Winter Adventures of Three Boys

By Egerton R. Young________________________________________________________________________

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WINTER ADVENTURES OF THREE BOYS

BY EGERTON R. YOUNG

CHAPTER ONE. 

SAGASTA-WEEKEE--A HAPPY HOME IN THE GREAT LONE LAND--THREE BOYS THEREWELCOMED--THE SUDDEN COMING OF WINTER--VARIOUS SPORTS DISCUSSED--HURRAHFOR THE DOGS--USEFUL ANIMALS--DOG-WHIPS--KINESASIS, THE DOG-KEEPER. 

While a wintry storm was raging outside, in the month of November, threehappy, excited boys were gathered around the breakfast table in a cozyhome in a far North Land. 

To those who have not read of the previous doings of these young lads wewould say that our heroes were three noble boys from across the sea. They had come out the previous summer from Great Britain by the HudsonBay Company's ship and had had several months of most delightful andexciting adventures in the wild North Land. They were the guests of MrRoss, a retired official in the Hudson Bay Company, who, when his longterm of active service in the fur trade had ended, had preferredremaining in the country rather than returning to any other land. During the many years he had traded with the Indians he had ever been onthe most friendly terms with them. He had observed so many noble traitsand characteristics in them that he and his family preferred spendingthe greater portion of each year surrounded by them. Then the quietcharm of such a life had more attraction and a greater fascination forthem than the rush and worry and demands of our so-called highestcivilisation. 

Mrs Ross was a native Indian woman, but, like many other wives ofHudson Bay officials, was a highly educated woman. The years spent inforeign lands at the best of schools had not spoiled her. She wasbeloved and honoured by all who knew her, and she was indeed abenediction and a blessing among the poor of her own people. 

The musical and expressive Indian names of Minnehaha and Wenonah hadbeen given to the two bright, winsome little girls in the household, while the wee brother was called by the old Scottish name of Roderick. 

Cordially had Mrs Ross, with her husband, welcomed the three boys, whoat their special request had come out to be their guests, or rather, more correctly, to be loved members of their own household, for at leasttwelve months in that land. Sagasta-weekee, the house full of sunshine, was the beautiful Indian name given to the cozy, comfortable house whichMr Ross had built for himself and household. It was a delightful home, well furnished with everything essential to the enjoyment and comfort ofall its inmates. 

We need not here repeat all that has been previously mentioned about thethree heroes of our story. Suffice it to say that Frank, the eldest, was the son of an English banker; Alec was a genuine Scottish lad, whileSam was a jolly Irish boy. They had a splendid trip across the ocean, and had met with varied adventures while on the long journey up therivers and across the portages between York Factory, on the Hudson Bay, where they had landed, and Norway House, where they had been welcomed byMr Ross. 

The summer and autumn months had been full of wonderful and excitingtrips and adventures. Their last excursion, which had so recentlyended, had been one of great pleasure and intense excitement. It hadbeen made in canoes to a distant part of the country where reindeer andother large game abounded. The boys would have been delighted to havethere remained longer, but the experienced guide and canoemen had beenquick to notice the significant actions of the wild beasts, as well asthe frightened cries and incessant flights of the wild geese and ducksto the South Land. 

Spurred on by the signs of coming winter, they had pushed on toward homewith unremitting toil and but little rest, and had fortunately managedto land the boys safely at Sagasta-weekee the day before the wintry galebroke upon them. 

Great indeed was the amazement of our three boys at the transformationwrought by this sudden incoming of winter. 

People living in more southern latitudes, where the transition from oneseason to another is so slow and almost imperceptible, can hardlyrealise the suddenness with which the Frost King can set up his throneand begin his despotic reign. There are no long premonitions of hiscoming. No noisy heralds for weeks warn of his approach. The birds andbeasts seem to have some mysterious intimations that he draweth near, and act accordingly. But man knoweth not of his approach; he hearethnot his stealthy steps. 

Yesterday may have been balmy and reposeful, with only a few breezesfrom the summer South Land. To-day the wild north winds may howl andshriek, while full of frost and pinching cold is the icy, biting air. Yesterday the waves may have been merrily rippling in the sunshine onthe beautiful lakes. To-day, after a night of storm and boreal tempest, the ice is rapidly forming, and is binding down in strongest fetters thehighest billows. 

Mr and Mrs Ross were much pleased and amused at the genuine excitementof the lads as they realised the wondrous transformation wrought by thisfirst wintry storm, and the possibilities it opened up to them for otherkinds of sport, than those in which, for some time past, they had beenso deeply interested. Eager and excited as they were, they had as yetno definite plan of action for their winter amusement. So sudden hadbeen the transition, there had been no time to think. However, withboyish candour and joyous anticipation, they were all ready with theirsuggestions. 

"Skates!" shouted Alec, as he caught a glimpse of an icy expanse thatglittered in the distance as a ray of sunshine shot out through theparting clouds and for a moment rested upon it. 

"Toboggans!" cried Sam, as he saw a steep hillside one mass of beautifulsnow. 

"Let us make an ice boat, " said Frank. Although he had never seen one, yet he had eagerly read much about them, and at the sight of the frozenlake was wild to set about the manufacture of one of these dainty craft, that he might enjoy the exhilarating sport he had so long anticipated. 

"Capital suggestions are all of these, " said Mr Ross. "Still, as theice is not yet twenty-four hours old, and therefore not very safe forskating, and the snow has not yet fallen in sufficient quantity upon thehills to make them smooth enough for tobogganing, and the carpenter willrequire some time to make an ice boat, and we will have six good monthsof winter in which to enjoy these and other sports, my suggestion isthat we get ready to-day to start, as soon as the ice will be safe, forthe island fisheries and bring home the dogs. "

"The dogs! the dogs! yes, hurrah for the dogs!" cried all the boys inunison. 

So everything was for the moment forgotten, or postponed, in their eageranticipation to become intimately acquainted with the dogs, about whichthey had heard so much. During the summer months the dogs were away toa distant island, where they were cared for by Kinesasis, a careful oldIndian, who with a few nets easily caught all the fish they required forfood. This island was quite out of the route of travel, and so ouryoung friends had seen but little of Mr Ross's dogs, about which manyinteresting stories had been told them. Now at the prospect of soonseeing them they were greatly delighted. 

Although so much can be done with dogs in winter in those highlatitudes, there is practically no use for them in summer. It is truethat some enterprising missionaries had used them for ploughing up theirlittle potato fields and gardens, and yet it was slow work and not longcontinued. But through the long winter the dog is practically the onlydraft animal that can be utilised by the inhabitants of those regions. From the far-off forest the wood for fuel is dragged home by the dogs. The frozen fish, which are caught and piled up on stages beyond thereach of wolves or other wild beasts, are drawn home to the villagesfrom the distant fisheries by the well-trained dogs. 

When a Christian decides to exchange his old wigwam for a house, all thesquared timber and logs required in its construction are dragged, if notfloated by water in the summer time, it may be several miles, by thedogs. Christian hunters use them to drag home the moose and reindeer orother heavy game they may shoot. Formerly their wives and mothers hadto do this heavy work, but now Christianity has relegated this and manyother heavy duties to the dogs. 

However, the greatest and most arduous work to which the dogs are put isthat of drawing the canoles and dog-sleds of travellers and tourists orfur traders for long distances through various parts of that greatnorthern land. Without the dogs, travelling in that country would bepractically impossible in the winter months. So full of lakes andrivers is the country that it is possible to go almost anywhere in abirch canoe in summer by making occasional portages. But when thesevere cold freezes up those water stretches and the snow lies thick, and there is not the least vestige of a road or trail, then the valueand sagacity of the dogs are seen and the power and endurance of theguides and drivers are put to the severest test. 

Mr Ross still prided himself on his splendid dogs. In his younger dayshe had the reputation of being one of the most active and energetic ofthe young officers in the service of the Hudson Bay Company. Hisfather, who was for many years one of the chief factors in the Company'sservice, was proud of his son's endurance and skill, as well as of histact and ability in managing strange Indians and thus opening up newtrading posts among them. So constantly employed had he been in thusadvancing the interests of this fur-trading corporation that somewinters he travelled thousands of miles with his own dog-train andguides. In his wanderings he had met with some strange adventures, andhad passed through some trying ordeals. Later on we may hear from hisown lips the recital of some of these stirring events. 

Now, however, that he had retired from active service he had left theselong and dangerous journeys to be taken by younger men. Still, the lovefor the dogs was so ingrained within him, and he had so much work forthem to do, that he was the possessor of some very valuable trains, which every winter did his work and gave him as much pleasure as ever aman derived from the possession of a fine carriage and a splendid spanof horses. 

Knowing well the habits of the old Indian who had charge of his dogs, Mr Ross said to the boys:

"It is very likely that Kinesasis will come in to-day with some of thedogs. If he does we will harness them up to-morrow, and if the ice isstrong enough to be safe we will return with them for the others. Iunderstand he has a number of fine young dogs; doubtless there will beenough to make a good train for each of you, after they are broken in. So there will be plenty of work for all to-day, to get ready for thefirst day's outing with dog-trains. "

Soon everybody was at work. Indian women, under Mrs Ross's direction, were busily employed in making large mooseskin moccasins and mittens. Beautiful white blanket overcoats, with warm capotes or hoods, hadalready been made for each of the boys. They were to be worn over thedeerskin suits when they stopped to rest in the heavy trail, and alsowhile the boys were riding over the long stretches of icy roads where itwas possible for the dogs to easily draw them. 

While the Indian women were thus busily engaged in fitting out the warmapparel necessary for travelling in such a cold land the boys weremaking themselves useful, under Mr Ross's guidance, in overhaulingcarioles, dog-sleds, harness, robes, snowshoes, and other thingsessential for the trip on the morrow. While almost everything was noveland strange to them, they were most interested in the heavy dog-whips, and, boylike, must try their hands in wielding them. These whipsdiffered very much from anything they had ever seen in civilisation. While the handles were only eighteen inches in length, the lashes, whichwere loaded with shot, were over fifteen feet long. To skilfully handleone requires much care and practice. An inexperienced person is apt toget into trouble when he first attempts to use one. 

Sam was the first of the boys to attempt to display his skill, but hesoon found that a heavily loaded dog-whip was a different weapon from anIrish shillalah. He had admired the skill and dexterity with which MrRoss, at the boy's request, had used one, and, foolishly thinking thathe could successfully imitate him, had with any amount of assurance madethe attempt. To his surprise and chagrin the cracker of the whip, instead of exploding with a pistol-shot-like report at a spot aboutfifteen feet away, as it had done for Mr Ross, had by some remarkablemovement, entirely unexpected, squarely landed with stinging effect uponhis nose!

Alec was the next to try his skill. He was a little more successfulthan Sam, in that he escaped inflicting any injury upon himself, but hesucceeded in striking Frank upon his ear, although he stood fully sixfeet away from the spot at which Alec had aimed. Frank, with his earhot and stinging from the effects of the blow so unexpected and sounintentionally given, wisely decided that he would postpone his firstattempt with a weapon that seemed to be as uncertain as a boomerang. 

To the great delight of the boys, as Mr Ross had predicted, towardevening in came Kinesasis with about a dozen dogs at his heels. Thesplendid animals were delighted to get home again after their longsummer's outing, and joyously they greeted Mr Ross and the otherinmates of the household. To our three boys, who had arrived sincetheir departure, they were somewhat distant and unsociable. It is awell-known fact that the native dogs are much more hostile to whitepeople than to the natives. This offishness and even hostility on thepart of the dogs did not much disturb the boys. They, boylike, had allconfidence in themselves that by tact and kindness they would soonbecome warm friends, and in this they were not disappointed. AfterKinesasis had seen the dogs well fed and put into their kennels he wastaken into the kitchen and given a hearty meal. A pipe of tobacco wasthen put in his hands, and shortly after he had begun to smoke he madehis report of his summer's doings to Mr Ross. 

To the great delight of Frank, Alec, and Sam, Mr Ross was able toinform them that the number of young dogs of the right age to break intowork was so large that he would be able to furnish each of them with acapital train, which they should have charge of and call their own aslong as they remained in the country. 

The few short hours of sunshine of that November day sped away all toosoon for the completion of the work to be done, and so by lamplightwilling hands toiled on until everything was ready for the journey. Sorapidly did the temperature fall, and so intense became the cold, thatMr Ross decided that with careful, experienced Kinesasis as their guidethe ice would be quite strong enough to bear them on the morrow, and soif the storm was not too severe they would be off as soon as there wassufficient light, as it was too risky to travel in the dark over suchthin ice. 

Cozy were the beds and warm were the blankets into which three happy, excited boys tumbled that night, and if in their pleasant dreams therewere sounds of cracking whips and jingling, musical dog-bells--well, wewill not envy them, still we wish we were there. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

BRINGING HOME THE DOGS--THE THIN ICE--METHOD OF CROSSING DANGEROUSPLACES--THE DOGS' SUMMER HOME--THE RETURN TRIP--THE UNEXPECTED GOOSEHUNT--THE SAUCY FOX--KINESASIS'S QUESTION, "WHY DO THE GEESE GO TO THESOUTH LAND?"

Long before daylight the next morning the lamps were brightly burning inSagasta-weekee. As it was fully twenty miles to the island whereKinesasis had kept the dogs, and Mr Ross was anxious that they shouldreturn home that night, it was absolutely necessary that every hour ofthe daylight should be utilised. Thus it was that all were stirringlong before daybreak. A good warm breakfast was eaten and all finalpreparations made. 

As Kinesasis had brought back with him twelve dogs, they were thus ableto rig out three trains for the trip. Extra sleds and harness weretaken along, as well as food and blankets, in case any serious accidentor delay should happen to them. In such a land it is always best to beprepared for any emergency. 

The boys were very proud and happy in their new mooseskin costumes andsnow-white blankets, only relieved by the black stripes on the sleevesand skirts. Kinesasis, who had been on the lookout, at length reportedthe morning star, just visible as the harbinger of dawn. This was goodnews, and so the start was soon made. 

Mr Ross up to a late hour the previous evening had not thought ofgoing, but now, at the sight of the dogs and the preparations for thejourney, he seemed to catch the enthusiasm of the boys, as well as thefire of earlier days, and resolved to accompany them. Three Indian dog-drivers had been secured, while Kinesasis, old as he was, was proud toact the part of guide for the whole party. 

Sam shared a large cariole with Mr Ross, while Frank and Alec occupiedanother. To each cariole was assigned a careful driver. The thirdIndian made up his load of several dog-sleds piled on each other. Allwere well-loaded with supplies. Kinesasis armed himself with a stoutpole about ten feet long, which he carried as an Alpine climber wouldhis alpenstock, although it weighed as much as a dozen of them. Theboys were surprised at seeing him thus encumber himself with a pole soheavy. They were also perplexed, when it grew lighter, to see a similarone tied on to the sled of the third driver. However, before thejourney was finished they saw the wisdom of his forethought. 

At first some of the dogs seemed to resent the restraint of the harness, and acted as though they would still have preferred the liberty whichhad been theirs all through the summer months. Others, however, seemedto be delighted to hear the music of the little open bells, with whichthe collars of their harness were decorated, and joyously barked andjumped about as though, in glad sport, they were dancing to the musicthey themselves were making. 

The trail selected at once led them out along Jack River, and thensouthwest into Playgreen Lake. Kinesasis's alert eye was on the icecontinually. Now he was glancing at the long stretches before him, andthen quickly deciding the best route to follow. When this was selectedhe seemed to critically examine every yard of the ice, over which, onhis moccasined feet, he so lightly and yet so rapidly glided. Hisconstant alertness was absolutely necessary; for while the ice wasapparently strong enough to be safe, yet when ice freezes up thusrapidly air holes frequently abound, which may be so thinly coated overthat none but an experienced eye can detect them. They are verytreacherous, as the ice, which to any ordinary observer may appear safe, may not be a quarter of an inch in thickness, and so the unfortunateperson stepping on one may suddenly drop out of sight. 

The rate at which Kinesasis led the party was about five miles an hour. To do this he kept up a swinging jog trot, and was ever on the alert fordanger. Mr Ross, whose cariole immediately followed the guide, wellknowing that there was a certain spice of danger associated with a triplike this so soon after the ice had formed, also kept constantly on thealert, as his long years in such kind of travelling made him almostequal to an Indian in this respect. After travelling for ten miles theyreached a spot where one of the great currents of the mighty NelsonRiver, from Lake Winnipeg, had kept the ice from forming as solidly aswhere the water was not so rapid in motion. By its ominous bending andcracking under him Kinesasis saw the danger and suddenly brought thewhole party to a halt. As the weakness in the ice apparently extended along way in each direction, it was evident that the party must getacross in some way or else return home. The latter idea was not for amoment to be entertained, and so arrangements were at once made forcrossing the dangerous place. This novel plan was witnessed by the boyswith a great deal of interest. At first they wished to jump from thewarm fur robes in their carioles, but this Mr Ross would not hear of. They could be of no service and would only get thoroughly chilled. 

The crossing over the dangerous place was accomplished in the followingmanner: Kinesasis first untied the other heavy pole from the dog-sled, and then, advancing to the place where the weak ice began, he carefullylaid one of the poles on the poor ice, and using the other as aropewalker would his balancing pole, he carefully walked out on the oneon the ice. Then carefully placing the one in his hand down on the ice, in a straight line before him, he stepped on it, and cautiously liftedup the one over which he had just walked. Using this as he had handledthe other one, as a balancing pole, he thus went on and on, using hispoles alternately, until he reached the strong ice on the other side. Then he returned in the same way and reported to Mr Ross his opinion, which was that by doubling the under surface of the carioles they couldpass over in safety. 

This was quickly done by taking the sleds, which the third Indian driverhad in charge, and securely lashing them to the sides of the carioles, in such a way that the area of surface on the ice would be doubled, andthus the pressure would be only half. As an extra precaution a longrope was tied to the rear of each cariole. Then Kinesasis once morecrossed over with his poles to the firm ice. The dogs were put to thegallop, and being urged by those behind, as well as by Kinesasis's well-known voice in front, the dangerous place was passed in safety. 

"Now I see, " said Alec, "the solution of what was bothering me. Iwondered how Kinesasis was able to get along over the weak places in theice yesterday, but with those poles to help him it is now plain enough. "

"It must require a great deal of practice to do it safely, " said Frank. And so in after days he found it out when he made the attempt himself, and in trying to transfer himself from one to the other ignominiouslyfell off, with such force that he broke through the thin ice. Fortunately he had presence of mind enough to seize hold of one of thepoles, which was in such a position that each end rested on the unbrokenice. His frightened shouts soon brought help, and he was quicklyrescued. 

Nothing else occurred to cause delay on the route, and so before noonthe dogs, excited by the near approach to the spot where they had spenttheir happy summer, sprang into a gallop and fairly flew over the goodice that was found for the last few miles. Kinesasis and the Indiandrivers had all they could do to keep up with them. 

With great delight did the boys spring out of their carioles, and thenand there declared that dog travelling was the most exhilarating ofsports and the very poetry of motion. Some time later they changedtheir views. Immediately on their landing they were surrounded by acrowd of dogs of all ages, and doglike they acted. The old fellows thathad done good work in other years and were now only kept for drawingwood for the fires, or hay from the distant beaver meadows for thecattle, were dignified and sedate, and yet manifested the greatestaffection for their old master, who was kind and gentle to all theanimals in his possession. This kindness was well repaid by theintelligent obedience they all gave him. Eagerly the boys scanned theyoung dogs, for from among them were to be selected the promised trainswhich they were to call their own. 

While the boys were discussing the dogs and indicating theirpreferences, old Kinesasis had rekindled the fire in the large wigwam, in which he had passed the summer, and, aided by the other Indians ofthe party, busied himself in preparing the dinner out of the supplieswhich had been brought along. Never did a dinner seem to taste betterthan did that one in that leather tent to those boys, who had so enjoyedthe exhilarating twenty-mile trip. 

After Mr Ross, Frank, Sam, and Alec had dined. Kinesasis and theIndian dog-drivers soon had a hearty dinner, and then, after theinevitable pipes, the work of preparation for the return trip speedilybegan. It was the desire of all to reach home before dark. Toaccomplish this would be no easy matter, as there were so many untraineddogs. At first it was decided to harness up a number of these, asharness had been brought for the purpose, but after some consultationwith Kinesasis about the thin ice Mr Ross decided against it, thusleaving the young dogs to follow. Only the old dogs were harnessed. This added a couple more trains to the party. The sleds of these wereloaded down with the tent, nets, and other things which had made upKinesasis's outfit during the summer. 

At length everything was loaded up, and the return trip began. Therewas some trouble in getting a number of the younger dogs to take to theice and keep up with the trains; numbers would persist in turning roundand hurrying back. 

"We cannot blame them, " Sam said afterward, and his Irish oratory burstforth as he described what had been their happy condition. "Justthink, " he said, "on that beautiful island in the pleasant springtimethey were born. There they have had a happy, careless puppyhood life. There they have spent the pleasant summer time with plenty to eat andnothing to do. On the sandy beaches and over the smooth rocks they havegamboled together, and in the warm, rippling waters they have splashedand battled. Now the cold weather has suddenly come and the snow hascovered their favourite romping grounds, and even their great bathingplaces are hard with slippery ice. "

There was, however, but little sentiment in the minds of Mr Ross andthe Indians. On the contrary, they were very much annoyed at the delaythe refractory young dogs were causing, and so had to adopt promptmeasures, or they well knew that the night would be upon them ere homewas reached. The younger puppies were packed in the carioles around ourtravellers, and some of the more obstinate older ones were led by ropesfastened to their collars and tied to the sleds, while the greatmajority, coaxed by little pieces of meat occasionally dropped on theice, kept well up to the trains. Thus on they pushed until they reachedthe rapid current in the lake where the thin ice had given them so muchtrouble in the morning. Fortunately the additional hours of bitter coldhad so strengthened it that no serious difficulty was anticipated incrossing over, even if the loads were much heavier. 

But another event occurred, quite unexpected, indeed, and which, whileit did much to impede their progress, created a good deal of excitementand interest. The first intimation of its coming was the sudden cry ofwild geese not very far away. Their "Honk! honk!" was very distinct, and not only excited the boys, but also the dogs. The loose dogs, inspite of all the calls of the Indians, at once dashed off in thedirection from which the loud calls were coming, while the sleigh dogswere almost unmanageable. Prompt and quick were the men to act. Theexcited dog-trains were bunched and tied together and left in charge ofa couple of Indians, while Mr Ross and the boys and a couple of Indianswent forward to investigate. 

To the right, a couple of hundred yards away, was a rocky island, on oneside of which was a reedy marsh. From among the reeds and rushes theloud calls of the geese were coming. Into these plunged the dogs, whilethe men and boys climbed up on the rocks where they could overlook thewhole spot, which was only of a few acres in extent. The experiencedeyes of the Indians took in the whole situation at a glance. The younggeese had not been strong enough to fly away to the sunny South Landwhen the call to go had come, and so the old geese had left them behindto perish. And so now here they were, over twenty of them. A novelgoose hunt was organised, and, while the boys looked on, the Indians, with the dogs' help, soon secured quite a number. Some of them wereeasily killed, as they were securely frozen to the icy reeds. Othersrushed about in a vain attempt to escape, but they were so chilled bythe cold that they were easily captured. The sleds were piled up withthis additional load of geese, and the journey was resumed. 

Later on in the evening the boys heard from Kinesasis more about thoseyoung geese and why they were there. They also learned some truths fromnature that abode with them for many a day. 

Without much difficulty the dangerous places in Playgreen Lake werepassed, and the return run down Jack River was begun. The loose youngdogs were pretty well wearied by the long trip and required somecoaxing, and even the occasional crack of the whip was necessary to urgethem to keep up. It is amazing what a latent amount of strength andspeed there is in a tired dog. Here was a striking example of it. While the trains were jogging along, and the young dogs with tongues outand tails down were wearily following after and looking as though theywere deeply bemoaning their lot, suddenly a splendid cross-fox sprangout from the dense forest on one side of the river and deliberatelydashed across before the dogs on the frozen ice toward the other shore. All evidence of weariness at once disappeared. With a hue and cry thatwould have done credit to a first-class pack of hounds they were alloff, sleigh dogs as well as loose ones. 

The ice was so slippery that it required quite an effort on the part ofthe drivers of the carioles to control their dogs and get them in line. If the truth must be told, the boys richly enjoyed the short burst ofspeed and the exciting chase, which ended almost as soon as it began, for Reynard was too much for the young dogs and soon reached the shelterof the wooded shore. 

The beautiful evening stars were shining in the western sky ere thewelcome lights in the windows of Sagasta-weekee were seen. A heartywelcome was given to the returning party by Mrs Ross and the children. All were anxious to hear about the first day's winter outing, and eachboy had to give his own version of the day's excitements and pleasures. 

The commodious kennels were soon taken possession of by the tired dogs. Indian servants had abundance of fish ready for them, and a watchfuloversight was kept upon them that the stronger ones should not rob theweaker or younger ones, a trick, we are sorry to say, of which some dogsare guilty. 

After the hearty supper and prayers were over in the dining room, andthe younger children had retired to rest, Mr and Mrs Ross and the boyswent out into the capacious kitchen to hear old Kinesasis give hisversion of the goose hunt. To please the old man, Mr Ross filled abeautiful calumet and presented it to him as a gift in addition to hiswages, for his thoughtful care of the dogs while under his charge at theisland. For some minutes he smoked his new pipe in silence. Indiansare the least demonstrative people in the world, and Kinesasis was oneof them. He was never known to say "Thank you" in his life, and yetnone could be more grateful or pleased than he to have his faithfulservices thus recognised. Mr Ross thoroughly understood him, and thegrateful look in his expressive eyes as he received the pipe from MrRoss's hand was all that was expected or that would be received. Without one word of reference to the pipe, Kinesasis began about thewild geese. Here is his story, which was a sort of monologue. He said:

"I have been much thinking about it, and I feel that it is my fault thatthe young geese could not go south with the old ones when the call camein the voice of the North Wind that it was time to go. I well rememberthat last spring, when in the big boat I carried the dogs out to theisland, we saw some geese flying around that island where we caught theyoung ones to-day. We could not get a shot at the old geese then, theywere so wary, but we pulled ashore, and there among the rushes we foundsome nests full of eggs. Of course, we took the eggs and ate them. Nodoubt those old geese when they returned, after we had gone, were veryangry at our taking the eggs, but they were not discouraged, and so theywent to work and filled up their nests with another setting of eggs andhatched them out. But they had lost a full month of time, and there wasnot enough warm weather left for these broods of young geese to growstrong to rise up in the air when the call came to fly away to the SouthLand. "

For a few minutes he puffed away vigorously at his calumet, and thencontinuing his story said: "Wild geese are strange things. I have hidmyself from them and watched them years ago, when they were moreplentiful and hatched their young at many places around our lakes andrivers here. Then we had only bows and arrows, and so did not kill asmany as we do now. Their greatest enemies were the foxes, but no foxwould dare attack a goose on her nest or a brood of young ones if theold gander were around. One blow of his powerful wing would kill anyfox. I have found dead foxes that have thus been killed. "

Then, looking up, the old Indian said, in a voice that showed he wasdeeply impressed by what he was uttering: "There was always some strangemystery about their call to go south and their leaving. To-day theywould be acting as though they would be intending to stay with us allthe time. They were all very quiet and only busy in getting their food, while the old ones were alert against their enemies, and would even risktheir lives to defend their young ones. Then to-morrow would come, andthere was such a change in them. They were all so excited and noisy;their cries filled the air. The old ones would stretch their wings andcircle round and round in the air about their young ones and encouragethem to follow. Soon all of them would rise up and up, and, startingaway for the South Land, we would see them no more that year. And yetnot all, for sometimes there were late broods, like the one we found to-day. They came too late to be strong enough to fly. They could not go, and here is the mystery to me. Why was it that the parent geese, thatyesterday would risk their lives in fighting against wild animals tosave their young, would to-day, when the call came to go, leave theiryoung broods behind them to perish? They all did it. Never was an oldgoose known to stay behind when the call came. That voice was louderand stronger than was even the love for their offspring. Can any of youtell old Kinesasis why it is so?"

CHAPTER THREE. 

SELECTING THEIR DOGS--VARIOUS METHODS OF BREAKING THEM IN--FRANK'SSUCCESS BY KINDNESS WITH MONARCH--SAM'S TROUBLES WITH SPITFIRE--CONQUERED AT LAST--TRAINING AND CAPTURING DOGS WITH DOGS--ALEC'S TRAINOF PART STAGHOUNDS. 

With this question of the old Indian ringing in their ears the party inthe kitchen broke up, and as the day had been a long one they all soonretired to rest. 

The boys were more than delighted with the day's experience, and werefull of joyful anticipation for the morrow, for then it was that theywere to select the dogs that were to constitute their own trains and atonce to begin the work of breaking them in. So long and soundly didthey sleep the next morning that the second breakfast bell was ringingwhen they awoke, and so they had but little time in which to dress erebreakfast was served. However, to their joy they found that others hadalso overslept themselves. Even Mr Ross himself, who was one of these, declared that the capital outing of the previous day had done him agreat deal of good, as he had not slept so well for a long time. 

The events of yesterday and the anticipations of the present day werediscussed with great animation. The boys were questioned as to thestyle and disposition of the dogs they each desired, and the methodsthey intended to pursue in their training. Frank wanted his to bestrong and powerful, able to carry him over any difficult place and ableto draw any reasonable load assigned him. Alec's ambition was for aswift train, that he might have all the fun and excitement of rapidtravelling. 

"All right, " said Sam, "but give me the darlings with any amount ofmischief and tricks in them. Those are the dogs for me. "

A hearty laugh from all greeted Sam's queer wish. 

