in his gaff a large, vigorous fish, and was
+making the most careful efforts to hang on to him and to lift him over
+the side of the canoe.  Just as he had him nicely out of the water, the
+fish, by a sudden furious struggle, wrenched himself off the hook and
+fell back in the water.
+
+Frank had been so firmly holding on that when the weight of the fish was
+so suddenly gone he could not master his balance, and before an Indian
+could seize hold of him he tumbled head first into the water on the
+other side of the canoe, and the last the Indians saw of him for some
+seconds were the bottoms of his moccasins.  Quickly did he reappear and
+was soon helped into the canoe; but while he pluckily stuck to the sport
+for some time, the prudent Indians persuaded him to allow them to early
+paddle him home.  So he had been the first to arrive.
+
+Sam's canoe arrived somewhat later; he also had a goodly supply of fish.
+As he was saturated with water, the question was at once asked, what
+had been his mishap.
+
+At first he was a little glum about it, but the cry of "Tell us all
+about it," had to be responded to.
+
+It had been decided some time before that on their returning from these
+different excursions each one was to fairly and squarely give the story
+of his misadventures, blunders, and failures, as well as of his triumphs
+and successes.  So Sam had to own up, and he began by the odd question:
+
+"Have you any whales in these lakes or rivers?"
+
+This odd question was met by a hearty laugh all round.
+
+"Well, then, I'm after thinking you must have plenty porpoises, or the
+likes of such things; for I am certain that it was one of such gentry I
+struck to-day."
+
+Happy, light-hearted Sam, bright and cheery he ever was, it was a joy to
+hear him when, with a twinkle in his bright eye, he came out with his
+quaint remarks.  His odd question only the more excited the curiosity of
+his listeners, and so amid the laughter and call for the story of his
+mishaps, he had to let them have it:
+
+"Well, the fact is, we were having a good time, and at every discharge
+of my gun I would stun quite a number and succeeded in getting some of
+them into our canoe with the gaff hook all right.  Getting a little
+careless with my success, I asked the Indian sitting before me to let me
+get in the very front of the canoe.  At one place where I saw a big
+beauty I stood up and reached out as far as I could, and getting the
+gaff hook under him I gave him a great jerk to be sure and have it well
+hooked into him, when, lo and behold, before I could say `Jack
+Robinson,' I was out head first into the water hanging on to my end of
+the pole, while the monster of a fish was at the other on his way to
+York Factory, it seemed to me."
+
+"Why didn't you let go?" said Alec.
+
+"Let go!" he replied, with a comical look, "sure the creature didn't
+give me time to let go; and then, when I came to my senses, didn't I
+remember that the gaff hook, pole, and all belonged to Mr Ross, and how
+could I face him and his gaff hook on its way to York Factory."
+
+No one laughed more heartily than Mr Ross at the quaint answer.  He had
+most thoroughly entered into the enjoyment of this odd adventure.
+
+"Well, where is the gaff now?" he asked.
+
+"Sure, it's in the boat, sir, and the fish, too," said Sam.  "Do you
+think I'd have had the face to come home so early without it?"
+
+This answer amused and more deeply interested all, and so Sam had to
+give the full account of his doings after his sudden jerk over the front
+of the canoe.
+
+Some of these jack fish grow to be six feet in length, and are very
+strong.  It seems it was one of the very largest that Sam had the good
+or ill fortune to hook.
+
+With a tremendous jerk he was fairly lifted out of the boat, and seemed
+to skim along on the water with the fish like a small tug in front
+towing him along.  Fortunately it was in a large, shallow place, where
+the water was not more than four feet deep, and so the fish was unable
+to dive and had to keep near the surface.  As rapidly as possible the
+Indians used their paddles, and so were soon able to seize hold of Sam.
+They found him holding on to the one end of the gaff hook, while on the
+other the now about exhausted fish was still securely fastened.  This
+was the Indian statement of the adventure.
+
+Sam's account was that when he went out of that canoe so suddenly he
+resolved to hang on to his end of that gaff hook as long as the fish did
+at the other.  It was a new sensation, and he enjoyed it amazingly to be
+thus ploughing along through the water towed by a fish.  Then he felt
+sure that the fish could not keep it up very long and the canoe would
+not be far off; so he resolved to hang on to his fish until the men
+picked them both up.  After the first sensation of the ducking, he said
+he much enjoyed the fun.  The water was warm, and he knew that if he had
+to let go he could easily swim until the canoe came to his assistance.
+
+Alec had had no accidents or adventures.  He had often gone out with
+older people fishing in the streams of his native country, where he had
+helped to land the spent salmon after they had been well played by the
+fishermen, and this training had come to his help here; so he had the
+greatest number of the finest fish and the largest, excepting, of
+course, this one monster of Sam's that had played him such a trick.
+
+Only for a short time in each summer can these jack fish be successfully
+captured in this way.  So during the next few days the boys went out
+several times and had some rare sport without any very startling
+adventures.
+
+One day, however, when resting on a high rock that overhung the deep
+waters of the lake they were visiting, they were the spectators of a
+battle between two fierce jack fish that fought and grappled and tore
+each other with all the ferocity of bulldogs.
+
+As such sights are extremely rare, we will give a description of this
+marine battle.  A number of the female fish were first observed slowly
+passing through the clear waters and depositing their roe on the
+gravelly bottom.  Following in the rear were several of the male fish.
+They were, as usual, extremely jealous of each other, but for a time
+made no attempt at hostilities.
+
+It is a well-known fact that a person situated some height directly over
+water can see much farther down into it than those who are close to its
+edge.  So in this case the boys could see the fish distinctly, and also
+the gravelly bottom of the lake.  While interested in watching the
+movements of the fish, suddenly there was a commotion among them, and
+the boys were excited and amazed to see two of the largest of the jack
+fish suddenly seize each other in their enormous jaws and make the most
+determined efforts to conquer.  So securely locked together were their
+jaws that in their struggles they several times rolled over and over in
+the water.
+
+After a minute or two of this desperate struggling they separated and
+seemed to be in distress.  But their fury was not spent, and so after
+circling around in the water a little they rushed at each other with the
+greatest speed, almost like two fierce rams.  Then with open mouths
+again they bit and tore each other, until once more locking their jaws
+they each exerted all their strength to vanquish their opponent.  Thus
+it went on until they had had several rounds in this fierce way.  How it
+would have ended we know not.  As they fought they moved along the
+coast, and in order to see them to advantage the boys had to shift their
+position.  One of them unfortunately rose up so high that, the sun being
+behind him in the heavens, his shadow was cast on the waters over the
+two fierce combatants.  As quick as a flash they let go their grip on
+each other and dashed off in opposite directions.
+
+Very much disappointed were the boys that the battle came to such an
+abrupt termination.  They would have liked to see such a strange
+conflict fought out to the end.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land, by Egerton R.  Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
+
+MISSION VILLAGE--SELF-DENYING TOILERS--PLEASANT VISITS--FLOURISHING
+SCHOOL--SYLLABIC CHARACTERS--COMPETITIVE SPORTS--ARCHERY--FOOT RACES--
+WRESTLING--SWIMMING--CANOE RACES.
+
+Not many miles from Sagasta-weekee was an Indian mission village.  There
+a devoted missionary, Mr Evans, with his brave wife and a lady teacher,
+Miss Adams, were nobly toiling and were not unsuccessful in their
+efforts to Christianise and then to civilise the Indians.  They were
+pursuing the right methods in trying to Christianise first, as it has
+ever seemed an impossibility to get much of an abiding civilisation out
+of a pagan Indian.  However, this devoted man with his helpers was not
+toiling in vain.  It is true that there were not many encouragements in
+their efforts to civilise in a land where hunting and fishing were
+nearly the only way by which a livelihood could be obtained.
+
+One day there came from the mission an invitation to all at Sagasta-
+weekee who could come, to attend the annual examination of the village
+school, and to observe the progress made by the Indian children in the
+studies both in the Indian and English languages.
+
+Mr Ross had taken, since the beginning of the mission, a great interest
+in the school, and not only attended at these examinations, but donated
+prizes for competition among the children.
+
+Frank, Alec, and Sam were delighted to be included among the invited
+ones, as their curiosity was aroused to see the Indian youngsters in the
+school.  They had seen them at their sports, and had admired their
+cleverness with their bows and arrows, and had almost envied the skill
+and daring with which they could, in rapids or on stormy waters, manage
+their light canoes.
+
+When the morning arrived for the visit, Mr Ross sent on a canoe well-
+loaded with supplies for a substantial lunch for the children when the
+examinations were over, and he gave a hint to the boys that if they had
+anything extra lying around that they did not specially need they would
+doubtless have an opportunity to make some little dark-eyed, swarthy-
+faced Indian children rejoice.  So the hint was taken, and in due time
+they all embarked in their canoes, and, adding their own strokes to
+those of the strong Indians who had been secured by Mr Ross, they were
+at the mission village before nine o'clock.  They met with a very
+cordial greeting from Mr and Mrs Evans, and also from Miss Adams.
+
+It was a great pleasure to the boys to see the Indian children in the
+school.  Very frequently when the weather was fine had Mr Ross brought
+his family and guests to church on Sabbath mornings, but, as up to the
+present time the young white gentlemen had not yet visited the mission
+on a week day, all they saw now was novel and interesting.  It was
+arranged that the school examinations should take place in the forenoon;
+then, after they had partaken of the handsome lunch which Mr Ross had
+prepared for them, they were to have the usual games and sports in the
+afternoon.
+
+A number of prizes were to be contended for by the young Indians.  It is
+true that from a civilised standpoint these prizes would not be
+considered of much value, but by these young Indians they were much
+valued.  And then the honour of being the winner is just as much prized
+by them as it has ever been in more highly favoured lands.
+
+The missionary had the worthy idea in his mind that, as these native
+races have so little literature in their own language, the sooner they
+learned English the better for them.  The result was that all the
+lessons were in the two languages, with a decided preference for the
+English as their studies advanced.
+
+This was the first opportunity the boys had had of seeing the methods,
+by which Mr Evans's syllabic characters were taught to the Indians.
+With a home-made blackboard, and a very white kind of clay as a
+substitute for chalk, these syllabic characters were put down upon the
+board like the alphabet, and there to be studied like the A, B, C's.  It
+was committed to memory.  The peculiarity about it, as the name
+"syllabic" implies, is that each character is a syllable, and so there
+is really no spelling in the language.
+
+These are phonetic in character, and so, when the thirty-six characters
+are impressed upon the memory, all that remains to be done is to open
+the book, be it Bible, Testament, hymn book, prayer book, or catechism,
+and begin to read; no long, tedious efforts at learning to spell first
+words of one syllable, then words of two syllables, and so on.  Each
+character is a syllable, and thus the method of learning to read is so
+simple that the intelligent boys and girls learn to read in their own
+language in a few weeks.  Even many of the old people, when they
+renounce their pagan life and become Christians, readily get to
+understand these characters and learn to read.
+
+With the mastery of English, and learning to read in the ordinary way,
+the work is very much slower.  Still even here there is some progress,
+and the visitors were all pleased with the intelligence and aptitude of
+the scholars, both boys and girls.  Mr Ross, who understood their
+language perfectly, at Mr Evans's request conducted the examinations,
+and Mrs Ross presented the prizes.
+
+After the hearty lunch, which was very much enjoyed by the youngsters--
+for Indians have glorious appetites--the sports and competitions for
+various prizes began.
+
+The highest prize, a good gun, presented by Mr Ross for archery, was
+won by a son of Mamanowatum, "Big Tom," and richly did he deserve it.
+At a hundred yards he sent every arrow of his well-filled quiver
+whizzing through a paper hoop not three feet in diameter.  For this
+prize there were several competitors, and some of the lads did well; but
+only the winner sent every arrow through, so this one was easily
+decided.
+
+The "many arrow" prize was not so easily decided, as there were many
+competitors and they were evenly matched.  This was a competition among
+them to see who could get the greatest number of arrows into the air at
+the same time.  The method is this.  Only one competes at a time.  He
+fills his quiver with arrows and places it on his back as he would to
+carry it in hunting.  Then he steps out a few feet in front of the
+crowd, who to escape accident from falling arrows are all behind him.
+He is allowed to feather the first arrow in the bow string, and then at
+a given signal he instantly shoots.  The object is to see how many
+arrows he can shoot into the air before the first one fired reaches the
+ground.  It is a very interesting sight to watch a contest of this kind.
+The eye can hardly follow, not only the arrows, but the rapid movements
+of the archer, as he draws the arrows and shoots them with all his might
+up into the blue sky above.  Eight, ten, yes, sometimes even a dozen
+arrows are thus sent with wondrous rapidity, sometimes following so
+closely that it seems at times to the eye as though some succeeding
+would catch up to the ones just on ahead.  The greater rapidity of the
+arrow just leaving the bow than that of those some hundreds of feet up
+adds to this delusion.
+
+This was ever with the Indians, ere the introduction of guns, a very
+favourite sport, not only in these forest regions, but among the wild,
+warlike tribes of the prairies.  Exciting contests were numerous, and
+sometimes rivals from different tribes contended for the honours in this
+and other kinds of archery practice and feats of skill with the bow and
+arrow.  Catlin's brush has given us one of these exciting scenes.
+
+After the various kinds of archery competitions the foot races began.
+The first was the long race over a course that had been marked out for
+two miles of a shore and back.  It was not all an unbroken sandy beach.
+Out in some places there were rock obstructions, and in others dense
+underbrush.  It was a race over a course that could well be styled good,
+bad, and indifferent.  It was one not only to test the endurance of the
+lads, but to develop their judgment in the quickness of decision when in
+a part full of difficulties.  About a dozen competitors entered for this
+race, and there were three prizes that were well-earned.
+
+Then there were races for shorter distances, which were well run.
+
+When the half-mile race was about to be run, which was open to all
+comers, Alec rather mischievously suggested to Sam that he ought to
+enter for this, as his practice in that famous escapade with the bear,
+where he ran with such marvellous rapidity, might have turned out a good
+training for this occasion.  To the surprise of all, when Frank added
+his banter to the others, Sam sprang up and asked permission from Mr
+Ross, who was somewhat amused at this request, as he felt sure Sam would
+be hopelessly beaten; but he readily granted Sam's desire.  Surprises
+often come from unexpected quarters.  Sam quickly stripped off his outer
+garments and, much to the Indians' delight, took his place among them.
+Over twenty competitors started.  The race was a spurt from the
+beginning.  To the surprise and delight of the whites, Sam came in
+second, being only beaten by Emphasis, a noted runner, and whose name
+means "the young deer."
+
+Old Kapastick, the chief, was so delighted with Sam's success that he
+presented to him a second prize, which was a pair of beautiful Indian
+moccasins.
+
+After these running races were the wrestling matches, and as Sam's
+success had fired the ardour of both Alec and Frank, and had raised him
+so much in the eyes of the Indians; they asked permission to try their
+sturdy English and Scottish strength against the supple agility of these
+lithe Indians.  For good reasons Mr Ross only permitted one of them to
+enter into this competition, and as Frank had a school reputation among
+his chums at home he was settled on to uphold the honour of the paleface
+against the dark-skinned Indians.  Eight competitors entered the lists,
+so there were four pairs of wrestlers, and the conquerors in each bout
+would have to wrestle with each other, until eventually the prize winner
+would have to throw three competitors.
+
+At this time there was great interest in wrestling contests, but being
+objected to by so many they have about disappeared in these later years
+from the Indian mission schools.
+
+The competitors were all placed in pairs upon the green, soft grass, and
+warned not to get angry, but each to do the best he could to down his
+opponent.  It was "catch as you can," and get your opponent down until
+both of his shoulders at the same time touch the ground.
+
+Face to face, and with their hands extended so that they just touched
+their opponent's, they waited the "How" of the chief to begin the
+exciting struggle.
+
+Frank was matched against a splendid young fellow, lithe and supple as
+an eel.  So quick was he that, as Frank afterward said, "Before he had
+more than heard the word `go,' the fellow seemed to wind himself around
+me and twist all over me."  But Frank had what boys know as the "power
+to hold his feet," and so, in spite of the cyclonic attack, he stood
+firm and solid merely on the defensive, until he got a home grip that
+suited him, and then with one quick, skillful twist he laid out his
+opponent so neatly on the grass that the crowd gave him quite a cheer, a
+difficult thing for an Indian crowd to do.
+
+The other three pairs of contestants being Indians, and up to all Indian
+wiles, struggled much longer ere the victors were announced.  Now the
+four conquerors in these struggles were again matched, two against two.
+
+When Frank tried his favourite trick, which had won him his first
+victory, he found that his second competitor had, although busy at the
+time with his first opponent, observed it, and was not to be so easily
+caught.  Then Frank, after they had each tried various schemes well-
+known to good wrestlers, very suddenly seized him fair and square around
+the waist as they stood face to face, and, by what the boys know as the
+"back-hold," threw him neatly and cleverly on his back.  So Frank by
+throwing the two had thus won the right to contend in the final struggle
+for the prize with the victor who, like himself, had also thrown two
+opponents.
+
+Very excited yet very good-humoured were the people, whites and Indians.
+There was no betting or anything else to make anyone mad or angry.  It
+was a friendly tussle of strength between young lads under the eye of
+the missionary, who was ever at the front in their sports, and hence his
+marvellous influence over them for good.
+
+The final struggle was a very close and continued one.  Each had his
+clever tricks and plans, but they were well met by the other side.
+After a time Frank thought he had a splendid back-hold, and suddenly
+tried to finish the contest like he had the second one.  But he had a
+different lad this time.  His supple _vis-a-vis_ so quickly turned
+around in his grasp that, when Frank landed him on the ground, the
+laughing Indian lad was fair on his face instead of on his shoulders.
+Mr and Mrs Ross and the mission party led the crowd in the applause as
+they witnessed the clever trick.  Up again and at it with varying
+success.  There was one other method sometimes tried elsewhere that
+Frank had in his mind when he had failed in his other plans.  He had
+sometimes tried it, but had not often been successful in doing so, as
+his white competitors were generally on their guard against it.  He
+hesitated to try it here from the fact that his supple opponent was so
+slightly clothed there was but little upon which to get much of a grip.
+All these Indian lads had stripped to their moccasins, leggings, and
+loin cloths, while Frank had only taken off his coat and vest.  However,
+as Frank was not able to succeed in other ways he determined to try it,
+but to insure success he must not let his opponent have any suspicion of
+it.  So as they struggled in various ways Frank several times so gripped
+him that he lifted him off his feet in a way that, after the first few
+times, the Indian seemed to be amused at it.  This was just what Frank
+wanted, and so he let him have his laugh, while, alert against any
+surprise, he watched for the right instant, and then suddenly, when it
+came, he gripped him by the loin cloth and so completely threw him over
+his head that he had him on his back with both shoulders on the ground
+ere the crowd, quick and watchful as they were, could realise how it had
+been done.  A cheer greeted this well-earned victory, and Frank said he
+had had enough for one day.
+
+Frank was the idol of the Indian lads from that hour, and to many a one
+had he to show how that clever feat had been performed, until they were
+able to do it themselves, to the astonishment of Indian boys from other
+villages with whom they competed.
+
+As the spirit of emulation was up in every heart, Frank and his comrades
+went in for the swimming contest, which took place in the beautiful bay
+not far from the spot where stands the schoolhouse.
+
+The white lads held their own for a time, but as the course marked out
+was new to them and they were out of practice, while the Indian lads had
+been in almost daily drill for the event, until they were as much at
+home in the water as otters, they gradually forged ahead, and not being
+so fleshy as their white competitors they nearly all of them came in as
+victors.
+
+However, our boys were glad to have had the glorious swim, and only
+regretted that, amid the many other sports in which they had had such
+pleasure since their arrival, they had not given more attention to
+swimming.  Alec was not slow in saying that he believed, if they had
+been in practice for a few days, they would not have all been at the
+tail end of the string at the close of the race.
+
+The closing contests were the canoe races.  For them the prizes were
+given by the Hudson Bay Company's officials.  These gentlemen were
+present at the previous contests, and had been very much interested.
+First there were races where only one lad was in each canoe.  In
+addition to paddling out to and around a certain island they were to
+twice, out in deep water, upset their canoe and, unaided, get into it
+again.  This was rare sport, and while to persons unacquainted with
+these youngsters, who are as much at home in the water as beavers, it
+would seem dangerous, such a thing as any of them coming to harm is
+unknown.  The cleverness with which they would turn over and upset the
+canoe and then get into it, never over the side but at the end, was
+marvellous.
+
+These various races, some with two, and others with four, Indian lads in
+them, were well contested, and gave great pleasure to all the
+spectators.
+
+At the close the Indian boys, who perhaps were none too well satisfied
+with the white lads for having carried off both a first and second
+prize, went to Mr Ross, and through him challenged the white boys to a
+canoe race.  This our lads promptly accepted, but, of course, demurred
+against the canoe upsetting process and climbing in again.  This was
+agreed to by the Indian boys, and it was decided the race was to be to a
+large rocky island about a mile out and return.  They were, however,
+both to paddle twice around the island ere they returned on the home
+stretch.
+
+Two canoes were selected; and the Hudson Bay chief Factor was appointed
+the judge.  Ever since the arrival of the boys in the country they had
+been learning how to manage the frail but beautiful birch canoe, and so
+were no unworthy competitors to these young Indians, whose summer lives
+were almost all spent in paddling their light canoes.  A good start was
+made, and while the alert Indians secured the advantage the good, steady
+paddling of the heavier white boys enabled them, ere the island was
+reached, to have their canoe a good half-length ahead of their dusky
+opponents.  But here at the island the long practice of the Indians in
+the management of the canoe gave them a decided advantage.  While Alec,
+who plied the stern paddle, and thus was responsible for the turning
+round and round the island, was cautiously and safely doing his work,
+the Indians with a flash and a laugh went round and round, cutting off
+corners where he never dreamed there was sufficient depth of water, and
+were away on the home stretch with so many lengths to their advantage
+that, in spite of their magnificent finish, our boys were utterly unable
+to catch up.
+
+The Indians winning this race put everybody in the best of humour, and
+when, after a hearty lunch at the Mission House, our party paddled home
+in the long summer gloaming it was voted to have been one of the most
+delightful of days.
+
+Good resulted from this visit in various ways.  From that day forward
+Frank and his comrades were very much more interested in mission work.
+Although their families were members of different churches in the home
+land, and all were interested in missionary operations for the genuine
+benefit and uplifting of earth's millions who were in the darkness of
+paganism, here for the first time the boys had the opportunity of seeing
+for themselves something that was being done for these once degraded red
+men, around whom such a halo of romantic interest has ever gathered.
+
+Then it was instructive to these sturdy, active white boys to come in
+contact with young Indians in their sports and hunting, and to observe
+the points in which each excelled and to study the reasons why.
+
+In the management of the canoe the white boys never learn to equal the
+Indian lads, neither could it be expected that they could attain to the
+accuracy with which they use their bows and arrows; but in all trials of
+physical strength the Anglo-Saxon ever excels, and, surprising as it may
+appear to some, in shooting contests with gun or rifle the pale faces
+are ever able to hold their own.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
+
+CONJURERS--OLD TAPASTANUM--BOASTING--CHALLENGE ACCEPTED--MEDICINE MAN'S
+TENT--BOGUS BULLET--DETECTED--CONJURER'S DEFEAT AND FALL.
+
+Not long after the visit to the mission and the School Mr Ross was
+visited by a number of old pagan medicine men and conjurers, the most
+noted of them being old Tapastanum, who, having heard of the visit of
+the young gentlemen from across the sea to the family of Sagasta-weekee,
+was anxious to make them a visit of ceremony.  Tapastanum's principal
+reason for a ceremonious visit was that he should not be eclipsed by
+"the Black-coat Man with the Book."
+
+Mr Ross, while receiving these old men as he received all Indians, in a
+civil manner, was not at all kindly disposed toward them, as he knew
+their influence was harmful and that they were a curse and a malediction
+to the people.  Their very presence in an Indian village is a source of
+terror and fear.  They never hunt or fish themselves as long as they can
+frighten other people into being blackmailed by them.
+
+The coming of these men very much excited Sam and Alec, who had heard
+such extraordinary things about them.  Some firmly believe that they are
+in league with the devil, and, by his direct assistance, are able to
+perform all the wonderful things, of which they boast.  Others, however,
+believe that they are rank impostors.  The boys, who had heard so many
+conflicting things about these conjurers, tried to coax Mr Ross to get
+them to show off some of their pretended power.
+
+For a time Mr Ross, who considered them only as clever scoundrels or
+unmitigated humbugs, objected, as he did not wish to seem in any way to
+encourage them.  However, one day as they, from Mr Ross's reluctance to
+put them to the test, became exceedingly boastful of their powers to do
+such wonderful things it was decided to give them an opportunity.
+
+"What do you say you can do?" asked Frank of old Tapastanum.
+
+"Do," he replied, "I can so conjure that you cannot hit me with a
+bullet, or tie me so that I cannot spring up loose; and fire will not
+burn me, or water drown me."
+
+"All right," said Frank, "one thing at a time.  We will try the first,
+and see if we cannot hit you with a bullet."
+
+"What you give?" was the request of the old fellow.
+
+"O, indeed, that is what you are after; well, what do you want?"
+
+At first his demands were very unreasonable, but after some dickering it
+was decided that if he stood the ordeal he was to get an agreed amount
+of flour, tea, sugar, and tobacco.  It was also settled that the ordeal
+should come off the next day.  The conjurer said that he would spend the
+night with his medicine drum and sacred medicine bag, to call back his
+familiar spirit, who might be away hunting.  The boys discussed very
+much the coming contest, and, of course, were profoundly interested.
+They had learned much since their coming into the country about these
+strange, wild, fearsome people, and this with what they had read in
+other days filled them with great curiosity to see what would be the
+outcome.
+
+With Mr Ross and the family the matter was well talked over, and it was
+determined--as Mr Ross considered the conjurer who was to go through
+the ordeal an unmitigated fraud--that he should be taught a lesson that
+he and his cronies would never forget.
+
+When the morning arrived the old fellows were there in good time, and
+the ordeal, which was to-day to be by bullet, was decided upon.
+
+The conjurer selected for the ordeal had not proceeded far in his talk
+before he asked to see laid down at his wife's feet his pay.  This was
+brought out and measured to his satisfaction, with the understanding
+that it was not to be his unless he succeeded.
+
+His preparations were soon completed.  Aided by his comrades, a small
+conjuring tent was made by sticking some long green limber poles in the
+ground, and bending them over like bows until the other ends were also
+made fast in the earth.  Then over these poles a skin tent, made by
+sewing a number of dressed deerskins together, was thrown.  Taking his
+medicine bag and magic drum into this tent, the conjurer disappeared.
+Soon the monotonous drumming began.  In addition there were heard the
+barks and howls and cries of nearly all the animals of the forest and
+prairies.  The sounds were like that proceeding from a wild beast show
+when all the animals are let louse and are uttering their discordant
+notes.  The tent quivered as though in a cyclone.  Thus, for a time it
+went on--the drum beating, the beasts howling, the tent quivering--until
+it seemed utterly inexplicable how one man, could create such a din.
+
+Among the boys, Sam was most excited at these strange proceedings.  Much
+to the amusement of those around, he said:
+
+"I'm thinking the safest place would be on the top of the house, if all
+those reptiles should break loose."
+
+The conjurer now began crying out in his own language: "To help me he is
+coming, my own familiar spirit.  Soon the bullet cannot pierce me; soon
+waters cannot drown me; soon fires cannot burn me.  To help me he is
+coming! coming! coming!"
+
+Thus on he went, while the drumming and howlings were almost incessant.
+
+Mr Ross, who had resolved that there should be no nonsense, had asked
+one of his servants, who was an unerring shot, to do the firing.  In the
+meantime one of the conjurer's associates had asked to see the gun that
+was to be used, and kindly offered to load it.  The suspicions of Mr
+Ross were at once aroused by this request, but wishing to see through
+the man's trick he did not oppose his request.  Soon after a good gun
+was sent for, and also some powder and bullets.  Full measure of powder
+was poured into the gun, and the usual wadding was well driven down upon
+it.  When Mr Ross selected a bullet the friend of the conjurer, with a
+great pretence of awe, asked to see it, and holding it in his hand said,
+"This is the bullet that the familiar spirit will turn aside."
+
+Mr Ross let him look at it, and saw him handling it with much apparent
+reverence, but he also saw him quickly and deftly change it for another
+bullet.
+
+"That's your game, is it?" said Mr Ross but not out loud.  After a
+little more humbuggery the bullet was handed back to be dropped into the
+muzzle of the gun.
+
+If Mr Ross's thoughts could have been heard they would have been
+something like this:
+
+"I have seen through that little trick, and will show you that two can
+play at that game."
