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diff --git a/21245.txt b/21245.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..39f98c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/21245.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8903 @@ +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 + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE BOYS IN THE WILD NORTH LAND *** + +***** This file should be named 21245.txt or 21245.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/2/4/21245/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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