"I think, as regards the tricks, we can easily satisfy you, " said MrRoss. "And it will be amusing to see how a young Irish gentleman cancircumvent them; for you will find out, before you get through withthem, that tricky dogs are not only very clever, but very provoking, insome of their deals. "

Mr Ross had been very careful for years in the selection and breedingof his dogs. There is as much difference between good and bad dogs asthere is between high-spirited horses and miserably lazy ones. Thehardy Eskimo was still the prevailing element in his dogs. There were, however, many crosses with some of the finest breeds of civilisation, such as the English mastiff, the Newfoundland, and the large Scottishstaghound. Dogs are considered old enough to be broken to harness whenthey have reached their ninth month. They should not, however, beexpected, no matter how willing, to draw very heavy loads until they areconsiderably older. They are much more easily trained when young, andare not so apt to be sullen and ugly as are dogs which are only brokenin after they have reached the age of two or three years. 

Soon after breakfast and prayers an early visit was made to the kennels. The boys were desirous of having the pleasure that morning of givingthe dogs their breakfast. They were very much surprised, however, wheninformed that the dogs were only fed once a day, and that that one mealwas given to them in the evening, when their day's work was done. Thisinformation at first aroused their sympathies for the dogs, but aftersome experience they found out that they could not only do much betterwork on one good meal a day, but were always in much better health. 

Some dogs submit readily to the harness and never give any trouble;others are very obstinate, and will take any amount of whipping beforethey surrender. Some that seem docile and affectionate before beingharnessed, when they find themselves collared and strapped, develop theferocity of wolves and make the most desperate efforts, not only to getloose, but to attack their own masters. Mr Ross had, after somediscussion with the boys, promised them the privilege to do the breakingin of their own dogs, provided the animals did not develop too obstinatedispositions, which would require a good deal of punishment ere theywould submit. Generally this work was done by the Indian servants, asmany kind-hearted masters cannot bear to inflict the punishmentthemselves, which seems to be necessary for some dogs to receive eretheir are conquered. 

Several methods are used in breaking in young dogs. Some trainerssecurely harness them up and fasten them to a sled, then vigorously, byvoice and whip, keep at them until they yield and do what is demanded ofthem. They must at the first harnessing be so securely fastened thatthey cannot possibly in any way squeeze or pull themselves out from theharness. Nearly all dogs at first make desperate efforts to escape. Ifthey once succeed in doing so, during the process of training, they arenever absolutely reliable afterward. They will occasionally try torepeat the experiment of squeezing themselves loose, and may do it at acritical place on a long journey, and thus cause annoyance and delay. 

One of Mr Ross's methods, which he now suggested to the boys, was tohave an old train of four steady dogs harnessed up in tandem style andone of the young dogs, which was to be broken in, harnessed in betweenthe third and fourth dog of the train. Frank was given the firstselection. He chose a large, powerful dog that seemed to be partmastiff and part Newfoundland. He had a fine head and kindly eyes. Frank, who was a great lover of dogs, and knowing much about them, hadtaken the precaution to make a visit to the kitchen, and now, with hisouter pockets supplied with broken bits of meat and buns, he began thework of making friends with this big, burly young dog, which was hisfirst choice. The fact that only in the evening were they supposed tobe fed, was quietly ignored by Frank just now. 

Kinesasis called him Ookemou. This Frank translated into Monarch, andby this name he was always called. Frank began his approaches by aliberal use of the contents of his pockets, and who ever knew a youngdog proof against such an argument? Growing dogs are always hungry, andwill take kindly to anyone who will stuff them. The Indian servantsspeedily had a train of old dogs ready, with a vacant harness placed aswe have described. Into it Monarch willingly allowed himself to beharnessed by Frank. The whole train was then fastened to a dog-sled, and the word "Marche!" was shouted by the driver. The well-trained dogsat once responded and started off, and as long as Frank ran by the sideof Monarch the young dog did very well, but when he dropped behind andsprang on the sled with the Indian driver, Monarch also made an effortto do likewise. This, however, he found to be an impossible feat, asthe three strong dogs before him kept him on the move, and so he wasobliged to proceed, which he did very unwillingly. Frank shouted to himto go on. This, however, was a great mistake, as the dog, at oncerecognising his voice, and not knowing as yet the meaning of "Go on, "would much rather have come back to the one who had so thoroughly wonhis friendship. Seeing him beginning to act ugly and obstinate, theIndian driver drew his heavy dog-whip and was about to strike him. ThisFrank hotly resented, and so the Indian quickly recoiled his whip andquietly waited to see what the young white master wanted to do. Frank'squick intellect was at work. He was a wide-awake, kindly lad, with alove for as well as a knowledge of dogs, and so when he saw this youngdog so resolutely pull back at the sound of his voice, thus showing thathe would rather come toward him than run from him, he instantly made uphis mind that he could be broken in by kindness and persuasion. Quicklyhe resolved upon his own plan of action. Ordering the Indian driver tostop the train, Frank speedily ran to Mr Ross with an urgent requestfor another train of old dogs. Mr Ross, who was at once interested bythe intense earnestness of the lad, speedily granted him his request, although as yet he could not understand the reason why two trains weredesired, where one was generally considered sufficient. 

Very quickly did willing hands harness up a train of old dogs and attachthem to a dog-sled. 

"Now, " said Frank to the driver of them, "you drive on ahead of thatother train and let me ride with you. "

Orders having been given to the driver of the train, in which Monarchwas harnessed, to follow after, Frank, who was now on ahead and in plainsight, began calling to his dog to follow. To this call he at onceresponded, and as the train in which he was harnessed was allowed tocome alongside of the first, Monarch was rewarded by receiving from hismaster's hands some dainty bits of meat. There was no trouble with himafter this. No matter how fast the first train was now driven, withhead and tail up, on came Monarch, with as much vim and dash as the bestof the old dogs, with which he was harnessed. When it was thought thathe had had enough exercise for that day, and as they were about twomiles from home, they rested for a few moments, during which Frank spokekindly to his dog and fed him with the remaining pieces of meat. Beforeleaving he gave orders to the driver of the train, in which Monarch washarnessed, to wait until he and the other train would have time to reachhome. Monarch, as he saw the other train leaving, became very muchexcited and was eager to follow. He was, however, restrained by thedriver, as were the other dogs. All sleigh dogs of any spirit hate tobe thus left behind, and so when the word "Marche!" was uttered theysprang forward with a will, Monarch being as eager as any of them. 

In the meantime, when Frank with the one train of old dogs returned toSagasta-weekee, he was met with laughter and quizzing remarks from bothAlec and Sam. Coming as he did without his young dog, they could onlyimagine that he had met with complete failure, and had given up thebusiness in disgust. Mr Ross, however, older and more experienced, after one searching glance in Frank's triumphant, satisfied face, surmised something better, and so was prepared for the lad's triumph, which soon came. 

Frank very good-naturedly took the guying of his comrades, but his eyeswere along the trail made by the sled, from which he had just alighted. Keen was his vision then, and alert his eye, and so when the comingtrain was still far away he knew by their rapid pace that he hadtriumphed. Turning to Mr Ross, he triumphantly exclaimed:--

"There they come, and Monarch as eager as any of them, and no whip hasever touched his back, or ever will. "

It did not take the rapidly advancing train long to reach the nowinterested group of spectators. 

Frank's triumph was complete. None could have imagined that the finest-looking dog in that train, that bore himself so proudly, had that dayfor the first time ever had a collar on his neck. Yet such was thecase, and as Frank petted and unharnessed him, warm and sincere were MrRoss's congratulations. 

From that day forward Monarch was a model sleigh dog, and never failedto respond to the voice of his new master, whose kindly tact had savedhim from the lash. 

There was still time before lunch for another experiment or two, and soAlec suggested that Sam, who wanted dogs full of fun and tricks, shouldmake the next choice. 

Sam, nothing loath, selected a handsomely built dog with the queerestcombination of colours. He had a bright, mischievous-looking eye, andit was evident that he had a good opinion of himself. His small, erect, pointed ears, his foxlike muzzle, and his curly, bushy tail told thatthere was a good deal of the Eskimo in him, and therefore, until betteracquainted with the paleface, he would not have much love for him. Samsoon found this out. At Mr Ross's request Kinesasis skillfully threw alasso over him and brought him out of the kennels. This undignifiedprocedure considerably ruffled his temper, and so when Sam, in sweetsimplicity, took up a harness and endeavoured to put it on him the dogviciously sprang at him and buried his teeth in the heavy mooseskinmitten of the hand which Sam was fortunately able to quickly throw up, thus saving his face from injury. Mr Ross and others sprang forward tohelp the lad, but Sam's Irish was up, and as the lasso was still uponthe dog's neck, and his teeth had only cut through the tough leatherwithout injuring his hand, he cried:--

"Please let me have the satisfaction of conquering him alone. "

Suddenly throwing himself forward, Sam seized hold of the lasso, and, tightening it about the dog's neck, he quickly tangled him up in theloose coils and managed to throw him on the snowy ground. Seizing theharness, he dropped down upon the excited, half-choked animal, and, guarding his hands against his snappy teeth, he managed to get thecollar over his head. But the work was not yet completed, and Mr Ross, seeing the danger the boy was in of being badly bitten by the nowfurious animal, ordered a couple of Indian men to his assistance. Hehighly complimented Sam, and said that in getting the collar on such adog he had succeeded well. The Indians cautiously, but quickly, muzzledthe dog, and then, letting him get up, they finished Sam's work ofharnessing him. The next thing was to get him into the train with theother dogs, and this proved to be no easy matter. 

"Give him a name, " said Alec. 

"Spitfire!" shouted out Sam, and by this name he was ever after known. 

He seemed to have an idea that his personal liberty was being interferedwith, and so he resisted everything done by Sam or the dog-drivers. When by main force he was placed in position and the traces werefastened he made most violent attempts to escape. He struggled first toone side and then to the other in his frantic efforts. Then he tried tocrawl under and then over the dog in front of him. Failing in this, hesuddenly sprang forward with such force that he managed to seize hold ofthe short, stumpy tail of the dog in front of him. This was anunfortunate move on his part, as the dogs that are accustomed to worktogether will readily fight for each other when one is in trouble. So, before Sam or the Indians could interfere, if they had been so disposed, the dogs ahead of Spitfire, hearing the cry of pain from their comrade, quickly turned upon him and gave him a thorough shaking. When theIndians thought he had had enough they interfered, and once morestraightened out the dogs. 

Spitfire was most decidedly a sadder, if not a wiser, dog as the resultof his rashness. But, poor fellow, his troubles were not yet over, forthe old sleigh dog behind him was also indignant at the attack upon thetail of his old comrade, and so he was also resolved to mete out somepunishment to the rash young offender. This was just what the Indianswanted, and so, telling Sam to jump on the sled with them, they shouted, "Marche!" to the head dogs, while the old fellow behind sprang atSpitfire. 

At first the young fellow, seeing that he could not get away, hadresolved to balk, but when the big dog with fierce growls made hisdesperate efforts to seize hold of him he was glad to spring as far awayas his traces would permit. The result was that before he knew what hewas about he was rapidly galloping in unison with the rest of the train. Sam kept him at it until he was so tired that all the venom and fightwere worked out of him. If for an instant he tried to act ugly or breakloose, all Sam had to do was to call on the sleigh dog to attack him. This was quite sufficient and Spitfire surrendered to the inevitable, and in less than three hours had well learned his first lesson. 

To conquer the dog's repugnance to Sam, and to make them fast friends, Mr Ross had him, when taken out of the harness, fastened up in a darkroot cellar without any supper. The next day Sam went in to bring himout, but was met only with savage growls. 

"All right, " said Mr Ross, "it seems hard on you for the present, butit will be better for you in the end;" and so the heavy door was shut, and Spitfire had another twenty-four hours in solitude and quiet toponder over his ways. The next day, as directed by Mr Ross, in whom hehad all confidence, Sam suddenly threw open the door, and, while the dogwas still blinking in the sudden sunshine that poured in, Sam withoutany hesitancy or fear strode in and, unchaining him, led him out and upto an abundant supply of food and drink. 

Spitfire was conquered, and from that day he and Sam were the best offriends. A few more lessons in the harness, with a growling, crosssleigh dog behind him, made him one of the best and fleetest of thetrain. 

Sam, who was quick to utilise a good thing when he observed it, saw inthis dislike of this old sleigh dog to having fresh young dogs ahead ofhim just the assistance he needed; and so, although he selected threeother dogs, that at first were about as ugly and intractable as Spitfirehad been, he was able in this way to subdue them all with firmness andpatience, and he not only made them his affectionate friends, but hebecame the master of one of the most spirited trains in the country. They were obedient and quick to respond to Sam's calls upon them, butwoe to anyone else who tried to drive them when the spirit of mischiefor contrariness which was in them showed itself. 

Alec had stated that he wanted a swift train for the fun and excitementof fast travelling. It was fortunate for him that Mr Ross had someyoung dogs with a large strain of the Scottish staghound in them. Thepure staghounds are unable to stand the severe cold of the long winters, but the mixed breeds at Sagasta-weekee, while retaining much of thespeed of the staghound, had a rich, warm coating of fur-like hair. Still, they enjoyed a warm blanket when the weather was very severe. The young untrained ones were very wild, and when Kinesasis attempted tobring out from the kennels a beautiful one that he had lassoed, andwhich Alec had fancied, the frightened, agile creature jerked the lassoout of his hands, scaled the walls, and dashed away over the snowyfields. To have followed him would have been absurd, as the frighteneddog if pursued would have continued his flight until he had reached thedistant island where he had spent the summer. Kinesasis knew a betterplan than that, and so he quickly let loose about a half dozen sagaciousold dogs, trained by him for such work, and quietly told them to go outand bring that young wanderer back. The frightened dog, after runningseveral hundred yards, when he saw that he was not being followed, slackened his pace and more leisurely continued his journey. He would, however, frequently stop and look about him, and especially back towardthe place he had so abruptly left. 

Soon he saw the dogs that Kinesasis had sent out, and that were nowgambolling and playing with each other. He was attracted by the sight, and stopped his flight to watch them. They were apparently not noticinghim in their sporting with each other, but they were neverthelessdrawing nearer to him. At first he was inclined to be suspicious ofthem, but this soon left him, and he seemed to become pleased to greetthem, as doubtless he had already begun to feel lonesome, for the dog isindeed a social animal. When once he was thrown off his guard it wasnot long ere the trailing lasso was seized by the teeth of a couple ofthe most sagacious dogs, who immediately started on the return trip. The rest of the dogs followed growling in the rear of the runaway. Whennecessary they used their teeth upon him, and so they soon brought him, cowed and submissive, to the hands of Kinesasis. 

Tame elephants take great delight in helping to capture and subdue wildones, but not greater is their satisfaction at their successful workthan is that of old dogs who are trained to it when they have a share inthe capturing or breaking in of obstinate, refractory dogs. 

The boys enthusiastically expressed their surprise as well as admirationat this wonderful cleverness on the part of these trained dogs incapturing the runaway. They were also amused at their evident delightat the success of their efforts. 

"Yes, " said Mr Ross, "and if that young dog had been able to eludethem, either by keeping out of their reach, in the first place, or byslipping the lasso over his head and thus escaping from them, and theyhad had to return without him, they would have been thoroughly ashamedof themselves, and would have skulked off to their kennels. "

"I have read, " said Frank, "that that is the way the Saint Bernard dogsin the Alps act if they are unsuccessful in bringing any belated or losttraveller back to the monastery, when they are sent out by the monks tosearch for any in distress. They are very proud if they succeed, but ifthey fail to find anyone they skulk back ashamed of themselves and sulkin their kennels for a couple of days, or even longer. "

Alec, taking advantage of the methods adopted by both Frank and Sam, andother plans suggested by Mr Ross, at length succeeded in breaking inhis four dogs. He had the misfortune to have one of them, on account ofhis small head, squeeze himself out of his harness and escape. Greatdifficulty was experienced in capturing him, and then even whenconquered he at times gave endless trouble by slipping his collar andskulking in the rear. 

Another of his dogs, when being broken in, made the most desperateefforts to cut himself loose with his teeth. He ruined in this way somevaluable harness, and several times cut the traces of the dogs in frontof him. Having exhausted the patience of Alec, he received a first-class whipping ere he stopped trying these tricks. 

In about a month the dogs were thoroughly trained and seasoned to theirwork. Frank clung to Monarch as his favourite, while Sam and Spitfirewere almost inseparable. Alec, true to the romantic love of hiscountry, made the runaway his favourite and called him Bruce. His otherthree he named Wallace, Gelert, and Lorne. 

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER FOUR. 

NUMEROUS DOGS--USEFUL ANIMALS--FOOD SUPPLY--FROZEN FISH--BRINGING THEMHOME--VIGOROUS WORK FOR BOYS AND DOGS--FRANK'S TUMBLE--SAM'S DUCKING--SKATING PARTIES--ALEC'S THRILLING ADVENTURE--THE RACE FOR LIFE--NORTHERNGREY WOLVES--THEIR CUNNING--THEIR VARIOUS STRATAGEMS--MR. ROSS'S FEARS--THE SEARCH PARTY--ALEC RESCUED--THE WOLVES SHOT. 

It may seem strange to some of our readers that such numbers of dogswere kept by Mr Ross. It must be remembered that they were, in thoseregions, the only animals in those days that were of any use to man. 

So abundant were the fish that the dogs were kept with little expense. The lakes and rivers so swarmed with them that a few gill nets and anIndian could easily take care of a large number of dogs during thesummer months. For the winter supply an immense number of whitefishwere caught just as the winter was setting in. These fish were hung upon high stagings beyond the reach of wolves and stray, prowling dogs. So intense and steady was the frost that the fish, which immediatelyfroze solid after being hung up, remained in that condition until wellon into the next April. Such a thing as the temperature rising highenough to even soften the fish was almost unknown. The result was thefish were kept by this great preservative, the intense frost, in primecondition for both the people and the dogs. On account of theirabundance, and the ease with which they could be obtained, they were formany years the principal article of food. 

The Indians take but little care of their dogs in the summer time; theyliterally have to fish for themselves, and very clever are some of themat it. So abundant are the fish, and so clever are the dogs incapturing several varieties that haunt the marshes and shallows alongthe shores, that the dogs easily secure sufficient numbers to sustainlife and even grow fat upon. On these fishing excursions the Indiandogs often wander over a hundred miles away from the wigwams of theirmasters, and are gone for months together. 

While quantities of fish were being caught during every month of theyear--for even in the coldest parts of the winter they could be caughtthrough holes in the ice--yet the actual full fishery season only lasteda few weeks. On this fishery everybody depended for their principalwinter supply. It generally began a short time before the ice set, andcontinued about as long after. The fish, which were principallywhitefish, were all caught in gill nets. When brought ashore they werestabbed through the flesh near the tail. Through this incision a sharp-pointed stick was inserted. Ten were always thus hung up on each stick, with their heads hanging down. While still warm a single slash of asharp knife was given to each fish between the gills. This caused whatlittle blood there was in them to drip out, and thus materially added tothe quality of the fish, and also helped in its preservation. 

The work of bringing these thousands of fish home was done by the dog-trains. It is heavy work, as each train of four dogs was expected todraw twenty sticks of fish at each load. However, the track wasgenerally all ice, and so it was much easier than travelling in a foresttrail in the deep snow. Six hundred pounds are considered a good loadfor four dogs on ordinary trails. 

As Mr Ross's fishermen had hung up about fifty thousand fish, besidespacking a large number of the finest ones in ice or snow, there wasconsiderable work for the trains in dragging them home. The work is sosteady that it is considered capital training for young dogs. Ofcourse, they are not at first given as heavy loads as are the oldtrains. The boys were allowed to go with their trains about three timesa week. This was quite sufficient for them, for, although they rode onthe empty sleds, wrapped in a buffalo skin, on the outward trip to thefishery camp, yet they felt in honour bound to imitate the Indiandrivers of the older trains, and walk, or rather trot, as much as theycould on the return with their heavy loads. 

The kind-hearted Indians, while admiring the pluck of the boys when, onthe first trip, they urged for heavier loads, wisely and firmly insistedthat they should take light ones to begin with. 

"This is only fun, " said Alec, "just running on the ice. I have walkedall day in the Highlands, and was all right the next day. I want a fullload, for I intend to run the whole distance on the home stretch. "

"Twenty miles on ice, with some slipping and falling and managing alively dog-train, will seem a long journey ere it is ended, " saidMustagan, a grand old Indian who that year had charge of the work ofbringing home the fish. 

Frank thought that with his strong dogs he could take more than Sam orAlec, but even to this Mustagan objected. 

"Yes, " he said, "fine big dogs, but very young, bones still soft. Bigloads by and by, but not now. "

"I wish we had brought our skates, " said Sam, "and then we would havehad no trouble in making the twenty miles. " This, it was unanimouslyagreed, was a capital suggestion, and one that would be carried out onfuture trips. 

So in the meantime they decided to carry out Mustagan's request and onlytake light loads. The wisdom of this was seen before they had gone manymiles. The gait at which the old, experienced dogs struck out, andwhich was kept up by the drivers, as well as by the dog-trains of theboys, was altogether too rapid for them. 

Very gamely they kept up the pace for four or five miles, when Mustagancalled a halt for the first pipe. His observant eyes had been on theboys, and while he was pleased with their pluck, he was too wise toallow them to injure themselves; so, taking the matter into his ownhands, he so arranged the sticks of fish on their sleds that, with theaid of the buffalo skins, he made for each a comfortable seat. It isnot surprising that the boys were willing to accept of the situation, and, while on the remainder of the trip they rode a good deal, theyoften sprang off and, by the vigorous exercises of keeping up with theIndians on their famous jog trot, kept themselves warm, and also put ina good deal of training to fit them for longer journeys. 

On future trips to the fisheries, as long as the ice kept free of snow, they carried with them their skates, and not only on the home trip withloaded sleds, but even on the outward journey, did they have somecapital sport. Alec especially was a splendid skater. Coming fromScotland, where they had so much more ice than there was in England orIreland, he had had greater opportunities for becoming an adept in thisexhilarating sport. He was very much amused at the temper and annoyanceof his dogs when, on a fine stretch of smooth ice, he would dash awayfrom them at a rate which it was impossible for them to keep up. Theywould make the most desperate efforts to travel as fast as he did. Whenthey realised the impossibility of doing this, hampered as they were bytheir heavy load, they would at times set up a most dismal cry that wasa cross between a bark and a howl. At other times some of the dogswould think that one of the train was shirking his work, and then theywould unmercifully pile on him and give him a sound thrashing. 

Well was it for Alec that he had these splendid skating trips;unconsciously was he preparing for a race for his life. 

On one of these home trips Frank, while sitting on his load, wrapped upin his buffalo robe, went to sleep. He was all right while the sled wasgoing along in a straight trail, but at one place the road turned at asharp angle, and here he had a sudden awakening. The ice was firm andthe dogs were going at a good speed. When they reached the sharp turnthe sled slid around at a great rate, and poor Frank, who like the otherboys had when awake securely hung on to the straps on other trips, wasnow so fast asleep that when the sled flew around he was sent in the airat a tangent, and then went sprawling on the ice quite a number of yardsaway. He was well shaken up and badly bruised. After that he took goodcare to take his naps on the sleds in less dangerous places. 

Sam had a worse adventure than that. One day, while running behind anddriving his train and cheerily talking to his dogs, he had themisfortune to step through the thin ice into an air hole. Hefortunately had presence of mind enough to throw out his arms, and so, as the hole was a small one, he only went in up to his armpits. That, however, was quite enough, as the temperature was many degrees belowzero. He was speedily pulled out and cared for by the Indian drivers. They quickly threw all the fish from Alec's sled, and, taking the threebuffalo robes which the boys were accustomed to use on the outwardtrips, carefully wrapped Sam in them, and securely tied him on it. Thenthey said:--

"Now, Master Alec, here is your chance to show the speed of your dogs. Hang on securely yourself, and see how quickly you can make the ten-miletrip from here to Sagasta-weekee. "

Alec needed no other incentive than the desire to get his beloved Samhome as quickly as possible. The boys all dearly loved each other, anda serious accident to one gave sorrow to the other two. The cold wasintense, and it was necessary that Sam should be taken home as speedilyas possible. The weight of the two boys was but little to the active-spirited dogs, and so when the sharp cracks of the whip sounded aroundthem, but not on them, and the urgent cries of "Marche! Marche!" withunusual emphasis kept ringing out from the lips of their master, theyseemed at once to realise that something unusual was the matter; and asit was also on the home stretch, away they flew at a rate that soon leftthe heavily loaded sleds far behind. 

In less than an hour's time the distance was covered. Sam was soon inthe hands of loving, experienced friends who knew just what to do, andso in a day or two he was out again, none the worse for his adventure. 

The skating was simply perfect. Just fancy miles and miles of ice, smooth as glass and stretching out over lake and river in everydirection; no pent-up little pond or skating rink where in a few hoursthe ice is ruined by the crowd or melted by the rising temperature. Here were great lakes and rivers of it that lasted for months. Lakesfull of beautiful islands, whose shores not long ago were lapped by themurmuring, laughing waves, are now gripped, as in fetters of steel, bythe Frost King. In and out among them glide the merry skaters. Everybody in that land big enough skated, and skated well. 

Jolly parties from the fur-trading posts and mission home joined withothers in making merry groups, who for hours at a time engaged in thisjoyous and exhilarating sport. Sometimes several young gentlemen in theservice of the Hudson Bay Company would come over from the fort and jointhem in their moonlight excursions. So glorious were the surroundings, and so exhilarating the sport, that the nights would be far spent erethey thought of returning home. 

There seemed a strange fascination in seeking out new places andexploring untried branches of the great rivers, which seemed likestreams of molten silver in the bright moonlight as they stretched awayinto primitive forests, where the trees on the shores hung heavy withicicles, or were so bent under the weight of snow that, at times, theylooked like ghostly visitants from dreamland. 

As the days passed on these skating excursions were much more extended, and as the skaters began to get familiar with the different routes thevigilance which was at first kept up, that none might go astray, wasmuch relaxed. When there were any indications of a storm or blizzard itwas well understood that no skater was to go out alone, and even thennot beyond some well-defined landmarks. 

However, when the weather seemed settled, and the sun shone brightly byday and the moonlight was clear and beautiful at night, no positiverestraint was upon anyone. Thus, day after day, they merrily skated inlittle groups or in pairs as they desired. Sometimes one would dash offalone, and for hours amidst the weird, picturesque surroundings, such asa skater alone can find in such a land, would, in the very intoxicationof his bliss, push on and on, without any idea of the progress of timeor of the distance he was travelling. 

To Alec, the Scottish lad, there came one beautiful moonlight night anexperience which nearly had a tragic ending. The night was one ofrarest beauty, but it was very cold, so cold that Mr Ross remarked thatthe moon looked more like burnished steel than silver. As the merryparty started out he warned them to keep their furs well around them orsevere frostbites would be theirs, in spite of the vigorous exercise ofrapid skating. 

The company of half a dozen or so kept together for a time, and then, injoyous rivalry, shot out and in along the icy stretches between thegranite, fir-clad islands that on that lake were so numerous. Asfurther they advanced they became more and more separated, until Alecfound himself alone with a young clerk from the trading post, who pridedhimself on his skill and speed as a skater. He had been considered thechampion the previous winter, and naturally wished to retain hislaurels. Finding himself alone with Alec, whom he thought but a novicecompared to himself, he endeavoured to show off his speed, but was verymuch annoyed and chagrined to find that, skate as rapidly as he would, the Scottish lad kept alongside and merrily laughed and chatted as onthey sped. Ruffled and angry at being so easily matched by Alec, theclerk abruptly turned around and skated back. Alec was at first alittle hurt by this discourteous action, but this feeling quickly woreoff as on and on he skated, fairly entranced by the beauty of hissurroundings and the excitement of his sport. After a time he noticedthat the lake was abruptly ending. Just as he was about to circlearound and begin the return journey he saw the mouth of a beautifullittle ice-covered river which ran up into the forest. The ice lookedso smooth and was so transparent, as there it lay in the beautifulmoonlight, and he was so fascinated by the sight, that he could notresist the impulse to dash in upon it. On and on he glided, on whatseemed to him the most perfect ice that skater ever tried. He did notappear to observe that this glassy, winding river, on which he was sojoyously skating, was gradually narrowing, until he observed the greatbranches of some high trees meeting together and cutting off the brightmoonlight. Skating under these great shadowy branches, with theglinting moonlight here and there in great patches of white upon theice, alternating with the shadows, was a new experience, and very muchdid he revel in it, when-- What sound was that?

It must have been only the falling of some drift of snow from anoverloaded branch, or a broken branch itself, and so, although Alec wasstartled at hearing any sound amidst these almost noiseless solitudes, he soon recovered his spirits and dashed on along the narrowing, crookedstream: but--there it is again! And now as Alec quickly turns his headand looks he sees what blanches his face for an instant and shows himthe peril of his position. Four great northern grey wolves are skulkingthrough the snow on the shore, and already their eyes are gleaming intriumph, and their mouths are watering for their prey. Quick as a flashhe turns, and so do they. Well is it now that the sturdy lad, on hisnative lochs in Scottish winters, had practiced every movement, and hadbecome an adept in twisting and rapid turning on his skates. He willneed it all to-night, as well as the hardened muscles of his vigoroussports since he came to this wild North Land; for the wolves will noteasily be balked in their efforts to capture and then devour. The veryfact of there being four of them seemed at first in his favour, as theinstant they turned they appeared to get in each other's way. In thebrief delay thus caused Alec was away and was increasing his speed everyinstant. But he is not to be let off so easily. Looking behind, hesees that two are coming on in their long, galloping, speedy way. Whereare the other two? Soon enough will he know. 