+
+And so without exciting the suspicion of the Indian, whose trick he had
+detected, he changed the bullet for another, and dropped it into the
+gun.  When the wadding was driven in and placed upon it, the confederate
+of the conjurer asked for the privilege of being allowed also to help
+ram it down.  Mr Ross saw his meaning and cheerfully granted it.  The
+weapon was now loaded and ready for use.  All this time the drumming and
+the conjuring had continued with all their accompaniments of howls and
+shrieks.
+
+In a short time a shrill, low whistle, like the call of some bird, was
+heard, and Mr Ross observed that it was from the lips of the old Indian
+who had pretended to examine the bullet with such awe, but who had in
+reality exchanged it for a perfectly harmless one.  He and the conjurer
+were associates in their trickery.  The bullet had been made in this
+way: A pair of bullet moulds had been heated quite hot, and then some
+bear's fat, which is like lard, had been put inside of them.  Holding
+the moulds shut, and placing them in very cold water, they kept turning
+them around until the melted fat had hardened into a thin shell exactly
+the size of a bullet.  Then a small puncture was made through this thin
+casing of fat, and the interior carefully filled up with fine sand.  It
+was not difficult then to stop up the orifice with a little fat.  It was
+then carefully coloured like a bullet, and at a distance could hardly be
+distinguished from one.  When put in a gun and well pounded with a
+ramrod, of course, it would break all to pieces, and when fired at
+anything like an ordinary distance for ball firing would be perfectly
+harmless.
+
+But Mr Ross's cleverness had been too much for the rogues, and so he
+had changed the bogus affair for a genuine bullet of lead.  To his
+servant, who was to fire, he explained exactly how matters were, and had
+said to him:
+
+"Do not kill the rascal, but give him a wound that will forever stop his
+boastings, and break his power over the poor deluded hundreds, who
+firmly believe he can do what he has so boastfully declared."
+
+The low, shrill whistle call had made a great change upon the conjurer
+in the tent.  He was now all boastfulness, and his cries were like the
+shouts of triumph:
+
+"Waters cannot drown me; bullets cannot pierce me; fires cannot burn
+me."
+
+"Are you sure you are ready?" said Mr Ross.
+
+Shouting his defiance, the conjurer came out from the tent, and walking
+to a place where he knew the fine sand in the bullet of bear's grease
+would not hurt him, he boldly stood up, and stretching out his hands
+defied the shooter to do his best.
+
+"You are sure, are you, that bullets will not hurt you?" said Mr Ross.
+
+Very haughty was the conjurer's reply.  Then said Mr Ross again; "If
+you are hurt, no one will be to blame."
+
+"No, indeed," was the conjurer's reply, "for I have given the challenge,
+and my familiar spirit has told me that the bullets cannot pierce me."
+
+"If you are struck, then you will give up your conjuring, and go and
+hunt for your own living, like other people?"
+
+He hesitated for a moment, but the low, shrill whistle was once more
+heard, and so he fairly shouted out:
+
+"If bullets can pierce me I will forever give up my conjuring, and
+destroy my magic drum and medicine bag."
+
+"All right," said Mr Ross; then, turning to his servant, he said, "Now,
+Baptiste, fire!"
+
+Taking deliberate aim, the man fired, and, as the report rang out, from
+one of the uplifted hands of the conjurer who was standing about fifty
+yards away--there fell a finger, as neatly cut off by the bullet as
+though a surgeon's knife had done the work.
+
+With a howl of rage and pain most decidedly un-Indian-like, the conjurer
+began dancing about, much to the amusement of the boys, who a moment
+before were pale with pent-up excitement; for it is rather trying to
+look on and see in the hands of a skillful marksman a gun loaded with
+ball and pointed at this boastful man, who was willing to put his magic
+against the skill of the finest shot of the country.
+
+Much to the surprise of all but Mr Ross and one or two others who saw
+through the trick, the old fellow, with his wounded hand still profusely
+bleeding, rushed over to his confederate and began abusing him most
+thoroughly for having deceived him.  This attack the man resented, and a
+first-class quarrel was the result.  Around them gathered numbers of
+Indians, and in the mutual recriminations of these two the truth came
+out, and the people saw that they had long been deluded by a pair of
+impostors.  From that, day they were discredited men, and never after
+regained any power or influence.
+
+That evening Mr Ross explained to the boys the whole affair.  He showed
+them the bogus bullet, and explained to them how it was made.  The boys
+admitted that it was a clever trick, and were not satisfied until they
+had made several of them in the manner described.
+
+Thus ended their first and last experience with Indian conjurers, and it
+thoroughly convinced them that they are only cunning impostors.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
+
+OUTING--ALEC AND MUSTAGAN'S SHOOTING CONTEST, OR GUN VERSUS BOW AND
+ARROW-SHOOTING THE SWANS--WAS SAM CROSS-EYED?--THE RETURN TRIP--THE
+ESCAPE OF THE DOE AND FAWN FROM THE WOLF.
+
+As Mr Ross had quite recovered, it was resolved to go again on an
+extended trip to the country in the region of Montreal Point, and have
+some hunting in that section of country.  Some Indian hunters had come
+in from that place, and reported the entire absence of wolves.  This was
+not to be wondered at, on account of the number that had been shot in
+the fierce conflict which there took place.  It is also a fact well-
+known to wolf hunters that when a pack has been severely defeated the
+survivors at once retreat to some distant regions.
+
+As the weather was very fine, Mrs Ross and the younger members of the
+family accompanied them as far as to the Old Fort.  They travelled in a
+large and roomy canoe especially made for them.  It was manned by four
+Indians, who were very proud of their charge.  Frank and Sam, with an
+Indian hunter, occupied another canoe, while Mr Ross had with him Alec
+and Mustagan.
+
+As the ducks and other gamy birds were numerous, they had some good
+shooting from their canoes as they paddled along.  At times they were
+able to fire into large flocks, then again they tried their skill on a
+single bird as it rapidly flew by.
+
+Said Mustagan to Alec: "You take gun, I take bow and arrow, and we see
+who shoot best."
+
+"All right," said Alec, "I'll try."
+
+So it was decided that when the next duck flew over them Alec was to try
+first.  If he missed, Mustagan was to shoot, and thus they would
+alternately fire--first Alec, and then Mustagan; then Mustagan first,
+and then Alec.  The one who killed five ducks or other game first was to
+be considered victor.  Mr Ross, who entered heartily into the spirit of
+the contest, took the steering paddle while the white lad and the old
+Indian tried their skill.  It was a contest between gun and powder
+_versus_ bow and arrow.
+
+Soon a fine mallard duck came flying along.  Alec let drive at it, and
+missed.  Quick as a flash Mustagan's bow was up and his arrow sighted
+and sent after it with such accuracy that it caught it fairly under one
+of the wings, killing it instantly.
+
+"The best shot I ever saw!" shouted Alec, in genuine admiration.
+
+The head of Mustagan's arrow was the thigh bone of the wild swan, which
+is about solid, and makes a capital arrow head for duck shooting, as it
+is heavy, and can be made so sharp as to easily pierce the body of the
+game.
+
+The next object was a solitary beaver sitting on a bank quite
+unconcerned.  Mr Ross said afterward that in all probability it was an
+old, sullen fellow that had been driven away by the others from some
+distant beaver house, and had come and dug a burrow somewhere in that
+bank and was there living alone.
+
+As it was Mustagan's turn to shoot first, he carefully selected his
+heaviest arrow, the head of which was a piece of barbed steel.  Having
+examined the shaft to see that it was perfectly straight, he shot it
+with all his strength.  No need for Alec to fire, for deep down into the
+skull of the animal had the steel head gone, instantly killing him.
+When it was lifted into the canoe Alec was surprised at the size of its
+tail, and more than amazed when told that it was one of the luxuries of
+the country.  It was one of the favourite dishes of the supper that
+evening.  The other luxuries, Mr Ross added, were the bear's paws and
+the moose's nose.
+
+As they paddled on Mustagan suddenly shaded his eyes for a moment, then
+quickly said:
+
+"Wap-i-sew! wap-i-sew!"  ("Swans! swans!")
+
+Word was quickly shouted to the other boats of their coming, and to try
+and shoot some of them if possible.  Swans' feathers are much prized in
+that land for beds.  Their meat, however, is not considered equal to
+that of the wild goose.  As they fly with great rapidity they were not
+long in coming within range.  There was a large flock of them, and they
+were flying, as they usually do, in a straight line.  This flock must
+have risen up very recently, as they were not more than fifty feet above
+the water.
+
+"I killed beaver.  Your turn first now," said Mustagan to Alec.  "But I
+fire just after you."
+
+Alec had at Mr Ross's suggestion dropped a half dozen big buckshot in
+the barrel of his gun on the top of the charge of duckshot.  The instant
+the first swan of the long straight line was in range he fired.  To his
+amazement, while the first and second passed on unhurt, the third swan
+dropped suddenly into the water; and a second or two after another,
+about the twentieth in the line, also fell.  Soon reports from other
+guns were heard, as the friends in the other canoes in the rear fired,
+and Mrs Ross was delighted to have the feathers of six beautiful white
+swans to take home with her when she returned.
+
+The most perplexed one in the party for the time being was Alec.  Mr
+Ross had observed it, and half suspecting the cause asked what it was
+that was bothering him.  His answer was:
+
+"I cannot understand how it should have happened that when I aimed and
+fired at the first swan it and the second should pass on unhurt and the
+third fall dead."
+
+He was very much surprised when Mr Ross explained that he had not
+calculated for the speed with which the wild swan flies.  Although such
+a large and heavy bird, the swan flies with a rapidity excelled by very
+few.  The wild ducks and geese are easily left behind by the beautiful
+and graceful swans.
+
+When the swans were picked up the journey was resumed, and the friendly
+contest between Alec and Mustagan continued.  Soon a large flock of
+ducks flew over them.  It being Mustagan's turn he fired, and as his
+arrow returned it was in the heart of a splendid duck.  Alec, watching
+his opportunity, fired where a number were flying close together, and
+had the good fortune to bring down four at the one shot.  This, of
+course, gave him the victory.  And no congratulations could have been
+more kindly or sincere than were those of the big-hearted Mustagan.
+
+In the meantime those in the other canoes had their own adventures and
+excitements.  Sam had the good fortune to kill one of the swans,
+although he said afterward that he thought he must have been cross-eyed
+when he fired, as the one which fell was the third or fourth behind the
+one at which he aimed.
+
+In his amusing way Sam's irrepressible spirit was up, and, in a half-
+moralising way at such erratic shooting, he said: "indeed, when I saw
+that swan fall I began to think I must have been like the old
+schoolmaster that my father used to tell about, in the old times when he
+was a boy, that when he was angry would shout out, `Will that boy I am
+looking at stand up?'  And do you believe it, ten or a dozen would rise
+trembling to their feet in different parts of the schoolhouse."
+
+The Old Fort was reached early in the afternoon, and at one of the
+favourite camping places on the western side of the rushing waters of
+the great river that comes pouring out of Lake Winnipeg they went
+ashore.  The active Indians soon had an abundance of dry wood cut and
+gathered.  The fires were soon brightly burning, and the meal was
+prepared.  Around it clustered the happy hungry ones, and very much did
+they enjoy their dinner out in the sunshine amid the beauties of this
+romantic spot.
+
+Mrs Ross and the children, escorted by Mr Ross and our three lads,
+went for a long ramble through the woods, looking for some rare and
+beautiful ferns which here abound.  They succeeded in getting quite a
+number of fine specimens, which they carefully dug up to be planted in
+the grounds around Sagasta-weekee.  Some beautiful wild flowers were
+also found, and several small young mountain ash trees were carefully
+dug up and carried home.
+
+After this delightful ramble, which was without any exciting adventure,
+they all returned to the camp, where they found that tea had already
+been prepared for them by the thoughtful Indian canoemen.  When this was
+partaken of, Mrs Ross and the young people embarked in their capacious
+canoe for the return trip, and under the vigorous paddling of their four
+canoemen reached Sagasta-weekee before midnight.
+
+The only excitement they had on the way was the seeing a beautiful deer
+and her young fawn swimming in the water a long way out from the shore.
+They gave chase and caught up to the beautiful frightened creatures.
+Mrs Ross would not allow the men to kill either of them, as she did not
+want the children to be shocked by the death of such beautiful, timid
+animals, especially as the solicitude manifested by the mother deer was
+very interesting to observe.
+
+At first even the experienced Indians were perplexed at the sight of the
+deer with her young fawn in this broad water so far from land.
+Generally while the fawns are so small the mother deer keeps them hid in
+the deep, dark forests, only going to them when it is necessary for them
+to suckle.
+
+It was not very long before these Indians had an idea of the cause for
+the unusual conduct of this deer.  So they began watching very carefully
+the distant shore, from which the deer had come, and after a while one
+who had been shading his eyes gave a start and whispered earnestly:
+
+"Wolf! wolf!"
+
+And sure enough there was, for trotting up and down on the shore was a
+great, fierce, northern grey wolf, he must have got on the trail of the
+deer and alarmed her, but not before she had time to rush from her
+retreat with the fawn and spring into the water.  They must have got
+quite a distance out from shore before the wolf reached the water, as
+the Indians said, judging by the way the wolf ran up and down on the
+beach, trying to find the trail; he had not seen them in the water.
+
+Wolves do not take to water like bears.  It is true they can swim when
+necessary, but they cannot make much of a fight in the water.  A full-
+grown deer can easily drown a wolf that is rash enough to dare to attack
+him in the deep water.  The Indians would have liked to have gone ashore
+and made an effort to get in the rear of the wolf and had a shot at him,
+but this was at present out of the question.  So they only paddled in
+between the swimming deer and fawn and the shore from whence they had
+come.  This enabled them to escape to the shore opposite from the wolf.
+Shortly after, as the wolf, so angry at being baffled of his prey while
+the scent was so hot on the shore, came running along in plain sight.
+The Indians carefully fired a couple of bullets at him.  These, while
+not killing him, went near enough to cause him to give a great jump of
+surprise and alarm, and to suddenly disappear in the forest.
+
+"Sometime soon we get that wolf," said one of the Indians.
+
+How he did get it we will have him tell us some time later on.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
+
+THE OLD FORT AGAIN--AURORA BOREALIS--UNEXPECTED ARRIVALS--FUR TRADERS--
+HEAD WINDS--CAMP ANNOYANCES--CAMP FIRE YARNS.
+
+We must now return to our other friends, whom we left at the Old Fort.
+Some days were spent at this favourite old hunting ground.
+
+With Mr Ross the boys visited the site of their former camp, where the
+cyclone wrought such havoc, and where they had had such a narrow escape.
+They were all amazed as they examined the trunks of the trees twisted
+off, and saw how, like a swath of grass cut through a meadow, the
+irresistible hurricane had swept through the dense forest.
+
+Never had any of them seen anything to equal this, and they were very
+grateful for providential deliverance.  They investigated the rocks and
+boulders, and Mr Ross gave them his ideas as to the formation of the
+great prairies of the West, over which he had so often wandered, and
+where Sam, Alec, and Frank expected, in a year or so, to spend some
+happy months.
+
+To the boys the evening camp fire on the rocks, with the rippling waters
+of lake or river at their feet and the dark back ground of unexplored
+forest, was always intensely interesting, with its review of the day's
+adventures, the picturesque Indians, and preparation for the evening
+meal, enjoyed with such glorious appetites.  Then, after the sun had
+gone down in splendour, and the long twilight began to fade away, the
+stars came out of their hiding places, one by one, until the whole
+heavens seemed aglow with them, for they shone with a radiance and
+beauty that was simply indescribable.  Then, if not too tired to wait
+for their arrival, how fascinating often were the auroral displays, the
+mysterious "northern lights."  If they were sleepy and tired, when some
+of these field night displays began, they soon forgot their weariness as
+they gazed, at times fairly fascinated by the wondrous visions that were
+theirs to witness.  Never did they see a glorious display exactly
+repeated.  There was always a kaleidoscopic change; yet each was very
+suggestive and beautiful.  Sometimes they mounted up and up from below
+the horizon like vast arrays of soldiers, rank following rank in quick
+succession, arranged in all the gorgeous hues of the rainbow.  They
+advanced, they receded, they fought, they conquered, they retreated, and
+they faded away into oblivion.  Then great arches of purest white
+spanned the heavens, from which streamers red as blood hung quivering in
+the sky.  Then, after other transformations, a corona filled the zenith
+and became a perfect crown of dancing, flashing splendour that long hung
+suspended there above them, a fit diadem, they thought, for the head of
+Him who was the creator of all these indescribable glories.
+
+Thus in the beauties of the night visions, and in other sights peculiar
+to the North, there were compensations for some of the privations
+incident to being so remote from the blessings of civilisation.  These
+new scenes, both by night and by day, were sources of great pleasure to
+the boys, as their tastes were fortunately such that these visions had a
+peculiar charm for them.  Then, with their full program of delightful
+sports, they were indeed having a most joyous holiday.
+
+But our readers are not to understand that during all these months there
+was nothing but continued enjoyment without some genuine hardships.
+There were at times some very serious drawbacks, and the boys had to
+muster up all their courage and face some annoyances that were
+exasperating in the extreme.  And these hardships and trials were as
+likely to meet them when they would have rejoiced in refreshing slumber
+as during the weariness of a heavy day's marching on the trail of some
+game.
+
+One of the great drawbacks to quiet slumber during the sultry hours of
+the hot summer nights were those intolerable pests, the mosquitoes.  At
+times they were simply unendurable.  They came in such multitudes that
+they were irresistible.  They presented their bills so importunately
+that payment had to be made promptly in blood.  Some nights the boys
+could hardly sleep at all.  Every expedient was tried to drive them off.
+Smoke fires were kindled, and all other known remedies were tried, but
+all in vain.  Blistered hands, swollen faces, eyes that would only half
+open, some mornings told of the long-continued, unsuccessful battles
+that during the nights past had been fought; and, to judge from
+appearances, the lads had been most thoroughly defeated.  Said Sam one
+morning, after a night of misery with the insatiable pests:
+
+"I see now why the rascals are called pious animals--because they have
+been singing over us and preying on us all the night; but in spite of
+all their efforts I am sure I am none the better, but much the worse,
+both in body and spirits."
+
+"I say, Big Tom," said Alec, "what is the good of mosquitoes anyway?"
+
+"To teach young white gentlemen patience, to see what stuff they are
+made of," said the old man, while all were amused at his apt reply.
+
+"We hardly notice them," continued Big Tom, in his slow, deliberate
+manner; "and so it will be with you all after a time.  Mosquitoes are
+peculiar, and have their likes and dislikes.  One of their likes is to
+be fond of fresh blood, and so they go for the latest arrivals, and one
+of their dislikes is not to care much for tough old Injun.  When you
+have been here some time, and have been bitten by a great many, you will
+not mind them so much."
+
+"How many?" said Frank.
+
+"About a million," replied Big Tom, "though I don't know how many that
+is."
+
+This answer was too much for Sam, so he sprang up in a hurry and, in a
+semi-tragic manner, exclaimed:
+
+"When does the next train start for home?  I want to see my mother."
+
+This inquiry from the irrepressible Sam provoked roars of laughter, and
+caused them to forget the mosquitoes and their bills.
+
+When the boys arose one morning they were surprised to find a whole
+brigade of boats drawn up on the shore, and the men at various camp
+fires, busily preparing their breakfast.  They had slept so soundly that
+they had not heard the slightest sound.
+
+Mr Ross and the men were up quite a time, and had gone over to chat
+with the two officers of the Hudson Bay Company who had charge of the
+brigade, which was from the Cumberland House and Swan River district,
+and was now on its way up from York Factory with its cargo of goods for
+the next winter's trade.
+
+As breakfast was now ready, Mr Ross invited the two officers of the
+company, Mr Hamilton and Mr Bolanger, to eat with them.  This
+invitation was gladly accepted, and to them were introduced Frank, Alec,
+and Sam, who became very much interested in them, and in the recital of
+various adventures and reminiscences of trading with the Indians in
+various parts of the great country.
+
+The officers, on their part, were very anxious to hear all about the
+gunpowder explosion that had occurred at Robinson's Portage, as all
+sorts of rumours had gone abroad throughout the country about it, and
+especially a story that many persons were killed, among them some young
+English gentlemen, who for a bit of a lark had laid the train of gun
+powder which caused the general flare-up.  The boys were amazed and
+indignant at first, then vastly amused as they saw by the twinkle in Mr
+Ross's eye that he was well acquainted with fondness for banter, which
+was a strong characteristic of some of those Hudson Bay gentlemen.
+
+At first the boys hardly knew how to reply to this absurd reflection.
+Sam was the first to thoroughly understand them, and so in the richest
+brogue of his own green isle, which we will not try to produce in all
+its perfection, he said:
+
+"Och, thin, it's roight ye are, av course.  An' wasn't it too bad
+intoirely, the spalpeen to the loikes of you, an' he too an Englishman!
+Shure, thin, an' didn't he fire the powther through downright invy.  Do
+ye believe me now, didn't he, an' Alec, the Scotchman, sitting there
+foreninst ye, wish to blow John Company, body and breeches, all at wanst
+into the Nelson River for your rascally chating the poor Injuns, that
+they might be after starting a company thimselves."
+
+This sally of Sam's created roars of laughter, and even the slap he gave
+them about their close dealings with the Indians was much enjoyed.  Soon
+all were on the best of terms, and it was a mutual pleasure, in that
+lonely place, to meet and interchange the news of the country, as well
+as to have the flashings of wit and fun and pleasant raillery.
+
+Of course the men of the brigade were anxious to get on, as they still
+had a journey before them.  They had only come from Norway house, a
+distance of twenty miles, the previous day.  They had started, as was
+customary, quite late in the afternoon.  The wind was anything but
+favourable, and so they were obliged to remain where they had drawn up
+their boats.  Their old guide, after scanning the heavens and watching
+the movements of the different strata of clouds, declared that a fierce
+south wind was brewing, and that if they dared to start they would soon
+be driven back to that place.  This was bad news to all, especially to
+the young officers, who were very anxious to get on.  They very much
+dislike long delays in their journeys.  Then it is always in favour of
+an officer seeking promotion in the service if it is known that he has a
+good record for making speedy trips with his brigades.
+
+Here, however, were reports from one whose word was law; so there was no
+help for it, and thus they were here to remain until the wind changed.
+As the indication was for high winds, with perhaps heavy rains, orders
+were issued for the complete safety of the boats and cargoes.  In making
+their preparations for a severe storm the crews of two or three of the
+boats seized hold of the strong rope which was attached to the stem of
+each boat, and by their united strength dragged them, one after another,
+well up on the sand, out of the reach of the waves.  As there are no
+tides in these great American lakes the boats have not to be shifted.
+Heavy tarpaulins were carefully lashed down over the cargo, thus
+preventing the rain from doing any damage.  These precautions turned out
+to be quite unnecessary, as the threatened storm either did not appear
+or passed round them.  Still the wind blew constantly from the south for
+a number of days, and thus the brigade was obliged to remain.  So long,
+indeed, was it detained that the officers had to order the removal of
+the cargo from one of the boats and send it back to Norway House for an
+additional supply of food.
+
+This delay of the brigade was a glorious time for the boys, for among
+the men were some remarkable characters from the great prairies and the
+distant mountains.  Some of them were full of incidents of thrilling
+adventures and wonderful stories; and so, while waiting during the long
+days for the wind to either change or go down, many a capital story was
+told at the pleasant camp fires.  Some of them were narrated with
+wondrous dramatic power.  These Indians are true sons of nature, and,
+while not taught in the schools of oratory, have in many instances a
+kind of eloquence that is most effective, and a dramatic way of speaking
+that is most telling.
+
+There were stories of war parties and of scalping scenes, as well as of
+thrilling horse-stealing escapades.  In addition there was the narration
+of various kinds of hunting adventure from these bronzed old hunters,
+who had frequently met in deadly conflict various kinds of fierce
+animals, from the mountain lion to the grizzly bear.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
+
+THE STORY OF PUKUMAKUNUN--LOOSING HIS TONGUE--HIS EARLY DAYS--EXCURSION
+FOR BUFFALO--TREACHEROUS QUICKSANDS--SINKING MOTHER--SAGACIOUS HORSE--
+SNEAKING WOLVES--RATTLESNAKE AND PRAIRIE DOG.
+
+One old Indian with a splendid physique much excited their curiosity.
+They were specially anxious to know the story of that fearful scar
+across his face.  He was evidently getting up in years, and was treated
+with much respect by his comrades.  However, he was so quiet, and at
+times so reticent, that hardly a word could be got out of him.  That
+there was some thrilling adventure associated with that scar the boys
+were very confident.  The question among them was how to get him to tell
+it.  They made friends with some of his Indian associates, and tried to
+get from them his history.  But all the information they would impart
+was:
+
+"Yes, he has a great story.  It very much please you.  You get him tell
+it."
+
+This, of course, only increased their curiosity to hear his narrative.
+For a time all their efforts met with poor success.  At length Alec, the
+shrewd Scottish lad, said:
+
+"I have an idea that I can break through his reserve and get him to
+talk."
+
+"Let us hear what your scheme is," said Frank.
+
+"It is this," replied Alec.  "I have been watching him, and I have
+noticed that the only two things he seems to have any love for are his
+red-beaded leggings and his brilliant red neckerchief.  So I have been
+thinking that if I offer him that red tartan shirt of mine it will so
+please him that it will break through his reserve, and will get his
+story."
+
+"A capital plan!" shouted Sam; "and if you succeed in getting the
+adventure from him we will gladly pay for the shirt."
+
+The question now was how to find out if this plan would be successful.
+Some of the Indians are very sensitive, and require careful handling.
+However, Mustagan, the famous Indian guide, who had become so very
+friendly with this Indian, undertook at the desire of the boys to
+present their request and, as it were, incidentally to hint at the
+present of the brilliant shirt.
+
+The scheme worked admirably, and here is his interesting story:
+
+His name was Pukumakun, which means a club or a hammer.  He was a
+Kinistenaux Indian, and when he was a boy his family and people lived a
+part of each year on the banks of the Assiniboine River.  Here he grew
+up as other Indian lads, and was early taught the use of the bow and
+arrows, and how to skillfully throw the lasso.  He had his share of
+excitements and dangers, living in those days when warlike tribes were
+not far away.  The war-whoop was no unusual sound, and so they lived in
+a state of constant expectation of defence or attack.
+
+Living on the prairies, he was, as soon as he was large enough, taught
+how to ride the fiery native horses until he could manage the wildest of
+them.  Living such a life, he naturally had many adventures.  The one
+that is most vividly impressed on his mind, and the constant reminder of
+which he carries in the great scar on his face, is the one that he here
+gives the boys.
+
+It was many years ago when, as a boy of about twelve years of age, he
+was living with his father and mother in an Indian village not far from
+the Assiniboine.  As game was not very plentiful that season in that
+part of the country, it was decided that they should break camp and go
+on a great buffalo hunt, which would last for several weeks.  While the
+men went to kill the buffalo the women had to go also to dry and pack
+the meat and to make pemmican.  The buffalo herds were far away, and so
+it was many days' journey before they were found.
+
+One day while they were travelling along over the prairies Pukumakun had
+the misfortune to be bitten on his leg by a poisonous snake.  His
+mother, having first killed the snake, then sucked the wound until she
+had drawn out nearly all the poison.  By this brave act she undoubtedly
+saved his life.  However, there was still enough of the poison left in
+his system to make him very sick and cause his leg to swell greatly.
+The result was he could not travel as fast as the buffalo hunters, who
+were anxious to reach the herds.  So it was decided that he should be
+left with his mother to follow as rapidly as they could.  So painful
+became his leg from the exercise of the riding that at length he was
+unable to mount his horse.  His brave mother stuck to him, and continued
+to help him along for some days.  To make matters worse, one of their
+two horses disappeared one night.  Still, on they pushed as well as they
+could with the remaining one, and at length reached a river with many
+sandbars.  Here the noble woman, in trying to carry him across, got into
+the quicksands and began to sink.  In vain she tried to pull her feet
+out of the treacherous sands.  When she would try to lift up one foot
+the other only sank deeper and deeper.  Failing to succeed in this way,
+she lifted him off her shoulders, and, placing him gently beside her,
+tried again to struggle loose from the sands.  But it was all in vain.
+She was held with too tight a grip.  Seeing this, and fearing that
+Pukumakun might also begin to sink in the sands, she again put him upon
+her shoulders, and then both of them shouted and called loudly for help.
+But no help came.  No human beings were within many miles' distance.