As we have stated, this little river was very crooked. The cunningwolves well knew this, and so a couple of them made a short cut throughthe woods, to intercept their prey at a spot ahead of him. As aninspiration, the quick-witted lad took in the situation. He had heardmuch already about the cunning of these grey wolves in hunting in relaysthe moose and other species of deer, and by having some of their numberssent on ahead or stationed in narrow defiles to intercept their prey. So, suspecting the trap being laid for him, he made up his mind, ifpossible, to reach that danger point before those wolves. It was a longsweep around, like a horse shoe, and he had to make the whole distanceround, while they had but to cross the tongue of land. He had totraverse at least twice the distance that the wolves had to go, but thenhe had the advantage in being on the ice, while they had to loup throughthe snow. Still, there were no risks to be taken. For an instant thethoughts came, as he heard the faint thud, thud on the ice of the fleetwolves behind him. What if anything should happen to my skates? Or ifI should get in a crack in the ice? But he quickly banished thesethoughts as unworthy. He had all confidence in the splendid skates onhis feet, and saw with delight that he was emerging from the last placewhere the trees entirely hid the bright moonlight. Every crack anddangerous place could now be easily seen and guarded against. 

On and on he fairly flew. The wolves, in spite of their desperateefforts to keep up, were being left further and further behind. At thisAlec rejoiced; but his heart fairly jumped, and fear for an instantagain seized him, as there suddenly burst upon his ears the blood-curdling howlings of many wolves. It was begun by those in the rear. It was answered by others that seemed ahead of him. It was re-echoedback by others that appeared to be further off. Looking back, heobserved that the two that had been following him, when they hadfinished their howlings, suddenly disappeared in the forest, evidentlybent upon some new plan of attack. 

No wonder that the plucky lad felt that this was a crisis in his life, and that if ever he had his wits about him they were needed now. As theresult of his early teachings, and the memory of his godly mother, theresprang from his heart and lips a whispered prayer: "God of my mother, remember her boy to-night;" and he felt that he was not forgotten. 

Like as with fresh soldiers on the battle field, so now that the firstterror had come and gone, a strange spirit of exhilaration came to him, and seemed to nerve him for the race. He had no weapon with him, noteven a stick in his hand. His wits, his skates, and his power ofendurance must be his reliance in this unique encounter. As well as hecould he endeavoured to recall the different windings in the river, andthe places where he was likely to be attacked later on, if he escapedthe spot where he felt sure the next effort would be made by his cunningfoes. 

Rapidly as he was skating, his quick eye caught sight of two of hisfoes. They were crouching together on a snow-covered rock that almostoverhung the edge of the stream where it was narrowest. To endeavour toescape by such fierce brutes, now so aroused by having once missed him, would have been madness. To have retreated would have been certaindeath. Quick as a flash came the ruse to Alec. Dashing up, with ashout that was a challenge, he made as though he were going to fly by, but the instant before he reached the spot where his quick eye saw theywould spring upon him he whirled upon the heels of his skates. Thatinstant they sprang upon the spot where their instinct told them heought to have been. He was not there, however, but a few yards in therear; so they missed him, and with the momentum of their spring wentsprawling out on the smooth ice. Another turn on the skates, as quickas the first, and Alec was by them ere they could recover themselves. Thoroughly baffled and furious, they were speedily in pursuit, and itrequired all of Alec's effort to much increase the distance between themand himself. 

Several times they cut across short necks of the little river, and onceso near did they get that the snappings of their terrible teeth weredistinctly heard. One long stretch more, then a double twist, like theletter S in the river, and he would reach the lake. 

Alec was heated now; his clothes were wet with perspiration, in spite ofthe bitter cold. That some wolves were ahead of him he was certain. Home was far away. The other skaters had long since returned from theiroutings. Around the great blazing fireplace Mr Ross had more than oncesaid:

"I am sorry that Alec has remained out so late. "

Unknown to the rest of the family, some hunters had reported to him thatalready tracks of wolves had been seen in the hunting grounds not manymiles away. These brutes are always very vicious in the beginning ofwinter. Their summer supplies of food are cut off, and the deer havenot yet begun to run and thus leave their tracks in the woods. Whenanother hour had passed on Mr Ross could stand it no longer, andearnestly exclaimed:

"Who saw Alec last?"

The young clerk who had been last seen with him, and who had not as yetreturned to his trading post, said:--

"I left him near the other side of the lake. "

Mr Ross was indignant, but there was now no time for anything butaction. Short and stern were his orders. Alec must be sought after atonce. Hastily rousing up three trusty Indian servants, he and they weresoon out on the lake. All were on skates and armed with guns. A fewdogs were allowed to accompany them, among them being Alec's train. MrRoss wisely judged that if they once struck his tracks, such was thelove they had for him, they would soon find him, even if he had becomebewildered and lost his bearings. So, while Alec was still in danger, help was coming. 

Fortunately for him, the river was wider now, and his eyes were so alertthat he could detect his foes, even when quite a distance from them. Hewas thus able to see through the disguise of a couple of them that laycrouching out on the ice, trying to look like the little piles of snowthat the eddying winds had gathered. Still, although he saw them, andby another clever ruse flew by them, yet so close were they to him, whenthey sprang at him, that some of the froth from the mouth of one of themfell upon him. 

To his surprise, these two did not long follow him, but sprang into thegloom of the forest and disappeared. In the last half of the S-likeriver Alec was now speeding. He felt confident that if he could oncereach the lake he would be able by speed, and perhaps some quickdodging, to elude them; but this last portion of the crooked rivertroubled him, and made him doubly cautious. 

There is need for it all, for look! There are now not less than a dozenof them, and they are so arranged on the ice and on the shore that thereis apparently no escape. Those strange howlings, so blood-curdling andso weird, which the first pair of wolves uttered were understood byothers, and here they are, ready and eager to join in the attack and todivide the prey. 

They seem so confident now, and so loudly do they howl that the greathigh rocks echo back the doleful music. To Alec it was now the martialmusic that only sharpened his faculties and made him more cautious andmore brave. Boldly skating up to them, he suddenly turned, when almostin their clutches, and instantly started back up the river as rapidly ashe could skate. On and on he fairly flew, until, owing to the bend inthe river, he was completely out of their sight. Then skating near toone of the shores he pushed on a couple of hundred yards or so. Crossing over to the other side, he quickly turned to a spot where, sheltered by a large tree, he was securely hid in the deep shadow, whichwas in sharp contrast to the bright moonlight near him. In this retreathe had not long to wait ere he saw the wolves, evidently disconcerted, but coming on his trail. They were stretched out quite apart from eachother, and covered such a distance that he saw that those in front wouldbe doubling back on him ere all had passed. However, he was confidentthat so suddenly could he dash out that, by skillful dodging on theglassy ice, where the wolves would not have much of a foothold, he couldelude them. 

It was a trying moment for the boy, as on the opposite side of the tree, which rose up directly out of the ice, he heard the measured steps andeven the heavy breathings of the cruel monsters, not fifty yards away. Fortunately, there was no wind to carry the scent from him to them, andso they did not detect his stratagem. When about half of them hadpassed, with a dash and a shout he was off. So completely taken bysurprise were they that those nearest to him made no attempt to stophim. The two or three in the rear savagely tried to block his way andsprang at him, but signally failed to reach him, as Alec skillfullyskated round them and sped onward toward the lake. Furious indeed werethose that had passed him and felt themselves robbed of their victim. Outwitted were they all, but not yet discouraged. Wolves can run withgreat swiftness on the smoothest ice, and although, as we have seen, they cannot turn quickly, and can be dodged by a clever skater, yet fora straight go-ahead pace they are not to be despised by the swiftestrunner. Then their powers of endurance are very great, and so it wasevident to Alec that they were resolved, by grim endurance, to run himdown. 

Firmly convinced that there were none ahead of him, and that it was nowto be a long race, he wisely resolved not to so force himself that hecould not, if need be, keep up a good rate of speed all the way to theabode of Mr Ross. It did not take him long to again reach the rivermouth, and as he flew past the spot where, a few minutes before, hisenemies had waited for him he could not but see the sagacity with whichthey had selected the place. He was grateful for his deliverance thusfar, but he knew that there was no time for investigation, for the yelpsand howlings distinctly heard told him that his foes were hot on histrail and not far behind. 

Out on the lake he dashed, and still on they came. Alec is hot andexcited now. The strain on him is beginning to tell, and he feels it. He knows that he could put on a desperate spurt and get far ahead, butwould they not, with that long, steady louping of theirs, graduallycreep up again, and, finding him almost exhausted, make a desperatespurt, and thus run him down? But he is resolved to succeed, and so henerves himself and carefully speeds along, while perhaps not fivehundred yards behind are those merciless pursuers that will not beshaken off. In this way about ten miles are passed since the mouth ofthe river was left. Still on and on they come. The moon is now sinkinglow, and the shadows are weird and ghostly. Auroras, phantom-like, flitin the northern sky, while some of them seem like frightened spiritsflying before avenging enemies. The sight is depressing to Alec, and sohe turns his eyes from beholding them while still on he speeds. 

Hark! What is that? It is like the bark of a dog that is instantlyhushed. To Alec it seemed a dream or an illusion; and yet he could nothelp putting on a spurt of speed and veering a little out of his courseto see the rocky islands, surrounded by the smooth ice, from which thedog's bark seemed to come. As he swiftly dashed along how suddenly allthings changed to him, and quick and swift was his deliverance. Therewas Mr Ross with his three Indians and a number of dogs. 

Alec was saved. He had fairly run into his deliverers. But no time wasto be lost. Fortunately, a high rocky island for a moment hid thewolves, that were now following wholly by the scent. 

With their double-barrelled guns, loaded with balls, the three Indiansrapidly scaled the rocky isle, on the opposite side of which they wouldbe hid and yet within easy range of the wolves as they came along onAlec's trail. Mr Ross and Alec had all they could do to quiet the dogsand keep them still, as some of them were eager to follow the Indians. Only a few minutes elapsed, as Alec's spurt had only put him a half amile or so ahead of the wolves, when the guns rang out once, and thenagain as the second barrels were fired. Let loose the dogs now, and leteveryone shout for the rescue and the victory! Five wolves were killedoutright, and one was so badly wounded that the dogs soon ran him downand dispatched him. The other wolves turned and fled. Mr Ross wouldnot, at that hour, allow any pursuit of them. 

The morning star was shining ere home was reached, and Alec was the heroof the hour. 

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER FIVE. 

THE INVITATION TO THE INDIAN SCHOOL EXAMINATION AND SPORTS--TRAPPINGEXPERIENCES--THE CUNNING CROSS-FOX--FRANK SEEKING AID FROM MEMOTAS--METHOD OF SUCCESSFUL TRAP-SETTING--JOYOUS TRIP TO THE MISSION--ANABIDING CHRISTIAN CIVILISATION FOR THE INDIANS--SAM'S AND A YOUNGINDIAN'S NOVEL HUNTING METHODS--WILD CATS CAPTURED--THE QUEER BATTLEBETWEEN A FOX AND A WILD CAT. 

When the boys returned home from a splendid outing on their skates theywere greeted by Mr Hurlburt, the missionary from the Indian Mission, who cordially invited them all to the half-yearly examinations at theschool, which were to be held the Friday before Christmas in theforenoon, and then would follow the usual games among the Indian boys inthe afternoon. 

The boys soon found that Mr Ross and the missionary had been longdiscussing the matter, but had as yet come to no decision as to thedifferent games, in which the white boys might, if they so desired, compete with the Indian lads. 

Alec, of course, wanted to enter for the dog race and the skating. Frank wanted to try his skill with the snowshoes, but Sam gravely shookhis head and said he feared he would be lonesome ere the race ended. 

"Well, what will you enter for?" said Frank, as he turned to Sam afterthis sally, which had set everybody laughing. 

"Indeed I don't know, unless it should be tobogganing, " he replied. 

This also caused a good deal of amusement, as Sam's efforts in this linethus far had not been much of a success. He had caused a good deal offun, and some excitement, by the extraordinary way in which his tobogganhad several times shot out of the regular route and gone off on someerratic lines, perfectly oblivious to the interests of life and limb. He had one strong characteristic: he would hang on no matter which wayor to what place his toboggan, under his erratic steering, flew withhim. Once, in the middle of a hill, it shot off at a tangent and ranover an Indian woman. So unexpected was the attack, so deep was thedrift into which she was hurled, and so rapidly did the flying tobogganget out of sight, that the poor, superstitious old woman ever afterdeclared that it could have been no other than the Muche Manetoo, theEvil One, that struck her. 

As a couple of weeks would elapse ere the day for the examinations andsports would arrive, the matter was left in abeyance, as to the sportsin which the boys should enter. A cordial acceptance of the invitationwas of course intimated. 

In talking the matter over afterward it was decided that only in onerace or sport should each of the white boys enter. The number waslimited as the Indian boys were numerous, and it might perhaps causejealousies. So it was finally decided that Alec should try with hisdogs in the four-dog race, Frank should be a competitor in the skatingmatch, and Sam, with Spitfire, should contend in the one-dog race, orelse enter in the skating backward contest. 

From knowing the skill of the Indian boys in everything else, Mr Rossfelt that in these selected were their only chances of success. Ofcourse, it was felt that Alec should have been in the skating contest, but as it was essential that each owner should drive his own dogs, andAlec had such confidence in his now splendid team and was so proud ofthem, he decided in favour of his dogs. 

Mr Ross's advice to them all was to keep themselves in good trim forany sudden emergency that might turn up, especially if it should happenthat the young gentlemen in the Hudson Bay Company's service shoulddecide to compete, or should themselves challenge them. 

Full of most exhilarating sport as had been the bright sunny days sincewinter had set in nearly two months before this, the incentive of thecoming races gave a new zest to their sports and pastimes, and so therewas snow-shoeing by day as well as rapid dog-travelling under auroralights by night. 

Among other things, it was arranged with Memotas that, as his huntinggrounds began not many miles away from the place where Sagasta-weekeewas built, the boys should have the privilege of hunting in all thatsection of the country under his guidance when necessary, and as muchalone as they desired. Mr Ross secured for them about a dozen steeltraps apiece, and either he or Memotas instructed the lads in themethods of setting them for the different fur-bearing animals, such asmink, marten, otter, wild cat, and especially for the differentvarieties of foxes that were so abundant in those regions. In additionto this they were taught how to make the spring snares of fine twine forrabbits and partridges. Thus they learned much of the habits andinstincts of various animals, and were delighted and profited by theselessons learned out in the school of nature, amidst such favourablesurroundings. 

When the boys saw the great number of tracks of the various wild animalsthat so speedily packed down the snow in runs in various directionsthrough the forests, they were sanguine that great success would attendtheir hunting efforts. But as they drove in day after day with nothingmore valuable than some rabbits or a few ptarmigan, or some other kindof partridges, they were half-discouraged, and told Mr Ross they weresurprised at their poor success. 

Frank was especially mortified at his ill success. He had for days sethis trap for a beautiful cross-fox that he had once or twice seen. Nearly every day he found his traps sprung and the bait gone. That itwas the same fox Frank discovered by the fact that he had lost part ofone of his hind feet. This Mr Ross said doubtless happened long ago inthe trap of some hunter. The fox had not been quick enough to springaway, and had thus been caught by part of his foot. If it were in thewinter time when he was thus caught he doubtless ate the part of thefoot that was held in the teeth of the trap without feeling anysensation of pain, as the cold would quickly freeze it solid. If hewere caught in the summer time he would use the most desperate effortsto pull himself loose ere he would use his teeth, and then, of course, he would suffer much in the operation. Hence in the winter time a fox, as a general thing, if only caught by one foot, cuts himself off in afew hours, but in summer time he has been known to remain in a couple ofdays. Indians often talk of clever three-legged foxes in the woods. 

One pleasant day Frank persuaded Memotas to go out with him and help himset his traps for that old fox that had so long tantalised him by histricks and was getting fat on his bait. This the old man did withpleasure, for he had become very much attached to Frank. When theyreached the place, to which they had come on Frank's dog-sled, theIndian very carefully examined the region around for quite a distance. He told Frank where the fox's den was, and said that now that he hadbecome so well acquainted with Frank perhaps a stranger might get holdof him. He asked Frank to show him how he had generally set his trapsthat had been so unceremoniously sprung and robbed of the bait. ThisFrank proceeded to do, and, as he thought, very quickly and cleverlysprung back and baited them. Memotas watched him go through all theprocess, and then rather coolly took him down by saying:

"Good trap, well set, plenty of bait; might perhaps catch a puppy or oldcrow, but never fox. "

This seemed rather rough on Frank, and he was glad that Sam was notthere to improve the occasion with some further caustic remarks. 

When the Indian saw that Frank seemed so crestfallen at his comments heat once hastened to assure him that they all had to learn much aboutthese animals, and now he said:

"You and I will go to work and see if we cannot get that fox in a trapagain, even if his half foot tells us he has been there before. "

The first thing they did was to decide where to set the traps. 

"Not much hurry, though, about that, " said Memotas. "We must first havea fire to burn all of Frank off the traps. "

This was a bit of a puzzle to Frank at first, but when Memotas toldFrank that every time he handled a trap or a bit of bait he left enoughof himself on it for the fox to know all that he wanted to about him, itwas more unintelligible than ever. 

At a spot about a couple of hundred yards away from where the traps wereto be set a fire was built. When it was brightly burning Memotas cut along pole, and then, springing or setting the trap, had Frank fasten agood-sized piece of meat as bait securely on with a fine wire. 

"Now, " said Memotas, as he carefully lifted up the set trap on the endof his pole, "we will burn old Injun and Frank off that trap and bait. "

Then he held the trap in the fire until the meat fairly sizzled and thesteel trap was quite hot. 

"Guess all Injun and Frank now have gone up in smoke, so, Mr Fox, you'll not find us when you come skulking round this trap, anyway. "

The old man chuckled, and Frank now understood what he had meant. 

Memotas walked very carefully to within some yards of the spot where hehad decided to place the trap. 

Again addressing Frank, he said:

"We must not even walk there, for if we did we should leave some more ofourselves through our moccasins, and Mr Fox would then be too sharp forus. "

Giving Frank the pole with the trap on it to hold for a few minutes, theold man quickly moved back to a spot where some tall, slender livebalsams were growing. Cutting one down, he trimmed off all the branchesexcept a mere broom-like tuft at the top, taking care all the time notto touch any of those remaining with his hands. Returning with thislong, broom-like affair, he vigorously used it on a spot some yardsaway. Then he took the long pole from the hands of Frank, and there inthat place thus brushed out, he carefully and skillfully laid the trap. Then with the long brush he deftly swept back a thin layer of snow overthe trap and bait. 

"Now, Frank, " he said, "set the rest of your traps as you have beendoing these past days, but do not go near that one we have justarranged. "

This operation was soon performed by Frank in the different placessuggested by Memotas. In carefully investigating these spots the foxwould be apt to get caught in the one that had in it, as the old fellowput it, "no Frank or no Injun. "

By a roundabout route they started for home. At nearly every placewhere Frank had set his snares for rabbits or partridges he wassuccessful in finding game. At a couple of places the snares themselveswere gone and the snow was badly trampled down. Here Memotas'sknowledge came into play, and he showed Frank where a wild cat hadseized a rabbit just as it had sprung into the snare, and then both hadstruggled and the spring pole had been dragged twenty feet or so beforethe strong twine had been broken. In another place the feathers strewnaround showed where a fox had been too quick for Frank and had taken thepartridge which had been caught. 

Thus they pushed on, and at length reached home. A good dinner awaitedthem, and then Frank harnessed up his dogs again, and, hitching them toa beautifully painted cariole, took Wenonah and Roddy out for a splendidride. The day was cold but brilliant. The little folks were wellwrapped up in their beautiful furs, and so the drive over to the missionand back was much enjoyed. 

At the mission house they went in for a short call on the family, wherethey were always welcome. As they could not remain for dinner a five-o'clock tea was quickly prepared and much enjoyed. When about to begina great jingling of bells was heard outside, and to the delight of allin came Mr and Mrs Ross, who had been driven over by Alec and Sam. Itseems the boys had both returned from their hunting routes shortly afterFrank had left with the two children. After a hasty lunch they hadcoaxed Mr and Mrs Ross to let them drive them over, and so a couple ofcarioles were soon attached to their different trains. Plenty of robeswere put in, and now here they all were, and, as always, were mostcordially welcomed. 

They spent a couple of hours with the members of this delightful family, who here as missionaries were doing such a blessed work, even if it wereone of self-denial and at times sufferings. But Mr and Mrs Hurlburt, their two young daughters, and Miss Adams, the lady teacher, were soproud of the Indians, and of their genuine kindly ways, that they werehappy and contented with their lot. 

During the brief two hours spent at the home this afternoon, as well ason many other occasions, the boys had opportunities to see evidences oftheir kindnesses and tangible love to the sick and hungry ones wholooked so much to them. Not only did they find in Mr and Mrs Rossreal friends to help them, but by their very substantial contributionsthey made the missionary and his family the almoners of many gifts muchneeded by the poor Indians. 

Genuine Christians themselves, the owners of Sagasta-weekee did much tohelp in the spiritual uplifting of the people from the degradation andsuperstitions of a cruel paganism into the blessedness and enjoyments ofa genuine Christianity and an abiding civilisation. 

The time quickly sped by. They had some earnest chat, a few delightfulhymns and songs of the homeland, and then a brief but earnest prayer forHeaven's blessing on loved ones far away, upon themselves in that landand their different work, and also upon the Indians. 

Then the dogs were roused, the carioles arranged, and the passengerswere soon all aboard. The boys took their places firmly standing on thetailboards of the sleds that projected in the rear. Grasping the tail-ropes, with which they held themselves on and guided their carioles, simultaneously they cried, "Marche!" and with a spring they were all offtogether. 

They had three splendid trains and were not badly matched for a shortspurt. So amidst shoutings and laughter in the beautiful gloaming ofthat lovely evening they fairly flew over the icy expanse of PlaygreenLake. But blood will tell, and it was soon evident that although Alechad Mr Ross as his passenger, and therefore the heaviest load of thethree, he was surely forging ahead. With those long, houndlike legs, these round-barrelled, small-headed, keen-eyed dogs need not take anysecond place in that crowd, and so it is that, catching the enthusiasmof the hour, and springing in unison with each other, they respond toAlec's cheery call, and seem to pick themselves up and so fly over therest of the route to Sagasta-weekee that, in placing them, all thatcould be said was, "Alec first, the rest nowhere. "

"Well done, Alec, " said Mr Ross, as he sprang out of the cariole. "Ifyou equal the speed of the last two or three miles in the race with thetrains of the village and the fort, I think the blue ribbon of firstplace will be yours. But where is your cap?"

Happy Alec! He had been so excited with the splendid speed of his dogs, and the perfect unison of their movements, that he did not seem to beconscious of the fact that the capote of his overcoat was hanging downhis back and that his cap had left him a mile or two back on the ice. However, his abundant curly locks had been sufficient for him during theexcitement of that blood-stirring race. He speedily pulled up thecapote over his head, and Sam, who had seen his cap fall and had hastilysnatched it up as his cariole flew by, now came up and restored it tohim. 

Frank, with the children, was the last in. His heavy dogs, while thestrongest, were not so adapted for rapid travelling as the others. 

"Well, we had the longest ride, " said Roddy; "you folks went so fast youdid not have such a nice long time as we did. "

This happy way of looking at it pleased everybody, and all voted Roddyto be a philosopher. 

The Indian servants had the dog-fish all ready, and so it was not longere the twelve dogs were enjoying their well-earned supper. 

When they had all entered the house the boys, as usual, were anxious toknow of each other's success during the day. Not only had Frank, as wehave described, gone out to his traps, but Sam and Alec had also drivensome miles to the places where they, apart from each other, were alsotrying their skill in trapping various kinds of fur-bearing animals. 

Sam had gone out for several days past in company with a son of Memotas. He was a bright young fellow, and he and Sam had suddenly become veryconfidential. It was evident that they had some great scheme on betweenthem. What it was nobody seemed quite able to make out, and so theircuriosity was much excited, especially when Sam had been seen in closeconverse with the cook, and had then, after a hasty visit to the cellar, hurried away with young Memotas. To make matters worse, Sam had droppeda couple of large onions ere he reached his sled. Then one of the maidssaid she heard him asking the mistress if she had any oil of bergamot, and if there was any castoreum left in the house. They did not get muchinformation from him that night, and, strange to say, he was the firstone after dinner that proposed bed. Before daylight a trusty servantcalled him, as Sam had desired, and even then, early as it was when hecame down, young Memotas was there awaiting him. 

Mrs Ross insisted that both Sam and young Memotas should have a good, warm breakfast ere they started out. It is very dangerous indeed tostart off in the morning without a good, warm, generous meal. While thetwo boys were eating their breakfast a trusty Indian called out Sam'sdogs, and now there they stood, longing to be off. They did not returnuntil the afternoon, and then they proudly brought in two prime wildcats which they had captured. Sam that evening told how that he andyoung Memotas had found the tracks of them some days before, and thatthey had been busy ever since making a dead fall, and the last day or sothey had been decoying them to the place by the scent of onions. Thiswould bring them into the vicinity of the trap; but he said that heremembered reading somewhere that some animals were attracted bybergamot, and so he begged a little from Mrs Ross, and sure enoughthere the two wild cats were securely caught. The weight of the logshad been increased by heavy stones, and so, he added, "The animals werequite dead when we reached them. As there were other tracks around wehave been busy ever since making traps of the same kind. "

Alec had not accomplished much beyond finding the frozen part of thehind foot of a marten in one of his steel traps. He noticed which waythe animal had gone, and so, taking a couple of dogs out of his sled, heput them on the trail, and to his surprise and delight they quickly ranit down. He rescued it from them as speedily as possible. It was quitedead, but its beautiful fur was uninjured. 

Frank was eager to be off again with old Memotas to see the result ofthe new method, to him, of trap-setting for a cunning old fox. ButMemotas, who was and experienced himself, said:

"Wait one day more yet. That old fox not going to walk into that trapthe first day, nor perhaps the second day. You have been well feedinghim on plenty of bait, and he not a bit hungry. But when he get hungryperhaps he go prowling round to see if his friend hasn't come with anymore bait for him. For foxes get to know traps that seem just set forthem to live from. "

This was all rather hard on Frank, but he had come to see that it wasall true, and so he patiently waited until the old man came in and saidhe thought perhaps they might go and see if that fox was still playingany of his tricks. The train was soon harnessed, and away they flewover the icy lake, and then into the forest trail. On and on they went, until they came near the spot where the traps had all been set. Everyone that Frank had set was sprung and empty, and the one that Memotashad set with such care was missing! Nowhere could Frank see it or anytrace of it. Memotas quickly stepped out a hundred feet or so, and thenbegan walking in a circle around the spot. He had not more than halfcompleted the circle before he quickly called to Frank, who at oncehurried to his side. Pointing to a peculiar spot in the snow that hadbeen much disturbed, Memotas said:

"I think fox caught with both fore legs in the trap. He is now walkingaway on his hind legs and holding up the trap in his mouth. See, therehe walk on two legs! See, there he rest!" And the old man began tohurry on, closely followed by Frank, to whom he explained every movementthe fox had made. 

"Must be a fine big fox to get away so far with the trap on both forefeet, " said Memotas. "But listen!"

A strange snarling-like sound fell on their ears, and with it somethinglike the fierce yelping of a fiery young dog. Memotas had quicklydropped flat on the ground in the snow, and Frank crouched beside him. The old man whispered to Frank to give him his long hunting knife. 

"Some other animal, wild cat perhaps, meet fox, and they fighting. Keepstill, I must go back to the sled for the gun. "

Without making the slightest noise the old man glided back, and was soonlost to sight. 

Fortunately, there was a dense clump of evergreen balsam or spruce treesbetween the contending animals and Frank. Then they were so absorbed intheir own quarrel that they were not very alert in watching for others. However, Frank knew enough to keep perfectly still, although heconfessed he clutched the knife several times more firmly as the blood-curdling snarls of the wild cat pierced the air so near. Soon Memotaswas back again, and then the question was to get a successful shot atthe wild cat, as it was evident the fox was sure enough. At firstMemotas crawled forward closer to the trees, the branches of which, laden down with snow, reached to the ground all around. Carefullypeering through the dense branches, he gazed intently for a time, andthen he silently beckoned Frank to come. Noiselessly he crawled upbeside Memotas, and after his eyes had become accustomed to the work hewas able to see the two animals not more than two hundred feet away. The two fore legs of the fox were securely fastened in the steel trap, which seemed to have closed on him about four inches up from his feet. The wild cat was a fierce old male, and was doing his best to get a goodgrip on the fox. This the fox was resolved not to let him have, and sohe kept his face toward his foe, and whenever the latter would spring athim the fox would suddenly raise himself, and, throwing up the trap sosecurely fastened on his fore legs, would bang it down with a whack onthe head of the wild cat. With a snarl the cat would suddenly back offand arch up his back and snarl worse than ever. It was the queerestbattle that Memotas had ever witnessed, and every time the trap rattledon the head or body of the wild cat the old man fairly quivered withexcitement and delight. To Frank the sight was also the oddest andqueerest he had ever even heard of. At one skillful parry the fox, although so terribly handicapped, was able to give the cat a whack thatsent him fairly sprawling in the snow. At the sight of this Frank hadto crowd his fur mitten into his mouth to prevent him from fairlyshouting out:

"Well done, old fox!"

Why they remained so in this one open place, Frank now saw, was becausethe fox was fearful that if he got in among the fallen logs or the rocksthe wild cat would have the advantage, and thus succeed in springingupon his back, while he, so hampered, could make but little resistance. All at once Frank saw the animals cease both the attack and theirnoises. Memotas, quick and alert, suddenly brought his gun intoposition, and the next instant, as Frank heard the jingling of distantbells, there also rang out the report of the gun, and the wild cattumbled over dead. 

Springing up, Memotas called Frank to follow, and together they quicklyhurried after the fox, that was now again desperately striving to getaway. 

Memotas did not wish to injure the valuable skin by piercing it with aball, and so, picking up a heavy clublike branch of a tree, he quicklykilled the fox without breaking the skin. 

A few minutes after Alec drove up along the trail. He had visited histraps and snares, and had decided to take this trail on his way home. His bells were the ones heard by the two fighters. Well was it thatMemotas's quick ears also heard them, and that he was able to firebefore the wild cat had fled into the forest. 

They were soon all on their way home again. The fox was a great beauty, and although it was a cross, yet it was so nearly black that a large sumwas given for it. 

For many a day after Frank talked and laughed about that oddest of allfights, the one between the trapped fox and the fierce old wild cat. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

THE WINTER BIRDS OF THE GREAT LONE LAND--THE WHISKY JACK--THEPTARMIGAN--THEIR BEDS IN THE SNOW--MISSION VISITS--CUPID'S DARTS--THEWOOD SUPPLY--PRIMITIVE WAY OF CAPTURING PARTRIDGES--GREAT SNOWY OWLS--METHODS OF CAPTURE--SAM'S EXPERIENCE--THE FEARFUL GRIP OF THE OWL'SCLAW. 

"Where are your singing birds?" said Sam one morning as he came in fromhaving taken Wenonah and Roderick out for a drive with the dogs. "Wehave travelled over a dozen miles and have not heard a single birdsong. "

"Only a whisky jack, " said Roderick. 

This reply of Roderick's made everybody laugh; for the shrill, harsh cryof the Indians' sacred bird, called by the very unpoetical name ofwhisky jack, is not very musical, but just the reverse. 

"Our singing birds are all in the sunny South Land during these coldmonths, " said Mr Ross. "We have multitudes of them during our briefsummer time. Then, at the first breath of the Frost King, they flitaway and leave us so still and quiet. "

"What about this saucy bird, here called whisky jack, that we meet withon all of our wintry journeys?" asked Alec. 

"Well, " replied Mrs Ross, "you see, in the first place, that he is notvery handsome. His bluish-grey plumage is not very attractive, but hehas an inner coating of black down, and if you could strip him of bothof these jackets you would find him to be a very small bird after all. The Indians used to call him their sacred bird. They never kill one, nomatter how hungry they may be. They have some beautiful traditionsassociated with him. His voice, so harsh and loud, is, according tosome legends, the cry of a fair maiden who, fleeing from a hatefulsuitor, was lost in a blizzard. In vain she called for her ownsweetheart, until her once musical voice became so harsh and rough thatit lost its beauty. To prevent her from falling into the hands of herhated suitor, just as he was about [to seize] her the magicians changedher, in answer to her prayer, into a bird, and this is the whisky jack. "

"Our next most interesting winter bird, " said Mr Ross, "is theptarmigan, or white partridge. The colder the winter the more numerousthey seem to be. They are easily snared, like the rabbits, as they havecertain favourite runs, and do not seem to observe the twine or wireloops into which they so foolishly run their heads. "

"Where do they sleep at nights?" asked little Roderick. 

"Faith, and I know, " said Sam; "for was I not fairly frightened out ofmy wits by a lot of them one night when travelling late to the camp todrive over a snowdrift into which they were burying themselves? I sawthem fly up high in the air, and then, like a stone, they just shotthemselves down and buried themselves out of sight of myself and thosewho were with me. "

"Yes, " said Alec, "and I well remember how they startled me severaltimes as they were getting up out of these queer beds in the deep snowaway out from the dense woods. It always occurred very early in themorning, shortly after we had left our camps in the woods, where we hadspent the night. I could hardly get used to the start they gave me, assometimes they flew right up from under the feet of my dogs. Theyseemed like wee ghosts, they were so very white, and my dogs as well asmyself were disturbed by their uncanny ways. "

"Do they go back to the same snowdrifts night after night?" asked Frank. 

"No, " said Mr Ross; "they are birds that move around a good deal, andas far as the Indians' observations go the same flock or covey neversleep twice in the same place. If they did the foxes and other animalsthat are very fond of feeding on them would soon discover theirretreats, and would make short work of them. "

Thus the days and weeks passed by. Sometimes all the boys, with MrRoss and a number of Indians, would be away on some great excursionafter the bears or beavers. At other times shorter trips would bearranged, when but one or two of the boys would go. 

Then there were the home sports and frequent visits to the traps andsnares. The dogs were kept busy, and the skates and snowshoes were notforgotten. 

The visits between Sagasta-weekee and the mission were very frequent, and it began to appear as if Cupid had donned a fur ermine coat, or afeather mantle, and had made a flying visit and fired a couple of hisdarts into the hearts of Frank and Alec, and on these darts were thenames of the two lovely daughters of the missionary. Whether this betrue or not, or only a rumour brought by a relay of gulls, we cannotsay, but Mrs Ross affirmed that never since their arrival at Sagasta-weekee were these two young gentlemen so particular about their personalappearance, or so anxious to find some good and valid reason why theyshould be sent over to the home of the missionary. It was alsoremarked, by those who saw their two beautifully painted carioles madeready for the trip, that an extra soft fur robe or two were placedtherein. Their skates were sometimes also carried along with them. Itwas also further remarked that they generally preferred starting earlyin the day, and it was an actual fact that, although the whole roundtrip need not have taken more than three or four hours, they generallydid not return until long after dark. Rumours also reached Sagasta-weekee that on several occasions two beautiful carioles, with lovelywhite young ladies cozily wrapped up in costly furs, and driven byhandsome young gentlemen, had been met with, fairly flying over thegreat icy routes, while the air was full of happy laughter that soundedvery much in unison with the music of the little silver bells that hungon the collars of the splendid dogs. And furthermore, it was well knownthat among the skating parties Frank and Alec were generally foundskating with these same two young ladies. Their explanations were thattheir skates seemed to glide more in unison with each other, and in factthat there was a sort of affinity between them. Then their joy wascomplete when Mrs Ross invited the whole family from the mission tocome early and spend the day with them at Sagasta-weekee. It wasremarked that these two young gentlemen generally had word that thedevoted missionary had been using his dogs very much lately on his longtrips among the distant bands of Indians, and it would be a capital ideafor some of them to drive over with their fresh trains and bring backsome of the family. This happy suggestion was of course carried out, but it was observed that the carioles of the aforesaid young gentlemen, when they returned, only had in each of them a sweet-faced, beautifulyoung lady, and they said that the trip had been "perfectly lovely!"

What happy days those were! To Frank and Alec had come their firstyoung love-dreams, and they were pure and sweet and stimulating. Cynicsand crusty, disappointed old bachelors might make fun of these youthfullovers and make some sarcastic remarks; still, after all, where is thenoble, healthy, splendid young man of fifteen or sixteen that has notsafely passed through these same ordeals, and, as a general thing, survived? So let Frank and Alec have these daydreams and thus enjoythemselves. They will be none the worse, but rather the better, whenthe ordeal is over, as it is with those who safely get through with alingering attack of the measles or scarlet fever. 

One day Mr Ross sent old Mustagan out into the woods to select a placewhere the next year's supply of wood could be obtained. Hisinstructions were to find a dense forest of tall, symmetrical trees fromwhich a trail or road could be easily made to Sagasta-weekee. Thenchoppers would be sent in, and some acres of this forest would be cutdown and there left to dry for twelve months. The result would be thatat the end of the year's time the trees would be in splendid conditionfor firewood. The next operation was to have these trees all cut up inlengths that could be easily handed, and then dragged home by the dogson their long sleds when there was abundance of snow on the ground. 

Sam asked for the privilege of accompanying Mustagan. As the walk wasonly a few miles, the old Indian was pleased to have the bright youngpaleface go with him. As they were to go through the forest, wherethere was not as yet the first vestige of a trail, they at once strappedon their snowshoes. Mustagan's only weapon was his axe, while Samcarried a small rifle. Very much sooner than they had anticipated theyfound a suitable grove, the limits of which Mustagan at once proceededto mark off with his axe. These few marks thus made on some of thetrees were all that was necessary to secure the property. 

They had seen but little game, and so all that Sam had fired at had beena passing rabbit or ptarmigan. While on the home trip a beautiful coveyof partridges came flying by them and lit in a large balsam tree but afew hundred feet in front of them. 

"I wish I had brought a shotgun instead of this rifle, " said Sam. "Ithink we might have had more than one of those partridges. "

"Suppose we try and get them all without any gun, " said Mustagan, in atone that seemed to indicate perfect confidence in the experiment. 

"If we get two of them before they fly I will be delighted, " said Sam, as he raised his gun and tried to get a shot at two in a line. However, before he could fire Mustagan quickly stopped him and said:

"No, no, not that way. I will show you how. Step back and keep still, and see how our fathers used to get them before the white man's gun cameinto the country. "

Sam naturally thought of the bow and arrows, but as Mustagan had[brought] none along he wondered if the old man was going to quickly tryand make some. In the meantime Mustagan had quietly slipped back into agrove of tall, slender young trees that grew up like great fish poles. Here he quickly cut down one that could be easily handed by a strongman. This he rapidly trimmed of all its branches, and then quietlyreturned with it to the spot where Sam was watching the birds. Stoopingdown to one of his moccasined feet, Mustagan untied the deerskin stringwith which the moccasin had been securely fastened around his ankle tokeep out the snow. Cutting off a piece about two feet long, he againfastened up his shoe, and then, with the string thus secured, began tomake a snare out of it. He first tied one end of the string securely tothe smaller end of the long pole; then in the other end of the string hemade a running slip noose, which he arranged so that it would be aboutfour inches in diameter. Then began the strangest part of hisproceedings, and one only possible in a land of such intense cold. Taking his hand out of his mitten, Mustagan wet his fingers with hissaliva and then immediately rubbed it on the deerskin string. As fastas it was thus wet it froze as stiff as wire, and stood straight outfrom the stick. Rapidly did the Indian thus wet the whole string, theloop of the slip noose included, until the whole stood out as thoughmade of steel wire. Then, cautioning Sam not to move, Mustagan, carrying his long pole with this uniquely formed noose on its end, movedcautiously and quickly under the tree in which the partridges were stillsitting. Carefully he began raising up the pole until it was higherthan the head of the partridge nearest the ground. Then he deftlybrought it so that the noose was directly over the head of the bird. With a quick jerk he pulled the pole down with the head of the bird inthe noose of the string, which, of course, tightened with the suddenjerk. Mustagan quickly killed the bird by crushing in the skull. Then, loosing it from the string, he rapidly went through the whole processagain of moistening the string with his saliva and arranging the nooseas before. In this way he succeeded in securing the whole covey ofthose partridges. From his favourable position Sam watched the wholeoperation, and was much delighted with the success of the old Indian, who had in this way, without the loss of one charge of powder, or evenan arrow, secured ten or a dozen fine, plump partridges. On their wayhome, in answer to Sam's many questions as to his reasons for adoptingthis method of capturing the partridges, the Indian stated that thesecret of his success in getting them all was the fact that he began bycatching in his noose the bird lowest down. "When you do that, " headded, "the birds above think that as those below them go down they arejust flying to the ground to see what they can find to eat. Never takea bird that is higher up in the tree than any other. If you do you getno more. The rest will at once fly away. "

Another bird that remains all winter in those cold North Lands is thegreat snow-white owl. His wonderful covering of feathers, even down tothe toes, enables him to defy the severest frost. He generally sleepsby day in some dense balsam tree, and then is ready, when the sun goesdown, for his nightly raids upon the rabbits and partridges. He is alsofond of mice, and as there are some varieties of these active littlecreatures that run around a good deal even in the winter, and at night, the owls are ever on the lookout for them, as well as are the foxes. Sometimes these great white owls in their night huntings fly far awayfrom their usual resting places. Then they are in great trouble, especially if there are no trees with dense branches among which theycan hide. If the bright sun happens to peep up over the horizon erethey are safely stowed away in some shadowy place, they are at the mercyof any foe. Sometimes they alight on the icy or snowy surface of thelake. They are then easily captured. 

When a clever Indian dog-driver sees one thus standing out on the ice hequickly stops his dog-train, and, running toward the bewildered owl, gets on the side on which the sun is shining. Then he makes sufficientnoise to keep the owl excited and looking toward him. In doing this theowl has to let the bright, brilliant rays of the sun shine right intohis great, staring eyes. The man, with nothing but his long whip in hishand, keeps approaching, taking care, however, that his shadow does notfall on the bird. If he did, that instant the owl would be off. So theman keeps enough to one side to have the owl always in the brilliantlight. The result is he does not see the approaching man. When nearenough the man uses his whip in such a way that the long lash windsitself suddenly around the neck of the owl, and he is thus captured. 

When better food is scarce these large owls are eaten by the Indians. Some are so fond of them that they are ever on the lookout to capturethem. They have several methods by which they catch them. One is tofasten an upright pole securely in the ice. On the top of this isnailed a little board, and on this is set a steel trap or snare. Theowls get tired with their constant flying about, and, seeing this handyresting place, are then quickly caught as they alight upon it. Anothermethod was explained to Sam by an old Indian hunter, and with some helpin securing the material they had a great deal of fun in trying it. Thefirst thing they did was to make a great black rag mouse about as big asa beaver. To this was added a tail about five feet long. Then to thenose of this great bogus mouse was attached one end of a large ball oftwine. This was the whole outfit, except, of course, the guns. Oneevening an Indian arrived with the news that at a certain place thegreat white owls had been seen in numbers, and perhaps it would be agood place to go and see what could be done in capturing some. As itwas a very pleasant evening and the place mentioned was not very faraway, Sam had little Roderick packed with him in his cariole, and withthe mouse, ball of twine, and gun, and attended by one of the Indianservants, they drove over to the spot. The big mouse was placed on thesnow as far out from the shore as the string would allow. The dogs withthe cariole were driven into the shadow of a large spruce tree that grewon the very edge of the lake. Here the Indian, with Sam and Roderick, although completely hidden in the shade, could see distinctly everythingoutside, for the moon was now up and shining with wondrous beauty. Fora time they remained there under the tree in complete silence. Then theclear vision of the Indian enabled him to be the first to detect thepresence of an owl. 

"Hist!" he quietly uttered, and then as he pointed out the object theywere able to see a great owl sailing round and round up in the air, perhaps fifty feet directly over the big black bogus mouse. Suddenly hemade a swift dive down for it. But at that instant the Indian, who hadhold of the end of the cord, gave it a sudden jerk and pulled the mousein a dozen feet or so nearer to them. This apparent big jump of themouse seemed to disconcert the owl, and so he quickly flew away. But itwas only for a moment, and then back he came. Round and round incircles he flew, getting nearer and nearer all the time, when once morehe dashed down on the big mouse. But another sudden jerk had pulled themouse out of his reach, and so the owl failed once more. 

"Get your gun ready, " said the Indian to Sam; "he will be mad now, andso we will soon have him near. "

It was just as the Indian had predicted. The owl seemed angry at havingbeen fooled the second time, and so when he rose up again and saw thatgreat big mouse, which would, to judge by its size, make him such afamous supper, he dashed at it again most savagely. But once more itjumped away from him, as now the Indian kept pulling it in like a mouserunning away. Seeing this the owl lost all caution, and was soon withinrange of Sam's gun, which speedily rang out its sharp report, and thegreat ghostly bird fell suddenly on the ice not more than forty or fiftyfeet away. 

"Look out for his claws, " said the Indian to Sam, who had at once rushedout to secure his game. But the warning came too late. Sam, seeingonly the beautiful mass of white feathers and the great staring eyes, had reached out his naked hand, from which had dropped his mitten, toseize hold of the owl. But the savage bird lying there on its back wasonly wounded, and so when Sam's hand was reached out to seize it thevery opposite happened, for the owl, with one of its terrible talons, closed on Sam's hand with such a grip that the poor boy fairly howledfrom the pain. The sharp claws had pierced him to the very bone, with agrip he could not break. The Indian, however, quickly came to hisrescue, and pulling out his keen hunting knife he skillfully encircledthe owl's leg with its sharp edge. This severed every sinew and tendon, and caused the claws to be so powerless that they could be easily pulledout of Sam's mangled hand. 

The owl was speedily killed, the wounded hand carefully wrapped up, andthe return to Sagasta-weekee was made as quickly as possible. For weeksSam suffered from his wounds ere they healed, and always after, althoughhe shot a number of owls in this and other ways, he took good care neverto let a naked hand come in contact with an owl's claws. 

Poor little Roderick, who had gone out that evening in great expectancyof a good time, had had his sympathies so aroused by Sam's howlings thathe began crying in sympathy, and kept it up until home was reached. 

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

WOUNDS FROM CLAWS VERSUS TEETH DISCUSSED--MR. ROSS'S STORY OF THE BATTLEWITH THE EAGLES--THEIR MOUNTAIN AERIE--THEIR HUNTING SKILL--THEIRVORACITY--THE EAGLETS--THE CONFLICT--THE RESULT--THE PAINFUL WOUNDS. 

The next day, as Sam was having his hand dressed, quite a discussionarose in reference to which wounds were the more painful, those receivedfrom the teeth of wild animals or those from the claws. Sam's presentopinion, very decidedly expressed, was that those from the claws werethe worse. This was the general testimony also of the Indians whenquestioned on the subject, one of their reasons being that the teethwere smoother and did not make such a torn, jagged wound as did theclaws. Another was that the claws were very much dirtier than theteeth, and hence the wounds of the claws were much slower in healingthan were those from the teeth. 

"But what about hydrophobia from the bites of the dogs and wildanimals?" said Frank. 

To this Mr Ross's reply was that that dreadful disease was aboutunknown among them, although there were said to have been some casesoccurring from the bites of the fox. 

"Did not a Governor-General of Canada die from the wounds received fromthe bites of a fox?" said Alec. 

"Yes, " replied Mr Ross. "It was a tame fox, but it was supposed thatit had gone mad. "

"Perhaps it had been bitten by a mad dog, and then became mad itself, "said Sam. 

"That is in all probability the correct solution of the difficultproblem, which for a long time troubled many medical men and others, "said Mr Ross. 

"Are there any other birds in this country with claws or talons equal tothose of this great owl?" asked Sam. 

"O yes, " replied Mr Ross, "those of the great eagle, which is the firstof all the migratory birds to reach us, are more terrible. It isgenerally seen during the March moon, and so the Cree Indians call thatmoon, or month, Mikisewpesim, the eagle moon. The Indians prize thefeathers of the golden eagle very highly. The magnificent war bonnetsof the great chiefs are made of them, and every warrior of any note isvery ambitious to have his eagle plumes. They are hunted only for theirfeathers, beaks, and claws. Their flesh is worthless. They are verywary birds, and it is indeed a skillful hunter who can get within rangeof one of them by ordinary stalking. They build their nests, or aeries, as they are called, away up on the most inaccessible cliffs, where it isdangerous for even the most experienced mountain climbers to follow. When not engaged in nesting they spend a great deal of time in circlingaround in the bright blue sky, at heights so great that the eye canscarce discern them, and where the arrow or bullet of the best-armedIndian fails to reach them. Indian cunning, however, sometimes enablesthem to capture the eagles in traps, and then their beautiful pinions, that had enabled them to soar away into the blue heavens above, become, next to the scalps of their enemies and the necklaces of the grizzlybears' claws, the proudest ornaments with which they can decoratethemselves. "

"Did you ever have one attack you?" said Sam. 

"Or did you ever try to get hold of a wounded one's talons with yournaked hand?" said Alec. 

This latter question caused some laughter at Sam's expense, as at him itwas evidently aimed, in view of his recent mishap with the owl. MrRoss's answer was grateful to Sam, as it stopped the laughter and showedthat others might make the same mistake or meet with similar adventures. 

"Yes, indeed, " said Mr Ross, "for I can answer both questions that way. It was long ago when my father had charge of a Hudson Bay trading postaway west of this, where the Rocky Mountain ranges were not very fardistant from us. I was fond of sport, and went with the Indians on allsorts of hunting adventures. Sometimes we would be gone for daystogether, and have all kinds of strange experiences. We hunted everykind of wild animal that roamed in the prairies, in the foothills, or inthe mountains themselves. Very glorious was the scenery among thesemagnificent mountains. Once when out with some Assiniboines, orMountain Stonies, as they are generally called by the whites, we saw alarge eagle attack a mountain sheep with such fury that the sheep lostits footing and went whirling down the mountain side to certaindestruction. The eagle, instead of swooping down on the quiveringcarcass, as we had expected it to do, dashed at what we now observed forthe first time--a little timid lamb that its mother had vainly tried todefend. The fierce eagle, with an exultant scream, fastened its strongtalons into the back of the frightened little creature, and then, flapping its great wings, began slowly rising from the rock. We watchedit as it slowly flew away until it landed on a ledge of rocks away up ona mountain side near the top. As soon as it landed we observed thatthere was its aerie, for from a clump of sticks some little heads wereoutstretched for food. The eyes of my Indian attendants gleamed withsatisfaction, and they said:--

"`We will soon have your feathers, old Mr Eagle, and that will stopyour destroying our mountain game. '

"While the side of the mountain on which the eagles had built their nestwas quite precipitous, the back part was easily scaled, so that hunterswith level heads could climb, by being careful, up so high that theycould really look down into the eagle's nest. The nearest point fromthe nest that we could reach was perhaps fifty feet away. We did not, however, at once go that near. We did, however, crawl near enough tosee the fierce, savage way in which the old bird tore that youngmountain lamb to pieces and fed the voracious young eaglets, thatstruggled and fought with each other in their mad greed. While theywere thus being fed by the old male bird we saw the mother arrive with arabbit in her talons. When she saw the feast that had been provided forthe young brood she laid the rabbit on one side, and patiently waiteduntil her mate had satisfied the voracious appetites of the brood. Thenshe and the other eagle tore to pieces the rabbit, and devoured it, withwhat was left of the mountain lamb. 

"`Big dinner all around, everybody full, ' said my Assiniboines; `bigsleep next, then old ones go away for a big fly, and then we set ourtraps for them; but while they sleep we eat and sleep too. '

"We drew back very cautiously into a ravine about a quarter of a miledown the mountain side, to a place where we had noticed some dry wood, for we were not quite above the timber limit. Here we made a fire andhad something to eat. It was difficult to make the tea, as the water, although boiling, had so little heat in it at that height on themountain. We unstrapped our blankets and lay down near the fire andwent to sleep, for we were very weary, having been up some nights beforeon the lookout for a mountain lion that had been lurking about. I wokeup after a couple of hours' sleep and found that both of the eagles hadbeen seen by the watchful Indians to fly away from the nest. As thelength of their absence was very uncertain, the Indians quickly set towork to make the snares, in which they expected to entrap them. Steeltraps were unknown in those days, and so the Indians had to make theirsout of their strong buffalo sinews and deerskin twine. 

"When we went back to the place where we could overlook the nest it wasevident that there would be some difficulty in getting down onto theledge where the young eaglets lay quietly sleeping. After varioustrials it was decided that the only way was for one of our party to belowered over and let down by the rest. As I was much the lightest one, and as the supply of material that we had with us out of which toimprovise a rope was very limited, I was the one selected to go down andput the snares in position. It was decided that we would not disturbthe eaglets to-day, but would leave them alone for the present, for fearthe old eagles would become alarmed and suspicious, and we would fail incapturing them. The rope, such as it was, held me all right, and landednear the nest. The young birds were so gorged with the flesh of themountain lamb that they were very stupid, and hardly stirred. I set towork as speedily as possible to arrange the snares, so that the eagleswould step into them. As they were all constructed on the running nooseprinciple we knew that they would quickly tighten around the feet ifonce they were stepped into. My principal difficulty was in findingplaces where I could tie the other ends of the snares. Eagles are verypowerful, and can drag by the foot great weights. So I knew that allour work would be lost if I did not succeed in tying them so that theirmost desperate struggles to get loose would be in vain. However, Isucceeded at length, and then I was hoisted up and we all returned backa mile or so and there camped for the night. 

"The next morning, before we reached the spot, we heard enough toconvince us of the success of our scheme. Eagles can make a big noiseif they try, and two captured eagles, and some frightened young ones, were noisy enough as we drew near and investigated. Both eagles werefirmly caught in these snares of rolled and twisted sinews, which, although not much thicker than common wire, were sufficiently strong tohold them. The Indians wished to shoot them at once, but I had long hadan ambition to own a live, full-grown eagle, and therefore I would notlet them fire. The rope of yesterday was soon brought into use again, and was lowered down once more to the rocky ledge, armed only with astout club about four feet long. The noise was simply deafening thatwas made by these angry birds. The instant I landed they flew at memost viciously. Well was it that the strong sinews held them firmly. As it was I had a rough time of it. I would watch my opportunity andtry to strike one of them a heavy blow on the head with my club. To mysurprise I received in return a heavy whack from a powerful wing. Theirwings were free, and the length of the string enabled them to attack mefrom all quarters. Seeing my difficulties, I called to my Indians toshoot the female bird, and thus leave me but one to tackle. This theydid by shooting her through the head. This left me but the old malebird. I think I could have easily knocked him over the head, but myambition was to capture him and to take him home as a trophy. Iunfastened the noose of the dead eagle, and, tying it to the rope, hadthe Indians hoist it up to the top. Then I made the attempt to tietogether the legs of the young eaglets to have them also drawn up to thesummit. What fighters they were! The way they struck at me with theirlittle beaks, and in every way possible resented my interference withtheir liberty, was wonderful. My hands were sore and bleeding ere Isucceeded in sending up the last of the four to my comrades. I had themthrow down the snares, and with them I made a kind of a lasso which Itried to throw over the head of the vicious bird. As I threw it hecoolly reached up and cleverly caught it in his beak, and snapped it intwo as quickly as could a pair of scissors. I tried it again, and oncemore he was too much for me. Why he had not cut himself loose when inthe snare was a mystery to me when I here saw how clever he was incutting my lasso. It was looking rather discouraging, and began to fearthat he would have to be shot. 

"My comrades had been amused spectators of my adventures, and now, seeing me uncertain as to what would be my best move, gave me someadvice. It was this: `Untie the other end of the long noose that holdshim to the rock where you fastened it, and tie it to the rope, and wewill pull him up and see what we can do with him here. ' This planstruck me as a capital one, and so I immediately proceeded to carry itout. But I had decided on this plan without taking the eagle into myconfidence, and so when I began handing the string he flew at me, andwith beak and wings assailed me. I had foolishly dropped my heavy club, and so at first was about powerless. Fortunately, I had my huntingknife at my side, and, quickly drawing it, I fought for my life. Theeagle cleverly warded off my lunges at him by striking me with hiswings. Sometimes so heavily did his blows rain on me that it was awonder I was not stunned. Apparently gaining courage by his success, heseemed to redouble his attacks, and for a time kept me wholly on thedefensive. Making a sudden dash at him with the hope of plunging myknife into him, he so cleverly, with one of his wings, knocked aside myknife that in my stumble I found I had awkwardly cut the noose thatbound him. As I knew that his talons were now free I presumed he wouldat once avail himself of his liberty and fly away. But he had now nosuch idea. His blood was up, and so with a scream of defiance, ortriumph, he flew right at my face, with his great ugly talons extended, as though he would grip me up as he had done the lamb. When attacked wenaturally will do anything to save the face, and so the instant hedashed at me I threw up my left hand to grasp hold of him somewhere. This fortunately arrested his dash at my face, and in the next instant Ihad plunged my knife under his outstretched wings into his very vitals, and he was a dead eagle. So terrible, however, was that death grip onmy hand and wrist that it was not until I was hauled up with him to thetop that the Indians were able to set me free, and then it was only doneby cutting the sinews or muscles of each great claw and taking them outof my flesh. "

"Well, " said Sam, "that is a splendid story; but you must have sufferedmuch more than I did, and so as regards my little experience with theowl, well, I think I'll _ould_ my tongue. "

And so he did. 

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

SUNDAYS IN THE GREAT LONE LAND--SERVICES AT THE MISSION--BY SKIFF ORCANOE IN SUMMER--BY DOG-TRAIN IN WINTER--NAPOLEON, THE TAME BEAR, ANDHIS LOAD--SERVICES AT SAGASTA-WEEKEE--MISSIONARY JOURNEYS--NATIVEMINISTERS--THE QUEER SERMON--HAPPY CHRISTMAS TIMES--NEW YEAR'S, THEGREAT DAY--OO-CHE-ME-KE-SE-GOU--THE KISSING DAY--VARIED EXPERIENCES--THEGREAT FEAST--HAPPY INDIANS--THANKSGIVING. 

Sundays in the North Land! Yes, there are such days, and they come oncein seven in the wild North Land as elsewhere, and right welcome theyare; for they are days of gladness, not sadness--days in which lovinghomage is paid to the loving Father who is also the God of nature; andas nature rejoices in his bounteous care and infinite wisdom, why shouldnot those in his kingdom of grace also be happy in the sunshine of hislove?

"Serve the Lord with gladness, " was the motto of Mr Ross's religiouslife, and everyone under his influence or care felt that he was agenuine man and a safe leader to follow. His religious life, whiledecided and settled, was unobtrusive and kindly. It embraced the twocommands, love to God and love to his fellow-man. 