+Some prairie wolves heard their voices, and came to the river's bank to
+see what it meant.  They found the bundle of meat there and quickly
+devoured it, but they did not dare to attack the horse, that was eating
+the grass not two hundred yards away.  When they had fought over and
+devoured the food they came to the bank again, and their howls and yelps
+seemed to mock the cries for help of the perishing ones, as deeper and
+deeper they sank in the treacherous quicksands.  But that woman never
+wept, for she was the daughter of a chief.  But we must let Pukumakun
+tell the rest of the story, which fairly thrilled and fascinated the
+boys:
+
+"By and by my feet began to touch the water, which ran a few inches deep
+over the bad sands, that had so caught hold of my mother, and into which
+she was sunk now nearly up to her waist.  Still she cried not, but spake
+brave words to me.  Hoping some Indians might be near, we called and
+called, but the wolves only answered with their mocking howls.  Deeper
+and deeper we sank, until the waters were up to my mother's neck, and my
+feet were beginning to feel the grip of the treacherous sand.
+
+"All at once I saw the horse coming down to the water to drink.  Around
+his neck was tied the long Indian lariat made of braided deerskin, and
+therefore very strong.  As I saw the horse, hope sprang up in my heart,
+and I began to feel that we were going to be saved.  The water was now
+close up to my mother's lips, but we both called to the horse, which had
+been in our camp for years.  He raised up his head and seemed startled
+at first, and then he plunged into the river.  It did not take him long
+to get through the deep water, and then as his feet began to touch the
+quicksands he seemed at once to know that it was not right, so he kept
+lifting up his feet one after the other very rapidly.  Still on he came,
+until he was so close that I was able to seize hold of the lariat.
+
+"Then spake my mother: `My son, you will escape.  Tie the lariat quickly
+around your waist, and the horse will be able to drag you out.  Here I
+must die.  The spirits of my ancestors call me away to the happy hunting
+grounds, and I must obey.  Remember your mother tried hard to save you,
+and only failed with her life.  Tell my people how I perished, and give
+my message to the avengers of blood, and tell them not to be angry
+toward you.  Farewell.  Remember you are the grandson of a chief.'
+
+"At first I wanted to die with my mother.  It seemed dreadful to leave
+her alone, but she would not hear of it.  As the waters were coming into
+her mouth she cried, `Obey me, my son; obey me, and do it quickly, for
+the horse is impatient and knows the place is dangerous.'
+
+"So I called sharply to the horse, and he sprang forward, and with a
+great wrench jerked me from my mother's shoulders out of the quicksands,
+and dashed through the water with me to the shore.
+
+"As soon as I could loose myself from the lariat I turned round to look,
+and there I saw my mother's head just sinking out of sight.  I was wild
+with terror and sorrow, and bitterly chided myself for not having died
+with her.  But I had the consolation that she herself had insisted on my
+escaping when the strange chance offered itself.
+
+"What was I to do now?  My father and other friends were far away; my
+mother had perished; and here I was an almost helpless cripple on the
+great prairies, and night was rapidly approaching.
+
+"Fortunately my horse stuck to me, and I saw that I must keep him close
+to me all night, or the wolves that were prowling around would, in the
+darkness, make short work of me.  So, miserable and wet though I was, I
+tied the loose end of the lariat around my waist, and selecting a spot
+where the grass was good, I sat down in the middle of it, there to pass
+the night.
+
+"It was, indeed, of all nights the saddest and most miserable.  I could
+not sleep.  I was full of sorrow.  If I tried to shut my eyes, there was
+before me the sight of my mother, sinking, sinking down, down in that
+treacherous quicksand.
+
+"The wolves were very troublesome.  They would sit out in the gloom and
+howl in their melancholy way.  Then they would arouse themselves and try
+to get hold of me.  But my horse, well accustomed to fighting these
+animals, would rush at them as far as the lariat would allow, and would
+either strike at them with his fore feet, or, swinging around quickly,
+would so vigorously lash out with his hind legs that the cowardly brutes
+would quickly skulk back into the gloom.
+
+"The long night ended at length, and the welcome morning came.  I found
+that my poor leg, which had caused all the trouble, was much better.
+Perhaps this was from having been so long in the water.  I was able to
+ride, and so I hurried away from the sight of the river that had so
+cruelly swallowed up my mother.  My faithful horse, that had already
+been my deliverer, was very patient while, in my crippled state, I
+managed to get up on his back.  I had eaten nothing since yesterday, but
+I thought nothing of that; I only wanted to get my sinking mother out of
+my eyes, and get away from that dreadful river which we had to cross.
+Horses are very wise about these quicksands, and so I just held on to
+the lariat, which I had made into a kind of a halter, and let him choose
+his own course.  Very quickly and safely did he convey me across, and
+soon did we find the trail along which my father and the other hunters
+had travelled.  We hurried on very rapidly, until my horse was tired,
+and then we stopped for a few hours in a ravine where we were well
+sheltered from hostile Indians, if any should be lurking about.  The
+grass was luxuriant and abundant, and my horse enjoyed it very much.
+
+"When the hottest part of the day was over we again found the trail and
+pushed on until sundown.  Where the grass was good I tethered my horse
+with the lariat, and for the first time began to feel hungry.  But I had
+nothing to eat, neither had I bow nor arrow.  However, I noticed that
+the burrows of the prairie dogs were quite numerous where we had left
+the trail.  So I took the strings of my moccasins, and making in the
+ends of each a running noose I fastened them over the burrows that
+seemed very fresh.  Returning to my horse, I there waited for a time,
+and then went back to see if anything had been caught.  I was much
+startled to find that in the first noose a great rattlesnake had been
+caught.  He was lashing the ground at a great rate, while his rattles
+kept up a constant buzz.  With a pole from some dried willows I soon
+killed him, for I wanted the moccasin string with which he was caught.
+
+"I was more fortunate with the other noose, for in it was caught by the
+neck a fine young plump prairie dog.  Quickly killing him, I carried him
+and the two strings back to the protection of my horse.  As I had my
+knife, it did not take me long to skin the prairie dog, and as I had no
+fire I had to eat him raw.  It tasted very good, for I was now feeling
+very hungry.  As I had done the night before, I slept with my horse
+close to me as a protection from the wolves."
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
+
+PUKUMAKUN'S STORY CONTINUED--SEARCHING FOR FRIENDS--PATHLESS PRAIRIE--
+ANGRY RELATIONS--AVENGERS OF BLOOD UNAPPEASED--RACE FOR LIFE--
+OVERTAKEN--FIRST CONFLICT--ARROW AGAINST TOMAHAWK--OPPORTUNE ARRIVAL.
+
+"Thus I travelled on for some days.  At times it was I difficult for me
+to keep the trail, but my horse was very wise, and somehow he seemed to
+know that he was following-up his comrades.
+
+"I was often very hungry, as I had nothing else to depend upon with
+which to hunt except my two strings, and then I could only use them when
+my horse was resting.  However, I caught a few more prairie dogs, and
+one night I caught a prairie chicken, which was very good.
+
+"One day, as I rode over a big swell like a hill in the prairie, I saw
+not very far away a herd of buffaloes.  So I knew I must be near my
+friends.  While I was pleased at the sight I began to feel very much
+alarmed.  They would say at once, `Where is your mother?'  Then, if they
+did not believe my story, what then?  So I was much troubled in my mind,
+and, while looking for my people, I dreaded to meet them.  I felt that
+my father would believe my story, but I was afraid of my mother's
+brothers, the sons of the chief.  They had never had any love for me, or
+I much for them.  Why this was so I found out one day when they were
+upbraiding my mother in the wigwam for marrying my father, instead of a
+chief of another village, to whom they had promised her.  They thought I
+was asleep, or they would not have spoken as they did.  I remember that
+my mother spoke up, and said that she was the daughter of a chief, who
+had given her the right to choose her own husband; and that she was
+contented and happy in her choice.  Just then their sharp eyes seemed to
+know that I was not very sound asleep, and so their strong words ceased;
+for Indian men and women do not let their children hear their quarrels.
+
+"So I now remember their words, and was afraid.  Not long after I saw
+some of the hunters, and when I met one whom I knew, I inquired for my
+father.  He told me where I would find him, and so I rode on.  My father
+was resting with some others after a great run, in which they had killed
+many buffaloes.  When I drew near to him, although I was the grandson of
+a chief, I lifted up my voice and wept.  At this he was very much
+surprised and hurt, for as yet he knew not of our great loss.  Others
+jeered and laughed at seeing a young Indian weeping.  Then my father
+arose and led me away and began to upbraid me, for he knew not the cause
+of my sorrow, but supposed my mother had joined the other women, who
+were very busy cutting up and preserving the meat of the buffalo.  But I
+could only continue my weeping, and at length was able to cry out: `My
+mother! my mother!'
+
+"At this my father quickly ceased his reproofs, and becoming alarmed
+cried out: `tell me what is the matter.'
+
+"So I told him all.  And as I saw his great sorrow as he listened to my
+story I knew how great had been his love for my mother, who, in her love
+for him, had preferred him to the chief whom her brothers wished her to
+marry.  He was crushed to the ground and speechless with sorrow, and as
+I saw him so overwhelmed with his grief I wished I had died with my
+mother.
+
+"For a time he thus remained, while I, the most miserable, could only
+sit by and look at him.  No words or tears came from him, but the great
+sorrow had taken such a hold upon him that he seemed as one who would
+there have died.
+
+"Suddenly, as voices were heard and we both knew that some persons were
+coming near, he turned to me and with a great effort said:--
+
+"`My son, you must flee at once.  Your mother's brothers, who love us
+not, will not believe your story; and as they are the nearest of kin,
+the avengers of blood, they will seek your life.  You have no witness to
+your story, not even the body or a grave to show.  When they find your
+mother has not arrived, their suspicions will be aroused.  I believe
+your story, strange as it is.  When they demand of me the cause of your
+mother's non-arrival I will tell them as you have told me; but they will
+not believe it, and so you must not meet them, as in all probability
+they will kill you, in spite of all that I can do.  So you must flee
+away from the avengers.  You, my only son of your mother, must not fall
+by the hands of her brothers.  Meet me here to-night when the moon is at
+her brightest, and I will then have decided what you must do.  Flee
+quickly.'
+
+"It was indeed time for me to go, for hardly had I slipped away, and
+hidden in the deep grass, ere I heard angry voices in reply to my
+father's quiet words.  But I could make out nothing at the time of what
+was said.  For hours I there remained.  The day passed on, and the night
+followed, and yet I waited until the old moon came up to its brightest
+point.  Then, returning to the appointed spot, there I found my father
+waiting for me.  His great sorrow was still on him, his love for the son
+of her whom he had loved so well had shown itself in his acts.  He had
+with him a good horse and a warrior's bow and quiver of arrows.  In
+addition he had a supply of food and some other necessary things.  He
+embraced me more tenderly than I ever remember his having done before,
+and then for an instant his strong Indian nature broke, and with one
+convulsive sob he said, `Kah-se-ke-at' (`My beloved'), which was his pet
+name for my mother.  But quickly he regained his composure, and,
+pointing to the north star, he said I was to direct my course so much
+west of that and try to reach the friendly band of Maskepetoon, the
+great chief of the land of the Saskatchewan.  He commanded me to ride
+fast, as he feared trouble, as my uncles, to whom he had told my story
+in the presence of all the relatives, would not be pacified, but had
+demanded that I be delivered up.  So I was armed and mounted, but ere my
+father would let me go he drew me down to him and kissed me, and then
+said:--
+
+"`Be brave, my son; never begin a quarrel; but if the story of your
+mother's death is true--and I believe you, for you have never deceived
+me--then in your innocency, if you are followed and attacked, use your
+weapons, and if you must die, fall bravely fighting, as does the true
+warrior.'
+
+"In the moonlight there I left him, and dashed away in the direction
+pointed out.
+
+"My horse was a good one, and carried me along without any stumbling,
+although the prairie was rough and uneven.  It was well for me that he
+was so steady and true, for I was only a boy, and so crushed by my great
+sorrow that I was hardly able to care for myself.  With this good horse
+I was able to get on rapidly.  However, in spite of all the progress I
+had made, I discovered about the time the day-dawn was coming that I was
+being followed.  My pursuers were my fierce uncles, who had never
+forgiven my mother for marrying my father; and now that they had heard
+that she was dead resolved to take vengeance on me, whom they had always
+hated.  They knew that, as was the custom of our people, they as the
+nearest relatives were the avengers of blood.  In vain had my father
+pleaded for me, and that I was not guilty of her death.  They would not
+be appeased, even though he had offered, as gifts, about all of his
+possessions.  When, in anger and sorrow at their unrelenting spirit, he
+left them, they cunningly watched him, that they might find where I was
+hidden away.
+
+"But my father was too quick for them, and so was able to get me off, as
+I have mentioned, before they found my hiding place.  However, they were
+soon on my trail, but they had to ride many a mile before they overtook
+me, as I had sped on as rapidly as I could.  Although I was only a boy I
+was able to see, when I detected them following after me, that they were
+not coming as friends.  Then also my father's words had put me on my
+guard.  They seemed so sure of being able to easily kill me that they
+resorted to no trick or disguise to throw me off my guard.  So I
+remembered my father, and being conscious that I was innocent of my
+mother's death I was resolved to die as a warrior.  Carefully stringing
+my bow, I fixed my quiver of arrows so that I could draw them easily as
+I needed them.  Fortunately for me, my father had taught me the trick of
+riding on the side of my horse and shooting back from under his neck.
+Soon with the yells and warwhoops of my pursuers the arrows began to fly
+around me.  One of their sharp arrows wounded my horse, but instead of
+disabling him it put such life into him that for the next few miles we
+were far ahead beyond their arrows.  But their horses were more enduring
+than mine, and so they gradually gained on me once more.  I did not
+shoot an arrow until I could hear the heavy breathings of their horses,
+which, like mine, were feeling the effects of this fearful race.  Then,
+swinging quickly to my horse's side, I caused him by the pressure of my
+knee to swerve a little to the left, and then, drawing my bow with all
+my might, I fired back from under his neck at the horse nearer to me.
+Fortunately for me, my arrow struck him in the neck, and so cut some of
+the great swollen veins that he was soon out of the race.  The uncle on
+the other horse stopped for a moment to see if he could be of any
+service, but, when he found that the wounded horse would soon bleed to
+death, he sprang again upon his own and came on, if possible, more
+furiously than ever.  His brief halt had given me time to get another
+arrow fixed in my bow as on I hurried, but my horse was about exhausted,
+and soon again the arrows began to sing about me.  One unfortunately
+struck my horse in a mortal place and brought him down.  I could only
+spring to the ground as he fell, and with my bow and arrow quickly turn
+and face my pursuer.  Very sudden was the end.  He drew his tomahawk and
+threw it with all the fury of his passionate nature.  I did not try to
+dodge it, but facing him I drew my bow with all my strength and shot
+straight into his face.  Our weapons must have crossed each other, for
+while he fell dead with the arrow in his brain, I fell senseless with
+the blade of the tomahawk, which, cutting clean through my bow, had
+buried itself in my face.
+
+"When I returned to consciousness my father was beside me.  He had sewed
+up the wounds with sinew, and had succeeded in stopping the flowing of
+the blood.  How he came there seemed strange to me.  He told me all
+about it when I was better.  He had found out that the two uncles, well-
+armed and on good horses, had discovered my trail and had started after
+me.  He was not long in following, and as he had their trail in addition
+to mine he was able to push on without any delay, and so caught up to
+the one whose horse I had shot in the neck.
+
+"They had no words with each other.  They knew that as they joined in
+battle it was to be a fight unto the death.  My father killed my uncle
+and came out of the battle unwounded.  Then he hurried on as quickly as
+he could, and from a distance saw the fight between my uncle and me.
+When he dashed up, at first he thought I was dead, but soon he
+discovered that the life was still in me.  He at once set to work to
+help me, but months passed away ere the great wound made by the tomahawk
+healed up.
+
+"This great scar remains with me to this day, and reminds me of that
+fierce fight, and tells of how terrible in those days were some of the
+doings of our people."
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINETEEN.
+
+"FAIR WIND!"--FISH SPEARING BY TORCHLIGHT--THE SHINING EYES--DEATH OF
+THE DEER--ABUNDANCE OF GAME--ADDITIONAL EXCURSIONS--TRADITION OF
+NANAHBOOZOO AND THE FLOOD--WAS NANAHBOOZOO NOAH?
+
+The boys listened with absorbing interest to this thrilling story.  The
+camp fire had partly burned down and the stars had come out in their
+splendour, but none seemed to observe these things.
+
+The dramatic power with which Pukumakun accompanied his narrative, his
+genuine sorrow at the tragic death of his mother, and then his fierce
+excitement as he described the last long race and its end, simply
+fascinated our young friends, and they declared that it was the most
+wonderful story they had ever heard.
+
+Of course the bright tartan shirt, with some other gifts, was handed
+over, and then all wrapped themselves in their blankets and lay down on
+the rocks to sleep.
+
+During the night the strong south wind veered around to the north-east,
+and the alert Indians in charge were quick to observe the change.  Soon
+the cry of "Meyoo nootin!"  ("Fair wind!") was heard, and, in a time so
+brief that it would have seemed almost incredible to persons who have
+not witnessed it, the boats were afloat, the masts stepped, the sails
+hoisted, and the journey, so long delayed, was gladly resumed.  In the
+earliest dawn the last of the sails were seen by Mr Ross and our
+friends to be sinking below the horizon as they sped along toward the
+mouth of the great Saskatchewan.  For the rest of the day they were
+quite lonesome after the departure of the brigade, and, as the wind was
+in a bad quarter for them, they decided to rest during the day and then
+go out spearing fish during the coming night.  The Indians were set to
+work preparing the inflammable torches which would be necessary for
+their success.  These were made of various things.  The best were of the
+fine resinous strips of spruce or balsam, taken from those parts that
+are saturated with the resinous gum.  They were secured in handles which
+prevented the hot melted pitch from running down and burning the hands
+of those who held them.  Other torches were made of strips or rolls of
+birch-bark saturated in the balsam gum, which is gathered by the Indians
+and used so generally in keeping watertight their canoes.
+
+The three-pronged barbed spears were fastened in long light handles, and
+every other preparation was made for having a successful expedition.
+
+On account of the long evening twilight they had to wait for some hours
+after supper ere it was dark enough for them to hope for any measure of
+success.  However, the experienced Indians knew when it was best to
+start, and so, after the inevitable cup of tea and the additional pipe
+for the smokers, the three canoes were carried down and carefully placed
+in the water.  In each canoe was one of our boys, and they were of
+course excited at the prospect of this nightly adventure.  It seemed so
+weird to thus embark in this ghostly way and to leave the bright camp
+fire on the rocks, with the few watchers who remained, Mr Ross being
+one of them, and to embark in their canoes and go paddling out in the
+gloom.
+
+Their destination was in the western part of Playgreen lake, where they
+expected to find abundance of fish of the varieties that afford
+excellent sport when caught in this way.  After several miles of careful
+paddling in the darkness, where rocks abounded and rapids were many,
+they reached a place that seemed familiar to the Indians.  They easily
+found a sheltered cove, where they went ashore, and, groping around in
+the darkness, they soon gathered some dry wood and kindled a fire.
+Fortunately the wind had nearly died away, and so they anticipated a
+successful night's sport.
+
+The inflammable torches were carefully arranged, and a couple of them
+for each boat were ignited.  Then all again took their assigned
+positions in their canoes, and noiselessly paddled to the places where
+the fish were supposed to be abundant.
+
+At first all the boys could see were dark, shadowlike objects in the
+water that, after remaining under the glare of the lights, suddenly
+dashed away in the gloom.
+
+For fear of accident it was decided that the experienced Indians should
+do the spearing, while the boys looked on and aided with the paddles or
+helped to hold the torches.  The Indian spearmen stood up in the canoe,
+and, gazing intently into the water where it was brilliantly lit up by
+the blazing torches, were able to see the fish at a depth of several
+feet beneath the surface.  Some varieties of fish are not attracted by
+the light, and so are not to be caught in this way.  Other kinds,
+however, seem quite fascinated by the bright light, and will remain
+perfectly still in its glare, as though under some power they cannot
+withstand.
+
+The experienced spearmen, with a vigorous thrust, are generally very
+successful in securing large numbers of them.  Still, in spite of all
+their skill, many escape.  Apart from the excitement about this method
+of fishing, it is not to be compared with the ordinary way of capturing
+them with gill nets as regards the quantities obtained.  The spear
+cruelly wounds many that escape, and so even the Indians only adopt this
+plan for the sake of its exciting sport, and for the capture of some
+varieties of fish that are not easily obtained in any other way.
+
+After the boys had watched the successful operations of the Indians for
+some time they made their first attempt.  For a time they could not
+understand how it was that when they made a vigorous thrust with their
+spear at a great big, quiet fish it seemed to strike some place a couple
+of feet or so away from the fish.  So they found that the law of
+refraction had to be considered, and after a few experiments they did
+better.  Each was successful in securing some fine fish.  Some, indeed,
+were so large that, after the boys had plunged their spears into them,
+they required the help of the Indians to get them into the canoe.
+
+When the torches burned down others were lighted, and thus the sport
+continued until the boats began to feel the additional weight of the
+fish thus secured.  The boys were loath to think of stopping, and no
+wonder, for everything was so strange and weird.
+
+The three canoes with their picturesque occupants, lit up by the blazing
+torches, the waters so transparent under the light, and phosphorescent-
+like on every wave, made a picture never to be forgotten.  Then so close
+around was the dense deep darkness of the solitudes that stretched away
+and away for miles in all directions.
+
+No wonder the hearts of the lads were beating loudly, and in the
+suppressed excitement of such surroundings no thoughts of sleep there
+troubled them.
+
+"O, if our friends could only see us here," said Frank, "wouldn't they
+be pleased with the sight?"
+
+"Ay," said Alec, "and what would not the boys of the old school give to
+be here for a few hours with us?"
+
+"Hush!  What is that?" said Sam, as he pointed his finger to a spot in
+the dense dark forest of trees that hung down low to the water's edge,
+not many yards from where they were slowly floating along on the stream.
+
+That there was something was very evident, for there were to be seen two
+great shining eyes that, owing to the dense darkness around them, seemed
+to be strangely large and brilliant.
+
+"Will-o'-the-wisp," said Frank.
+
+"Jack-o'-lantern," said Alec.
+
+"A banshee," said Sam.
+
+"A big deer," said Mustagan.  "Keep still, and we will soon shoot him."
+
+Quietly and quickly was a gun lifted up, and with a word to the men, to
+steady, with their paddles, the canoe in which Mustagan was seated, he
+fired, and the report was followed by the plunge of the body of a great
+deer, as he fell headlong in the water not thirty yards away.  The sound
+of the gun broke the deathlike solitudes and aroused a chorus; and for a
+long time the cry of the bittern and the loon mingled with the quacking
+of ducks and the wakeful calls of the sentinel wild goose.
+
+More torches were lit, and the body of the deer was secured with a rope;
+and, as the night was far spent, it was decided to go ashore, if they
+could find a safe place, and there rest until morning, as it was utterly
+impossible with the heavy load of fish to think of returning through the
+darkness with the additional weight of this splendid deer.
+
+As closely as possible the three canoes had kept together.  This made it
+more sociable in the gloom, and was much enjoyed by the boys, as they
+could thus freely chat with each other and watch each other's success or
+failure.
+
+As the locality was known to some of the Indians, a sheltered little
+sandy beach was soon discovered, and here the now tired party drew up
+and landed.  A fire was speedily built, and a kettle of tea and a lunch
+were prepared and enjoyed by the hungry ones.  Then they quickly rolled
+themselves up in their blankets, and were soon away in the land of
+dreams.  Nothing softer had they under them than the rocks, and no roof
+over them but the starry heavens, yet they slept in a way that thousands
+of excited, weary, restless ones, tossing about in comfortable beds,
+might well envy, but could not command.
+
+Very early were the boys aroused for the home trip, but, early as they
+were up, the Indians had already skinned and cut up the deer, and
+divided it among the boats.  Part of the fish were given to some Indian
+women and children who were encamped on some of the islands, near which
+they passed on the route back to the camp.
+
+Mr Ross was much pleased with the glowing accounts which the boys gave
+of the night's adventures.  Much praise was given to Sam for having seen
+the great luminous eyes of the deer, even before any of the Indians had
+observed them.
+
+Mr Ross, in answer to the boys' inquiries, explained how some deer,
+like fish, seemed to be fascinated by a bright light, and will allow the
+hunters to get very near, especially if they are on the water, ere they
+will try to get away.
+
+The weather proving favourable, the camp was struck, the canoes loaded,
+and they all proceeded on the way to Montreal Point once more.  They
+only stopped for an hour or so at Spider Islands to melt some pitch, and
+mend a crack which had opened in the bottom of one of the canoes.
+
+The boys, who in their own land had seen the great iron ships being
+prepared in the dry docks, were quite amused and interested at the
+primitive way in which these Indians made watertight their light canoes.
+When this was done they were all soon under way again, and, not long
+after, the shores of the mainland began to loom up plainly before them.
+
+They all remembered the last visit, and the battle with the wolves.  So
+they were naturally on the lookout for a herd of deer or the sound of
+ravening wolves.  But not even a "whisky jack" was seen or heard.  The
+desolate land seemed to be much more so by the apparent entire absence
+of life.
+
+Selecting a favourable spot, they all landed, and then, while some of
+the Indians made a fire and prepared the supper, Mr Ross, with Frank,
+Alec, Sam, and Mustagan, visited the scene of the great fight.  They
+took the precaution to carry their guns with them, for who could tell
+where the rest of those wolves might be, or what other game might not
+suddenly appear in sight, even if the Indians had reported that the
+wolves had all disappeared.
+
+Sam and Frank took special pride in pointing out to Alec and Mr Ross
+where they had stood when, under Mustagan's directions, they brought
+down the two leading wolves in that memorable and exciting battle, and
+then where they fought in the terrible hand-to-hand encounter, where it
+was hunting-axe against teeth.  But little was left to tell of the fray.
+A few whitened, well-picked bones were to be seen here and there, but
+nothing more, so they returned to the camp fire, where the supper was
+now prepared, and ready indeed were they for it.
+
+As they had made such a long trip that day, Mr Ross, who was ever
+mindful of the welfare of his canoemen, decided that there should be no
+hunting that evening or night.  So they gathered round the camp fire,
+and, with bright and pleasant chat, the happy hours passed away, one of
+them being specially interesting as Mr Ross, who had made the gathering
+up of Indian legends a favourite study or amusement when not absorbed in
+heavier work, was requested by the boys to tell them an Indian legend or
+story.
+
+Yielding to this request, he cheerfully consented, and not only had he
+the boys as interested listeners, but the Indians of the party gathered
+round, curious to hear how well a white man was able to tell one of
+their favourite stories.
+
+"Before the general deluge," Mr Ross began, "there lived two enormous
+creatures, each possessed of vast power.  One was an animal with a great
+horn on his head, the other was a huge toad.  The latter had the whole
+management of the waters, keeping them secure in his own body; and
+emitting only a certain quantity when needed for the watering of the
+earth.  Between these two creatures there arose a quarrel which
+terminated in a great fight.  The toad in vain tried to swallow its
+antagonist, but the latter rushed upon it, and with his horn pierced a
+hole in its side, out of which the waters rushed in floods, and soon
+overflowed the face of the earth.
+
+"Nanahboozoo was living at this time on the earth.  Observing the water
+rising higher and higher he fled to the loftiest mountain for refuge.
+Perceiving that even this retreat would soon be inundated, he selected a
+large cedar tree, which he purposed to ascend should the waters come up
+to him.  Before the floods reached him he caught a number of animals and
+fowls and put them into his bosom.  At length the waters covered the
+mountain.  Nanahboozoo then ascended the cedar tree, and as he went up
+he plucked its branches and stuck them in his belt, which girdled his
+waist.
+
+"When he reached the top of the tree he sang, and beat the tune with his
+arrow upon his bow, and as he sang the tree grew, and kept pace with the
+water for a long time.  At length he abandoned the idea of remaining any
+longer on the tree.  So he took the branches he had plucked, and with
+them constructed a raft, on which he placed himself with the animals and
+fowls.  On this raft he floated about for a long time, till all the
+mountains were covered and all the beasts of the earth and fowls of the
+air, except those he had with him, had perished.
+
+"At length Nanahboozoo thought of forming a new world, but how to
+accomplish it without any materials he knew not.  At length the idea
+occurred to him that if he could only obtain a little of the earth,
+which was then under the water, he might succeed in making a new world
+out of the old one.  He accordingly employed the different animals he
+had with him that were accustomed to diving.  First, he sent the loon
+down into the water in order to bring up some of the old earth; but it
+was not able to reach the bottom, and, after remaining in the water some
+time, came up dead.  Nanahboozoo then took it, blew upon it, and it came
+to life again.  He next sent the otter, which, also failing to reach the
+bottom, came up dead, and was restored to life in the same manner as the
+loon.  He then tried the skill of the beaver, but without success.