The mission some years before established among the Indians had beenvery successful, and a capacious church was there built. Every Sunday alarge portion of the family went from Sagasta-weekee at least once aday, and there worshipped. The morning service was conducted in theEnglish language. 

This was done for two reasons: one was for the instruction and profit ofall who spoke that tongue; the other was that the Indians who werelearning the language might become the more speedily familiarised withit. The afternoon and evening services were conducted in the Indianlanguage. However, if a number understanding the English language onlyhappened to be present, both languages were used with the help of aninterpreter. The church was on the shore of a pretty lake, and it was avery pleasant sight to see the gathering of the congregation. It wasone quite different from what is generally seen as crowds usually gatherfor worship at the sound of the church bell. Here were no long streets, or even common roads or sidewalks. The homes of these Indians, bothhouses and wigwams, had been built around the lake shore on the variouspicturesque points, not far from the water's edge. Every family wantedeasy access to the lake for water, and none of them wished to be faraway from the landing places where they kept their canoes. The resultwas that it looked on Sundays, when they came to the church in groups, as if there were a pathway from every dwelling place. Then, as largenumbers of the Indians lived out on points and islands, away from theone on which the mission premises stood, the people, in the pleasantsummer time, came from their various homes in their canoes to the houseof God. Very picturesque indeed was the sight, as for an hour or sobefore the time of service the lake seemed dotted with the well-filledcanoes of the well-dressed crowds of Indian men, women, and children. In winter the scene was completely changed. The frost had hid thesunlit, rippling waves under an icy pavement, as hard as granite. Frostand snow and ice were everywhere. 

For the summer Sunday trips to the church Mr Ross had several largesailing boats and safe skiffs that would hold all who wished to go tothe morning service. In one, manned by four sturdy oarsmen, Mr Rossand his family generally went when the weather was at all favourable. In winter the dogs were all called into requisition, and the sight atthe church, when on a bright day the crowds were assembling, was aspleasant and interesting as in the summer time, when on the brightwaters were seen coming the many beautiful, well-loaded canoes. Fromthe Hudson Bay trading post there were always a goodly number presentboth in summer and winter. The officials and clerks prided themselveson the quality of their dogs and the beauty and completeness of theircarioles and harness. Then some of the Indians had very valuabletrains, and it was interesting to notice the number of persons thatwould be crowded into or on these dog-sleds and the strength of the dogsin pulling them. Very primitive were some of their sleds, and mongrelindeed were many of the dogs attached to them. Yet it was surprising tosee how rapidly even the rudest looking sledges got over the ground. The dogs seemed to know that it was the day of religious worship, andtherefore their duty was to get their masters and mistresses to thechurch with as little delay as possible. Then on the return trip, ofcourse, there must be no delay in getting them back for dinner. Forsome winters a great tame black bear used to be attached every Sunday toa long dog-sled. He was called Napoleon, and Alec and he became greatfriends. When ordered to start he would dash off in his rough gallopingway and keep up the one steady pace until the church was reached. Itseemed to make but little difference, such was his strength, whether twoor ten persons were hanging on the sled. At the church he was tied to apost, and there quietly remained until the service was over, when he atthe same rapid rate drew his load home again. Toward spring Napoleondisappeared and was not seen for months. 

It was understood that there was to be no racing on Sunday, yet somehoweverybody seemed to want to go just about as fast as possible. Theterrible cold may have had something to do with this. Alec wasgenerally sent on first, or else requested to wait some time after theothers had started, as his dogs had become possessed with the habit ofcatching up and going ahead of everything in sight. 

"Supposing, Alec, " said Mr Morrison, a young clerk of the Company'sservice, "that it were not Sunday, I should like to run ahead of yourdogs and show you what travelling is. "

"Supposing it were not Sunday, I should like to see you do it, " wasAlec's reply. 

"Supposing it were not Sunday, here goes, " was the saucy challenge ofthis young clerk, who thought he had the fleetest train in the wholedistrict. 

"Supposing it is Sunday, " shouted Alec back to him, for they were bothon the Sagasta-weekee route. "I'll just go on and tell them you will bealong after a while and dine with us. "

It was considerably later when the clerk arrived. That afternoon, inconversation with Mr Ross, he gravely stated that one of thetemptations of that country was a disposition to travel rapidly, to andfrom church, on the Lord's day. Frank and Sam, as well as Mr Ross, hadbeen promptly informed by Alec of the challenge and the race with thisyoung gentleman, and so when Alec heard the remark just mentioned hegravely replied:

"Well, Mr Morrison, you need not have any qualms of conscience aboutyour speed to-day. We started about the same time from the church, andit was a long time after I reached home ere you arrived. "

This bit of sarcasm, so well put in, so tickled Sam that he fairlyexploded, and with his handkerchief in his mouth he rushed out of theroom. Soon after he was joined by Frank, and together they laugheduntil they were sore. The hypocrisy of the young fellow was so evidentthat they were delighted with Alec's comforting remarks. 

Mr Hurlburt, the missionary, generally came over and held an eveningservice at Mr Ross's house every second Sabbath. The alternate Sabbathevening was spent in holding a similar service at the fort. Theseservices were very delightful. The boys often drove over to the missionservices in the afternoon with their trains and brought back with themMr and Mrs Hurlburt, and when it could be arranged--which wasfrequently done--the two sweet young daughters. 

To Frank, with his powerful train, was generally assigned themissionary, who was a large, portly man; to Alec, with his beautifulfleet train, was assigned the pleasure of bringing Mrs Hurlburt, and atfirst Sam had the exquisite delight of tucking the robes of rich beaveraround the fair young daughters from the mission home, and carefullybringing them over to Sagasta-weekee. This pleasure was, however, soontaken from him. It was indeed a happy group that assembled around thehospitable tea table those delightful evenings. The boys used to pleadso hard to be allowed to drive back with the loads that they generallysucceeded in having their way, although Mr Ross always took theprecaution of sending an extra team of dogs under the guidance of anexperienced Indian. This was necessary, as not only did vicious, madwolves sometimes cross that route, but blizzard storms might suddenlycome up, and then it would have gone hard with the boys with their youngdogs to have kept the trail. 

Mr Hurlburt generally rode home in the extra cariole driven by thisIndian. This enabled Frank to take the elder of the young ladies, andwe must confess that, although Frank was very fond of the missionary, hehad not the slightest objection in changing him for the daughter. 

Frequently the missionary, with some faithful Indians, used to make longjourneys with the dog-trains to distant places where no one had evergone before with the Bible and its sweet story of God's love to man. During his absence his pulpit would be supplied by native ministers, who, though not as yet ordained, were eloquent in their way, and were ablessing to their fellow-countrymen. Even the white people whounderstood the Indian language used to listen with great pleasure tosome of these gifted sons of the forest, as they preached from fullhearts of the love of God as revealed in the gift of his Son. In afteryears some of these younger Indians were educated and ordained, and arenow regularly settled as ministers among their own people. There weresome of them, however, who aspired to be ministers who were not asuccess. Some were too ambitious. Some, not content with talking aboutwhat they knew themselves, must launch out into deep waters, and sospeedily they came to grief. Constantly did the missionary have themunder his eye, and many were the lessons he was giving them. Somewould, in spite of his best efforts, get beyond him. For example, oneambitious would-be minister said in his address before quite a largeaudience:

"Brothers, the missionary says the world is round. I don't believe it. It is flat as the top of that stove. "

As he said this he pointed to the top of the great flat iron stove, inwhich a fire was burning, for it was in the depth of winter. Of coursethe missionary was informed of this daring brother's unbelief, and agood lesson in geography had to be administered to him by means of themap of the two hemispheres hanging on the wall. He manfullyacknowledged to the missionary his error, and promised to make it rightwith the audience the next time he stood up to address them. This heendeavoured to do in the following manner:

"Brothers, I made a mistake when I last addressed you, when I said I didnot believe that the world was round. It is round. I have seen it. Itis like two moons flattened against the wall. "

Of course this would never do, and so the missionary had to take him inhand again and give him another lesson. This time he used his largeball-like globe, swung on its axis in its frame, which was supported onthree feet. Patiently the minister showed him how the world was like agreat ball, round in every direction. Attentively the Indian listened, and carefully examined the globe and the frame in which it hung. 

"Yes, " he said to his teacher, "I was wrong. I have it now. I willexplain it to the people. "

When the first opportunity offered he was as good as his word, and so hethus addressed them:

"Brothers, I seem to be hard to learn, but I have got it now. Yes, theworld is round every way. It is not flat even one way. It is round. Yes, it is round, but then it stands upon three legs. "

So another and even more thorough lesson was needed to knock those threelegs away. 

As a general rule the Indians who were appointed to speak kept withintheir own depths, and very sensible and appropriate were theirutterances. 

Christmas Day and New Year's Day were great times of feasting andgladness at the mission village among the Christian Indians. OnChristmas Day all the men, women, and children, arrayed in their verybest finery, called at the mission house, and were each treated to alarge cup of strong, well-sweetened tea, and a big bun. Then they wentto the fur-trading post, and there received the gratuities of tobaccoand other things. Many called at Sagasta-weekee, and were cordiallyreceived. The boys were very much interested in them, and took greatpleasure in assisting Mrs Ross, as on this day it is expected that thewhite people only will, pass the tea and cakes, and with their own handsalso give their Christmas gifts to the poor and needy. In such a landthere are many who require a great deal of just such help. After thematters of hospitality had been attended to there were many sports onthe ice, and into these all who desired to enter were cordiallywelcomed. The boys were in their glory in these sports, and gallantlyheld their own against the lighter but more agile Indians. In theevening all the trains that could be mustered were harnessed up, andeverybody who could get away went over to the mission church for theChristmas services, which, on account of the elaborate musicalpreparations, were held in the evening this year. The missionary, aidedby his musical family, had been for weeks diligently employed inteaching the Indians to sing Christmas carols and other appropriatesongs for this joyous occasion. The native choir acquitted themselvesadmirably, and everything passed off to the pleasure and delight of all. 

New Year's Day is, however, the big day to the Indians, as it is on thatday that the great annual feast is held in the church. This Christianfestival has taken the place of the once heathen dog feast and otherpagan ceremonials that the Indians held, with disgusting rites, beforethe missionaries came among them. 

New Year's Day is called by the Indians Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou, whichliterally means "the kissing day. " On this day the men claim the rightto kiss every woman they meet, and, strange to say, every woman expectsto be kissed, and is quite offended if she is passed by without beingsaluted in this way, which is so much more ancient and historic than themeaningless modern one of shaking hands. This Indian definition of NewYear's Day vastly amused the boys, and when in the morning Mrs Ross andWenonah came in, they, of course, had to be saluted in the orthodoxfashion. This was very agreeable, but when the Indian cook came intothe dining room, in answer to Mrs Ross's ringing, Wenonah shouted outto the boys:

"This is Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou, and you must all kiss Nahkoomah, thecook. "

Nahkoomah was not at all handsome, but she knew what day it was andclaimed her rights, and so when the boys made a rush to get out sheblocked the way in that direction, while Wenonah bravely cut off theretreat by the other door. Seeing themselves thus captured, theygracefully accepted the inevitable. A resounding smack was given herfirst by Sam, which was gingerly imitated by Frank and Alec. The boysafterward said that it paid grandly to give the cook the national kiss, as from that day forward she was ever pleased to prepare them the bestdishes she could. 

"I say, Frank and Alec, " mischievously exclaimed Wenonah, "don't youknow they keep Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou over at the mission?"

This sally very much amused all, and of course gave Sam a chance toremark that it was an elegant day for a sleigh ride; that he thoughtFrank and Alec's dogs needed some exercise; that the road to the missionwas in capital condition, and perhaps they had better be off, and thesooner the better, for fear the young ladies should wear the glass ofthe windows thin, looking for their coming. Mrs Ross here interposed, and stopped Sam's voluble utterances by saying that they were all goingover a little after noon, in response to a very cordial invitation fromMr and Mrs Hurlburt, to witness the Indian feast and dine with them inthe church. This was great news to all, and as there were only a coupleof hours for preparation there was hurrying in every direction. 

"Put on your best bibs and tuckers, my hearties, " said Sam to Frank andAlec, "for this day is the event of your lives. Rig yourselves up sogallantly and finely that the sweet, blushing lassies over beyond, willbe so struck with your noble presences that they will, for the day atleast, imagine themselves Indian maidens enough to at least comply withthe customs of the day. " But ere Sam had finished his long harangue, the blushing Frank and Alec were hunting up their best apparel andselecting the warmest robes for their dog-sleds. 

While all are getting ready at Sagasta-weekee let us take a look at thefeast, or rather first at the preparations necessary in such a land tofeed ten or twelve hundred hungry Indians. About two months before thetime a great council is held. The missionary is invariably asked to bethe chairman, and a clever writer of the Indian syllabics is appointedsecretary. Then, as a matter of form, it is moved by the chief andseconded by some other Indian of influence, "That we have the usualfeast on Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou day. " This is, of course, carried amidIndian applause. Then the question next asked is:

"How much will each supply to make it a grand success?" Thus there isstarted a spirit of emulation that would astonish some white folks. 

Big Tom says: "I saw the tracks of a moose. I will give half of him, when I shoot him, " he adds, while the quiet laugh goes round. 

Mustagan says: "I saw the steam curl up from a bear's den. I will givethe largest bear, when I get him. "

Soquatum says: "I have just heard of the coming of the reindeer. I willgive one. "

Thus it goes on as rapidly as the secretary can write their names andpromises. Those hunters famous for killing the game that is good forfood, promise, as these already referred to have done, all kinds ofanimals, from a moose to wild cats and beavers. Those hunters whoseskill is in killing the rich fur-bearing animals promise to exchangeportions of the valuable products of their huntings for flour, tea, sugar, and raisins at the trading posts. 

Everybody was expected to promise something, and then he was to do hisbest to get it. 

This method of getting up a feast was a unique one. The idea ofsubscribing bears that were in their dens a hundred miles away, ormoose, or reindeer, or other wild animals that were roaming in theforests or on the barren plains many scores of miles distant, was, tosay the least, very different from civilised methods. When the councilbreaks up, every man is interested in securing what he has promised, orsomething better. It often happens that the man who has promised acouple of wild cats succeeds in finding a good, full beaver house. Acouple of these are worth more than the cats. The man who promised areindeer may be lucky enough to kill a moose, and thus it is. However, they all try to do the very best they can. As these various suppliesare brought in they are stowed away in the large fish house of themissionary, where they speedily freeze solid, and are thus kept sweetand good until required for use. About four days before the feast thewife of the missionary calls to her help a number of clever, industriousIndian women, and from morning until night the cooking goes on. Earlyin the morning of the feast day the seats are all removed from thechurch, and long tables are improvised that stretch from nearly end toend of the building. One long table is prepared at the upper end of thechurch for all the whites, who are specially invited by letter toattend. As they have all contributed largely to the feast, of course, they are welcomed. 

It is an interesting sight to see that happy, expectant throng. Everybody, Christian and pagan, is welcome. No questions are asked. See the piles of provisions. Surely there is enough and to spare. Well, they will need a great quantity, for Indians have great appetites, and then there are many sick and feeble who could not come to-day, andthey must be remembered. There are over a thousand out to-day, andwhile some scores are busy preparing the feast the others skate, playfootball, toboggan, and in other ways amuse themselves. Of course theinmates of the mission house are busy. To the missionary and his wifethe Indians all look for direction and guidance. This is necessary, that everything may go off without friction. In addition, they have tobe on hand to receive such white people as may come from the varioustrading posts and other places. 

See, here they come from Sagasta-weekee! Alec is at the head of thecompany. His fleet dogs are never happy now except when first in everycrowd. Cozily wrapped up in fur robes in his cariole are Wenonah andRoderick. Sam has brought over Mr Ross, and to Frank has beenintrusted Mrs Ross. The boys are now skillful drivers, and so nomishap has occurred. Cordially are they welcomed, and as it is Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou the ladies are gallantly kissed by the gentlemen. Withloving tenderness Mrs Hurlburt kissed the three boys, and said shewould do so in place of their precious mothers, who would doubtlessthink of them on that glad day. Then she turned them over to her youngfolks, while she hurried off to meet the later arrivals from the HudsonBay Company's fort. 

Sam was first escorted in by Wenonah, who, as she met the young ladiesof the mission, exclaimed:

"Now this is Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou, and we are all of that way to-day. "

Bravely did the blushing Sam pass through the ordeal, and then Alec andFrank, in a way that seemed to come quite natural to them, saluted in agood old-fashioned way the two fair ladies who had come into their younglives and were much in their minds. 

"Sure, " said Sam, "that's not bad medicine to take, at all, at all. "

At this there was a great laugh, for Sam had blushed and stammered andacted as though it were an ordeal of great solemnity. There was a lotof fun and pleasantry for the next hour or so among these happy youngpeople, while the older ones were busy looking after matters pertainingto the feast. Frank and Alec entertained the young ladies' friends withthe latest news that had come in by the Christmas packet. Sam, withWenonah and Roderick, played all sorts of pranks all over the house. When later arrivals came in and gravely kissed, not only the elderlyladies of the party, but also the beautiful young maidens, Alec andFrank's faces were studies that very much amused Sam. 

"Indeed, " he afterward said, "I thought it was going to be pistols andcoffee for four, and may I be there to see the fun. "

As the tender passion had not yet struck him, he could thus afford to beamused at the ebullitions of jealousy that rolled so ominously into theyoung hearts of the chums. "Black as thunderclouds were their faces, "he said, "as they saw these sweet young ladies, whom they in theircallow affections would already wholly monopolise, kissed by a dozendifferent gentlemen during the day. "

"How do you like `O-jimmy-catch-the-cow' day, or whatever you call it?"he said to Frank, as he saw him glowering at a Hudson Bay officer whohad just kissed his sweetheart. 

"I don't like it at all, " Frank replied, with gritted teeth. 

"You mean you don't like it for other folks, " replied Sam. "You tookyour medicine yourself very well, if I am a good judge, especially whenyou so lovingly displayed your osculatory skill on the sweet lips ofpeerless Rachel, whom that young prig of a Hudson Bay Company's clerk isnow approaching. "

"I'll fight him, " said Frank, and his hot breath and clinched listsshowed that he would have loved to pitch in just then. 

"No, you will not, " said Sam. "Hot-headed Englishman though you are, you are too much of a gentleman to make a row in this clergyman's house, and about his young daughter. But, Frank, I will give you a bit ofcomfort. While the beautiful Rachel gave you her sweet lips to kiss, she only turned her rosy cheek to all the other fellows, me included. So now no more of your English, `I'll punch your 'ead for you. '"

Here Sam's advice, helpful and needed as it was, abruptly ended, aseverybody was summoned into the church to the great feast. Frank washappy once again, as he was selected to take in his sweet Rachel, whileAlec had her younger sister, Winnie, as his partner. Much to hisdelight, Sam came in with Wenonah and Roderick. Indeed, they werealmost one and inseparable on such occasions. 

Of the great feast and how it was enjoyed by all we have written inother volumes. Suffice to say that there was abundance for all. Inaddition, great bundles of food, with packages of tea and sugar, weresent to every sick or aged or feeble person, with loving good wishes ofall. The feast was pronounced a great success. At the evening meeting, where, as in former years, the Indians gathered, with the chief in thechair, and where many speeches were delivered by the eloquent ones ofthe village, it was observed that among the happy things said there werewords of gratitude to their kind, loving missionary and his family, andto the other white friends, in every address. 

It was also noticed that many of the Christian Indians, rising higher intheir thoughts, saw in all these blessings that had come to them thegood hand of the Great Spirit, their heavenly Father, and so to himtheir grateful prayers ascended, and the most frequent word uttered was"nanaskoomowin"--"thanksgiving. "

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER NINE. 

THE INDIAN SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS--THE PRIZES--NOBLE INDIAN BOYS--THESKATES TO KEPASTICK--THE VARIOUS SPORTS--FOOT RACES--THE SKATING RACE--TRICKY CLERK OUTWITTED--FRANK AND KEPASTICK TIE AS WINNERS--FOOTBALL--HOCKEY. 

The day for the examinations and sports at the mission school arrived indue time. Fortunately, it was a very beautiful day, although it wasmany degrees below zero. But nobody now minded that. There were nofogs, or mists, or damps, and the dry, steady cold is always much morehealthy and invigorating than changeable weather in any land. Everybodyinvited was present, and so the day's full program was well carried out. 

Mr McTavish, a chief factor in the Hudson Bay Company's service and thechief officer at the Norway House trading post, presided at the schoolexaminations, which began promptly at nine o'clock. The schoolhouse waspacked with the children and their friends, except the large platform atthe upper end of the schoolroom, on which were seated the white visitorsfrom Sagasta-weekee and the trading posts and mission. 

The children were first examined in their reading lessons in bothlanguages, Cree and English. In their own language they used thesyllabic characters, invented and perfected by the Reverend James Evans, the founder of this mission. These syllabics, as their name indicates, each represent a syllable. The result is there is no spelling, and justas soon as a pupil, young or old, has once mastered these characters hebegins to read. Three weeks or a month is considered quite sufficienttime, in which to teach a person of ordinary intelligence to readfluently. 

Mr Evans was several years in perfecting this invention. He beggedfrom the traders the sheet lead that is found around the tea in teachests. Then, making little bars of this lead, he carved out his firsttype. His first paper was made out of birch bark. His first press hemade himself. His first ink was made out of soot mixed with sturgeonoil. Many were his difficulties and discouragements, but he triumphedover them all, and now here were hundreds of Indians reading in theirown language the word of God. 

The whole Bible, with some hundreds of hymns and a few volumes of goodbooks, "_Pilgrim's Progress_, " "_The Path of Life_, " and others, havebeen translated and printed in these syllabic characters. The oldIndians prize them very much, but it is interesting to note that, justas soon as the younger Indians understand English and get to be able toread in it, they prefer it to their own language and books. 

The examinations in arithmetic, grammar, and geography were ratherlimited. It could not have been otherwise in such a place. All were, however, delighted with the splendid examination each class passedthrough in Bible history. The Indians have wonderful memories, and herethe children delighted all with their knowledge of events from thecreation down, and the accuracy with which they could quote longportions of the sacred book. The writing also won a great manycomplimentary remarks from all, and it is safe to assert that very fewschools among white people could have made a better showing. Therecitations were good, considering that they were uttered in a foreigntongue. The singing was delightful. The children sang in the twolanguages, and the soft, sweet, liquid Cree did not suffer in pathos andbeauty in comparison with the more vigorous English. Of course, anumber of prizes were given. A beautiful incident occurred when theprizes for the best recitations of the fourteenth chapter of SaintJohn's gospel were being distributed. Among the competitors was a poorlad who, when a babe, had been so bitten in the hand and arm by a wolfthat the arm had to be cut off near the body. Competing with him wereseveral other bright boys. The chief prize was a splendid pair of newskates, which Frank had generously given for this competition. So evenhad been the boys, or rather so perfect were they in reciting, that thejudges hesitated about selecting the winner of the first prize. Whenthe boys who were well, and unmaimed, observed this there was a short, quiet consultation between them, and then one rose up and, respectfullyaddressing Mr Mctavish, said that the boys who had two hands, as wellas two feet, had more ways of having sport and fun than Kepastick, whohad only one hand, and so they asked him to have the judges decide thatKepastick should have the skates. Noble fellows! but that is just likeyoung Christian Indian boys. The white people present were much movedby this beautiful incident of quiet unselfishness, and soon arrangedthat those kind-hearted lads should not go unrewarded. 

By twelve o'clock the most successful examination of the school, up tothat time, was over. The prizes were distributed, and while all thewhite people, as was customary, accepted the missionary's invitation anddined at the parsonage, the Indians sped away home for a brief dinner, and were then soon all back again, to compete in or to witness thesports. 

The first races were run by some little girls. The distance was only afew hundred yards and back. These races caused a lot of fun andenjoyment. The prizes were little handkerchiefs, strings of beads, andother trifling things in which little Indian girls rejoice, and ofcourse every little competitor must have a prize. Then there were racesfor little boys. It was great fun to see the sturdy little fellows sogallantly strive for victory. Meanwhile arrangements were being madefor the more important races of the day. The courses had been markedout previously with flags, and so every class knew its course and ranaccordingly. The fleetness and endurance of some of even the small boyswere wonderful, and great was the interest, and even intense at timesthe excitement, when several well-matched competitors gamely struggledon for victory. In the races open to all comers the larger Indian boyswere disappointed that none of the whites had entered, as they wereanxious to test their own speed against them. There were races worthgoing across a continent to witness, and genuine and hearty was theapplause that greeted the winners, who came in at such a rate that thewhite boys, while cheering as heartily as the others, saw how wise theyhad been in declining to put themselves against such runners as WhiteAntelope or Spotted Deer, the winners. 

When the skating matches were called, Frank promptly entered the lists. His appearance was received with applause. Even the quiet Indian ladstried to make a noise to show their pleasure in greeting the handsome, manly fellow whose splendid gift had gone to Kepastick, the one-armedlad. Two or three young clerks or fur traders also entered for therace, one of them being the young man who had so abruptly left Alec thenight of his fearful race with the wolves. The route marked out for theskaters covered in all about ten or twelve miles. It, however, sotwisted in and out among the islands on the frozen lake, that many ofthe competitors would be in sight nearly all of the time. That theintending skaters might thoroughly understand the route, it had beenmarked out a week or ten days before the race, and it had beenthoroughly understood that any of the competitors were at perfectliberty to skate over the grounds and get familiar with the differentturning places, marked by little red flags. 

Frank, with Alec as a companion and trainer, accompanied by one of MrRoss's servants, who was also a splendid skater, had gone over the routetwo or three times, and so was quite familiar with it. A little beforethe race began he was quite surprised to have this Indian skater callhim aside and tell him to be careful and keep his eye on the correctroute, and also to guard himself against that young white man who haddeserted Alec. He then added:

"Watch the Indian with one arm; his heart is good toward you. "

Then, putting his fingers to his lips as a sign of caution, the Indianquickly slipped away among the crowd. This very much perplexed andbothered Frank, especially when Mr Ross said to him:

"Keep your eyes on the lookout for the flags--the Indian lads are sofamiliar with the route that they will not bother to notice them; andlook out for tricks from those whose faces, like your own, are white. "

There were perhaps twenty competitors in the great race. As thedistance was so long it was not very essential that they should get offat the same instant. There would doubtless be those who depended onrapid bursts of speed to carry them to the front, and so a second or twomade but little difference at first. At the report of a gun away theyflew. They had all sorts of skates and all kinds of styles. With tenor twelve miles' work before them, none, except some of the youngerlads, tried to do their very best at first. Frank naturally wished toskate in company with his white companions, but they sullenly refusedthe offered society. Insulted and annoyed at this conduct, andremembering the warning words of Mr Ross, and also of his faithfulservant, he just made up his mind to be on the alert, and if it werepossible he would be in the first of the palefaces. On and on theysped, until a couple of miles at least were covered. Then they hadreached a spot where the route lay between two rocky islands not ahundred feet apart. The ice here was beautifully smooth, and beingwell-sheltered was as clear as glass. With a wild whoop the Indiansdashed on across it, and at the same time, rather to Frank's surprise, one of the clerks, putting on a rapid burst of speed, dashed directly infront of him, in the centre of this narrow place. Frank, with hissuspicions all aroused, keenly watched him, and to his astonishment sawhim deliberately but cautiously let slowly trickle from his hands finestreams of the white crystal quartz sand of that country. To haveskated over it would have so dulled his keen-edged skates that anythinglike victory would have been impossible. There are times when the mindworks rapidly, and so it did here with Frank. The first thought was toshout out and expose the villainy. The next was to evade the trap andfor the present say nothing about it, and see what trick would next hetried. So, quickly veering to the windward side sufficiently to make itsure that he would escape the sand, he rapidly sped along, humiliatedand indignant that a white man would try a trick that an Indian wouldscorn to do. 

On and on they flew. The route turned and twisted, and in several ofthe windings it brought them in fair view of the excited group on themission hill who watched their progress, for now more than one half ofthe route was covered. They were now entering a kind of a maze amongthe islands, where persons not thoroughly acquainted with the routerequired to keep a vigilant eye on the different flags. In the frontgroup was Frank, and closely edging beside him, he noticed withpleasure, was Kepastick, the one-armed lad, with his beautiful newskates, now serving him grandly and well. 

"Chist!" said the Indian lad quickly, and Frank knew by the way thatthis word, which means "look, " was uttered that there was somethingmeant. Letting the boy glide just ahead of him, Frank caught themeaning of his words, though uttered in broken English:

"Some bad hearts change flags to bother Frank. Frank keep nearKepastick. He knows the trail. "

These friendly words were uttered none too soon, for Frank saw at oncethat even some of the Indians, trusting to the flags, were perplexed andsome had gone hopelessly astray. With a rush and a jeer of triumph awhite clerk made an attempt to fly by, for once out of that labyrinth ofcrooked icy channels the home stretch was as straight as an arrow. Frank was for responding to his spurt with an effort equally desperate, when Kepastick checked him with:

"One Indian, good heart, meet clerk's bad heart; all right yet. "

Frank, now completely bewildered, yielded himself implicitly to theguidance of Kepastick, who moved on with all confidence and paid not theslightest attention to the flags. 

Look! Away beyond the islands, in the distance, shining in thesunlight, is the steeple of the mission church. Just a few morewindings in these tortuous channels, and then the two miles' dash forhome. Most of the Indians--for their skates were poor--have fallen inthe rear. The one white man whom Frank despises is perhaps a hundredyards ahead, and not far behind him are his companions. With intenseinterest Kepastick is watching them. 