+Having failed with all these diving animals, he last of all took the
+muskrat.  On account of the distance it had to go to reach the bottom it
+was gone a long time, and came up dead; on taking it up Nanahboozoo
+found, to his great joy, that it had reached the earth and had retained
+some of the soil in each of its paws and mouth.  He then blew upon it,
+and brought it to life again, at the same time pronouncing many
+blessings on it.  He declared that as long as the world he was about to
+make should endure, the muskrat should never become extinct.
+
+"This prediction of Nanahboozoo is still spoken of by some Indians when
+referring to the rapid increase of the muskrat.  Nanahboozoo then took
+the earth which he found in the muskrat's paws and mouth, and having
+rubbed it with his hands to fine dust he placed it on the waters and
+blew upon it.  Very soon it began to grow larger and larger, until it
+was beyond the reach of his eye.  Thus was spread out the new world
+after the great flood.  In order to ascertain the size of this newly
+created world, and the progress of its growth and expansion, he sent a
+wolf to run to the end of it, measuring its extent by the time consumed
+in the journey.  The first journey he performed in one day; the second
+trip took him five days; the third consumed ten days; the fourth a
+month; then a year; then five years.  Thus it went on until the world
+became so large that Nanahboozoo sent a young wolf that could just run.
+This animal died of old age before he could accomplish his journey.
+Nanahboozoo then decided that the world was large enough, and commanded
+it to cease from growing.
+
+"Some time after this Nanahboozoo took a journey to view the new world
+he had made, and as he travelled he created various animals suitable for
+the different parts of the new world.  He then experimented in making
+man.  The first one he burnt too black, and was not satisfied.  Then he
+tried again, and was no better pleased, as this one was too white.  His
+third attempt satisfied him, and he left him in this country, while the
+first two he had made he placed far away.  He then gave to the men he
+had created their various customs and habits and beliefs.
+
+"Thus Nanahboozoo, having finished his work, now sits at the North Pole,
+which the Indians used to consider the top of the earth.  There he sits
+overlooking all the transactions and affairs of the people he has placed
+on the earth.
+
+"The northern tribes say that Nanahboozoo always sleeps during the
+winter, but previous to his falling asleep he fills his great pipe and
+smokes for several days, and that it is the smoke rising from the mouth
+and pipe of Nanahboozoo which at that season of the year produces what
+is called the Indian summer."
+
+The boys listened to this Indian tradition of the flood with a great
+deal of interest, and the next Sabbath they got out their Bibles and
+tried to see the points of resemblance between the account given of Noah
+and that given of Nanahboozoo.
+
+They decided that Nanahboozoo was the Indian name for Noah, and the raft
+was the substitute for the ark.  The sending out of the various animals
+to discover and bring some earth stood for the sending forth of the
+raven and the dove.  In some other conversations with Indians on the
+different traditions about the flood, Mustagan told them that, in some
+of the tribes he had visited, they had, in addition to what has here
+been narrated, a story of a bird coming with a little twig, and sticking
+it in the newly formed world of Nanahboozoo.  This little twig took root
+and rapidly grew into a large tree, and from it all the other trees and
+shrubs had come.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY.
+
+THE CALL OF THE MOOSE--PREPARATIONS FOR CAPTURE--MIDNIGHT MARCH--RIVAL
+BULLS--A ROYAL BATTLE--FRANK'S SHOT--BIG TOM, THE SUCCESSFUL MOOSE
+HUNTER--YOUNG MOOSE CALVES--THEIR CAPTURE--SAM'S AWKWARD PREDICAMENT.
+
+In the morning the boys were informed that during the night the call of
+a great moose bull was heard, and that an effort would be made the next
+night to kill him if possible.
+
+The moose is the largest animal that roams in these northern forests,
+and is exceedingly difficult to kill.  His eyes are small and not very
+good, but he has the most marvellous powers of hearing and smelling
+given to almost any animal.  Then he is so cunning and watchful that
+very few Indians are able, by fair stalking him in his tracks, to get a
+shot at him.  He does not eat grass, but browses on the limbs and
+branches of several kinds of trees.  His horns are often of enormous
+proportions, but yet the speed and ease with which he can dash safely
+through the dense forests is simply marvellous.
+
+There are various ways of killing them in addition to the sportsmanlike
+way of following on the trail, and thus by skill and endurance getting
+within range of them.
+
+In the winter, when the snow is deep, they have a poor chance against
+the hunters, who, on their light snowshoes, can glide on the top of the
+deep snow, while the great, heavy moose goes floundering in the drift.
+
+They have a great weakness for the large, long roots of the water lily,
+and so are often killed while they are out from the shore and wallowing
+in the marshy places for these succulent dainties.  But the most
+exciting sport is that which the Indians were here going to adopt in
+trying to bring this big fellow, whose bellowings the night before had
+so arrested the attention of those who had been awakened by him.
+
+Mr Ross explained that the bellowings of the previous night were his
+calls to his mates in the forest.  Perhaps they had been alarmed by some
+hunters or chased by wolves, and had become widely separated.  So nature
+has not only given to the moose of both sexes this wonderful power of
+hearing, but to the males this great voice, which in the stillness of
+the night in those northern solitudes can be heard for a number of
+miles.  The reply call of the female moose is much softer, and the
+Indians have a plan by which they can so successfully imitate it that
+they can often call the old male moose close enough to them to be shot;
+and cases are known where the infuriated beast, maddened by the
+deception played upon him, has rushed upon his deceiver and made it
+lively work for him to get beyond the reach of his great antlers.
+
+For fear of driving the moose out of the neighbourhood, it was decided
+that there was to be no firing of guns that day, as the Indians were
+certain there had been no answer to the call of the male on the part of
+the other sex, and judging from their knowledge of the habits of the
+animal they decided that, if not alarmed, he would be within hearing
+distance about ten o'clock that evening.
+
+The question then was, "How are we to spend the day?"  This was speedily
+answered when the Indians reported that there were any number of
+sturgeon seen jumping in the shallows among the rocks not far out from
+the shore.  The method of securing them was by spearing them from the
+canoes.  A good deal of calculation was required in managing the canoes
+so that they would not be upset in the excitement of the sport, and then
+a great deal of strength had to be exerted to hold on to the spears when
+once the great big sturgeon, from four to six feet long, was transfixed.
+
+There were some amusing upsets, and the boys in turn came back to the
+camp drenched, but happy with the varied adventures of the day.  Nearly
+a score of fine sturgeon rewarded them for their efforts.  These the
+Indians cut into flakes and dried, while the valuable oil was distilled
+and put away in most ingeniously constructed vessels made out of the
+skin of the sturgeon themselves.
+
+But in spite of the fun and success of the sturgeon fishing the boys
+were simply wild in anticipation of the events of the coming night.  The
+very uncertainty and weirdness of it had a fascination for them that
+made it impossible for them to shut their eyes and have a short sleep in
+the early hours of the evening, as Mr Ross suggested.  The very idea of
+sleeping seemed an utter impossibility.  So they kept awake, and were
+alert and watchful on the movements of the Indians, who made their final
+preparations to take advantage of the natural instincts of these great
+animals to meet each other.
+
+These preparations were not very many.  From the birch trees that grew
+near they stripped off long rolls of new bark.  These they carefully
+made into a horn-shaped instrument, the end of which was much wider than
+the other.  Then they put on their darkest garments, as the appearance
+of any thing white would alarm the wary game and frighten them away.
+
+The evening was exceedingly favourable.  But little wind was blowing,
+and that was from the land toward the lake; thus the scent would not be
+carried toward the moose, if they appeared.
+
+The next question was, who were to go and where had they better be
+stationed?  So it was decided that as Mr Ross had caught the contagion
+of the hour, he and Alec should take a position at a designated rock,
+both well-armed, while out near the lake one of the clever Indians,
+armed with one of these oddly constructed birch-bark horns, should be
+placed.  The reason of this was the expectation that, if the old moose
+heard the call, while perhaps too wary to come within range of the man
+sounding it, he might be near enough for a good shot from Mr Ross and
+Alec.  In the same manner Frank was stationed with Mustagan, and Sam
+with Big Tom, while two other Indians, acting the part of trumpeters to
+them, were stationed in the rear near the water's edge.
+
+For a couple of hours very eerie and weird seemed everything to these
+excited boys.  No moon was in the heavens, but the stars shone down upon
+them with a splendour and a beauty unknown in a land of fogs and mists.
+No conversation was allowed, as the hearing of the moose is most acute.
+For a time the silence was almost oppressive.
+
+After watching at their different stations for about half an hour or so,
+there wailed out on the silent air a cry so wild, so startling, so
+blood-curdling that it filled with terror and dismay the hearts of our
+three boys, who had never heard anything like it.  Strung up as they
+were to such tension by their surroundings out there in the gloom of
+that quiet night, and then to be thus startled by such a cry, no wonder
+each lad clutched his gun and instinctively crowded close to his
+experienced companion in that trying hour.  Yet such was their
+confidence in them that they remained silent, but were soon relieved
+when they were told, in a whisper, that it was only the cry of the lynx,
+and, blood-curdling though it was, it was really a good sign for them.
+When this harsh, doleful sound had died away in the distance, from a
+tree near them some great owls began their strange hootings, and the
+Indians again said, "Good signs."
+
+About midnight the first note of the sound for which they were listening
+was heard.  It was far away in the forest directly east from them, with
+the wind coming from the same direction.  The Indians remained perfectly
+still until the roaring became somewhat louder, and then the boys were
+somewhat startled at hearing, but in a much softer key, a sound very
+similar in their rear.  This latter sound was made by the men through
+these queer birch-bark horns they had been so industriously working at
+during the day.  From long practice some of these Indians can so
+perfectly imitate the sounds of the female moose that they can deceive
+the males, and thus bring them toward them.  These artificial sounds
+were not long unanswered.  Louder and louder still were the roarings
+that came at intervals from the deep forest.  Soft and varied were the
+responses as the Indian in the rear of Mr Ross and Alec blew his
+inviting notes, but in the rear of the others there sounded out the
+enticing strains.
+
+"Listen," said Mr Ross, "there is the roar of another old moose, and we
+are in for a battle."
+
+Fortunately the wondrous auroras came shooting up from below the horizon
+and flashing and dancing along the northern sky; they almost dispelled
+the darkness, and lit up the landscape with a strange, weird light.
+This necessitated a quick change of base on the part of the hunters, and
+so, as soon as possible, they retired under the shadows of some dense
+balsam trees.  Hardly were they well hidden from view before a great
+moose showed himself in full sight in a wide opening, where the fire,
+years before, had burned away the once dense forest.  In response to his
+loud calls the three Indians with their horns replied, and this seemed
+to greatly confuse him.  He would move first a little in one direction
+and then in another, and then hesitated and sent out his great roar
+again.  Quickly, and in a lower strain, did the Indians closely imitate
+the female's call.  Before there could be the responsive answer on his
+part to them there dashed into the open space from the forest, not many
+hundreds of yards from him, another moose bull that roared out a
+challenge that could not be mistaken.
+
+The Indians with their birch horns again imitated the calls of the
+female moose.  This they did with the purpose of bringing the bulls
+within range before they engaged in battle.
+
+It is a singular characteristic of many wild animals, that when the
+rival males battle for the possession of the females, they like to do it
+in the presence, of those for whom they fight.  Their presence seems to
+be a stimulus to nerve them to greater courage.  So it is with the moose
+and other deer species, and so by the light of the dancing auroras the
+three boys and those with them watched these two great moose, each
+standing at the foreshoulders over sixteen hands high, as they thus came
+on toward the spot where Mr Ross and Alec were well hid from
+observation, and behind whom the Indian kept now softly lowing like a
+moose cow.
+
+In their hurried movements they had gradually approached each other, and
+so when not far from Mr Ross and Alec's hiding place they suddenly
+appeared in a clear, elevated spot, and supposing they were now close to
+their companions they turned suddenly and gave each other battle.  And a
+royal battle it was!  A moose bull at the best is not handsome, but an
+angry, infuriated moose bull, when his temper is up, is one of the most
+hideous of monsters.  The long, coarse hair of his head and neck seems
+to be all turned in the wrong direction, his small eyes have a most
+wicked gleam in them, and, taking him altogether, we know of no picture
+more likely to cause a person who sees him to have the next night the
+nightmare.
+
+With a roar they rushed at each other, and as their great antlered heads
+met in the shock of battle it was a sight not often seen.  They each
+seemed as though they were resolved to conquer in the first round, and
+appeared surprised at not having been able to succeed.
+
+It undoubtedly would have been interesting to some people to have
+witnessed the battle between these two well-matched moose bulls to a
+finish, but the practical Indians know a thing or two about their meat,
+and one is that the meat of a moose that has been in battle for a couple
+of hours or so is apt to be so soft and spongy and full of air bubbles
+that a hungry dog will hardly eat it.  They also know, on the other
+hand, that moose meat when in prime condition is the finest venison in
+the world.  The Indians were also well aware that the bulls now engaged
+in battle would take but little heed of any other foes.  They therefore
+quickly gathered in with Frank and Sam to the spot where Mr Ross and
+Alec were hidden, and there in quiet whispers arranged their plans for
+the killing of the two great moose ere the fierce battle had much longer
+continued.
+
+The Indians were anxious that the boys should have the honour of killing
+them, but Mr Ross hesitated to expose any one of them to the fierce
+rush of an infuriated wounded moose bull in case the bullet had not done
+its work.  The Indians, cautious though they are, however, saw here an
+opportunity such as might not for a long time be theirs, and so pleaded
+for them, and promised to so place themselves as to be ready with a
+reserve fire if it should be necessary.
+
+To Frank and Alec the honour of the first fire was given.  If this did
+not immediately bring both of the moose down Mr Ross and Sam were to
+fire next, while the Indians would be as a reserve in case of emergency.
+Mustagan was given charge over all in case of any need arising.  After
+a short survey of the fierce conflict it was decided that they must
+quietly work round the combatants and fire at them from the forest side.
+Under the guidance of Mustagan the single party quietly drew back a
+little, and then, making a detour, were nearly in the rear of the
+fighting animals when a quick, sharp word from Mustagan caused them all
+to drop flat upon the ground, for there, clearly visible in the light of
+the dancing auroras, not two hundred yards away, was a large moose cow
+with two young calves at her side.  So intently was she watching the
+battle that she had not the slightest suspicion of the presence of these
+hunters.
+
+This was a new complication.  What was to be done?  If possible she must
+be killed.  The meat of a cow moose is very much superior to that of the
+bull.  Gliding past the boys like a panther went Big Tom from the front
+to consult with Mustagan, who was at the rear.  Soon it was settled that
+Big Tom was to get that cow, while the bulls were to be killed as
+arranged.
+
+But a few seconds for consultation were needed between these two Indian
+hunters, and then to the eyes of the boys it seemed as though Big Tom,
+the largest man in the party, literally sank into the ground, so small
+did he seem to make himself, as with his gun in the fickle light he
+silently glided away.  Mustagan then, with the party close behind him,
+moved on again to the scene of the battle, which was still fiercely
+raging.  The ground was very uneven, and as every advantage was taken of
+it the boys were able to secure a most advantageous position not more
+than fifty yards from the combatants.
+
+The fierce battle was a sight sufficient to try the nerves of much older
+persons than our boys.  The bulls seemed simply wild with rage, and as
+in their mad rushes their horns struck together Frank and Alec declared
+that they saw fire flash from them; others, however, said it was only
+auroral reflection as they turned at certain angles.  Mustagan beckoned
+the two boys who were to have the honour of the first fire, and placing
+them side by side he quietly said:
+
+"Wait until in their fighting they turn their sides to you, then aim to
+strike them behind the foreshoulders."
+
+They had not long to wait ere the double report rang out on the midnight
+air, and as an echo to it another one was heard not far away.  That the
+balls struck was evident, for the thud of the bullets was heard
+distinctly by all, so close were they to their game.  The effect of the
+firing on one of the bulls was seen to be immediate, for, although his
+huge horns seemed almost locked in those of his antagonist, he slowly
+sank to the ground.  The other moose, although badly wounded, gave a
+last vicious plunge at his opponent.  Then proudly lifting up his head,
+and seeing for the first time his new antagonists, and being still mad
+with the excitement of battle, he, without any hesitancy, rushed to the
+attack.
+
+"Fire straight at the centre of his head," were Mustagan's words.
+Hardly were they uttered ere from the guns of Mr Ross and Sam the
+death-dealing bullets flew on their mission and the great, fierce animal
+stumbled forward a few more yards and fell dead, pierced to the brain by
+both of the balls.  In a few minutes they were joined by Big Tom, who
+quickly said:
+
+"Moose cow shot, and little calves run into woods; catch um next day, if
+wolves not too quick."
+
+It was the report of his unerring shot that rang out so quickly after
+Frank and Alec had fired.
+
+The reaction after the complete silence and the long-strung-up tension,
+together with the fierce battle witnessed and the decisive victory, was
+very great.  No need of silence now, but the boys were so excited they
+hardly knew whether to laugh or cry.  Frank said he wanted to howl.
+Alec said he wanted to dance.  Sam said he wanted to swing a shillalah.
+And they all said, "What would not the boys at home give to be here?"
+
+A fire was quickly kindled, and a couple of Indians remained as watchers
+while the rest returned to the not very distant camp.  The Indian in
+charge had supper ready for them, which was much enjoyed, and then as
+speedily as possible they were wrapped up in their blankets and doubly
+wrapped in sweet, refreshing sleep.  Very few were their hours of
+slumber.  Daylight comes early in the summer time in high latitudes, and
+so when the boys heard the Indians moving about and preparing breakfast
+they sprang up also, and after a hasty bath in the lake were ready for
+their breakfast and eager to be off, not only to see where their bullets
+had struck the moose bulls, but to find out how it was that while one
+dropped so quickly the other was able to make that fierce charge upon
+them.
+
+When they reached the scene of last night's exciting adventures they
+hardly recognised that locality, so different does a place look in
+daylight from what it does when illumined by the ever-changing auroras.
+
+However, here was the place sure enough, for some Indians had already
+nearly skinned the great animals, and had traced the bullets that had
+been fired.  Frank's bullet had pierced the heart of the one that had so
+quickly dropped in the fight; Alec's had gone through the lungs, and,
+though the wound was a mortal one, it did not so suddenly result in
+death; hence his ability to make that fearful charge, which was so
+promptly stopped by the balls of Mr Ross and Sam, both of which were
+taken out of his brain.  This was very satisfactory to the boys, and so
+they were bracketed with equal honours all round by Mr Ross, much to
+their delight, for three nobler, more unselfish lads never chummed
+together.  The success of one was the success of all, and when one
+seemed to fail, or make a miss, the others were uneasy until he was at
+the head in the next adventure.
+
+But the question now was, "Where are those young moose calves?"  The
+Indian watchers could give the boys but little information.  All they
+knew was that after the auroras faded away in the dark hour just before
+dawn they heard them moving about; but they did not frighten them, as
+Mr Ross had left orders that they were not to be disturbed, unless some
+prowling wolves should appear as though on their trail.  None, however,
+were heard, and so the Indians had remained very quiet.
+
+So the search for the young moose immediately began, and although it was
+prosecuted with a good deal of vigour, still not a sign of the young
+animals was discovered.  At length Mustagan, who had watched the younger
+members of the party at work, said:
+
+"You want to see those calves quick, just wait."
+
+Quietly taking up one of the birch-bark horns, he began softly blowing
+into it.  The sounds he made were like those of the mother cow when she
+calls her young from its secluded retreat, where she has cunningly hid
+it away from its many enemies while she is off feeding.
+
+Now high, now low, now prolonged and in different tones, came out from
+that great birch-bark horn those peculiar notes, some of which were not
+unlike the sounds made by the domestic cow when separated from her calf.
+For once in his life Mustagan was a complete failure.  For blow as much
+as he would--and great were his exertions--no calf appeared in answer to
+his calls.
+
+Said Big Tom, who was a famous moose hunter, and who had listened to
+Mustagan with a good deal of interest and some amusement: "Let me have
+that horn, and I will show you how it ought to be done.  You boys watch
+the woods and be ready to run."
+
+Then putting the birch horn to his mouth he cooed out such a tender moo-
+oo-o-o that the boys were fairly startled by the similarity of its sound
+to the familiar notes in the barnyards at home; but soon other things
+excited them, for hardly had the echoes of Big Tom's mooings died away
+before there came rushing out from the forest the two moose calves.  On
+they came directly toward the spot where Big Tom had uttered his call.
+So sudden had been their appearance that all remained perfectly still to
+watch their movements.  Certain that they had heard their mother, they
+were now anxiously looking for her.  They were a pair of fine-looking
+moose calves, about three months old, and so it was resolved, if
+possible, to capture them alive and tame them.  It turned out not so
+easy a matter as had been anticipated.  With as little display as
+possible the boys and Indians tried to surround them before they become
+alarmed.  So confident did the young creatures seem that they had heard
+their mother that it was some time before they became suspicious of
+danger, and then only when they were about encircled by the hunters.
+Then the fun began.  Turning toward the point in the forest from which
+they had emerged, they made a dash for liberty.  Frank and Alec threw
+themselves on one, and getting their arms around its neck made a
+desperate effort to hold it.  They were amazed at its strength, as it
+easily carried them along, and not until they succeeded in tripping it
+up and throwing it on the ground were they able to hold it.
+
+Sam and a young Indian tackled the other one, and found him much more
+pugnacious.  With a vicious kick he struck the Indian in the stomach,
+who at once decided that he had had enough of that sport and quickly
+retired, leaving Sam now to struggle with him alone.  Sam at first
+seized him by his long ears, but was unable to bring force enough to
+arrest his progress in that way.  Then he tried to seize him by the
+neck, but a few strong blows with his fore feet made that a difficult
+and dangerous task, and so Sam had to let go.  This seemed to interest
+the calf, and so from being the one attacked he became the aggressor.
+The pugnacity of the calf, and the lively way in which he butted his
+opponent, caused great amusement to the onlookers.  Sam could not stand
+this, and so he threw himself desperately on the animal, and hugging him
+around his neck, held him so closely that he could neither use his hard
+little head nor his fore feet, with which he had been fighting so
+vigorously.  Sam was in an awkward predicament.  Gladly would a number
+of Indians have rushed to his help, but Mr Ross wanted him to have the
+honour of capturing the young moose alone, and so held them back; but
+all watched the odd struggle, which was intensely amusing.
+
+Sam still pluckily held on, but the calf evidently considered himself
+the aggressor, for he tried hard to shake Sam loose from him, his object
+evidently being to strike him with his head or feet.  This Sam
+endeavoured to prevent, until at length he was afraid to let go his grip
+for fear of the now vicious young animal, and so, in his desperation, he
+called out most comically:
+
+"Will somebody come and help me to let go of this calf?"  Help was soon
+there, and strong arms quickly captured the spirited young creature.
+It, as well as its companion, was securely tied and taken back with the
+party when they returned to Sagasta-weekee.
+
+So great was the quantity of meat and other things secured that a canoe
+was hastily sent back to the home, and the next day a large boat,
+similar to those used by the Hudson Bay Company in the fur trade,
+arrived with a good crew.  Everything was placed on board, including the
+two young moose, that already would eat the young branches gathered for
+them by the boys.  A strong yard, inclosed with planks and logs, was
+made for them, and they soon became quite tame and gentle.
+
+Harnessed to a cariole, or dog-sled, they travelled with great speed,
+and seemed to enjoy the fun.  But they drew the line at the saddle, and
+no Texas bronco could more easily rid himself of a tenderfoot than these
+lively animals with their enormous forequarters could send their would-
+be riders into the snow or grass.
+
+Our illustration gives us a good idea of how they looked when ready the
+next spring to be shipped by the Hudson Bay ship to one of the big
+zoological gardens in Great Britain.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
+
+EXCURSION TO SEA RIVER FALLS--THE CRANBERRY PICKING--THE CONTEST--"WHERE
+ARE THE CHILDREN?"--WENONAH AND RODERICK LOST IN THE FOREST--FIRST
+NIGHT'S UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH--THE TRACKS IN THE SAND--MUSTAGAN'S
+STARTLING DISCOVERY.
+
+Thus pleasantly passed the bright weeks away at Sagasta-weekee.  Every
+day had its duties and amusements.  Mr Ross, although the best of
+masters, was almost a martinet in his affairs, both in the home circle
+and among those in his employ.  This strict disciplinary method is
+absolutely essential for comfort and success in such a land.  If there
+is a lax method of living and conducting business, soon everything is in
+confusion and wretchedness.
+
+Yet while everything went on with almost military precision in the home
+life, there was nothing about it to make it otherwise than pleasant and
+enjoyable.  So the boys ever returned to this happy home with delight
+from the excitements of their various hunting and fishing excursions.
+
+One of the great deprivations of living in a land where the summer is so
+short and the winter so long and cold is the lack of native fruit.  No
+apples, pears, cherries, or peaches grow in that northern land.  These
+fruits must be brought to it in a preserved or dried condition.
+
+In some sections wild plums are to be found; in others, abundance of
+cranberries grow most luxuriously.  A few wild strawberries spring up in
+the clearings where great fires have destroyed the forests.  A sweet
+bilberry also abounds in some parts of the country.  This fruit is much
+prized by the Indians, and frequently used, mixed with dried meat, in
+the manufacture of their finest pemmican.
+
+The Indian women in the neighbourhood of white settlements or trading
+posts bring in large quantities of the cranberries, which they gather in
+the marshes and forests, and sell to those who are able and willing to
+purchase.
+
+Sometimes cranberry parties were organised, and nearly all the members
+of the post and families interested would join together and go off on an
+excursion of several days to places where the berries were abundant, and
+thus secure large quantities, which were an acceptable addition to their
+rather meagre bill of fare.
+
+This year, as the berries were reported by the Indian women to be very
+abundant, Mr and Mrs Ross, at the urgent request of their own
+children, as well as to give the boys the unique experience, decided to
+have a cranberry outing on quite an extended scale, and one that would
+last for several days.  It turned out to be unique and memorable in
+various ways.
+
+It was decided that they should go into camp below Sea River Falls, on
+the Nelson, and pick berries at their leisure in the great section of
+country lying north-west from that point, as there they were to be found
+in large quantities.
+
+For the comfort and convenience of the family a couple of large tents
+were sent on and pitched by some Indians.  The various utensils and
+supplies necessary for a good time were also forwarded, so that when Mr
+and Mrs Ross, with Minnehaha, Wenonah, Roderick, and our three lads,
+arrived they found everything arranged for their comfort.
+
+It was an ideal place for an outing.  Before them was the great river
+with the music of its rushing, roaring rapids, down which it was so
+exciting to run in the canoes under the skillful guidance of the
+cautious, experienced Indians.  The great granite rocks in picturesque
+beauty were everywhere to be seen.  Back of the sandy beach and grassy
+sward, where stood the tents and camp fires, was the deep, dark,
+unbroken forest, that stretched away and away for hundreds of miles.
+
+So delightful were the surroundings, and so good the fishing, as well as
+novel and interesting this running the rapids, that two or three days
+were thus spent ere any definite arrangements about the cranberry
+picking was thought of.
+
+To aid in gathering a large quantity of berries Mrs Ross had engaged a
+number of Indian women, who were famous as noted berry pickers.  These
+women brought with them a large Indian vessel called a "rogan."  It is
+made out of birch-bark, and is capable of holding about twenty quarts of
+berries.
+
+There are two kinds of cranberries in this land.  One is called the
+high-bush variety, while the other is known as the moss cranberry, as it
+is generally found where moss is abundant, and grows on a small vine on
+the ground.  It was this latter kind that here abounded and that they
+had come to gather.
+
+As the outing was not merely for the purpose of gathering berries, they
+did not pick very steadily.  Mrs Ross well knew that her faithful
+Indian women would see that she had her full supply.  So the members of
+the family picked berries, went fishing or hunting or canoeing, more or
+less frequently, as their inclinations prompted them.  Several days thus
+passed in varied sport and work.
+
+One evening as the Indian women came in with their heavy loads they
+reported finding, not very far distant, a splendid place, where the
+berries were very plentiful, and the ground dry and mossy and free from
+muskegs and rocks.  So it was decided that, with the exception of some
+of the servants, who would remain and take care of the camp, all should
+go and have a big day of it at berry picking, and then they would make
+their arrangements for returning home.
+
+The preparations necessary were soon made.  A number of large and small
+rogans were made ready, and, in addition, the men took the precaution to
+carry with them their guns and ammunition.
+
+Minnehaha and Wenonah were very happy and proud of the honour of taking
+charge of their little brother Roddy, as they loved to call him.  As the
+children were anxious to do their share of picking berries they were
+each supplied with a little birch-bark vessel, and with great delight
+did they gather quite a number of the bright red berries that were so
+abundant.
+
+As they had left the camp early in the morning they were able to do a
+capital forenoon's work.  At midday they all assembled at a designated
+place, and much enjoyed the dinner that the servants had prepared for
+them.  Then again they separated, and men, women, and children were once
+more very busily employed in gathering in the fruit, while pleasant chat
+and merry laugh would be heard from various parts.
+
+To add a little zest and excitement to the pleasant work the whole
+company had been divided into two parties, and between them there was a
+lively contest as to which should succeed in gathering the greater
+quantity of berries.
+
+Little Roderick and Wenonah were placed on one side as being equal in
+their picking abilities to their older sister, Minnehaha.  Very proud
+were the little folks as they filled their dishes and came and emptied
+them into the large vessels.  Thus the contest raged, and, as the two
+parties were about equal in picking abilities, the excitement rose very
+high, and all exerted themselves to the utmost that their side might be
+victorious.
+
+It had been previously arranged that the contest was to cease at
+sundown, so as to give them plenty of time to return to the camp in the
+beautiful gloaming.
+
+Some able-bodied Indian men were employed to carry the large birch
+rogans to the selected spots, where the berries were to be measured and
+the victors announced.  Some time was spent in this work amid the
+excitement of all, as the contest was very close.
+
+"Where is Roderick?" said Mrs Ross.
+
+"O, he is with Wenonah," said Minnehaha.
+
+"And where is Wenonah?" was the question now.
+
+No one seemed to know.  And so the cry of the sweet musical name rang
+out on the air:
+
+"Wenonah!  Wenonah!"
+
+But to that call, and also to that for the little brother Roderick,
+there was no response.
+
+At once there was excitement and alarm.
+
+"Who saw them last, and where were they?"
+
+Many more such questions were uttered, while some persons ran one way
+and some another.  Several young men seized their guns and fired several
+shots in quick succession, but Mr Ross stopped them as quickly as
+possible.
+
+Mr Ross, although alarmed, was the first to get some order among them,
+and on the closest questioning it came out that none were certain that
+they had seen the children since about three o'clock, and that was when
+they were emptying their little dishes of berries into the larger
+receptacles.  Then, excited by the contest, they had rushed off for
+more.
+
+A rumbling of thunder in the west startled them, and so, prompt must be
+their movements.  To the point where the little ones were last seen a
+dozen or more had hurried, and ere they scattered in the forest to begin
+the search they were told that the firing of the guns would be the
+signal of success or failure.  One report meant they were not found; two
+reports, close together, was the signal that they had been found, and
+for the searchers to return.  Immediately all those who were able to act
+as searchers, without themselves becoming lost, scattered to their work.
+On account of the vastness of the forest Mr Ross positively refused to
+allow Frank, Alec, or Sam to go any distance away on the search.  This
+was a keen disappointment to the boys, but Mr Ross was wise in his
+decision.  The searchers had very little to assist them in their work.
+There were any number of signs where had walked the busy feet, but the
+trouble was there had been so many pickers at work, and they had
+travelled so far, that it was impossible to pick out the tracks of the
+two lost children.
+
+Only an hour or so were the searchers able to do anything that night;
+for the thunderstorm was on them, and in spite of all they could do they
+were all drenched through and through.  Mrs Ross, although stricken
+with grief, kept firm control over herself, and, surrounded and
+comforted by Minnehaha and the three boys, huddled under the slight
+protection which some Indian women had hastily prepared against the
+fierce storm.  Mr Ross had done all that was possible in directing the
+watchers as they brought all their Indian experience to their aid.  Thus
+the hours passed.  The storm spent its fury in the heavy downpour of
+rain, and then was gone.  The stars came out from behind the flying
+clouds, and the night again became one of beauty.  Still there were no
+signs of the children.  Somewhere out in the forest, alone, were those
+little ones whom none as yet had been able to find.  The heavy rain had
+completely obliterated every vestige of a trail.  So the searchers, sad
+and quiet, came in one after another, grieved and vexed at their
+failure.
+
+Mr Ross tried to induce Mrs Ross, with Minnehaha, to return to the
+camp and obtain refreshment and rest, but she most positively refused.
+
+"My children are out in the wild forest, exposed to many dangers.  I
+cannot go to bed until they are found," she passionately exclaimed.
+
+So a great fire was built out of dry logs, blankets were sent for from
+the tents, and the saddest and longest night to those terrified ones
+slowly passed away.  Mr Ross had not only sent for food and blankets
+for all, but he had also dispatched swift runners to go by land and
+water and cease not until they had found Mustagan and Big Tom and told
+them of his loss and sorrow.
+
+Soon after sunrise these grand old men walked into the camp.  A hasty
+council was summoned, and these old men closely questioned the Indians
+who had been present the previous day, and who had searched until the
+storm and darkness stopped them.
+
+When they were told that a number of guns had been fired off in quick
+succession they were much annoyed, and said:
+
+"Great mistake.  Lost children in the woods always hide when they hear
+guns."
+
+But no time must be lost.  The country was to be marked out, and a code
+of signals explained, by which they could communicate with each other,
+as soon as any trail was found.  Not in straight lines were they to go,
+but in enlarging circles until they should cross the trail of the
+children.  When it was found, they were to report as speedily as
+possible, that there might be a concentration from that point and thus
+no waste in fruitless search.
+
+Not until about noon was the first sign struck; then it was a number of
+miles away from the camp.  It is simply marvellous the distances that
+lost persons, even little children, will travel.  The clue discovered by
+Big Tom was where the children had left the dry, rocky lands, which left
+no trail of the little feet, and had crossed a small, shallow stream.
+Here the sands were clearly marked by the little footsteps, and Tom's
+big heart gave a great thump of joy as he saw the signs so clearly
+indicated before him.  At first he feared to fire the signal, lest he
+should add to the terror of the lost children; but as soon as he
+examined the footprints he saw that they had been made the evening
+before, and by little ones who were hurrying on as rapidly as possible.
+
+As quickly as he could he followed them up until they were lost again on
+the dry rocks on the other side; then he fired his gun, and while
+waiting the coming of others he kept diligently searching for some other
+signs of the wanderers.
+
+Not long had he to wait ere he was joined by Mr Ross, Mustagan, and
+others.  They were all excited, and glad to see these footprints, but
+judged by the hardness of the sand in the steps that the children had
+passed over the creek some hours before dark the previous evening.  This
+being the case, they might have travelled some miles farther before they
+were stopped by the storm and darkness.  But no needless time was spent
+in surmises and conjecturing.  A new starting point had been found, and
+from it the search was again renewed with all the vigour possible.
+
+If Wenonah and Roderick had been pure white children, brought up in a
+civilised land with all the ignorance incident to such regions, they
+would have been found long ere this; but their part Indian blood and
+thorough training in that wild north land was now really to them a
+misfortune--first, because they had the strength and training to push on
+with such wonderful speed and endurance; again, it also made them wary
+and cunning, and so fearful of being tracked by wild beasts or hostile
+Indians that they carefully, but rapidly, moved along in a way that
+children not brought up in such a land would never have dreamed of.
+
+So, while the Indians were looking for traces of the children, the
+wandering lost ones were doing all they could not to leave behind them
+the vestige of a trail.  Thus hours passed on, the sun went down in
+beauty, the shadows of night began to fall; still not another sign of
+the wanderers had been found.
+
+Discouraged and annoyed at failure, one after another of the searchers
+returned to the spot where the footsteps had been discovered.  Here the
+camp had been made, and here had come Mrs Ross, with the boys and
+others.
+
+The sight of the tiny footsteps of the hurrying feet of her little
+darlings nearly broke her heart.  But she crushed down her great sorrow,
+that nothing in her should divert anyone, even her husband, in the
+search for those who were still exposed to so many dangers--lost in the
+great forest of so many thousands of square miles.
+
+The last to come in was Mustagan, and his face was that of a man who has
+bad news but, by intense effort, shows it not in his countenance, but
+keeps it locked up in his heart.  Few and yet searching were the words
+uttered at the camp fire as each one had declared to Mustagan that there
+had been no fresh signs.  He himself had not given any answer, and, by
+asking questions of the others, had thus thrown off suspicion as
+regarded himself.  But nevertheless he had seen signs, and what he had
+seen had nearly driven him wild.  But darkness had come on him almost
+suddenly from the arising up of a black cloud in the west, and so, in
+spite of all his experience and anxiety, he had been compelled to return
+shortly after making this startling discovery.  What he had seen had so
+alarmed him that he dare not tell, even to Mr Ross.
+
+Very sad, indeed, was that second night around the camp fire.  Mr and
+Mrs Ross were nearly broken-hearted.  Frank, Alec, and Sam spent the
+night in sleepless sorrow.  The Indians, who all dearly loved the lost
+little ones, sat back in the gloom and were still and quiet.  A kind of
+stupor seemed to be over them all, with one exception, and, strange to
+say, that one was Mustagan.  Sharp eyes were on him, and some wondered
+why he was so strangely agitated and was so restless and excited.
+
+A little after midnight he abruptly sprang up, and speaking to Big Tom
+and a couple of other Indians they all withdrew some distance back into
+the darkness of the forest.  To them in quiet tones, so as not to be
+heard by the sorrowing ones at the camp fire, Mustagan told what he had
+seen just as the darkness had set in.  When they heard his story they
+were as much excited as was he.
+
+His story was this: he had pushed on in the direction he had selected in
+the hunt for the children, and toward evening he had reached a part of
+the country where the berries were very plentiful.  Here he had found
+traces that bears were numerous, and as they are fond of these berries
+they had been feasting on them.  This, of course, alarmed him, and so he
+cautiously began making a circle around this place, and at length, in a
+depression in the forest, he found the dried-up channel of a creek.  He
+cautiously hurried along on the dry sands, and, after going on only a
+few hundred yards, he found a number of fresh tracks, not only of bears
+that had recently crossed but also among them the footsteps of the lost
+children!
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
+
+CHILDREN'S FOOTSTEPS AND BEARS' TRACKS--CHILDREN IN THE CUSTODY OF THE
+BEARS--THE PLAN OF RESCUE--THE BOYS' PART--THE BIRD CALL--SUCCESS.
+
+This was terrible news; and only Indians that have such perfect control
+over themselves could have heard it without making an outcry.  As it
+was, Mustagan had to utter some warning words to maintain the perfect
+silence that was desired.  In a few sentences he quietly stated that the
+children were not then running, and, judging by their footsteps, and the
+broken branches of berry-bushes, from which they had been picking the
+fruit, they were not frightened.  He judged, also, from the tracks that
+there were four bears, two large ones and two that were quite small.
+What astonished him most of all was that the tracks were so numerous,
+and seemed to say to him that both the bears and the children had
+crossed and recrossed the place several times.  When he made this
+discovery he hid himself at once, for fear his presence might anger the
+bears and cause them to destroy the children; he listened, but could
+hear no sound.
+
+After waiting quietly for a time he returned to the trail and followed
+it until it entered among the dense bushes and great rocks.  If the
+light had not so quickly faded he could have easily followed them; as it
+was, he was perplexed to know what to do.  If he should come up to them
+in such company, he was not sure how he would be received.  So he
+thought the best thing he could do was not to anger the bears, who were
+evidently not disposed to hurt the children, and so he quietly withdrew
+and came back to the camp.
+
+Old hunters as they were, here was a new experience to almost every one
+of them.  Big Tom was the first to speak.
+
+"My words are," said he, "that we go and tell the master and mistress at
+once.  It will comfort them to know the little ones are alive, even if
+they are in such company.  We shall yet get the children.  As the bears
+did not kill them at first, and there are plenty of berries, they will
+not kill them soon."
+
+To this suggestion of Big Tom's they all agreed, and immediately after
+returned to the camp fire, where Mustagan, in his simple yet picturesque
+way, told the story of his discovery.
+
+The poor mother could only say:
+
+"Thank God!  He will yet restore to me my children."
+
+Mr Ross's lips quivered, but crushing down his own fears he said, as he
+comforted his sorrow-stricken wife:
+
+"Yes, thank God!  Perhaps he has made even the wild animals of the
+forest to be their guardian angels."
+
+Frank, Alec, and Sam had listened to Mustagan with bated breath.  As
+Alec said afterward:
+
+"My heart seemed to stop beating while I listened."
+
+When it came out that the bears were friendly, and not disposed to
+injure the children, the lads could hardly restrain the hearty cheers
+that somehow, in spite of themselves, would try to burst out.
+
+There was no more sleep that night.  As it was at least five miles to
+the spot where the tracks had been discovered, the strict orders of
+silence were cancelled, and soon there were noise and activity.  Food
+was prepared and eaten with an appetite unknown since Wenonah and
+Roderick were of the happy party.
+
+The absorbing question with Mr and Mrs Ross, in consultation with
+Mustagan and Big Tom, was how they were to proceed when the morning
+came.
+
+To follow them up and rush in upon them might anger the bears, and the
+children might suffer.  To stalk them so quietly as to be able to get
+within range and shoot the bears might terrify the children, or they
+might be wounded by the bullets.  There was much talking and many
+suggestions.  A remark from Mustagan gave Mrs Ross a hint, and so a
+woman's quick intuition solved the perplexing question.
+
+Mustagan had said that, as he carefully examined the tracks, he found
+where the children had evidently filled their birch dishes with berries
+and fed them to the little bears, whose many tracks had shown that, like
+young dogs, they had gambolled and played around them.
+
+Said Mrs Ross as she heard this:
+
+"Those bears seem well disposed toward children, so the brave boys will
+go on ahead with similar dishes of berries, and they will find that the
+animals will rather eat the fruit than do the lads any harm."
+
+This suggestion so delighted the boys that, without a moment's thought
+of the risks they would run, they gladly consented, and were eager to
+carry out the suggestion.
+
+Mr Ross and the Indians were old bear hunters, and they could not at
+first think that any such plan would be at all possible.  However, think
+or plan as much as they would, they found it utterly impossible to
+settle on any other scheme that appeared to them either safe or
+suitable.  The result was that daylight found them still in perplexity,
+and altogether undecided as to the correct method to adopt in this novel
+expedition, so unique in all of their experiences.
+
+Mrs Ross, however, and the boys, stuck to her suggestion, and pleaded
+that it be attempted.  As nothing else was suggested the Indians and Mr
+Ross at length consented.  However, they took many precautions to save
+the lads and prevent disaster, either to them or to the children.
+
+The preparations were soon made, even to the rogans of berries, and
+heavily armed with their guns the party set out under the guidance of
+Mustagan.  Mrs Ross went with them, as her anxieties were so great for
+the rescue of her darlings.
+
+When within a half mile or so of the spot where the tracks had been seen
+they halted, and, after some final consultation, Mustagan and Big Tom
+decided to go on and see if there were any further developments.  Very
+cautiously and yet rapidly did they advance from covert to covert, until
+they were so close to the sand of the dried-up stream that it was quite
+visible to them, although they themselves were well hid from
+observation.
+
+Here for a time they waited, for they shrewdly conjectured from
+Mustagan's description of the numerous tracks, crossing and recrossing,
+that for the present, at least, the bears were abiding in that vicinity.
+
+Not long had they to wait ere they were convinced of the correctness of
+these conjectures, for coming out of the forest on the other side of the
+dried-up stream were to be seen four bears and the two lost children.
+
+Crouching down low on the ground, and peering through the dense bushes
+behind which they were hidden, did our two Indians watch them for a
+time, that they might decide on the best method of rescuing the little
+ones.  The wind was blowing from the bears toward the Indians, and so
+there was little fear of the animals scenting danger at that distance,
+which was still a good quarter of a mile away.
+
+Why the children had remained so long with the bears was perplexing to
+these hunters until the mystery was solved by the fact that was now
+evident to their eyes, that the children were really prisoners and the
+bears would not let them escape.  As the men watched they saw Wenonah
+seize Roderick's hand in hers, and, starting on a run, she tried to go
+up the channel on the sands.  This movement was stopped by one of the
+large bears as speedily as possible by putting himself in the children's
+way.  Then children, still hand in hand, turned to the opposite
+direction, and when trying there to escape were stopped by the other
+large bear.  In the meantime the little ones played around them like
+lively young dogs.
+
+Foiled in their efforts to go either up or down in the dried-up channel
+of the stream, after some time spent on the sands the children and bears
+came up, and, entering among the berry-bushes, began to eat of the
+abundant fruit.
+
+They were now much nearer to the Indians, and it was evident that the
+young bears were looking to the children to help them in picking their
+breakfast of berries.
+
+When convinced of this the Indians' eyes brightened, and they said:
+
+"The mistress is right; the boys will feed the young bears, and we will
+shoot the old ones."
+
+Noiselessly they withdrew from their hiding place and rejoined the rest
+of the party, who had with almost feverish impatience awaited their
+return.  Quietly and rapidly they reported what they had seen, and then
+the final preparations were made.
+
+Quickly they all moved on, and soon were at the brow of the last hill,
+from the top of which the whole of the great plain, densely covered with
+the berry-bushes, could be seen, with the thread of shining sand in the
+distance, already referred to.
+
+Here on the hilltop Mr and Mrs Ross were seated behind some dense
+bushes, through which they could look without creating suspicion.  Then
+the Indians, taking the boys along with them, started on their dangerous
+course.  Like panthers they moved quietly along, keeping as close to the
+ground as possible, until they reached a ledge of rocks.  Here the
+Indians, with their guns loaded with ball, were placed, while the boys,
+with nothing but their baskets of berries, in company with Mustagan went
+on a little farther.  Then Mustagan, giving the boys their final
+instructions and charging them to keep cool and be brave, no matter what
+might occur, withdrew with his gun, and hid himself behind a rock, a
+little way in the rear of them.
+
+It was an exciting time for the boys, but they had learned to have such
+confidence in these grand old red men that such a thing as fear was now
+about unknown in any of them, even at the most trying moments.
+
+While there sitting they were startled by a shrill bird call from not
+far behind them.  They could hardly believe their ears when they found
+it came from the lips of Mustagan.  In a minute or two it was repeated,
+and then again and again, with short intervals between.
+
+To their surprise another bird call some hundreds of yards ahead of them
+was heard, and after a time it was repeated.  Then the blackbird's notes
+rang out from behind, and then another note came from the front.  Ere
+the voice behind could again reply a solemn "Hoot-a-hoot-a-hoo" came
+from the front.
+
+For a time all was still, and then the song of the robin was heard in
+front, and only a chirp was heard in the rear.
+
+Sharp and quick was the ending.
+
+Soon after this chirp the boys heard the bushes rustling in front of
+them not fifty yards away.  Then they saw in the opening the two
+children, closely followed by two young bears.  As the children slowly
+moved along they kept plucking the berries and feeding them to the
+greedy young animals.  The children were ragged and sadly changed as,
+from their still hidden position, the boys watched them; they could see
+that Wenonah, at least, seemed to know that they must act cautiously,
+and they observed that frequently she spoke to the little fellow at her
+side.
+
+It was her bird notes that had answered Mustagan.  Little did they
+realise, a year or so before, as he taught Wenonah these calls of the
+birds and what they meant, that her very life would so soon depend upon
+her knowledge of them.
+
+Still cautiously advancing with little Roderick at her side, and both of
+them feeding the little bears, she at length reached a spot where she
+caught a glimpse of the boys.  Without at all raising her voice she
+said:
+
+"Crouch down as well as you can and bring the berries."
+
+This they quickly did.
+
+"Feed these greedy young ones while I give a basket to the old ones, so
+that while they are eating them we can get away."
+
+Poor girl!  She knew not of the number of guns that were now within
+range of anything that would dare to harm her, and the boys were warned
+not to speak.
+
+Taking one of the baskets of berries, she quickly disappeared among the
+dense bushes, while the boys, with the other full baskets, had made
+friends with the young bears.  When Wenonah returned, she found the
+young bears were filling themselves with the fruit.  So thoroughly
+terrified had the children become, through fear of the bears, that
+although the boys by expressive signs urged them at once to hurry in the
+direction of safety and deliverance, they hesitated, and even when they
+started kept fearfully looking back.
+
+The instant they reached Mustagan he shouted to the boys to return, and
+not a moment too soon, for crashing through the bushes came the two old
+bears, fierce and savage, and showing that in some way they had become
+suspicious of danger.
+
+Coolly picking up the two baskets which the two young bears had upset,
+the boys, keeping their faces to the fierce, savage brutes, slowly
+retreated.  The bears, at first only seeing the boys, came rushing
+toward them, but when they reached their young ones they stopped for a
+time, and then came on to attack the boys.
+
+To the ledge of rocks Mustagan had carried the now happy children.  They
+had nearly smothered "dear old Mustagan," as they loved to call him,
+with their kisses.  Wild, indeed, were they with joy as father and
+mother rushed forward and received them as from the dead.  They could
+only lie clinging to them while they wept out their bliss.
+
+From it they were startled, as out rang a volley from the guns, and two
+great, fierce bears rolled over each other, each shot through more than
+one vital spot.
+
+"Capture the little fellows alive!" was the cry.
+
+And soon, after a lively chase and some sharp struggling, two four
+months' old cubs were so tied up as to be unable to do any injury either
+with teeth or claws.
+
+Very anxious had the boys been during the search for the lost children.
+Their only regret was that they were so powerless as to be unable to
+join in the search.  Very proud, however, were they to have had some
+share in the exciting events of the last hours of their strange
+deliverance.  Tears were in their eyes and dimmed their vision as they
+first saw them in the company of the wild beasts, showing by their
+appearance what they must have suffered during the long days and nights
+of such hardships.
+
+The story of the children's account of their adventures and hardships
+will be given in another chapter.  Suffice here to say that very quickly
+was the march taken up, after the half-famished little ones had been
+fed, for they had had nothing but berries to eat, and, as Roderick put
+it:
+
+"Naughty bears, they kept me all the time picking berries for them."
+
+The return to the camp on the banks at Sea River Falls, and then to
+Sagasta-weekee, was soon made.
+
+Great were the rejoicings there as well as at the mission, and at the
+Hudson's Bay Company's fort, when the news of the finding of the lost
+ones reached them.  A special thanksgiving service was held the next
+Sabbath at the mission church, at which whites and Indians from near and
+far gathered, and entered heartily into the spirit of the service.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.
+
+WENONAH'S STORY OF THEIR MARVELLOUS ADVENTURES WITH AND DELIVERANCE FROM
+THE BEARS--RODERICK'S COMMENTS.
+
+It was wisely decided that, as the children were so exhausted, at least
+a couple of days should be allowed to pass before they were asked to
+give anything like a full account of their marvellous adventures.
+
+Wenonah, of course, was the principal speaker, but Roderick often put in
+some quaint remark, which gave additional interest to the story.  Seated
+in her father's arms, while Roderick monopolised those of his mother,
+while Minnehaha and the boys, with some friends from the Fort and
+mission, gathered round, Wenonah told in her own way the story of their
+strange adventures:
+
+"Roderick and I were to try and gather as many berries as Minnehaha; so
+we took our rogans, and we went to where the berries were thickest, and
+once we came back and emptied our dishes, and then we hurried away where
+we had seen a good many.  But we did not find as many there as we hoped,
+and so we went on and on, and it took us a long time to fill our rogans,
+and when we did we started to come back, but we did not find the way,
+and so we hurried on and on.  Then after a while we called, and called,
+and nobody answered us.  So Roddy and I said we would not cry.  So we
+hurried on and on, to try and get back.  Then we came to some high
+rocks, and we climbed up as high as we could, and when we called again
+we thought we heard voices answering us from some other rocks, and so we
+hurried over there, but there was nobody, and no voice.  Then we pushed
+on, and on, and soon we heard the thunder, but we never stopped, but
+just tried to get back before the rain.
+
+"Soon we left the rocky land, and went down a long hill where we saw a
+little stream.  This we crossed where the water was not deep.
+
+"We wanted to get home, so we tried not to feel tired or to cry; but,
+although we tried ever so hard, we could not find the way.  We had held
+on to our dishes, but now they were not half full, and so we stopped and
+ate some of the berries.  Soon after, it began to thunder very hard, and
+there was lightning, and so we hurried up to some big trees, and while
+we were standing under the branches, to be out of the rain, we saw one
+old tree that was all hollow on one side, and as the rain was coming
+down through the branches we went and got into this hollow tree.  I had
+Roderick go in first so that I could keep him dry, and I stood at the
+outside."
+
+Here Roderick spoke up and said:
+
+"I wanted to stand on the outside because I was the boy, but Wenonah
+said she had better because she was the biggest."
+
+"Then," continued Wenonah, "as it soon got very dark, and none of you
+came for us, we began to cry, and we could not help it, for there we
+were all alone in that hollow tree in the dark.
+
+"After a while a big owl in one of the trees began to call.  I knew what
+it was for Mustagan had taught me.  At first Roddy said it was somebody
+calling him."
+
+Again Roddy, who was now nestling in his mother's arms, spoke up and
+said:
+
+"I thought it was somebody saying to me, `Who, who, who!' and I said,
+`We are Roddy and Wenonah Ross, and we are lost.'
+
+"Then, when it called again, it only said:--
+
+"`Oo! oo! oo!'  So then we knew what it was, as we had often heard it at
+night here at home."
+
+"We were glad to hear it," said Wenonah, "for all was now so dark and
+lonely.  We could not lie down; we just had to stand up there all night.
+I held Roddy up as well as I could.  Once we heard the cry of the wild
+cat, and that made us keep very still.  I must have nodded some, as I
+leaned against the inside of that old tree, but it was an awful long
+night, and we were glad when it was light enough to see.  Then we left
+that old hollow tree, and took up our dishes, and as we were very hungry
+we went out among the berry-bushes and ate some of the berries.  We were
+careful to leave no tracks, because of that wild cat.  We ate a lot of
+berries, but we did miss our good breakfast at home.  We filled our
+dishes, and then started for home; but we could not find it.  While we
+were going on among the bushes we came out into a little opening, and
+there were the two little bears.  We thought at first they were two
+little black dogs.  They came right up to us, and when they sat up so
+funnily on their little hind legs we saw they were bears, and of course
+we were afraid.
+
+"Then they came and smelled our baskets of berries, and as we held them
+out to them they seemed very hungry, and at once began eating."
+
+"But they were so greedy; they were worse than little piggies," said
+little Roderick; "they made such funny little noises all the time they
+were eating."
+
+"But," continued Wenonah, "that sound of theirs seemed to call the old
+bears, that we had not yet seen.  They came rushing through the bushes,
+and we were so frightened we could not even cry out or let go of our
+baskets.
+
+"When they rushed at us the little bears, that were between them and us,
+seemed to think that all the old bears wanted to do was to get at the
+berries too, and so they kept so funnily twisting their little bodies
+between the old bears and us, while all the time they were eating the
+berries.  When the old bears saw this they stopped looking so fierce and
+savage, and just sat down on their hind legs and looked at us feeding
+their young ones.
+
+"Then we began to wonder what would happen when the little bears had
+eaten all the berries that were in our baskets.
+
+"Little Roddy seemed to know just what to do; for as there were some
+berries growing close to him, while he held his basket in one hand he
+picked some more berries and fed them to the little bear.  Then I did
+the same to the one that had been eating out of my dish.  Soon we began
+moving slowly among the bushes for more berries, to find plenty for the
+greedy little fellows, but we kept them as well as we could between the
+old bears and us.
+
+"As the old bears kept moving around we could not keep their little ones
+between them and us very long, and so by and by they came close up to
+us, but they did not now seem to be very angry.  One of them got close
+up to Roddy, and there he stood up and looked so big beside my little
+brother that I almost screamed out, I was so frightened.  But I did not
+do it for fear he might hurt him.  He only moved a little, and then he
+came down again on all his four legs, and as he put his big mouth close
+to him Roddy just put in it a handful of berries.  After that there was
+no more trouble with him except to get berries enough."
+
+"Yes," said Roderick, "I just thought that if big bears like berries as
+well as little bears perhaps they would rather have them than eat us
+little children; so I just chucked that handful in his mouth, and he
+just did like them."
+
+"I was slower in making such good friends with the other bear,"
+continued Wenonah, "because the little one I was feeding was such a
+greedy little pig.  He would not, for a long time, let me gather a
+handful and give to the big bear that, once or twice, got so close to me
+as to put its cold nose against my face.  My! it made me shiver.  But I
+said in my heart, `I will be brave, for I want to save Roddy,'" and the
+child's voice broke.  "I did want to see my father, and my mother, and
+Minnehaha again."
+
+"But we did not cry here, did we?" said Roderick.
+
+But the memory of that event was too great for them now, and throwing
+themselves in each other's arms they burst out in a passionate fit of
+weeping, that was so contagious no eyes remained dry in that group of
+loved ones there gathered to hear their pathetic story.
+
+When calm again Wenonah went on with the story:
+
+"After a while the little ones had enough, and then they began wrestling
+and playing with each other.  They acted as if they wanted Roddy to play
+with them, and I told him to do so, but not to hurt them, and perhaps
+the old father and mother bears would not hurt us before we could run
+away."