"Chist!" he cries again, and his dark eyes flashed with excitement; "thetrail is ours!"

It seems that there ran out from that place two channels that lookedvery much alike. The correct one had been flagged several days before, but the previous evening the clerk had skated over and had flagged thewrong channel. Sharp eyes had been on him and had discovered his trick, and these misplaced flags had been replaced at their proper positions, while the others had been left as the villain had placed them. Thusthrown off his guard, he blindly dashed into the wrong channel. Therocky shores were high and abrupt, and so Kepastick and Frank shot bythe trap and into the correct channel, and were hundreds of yards out onthe now open lake, with their faces toward home, ere the plottersdiscovered, to their dismay, how they had been completely foiled. Asrapidly as possible they turned, but the distance could not be made up, and so to their chagrin they not only found that Frank and Kepastick hadtied first, but that six or seven Indians, some with home-made skates, had wholly beaten them. 

As the miserable trickster passed Frank on the shore some time after, inthe presence of the chief factor, Mr Ross, and several others, Franksternly looked at him and uttered the one word "Sand". None but the twothen knew what was meant, but the guilty rascal paled, and so trembledthat it seemed as though he would fall to the ground. Very soon was heout of that company. Next day he asked to be transferred to anotherpost, which request was cheerfully granted. It was a long time beforeFrank told of his contemptible conduct. When Mr Ross at length heardof it he communicated at once with the head officers of the Hudson BayCompany in reference to conduct so dishonourable, and the result wasthat the poor fellow, who had not improved over such actions in otherplaces, was ignominiously expelled from the service. 

Meanwhile the other sports were progressing finely. The football teamscrowned themselves with many honours. The games were not fought on anystrict Rugby rules. The goals were set in the ice, about four or fivetimes as distant from each other as is the case in civilisation. Thentwo captains were named, and they selected their men and boysalternately, until all who wished to play were chosen. Then each sidewas lined up at their own goal. The ball was placed away out in thecentre between them. At the firing of a gun there was a wild rush, andthe side that had the fleetest runners thus secured the first kick. Theball was not to be thrown or carried. It was to be kicked, and could bestruck with the hand or head. The game was fast and furious while itlasted. It was always in ground, and there was no hold up until it wentbetween the poles of one or the other side. The cries of "Foul" werenever heard, and umpires were only needed at the poles to shout out whena goal was won. It was a jolly, lively, easily understood game offootball, enjoyed by all. Generally five wins in nine plays was therule. 

The hockey games were like those played by men and boys in civilisedlands, only here everybody who wished to play was paired with somebodyelse, so as to keep the sides even. Everybody not otherwise engagedenthusiastically took a hand in it, and the fun was very great. MrHurlburt, Mr Ross, Hudson Bay officers, as well as all down to thesmallest Indian lad who could handle a crooked stick, had a share inthis game. The day was so cold, and the smooth ice expanse so great, that the vigorous exercise did everybody good. 

The tobogganing games were given over entirely to the girls to competein, and skillfully and well did they acquit themselves. The other minorgames also gave great satisfaction, and afforded any amount ofamusement. 

We reserve for the next chapter the story of the great race of the rivaldog-trains, which for long years after was talked about in many a wigwamand at many a camp fire. 

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER TEN. 

THE GREAT RACE WITH THE DOG-TRAINS--CAREFUL PREPARATIONS BY ALEC--THEDIFFERENT BREATHING PLACES--THE TREACHEROUS HALF-BREEDS--THEIR SIGNALFAILURE--ALEC'S TRIUMPH. 

And now for the races with the dogs. These were looked forward to withthe greatest interest. All sorts of rumours were afloat of somewonderful surprises in store. Fortunately for all parties concerned, including the dogs, there had been a great abundance of fish during thelast few years, and so every Indian wigwam and house fairly swarmed withdogs, of all sizes and degree. In other years, when fish failed and theherd of reindeer came not, as a last resort against starvation the dogswent into the soup pot. But they had fared better lately, and so nowthey were all in the finest trim, and the trained ones were as eagerhere for the races as were their masters. 

There were about a dozen trains that contended for the victory in thisnext race. There were to be four prizes given. Alec, with his splendidhoundlike dogs, seemed a certain victor. However, as from differentparts the dogs came into position and were eagerly scanned by thosepresent, it was seen that there were many trains that would make agallant race ere they or their magnificently developed drivers wouldeven take a second place. Alec and a young clerk were the only whitesin the race. Then there were three half-breed fur traders, and the restof the competitors were pure Indians. 

The Indian carpenter at Sagasta-weekee had made for Alec a splendidbirch toboggan-like sled for this race. It was very light, and so themaker had sewed and re-sewed it, and so stiffened it with the sinews ofthe reindeer that it was as strong as a piece of steel. He had fasteneda seat in it so cleverly that, if the sled went over, the seat collapsedlike a rubber ball, and as quickly resumed its position when the sledwas righted. Old Memotas had especially manufactured the harnesses forthis event. He made them out of the softest and lightest mooseskin thatMr Ross could buy for him. It took Memotas a long time to get theright kind of traces to satisfy his experienced eye. After testing agood deal of leather he settled down on a set of very long ones, thatwould not at all interfere with the long, springy movements of thesebeautiful houndlike dogs. 

The start was to be from the foot of the mission hill on the ice. Theroute marked out, and along which Indians had now been stationed, wasfirst to be the trading post, a distance of two and a half miles. Hereeach train would be detained exactly five minutes. At the expiration ofthe five minutes the next part of the race would begin. This was toSagasta-weekee, a distance of perhaps five miles. Here there was to bea compulsory wait of ten minutes for each train, and then the dash backby the straight route to the mission, a distance, say, of six miles. Some of the Indians wanted the distance to be at least doubled, but thiscould not be allowed. These races and prizes were only designed toencourage the Indians to be kind and careful with their dogs, as only bysuch treatment could they be brought to be of the highest use to them inthat land where they are so much needed. 

Amid a good deal of barking, and some growls from some of the morequarrelsome dogs, the cry of "Marche!" was shouted, and they were off. Some especially clever Indian trains were the first to respond to thecall and sprang to the front. Some of the drivers were going to run;others, like Alec, intended to ride, while perhaps the greater numberwould ride or run as they judged best in the excitement of the race. Each driver, Alec included, had a splendid dog-whip, but it was a longtime since a dog of Alec's was struck. Indeed, the first one to receivea powerful blow was the leader dog of a train beside which Alec wasrunning. As Bruce came alongside, and was slowly forging ahead, thevicious brute made a spring at him. Quick as it was, it was observed byhis Indian master, who, although more than twelve feet from him in therear, sent out so speedily and accurately that long, heavy, snake-likewhiplash that it caught the brute on the nose with such force that, witha howl of pain, he turned to the front before any damage had been done. A few seconds later Alec and this Indian driver sped on right and leftof a couple of trains mixed-up in terrible confusion, while theirdrivers, a white man and a half-breed, were in anything but a pleasantmood. On and on they fairly flew. Alec had been warned to guardagainst running into some of the vicious dog-trains, as some of them hadteeth like wolves, and one fierce attack might easily disable one of hislighter dogs. 

Without mishap Alec reached the fort, and found that five trains werethere ahead of him. In a minute or two most of the others arrived. Even those tangled up had speedily unloosened, and had not lost morethan a couple of minutes by their collision. Exactly as each train'sfive minutes expired, away they flew for a long run for Sagasta-weekee. The ice was in fairly good condition for travelling, although there werelong stretches where it was so absolutely smooth and glassy that some ofthe dogs would slip and slide in spite of their best efforts to thecontrary. On this smooth ice the Eskimos and the mongrels had theadvantage, as they had such hard feet that they very seldom slipped. The feet of Alec's dogs were perhaps the worse for these smooth icyplaces, and so he found that it was necessary, where the travelling wasgood, for him to urge his dogs more than he had intended, to make up forwhat he lost in the glassy places. Thus on they sped, and when Sagasta-weekee was reached Alec found three trains ahead of him and a couplealongside of his own and others close behind him. Ten minutes was thetime allotted for the rest here. The instant Alec had arrived Memotaswas at his side, and with him at once examined his dogs and compared histrain with those that had thus far kept ahead. Memotas was delightedwith the inspection, for, while the other trains seemed about exhaustedat the terrific rate their drivers had pushed them, Alec's were asplayful and lively as though the race had only begun. So, barringaccident or foul play, there seemed to be no reason why Alec should notwin with flying colours. Two of the half-breeds with very vicioustrains now pushed on with four minutes of a start. An Indian followedtwo minutes after, and then in four minutes more Alec and those who hadarrived at the same time as he did were again ready for the final run ofthe six-mile home stretch. Just as Alec was leaving faithful, alertMemotas said to him, as he tucked him in:

"Be on your guard against those two half-breeds and their vicious dogs. Try and not pass them in a narrow place. There is mischief in theirhearts. Be wise. "

"Marche!" and he was off. 

For the first time now his blood began to tingle, and he entered intothe wild, joyous enthusiasm of the race. He had become an expert in theuse of his whip over the backs of his splendid dogs. Skillfully hewhirled it, and its pistol-like report rang out over them, but not oncedid it inflict a stinging blow. 

"Ho! ho! my gallants! With Scotland's best staghound's blood in yourveins, and Scotland's names, my bonny dogs, for Scotland win the day!"

He must needs hurry now, for fleet trains are around him and some aheadof him, with drivers just as keen and eager to win as he, and every oneof them accustomed to dog-driving for years. Victors are some of themin previous contests, and not one of them is disposed to see a white ladfrom across the sea come and wrest their honour from them. Whips areflying now in earnest, and the dogs of other trains are waking up torealise that there is fire in their masters' eyes and strength in theirarms and a burning sting at the end of the heavy lash. With terrificrushes they make their desperate efforts to forge to the front. Alec, excited now to the highest pitch, calls as never before to his dogs:

"Marche! Bruce, up! Up, Wallace! and you Gelert, and my bonny Lorne. Ho! ho! Away, away, my bonny dogs! Away! away!"

Grandly did they respond. They too have caught the enthusiasm of thehour, and as in clock-like unison in those long, light traces theystretched themselves out and fairly flew over the icy surface, theyseemed to lift the light sled and its driver as a thing of naught. 

Steady, Alec! Keep well balanced now. You have shaken off every sledthat started in this last dash with you, but there are stubborncompetitors ahead, and there are rough places where an upset at such aspeed means disaster as well as defeat. But he thinks naught of thesethings; his Scottish caution has gone to the winds, and with dauntlesscourage he keeps up his cheering cries. Rapidly does he gain on apowerful train ahead of him, and just as he begins to fly past it thevicious leader turns and springs at Bruce. He fails in his attempt onaccount of the slippery ice, and falls directly in front of the oncomingtrain. 

"Marche! Bruce!" shouts Alec, and with a mighty bound the gallantfellow responds and springs directly over his prostrate assailant. Quickly follow Wallace, Gelert, and Lorne. With a stunning blow Alec'ssled hits the still struggling brute. Well now is it for Alec that thecautious builder of that light sled had strengthened it with deerskinsinews till it was tough and strong. And so it stood that fierce shock, and, with its sturdy occupant unseated, over the great dog, withundiminished speed, it goes. Before him now are the two great trains ofthe half-breeds. These are the men and trains about which Memotaswhispered his words of caution. And well is it for Alec that he was puton his guard. Before them for a mile or so is the narrowest part of theroute. The good ice in places did not average more than from fifty to ahundred feet across. Plenty of room, anyone might say, for three dog-trains to rush by [it] at the same time. Yes, if all are fair andhonourable, but not wide enough for the safety of the third if the othertwo are determined to stop him at all hazards. 

If there was one thing more than another in which Alec had carefullytrained his dogs it was for them to respond to his voice, and quicklymove to the right or left, as he spoke to them. Like some otherdrivers, he had them so well-trained that no horse responds to the pullon the reins more promptly than did his dogs to his voice. As Alecrapidly gained on these trains he observed that they were running aboutparallel to each other, and that the width of the ice was about the samebetween them and each shore. This so equally divided the ice that itmade it difficult to decide whether to try and pass between them, or onone side or the other. Alec's first wish was to see if they were reallyworking together against him, and so he shouted to his dogs as though hewould clash in between them. At once they began to close up from eachside to block his way. Quickly checking his dogs before there was acollision, he then tried the call to the right hand, and here the sameplan was again pursued. It was evident, seeing that they would both bebeaten in a fair race, they were resolved, by sacrificing one train, that the other should win at any cost from this white lad. Their dogswere large and fierce, and at one word from their master, if a collisionoccurred, would fasten on the lighter and younger dogs of Alec, withdisastrous results. So Alec, who saw the plan, resolved that thereshould be no collision with his train if he could help it. All thistime the speed was fairly kept up, and alert and watchful was eachdriver, although not a word was spoken among them. After a little moremanoeuvring from side to side Alec observed that his dogs were quickerto respond to his voice than were theirs, and so he resolved to try andconfuse them and throw them off their guard. In this he at lengthsucceeded. When, with a great show, it appeared that he was going todash between them he suddenly checked his dogs just as the other twotrains closed in to block his way. Quickly they saw their danger, andtried to avert it, but they were too late. Their own fierce, exciteddogs sprang at each other as they met, and ere their masters couldseparate them Alec had skillfully veered to the right and was by them. The coast was clear now, but fleet trains were close behind. Theblocking of the way had necessarily somewhat lessened the speed, andswift trains had come up dangerously near. But what now cared Alec?Springing to his feet, he swings his whip and calls to his gallant dogs. The distance is now only a couple of miles, and direct is the route. How those beautiful dogs do go! In perfect unison they spring together, while Alec's cheering voice rings out:

"Marche! Bruce, my hero, my leader! and you, Wallace, true to the end, and Gelert the avenger, and Lorne the fortunate! Gallant Scots ye are, and this is our Bannockburn!"

Thus on he drives; and now before him in the distance is the expectantcrowd, who, having finished all their other sports, have gathered on thesloping banks to watch the return of the dog-trains. The day is drawingto a close, but there is one of those marvellous gloamings of the GreatLone Land, and so the whole scene is as visible as at noonday. Thespeed at which Alec travels soon brings him near, and as the sharp eyesof many tell them that he is the victor, and far in advance of any othertrain, there is, for an Indian crowd, a great deal of cheering, orrather a shouting of what sounds like "Hi! Hi! Ho! Ho!" from many adusky Indian's lungs. For Alec is very popular among them, and theyrejoice at his victory. The few whites are also very much interested, and add their full share to the noise and excitement that tell of Alec'striumph. Of course, Frank and Sam were wild with delight--so much sothat they could not even shout. Sam in describing their feelingsafterward said:

"We could only yell, but that we did in right good earnest. "

As Alec dashed into the midst of the cheering crowd warm indeed was hiswelcome. Stalwart arms seized him, and hoisted him up on the shouldersof a couple of gigantic Indians, who at once began their march to thefront of the mission house, where amid the cheering of the crowd a blueribbon was pinned upon the breast of his coat by the trembling fingersof an equally happy maiden, and her name was Winnie. 

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

PASCHE DISAPPEARS--THE SEARCH--BIG TOM AND MUSTAGAN--THE WHISKY JACKS--PASCHE FOUND IN A HOLLOW TREE--CHASED BY AN ANGRY MOOSE BULL--PASCHERESCUED--HIS QUAINT ACCOUNT OF HIS ADVENTURES. 

There was great excitement at Sagasta-weekee one morning when word camein that the stableman who looked after the cows was missing. In fact, he had not been around for three days, and the boy who helped him in thestables was scolded for not having reported his absence. The name ofthe missing man was Pasche. He was a French half-breed who had come upfrom the Indian settlement near Montreal, several years before, in oneof the canoes of the famous Iroquois brigades that annually made thetrip up the Ottawa and other rivers into Lake Superior to Thunder Bay, and from thence by Lake of the Woods and still other rivers until theyreached Lake Winnipeg. 

Poor Pasche was ignominiously discharged by the despotic governor of theHudson Bay Company, as being unfit for the laborious work of a canoemanin one of those large canoes. The fact was that it was only the mostvigorous and muscular men who could perform the tremendous task assignedthem by that tyrannical man, who drove his men on and on with all thecruel, callous persistency of a slave-driver. No wonder poor, weakPasche gave out where many a stalwart man has also failed. He had beena sailor for some years on the St. Lawrence, and had the agility of amonkey in climbing up to the top of the masts. The unfortunate fellowwas left stranded in that wild country, and so, out of sympathy for thepoor exile, Mr Ross had given him work and a home, until he couldreturn to his own people. The kindness of his new master made him quitecontented where he was, and so year after year he had remained, and tohim had come the care of the cows both in the summer and winter. 

Now he was missing, and had been for three days. The family wasalarmed, as it was such an unusual thing for Pasche ever to be away overa night. Mr Ross at once called into the kitchen all who had latelyseen him or knew anything of his latest fads. Of these the poor fellowhad quite a number, and while some of them were sensible, others of themwere generally laughed at by his friends. The latest one was that heimagined himself a great hunter, and had secured some traps and had setthem in the woods in various places, most of them several miles away. The last time he was seen by the stable-boy was when he had finished themorning work at the stable. Then he had taken his gun and axe andstarted off to visit some of his traps. When Mr Ross chided the boy, who had industriously attended to all the stable duties alone, he saidthat Pasche had made him promise to say nothing about his huntings, forfear he would be laughed at. 

A heavy fall of snow had completely obliterated all tracks, and so therewas no possibility of following him up in that way. A messenger wassent for old Mustagan and Big Tom, both famous Indian guides, and aconsultation was held with them. They smoked their stone pipes andtalked the matter over, and then went out. After closely questioningthe stable-boy they returned to the Indian village. Here they secured acouple of sharp, bright little beaver dogs. With them they returned tothe stables, and there, showing the dogs a coat that Pasche was in thehabit of wearing, and making them thoroughly smell it, they tried to getthem on his trail. All, however, the dogs would do was to get back outof the deep snow as quickly as possible and into the shelter of thestables. The plan was not a success. These dogs were too small for thedeep snow, and soon the old Indians gave up this plan in disgust. Thenthey strapped on their snowshoes and made a long circuit around theplace, and thus tried to find out some clue or trace of the missing man. Failing in this, they returned to the house, and after a hearty mealthey equipped themselves to find that lost man. They had but little towork on, as Pasche had never revealed to anyone the whereabouts of histraps. However, Indian eyes are sharp, and so, unknown to him, keenhunters had observed his doings, and could tell the locality of everyone of his traps and snares. Those who had any knowledge in thisdirection were summoned, and then, with the information thus obtained, the two old men set off on their snowshoes. It was not long ere theyreached his first trap, but the snow covered everything there. Then onto his next resort, still no success; and thus it was throughout thewhole round. 

The Indians were puzzled and perplexed, and as they had now been on thego for hours they kindled a fire and awaited the arrival of some of thesleds with supplies that were to meet them here at this designated spot. The boys, who were equally grieved and excited with the rest at theloss of Pasche, with whom they had had a lot of innocent fun, hadharnessed up their dog-trains and joined the party who brought out thesupplies. The meal was quickly prepared on the big, roaring fire, andvigorous appetites made heavy inroads on the abundant supplies whichMrs Ross had sent. They all noticed, while at the meal, the unusualnumber of whisky jacks, the Indian's sacred bird, that were at onceattracted by the fire. They were all very noisy, and seemed unusuallyexcited. The Indians are quick to notice the actions of even the mostinsignificant birds when on their hunting or warlike excursions. Many alurking warrior, securely hid from the keenest human eye, has been givenaway by a noisy blue jay or a suspicious cawing crow, and has thusfailed in his attempt to surprise his enemy, and has been obliged tomake a hasty retreat. 

In answer to Frank's question, Big Tom told the boys how some of thewild animals are warned by the birds of the approach of the hunters, andare thus the more difficult to reach. So here the whisky jacks, noisyat any time, but unusually so now, attracted the curiosity of thosealert, watchful old Indians, as well as much amused the boys with theirsaucy ways. The birds, as usual, clamoured around the fire, and as longas a crumb or bit of anything could be obtained were very saucy andpersistent in their begging. It was great fun for the boys to feedthem, and to even catch some of them by their feet, so bold andventuresome were they. They were all, however, speedily liberated, asMustagan and Big Tom were anxious, if possible, to learn something fromthem. So the remains of the meal were speedily scattered, and while theboys wrapped robes around themselves and sat near the fire to keep warm, the Indians, lighting their pipes, sat down on a log near the fire towatch the actions of the birds. For a time they fluttered around andscolded in their pert, boisterous manner. Then, seeing there wasnothing more forthcoming, they began flying about in the woods, butoccasionally came back to see if the next meal was being prepared. Seeing no signs of it, they flew further and further away, and nowprincipally in one direction. 

After a while the quick ears of Mustagan detected a series of unusualcries of the birds. He at once called Big Tom's attention to it, andthey both decided that there was something unusual to cause them thus toact. Not knowing but it might be a wolverine or a wild cat at which thebirds seemed to be so angrily scolding, while the boys and the rest ofthe party remained near the fire they took their guns and carefully madetheir way through the woods to a spot where, without being seenthemselves, they could observe the birds. To their keenestinvestigation nothing unusual was visible. The new, trackless snow wasas yet unmarked by step of man or beast. Still excitedly the birdsacted, and incessantly scolded. Soon the two men noticed that thecentre of their whirlings was a large dead trunk of a tree that had beenbroken off between thirty and forty feet from the ground. Around thisstub of a tree the birds whirled and scolded, and occasionally some ofthem would light on the rough, jagged edge of the top, and seemed to bepeeping down into the heart of the dead tree. The curiosity of the menwas aroused, and they wondered what animal the birds had therediscovered. Immediately they started for it, keeping their guns inreadiness to fire if it, whatever it was, should attempt to escape. When they reached the spot there was not a track visible of any animal. The birds whirled around if possible more noisily than ever, and so itwas evident to the men that there was something in that tree. Drawinghis axe from his belt, Big Tom made ready to pound against the sidewhile Mustagan, with pointed gun, was on the alert to shoot any animalthat the noise should disturb and cause to attempt to escape. Withlusty vigour Big Tom pounded away at the old tree, while carefullyMustagan watched the top. In an instant after there were two very muchamazed Indians. For from the interior of that old tree thus vigorouslyassailed there came the faint cry of a human being! What his firstwords were neither man was particular to inquire. It was enough fortheir quick wits to tell them that they had found the lost man for whomthey were seeking, and that he was still alive!

At once they lifted up their voices and shouted words of cheer andencouragement to the imprisoned Pasche. Then they called to the rest ofthe party who were at the fire to hasten to them. Neither the boys northe men required a second call. They were speedily at the side of thetwo old Indians who, for such people, were very perceptibly excited. 

At first the boys could hardly take in the situation, but quickly itdawned on them that here was an imprisoned, half-starved man who must behelped out of his dangerous predicament. What had best be done was thequestion that Mustagan, Big Tom, and the other Indians were discussing. Some suggested cutting down the big tree at once. This was discouragedby some, who said that the blows of the axe on the dead tree woulddislodge so much dry, dusty, rotten wood that it would about smother theimprisoned man. So it was quickly decided that he must be pulled out ofthe top where, it was quite evident, he had fallen in. At once thetail-ropes of the sleds and the packing and tie lines, which are alsomade of leather, were fastened together, and an effort was made to getone end to the poor fellow inside. In the meantime, while thesepreparations were being made by the Indians, the boys endeavoured tohold some kind of conversation with the imprisoned Pasche. 

"Arrah, my man, " shouted Sam, "and what are ye doing inside there?"

"I fell in, " faintly came back to the listeners. 

"Were ye looking for the cows?" persisted the irrepressible Sam, who wasa great favourite with Pasche, although he often unmercifully chaffedhim. 

"No, but a moose bull was looking for me. "

This answer was the explanation that told the whole story; but, whilethe old Indians were able to now understand at once the whole matter, they left it for Pasche, when rescued, to tell his story. So in themeantime the question was how to liberate him as speedily as possiblewithout injury. They first tried by fastening a stone to one end oftheir improvised leather rope to so throw it up that it would drop intothe hollow tree, as into a chimney. But although they succeeded severaltimes in getting the stone to fall in, yet so jagged was the edge of thebroken wood that the rope would not slide down. This plan failing, thenext one tried was to cut down as large a young tree as the whole partycould handle, and then carry it, and lean it up against the hollow tree, in which was the imprisoned man. Alec, who was a daring climber, atonce volunteered to climb this, and thus carry up one end of the rope, which could then be easily lowered down to Pasche. Ere he startedMustagan handed him a ball of deerskin twine, and told him to put thatinto his pocket, as he might need it before he came down again. Takingoff his overcoat, and tightly fastening his leather coat around him withhis sash belt, Alec gallantly began his difficult task. It was no easywork, as the tree was in some places quite icy and it was hard to gripwith his hands, which soon began to feel the effects of the cold. Buthe gallantly persevered, and, cheered and encouraged by Sam and Frank, he at length succeeded in reaching the top. Here for a time, after acheery shout to Pasche, he rested, while he warmed his nearly frozenhands in his warm mittens, which he had stuck in his sash belt. Then, hauling up sufficient length of line, he carefully dropped it down tothe poor fellow at the bottom. But now another difficulty presenteditself to him. He alone could not haul out the imprisoned man, and themen below could be of little service, as the rope if pulled on wouldsurely get caught in the ragged edge of the rotten tree. It was nowthat Alec saw the value of Mustagan's forethought in giving him thatball of deerskin twine. 

Calling up to him Mustagan said:

"Hold on to the end of that twine, and let the ball drop to me. "

This Alec at once did. Then Mustagan fastened a good solid green birchstick about four feet long and five or six inches in diameter to thestring, and then said to Alec:

"Now draw it up and lay it across the top of the tree, where it willrest firm and strong. "

This was quickly done. Then calling to Pasche to tie the end let downto him about his waist, and then to hold on, he placed the rope over thestrong, smooth green stick he had pulled up, and then gave the word tothe men below to haul away. No second order was necessary, and soonPasche was pulled up to the top. He had no difficulty in slipping downthe inclined tree, weak as he was. Alec also safely reached the ground. Poor Pasche was quickly placed on a dog-sled, and they all hurried backto the fire, where some tea and food were hastily prepared for thehungry, half-frozen man. He was so weak and exhausted that it wasthought best not to trouble him to tell his story until they had allreturned to Sagasta-weekee. 

The journey home was soon made, and there was great rejoicing at therecovery of the poor fellow. The following is his quaint story of hisadventures:

"Well, you see, I was emulous. Les garcons--the boys--they succeed. They capture le renard--the fox--the wild cat, and other animals. Andstill they not natives. So I think it over when I milk la vache, andSam he pushed open la porte and he show me fine cross-fox he caught, andthat make me emulous. So I take my wage le maitre he give, and exchangefor the traps. When my work is done, en avant, on I go to the greatwoods. Aller a pied--I walk--I carry my traps, I set them with muchbait. I get nothing. Le chien--the dog--he follows, he gets in thetraps. Then I try again. I go far away this time. I set my traps, Iawait with tranquillity. It is far in the woods. I wait trois days. Then I go to see if le renard, like Sam's, is in my trap. Aussitot quepossible--as soon as possible--I reach my traps. There is no renard. So I return home. Il fait nuit--it is night. Then I say, A quoi bon?--What good is it?--and stay with my cows. But Sam he comes again and hesay great things about la chasse--the hunting--and so I say, I tryagain; and this time I take the great wolf trap that hang in the stable, and start early, and go far in the woods, and set my traps, and put thebig one, the wolf trap, set with a log made fast to the chain, and thenI retourner--return--to my duties. Three days pass, then I advanceagain in the woods. It is far. Il fait de la neige--it is snowing--when I draw near. I hear a great noise. I draw nearer still. I seethe great moose bull, with his hind foot in the wolf trap. He also seesme. I raise a great shout. A quoi bon?--What good is it? He comes forme. Voulez-vous?--I say. So I fire my fusil--gun--at him. Still hecomes, for now I remember I only had shot for partridge in that gun. J'ai chaud--I am hot. He makes me so, he looks so fierce. His greatears, his long face, all his hair point toward me. I turn, I run. Sodoes he run, but it is toward me. Still he comes. He has still thewolf trap on his foot. The log is fastened to the chain, so it troubleshim. Still on he comes. I can keep ahead, on account of the log, butthe log slips off the chain. So now he comes faster. I run, I fly. Isee him draw near. He looks diabolical. I despair. I see this treelike the mast broken off in the storm. I learn to climb well when Isail on the ship. I rush to the tree with the moose bull close behindme. I drop my mittens, I seize hold of the rough bark, I climb up justas that animal, like le diable--the devil--he rush up, and he strike hisgreat horns against the tree where I was, but I not there, I just above, out of his reach. I dare not go back. So up and up I climb like thesailor as I was, and when I get to the top I find plenty of sticksthere, where some time ago the crows they make the nest, and it seemstrong, and as I could not hold on at the sides of the tree I pullmyself up and try to stand on those sticks, and they break sudden and Idrop, I fall, I sink down into the tree. I throw out my arms to catchhold, but the tree is rotten wood inside, so I lose my grip. The woodit come down with me. I sink into the depths, and there I was. Therotten wood made a great dust as down I slide. It nearly choke me. Icannot call out; my mouth, my eyes, my throat all full. There I stay. I could not climb out, the place too small. I could not work up myknees, so there I stay. My heart gets very sad soon. Il fait nuit--itis night. I am lost. Good-bye, I say, to all. I weep and then Isleep, I wake up with a start, then I sleep again. When I wake again, il fait clair--it is light--above and rejoice. The dust is all out ofmy eyes and mouth. I can move back my head enough to look up and seethe blue sky. Then I call aloud, but there is no response. I thenremember I have some food in my pocket. It is difficile to get at it, but I succeed. I eat it, it is very good. Then I find I have my knifein my pocket. I call again and again. I think I hear a reply; but itis only the birds, the whisky jacks. They fly across my vision at thetop; they look at me, they scream, they mock me. Never mind, I have myknife; so I will hope to cut my way out. It is easy cutting in therotten wood. But the dust affects me, I cough much. I can work butlittle. I have to wait for the dust to settle. The air is bad. When Iget to the hard outside wood I can do nothing, my strength is gone. Itis hard to breathe when I keep still. It is worse when I try to work. So I give myself up to die. I call out at times, and try to think of myfriends, and try to pray, and that comforts me best of all. Thus passesthis second day, and now I am very faint. I can just easily move roundin my prison, but I cannot sit down or lie down. I am very tired. Still I call, and more and more the whisky jacks come and mock me. Theyseem angry I have nothing for them, and so they scold, as they do at thecamp fire when we feed them nothing. To-day for a time they left me, and then they came back and seemed to laugh at me, and then I heardMustagan and Big Tom call, and was rescued. 