+
+"Yes," said Roddy, "I had great times with them, but they always wanted
+to wrestle with me more than any other kind of sport."
+
+"I kept gathering berries," said Wenonah, "while Roddy played with the
+young bears.  The old ones kept me busy now and were just about as
+greedy as the young ones had been.
+
+"After a while I said to Roddy, `We must try and get away from here,'
+for we did want to come home and see you all.
+
+"We did not talk very much to each other, for our voices seemed to make
+the bears angry.  But we found that when we tried to get away they got
+right in front of us and stopped us with their big bodies.  This made me
+feel very bad, but I did not tell Roddy.  Some time early in the day I
+heard some one calling, and I tried to answer, but one of the bears
+struck me such a blow with one of his paws, and showed his dreadful
+teeth in such a way, that I was so frightened that I dare not call
+again."
+
+Said little Roddy, once again: "When I saw that naughty bear hit my
+sister with his paw I wanted to hit him with a stick."
+
+"This voice of whatever it was seemed to frighten the bears, and so off
+they started," said Wenonah, "and they made us go along with them.  We
+had to go; for if we stopped, or tried to go some other way, they
+growled at us, and pushed us with their noses, and so we had to go with
+them.  Soon they came out of the bushes and crossed over the sand, and
+went up on the other side into the dark woods.  We were very much
+afraid, but we whispered that we would not cry, but just be brave, for
+we knew you would soon come and fight those great big bears.
+
+"The way the bears made us go was this.  One big bear went on before,
+then the little ones followed next, then they made Roddy and me follow
+next.  We had to do it, for just behind us was the other big bear, and
+he would growl at us if we did not just walk right along.
+
+"Then, after we had travelled some time, we came out of the dark forest
+among some, O, such big rocks, bigger than houses.  Among them we had to
+go, until we came to a dark opening like a big door, and into this we
+had to go.  It must have been the home of the bears.
+
+"Roddy cried out, with fear, but the bears growled again and showed
+their great teeth, and so we had to go in."
+
+"I didn't want to go in," said the poor boy, as he put his arms around
+the neck of his mother; "it was worse than a cellar, it looked so dark.
+But the old bear behind just kept pushing me along with his nose, so I
+had to go."
+
+"It was not such a bad place after all," said Wenonah, "when we once got
+into it.  It seemed dark at first as we went in out of the sunshine; but
+when we were in it, and looked back, there was a good deal of light.  In
+it were big piles of leaves and dry grass, and on them the bears soon
+lay down.  One of the big bears lay down between us and the door, so we
+could not get out.  We sat down by the little bears, and I whispered to
+Roddy to be brave, for God would take care of us and our friends would
+surely find us.  Then we lay down on the dry grass and, being very
+weary, soon went to sleep, with our arms around each other.
+
+"How long we slept we knew not, but were suddenly roused up by the
+little bears playing and tumbling over and around us.  So we got up, and
+the bears made us go back again across the sands into the berry-bushes,
+and there we all ate berries, as there was nothing else to eat.  The
+little ones kept poking their noses into our hands, and thus begged us
+to pick berries for them."
+
+"The lazy little fellows," said Roderick, now smiling as he thought of
+them; "little greedy piggies that never had enough."
+
+"There we stayed in the bushes," said Wenonah, "until nearly night, and
+then they made us go back again with them in the same way to the same
+place.  It seemed so dreadful to have to spend the night in that place
+with those wild bears; but we whispered, `We will be brave,' and so we
+lay down between the little bears, for in some way or other we felt the
+little ones were our best friends, and it was because of them the old
+ones did not kill us.
+
+"I thought we could never spend the night in such a place, but we did.
+We just whispered our prayers as there we lay, and ended with, `Now I
+lay me down to sleep.'  And sleep we did until the little bears woke us
+up again the next morning.
+
+"The old bears were now so friendly that they let us pat them, and so I
+thought that perhaps they would let us go; and so, when we came to the
+sand, I whispered to Roddy, `Let us try and get away.'  But those wicked
+bears would not let us go; for when we tried to go along the sand in one
+direction one of the big bears got in our way and made us go back; then
+we tried to go the other way, and they stopped us there.  I now felt
+that we were like prisoners, and that we had to go with them.  They led
+us again into the berry-bushes, and Roddy and I ate a good many, for we
+were very hungry, and the little bears teased us so much we had to pick
+a lot for them.  It was when I was feeling the worst, and fearing that
+perhaps they would never let us leave them, that I heard the bird note.
+O, how sweet it sounded!  For I knew it was from Mustagan, and that it
+meant we would soon be free.  But I saw that the bears had heard it, and
+were very uneasy, as they had been at all sounds.  For a time they
+stopped eating berries and stood up and listened.  However, when it came
+again and again, so bird-like, they lost their fear and again began
+eating the berries."
+
+Said Wenonah: "I was afraid to answer, for the bears had always been so
+angry at us when we made any noise; but I knew that sweet call meant
+rescue and home, and must be answered, and so, while putting a big
+handful of berries in the mouth of the fiercest old bear, I gave the
+answering call.  Then came the reply.
+
+"I must have been trembling, for in my reply I shook in my voice, and
+the bears were angry and growled at me.  How ever, I knew I could
+correctly give the owl call which Mustagan knew was our signal of
+danger.  So when I passed behind a tree I gave it as loud as I could, as
+though from an owl in the tree above me.  When all was right again I
+gave the robin song, and you all know the rest."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
+
+CONGRATULATIONS--OTHER INCIDENTS OF LOST CHILDREN--LONG EXCURSION BY THE
+BOYS--INDIAN LEGEND--"WHY IS THE BEAR TAILLESS?"--OXFORD LAKE--BLACK
+BEARS AS FISHERMEN--THE LOOKOUT FROM THE TREES--FISH-STEALING BEARS--THE
+CONFLICT--BEARS VERSUS BOYS AND INDIANS--SAM'S SUCCESSFUL THRUST--PLENTY
+OF BEAR MEAT.
+
+The thrilling adventures and escape of Wenonah and Roderick were, of
+course, the great sensations that were most talked about for many a day.
+Children have wonderful recuperative powers, and so the two little ones
+recovered from the effects of their strange mishaps long before Mr and
+Mrs Ross or even Minnehaha did.  But time is a great healer, and soon
+all were well and in good spirits again.
+
+The event produced a deep impression upon Frank, Sam, and Alec, and drew
+out from the older servants at the home and some of the Indians some
+very interesting stories.  It is simply amazing what a difference there
+is in people in respect to their ability to find their way out of a
+forest when once the trail is lost.  Some people invariably get lost in
+as small an area as a hundred-acre forest, and are almost sure to come
+out on the opposite side to the one desired.  Indians, perhaps on
+account of their living so much in the woods, are not so liable to get
+bewildered and lost as white people.  Still some of them are as easily
+perplexed as other people.
+
+One of this class went out hunting and lost himself so completely that
+his friends became alarmed and went searching for him.  When they
+fortunately found him, one, chaffing him, said:
+
+"Hello, are you lost?"
+
+To this he indignantly replied:
+
+"No, Indian not lost, Indian here; but Indian's wigwam lost!"
+
+It would never do for him to admit that such a thing could possibly
+happen as his being lost.
+
+So popular and beloved were Mr Ross and his family that not only did
+the congratulations on the recovery of the children come from the Hudson
+Bay Company officials and other white people from far and wide, but
+Indians of other tribes, who had known Mr Ross in the years gone by,
+when he was in the company's service, came from great distances, and in
+their quiet but expressive way indicated their great pleasure at the
+restoration of the little ones to their parents.  Mustagan was, of
+course, the hero of the hour, and as usual he received the
+congratulations with his usual modesty and gave great credit to Big Tom.
+He also had nothing but kind words for the brave white lads, who had so
+coolly and unflinchingly played their part in the closing scene of the
+rescue.  His only regret was that he had not had them take their guns
+with them when they went to the front with the berries, so that they
+might have had a share in the grand fusillade that stopped so suddenly
+the rush of the furious bears.  The actions of the bears in thus sparing
+the children's lives brought out from the Indians several remarkable
+stories of similar conduct known to have occurred elsewhere.
+
+One Indian told of an old mother bear that boldly attacked an Indian
+woman who, with her young babe, had gone out into the forest to gather
+wood.  The mother fought for her child until unconscious.  When she came
+to herself both the bear and the papoose were gone.  She returned to her
+wigwam and gave the alarm, but as the men were away hunting several days
+passed ere they could begin the search.
+
+When at length they discovered the bear's den they found the child was
+there alive.  In killing the bear they had to take the greatest care
+lest they hurt the child, as the bear seemed in its ferocity to think
+more of defending the child from them than of saving its own life.  The
+child when rescued was perfectly naked, yet was fat and healthy, and
+cried bitterly when taken away from the warm den and the body of the
+dead bear that it had suckled with evident satisfaction.
+
+To this and other wonderful stories the boys listened with the greatest
+delight.  The fact is, while the children were lost they were as
+miserable a trio as could be found, and now the reaction had come, and
+they were just bubbling over with delight and ready for any story that
+had, even in the remotest degree, anything similar to what had so
+excited them.
+
+Indians love good companions, and they found them in the boys; so it was
+not long before some of those who had come from Oxford Lake invited them
+to return with them, and they promised them some rare sport.  At first
+Mr Ross was a bit fearful about letting them go so far, but as Big Tom
+and Martin Papanekis offered to go in charge of the two canoes he at
+length yielded.  So, in company with the Indians from that place, they
+started off in great spirits, well supplied with guns and ammunition,
+and all the necessary camping outfit for a ten days' or two weeks'
+excursion.
+
+It was with very great delight that the boys set off with their fresh,
+dusky, red companions on this trip.  It was principally down the rapid
+lakes and rivers up which the boatmen gallantly rowed on their journey
+from York Factory.  The running of the rapids, especially a wild,
+dangerous one through Hell's Gate, very much excited the boys.
+
+On one of the beautiful islands in Oxford Lake they pitched their tents,
+and had some capital sport in fishing for the gamy trout which there
+abound.  The only drawback to the fishing in such a land as this, where
+the fish are so abundant, is that the sportsmen soon get weary with
+drawing up the fish so rapidly.  The finest whitefish in the world are
+to be found in Oxford Lake.  They, however, will not take the hook, and
+so are caught only in gill nets.
+
+Black bears are quite numerous in this part of the country.  They are
+very fond of fishing, and so it was proposed to try and get a shot at
+one or two, as the Indians well knew their favourite resorts.  Indeed,
+the Indian tradition of why the bear has such a short tail is the result
+of his preference for fish diet.  They say that originally the bear had
+a beautiful tail, so long that with it he could easily whisk the flies
+off his ears.  One winter a greedy bear, not content to stay in his den
+and sleep as bears ought to do, wandered out on a great frozen lake.
+There he met a fox hurrying along with a fine fish in his mouth.  The
+bear being the larger and stronger animal, he rushed at him to capture
+the fish.  The fox, seeing him coming, quietly dropped it on the ice,
+and, putting his forepaw upon it, said to the bear:
+
+"Why bother yourself with such an insignificant fish as this, when, if
+you hurry, you can get any number of fine large ones."
+
+"Where are they to be found?" asked the bear.
+
+"Why," said the fox, "did you not hear the thunder of the cracking ice
+on the lake?"
+
+"Yes, I heard it, and trembled," said the bear.
+
+"Well, you need not fear," said the fox, "for it was only the Frost King
+splitting the ice, and there is a great crack, and the fish are there in
+great numbers.  All you have to do is to go and sit across the crack and
+drop your long, splendid tail in the water, and you will be delighted to
+see with what pleasure the fish will seize hold of it.  Then all you
+will have to do will be to just whisk them out on the ice, and then you
+will have them."
+
+The silly bear swallowed this story, and away he rushed to a crack in
+the ice.  These cracks are very frequently found in these northern lakes
+in bitter cold weather.  They are caused by the ice contracting and thus
+bursting.
+
+Down squatted the bear on his haunches, and, dropping his beautiful tail
+in the water, he patiently waited for the bite.  But the water in these
+cracks soon freezes again, especially when it is fifty or sixty degrees
+below zero, and so it was not long before in this crack it was solid
+again.  And so when the bear got tired waiting for a bite, or even a
+nibble, he tried to leave the place, but found it was impossible without
+leaving his tail behind him.  This he had to do, or freeze or starve to
+death, and so he broke loose, and ever after has been tailless.
+
+This is one of the many traditions that abound among the Indians.  They
+have traditions to account for almost everything in nature.  Some of
+them are interesting, ingenious; others are ridiculous and senseless.
+It is well-known, however, no matter how the bear lost his beautiful
+tail, if he ever had one, he is still very fond of fish, and often
+displays a great deal of ingenuity in capturing them.
+
+So it was decided that, if possible, the boys should have a chance to
+see him at his work, and, if possible, get a shot or two, as this was
+the favourable time of the year, as certain kinds of fish were spawning
+in the shallows of the streams, and for them he would be on the lookout.
+As these regions were the hunting grounds of the Oxford Indians, whom
+they had accompanied from Mr Ross's, they knew every place likely to be
+frequented by the bears; and so three canoes were fitted out, with one
+of our boys in each, and away they started, full of pleasurable
+anticipation, not so much just now to shoot or kill, as to find the
+place where they could see bruin at what was at this season his
+favourite occupation, namely, that of catching fish.
+
+Oxford Lake, when no storms are howling over it, is one of the most
+beautiful in the world.  As the weather was now simply perfect, the boys
+enjoyed very much the canoe excursions, and, in addition, a fair amount
+of shooting.  Ducks, partridges and other birds were shot on the wing,
+or at the points where they stopped to rest and eat.
+
+They were rewarded in their search by finding several places where the
+bears had undoubtedly been at work at their favourite pastime.  The
+shrewd Indians were also able to tell as to the success or ill luck of
+the bears in their fishing efforts.
+
+At places where only a few bones or fins were to be seen scattered
+about, the Indians said:
+
+"Poor fishing here; only catch a few, eat them all up."
+
+However, they found other places where only part of the fish had been
+eaten, and here the Indians said:
+
+"This looks better.  When fish plenty, bear eat only the best part."
+
+At length, however, they reached a place that made even the eyes of the
+generally imperturbable Indians flash with excitement.  It was on the
+north-eastern part of the lake, where the river that flows from Rat Lake
+enters into Oxford Lake.  Here, not far from the mouth of the stream,
+were some gravelly shallows which were evidently favourite resorts for
+the fish during the spawning season.  Just a little way out from the
+shore were several broad, flat granite rocks that rose but a little
+above the surface of the water.  Between these rocks and the shore was
+quite a current of water that ran over a gravelly bed.
+
+On the mainland opposite this flat ridge of granite rocks were to be
+seen a large number of fish, each ranging in weight from eight to ten
+pounds.  What most excited and pleased the Indians was that while the
+numerous tracks indicated that several bears had been there fishing only
+the night before, yet each fish had only had one piece bitten out of it,
+and that was on the back just a little behind the head.  Bears are very
+dainty when they have abundance to choose from, and so, when fish are
+very plentiful, especially the whitefish, they are content with only
+biting out that portion containing some dainty fat, which is, as we have
+said, on the swell of the back just behind the head.
+
+When this discovery was made the men in the other canoes were notified,
+and quietly and quickly, plans were made to not only see the bears at
+work that night, when they would return, but to have some shots at them;
+for the Indians said:
+
+"Bears not such fools as to leave such a place while food so plenty."
+
+The impression among those who knew their habits was that even now the
+bears were sleeping not very far away in the dense forests.  So the
+place was carefully looked over, and the best spots for observation were
+selected.  An important consideration was to form some idea, as to the
+direction, from which the bears would come, if they returned that night
+to this spot.  Indian cleverness, sharpened by experience in such
+matters, enabled them to solve this very important question by studying
+the trail along which they had been cautiously coming and going very
+recently.  This they found to be almost a straight line running directly
+back into the depths of the dense forest.
+
+To climb trees as points of observation from which to view bears is, as
+a general thing, a dangerous experiment, as bears themselves are such
+capital climbers.  But there are times when it is the only possible
+course available for those who would observe their action, on account of
+the flatness of the country thereabout.  So, speedily as possible, the
+trees were selected that were considered most suitable.  These were
+situated a little north and south of the spot where the bears had thrown
+their fish on the shore.  They were a little distant from the trail
+along which it was likely the bears would come.  Three trees were thus
+selected, and it was decided that Sam, Alec, and Frank should each have
+one Indian in his tree with him in case of attack.  The other Indians
+were to remain out from the shore in their canoes, sheltered from view
+by some rocks that were not far distant.  They were not so far away as
+to be beyond call, if they should be needed.
+
+All these matters having been decided upon, they entered their canoes
+again and quietly paddled out to one of the rocky isles, not far
+distant, and on the side opposite to the mainland they gathered some dry
+wood and had a good dinner, for which they had capital appetites.  Then
+the Indians lit their pipes and curled down on the rocks for a smoke and
+rest, and urged the boys also to try and get some sleep.  They at first
+thought they were too excited, in view of the coming night's adventures,
+to sleep, but as the Indians so desired they lay down near the shore,
+and the rippling waves were such a soothing lullaby that, strange to
+say, they were soon in dreamless slumber.
+
+A couple of hours was all that could be allowed them, for, as the
+Indians said:
+
+"Sometimes bears move around early, and we must be all there in the
+trees before they come."
+
+All the preparations were soon made.  The guns were freshly loaded with
+ball, and some extra ammunition was taken in the pockets of each one.
+Their hunting knives were given a few rubs on the stones to see that
+they were keen and sharp.  In addition, much to the boys' surprise,
+there was given to each one of them a good solid birch club, about
+eighteen inches in length and an inch and a half thick.  As an extra
+precaution against their being dropped, the Indians, who had prepared
+them while the boys slept, had bored a hole through one end, and
+inserted a deerskin thong to slip over the wrist.  How they were to be
+used, and the wisdom of preparing them, we shall see later on.  The
+Indians were similarly armed, but, in addition, they stuck their hunting
+hatchets in their belts.
+
+A few final instructions were given and the signals decided upon, and
+then the boys and their Indian comrades were noiselessly paddled to the
+shore.  They were landed as closely as possible to the trees into which
+they were to be ensconced, so as to leave but little scent of their
+footsteps on the ground.
+
+In the two trees selected on the north side were Frank and Alec, each
+with an Indian hunter, while Sam and his comrade took up their assigned
+station in a fine large tree on the south side.  It was about an hour
+before sundown ere they were all quietly stowed away in these peculiar
+resting places.  The other Indians quietly paddled back to the places
+designated beyond the rocks.
+
+For a couple of hours they had to sit there in silence, broken only by
+the singing of some birds around them, or the call or cry of some wild
+animal in the forest.  They were first aroused by hearing the crunching
+of bones where they had noticed the fish lying.  On peering out from
+their hiding places they saw an old black fox, with a litter of half-
+grown ones, making a hasty meal out of the fish.  The Indians would have
+loved to have captured them, as the skin of the black fox is very
+valuable.  However, it was not foxes they were now after, but bears;
+and, besides this, the skin of the fox is only prime in the cold, wintry
+months.  So they had to be content with watching them as there they
+greedily devoured the fish.  Suddenly they were disturbed in their
+repast, and dashed away, each with a piece of fish in its mouth, and the
+watchers observed that what had caused their sudden retreat was a large
+wolverine that had quite unexpectedly appeared upon the scene.  He, too,
+seemed to be fond of fish, and at once began to feast upon them.
+
+Not long, however, was he permitted to thus enjoy himself, for out in
+the beautiful gloaming a great black bear was seen emerging from the now
+dark forest upon the shore.  At his coming the thievish wolverine at
+once slunk away.  The bear did not attempt to eat any of the fish that
+were still remaining; but, after a short survey of the coast up and down
+to see that all was clear, he boldly plunged into the water and crossed
+over to one of the shallow rocks only a few yards away.  Hardly had he
+reached it ere another, and then another, bear came out from the forest
+along the central trail which the men had earlier in the day discovered.
+
+They were not long in joining their comrade on the smooth, wide rocks
+which we have described.  After they had spent a little time in
+inspection they lay down on the rocks facing the shore, as close to the
+water as they could without really touching it.  These movements could
+be distinctly seen by the boys, as they were looking out toward the
+west, where the sky was still bright and the few clouds golden.
+
+For a few minutes the bears were very still, then there was a quick
+movement on the part of one of them as he shot out one of his handlike
+paws into the water under a passing fish, and threw it from him across
+the stream, high and dry, up on the shore.  Soon the other bears were
+similarly employed, and the fish were rapidly being captured.  The boys
+excitedly watched these sturdy fishermen, and were astonished at the
+cleverness and quickness with which they were able to throw out the fish
+upon the shore.  Although they had to throw them quite a number of
+yards, they very seldom miscalculated and allowed any to fall short and
+thus drop back into the water.
+
+But before the pile of fish had become very large there happened
+something else to divert the attention of the spectators from the three
+four-footed fishermen out on the flat rocks.  Suddenly they heard the
+sounds of tearing flesh and breaking bones.  On looking down to see who
+were these new intruders, they were able to see not many yards below
+them a couple of other bears that, in their prowling around and looking
+for their supper, had found their way to this capital supply of fish.
+As the watchers peered down at them it was evident by the greedy way in
+which they attacked the fish that they were so hungry as not to be at
+all particular.
+
+Their sudden appearance and attack on the fish were not at all
+appreciated by the industrious trio that had been so skillfully catching
+these fish for their own supper.  They had no disposition to be
+fishermen for others, and so with growls of rage they suddenly dashed
+into and across the water, and sprang upon the intruders.  It was a
+fierce battle, and but little of it could be distinctly seen, especially
+when under the shadows of the trees.  When, however, in their struggles
+they came out on the bright, sandy shore, there was still enough of the
+western twilight in which to witness a good deal of terrific fighting.
+Bears have thick fur and tough hides, and so their battles are generally
+carried on until one side is shaken into exhaustion or knocked into
+submission.  But so stubborn was the fight here that it continued with
+but few intermissions until the moon, which was nearly full, had so
+risen up that everything was made about as bright as in the daytime.
+
+It was evident that the two intruding bears were so hungry that,
+although they had been well shaken, they were loath to consider
+themselves beaten or to leave so sumptuous a supper, and so they again
+returned to the conflict.  The battle was renewed in all its fury, and
+when the three were again victorious the vanquished ones, instead of
+again retreating into the forest, each shaking off his opponent rushed
+to the nearest tree and began its ascent, one followed by two bears and
+the other by one.
+
+These two trees, up which the five bears were now climbing, happened to
+be the ones in which Frank and Alec and their two Indian companions were
+hid.
+
+Bears are capital climbers, and these two fellows, stimulated by the
+cuffs and bites of their antagonists behind them, made good time in the
+ascent.  Now, for the first time, the boys saw for what purpose they had
+been armed with those handy birch clubs.  A bear's tenderest spot is his
+nose.  This the Indians well know, and so, when they are chased by a
+bear, always defend themselves by there striking him.  A bear that will
+stand heavy blows with a club on his skull, or shoulders, or even paws,
+gives up the fight at once when rapped over the nose.
+
+Secrecy was now no longer possible, and so the quiet command of the
+Indians to the boys was:
+
+"Hit them on the nose whenever you can."
+
+The two angry bears were so taken up with the attack of their own
+species behind them that they little imagined that there were enemies
+above, and so about the first suspicions they had of the presence of the
+boys and Indians were the smart raps they received on their noses.
+
+Whack! whack! whack! fell the blows upon their snouts, and down they
+dropped suddenly to the ground, each of them carrying with him an
+assailant that happened to be just below him.  The sudden discomfiture
+of the bears brought a cheer from the boys.  This, of course, startled
+and excited the other bears, that were in a very pugnacious mood.
+
+The two were additionally angry at the ugly blows that had met them, and
+the other three fishermen seemed to imagine that fresh assailants were
+there in the trees ready to come down and rob them of their supper of
+fish.  This they resolved to resist, and so the fight was on in good
+earnest.
+
+The Indians declare the bears know how to talk with each other; anyway,
+these five seemed for the present to proclaim a truce among themselves,
+that together they might attack their common foes, who were ensconced up
+there above them in the trees.
+
+Fortunate was it for our friends that the moon was now so high in the
+heavens that they could see every movement of the bears as distinctly as
+though it had been daylight.  For a time the bears moved about excitedly
+below them, and occasionally made a feint, as though they were about to
+climb the trees and again attack them.  They hesitated, however, and
+kept moving angrily about from tree to tree.  Sam and his comrade in the
+third tree were soon discovered, and two or three of the bears made a
+pretence of climbing it, but soon desisted and dropped back to the
+ground.
+
+In the meantime the rest of the Indians out in the canoes had heard the
+growlings and fightings among the bears, and had paddled in much nearer
+to the shore.  By their expressive calls the Indians in the trees had
+given to those in the canoes some idea of how the conflict stood, and
+that they were still able to defend themselves.
+
+The bears at length seemed to have come to some arrangement among
+themselves, for they so divided that they began attacking the three
+trees at once.  The two that had come last attacked the tree in which
+Sam and his comrade were ensconced; two of the other three began
+climbing the tree in which were Alec and his comrade; while Frank and
+his companion had only to face the remaining one.
+
+"Strike them on the nose," was still the cry of the Indians.  And
+although the bears made the most desperate efforts to defend their
+tender nostrils while they still advanced, they eventually had to give
+up the attempt, one after another, and drop back to the ground fairly
+howling with rage and pain.  Angry bears have a great deal of
+perseverance, and so this phase of the fight was not over until each
+bear had tried every one of the three trees in succession ere he seemed
+discouraged.  After moving round and round, and growling out their
+indignation, they tried the plan of as many as possible of them climbing
+up the same tree together.  However, as the trees were not very large
+this scheme did not succeed any better, and they were again repelled.
+
+"What trick will they try next, I wonder?" said Frank.
+
+"Get your guns handy," was the answer, "for you may soon need them."
+
+And sure enough the bears, after talking in their whining, growling way
+to each other again, rushed to the attack; and while three of them began
+each to climb one of the trees, in which were our friends; the other two
+began climbing a couple of other trees, whose great branches interlaced
+with those of the trees in which were two of the boys.
+
+The Indians were quick to notice this ruse, and said:
+
+"The bears must never be allowed to get up those trees above us, for if
+they do it may go hard with us."
+
+Very cunning were the bears, for they tried as much as possible to climb
+up the trees on the sides opposite the places where were hidden Frank
+and Alec and their Indians.  However, they could not keep entirely hid,
+and so, at the command of one of the Indians, there rang out the
+simultaneous discharge of the four guns.  One of the bears suddenly
+dropped to the ground, but the other one continued his climbing, until
+he reached a position quite close to Frank, on the branch of the tree,
+in which he had ascended.  The boys and men had not time to load their
+guns, as they were single-barrelled muzzle-loaders.  In addition to
+watching this attack on the two bears, they had to vigorously use their
+clubs on the noses of those attacking three.  As before, these three
+were speedily defeated, and now the excitement was to see how Frank and
+his comrade would deal with the big fellow that had succeeded in
+reaching a position on a branch that was in a line with them.  They
+could observe him cautiously working his way on a great branch of the
+tree which he had ascended, and was endeavouring to get into the
+branches of the tree, in which they were located.
+
+After some clever balancing he managed to get hold of a long branch that
+reached out horizontally toward him, and steadying himself on it, and
+holding on to a much smaller one above, he gradually began making his
+way toward them.  The Indian at once saw his opportunity, and told
+Frank, who was on this upper branch to which the bear with his forepaws
+was clinging, to bravely crawl out on it as far as he safely could, and
+keep up a vigorous attack with his club on the bear's nose.  This Frank
+gallantly did, and, while thus employed, the Indian drew his axe, and
+began vigorously chopping the large limb of the tree, on which the bear
+was standing.  Assailed by Frank's blows he made but little headway, and
+so, before he knew what was up, the branch suddenly gave way under him
+and he fell to the ground, a badly stunned and discouraged bear.  This
+gave time for the guns to be carefully reloaded, and then the besieged,
+thinking they had had excitement enough for one night, became the
+assailants, and so began firing down upon the bears below them.
+
+Sam, in his excitement, had put too much powder in his gun, and when he
+fired the kick of the weapon caused him to lose his balance and he
+tumbled to the ground.  It was fortunate for him that he fell in a soft
+place, and was not in the least hurt or stunned, for the only unwounded
+bear soon made a rush for him, but was not quick enough to find him
+unprepared.
+
+Sam now knew more about bears than he did when he rushed into the camp
+with one not far behind him.  So here there was no desire to even try
+and regain his position in the tree, from the branches of which he had
+so suddenly descended.  Springing up from the spot where he had fallen,
+he drew his keen-bladed knife, and placing his back against the tree he
+awaited the attack.  He had not long to wait.  The bear, maddened by the
+battle that had been going on, and doubly excited by the smell of blood
+from his wounded comrades, rushed at him with the intention of making
+short work of him by hugging him to death.  But he little knew what was
+before him.  With all the nerve and coolness of an old Indian hunter,
+Sam waited until the big fore paws, like great, sinewy arms, were almost
+around him.  Then with a sudden lunge he drove the knife firm and true
+into the very heart of the fierce brute.  There was one great convulsive
+shiver, and then the bear fell over dead.
+
+The next instant there was a great shout from those who had landed from
+the canoes in time to witness this brave act.  The shout was caught up
+by the others, who, when they saw Sam's unceremonious descent from the
+tree, began to descend more slowly, and were in good time to see him
+give the deadly thrust.
+
+Sam had indeed redeemed himself, and was the hero for many a day.  Alec
+and Frank were very proud of him, and hearty indeed were their
+congratulations.  Sam cheerfully accepted their congratulations, but had
+his own opinion of himself, first, for putting too much powder into his
+gun, and secondly, for so ignominiously tumbling out of the tree.
+
+On looking over the ground they found four dead bears.  One, badly
+wounded, had managed to crawl away into the forest.
+
+They had had enough excitement for that night, so they gathered up some
+dry wood, made a fire, and cooked some fine whitefish in thorough Indian
+style.  They had good appetites for a good supper, and after it were
+soon sound asleep.  As usual the boys were the last to wake up the next
+morning, and found that the Indians had already tracked and killed the
+wounded bear that had escaped in the night.
+
+Some time was spent in skinning them, and then, loaded with the robes
+and meat, they returned in high spirits where they had left Big Tom and
+Martin Papanekis and the other Indians.
+
+There were great rejoicings at their success, and even quiet Big Tom had
+some cheery congratulatory words to say to Sam, which Sam prized very
+much indeed.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
+
+A SUCCESSFUL MISSION--PECULIAR ADDRESS--THE VISIT TO THE BEAVERS--
+COMMODIOUS HOUSES--WELL-CONSTRUCTED DAMS--THE MOONLIGHT SIGHT--STRANGE
+INTERRUPTION--STEALTHY WOLVERINE--CROUCHING WOLVES--MORE CUNNING MEN--A
+MIXED-UP BATTLE--DELIGHTED BOYS--RETURN TO SAGASTA-WEEKEE.
+
+They rested that day, and then, the next being Saturday, they decided to
+go to the upper end of the lake and there camp, so as to be near the
+newly formed mission, established by a Reverend Mr Brooking, and thus
+be able to attend the service on the Sabbath.
+
+They met with a cordial welcome from Mr and Mrs Brooking, who, living
+in such a lovely place, were delighted to welcome them, especially the
+boys, who were all to give them a great deal of information about
+friends in the old land, which they had not visited for many years.
+
+The boys were very much interested in the mission and the school.  As
+they remained camped in the vicinity a few days, they saw and heard a
+good deal of the genuineness of the work done, and always, in after
+years, were they strong advocates for foreign missions.  And yet there
+were some amusing things, which showed how wise and patient a missionary
+has to be in leading a people up from the darkness and ignorance of
+paganism.
+
+The missionary told them many amusing stories.  Here is a simple one:
+One of his converts was anxious to preach to his fellow-countrymen, and
+in this laudable desire he was encouraged by the missionary.  As long as
+he stuck to his subject, and talked about the Gospel, he did very well
+indeed.  But soon his ambitions led him to tackle subjects about which
+he was not very well informed.
+
+One day, in addressing a company of his countrymen, he exclaimed:
+
+"My friends, the missionary says the world is round, but he is mistaken;
+it is flat, yes, as flat as the top of that stove," he said, pointing to
+the great iron stove in the centre of the room.
+
+When the missionary heard this of course he had to give Metassis a
+lecture in geography.  He showed him a map of the hemispheres, and, as
+he thought, so fully explained the matter that there could be no further
+mistake.
+
+The next time Metassis stood up to speak he said:
+
+"Friends, I made a mistake.  The world is round, but it is flat one way
+for sure."
+
+This he said from having seen the flat maps on the wall.  It was thus
+evident that another lesson in geography was necessary, and a school
+globe had to be brought into requisition before he could be convinced
+that it was round.  His apology did not much mend matters.  Here it is:
+
+"My friends, I made another mistake.  The world is round, but then it
+stands on three legs."
+
+This he said owing to the fact he had had his last lesson in geography
+from a globe that worked in a frame that was supported by a tripod
+stand.
+
+To see the industrious beavers at work was one of the sights that long
+had been desired by the boys.  At many a camp fire they had heard the
+Indians talk about these most industrious of all animals, and tell such
+wonderful stories of their cleverness; and so now, as the moon was still
+bright, it was decided to accept of the very kind invitations of some
+friendly Indians, and go and visit a large beaver dam that they had
+discovered was being constructed by a large colony of these animals.
+Nothing could have given greater pleasure to the boys than this
+invitation, and so it was gladly accepted.
+
+In view of the fact that the moon was already waning, it was decided to
+set off that very afternoon in order to reach that place by sundown, so
+as to be in good positions to see, ere the beavers began the night's
+varied occupations.
+
+Of the many wonderful things which have been written and told about the
+beavers we need not here repeat; suffice to say that those Indians who
+most hunt them, and thus have the best opportunity of studying their
+ways and doings, are the ones who speak most strongly and
+enthusiastically about them.
+
+Of the size of the trees they can cut down with their teeth, and of the
+length and strength of the dams they can construct, as well as the
+reason and instinct they seem to exercise in giving the right curve to
+these dams at the dangerous places, so that they will be most able to
+resist the force of the current, even when swollen by heavy floods, we
+need not here describe in detail.  It is enough to say that stumps of
+trees over two feet in diameter are still to be found with the marks of
+the teeth of the beaver, that had so cleverly and accurately felled the
+great trees that had stood there defying every storm, proud monarchs of
+the forests, until these industrious animals laid them low.
+
+Dams hundreds of yards long, and wide enough and strong enough for great
+wagons to easily travel over and pass each other, can still be traced
+out in regions where the beavers have long been destroyed.
+
+Vast beaver meadows are still prized by the farmers for the hundreds of
+acres of richest hay land that have been formed by the gradual filling
+up of the rich lands, brought down in times of freshets from the high
+regions beyond, and year after year deposited in these beaver ponds,
+until at length they were so filled up that what was once like a great
+inland lake has become a prairie or meadow of rich waving grass.
+
+Their houses were in some instances not only larger, but in every case
+much more cleverly and thoroughly built than were the habitations of the
+pagan Indians.
+
+Their forethought in cutting and depositing upon the bottoms of the
+waters and ingeniously fastening there vast quantities of the birch or
+willow, the bark of which was to serve as food during the long winter
+months, was far ahead of the habits of the improvident people, who
+literally took "no thought for the morrow," and so were often at
+starvation point, while the industrious beavers in their warm, cozy
+homes had enough and to spare.
+
+As soon as it was decided to go the preparations were soon made, and,
+bidding farewell to the noble missionary and his heroic wife, from whom
+they parted with regret, the canoes were pointed to the east again, and
+after some hours of hard paddling they reached a fairly large river, up
+which they were to go to a large creek which entered into it, and upon
+which the beaver dam now being constructed was to be found.
+
+At the mouth of the river they went ashore for a rest and supper.  Here
+the whole program of the night was talked over and all arrangements
+made.  It was necessary that everything should be thoroughly understood
+and carried out, as beavers are very watchful and timid animals; the
+least alarm sends them to their retreat, and it is a long time ere they
+resume their work.  As a precaution against surprise from bears or
+wolves, or even wolverines, who are very fond of beaver flesh, it was
+decided to take their guns along.
+
+The creek, which was more like a small river, ran through a beautiful
+valley, and on either side were hills, some of which rose up so
+precipitously from the water that they formed admirable positions from
+which the cautious sightseers could watch the operations of the busy
+toilers when they were at work in the waters below.
+
+The wind was everything that could be desired, and so our three boys
+were able to be together; but they had to wait quite a time in the most
+complete silence for the appearance of the industrious but timid
+workers.
+
+It is amazing how all animals seem to be acquainted with the natural
+sounds that come from the woods or prairies, and are but little
+disturbed by them, while a sound that is unnatural is at once detected.
+For example, Big Tom was more than once heard to say in his quiet way
+that, when hunting moose, he noticed that a storm might be raging, and
+the great branches of the trees snapping and breaking in the gale, yet
+the moose seemed to pay no attention to any of these sounds; but just
+let the hunter be careless enough to let a dry stick snap under his
+moccasined foot, and the moose was alarmed and off like a shot.  So it
+is with the beaver.  The ordinary night sounds disturb them not, but the
+report of a gun, it may be a mile away, sends them instantly to their
+retreats, while the slightest evidence of hunters so disturbs them that
+perhaps for twenty-four hours they will keep under cover without making
+the slightest movement.
+
+The moon was quite high up in the heavens ere the first rippling sounds
+were heard upon the waters.  The first arrivals seemed to be the
+watchers, who had come to report.  They appeared to swim almost from end
+to end of the great pond that had already been made by the strong dam,
+which seemed about finished.
+
+As soon as they had in some way reported that the coast was clear,
+others appeared upon the scene, until between twenty and thirty were at
+the same time visible.  Some were industriously employed in carrying
+additional stones and mud to the dam, and carefully filling up every
+crack and crevice.  Others were guiding great logs down the current, and
+fastening them in position where they would strengthen the dam against
+possible floods and freshets.  The majority, and they were principally
+the smaller ones, were employed in cutting down small birch and willows,
+which they dragged by their teeth to the edge of the pond, and there
+they suddenly dived with them to the bottom.  The pieces that they could
+not firmly stick in the mud they fastened down in the bottom by piling
+stones upon them to keep them from floating.
+
+The boys were too far away to see by the moon's light the beavers
+actually at work among a clump of large trees that stood on the shore
+some way up the stream, but the crashing down of a couple of trees into
+the water told very clearly that some were there industriously at work.
+Thus for a couple of hours the boys and Indians watched with great
+interest these clever animals, and then there was an abrupt ending.  It
+was not caused by any of our party, as the Indians, having abundance of
+food, had no desire to now kill the beaver.  Then, in addition, the
+skins, so valuable in winter, were now of but little worth.
+
+As we have stated, the beavers have many enemies.  Their flesh is very
+much prized as food by all the carnivorous animals of that country.  And
+so, while our party was watching with such pleasure the varied movements
+of the beaver, there were other eyes upon them, full of evil purposes,
+and, strange to say, they were not very far away from where our boys and
+Indians were hid.
+
+As before mentioned, our party was on the top of a hill that abruptly
+rose up from the pond, caused by the backing up of the waters by the
+beaver dam.  From this point of observation they looked out toward the
+west.  On the left side were some hills much smaller and less abrupt.
+Just about the time they were thinking of retiring, the sharp eyes of
+one of the Indians noticed a dark object on the small hill nearest to
+them.  Giving a whispered word of caution, they all lay as low as
+possible and watched.  On and on, and at length out from the shadows of
+some bushes into the clear moonlight, came the creature, and now the
+sharp eyes of the Indians saw that it was a wolverine.  The fact of our
+party being so high above it was the only reason they had not been
+detected.
+
+It was evident from its actions that it was on a beaver hunt.  At every
+extra noise the busy animals made in the water, as logs were rolled in
+or the beavers plunged in with birch or willow saplings in their mouths,
+the wolverine stopped and listened.  There was but little wind, and so
+it was evident that even when the cruel beast had nearly reached the
+shore, and there crouched behind a small rock, the beavers were still
+unconscious of his presence.  There was only a little strip of land
+about a yard between this rock and the water; but along this narrow
+strip of land the beavers had been coming and going while at their
+varied duties.  This, in some way or other, the cunning wolverine seemed
+to have discovered.
+
+But while the boys and some of the Indians were intently watching his
+movements, others of them, as the result of long experience, had
+occasionally cast a searching glance in every direction around them.
+
+"Hist!" in a quiet whisper arrested the attention of all.  Without a
+word, but by a gesture scarcely perceptible, they were directed to look
+along the very trail the wolverine had made, and there stealthily moving
+along, now in the light and now in the shadow, were two large grey
+wolves.
+
+This was complicating matters, and making things interesting indeed.
+The Indians, leaving the boys their guns loaded with ball, and enjoining
+perfect silence upon them, took up their own weapons and noiselessly
+withdrew.  So gloriously bright was the night in that land where fogs
+and mists are almost unknown, and where the rays of the moon cast a
+clear and distinct shadow, that everything passing was distinctly seen.
+
+There out in the waters, and around the shore and on the dam, were
+perhaps thirty beavers hard at work.  Here to the left below them lay
+crouching, like a ball of black wool, the savage, alert wolverine,
+patiently waiting until an unsuspecting beaver, loaded with wood,
+stones, or gravel, should pass along that trail within reach of his
+deadly spring.
+
+A couple of hundred yards behind the wolverine, and yet high enough up
+on the hillside to observe his every movements, and yet not be observed
+by him, were the two wolves, now crouching down flat upon the ground.
+As they remained so quiet, the boys were surprised and wondered, if they
+were after the wolverine, why they did not attack him.  But, while they
+watched the wolverine, it was not wolverine meat they were after, but
+beaver.  But their wish and hope was that the wolverine might obtain it
+for them.  How far their expectations were realised we shall soon see.
+
+"Hush!" said Alec, "look!"  And sure enough there were the Indians, some
+hundreds of yards behind the wolves, and spread out like a third of a
+circle, cautiously moving on toward the two wolves, which were intently
+watching the wolverine, which was watching the beavers.  It was to the
+hunters an interesting sight, and so fascinated the boys that they could
+hardly keep still.  Soon the tension was broken and there was a sudden
+change.
+
+A couple of fine large beavers came in sight along the trail on the
+shore with a large stone, which they were evidently wishing to take to
+the dam.  So intent were they upon their work that they knew not of
+danger until with a great spring the wolverine had fastened his sharp
+teeth and claws in the back of one of them, which uttered a cry of pain
+as he was dashed to the ground.  The other beaver instantly sprang into
+the water, as did all the other beavers within sound of that death-cry.
+
+In a few seconds the wolves, with great bounding leaps, had cleared the
+space between them and the wolverine.  They fiercely attacked him and
+endeavoured to at once secure the beaver.  But the wolverine is a plucky
+animal when thus assailed, and he made a good fight for his hard-earned
+supper.  In the meantime, the instant the wolves started, the Indians,
+who from their higher ground had seen the movements, also began to
+advance; and so, ere the wolves and wolverine had settled the matter as
+to the ownership of the dead beaver, a volley of bullets killed the
+wolves, while the wolverine turned and began climbing up the steep place
+of the hill where the boys were hid.
+
+"Shoot him!" shouted the Indians.  A volley rang out from the guns of
+the boys, and a dead wolverine with three bullets in him went tumbling
+back to the bottom of the hill.
+
+No need of silence now, and so the long-continued hush was broken with a
+will, and there were many shouts and congratulations.  The boys speedily
+and safely descended the side of the hill, that sloped downward in the
+direction of the men, and joined them at the spot where they were
+examining the dead wolves and beaver.  The wolverine had not had much
+time to kill the latter ere the wolves were upon him, and so he was not
+very much torn.  The splendid broad tail was uninjured, and was eagerly
+examined by the boys.  The dead wolverine was dragged in by the men, and
+it was decided, as dry wood was abundant, for some of them to make a
+fire, while others went for kettles, food, and blankets, and there spent
+the rest of the night.
+
+They had two objects in view.  One was to be on hand to skin the animals
+early in the morning, and the other was to have the opportunity of
+inspecting the beaver dam, and seeing the size of some of the stumps
+where those wonderful animals, with their teeth alone, had cut down some
+great trees.
+
+A tired, sleepy trio of boys were they even ere their midnight meal was
+eaten, and so very quickly after they were rolled up in their blankets
+and stretched out on the smooth rock fast asleep.
+
+As there are many wild animals in this part of the country, the Indians,
+ere they lay down to sleep, took the precaution of rolling some of the
+logs cut down by the beavers on the fire.  These would keep up a blaze
+until at least sunrise, after which there would be no danger.
+
+Refreshing and invigorating is the sleep which comes to those who have
+the courage and enterprise to visit these lands, and in this way live
+out a great deal in the open air.  The night was never close and sultry.
+The air seems full of ozone, and scented with the balm of the great
+forest.  So it was here as in many similar experiences with these
+hearty, healthy lads.  So soundly did they sleep that it was after eight
+o'clock ere they opened their eyes.  As they sprang up, half ashamed of
+themselves, the Indians chided them not, but one, in broken English,
+comforted them when he said:
+
+"Plenty sleep, strong men, clear eye, firm grip; good medicine."
+
+So they were comforted by this, and ever after when they overslept
+themselves they called it "good medicine."
+
+The wolves and wolverine were already skinned, and so as soon as the
+boys had had their breakfasts, which had long been waiting them, they
+set off to visit the beaver dam.  When they reached it the boys could
+hardly realise how it was possible that animals not heavier than an
+ordinary retriever dog could build such a structure.  It was in shape
+like a crescent, with the outer curve up stream.  It was thus able to
+meet and best resist the force of the great currents in times of
+freshets and floods.
+
+Many of the logs used in its construction would have been prized as
+valuable for timber in saw mills.  Then, in addition to the large logs,
+there were great numbers that were smaller.  The stones, gravel, and mud
+used would require many men, with horses and carts, for many days to
+transport.  Yet here visible to the eye were gathered all of this
+material by these animals, that have no tools but their teeth and paws,
+and all piled up and arranged in a manner so scientific and accurate
+that the finest engineer in the land would not have lost anything in his
+reputation to have claimed the work as his most careful planning.
+
+The beaver house was also visited.  It was apparently all built on the
+land, but it so overhung the lake at one side that the water ever found
+access, and there was abundance of room for the beavers to swim out or
+in whenever they desired.  No attempt was made to break it, nor in any
+way to disturb it, neither would there be in the winter months, when the
+Indians would make the attack upon them.  A more clever and successful
+way for their capture is well known, and this would be put in practice.
+But we must not anticipate an interesting adventure at this very spot.
+
+The return to Sagasta-weekee was made in a few days.  With the exception
+of an upset of a canoe in one of the rapids, where they were trying to
+work up stream instead of making a portage, nothing of a very startling
+nature occurred.  Alec was the boy who was in this canoe, and he was
+quite carried under by the rapid current, and only reappeared above the
+surface a couple of hundred feet lower down.  Fortunately there were
+some canoes near at hand, and he was quickly rescued.  But the accident
+gave them all a great fright.  They lost everything in the canoe that
+would not float.  They most regretted the loss of three reliable guns.
+After this they were much more cautious, and the boys were taught the
+admonitory lesson that these sports and adventures were not to be
+enjoyed without many risks, and that there was at all times as great [a]
+demand for caution and watchfulness as there was on certain occasions
+for daring and courage.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
+
+THE EXCURSION IN THE REINDEER COUNTRY--NUMEROUS HERDS--THE BATTLE
+BETWEEN REINDEER AND WOLVES IN THE LAKE--REACHING THE HERDS--THE LONG
+STALK FOR THE LEADER--ALEC'S SUCCESSFUL SHOT--CONSTERNATION OF THE
+HERD--ABUNDANCE OF VENISON.
+
+To see and, if possible, to hunt a herd of reindeer, both on land and in
+the water, was one of the ambitions of the boys.  They had frequently
+heard some remarkable stories of these animals from northern hunters
+whose homes were in regions where they occasionally visited in their
+migrations, and so they were much pleased when Mr Ross, returning one
+day from the Hudson Bay Company's Fort, informed them that a number of
+the Indians from that land were there trading, and that he had obtained
+the permission of the Hudson Bay Company's officials for them to return
+with these Indians for some sport in that land.  He also added that the
+Indians themselves had stated that the herds of reindeer this year were
+numerous, and that it would be a very great pleasure to take charge of
+the young "palefaces," who were so highly spoken of by the red men, and
+do all they could to assist them in their sports in their country.
+
+This was glorious news, and, as the weeks were now rapidly going by, no
+time was to be lost.
+
+Alec deeply regretted the loss of his favourite gun, but Mr Ross
+speedily replaced it with another; and so, well supplied, and with a
+couple of Mr Ross's Indians as servants to look after the camp and be
+on hand in any emergency, the journey was commenced under the happiest
+auspices.
+
+We need not repeat the description of the trip down or up the river and
+across the portages.  There were several nights when they slept as usual
+at the camp fires on the rocks.  There was a good deal of sunshine and a
+few storms.
+
+They passed through some lakes of rarest beauty, that simply fascinated
+the boys, and drew from them the warmest expressions of admiration, of
+which they were capable.  Even Sam at some glimpses on these lovely
+sheets, where the water was so transparent that at times it seemed as
+though they were paddling through the air, lost his powers of speech for
+a time, and then when the spell was broken he exclaimed, in almost
+sorrowful tones, "That beats Killarney!"  How glorious must have been
+the sight when even a loyal Irish boy would make such an admission!
+
+The Dominion of Canada has in it more fresh-water lakes than any other
+country in the world.  Some of them are equal, if not superior, in the
+clearness and purity of their waters, in the distinctness of the
+reflections cast upon their limpid surface by surrounding hill or
+forest, and in the wild, weird beauty of their environments, to any of
+the world's old favourite ones that have been long praised in song and
+story.  They are slowly being discovered and prized, for some of them
+are as a poet's dream and a painter's vision.
+
+They saw various wild animals, but as they were in charge of the trading
+outfit for the Hudson Bay Company's post in that region of country they
+were under obligations to push on as rapidly as possible.  The only time
+they did make a stop of any length was in Split Lake, where, as they
+were rowing their boats along, they saw a great commotion in the water a
+long way ahead of them.  When they drew near to it they saw it was a
+battle between a couple of splendidly antlered reindeer and four wolves.
+
+It was evident that the wolves were being badly worsted in the fight, as
+the reindeer were now the aggressors.  From the Indians' idea of it, it
+looked as if the wolves had either chased the deer into the lake or,
+seeing them in there swimming, had plunged in after them.  The deer, at
+first much alarmed, had boldly struck out into the lake, and were
+followed by the wolves.  Of course, it was impossible to say whether the
+wolves had been able to reach them and make the attack, or whether the
+reindeer, when they had drawn them a long way out, had not then turned
+upon them.
+
+The reindeer has large lungs, and so swims high on the water.  He is not
+only able to use his antlers, but can turn while swimming and kick most
+viciously.  A wolf can only swim like a dog, and as his head is so low
+he cannot make much of a fight.  And so here the boys had the rare sight
+of seeing a couple of deer chasing with great delight four of their most
+dreaded foes on land.
+
+They passed across the bows of the boat near enough for them to see
+quite distinctly the deer suddenly give a spurt and then strike the
+wolves with their great horns.  Every effort of the wolves to attack
+seemed to meet with complete failure, until at length their only
+ambition seemed to be to reach the shore, and in this way two were
+successful.  The deer succeeded in drowning the other two.
+
+The victory of the deer over their cruel and relentless foes gave very
+much delight to the Indians as well as to Frank, Alec, and Sam, and it
+was decided not to fire at the beautiful creatures, but to leave them to
+enjoy their victory.
+
+After several days more of travel and varied adventure they reached the
+trading post and Burntwood River, and shortly after started off to Lake
+Wollaston, as the hunters had reported the reindeer were there in great
+herds.  To that place they now travelled in birch canoes, and in them
+the boys were much happier, than in the big boats in which, with the
+company's goods, they had travelled from Norway House.
+
+They saw traces of bears, beavers, wild cats, and other animals; but
+they were after reindeer, and just now cared but little for any other
+kinds of game.  At a camp fire, where they were having supper, the old
+Indian who had been appointed captain on account of his experience in
+this kind of hunting gave the boys some instructions how to act should
+they discover a large herd.  He told them it would not be very difficult
+to get within range of one or more of them, but they were to crawl up as
+close to the herd as possible on the leeward side, and there, from their
+hidden places, watch them until they saw the great one that was the
+leader of the herd.  They would not have any trouble to pick him out.
+They would soon see how he bossed the rest, and was always at the head
+when the herd moved.
+
+What they were to do was to keep moving along with the herd, skulking
+from one rock to the shelter of another, and, taking advantage of every
+inequality in the ground, to get within range of the leader, "but never
+let him once get sight of you."  It was not so very particular about the
+others, as they would not run until the leader started, unless very much
+frightened.  They were told to take, in addition to the gun and
+ammunition, some food, a small axe in their belt, as well as their
+trusty knife.  They were not to be discouraged if hours passed before
+they got a shot at the leader.  They were to be patient and they would
+succeed.  The boys were amazed when the old Indian told them that
+sometimes he had followed a great herd for three days before he got at
+the leader.  "But," he added, "it well paid me, as I shot twelve deer
+ere they had a new leader."
+
+How this could happen was a mystery to the boys until he explained to
+them that when these herds come down fresh from the great barren lands
+under the guidance of the leader they have such confidence in him, or
+are in such fear of him, that when he is shot down the whole herd is
+thrown into confusion, and they run here and there and jump about in
+such a foolish manner, waiting for their leader to show them the way,
+that a quick, clever Indian, hid behind a rock or standing in some dense
+bushes, can keep loading and firing until he shoots from six to a dozen
+of them.  Then another great deer gives a snort and dashes off, and they
+all follow him as the new leader.  They are now so frightened that,
+under his leadership, they will generally run a great many miles ere
+they stop.
+
+Early one morning, shortly after this information had been imparted by
+the experienced old Indian to the boys, some scouts who had been on the
+lookout came in with the information that two herds of deer were
+visible.  They were in different parts, and could be hunted at the same
+time without any difficulty.
+
+At once all preparations were made.  As but one boy and one Indian could
+go together, it was decided that Frank and Alec should make the first
+attempt to show their skill in this kind of hunting.  The old captain
+took Alec with him, while another almost equally experienced hunter
+accompanied Frank.
+
+Sam was left boss of the camp, but he determined to do a little hunting
+on his own account while the rest were off after the reindeer.
+
+The clothing of the boys was inspected by the Indians, and everything of
+a bright nature was discarded.  They were all dressed in smoked leather
+suits, with caps to match.  This made them almost the colour of the
+rocks and dried ferns, or bracken, among which they would have to do a
+good deal of crawling.  The deer hunters left the camp about six o'clock
+in the morning, Alec and the captain going in a north-easterly
+direction, and Frank and his companion about due west.  The
+understanding was to be back, if possible, not later than midnight.
+Each Indian, however, took the precaution of strapping on his back a
+grey blanket in case of delay.
+
+The adventures of Alec and the captain we will have.
+
+They started off in a north-easterly direction, and had to travel
+several miles ere, from an eminence far away, the herd was sighted.
+They were feeding as they leisurely moved along, and seemed to have no
+suspicion of danger.  It was in our hunters' favour that the country was
+very much broken with a succession of hills and dales, rocky ridges and
+ravines, clumps of spruce forests, and long stretches of marshy lands,
+in which the dried ferns and bracken were very abundant.  The first
+thing after the discovery of the herd in the distance, was to find out
+from them, the direction in which they seemed to be moving, and then to
+notice the direction of the wind, as it is always best to be on the lee
+side on account of the scent.
+
+All arrangements being made, the two started off quite rapidly, as it
+was possible to push on for quite a time without much precaution, owing
+to the character of the country.  Alec's trips to the Highlands of his
+beloved Scotland, and his excursions with the experienced gillie there,
+stood him in good service here.  After about an hour's swift travelling
+the Indian said:
+
+"We are not far from them; stay here a few minutes while I go to that
+large rock and see how they are moving, and, if I can, make out the
+leader.  Keep where you can see me when I come down a little from the
+side of the rock, and if I stretch out my arms for a sign come on and
+join me there."
+
+Alec was not kept long in waiting, for soon after his companion had
+crawled to the summit of the rock that rose up before them he speedily
+drew back a little, so as to be out of sight of the deer, and, gave the
+signal to advance.  It did not take Alec long to join him.  The Indian
+informed him that the herd was a large one, and that some of the deer
+were so close that they could easily be shot from the top of the rock.
+
+Very cautiously did Alec with his companion climb to the point of
+observation, and there, carelessly moving before them, was a magnificent
+herd of several hundred splendid deer.  As their food was abundant they
+were in splendid condition and were a beautiful sight.  Numbers of them
+were very heavily antlered, and as Alec tried to count the numerous
+points he saw many pass muster as "royals" in his beloved Highlands.  It
+was evident the leader was not to be distinguished from that position,
+and so the keen-eyed Indian watched for a few minutes the gradually
+receding herd until he was perfectly satisfied of the direction they
+intended to keep, and then he indicated to Alec their probable route,
+and stated that in all probability several hours would pass ere they
+would get a shot.