"Je suis fache--I am sorry--I went hunting. I will go no more. Sam maycontinue. "

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

KINESASIS'S WONDERFUL STORY--HOW HE WOOED SHAKOONA--THEIR YOUTHFULDAYS--MISKOODELL RESCUED FROM THE BEAR--OOSAHMEKOO WITH HIS GOLD--KINESASIS'S SUCCESSFUL HUNT--HIS FURS STOLEN--MARRIES SHAKOONA--CONFLICTWITH THE OLD WARRIOR. 

The romantic and thoroughly characteristic Indian way in which Kinesasishad obtained his Indian wife was one that had very much interested Mrand Mrs Ross. They had known him for many years, and had ever beenpleased with the kindly, helpful way in which he had always treated hiswife, whom he called Shakoona. "Shakoona" means "the snow-white one, "and those who knew her well, and studied her quiet, gentle manner, saidshe was well named. The terrible loss of her children had been such ashock that her once black, luxuriant tresses had become as white as thesnow, making her name more impressive than ever before. 

The story of how he had obtained his wife Kinesasis was induced to tellone evening at Sagasta-weekee, when fierce winds were howling around theplace and at times seemed to strike with such fury against the housethat they appeared like wild beasts shrieking for their prey. As ageneral thing Kinesasis was not very communicative on matters relatingto himself, but as Mrs Ross, who had some knowledge of how he hadobtained his wife--indeed, her mother had a little to do with itsconsummation--had asked him to tell it for the pleasure of the boys andsome good friends who had come over for a day or two from the mission, he could not refuse. 

The great log fire roared in the large fireplace in the dining room, while round it gathered the expectant listeners. Mrs Ross had sentover to Kinesasis's little home and had brought from thence Shakoona, his wife. She was now, like Kinesasis, getting up in years, yet she wasthe same shy, clever, modest, retiring woman she had ever been, and yet, as will be seen, there was that latent courage in her that mother's lovecan best bring out. The inevitable pipe had to be produced and gravelysmoked by Kinesasis, and those who would smoke with him, ere the talkingcould begin. When this ceremony was over Kinesasis, looking kindly atShakoona, began:

"We had been children together in the forest. Our fathers' wigwams werenot far apart. With other Indian children we had played in the wildwoods, among the rocks and on the shores of the great lakes. When largeenough to help I had to go and try my skill in setting snares for therabbits and partridges and other small game. The trail along which Iused to travel each morning, as I visited my snares and traps, was theone in which I often found little Shakoona getting sticks for the firein her father's wigwam. He was a stern man and cruel, and very fond ofgain. 

"The years rolled on, and I was now a hunter, and could use the bow andarrows of my forefathers, as well as the gun of the white man, which wasnow being brought into the country. Shakoona was now grown up, and wasno longer a child. We often met, and let it be known that we loved eachother. Shakoona's mother and the other members of her family were myfriends, and they all had good reason to be my friends, for one summer, some years before, when Miskoodell was a little child, I saved her fromthe paws of a bear. Her mother had gone out to gather moss and dry itfor the winter use. She had Miskoodell strapped in her moss-bag cradle, with its board at the back. While the mother was at work she left herlittle baby girl in her cradle standing up against a tree. As the mosswas not very good just around that spot the mother wandered off quite adistance to find where it was better. While she was thus hard at work alarge black bear came along from the opposite direction. I happened tobe out in the woods with my bow and arrows shooting partridges, and whatother small game I could find, for I was then only a boy. 

"Where this moss grows the ground is very damp, and it is easy to walkvery still. I came along, not being far behind the bear, and there thefirst thing I saw was that big bear with that baby, cradle and all, inhis forearms. He was standing up on his hind legs and holding itawkwardly, like a man does. "

This last remark created quite a laugh at Kinesasis's expense; but MrsRoss came to his rescue, and declared that the expression was correct. "For a man, " she said, "always awkwardly holds a young baby--the firstone, anyway, " she added, as she saw her amused husband laughing at her. 

"Go on, Kinesasis. You said last that the bear was standing on his hindlegs, and awkwardly holding the baby, as a man does, " said Mrs Ross. 

Thus encouraged by the lady whom he so greatly respected, he went on, and only modified his statement by saying:

"Indian men do, anyway. Well, there I was, not very far behind and wellhid behind the trees, and watched that bear, and think if I had been awhite boy I would have laughed. Strange to say, the baby did not cry, but seemed pleased to have some one lift it up in the cradle. The bearwould put his big nose in the baby's face very gently, and it seemed tolike to feel this cold nose. All at once I saw by the fine bead work inthe cradle that it was the child of the mother of Shakoona, whom Iloved, the little Miskoodell. Then I thought the mother of the childmust be near, and while the bear is kind to the child, as bears of thatkind always are, it will surely attack the mother when she comes. So, boylike, I resolved, in my great love for Shakoona, to try and kill thatbear. It was well for me that I had some steel-pointed arrowheads, obtained at the traders' shop. These I had not been using, as they weretoo valuable to risk losing in shooting small game. However, here wasgame big enough. So I at once removed the flints from three of my bestarrows, and quickly lashed on these long steel points with sinew. 

"All this time the bear was still fooling with that child. He wouldturn it round and round, and then sometimes he would set it down, asthough he wanted it to walk off with him. At length, after failing inthis, it seemed to me as if he were going to start off and carry thechild with him. When I saw this I knew that I must now try and shoothim. So I crawled along on the mossy ground, and dodged from tree totree until I was very near him. Once or twice I was going to shoot, butI was afraid of hitting the child. All at once I saw him drop thecradle and straighten himself up and listen. He had heard somethingthat startled him. It was the mother coming back. Now in the distanceI, too, could see her coming. She had a large bundle of moss on herhead which she was supporting with both hands. She had neither gun norknife. 

"I could wait no longer. I drew my arrow to the head of my bow and, asthe bear was standing up with his side toward me, and his paws were wellup, I aimed for his side, just under the leg, and sent the arrow withall the force I could. I was perhaps twelve years old, but I well knew, like Indian boys, how to use the bow. My arrow struck just where Iwanted it to. It entered his side near the heart. With a savage growlhe jumped, but he had not seen or heard me. He only saw and felt thearrow, and so that was his only enemy, he thought. That is theadvantage of hunting with the bow over the gun. If you can keep hidden, with bow and arrows the animals are not alarmed at your presence, butwith a noisy gun the animal knows where you are and comes for you. Soit was in this case; the bear only tried to get hold of the arrow thatwas sticking into his side. He twisted himself round and round andtried to pull it out with his paw on the opposite side, but I had sentit with such force that he could not succeed. The more he worked at itthe more the blood poured out of the wound. He seemed to have forgottennow all about the child and the coming mother, so I was sure he wasbadly hurt. But he was far from dead, and very angry at the arrow, so Ithought I would give him another one. This one I sent into the otherside, as he was moving round and round. When this second one struck himhe seemed to think that he was in the wrong place, and had better startfor his den; and so off he hurried, coming right by where I was hid. Istill had one steel-pointed arrow. With this one ready to shoot Isprang up before him. I was going to try and shoot him between theeyes, but at the sight of me he threw up his head, and so I shot thearrow into his throat. He gave one great spring at me, but it was hislast, and there he lay quite dead. When we opened him we found that oneof my arrows had entered into his heart, and when he made that lastspring at me it did its work. The mother of Shakoona picked up thecradle in which was Miskoodell, and found her child uninjured. She wasof our race, and therefore did not say much, but I knew that I had madea friend. 

"Some years went by, and brought my presents and asked the father ofShakoona for her to be my wife, but he was stern and cruel, and appearedto have forgotten that I had rescued Miskoodell. Indeed, when told thestory he only said. `It was only a girl, anyway, that was rescued. 'Since we have become Christians, thanks to the missionaries, we nowthink as much of the girls as of the boys. But Wahbunoo, for that washis name, spurned my few gifts, for he was very selfish, and said thathe that would receive Shakoona must bring many gifts, and even the`Keche Shuneou, ' the gold of the white man, ere he could have her. Thiswas bad news, but I saw he was strong in his mind, and so I gathered upmy gifts, which with all Indian ceremony I had laid at his feet, andwithout a word I left his wigwam. That night Shakoona and met for ashort time, and we gave our promise to each other, and vowed to be trueto each other, no matter what might happen. 

"As I saw it was a large price Wahbunoo wanted, I plunged that fall intothe forest with my traps and plenty of weapons. My object was to huntvery hard, and so be able in the springtime to bring in so many skins ofthe silver and black foxes, with beaver, mink, otter, marten, and otherrich furs, that I could change them for rich presents, or even for gold, with the traders, and thus cause to look kindly on my gifts and grant memy wish. To carry out this purpose I went far away, where I was told byhunters that but few ever hunted and that the game I was after was veryplentiful. The reason why it was so little visited by hunters was thatit was reported that great Windegoos, man-eaters, there haunted the deepforests, and that many hunters had mysteriously disappeared. They hadgone there with great hopes of success, but had never returned. Theman-eating Windegoos, that were so great and high that they could brushthe trees aside as they walked along, they said, had devoured them. Soit was said and believed by many. So great was my love for Shakoonathat I cared for none of these stories, and was willing to run all risksfor her sake; and so I made the many days' journey and reached thosehunting grounds. All winter I worked hard, and met with good success. 

"But while I was far away things were going on at the spot where dweltShakoona that were to my hurt. One day there walked into her father'stent a great chief having on his face and body the scars of manybattles. But while he was surely a brave warrior he was a man of fiercetemper, and some of the wives he already had showed the marks of hisfierce anger. The top of the head of one of them was hard and dry, forOosahmekoo--that was his name--had in his anger, because she had notquickly prepared his dinner, rushed at her and, circling the spot withhis knife, had torn away the scalp; and still she lived. ThisOosahmekoo was the man who came with his gifts to buy from Wahbunoo thebeautiful young Shakoona. He had gone off with another tribe in thesouth, called the Sioux and in one of their warlike excursions they hadattacked a band of white people passing over the prairies. They hadcrawled up to them in the darkness of night, and as the watchers hadgone to sleep they had killed them all. Among the pillage and plunderwas a bag of gold. The Sioux then knew not of its worth, so they gaveit to Oosahmekoo, and as he had been much among the fur traders he knewit was valuable and carefully kept it. He had seen Shakoona as sheindustriously did her work, and wanted her for another wife. When heentered the wigwam his manner was so proud and unceremonious that evenWahbunoo's temper got the mastery over his love for gold, and he refusedto let Shakoona be the sixth wife of a man who had no more respect forthe custom of the tribe, and would thus act before the father whose girlhe wished to buy. So he had to pick up his bag of gold and leave thewigwam. His having to leave in this way gave great joy to the mother ofShakoona, and to her brothers and sisters, especially Miskoodell, whowas now a bright young girl herself. 

"But old Oosahmekoo, although repulsed this time, was not to be easilyput off. He saw that he had broken the usages of his tribe in the waythat he had acted, and so, pretending to hide his anger, he found timesto meet the father of Shakoona and offer his gold for her. Withoutletting him know the reason of their so doing, his family all seemedvery indignant that Oosahmekoo should have so insulted the old father, and so they kept him in such a state that he refused the chief's offer, but not in such a way as to discourage him from persisting in hisefforts. 

"The winter passed away, and I prepared to return with my heavy pack ofrich furs. On the trail of many days I reached the hunting lodges ofsome of our people, who, being near, had frequently gone to the village. There they had learned about the efforts of Oosahmekoo to buy my Indianmaiden, and of it they told me. When I heard it my heart got hot, andclutched my knife and said something, but my friends urged me to be wiseand careful, for the old chief was cruel and powerful. Some of themwith lighter loads hurried on, and one who was my true friend went fastand quietly told Shakoona that I was coming on the trail. And some oneelse had told Oosahmekoo, and had also told him that I was the favouritehunter of Shakoona, and that I was bringing home sufficient rich furs tomore than equal his gold in value, to lay at the feet of Wahbunoo. Thenews given to Shakoona filled her heart with joy, while that given tothe old chief made him furious and eager to destroy me. With the helpof her mother, who remembered how I had killed the bear, and thus likelysaved her life, Shakoona was able to get away, and met me on the traillong before I entered the village. From her I heard all there was toknow. She put her arms around my neck and kissed me, and said she woulddie before she would be the sixth wife of such a man. There we promisedthat we would rather die than be separated. We saw that we would haveto be very wise and careful, as my friends had said. I was glad tolearn that all my maiden's family were friendly to me. Only a littlewhile dare Shakoona stay with me. If her stern father missed her therewould be trouble, even if his love for her was only what she, by hersale, could bring to him. Before she left me I told her that in dueform to-morrow I would enter her father's wigwam and open my pack ofrich furs before him, and by their value would win his consent. Thenshe kissed me and quickly hurried back again. That night following wasa bad night for me. "

For a time Kinesasis paused in his narrative, and seemed, Indian thoughhe was, to be deeply moved, while his aged wife buried her head in herblanket and bowed to the floor. Mr Ross, who knew his story, respectedthe old man's feelings, and for a short time said and did nothing; thenhe filled the calumet and gave it to him. The tobacco and the restquieted his perturbed spirits, and handing back the pipe he continuedhis most fascinating story:

"Yes, that night I entered the village was indeed a bad night for me. Evil eyes had been on Shakoona. Cunning steps had followed her, andsharp ears had heard enough of our story to find out what I was going todo next day with my valuable furs that I had been eight long moons inhunting. As I entered the outskirts of the village I was met by a youngIndian with the word that the wigwam of my relatives was cold and empty, as they had not yet returned from their hunting grounds, which were inan opposite direction from the way in which I had come. Very cordialseemed the invitation of that man for me to rest that night in hiswigwam, which was a large one, being made of many dressed buffalo skinssewed together. 

"Without any distrust I accepted his invitation, as was the manner ofour people, and was glad to unstrap my heavy load of furs, as well as mygun and traps and blanket. With much more attention than is generallyshown to one thus coming in, this Indian helped me in various ways. With a good deal of show he hung up my gun and traps for me, and placedmy pack of furs tightly back against the leather wall of the wigwam. Inthe meantime fish and venison were brought in, and a good supper wasprepared and eaten. Afterward we smoked and talked for some time, andthen prepared to sleep. Noticing that the wind outside was rising, heshowed me a place where I could spread my blanket where there would beno draft, but it was away from my pack of furs. At first I thought Iwould bring my furs from the place where they had been put and placethem at my head, but this I saw would give offence, and now as someyoung children were lying down to sleep near them, there was not enoughroom for me. Still a little fearful, I made an excuse and stepped outof the wigwam for a minute. There I saw that the snow was well piled upagainst the leather wall all around. This quieted my fears, and so Ireturned into the wigwam, and being very weary was soon fast asleep. Inthe morning my furs were gone! A thief in the night had cut through theleather, making a hole so large that he could easily and noiselesslylift out my pack of furs. He had left the upper part uncut, so that asquickly as he had obtained the pack he could let the leather down againand thus cover up the hole. For fear the wind should get in and disturbthe inmates, he had quietly laid a large deerskin over the whole placeon the outside. I was in a sad state the next morning, but I kept mylips closed and said but little. The Indian family were much excitedand angry at the theft. The young Indian who had invited me in made agreater ado than anyone. I suspected him at once of being the one whohad robbed me, but I had then no evidence, and so carefully held mytongue. But I thought a great deal, and in time I found out that he wasin the plot. 

"What to do I knew not. However, refusing to again eat under the wigwamwhere I had been so robbed, I took my gun, blanket, and traps and pushedon to the wigwam of my friends, and to my surprise found them in it, andthere they had been for some days. Then I knew that that young Indianwas an enemy. To my friends I told of my success, and of my loss. Weset about the recovery of them at once. Runners were sent to everytrading post describing the contents of the packs and telling thetraders the circumstances of the robbery. There was great indignation. Such robberies are very rare. If the thieves are found out they aregenerally quickly poisoned by the conjurers of the tribe. That is oneof the things they are expected to do. A robber of traps or furs issoon poisoned. Then the traders themselves are down on these things. So the story of the theft was soon known, but the furs were notrecovered until a long time after. 

"Wahbunoo was very cold and repellent. He would not believe my story, and so refused to have me come to his wigwam. So Shakoona and I had tomeet when we could, and that was not often, for the father was cruel andOosahmekoo had many spies. Still, we had many friends. Miskoodell, thelittle sister, was sharp and shrewd, and helped us greatly by warning usof danger. So did her brother, Netahwatee. He was a good hunter, andhad friends who had seen the furs. He had been on the alert, and hadfound out that the young Indian who had invited me into his wigwam had, during the winter, hung around the tent and had asked Shakoona to be hiswife. She had repelled him with scorn, and Netahwatee had told him thatshe was fond of Kinesasis, and that even now he was away in the foresthunting, to bring in sufficient rich furs to buy the consent of theirfather. At this news from Netahwatee, he arose and left the tent, buthe ground his teeth as he went out. After that he was often seen inearnest talk with Oosahmekoo, the old chief, and it was the belief ofmany that they had been the ones who had planned the stealing of thefurs. But they were cunning, and so covered up the tracks that a longtime passed ere the truth came out. But, although some of the familywere friendly toward me, the father of Shakoona turned more and moreagainst us. The gold of the old chief was offered again and again, andat length I heard that there was a likelihood that he would yield, although Shakoona still declared that she would throw herself from thecliff into the lake rather than marry him. And this I think she wouldhave done, for we loved each other, and do still. "

Here the old man stooped over and, tenderly lifting up the head of hisaged wife, kissed her on the forehead. 

"One day some little boys out hunting rabbits among the great rocksoverheard some earnest talking. At first they were frightened, and wereabout running home when one of them, who was Shakoona's youngestbrother, proposed that they creep to the top of the rocks and try andsee who the talkers were on the other side. Noiselessly they crawled tothe top, and then as they peeked over whom should they see but Wahbunooand Oosahmekoo in earnest talk? They saw the chief with a fire bag thatseemed heavy and saw him offer it to Wahbunoo, who took it and held it. Then the little boys slid down the rocks and returned to the tents. Netahwatee's little brother told what he had seen, and the brother toldhis mother and Miskoodell. They talked it over, and Miskoodell was sentto warn us of what was being done. 

"So that very night we quietly left the and hurried to a place whereNetahwatee, who had gone on some hours before, met us with a white man, a missionary. He was pleased to hear from Netahwatee that there was anIndian couple who wanted to be married by the Book, in the Christianway, and not in the old pagan Indian manner; but, " said Kinesasis, witha bit of a twinkle in his eye, "he did think it was a queer idea of oursthat we wanted to be married out there in the forest by moonlight. However, as we had with us what he called witnesses, he married us. Wedid not then return to the village, but went off with some friendlyrelatives at a trading post where the Indians were all Christians. Netahwatee and the others who had been with us went back at once andtold how we had met the missionary and had been married with the Book. Strange to say, when Wahbunoo heard this he said he did not care, andwould not oppose us as we were married by the Book. He was verysuperstitious, and was afraid that evil would come to him if he seemedto be angry with anyone who had had anything to do with the Book. 

"It was very different, however, with Oosahmekoo, the old chief. He waswild with anger. He made many threats. He was not as cunning as hegenerally was, and so he told his plans to get revenge. He was going towaylay me and kill me on the trail. Some of my friends overheard histhreats, and a swift runner put me on my guard. I felt that my youthwas a match for his years, and then I had won my loved Shakoona. So Ihad no fear. I left my wife among friends, and started on the returntrail. We met in conflict, and I was not hurt. He was quietly buriedthe next day. "

Here Kinesasis ceased. He could say no more that night, the memory ofthe battle came up so vividly before him, although many years had passedaway since it had occurred. Since then he and his old wife had becomeChristians. He paused for an instant, and then went over to the placewhere on the floor the heroine of his story, his true little wife, hadsat during the long recital. Then tucking her arm in his, as lovinglyand as affectionately as any white man could have done, they quicklyslipped out of the house and returned to their own little dwellingplace. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

COMMENTS ON KINESASIS'S WONDERFUL STORY--THE PACK OF FURS RECOVERED--HONESTY OF INDIANS--THEIR DIFFERENT HUNTING GROUNDS--THE GOLDEN RULE--THE DISHONEST FOREIGN INDIAN--HIS SUDDEN DEATH. 

The next morning the wonderful story of Kinesasis, which had producedsuch a deep impression on all, was thoroughly discussed. During itsrecital some one had quietly turned down the lamps, and thus the lightsfrom the bright fireplace had full play upon him. This seemed to add tothe effect of the scene, as frequently Kinesasis, in his intenseearnestness and few but strong movements, stood in the bright light orturned into a shadowy place. As the story was light and shadowy itself, so also seemed in appearance this dramatic old Indian so eloquent withhis theme. He had deeply stirred and excited the boys as he had movedalong in his story; and not only this, but he had changed their ideasconcerning him. This complete revulsion of feeling had come at theclose, when the old Indian, whom they had thought was so cold anddestitute of sentiment, had stooped down and kissed his wife, as he hadalso done before during the recital of the story. It was done in a waythat was so real and genuine that it completely broke them down. Theydeclared that morning that they would not quickly judge anyone again. They had thought him phlegmatic and unlovable, and now here had come outfrom the heart of this Indian, of such a rugged exterior, a story and anexhibition of love and devotion more genuine and beautiful than any thathad ever been revealed to them in song or story. 

"And for very many years, " said Mrs Ross, "he has been kind and true tothat quiet, industrious little wife, who as a young maiden was so trueto him and would undoubtedly have died rather than marry that chief. "

"What about his pack of furs?" said Frank. "And did they find out thethief and put the conjurers after him?"

"I am glad you have mentioned it, " said Mr Ross. "I have heardKinesasis tell the story of their recovery, and will give you hisversion of it. As regards the actual transgressors, they must have beenthe old chief who was killed and the young Indian whom Shakoona hadrefused. When the old chief was killed the young fellow disappeared andwas never heard of afterward. When the leather wigwam that had been cutinto was carefully examined it was found that the knife had been used onthe inside, and that the great pack of furs had been handed out, sothere must have been at least two persons engaged in the robbery. Weekslater some women out snaring rabbits in a dense swampy place found thepack cached up among the branches of a great spruce tree. It was socompletely hidden in the close branches that it was a wonder that theyever discovered it. The only clue they had was that a great wolverinecame tumbling out of the tree and hurried away into the dense forest. The women, like the men, knew what clever animals these wolverines areto find out where venison or other game has been hid away until needed. So, as their curiosity was excited, they carefully searched the tree, which was a very large one, and there in among the dense branches theyfound the pack of Kinesasis. They were not able to reach it, butreported their discovery when they returned to the village. Kinesasisand others were soon after it. It was well that they found it when theydid, as the wolverine had cut through the outer coverings of deerskin, and had already ruined several valuable furs. In an hour more therewould have been nothing worth taking away, so terribly destructive arethese animals when they thus find anything of fur or game. 

"Strange to say, old Wahbunoo would not accept anything from Kinesasis. The death of the old chief had very much disturbed him, and it also gavehim such an idea of Kinesasis's prowess that he had to respect him. Thebag of gold also disappeared, and to this day none knows what became ofit. Kinesasis carried his furs to the Hudson Bay Company's store, andreceived enough for them to make him and Shakoona comfortable for many aday. "

"I have always heard that Indians were so honest with each other abouttheir furs and traps, " said Alec; "but this stealing of Kinesasis'swhole pack seems to knock that idea over. What are we to believe aboutit?"

"What you have heard about the honesty of the Indians is the truth, "said Mr Ross. "This stealing of the furs of Kinesasis was not anordinary theft for gain. The object of it was to prevent him fromhaving sufficient gifts to satisfy the father of the maiden of hischoice. The fact that the furs were hid away as they were showed this. They could not bury them, as the ground was frozen like granite; theydare not burn them for fear of detection; and the ice was too thick onthe rivers or lakes to be quickly cut through. It was very evident thatthey did not try to sell them. "

"But did not the thieves hide them there so that they could go and getthem, and sell them when the excitement of their loss had passed over?"said Alec, who was a boy who had a habit of seeing things from differentsides and liked to have all the difficulties cleared up. 

Mr Ross admired this trait in Alec's character, and always endeavouredto meet it in a way that was helpful to the lad. So to this lastquestion his answer was:

"No Indian who wished to preserve anything of value for future use wouldthink of putting it up in such a place. They all know the thievish, destructive habits of the wolverines, and other animals of that kind, that quickly detect and destroy everything destructible if placed in atree, in the manner in which this was done. The wonder was that thiswas not found out much sooner and completely destroyed. "

"Tell us, please, " said Sam, "how the hunters act toward each other inregard to their hunting grounds and furs. Have they any titles to thedifferent places where they hunt year after year?"

"They have no written titles, " said Mr Ross, "but for generations thesame families have hunted in the same localities. Then some Indians, generation after generation, are noted as famous hunters of certainanimals. For example, Big Tom is noted as a successful moose hunter, and so were his immediate ancestors. Others made a speciality of thebeavers, others of the otter, and thus it went. These Indian familiesnaturally had localities where these different animals abounded, although there were seasons when other varieties of fur-bearing animalsswarmed through these regions, and for a time were really more numerousthan the ones there generally hunted. As might have been expected, thehunters of the moose, reindeer, black bears, and other large animalsthat wander over immense districts had the right of following them inany direction. The hunters and trappers of the rich fur-bearinganimals, however, generally kept in certain regions year after year. Sometimes a hunter, in order to reach his own grounds, had to passthrough, what we might call the preserves of three or four differentfamilies. I once accompanied a hunter to his grounds, and we saw noless than seventy traps of other Indians on the trail as we passed alongmile after mile. In one of them was a beautiful mink. My Indiancompanion at once stopped, and, putting his pack off his back, opened itand cut off some of his bait. Then he took the mink out of the trap andreset it, supplying it with his own bait. The mink he tied to the topof a young sapling, which he bent down for the purpose. When he let goof the young tree it sprang up so that the mink hung in the air, aboutfifteen feet from the ground. Here it was safe from the prowlingwolverines and other animals. Then the Indian made some peculiar marksupon the tree with his axe. His pack was then again shouldered, and weproceeded on our way. I was very much interested in his proceedings, and so when he had completed his work I asked him if that trap belongedto his brother or some relative. 

"`No, ' he replied, `I do not yet know whose hunting ground this is, butmy duty is to do as you have seen me act. Perhaps when that huntercomes along to-morrow or next day he will find another mink in thattrap. Then with two instead of one he will be the more pleased. '"

"Well done, honest Indian!" shouted the boys, when they heard this. "There is a lesson for many a white man. "

"And boys, too, " added Sam. 

Continuing, Mr Ross said: "This was the understood custom. It mightseem a little burdensome on the man who had the farthest to go, andquite a tax on his supply of bait. But then he had the advantage whenhe reached his hunting grounds, in that there were fewer humanfootsteps, and, in all probability, correspondingly more game. "

"Were there no exceptions--none who would take a mink or otter if theyhad a chance from a neighbour's trap, if they thought they could escapedetection?" asked Alec. 

"I only remember of one case occurring in many years, " said Mr Ross, "and there was soon a dead man at the end of it. It was the winterafter the great flood in Red River. A number of Indians who lived nearits mouth were driven out by the great flood. Some of them came intothis North country. The most of them were industrious and worked hard. By fishing, shooting, and hunting where no persons specially claimed thelocalities they did well, and got on as did the others. There were afew among them who apparently did nothing, but lounged about and livedon the industrious ones. No notice was taken of these. There was oneman, however, who soon began to be talked about. He was not known tohave any traps, nor was he ever seen to make any dead falls or otherthings to catch the fur-bearing animals. Yet he often sauntered intothe trading post and brought out from under his coat a fine mink ormarten, and sometimes even a splendid otter. Soon some of the huntersbegan to speak about strange tracks about their traps. One hunter toldof how he had visited one of his otter traps and had found a quantity ofhairs of an otter on the teeth, and yet the trap was set. He had alsoobserved where somebody who chewed tobacco had been spitting on the snownear this same otter trap. Now, while these northern Indians are greatsmokers, they never chew tobacco, but this suspected man, who had in theRed River country been much with the whites, was nearly always chewingand spitting. Then there was the suspicious circumstance that a fewdays after, he was offering at the Company's store a fine otter skin forsale. The Indians then were nearly all pagans, and there was no law inthe land but their own tribal one. A secret council was held, and itwas decided to put a watch on this man. Two or three of the cleverestIndians were appointed to watch his steps. Cunning though he was, theywere too clever for him, and they so well followed him up that they sawhim take a mink out of a trap. Then, resetting the trap, he hid themink under his coat, and rapidly disappeared in the forest. Thedetectives did not rush out and capture him. They did not even let himknow of their presence. As quietly as they had followed him, so theydid return. The secret council was again summoned. A message was sentto a noted conjurer of the tribe, famous for his deadly poisons. Twodays after a big Indian lay dead in the birch wigwam of one of the RedRiver Indian families. The burial was very quick and quiet. Not muchwas said. Indians do not, on some subjects, talk much, but it wasobserved for long years after that no hunter ever complained of histraps being robbed. "

"I cannot see, " said Frank, "why any honest person could complain of anysuch laws as those. They were certain that he was guilty, and then theyquickly punished him. "

"Yes, " said Mr Ross; "to some it may seem severe that he had to bekilled, but the severity in this case crushed out the crime. None dareimitate him for fear of suffering his doom. "

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

HOME AMUSEMENTS AND STUDIES--HAPPY DAYS AT SAGASTA-WEEKEE--STORIES OFTHE EARLY HUNTERS--METHODS OF HUNTING BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OFFIREARMS--WOLVES MORE DREADED THEN--STORY OF TWO OF KINESASIS'SCHILDREN--KILLED BY WOLVES--SHAKOONA'S SORROW--SAVED BY THE CARESSES OFLITTLE CHILDREN. 