+
+So, carefully retreating, they began their careful march in a line
+parallel with the herd, but generally from two to four hundred yards
+distant, according to the cover the country afforded to screen them from
+observation.  Several times did the Indian leave Alec carefully hid from
+observation while he, as we have once described, took advantage of some
+high rock, or steep declivity, to crawl forward and observe the position
+of the herd.  On one of these tours of inspection the Indian observed
+that before them was now a long valley, and the appearance of the
+country was as though two hills were quite close together with only a
+narrow passage between them.  Almost as by intuition--perhaps it was the
+result of long experience--the Indian reasoned, "If we can reach that
+spot ahead of the herd we are almost sure to be successful.  But can we
+do it? is the question."
+
+Rapidly returning to Alec, he told him what he had seen, and what he
+thought might be accomplished.
+
+"Let us try," excitedly said Alec, and off they started.
+
+The Indian was amazed at the endurance of this Scotch lad, who so
+generally kept close to him in his rapid march.  When well sheltered
+behind great rocky ridges or in ravines they ran without fear of being
+discovered, but when it was on a barren plain, with scores of deer in
+plain sight, it was a different matter.  There they had to crawl
+snakelike along the ground.  Thus on it went, the Indian repeatedly
+uttering a cheery word of encouragement to Alec, who had so won his
+admiration by his pluck and endurance.
+
+"What is that?" they both said, as they crowded as low as possible.
+
+"Wait till I see," said the Indian, as he crawled forward to discover.
+
+Soon he came back with the word that it was all right; only a big buck
+crowded up too near the front, and the leader turned on him and they had
+a battle, in which the intruder was soon conquered and driven back.
+
+This delay stopped the herd for a time, and so Alec and his companion
+were now about in a line with the front of the herd.
+
+Only about a mile more had they to make ere they reached the desired
+position, and so about half an hour before the deer arrived they were
+well hidden and ready for action.  They had taken the precaution to get
+out, ready for use, their ammunition, so that, if they threw the herd
+into confusion, they might have several shots ere the herd dashed away.
+
+Soon the deer were so close to them that they could hear them very
+distinctly.  Cautiously the Indian watched them, and then, as arranged,
+he signalled to Alec, who was stretched out behind a rock that had a
+narrow cleft in it.  This break was just large enough for a lookout, and
+it would also serve as a good rest for the gun.  As Alec cautiously
+peeped through this narrow opening his heart gave a great thump, for
+there within fifty yards of him were the most magnificent deer he had
+ever seen.  There was no difficulty now in picking out the leader.
+
+So, pulling himself together, he waited until his heart stopped
+thumping, and then, carefully and coolly aiming, so as to strike the
+game immediately behind the fore shoulder, he fired.  The deer gave one
+great bound and dropped dead.  Instantly there rang out another report,
+as Alec's comrade fired, and another great deer fell dead.  Now there
+was one of those panics that occur among these reindeer when the leader
+is suddenly shot down.  They made no attempt to escape.  They ran up to
+where lay the fallen leader, and then they retreated a hundred yards or
+so.  Some ran one way and some another, and then veered around and
+returned again.
+
+In the meantime Alec and the Indian were carefully loading and firing,
+until perhaps between them a dozen deer had been killed.  Then the
+Indian gave the signal to stop firing; but they continued to watch them
+for several minutes more while panic-stricken and bewildered they
+aimlessly ran from point to point.
+
+"Look," said the Indian, "quick, see the new leader!"
+
+And sure enough there was a great, handsome fellow snorting out his
+notes of authority and defiance.  None now disputed his guidance, and so
+off he started, and in a few seconds not a deer, with the exception of
+those that were shot, was visible.  No hunters could get within range
+now, nor for many a day to come.
+
+"Why did you give the word to stop firing?" said Alec.
+
+"Because," answered the Indian, "we have killed as many as our people
+can eat before the meat will spoil, and we must not kill the deer if we
+do not need the meat.  The Great Spirit gives us these things for food.
+We must not make him angry by killing more than we need of such
+animals."
+
+Well done, red man!  Would that some white hunters, when bent on the
+wholesale destruction of valuable animals just for the mad ambition to
+kill, had some of his wisdom and religion!
+
+The deer were bled, and, when the entrails were removed, they were
+placed where they could be found next day by those who would come for
+them.  The Indian cut out a splendid haunch, which he strapped on his
+back, then the return trip was begun, and the camp was reached in the
+small hours of the next morning.  Very tired but very proud was Alec as
+he strode with his Indian companion into the camp.  The fire was burning
+low, for all the rest of the party were sound asleep, and it looked as
+though they had been so for hours.  Alec, who had been so successful,
+was anxious to hear how it had fared with Frank, who had started off
+with another Indian after the other herd that had been sighted.
+
+However, he was too tired and sleepy to say much then, and so Alec did
+not trouble him.  Alec enjoyed the hastily prepared supper, for which he
+had a glorious appetite, after such a long, heavy day's exciting sport.
+Then he rolled his blanket around him and cuddled between Sam and Frank,
+and was soon wrapped in dreamless slumber.
+
+The chief and favourite part of the breakfast the next morning was the
+broiled steaks of that famous haunch of venison which Alec's comrade had
+brought back to the camp.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
+
+FRANK'S ADVENTURES--THE REINDEER FOLLOWED--UNWELCOME INTERLOPERS--
+COWARDLY WOLVES STALKING THE FAWNS--REPELLED BY THE GALLANT BUCKS--CLOSE
+QUARTERS--SUCCESSFUL SHOTS--DIFFERENT GAME THAN REINDEER--VISIONS OF
+SPLENDOUR.
+
+Frank's experience was a very different one from that of Alec.  He and
+his companion had started out in a westerly direction until they sighted
+the herd of deer a few miles away.  They followed them up until they
+came so near as to have been able to have shot some, but, like other
+hunters, they were anxious to kill the leader, so as to throw the herd
+in confusion.  With this object in view they carefully skulked along,
+hiding behind the clumps of bushes and rocky ridges that were quite
+numerous.
+
+All at once they heard a snorting and a sound of rushing hither and
+thither among the deer, and so they carefully climbed up some rocks and
+cautiously looked over to try and find out what was the cause of the
+commotion.  At first they could not make out what was the matter, but
+after a while they saw that the herd had other hunters than themselves
+after them.  These were a pack of wolves.
+
+They were at the front of the herd, and so Frank and the Indian quickly
+drew back from the rock, and hurried on to see the battle.  Fortunately
+for them, the reindeer were so excited by the presence of the wolves
+that our two hunters were able to get among some large jagged rocks that
+rose up fifty or sixty feet, not very distant from them.  Here they had
+a capital view of the valley in which were the deer and the wolves.
+There seemed to be about a dozen wolves in the pack, and perhaps two
+hundred reindeer in the herd, including about thirty young ones that
+seemed about five or six months old.
+
+The object of the wolves seemed to be to evade the great antlers of the
+bucks and to capture those very pretty young fawns.  It was very
+interesting to watch the skill and courage, with which the great
+antlered bucks would close up, like a company of cavalry, and charge the
+wolves when they ventured too close to the herd.  The wolves never
+waited to receive the charge, but ignominiously turned tail and ran for
+their lives.  They, however, soon returned when no longer pursued.
+There seemed to be a thorough understanding among the deer as to the
+position each should take while menaced by the wolves.  The large
+antlered ones formed the outside circle.  Next inside were the hornless
+males and the does, while in a compact body in the centre were the
+fawns.
+
+Thus on they slowly moved, while the wolves attempted at various parts
+to break through, but always quickly retreated when a company of the
+bucks gallantly charged them.
+
+This strange conflict was watched by Frank and his companion for some
+time with intense interest, until it had an abrupt ending.  It came
+about this way.  In one of the determined charges made upon the wolves
+by, perhaps, thirty reindeer, they drove their cowardly enemies right up
+among the rocks just beyond where Frank and his companion had hid
+themselves.  The close proximity of the wolves so excited Frank that he
+whispered to the Indian:
+
+"Let us fire at the wolves and never mind the deer."
+
+The fact was that Frank's sympathies had so gone out for the deer, as he
+watched the incessant schemings of the wolves to get at the beautiful
+fawns and the gallant efforts of the older ones to defend them, that he
+had no heart to fire into the herd.  He could well see that their firing
+into the herd would so terrify and disorganise them that the wolves
+would easily destroy the little ones.
+
+From where they were hid the two hunters noticed that the wolves, now no
+longer chased by the reindeer, were again clustering near the rocks,
+utterly unconscious of the fact that between them and the herd were some
+more dreaded foes than even the antlered deer.
+
+"All right," said the Indian, in answer to Frank's request, "but be sure
+and kill two with your bullet."
+
+Simultaneously there rang out the double report, and four wolves fell
+dead, while the others, terrified by this attack, so unexpected and so
+close, fled away toward the distant forest.
+
+After seeing that the wolves did not stop in their flight, it did not
+take Frank and his Indian companion long to reach a position where the
+herd of deer could again be seen.  Frank was delighted to observe that,
+although they seemed to be somewhat startled by the distant report of
+the guns, they had not broken their formation, but were more quickly
+hurrying away.  To skin the four wolves and return with their pelts to
+the camp was all the sport they had, or wanted, for that day.
+
+At first Alec was inclined to boast of a more successful day in reindeer
+hunting, but when he heard the whole story he was willing to admit that
+perhaps, after all, Frank's had been the nobler experience.
+
+Sam's characteristic comments were:
+
+"Man, but I would have liked to have had a crack at that great leader!
+But, after all, I think I would have preferred to have had the
+satisfaction of knocking over a couple more of those dirty, thievish,
+murdering wolves."
+
+One more great excursion was arranged ere they returned, and that was to
+a large lake to which watchers had been sent some days before.
+
+A couple of days after Frank and Alec had had the adventures with
+reindeer, these watchers returned with word that the deer were numerous
+on the shores of the lake, and were often seen swimming out in its
+water.  The two days' rest in the camp had been much needed and enjoyed.
+Now all were fresh and eager to be off again.
+
+Very little time is lost in breaking up a camp when once it is decided
+to move, and so in a short time the canoes, propelled by the paddles in
+the hands of the stalwart Indians, were dancing over the sunlit waves to
+their next destination, some twenty miles away.  Here they found the
+Indians who had been sent as scouts or watchers had already returned and
+prepared a cozy camp for their reception.  A dinner of venison, bear's
+meat, and ducks was ready for them, and after the score of miles of
+paddling--for the boys always insisted on each doing his share--they
+were all, with good appetites, ready to do ample justice to the hunter's
+fare.
+
+As the anticipated sport would be exciting, and was generally considered
+to be more successful in the forenoons, it was decided to keep quiet
+that afternoon and evening.  So the guns were all cleaned and oiled and
+many pipes of tobacco were smoked by the Indians, while the boys
+wandered along the shores and enjoyed the sights of that picturesque
+land.  Just a little before sunset they had a display of colour such as
+is seldom given to mortals to see upon this earth of ours.  In the west
+there floated a cloud that seemed to hang in the sky like a great prism.
+Beyond it the sun in his splendour was slowly settling down toward the
+horizon.  Through this prism-like cloud there were reflected and settled
+upon the waters all the colours of the rainbow.  Every dancing wave
+seemed at times to be of the deepest crimson, then they all seemed like
+molten gold, then they were quickly transformed into some other gorgeous
+hue, until the whole lake seemed literally ablaze with dazzling colours.
+
+The boys were awed and silenced amid these glories, and sat down on a
+rock entranced and almost overwhelmed.  By-and-by the prism-like cloud
+that had hung for perhaps half an hour in that position slowly drifted
+away, and the sun again shone out in undimmed splendour and the glorious
+vision ended.
+
+Then the spell that had so long entranced the boys was broken, and in
+silence for a time they looked at each other.  Frank was the first to
+speak, and his quiet words were:
+
+"I have seen the `sea of glass mingled with fire' that John saw in
+Patmos."
+
+"And I," said Alec, "thought of the city of mansions where the streets
+are of gold, and the walls jasper, and the gates pearl."
+
+"And I," said Sam, "thought, `If that is a glimpse of heaven I can
+understand why one has said, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
+have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared
+for them that love him."'"
+
+With quiet actions, and yet with happy hearts, they returned to the camp
+from the long stroll.
+
+Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.
+
+BOYS' ADVENTURE WITH REINDEER IN THE LAKE--GADFLIES AND OTHER DEER
+PESTS--PECULIAR WEAPONS--DANGEROUS ANTAGONISTS--HOOFS AND HORNS--FRANK'S
+SUCCESS--ATTACK ON THE LEADER--CANOE SMASHED--ALEC AND THE INDIANS IN
+THE WATER--SAM'S STRATAGEM--SUCCESS AT LAST--THE RETURN TRIP--
+SIGNIFICANT SIGNS--DUCKS AND GEESE HEADING SOUTHWARD--INDIANS UNEASY--
+JOURNEY HASTENED--SAGASTA-WEEKEE REACHED--SUMMER ENDED--WINTER BEGUN.
+
+Refreshed and invigorated by the much needed rest, the boys with their
+appointed Indian companions started off early the next morning for the
+lake, which seemed to have become the reindeer's favourite bathing
+resort.
+
+So early did they arrive at the lake that they had to wait for some
+hours ere a deer was to be seen.  The principal reason why the deer
+spend so much time in the water seems to be to get rid of a number of
+troublesome flies that very much annoy them.  Some species of gadfly
+have the power not only to sting them, but to insert their eggs under
+the skin, which soon develops into a large grub.  Some of the skins of
+the reindeer are so perforated by these pests that they are absolutely
+worthless to the Indians.
+
+Another reason why the deer were late in coming out into the lake was
+the fact that, as the summer was nearly gone, the nights were now long
+and cool; and the gadflies being only troublesome in the warm hours of
+bright sunshine, it was nearly noon ere they came out from their forest
+retreats and plunged into the lake.
+
+A herd of reindeer swimming in the water is a very pretty sight.  Having
+large lungs, and thus being very buoyant, they swim high in the water,
+and being good swimmers they make, when a number of them are disporting
+themselves undisturbed, a very beautiful picture.
+
+While our party of hunters were waiting in their shady retreat, secluded
+from observation, the Indians with as little noise as possible cut down
+and smoothly trimmed for use some poles.  When fully prepared they were
+between ten and twelve feet long and from one to two inches in diameter.
+To the larger ends of each were securely lashed with deerskin thongs
+long, sharp, double-edged knives.
+
+It was about eleven o'clock ere the Indian scouts, sent out to watch the
+movements of the deer, returned with the report that the greater portion
+of the herd had taken to the water.  In order to be sure of success in
+the hunt it was decided to carefully carry the canoes through the woods,
+and embark as near as possible to the spot where the deer had plunged
+into the lake.  This would place the hunters in the rear of their game,
+and thus give them a very decided advantage.
+
+As the Indians were anxious to get as many reindeer as possible for the
+sake of the meat, a large portion of which they decided to make into
+pemmican, they decided to send out six canoes on this day's expedition.
+
+Our three boys were each assigned a canoe with some Indian hunters who
+were supposed to be well versed in this exciting sport.  Each canoe was
+furnished with one of these newly improvised spears, while each boy and
+hunter had his gun and axe.
+
+The whole six canoes were very noiselessly placed in the water at a spot
+where some great overhanging branches reached down to the water's edge.
+All were thus enabled to embark without attracting attention, or in the
+slightest degree alarming the deer that were now swimming about in the
+lake.  Pushing aside the bushes, they all shot out as nearly as possible
+together, and, vigorously plying their paddles, began the attack.
+
+The deer, startled and alarmed by the suddenness of the appearance of
+the canoes, at first attempted to escape by returning to the shore.
+Finding, however, that their retreat was cut off, all there was left for
+them to do was to boldly strike out from the land and get, if possible,
+beyond the reach of their pursuers.  As the lake was, however, a very
+large one there was no possibility of their being able to swim across.
+The Indians well knew they would not attempt it; but after endeavouring
+to shake off pursuit by swimming out from land, if unsuccessful they
+would return and give battle in the water, if there was no other course
+open to them.
+
+The three canoes, in each of which was one of the boys, started out side
+by side, and there was a good deal of excitement and rivalry, as to whom
+should fall the honour of bagging the first reindeer.
+
+Fast as the reindeer can swim, Indian canoemen can paddle their canoes
+much faster, and so it was not long ere the deer were overtaken.
+
+"Kill none but those in prime condition," were the orders received by
+all; "and let no canoe kill more than four."
+
+As on some former occasions in similar hunting adventures, the boys were
+each assigned the post of honour, which was the position in the very
+front of the canoe, so that they could be the first to attack the deer
+when they came within striking distance.
+
+As they drew near to the deer, and saw how they swam, the boys were able
+to see what effective weapons the ones formed by the binding of the
+knives to the poles really were.  Of course the terrified deer made the
+most desperate efforts to escape; but in spite of all they could do
+their pursuers steadily gained upon them.
+
+"Do not be in a hurry," said one of the Indians in Frank's canoe to him
+when he seemed so eager to throw his newly formed spear, as though it
+were a javelin, at a great antlered fellow they were approaching, but
+who, as though conscious of their desires to reach his head, very
+cleverly and rapidly kept them off.
+
+The Indians well know, some by bitter experience, the ability of the
+reindeer to kick out so viciously and effectively behind, even when
+swimming, as to smash the canoe that has been paddled up close to them
+by the over-eager, excited hunters.  Hence experienced Indians give that
+end of a swimming reindeer a wide berth, and endeavour to get within
+striking distance of his head.
+
+"Ready now!" the man quickly spoke again, as this time by a quick
+movement they succeeded in getting beyond his heels, and came rapidly
+alongside of him.
+
+"Strike him just behind the head, and strike hard," were the next words
+Frank heard, and with all his strength he plunged his spear into the
+neck of the great animal.  He did not, however, as he should have done,
+strike across the spine so as to sever the spinal cord, and so he only
+inflicted an ugly flesh wound which irritated the great animal and
+caused him to turn round and give battle to the canoe and all its
+occupants.  But, rapidly, as he turned, he was not quicker than were the
+sharp Indians, who, watching every movement and seeing the failure of
+Frank, suddenly began to paddle back from him.  Rendered furious by the
+wound, and seeing his enemies retreating, he came on as resolutely and
+rapidly as possible.
+
+"Try the gun," said one of the Indians, and Frank, mortified by his
+failure with the spear, was not slow to respond.  Carefully aiming for
+the curl on the forehead, between the eyes, he pulled the trigger, and
+as the report rang out the great deer suddenly turned over dead in the
+water.  A cheer rang out, proclaiming the first one thus obtained.  Alec
+and his men struck out for one of great size that they supposed was the
+leader of the herd.  He not only had a most magnificent set of antlers,
+but by the way in which he swam in the water he seemed to possess not
+only magnificent lungs, but to be still trying to have some control over
+the frightened deer.  When he saw that he was himself being attacked he
+immediately, as became the leader of the herd, turned to meet the
+advancing canoe and give battle.
+
+It was unfortunate for Alec that his Indian canoemen, while clever
+hunters, were inexperienced in the tactics of our old, wily reindeer.
+It would have been wise on their part if, when they saw him swing round
+and boldly come on to the attack, they had quickly used their guns; but
+that is considered the last resort in this kind of sport--the great
+ambition is to kill the deer with their spears.
+
+So here Alec and his comrades wished to carry off honours in this
+contest; and so, when the great fellow came within reaching distance,
+they tried, with a couple of spears, to kill him; but a clever, rapid
+twist of his horns seemed to parry their spear thrusts, and before they
+knew how it happened the side of the canoe was crushed in as an
+eggshell, and they were all struggling in the water.
+
+It was well for them that they were good swimmers; and so they struck
+out for the other canoes, the occupants of which, seeing the disaster,
+at once began paddling to their rescue.  The greatest danger to be
+feared was that the infuriated deer would take after one or more of
+them, in which case they would have a poor chance indeed, as a man
+swimming is no match for a deer in the water.  With horns and sharp,
+chisel-like hoofs, he is able to make a gallant fight, as we have
+already seen in the case of the deer and wolves.
+
+However, it was soon seen, in this instance, that no danger was to be
+feared.  The deer kept venting his displeasure on the canoe, so that he
+paid not the slightest notice to those who had so suddenly sprung out of
+it on the opposite side from him, and were rapidly swimming away.  The
+poor canoe, however, had to be the butt of his ire--as well as of his
+horns--and soon all there was left of it were a few pieces of splinters
+floating on the water.  The guns, axes, spears, and other heavy articles
+were at the bottom of the lake.
+
+The swimmers were helped into the other canoes, and the sport was
+resumed.  When several deer had been killed they were fastened by long
+deerskin thongs, like lariats, to the stern of a couple of canoes and
+towed through the water to the shore.  Alec and his wet comrades went
+with them, and at a great fire built up on the beach soon dried
+themselves, and were none the worse for their involuntary swim.
+
+For a time the great deer that had come off so victorious was left
+swimming around in his glory, none seeming to care to get into close
+quarters with him.  Sam, however, was of a different mind, and was eager
+for a round with him.  Of course it would not have been difficult to
+shoot him, but, as has been stated, the Indians think there is no honour
+or skill in shooting a deer in the water, where he cannot swim as fast
+as they can paddle their canoes.  So they were just holding back in each
+canoe and waiting for some one else to tackle the big fellow.
+
+When Sam told the Indians in his canoe that he wished they would attack
+him they admired his courage and grit, and one of them, with a bit of a
+twinkle in his eye, asked:
+
+"You able to swim as well as Alec?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," he replied; "but there will be no need for my trying."
+
+"How you want to kill him?" asked another Indian.
+
+Sam's quick rejoinder was: "I want to spear him, of course."
+
+His enthusiasm was contagious, and the Indians said:
+
+"All right; we will try."
+
+So word was signalled to the other boats that the one in which Sam was
+would try the gallant old fellow.  The Indians in the other canoes heard
+this with pleasure, and ceased for a time from their pursuits to see the
+struggle.
+
+The Indians in charge of Sam's canoe wisely explained to him how, if
+they were possibly able to get him alongside of the deer, to try to
+spear him across the spinal column as near the head as possible.  They
+also took the precaution to have a couple of guns and axes handy where,
+in case of emergency, they could be instantly utilised.
+
+When the great reindeer saw them coming down so boldly toward him he at
+once accepted the situation, and leaving a number of deer that with him
+had been keeping together for some time he gallantly turned to face
+them.
+
+When within twenty or thirty yards, as decided upon by the Indian, they
+suddenly veered to the right, and kept paddling in eccentric circles
+around him, keeping him as nearly as possible about the same distance in
+the centre.  That he could not reach the canoe and annihilate it as
+easily as he did the other one seemed to very much irritate him, and for
+a time he was furious with rage.  Yet in spite of his fury they quietly,
+yet warily, watched him, and kept up their circular movements about him.
+After a time, seeing it to be an utter impossibility to catch them, he
+turned and endeavoured to swim to the shore.
+
+Now the attacked became the aggressors, and so, rapidly, the canoe
+followed in his wake.  Several times they tried to draw up alongside to
+spear him, but a sudden turn of that well-antlered head was enough to
+cause them to draw back in a hurry.  But something must be done, or he
+would speedily be at the land.  So another canoe was signalled to make a
+feint to attack him from the other side.  The one in which Frank was
+paddling with his Indians soon came up, and when told what was desired
+of them quickly responded.
+
+The deer, thus worried by the two, had hardly a fair chance, but he
+gallantly kept up the unequal struggle for quite a time.  Sam's canoemen
+at length saw an unguarded place and so dashed in alongside the big
+fellow, and at the right minute the Indian steering called out to Sam:
+
+"Now give it to him in the neck, close up to his head."
+
+Sam, however, was not quick enough, and therefore his spear, which he
+plunged with all the force he was capable of into the deer, while it did
+not instantly kill, so cut down the side of the neck as to sever some
+large veins.  Unfortunately for Sam, he could not withdraw the spear
+from the deer, and he was in no humour to lose it, so he hung on to it;
+but before he knew where he was a great bound of the deer jerked him out
+of the canoe.  However, he fell fairly and squarely on the back of the
+great deer, and he was not such a fool as not to avail himself of such
+an opportunity for a ride.  So speedily righting himself on this odd
+steed, amid the laughter of Frank and the Indians, he was evidently in
+for a good time.
+
+It might have fared badly with him if the deer had been able to have
+used his horns freely, or have moved with his usual speed in the water;
+but the additional weight on his back so sank him down that he was
+powerless to do harm.  All he could do, after a few desperate efforts to
+get rid of his burden, was to start for the shore, and so he speedily
+continued swimming toward it as though this was his usual employment.
+
+Sam hung on without much trouble, but as they neared the shore he began
+to wonder what might happen next.  But when his antlered steed reached
+the shallow waters his strength gave way from the excessive loss of
+blood from the severed veins in his neck, and soon he dropped dead.  The
+great carcass was dragged ashore, while the bodies of the others killed
+were towed in by the canoes.  They killed altogether ten animals, but
+the reindeer hunt in the water that day, considering the loss of a fine
+canoe and all its contents, was not voted an unqualified success.
+
+All the Indians present at the camp, which they made near the spot from
+which they had embarked in the morning, went to work at the venison
+there landed, and in a few hours they had it all cut into strips and
+broad flakes and hung up on stagings of poles speedily erected.  A
+smokeless fire under [it], and the bright sun above it, in a few days
+made the meat so hard and dry that, by using the backs of their axes for
+hammers and pounding this meat on the smooth wooden logs, they
+thoroughly pulverised it.  Then packing it in bags made of the green
+hides of the deer, and saturating the whole mass with the melted fat
+taken from around the kidneys of the reindeer, they had prepared a most
+palatable kind of pemmican.  If well prepared in this way it was
+considered fully equal to that made from the buffalo on the great
+plains.
+
+Leaving the majority of the Indians of that country to continue their
+capturing of the reindeer and the manufacturing of pemmican while they
+remained in that section of the land, Frank, Alec, and Sam, with their
+travelling companions, returned to Oxford House.  There they made a
+visit of a few days at the home of the missionary.  It was a great joy
+to meet with this devoted, heroic man and his equally brave and noble
+wife, who for the sake of Christianisation and civilisation of the
+Indians of this section of the country had willingly sacrificed the
+comforts and blessings of civilisation and come to this land.  Only
+twice a year did they hear from the outer world, and only once every
+year had they any opportunity of receiving any of the so-called
+"necessaries of life" at this remote station.  Yet they said and showed
+that they were very happy in their work, and rejoiced at the success
+which, not only to themselves but to any unbiased observer, was so
+visibly manifested in the greatly improved lives and habits of the
+natives.  Missions to such people are not failures.
+
+They would have been delighted to have lingered longer in this home, and
+with this delightful missionary and his good wife, who so reminded each
+of the boys of his own dear mother.  But the Indians who were to take
+them back to Sagasta-weekee were uneasy at the appearances in the
+heavens and of the birds in the air, and so it was decided that they
+must return.
+
+Four days of rapid paddling were sufficient to make the return journey.
+At the close of each day the boys remarked, as they cuddled up close to
+the splendid camp fire, that they seemed to have an additional liking
+for its glow and warmth; and for the first time they preferred to sleep
+as close together as possible, and were thankful that the thoughtful
+Indians had in reserve for them an additional blanket apiece.  The last
+day of the home journey was quite a cold one, but the vigorous exercise
+of paddling saved them from any discomfort.  They could not but help
+noticing the large numbers of geese and ducks that were flying over
+them, and all were going south.  The boys would have liked, where they
+were specially numerous, to have stopped and had a few hours' shooting,
+but the Indians said:
+
+"Perhaps to-morrow you will see it was best for us to get home."
+
+So "forward" was the word, and on they went and reached home after an
+exceedingly rapid journey from Oxford Lake.
+
+They met with a right royal welcome at Sagasta-weekee.  Mr and Mrs
+Ross and the children were all delighted to have them back again with
+them.  The faithful canoemen were well paid and given a capital supper
+in the kitchen, and then dismissed to their several homes.
+
+Frank, Alec, and Sam had each to give some account of their adventures
+to the household as they were gathered that evening around the roaring
+fire, which was much enjoyed.  Then prayers were offered, and away the
+boys went to their rooms.  They could not but remark to each other how
+much warmer were their beds than when they last slept in them.  However,
+they found them none too warm as they cuddled down in their downy depths
+and were soon fast asleep.
+
+When they awoke the next morning the sleet and snow were beating with
+fury against the window panes, and all nature was white with snow.
+
+Shortly after the wind went down, and then the ice covered over all the
+open waters, and they saw that that most delightful summer in the Wild
+North Land was ended, and the winter, with its cold and brightness and
+possibilities for other kinds of sports and adventures, had begun.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Three Boys in the Wild North Land, by 
+Egerton Ryerson Young
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