Sagasta-Weekee was at all times a cozy, homelike place, but never did itseem more inviting and comfortable than when blizzard storms roaredround it, or when fierce snowstorms seemed to make their mightiestefforts to see if they could not bury it in their enormous drifts ofwhitest snow. These terrific wintry gales sometimes made the housetremble on its foundations, and occasionally so shook the building thatpictures hung on the wall would swing, and spoons in a tumbler on themantelpiece would perceptibly jingle. But, in spite of the war of theelements outside, all was brightness and bliss within. There wereendless resources of innocent amusement or work for all. A splendid, useful course of readings had been marked out for the boys, and Mr Rosssaw that this, as well as the books prescribed by their teachers athome, were faithfully read and studied. Then the rest of the time wasdevoted to recreation and work. A capital workshop, well supplied withtools, including a complete turning lathe, as well as fine saws fordelicate fretwork, was always open to them, and in it many a pleasantand useful hour was spent. 

Frank excelled as the mechanical genius of the trio, and so generally tohim was assigned the work of making any difficult repairs needed on thedog-sleds or harness, for it was a point of honour among the boys tokeep their own outfits in perfect condition themselves. 

Sam excelled, as might have been expected from his nationality, as areader and reciter, and during the long evenings added much to theprofit and diversion of the household. 

Alec had a sweet, well-cultivated voice for one so young, andparticularly excelled in singing the sweet songs and ballads of oldScotland. Often amidst the hush of a still, quiet night, or even in thelulls between the roar of the blizzard or tempest, might have been heardthe sweet notes of "Auld Lang Syne, " "Annie Laurie, " "Comin' Through theRye, " "John Anderson, My Jo, " and many others that brought up happymemories of home, and touched for good all listening hearts. Anothersource of interest to the boys was for Mr Ross to invite in someintelligent old Indian, like Memotas, Big Tom, Mustagan, Kinesasis, orPaulette, to tell some remarkable incident of his life, either as ahunter or traveller. Then, as there were living at the village not faraway a number of Indians who had gone out with great Arctic adventurersor explorers, and had been gone for years, some of them had veryremarkable stories to tell. 

As Kinesasis had had charge of the dogs during the summer, and was stillmuch employed by Mr Ross on various jobs about the place, the boysbecame very well acquainted with him. He was a thorough Indian in hisactions and modes of thought, and only saw things from his own stand-point. He was very observant, and had been quietly studying these threeyoung "palefaces, " whom his master, the Ookemou, Mr Ross, had broughtacross the great sea. At first their active, demonstrative ways, sodifferent from the quiet and taciturn manners of young Indians, triedhim considerably. Yet he soon became accustomed to them. Then theirgrit and courage and perseverance under difficulties soon won hisadmiration. They had their mishaps, and, of course, in their endlesssports and adventures they had to take their share of knocks, but underthem all they were so good-natured and resourceful, as well as resoluteand fearless, that the old Indian talked much about them among his ownpeople, and said: "It was no wonder that the palefaces succeeded, if alltheir boys were like these three. " But what completely made him theirfriend was Alec's terrible adventure with the wolves, and his signaltriumph over their instinct and cunning by his resourceful tact andsplendid endurance. Poor Kinesasis had reason to rejoice over everyvictory obtained over these fierce northern wolves. Some years beforethis they had during his absence broken into his wigwam and devoured twoof his children. Some time later Mr Ross told the story to the boys ashe had heard it from Kinesasis himself. It was as follows:

"It was long ago, before the white traders had sold many guns to theIndians. Then the game was very much more plentiful than it is now inthe forests. The wild animals were then also very much tamer. The bowsand arrows of the hunters made but little noise in comparison with theloud report of the gunpowder. The result was that the animals were muchmore easily approached. "

"Is it true, then, " asked Sam, "that the young animals now, that havenot as yet heard the firing of a gun, are wilder than the young oneswere before gunpowder came into use?"

"Certainly, " replied Mr Ross. "It is well-known by those who havestudied it that all wild animals, and even birds, very soon becomewilder and more alert and watchful after the introduction of gunpowder, and, what is stranger, they seem to be able to impart to their progenythis same spirit of fear and caution. "

"I have often wondered, " said Frank, "how it was that the Indians wereable to kill sufficient game to keep themselves alive before they beganto purchase gunpowder. "

"What I have said in reply to Sam's question partly answers yours, "answered Mr Ross. "When a boy I often talked with old hunters who formany years hunted ere they fired a gun. They killed partridges withclubs, or with a noose on the end of a pole, as some of them can do yet, as has already been seen. Then they had no difficulty in crawling up towithin a few feet of the deer or beavers. "

"What about the more savage animals, such as the bears and wolves?"asked Alec. 

"As regards the bears, as the hides of the old fellows were hard topierce with arrows sufficient to give a mortal wound, the Indiansdepended mostly on the hand-to-hand conflict with the knife or tomahawk. With the wolves it was different. Before the guns were introduced theIndians dreaded the encounters with the wolves more than any otheranimals. It is true that they feared the fire as much then as now, butthe Indians suffered from many disadvantages. Steel axes were but few, and very expensive. Now, armed with guns, behind a good fire, huntersare comparatively safe. Then, the wolves patiently waited until thelimited wood supply was exhausted, and then closed in for the finalstruggle. It was then teeth against tomahawks, and the chances weremore in favour of the wolves than now. Solitary hunters or singlefamilies caught by a pack were frequently overpowered and devoured. Climbing up into the trees afforded a temporary respite, as wolvescannot, like bears, there follow their victims. But the wolves werepersistent besiegers, and woe to the unfortunate hunter who was thustreed by them unless help was near. For days they would keep watch, dayand night, until the unfortunate one, chilled and benumbed by the bittercold, fell into their midst and was speedily devoured. In those daysthe wolves were much more numerous than they are now, and morecourageous in their attacks on the wigwams or even small settlements ofthe Indians. When distempers cut off the rabbits, or the deer werescarce, the wolves were very audacious in their attacks. 

"It was one winter when the cold was terrible and the snow unusuallydeep that the sad tragedy came to the wigwam of Kinesasis. The reindeerhad not come down from the barren plains as usual that winter, and theother animals generally hunted by the wolves were few and far between. Some of the Indian hunters had had some very narrow escapes, and theresult was that very seldom did anyone venture far alone into hishunting grounds. Kinesasis was always a man of great courage andstrength. He laughed at the caution of the others, and boldly pushed onto his distant hunting grounds whenever he saw a prospect of success. His wigwam, in which he left Shakoona and the two little ones during hisabsence, was made as warm and comfortable as such a habitation can be. It was arranged with the best of birch bark, and around outside, up towithin a few feet of the top, Kinesasis piled the dry moss of thatcountry, which grows there so plentifully. He cut abundance of wood, and left plenty of frozen meat and fish on the high staging outside. The only drawback was that the wigwam was situated on the outskirts ofthe village, close to the dark forest. Once a day, when the ice wouldbe cut by the men of the village, Shakoona would take her buckets, madeof the skin of the sturgeon, and go to the lake for her supply of water. It did not take her very long to make the trip, and she loitered not onthe way, as she generally had to leave her two little ones alone. However, as the little girl was eight years of age and her brother onlytwo years younger, the mother knew they were quite able to take care ofthemselves under ordinary circumstances during her brief absence fromthem. 

"One day, however, when she returned she was horrified beyond allexpression to find that a couple of great wolves had noiselessly crawledin from the forest, and were greedily devouring her children. With ascream, but not with a faint, she threw one of the leather buckets ofwater on the smouldering fire which burned on the ground in the centreof the wigwam. Then she instantly seized an axe, which fortunately wasnear the door by which she had entered. The clouds of steam whichfilled the wigwam quite disconcerted the wolves. When she had enteredthey had at once begun to growl more savagely, and seemed as though theywould spring at her. The clouds of hot steam at once stopped theirsnarling, as well as their tearing at the bodies of the children, and, before they could do any further injury, Shakoona with one blow cutthrough the backbone of one, severing the spinal cord, thus renderinghim powerless to move. The other one sprang at her ere she coulddisengage the axe for another blow. The wolf's object had been to catchher by the throat, but she had quickly thrown up her arm as a guard, andinto it the cruel brute sank his great yellow fangs. 

"Shakoona was in a terrible position now but her presence of mind didnot desert her, and so she quickly backed around the fire in such a waythat before the wolf realised his position his hind feet were in thestill red-hot embers of the fire. With a howl of pain he let go hisgrip on her arm and made for the door, which was of mooseskin, and whichlike a curtain had dropped back into place. 

"In the meantime Shakoona's screams had been heard, and Indians fromother wigwams speedily rushed to her help. Little did they realise, asthey were coming, her sad bereavement. The first one to attempt toenter was an Indian woman. Just as she was entering the wolf withscorched feet was rushing out. The collision, as they met, knocked thewoman over, and so delayed the wolf for a second or two that the nextcomer, who happened to be a stalwart hunter, was able to draw histomahawk, and with one strong blow drove the keen edge of his weaponinto the animal's brain. When these two Indians, and others who hadquickly joined them, had entered the wigwam they saw a terrible sight--two children half devoured and a mother so overwhelmed with sorrow thatnot a tear would come from those great sad eyes. Then there was thewolf with severed spine, but still alive and looking more fiendish thanever. Very soon was the savage brute dispatched and his body thrown outof the wigwam. 

"Loving hands quickly arranged and covered up what was left of the twochildren, and efforts were made to comfort the poor mother in herterrible sorrow. Swift runners were sent away to Kinesasis, to tell himof his great loss and to bring him home, as many feared if his wife didnot soon begin to weep she would die. When Kinesasis heard the news hetoo was nearly heart-broken, but when he reached his wigwam and beheldShakoona he crushed down his own sorrow to try and comfort her, who had, on account of the way the great bereavement had come to her, sufferedmuch more than he. For days and days Shakoona was as one in a dream. She was gentle as usual, but those great eyes, so sad and dry, seemed tohaunt all who visited her. All said she soon would die unless she gotrelief. They tried many ways, but all in vain, until at length a kindlyIndian woman went out, and brought in the boys and girls, with whom herlittle ones used to play. At first Shakoona seemed pained by theirpresence, but as they looked into those sad eyes they began weeping, and, childlike, they threw their arms around her and wept. Passively atfirst she received these fondlings, but soon the children's caressesbroke down the barriers, and the hot tears began to flow; and the womanwas saved from death or insanity. But her hair turned white shortlyafterward, and she has ever since been that sad little woman that youhave seen her. Kinesasis has never been cruel to her, as, alas! toomany of the pagan Indian husbands are to their wives. "

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

THE BEAVERS, AND SOMETHING ABOUT THEM--TWO HUNTERS AT SAGASTA-WEEKEE--AGENERAL INVITATION TO A BEAVER HUNT ACCEPTED--THE PREPARATIONS--THETRIP--DOG-TRAVELLING IN THE WOODS--SAUCY WILD ANIMALS--THE WOLF'S COVE--THE BOYS' PLUNGE IN THE SNOWDRIFT--THE RESCUE. 

The beaver is a very interesting animal. In the previous summer theboys had been fortunate enough to see a colony of beavers at work duringa beautiful moonlight night. They had also subsequently examined thewonderful dam these industrious, ingenious creatures had made, and weremuch amazed and surprised not only at its size, but also at the cleverway in which every part of it was constructed to meet any emergency thatmight occur by flood or freshet. 

They also noticed that the Indians did very little hunting of thebeaver, or, indeed, of any of the rich fur-bearing animals during thesummer months. Now, however, that the winter had come they were allalert and active, and as soon as their fall fisheries were completedthey began making preparations for the winter harvest of furs. On theirsuccess in a great measure depended the happiness and comfort ofthemselves and their families. They lived too far north to cultivatethe land with any degree of success, and hence it was only by the saleof their furs that they were able to buy the essential necessaries fortheir simple lives. 

The fur is only considered prime in the winter months. That killed insummer is thin and poor, and for it the hunters receive but a low price. But when the cold weather sets in, the fur becomes thick and valuable. Then the hunters leave their homes and go to the distant huntinggrounds, often hundreds of miles away. Many are their hardships andprivations. They take but little food with them, and so have to dependon what they can hunt or shoot. In some regions where the fur-bearinganimals are fairly numerous those that are good for food are very few. The result sometimes is that Indians doing well in getting the rich fursof the black and silver foxes, otters, minks, and martens, and someother fur-bearing animals, are nearly starving most of the time. On theother hand, those who succeed in capturing abundance of beavers, wildcats, muskrats, and bears, live very well, as all of these animals areeaten by the natives, although their furs do not bring as high a priceas the others. 

The discovery of a large beaver house is a great piece of good luck toan Indian hunter. Sometimes, when the house is a small one, a hunterwill with his axe only put his mark of ownership on a tree near by, thenleave it undisturbed. Scores of hunters may happen to come along, butwhen they see that mark they never think of trying to get those beavers. It may be that the owner will mark it the second year, and again leaveit for the beaver to multiply the third time. Each year the beavers areundisturbed they take down and enlarge their house, until, if thus leftfor years, and the dam keeps good and the water supply sufficient, theywill continue extending their habitation until it is as large as a good-sized haystack. 

There came one day to Sagasta-weekee, on a visit, a couple of cleverIndian hunters who were great friends of Mr Ross. Among other thingsthey told him, was that two nights away they had a large beaver housewhich they had preserved for three years, and that they were soon goingto take out the beavers. This was just the news Mr Ross wanted tohear, as he had often talked with the boys about these wonderfulanimals, and was anxious that they should see how the cleverness of thehunters outmatched all the skill and sagacity of the beavers. 

Then, as it was about a hundred miles away, it would be a capitalwinter's trip and give them some idea of the Indian hunter's life. Theywould have to camp out in the wintry forest, and would thus find thedifference between sleeping in the summer, with the temperature up toeighty, and sleeping in the wintry cold, with the spirit thermometerperhaps indicating fifty below zero. 

When the boys heard of the promised trip they were wild with excitement. As much preparation had to be made, the day selected to start was abouta week after the visit of the two Indians. It was indeed a busy week. Each of the three boys was to take his dog-train. They would beexpected to take on their own sleds their beds, clothing, and part ofthe supplies. Snowshoes were made for them, and every day theydiligently practiced this new method of locomotion. They had manyamusing tumbles. Sometimes, where the snowdrifts were deep, when theyattempted to pass over, they somehow or other would get the snowshoes sotangled up that over they would go on their heads. The more theystruggled, the deeper they sank in the light, fleecy snow, until itseemed as though nothing was visible but a pair of snowshoes wildlywobbling about. Then the experienced Indian who always accompanied themwould come to the rescue. Gliding up gracefully on his own snowshoes tothe struggling lad, he would reach down and, seizing him under the arms, would quickly lift him up and once more place him on his feet amidst thelaughter of the others. Thus they practiced and fell, tried again andagain, until the knack was accomplished and they could get along verynicely. 

In the meantime diligent preparations were being made indoors for thisexcursion to the home of the beavers. Abundance of fat food was cooked. Dogshoes were manufactured, as well as large moccasins for thetravellers. 

In due time the start was made. It was to the boys a most unique andnovel affair. First ran the guide, a stalwart Indian, who could easilykeep ahead of the fastest train. It is the duty of the guide, byrunning on in front, to indicate the best route. He must never make atrack where it is not safe for the dogs with the heavy sleds to follow. If he finds a great fallen tree in the way it is his duty, not to jumpover the trunk and push on, but to circle around it where the partyfollowing can easily advance. In rocky places he must ever have in mindthe loaded sleds following, and walk or run where there is an availabletrail. He must never go between two trees growing so closely togetherthat there will be any difficulty for the widest sled following to passbetween them. He is supposed to know the strength or weakness of theweakest train or runner, and so must decide on each resting as well ascamping place. In his footsteps all are to implicitly follow, and sohis position is one of great responsibility. As a natural result, he issupposed to receive much higher pay than the ordinary dog-driver, whohas not much care beyond that of his own dog-train. 

This being the first trip made in this direction this season, there wasnot the least vestige of a road or trail. Tornado blasts had sweptthrough the forests which abounded most of the way. The result was thatfallen trees were very numerous. Some of them were so tangled togetherthat it was at times easier to cut through than make the long detour toget around them. Knowing this, the guide carried with him an axeinstead of a gun. 

An old, experienced, powerful train of dogs went first. The sagaciousleader never swerved from the tracks of the guide. No matter howwinding or difficult the trail, he never wandered from it. Sometimes hecould see the guide straight ahead, while the path seemed to veer atright angles. While the sight of the guide ahead might stimulate him togreater effort and speed, still he knew his duty was to keep in thewell-defined track. A straight cut to the guide might run him into adangerous gully or over a steep precipice. So, knowing his duty, perhaps taught it by bitter experience--and dogs have long memories--hetried his best in his doglike way to do his duty. 

Mr Ross's train followed next. They were jet-black in colour, and werelarge, magnificent dogs. They were so trained that they as readilyresponded to his calls as a good horse does to the pulling of the reins. 

Then following came the boys with their three trains. Frank, having thelargest dogs, had the lead. Sam came next, and then Alec with thelightest but by far the fleetest train in the whole party. Behind wasanother sled of Mr Ross's with more supplies, and then, bringing up therear, was a sled belonging to the two Indians who owned the beaverhouse. While one of them drove the train, the other, on account of themany fallen trees in the way that had to be cut out, was on ahead withMemotas, the guide. 

As they thus set off they made quite a display. The boys were simplywild with the excitement of the hour. They looked very picturesque intheir handsome outfits. Their deerskin suits, over the warmest offlannel underclothing, were very beautiful, as they were made under MrsRoss's direction by the most clever Indian women. They were beautifullyadorned with bead and silkwork and trimmed with fur. Their overcoats, as before stated, were made of the heavy white blankets of the HudsonBay Company. These blankets are very warm and firm, as they areespecially made for that cold country. The caps and mittens were of thefinest fur. Their moccasins were extra large, to allow for theadditional wrapping of duffel required over the warm woollen hose. Theyalso had warm leggings of strouds, beautifully fringed and fastened withstrong garters artistically worked with porcupine quills. A warm, well-lined hood or capote was attached to each overcoat. This the boys foundof very great service and comfort, especially when their inexperiencedsleigh dogs were unable to keep the heads of their sleds, at times, fromstriking against some snow-laden tree with such force that the snow ingreat quantities came tumbling about them. But for these capotes muchof the snow would have found its way into their faces and down under thecollars of their coats. 

To be like the rest of the party, the lads were each the possessor of afine dog-whip. Of course, they were not so long and heavy as thoseordinarily used, but they could, when well handled, make a pistol-likecrack, and for this purpose only were they used. 

The first few miles of the route were on the ice over places well-knownto all, as in their frequent outings they had gone in this direction. It was well-known to Alec, for it was along this very way that he hadskated so rapidly after leaving the river, with the howling wolvesbehind him. 

On and on they pushed to the extreme end of the lake, for they wished toavail themselves of as much of the ice route as possible, as it is somuch easier travelling on the ice than in the forest, where there is notrail. 

When the sleds reached the spot where they were to enter the forest theyfound that the guide and his Indian comrade had cut down some dry treesand made up a splendid fire. No sooner had the trains arrived than someof the sleds were hastily untied, the deerskin wrappings which were onall were opened, and a couple of large kettles were speedily filled withthe clear, light snow and placed on the roaring fire. So light andfeathery is the snow that the kettles have to be filled and refilled agood many times ere sufficient is put in to make them full of water. Then the provision bags were opened, and abundance of food was taken outfor all. 

One of the Indians, who was skillful at this kind of work, was detailedas special cook and general waiter for Mr Ross and the boys. Veryquickly he had ready the dinner of the good things Mrs Ross hadprepared for them. The boys were surprised at the quantity of the fatfood that was placed before them, and were almost ashamed of the vigourand capacity of their appetites. Nature, true to her instincts, puts inthe craving for the kind of food most essential for people in differentparts of the world. 

About an hour was allowed for the dinner halt, and then the journey wasresumed. There were the usual mishaps that necessarily belonged to thismode of travel. Sleds were occasionally upset, and if at the timeanyone happened to be riding, he was buried in the snow, from which heemerged none the worse for the plunge, but generally amidst the laughterof those more fortunate. Several times a fox or some other animal ranacross the trail, and then it required some effort and sternness tocontrol the dogs and prevent them from starting off after these animals, which are their natural foes. The older dogs had learned somewhat byexperience the folly of trying while thus harnessed to heavy sleds tocapture wild foxes, and so merely confined their efforts to loudbarkings and a little more vigorous tugging at their traces. Theyounger and less disciplined trains, however, with less discretion andmore zeal, at once dashed away from the beaten trail made by the trainsahead of them, and recklessly plunged into the forest after the game. 

"Who would imagine, " said Frank, "that dogs so heavily loaded could thusfairly fly over the snow-covered logs and rocks and among the trees atsuch a rate?"

They learned then, and in many an experience afterward, of the latentstrength there is in an apparently wearied dog. Only give him thestimulus to develop it, and it is simply surprising to all who witnessit. 

Alec's fleet train was the most excited and intractable. Bruce couldnot stand the sight of a saucy fox or a snarling wild cat passing acrossthe trail, only a few hundred feet ahead of him, with any degree ofequanimity. After him he must and would go, in spite of Alec's hardestefforts to keep him in the trail. Bruce, with the other three dogs, about as eager as himself, would often leave the track and with a spurtget off several hundred yards in the woods before he could be stopped. Sometimes their stopping would be rather abrupt. Generally the treeswere so close together that it was not long ere the head of the sledcame in violent collision with a great one. This, of course, stoppedthem most effectually. At other times, while Bruce, the leader, decidedto take one side of a small tree, the dog next to him took the otherside. This divergency of views on the part of the dogs also quickly putan end to their advance. 

Alec, in his determined efforts to arrest their progress at these times, did not always escape unscathed. When in a bad forest where the snowwas deep, he often would stumble and fall, and, before he could regainhis feet, had acted the part of a snowplough as he was rapidly draggedalong. He received some painful bruises, but he pluckily kept to hiswork, and so had his dogs in fairly good submission before many suchtrips were made. 

A laughable but fortunately not dangerous adventure happened to the boysand their trains at a place called by the Indians the Wolf's Cove, onaccount of the many wolves that formerly infested the place. There itwas necessary to cross a very deep valley, or ravine. The hillsideswere very steep and slippery under the heavy snowfall. As the dog-sledshave no brakes upon them, the only way of arresting their speedy motionwhen going down a steep hill is for the driver to hold back the sled bythe strong rope which is always attached to the rear end and is calledthe tail rope. 

If the hill is steep or slippery, and the load heavy, this is adifficult operation and requires much care. Owing to the way in whichthe dogs are attached to the sleds, the drivers are utterly powerless torender any assistance in arresting the progress of the sled. 

When the sleds reached the ravine there was a short halt ere the firstdescent was made. 

The old, experienced Indian drivers were of the opinion that the boyswere not strong or heavy enough on their moccasined feet to hold backtheir sleds, and suggested that, after they themselves had gone downwith the loads, they return and take charge of the trains of the boys. This help, kindly offered, was rejected by the lads, who, having managedfairly well thus far, except where the passing game bothered them, wereanxious to try this new experiment. 

Mr Ross at first was also a little dubious about it, but youthfulenthusiasm and love of new adventures conquered. While the first sledswere descending the boys and the rest of the party not immediatelyoccupied watched the operation with a good deal of interest. 

"Faith, " said Sam, "it's as easy as sliding down the banisters. "

"The hill seems greased for the occasion, " said Frank, as he noticed theease and rapidity with which the sleds slid down in spite of the gripand strong holdback of the heavy, experienced Indian drivers. 

"Plenty of snow to tumble into, " said Alec, who could not forget the wayhe had ploughed through it when his dogs ran away with him as theyattempted to catch the wild cat. 

Fortunately or unfortunately for the boys, there had been a good deal ofwind in this part of the country since the last snowfall, and so nowthere was a large drift of perhaps twenty feet that had been blown intothe bottom of the first steep hill. The guides, with some help, had, inthe route through this deep snow, gone backward and forward a few timeson their heavy snowshoes, and had packed down a trail sufficiently hardfor the dogs and sleds. All the heavy sleds with their drivers went onahead of the boys. Thus they, coming last, had the advantage of thepacking of the snow. 

Sam, jolly and reckless, was the first of the boys to make the descent, while the others followed closely behind, Frank being next to him, andAlec bringing up the rear. 

For a time Sam succeeded very well in imitating the experienced drivers. He kept his feet well and firmly planted on the snowy surface, and heldback his sled in fine style. The other boys also succeeded in startingwell on the trail. They had not gone very far, however, before a smallgrey wolf, that had been hidden in one of the den-like recesses in therocks, now thoroughly alarmed by the dingling of so many bells and thesounds of so many voices, suddenly sprang from his retreat, which was inthe cliffs on the other side beyond the guide. Plunging into the deepsnow, he made the most desperate efforts to escape by retreating up thedistant hillside in front of the whole party. Fierce fires had ragedthrough these woods a year so so before, nearly destroying the whole ofthe timber. The result was that the country was now here quite open andobjects as large as a wolf could be seen for a long distance. Fromtheir higher position the boys and their dogs could much more distinctlysee the wolf on the opposite hillside than could the rest of the party, who, having safely made the descent, were now on the beginning of therise on the other side, awaiting the coming of the boys. They did nothave long to wait. The sight of that wolf, so clearly seen in thebright sunshine of that wintry day on the snowy hillside, was too muchfor their brief discipline. Spitfire could not stand it. With a howlhe was off, and well seconded were his efforts by the dogs he wasleading. Sam was instantly jerked off his feet, but he pluckily held onto the tail rope of his sled. Well was it for him that his pants weremade of mooseskin, for they had a good testing of their qualities now, as rapidly on them he was now tobogganing down that steep, slipperyhillside. 

Behind him came the other dog-trains. Of them the boys had also lostcontrol. Such was the steepness of the hill that soon the momentumobtained by the sleds caused them to go faster than the dogs could run. Here was the real danger. Frank and Alec saw how it was faring withSam, and were also quick to observe that with that wolf so plainlyvisible it would be utterly impossible for them on a downhill, slipperygrade to control their now excited dogs, they, boylike, took the risks, and at once threw themselves upon their sleds, and hung on to thedeerskin thongs, with which the loads were securely tied. 

"Hurrah for somewhere!" shouted Alec. 

"Clear the track!" was Frank's hurried shout to Sam, whom he saw stillin the trail, down which he was now furiously coming. 

The guide on his snowshoes, in tramping out the trail had near thebottom made a little turn to the left in order to escape the deepestsnowdrift which the wind had there piled up. The foremost trains, withtheir powerful, experienced drivers, had been able to make this detourall right, and now had stopped only a little way ahead. 

By the time the trains of the boys had reached this part of the descentthey were in a most thoroughly mixed-up condition. Boys, dogs, andsleds were literally so tangled up that they were to the rest of theparty an indistinguishable mass as down they came, and at the bend inthe road, instead of being able to turn, they all flew into the heavydrift of snow which was straight before them, and almost disappeared. There was quick work for the onlookers now to do. At first they hadbeen almost convulsed with laughter, as they saw the mixed-up assortmentcoming down in such a way. Then, when the whole flew by and burieditself so thoroughly in the deep drift of light, fleecy snow, there wasinstantly a good deal of anxiety for the boys. 

As they began the work of rescue the sight before them was unique. There is a hand working desperately, and here is a foot waving in theair. There is a dog's head emerging as the animal makes a desperatestruggle to get out, and there is the curly tail of another coming intoview. Only such a land could show such a sight. Alec, the last toplunge in, was the first rescued, although he had been completely buriedout of sight, as had been the others. Frank was the next pulled out, feet foremost. Sam was the last rescued. His tobogganing slide hadbeen abruptly ended by his being entangled in the harness of Frank'strain coming on behind him. Then it seemed to him as though the head ofthe oncoming sled, like the cowcatcher on an engine, had picked him andthe dogs up, and in an instant more, he said, he was sent flying as froma catapult into the drift, the instant the sled left the track. So farahead was he thus shot, that the sleds stopped before they reached him, and so, although he was deeply buried, he was not run over. 

Not one of the boys had a scratch or a bruise. The only discomfort wasthat, in spite of big mittens and capotes, so much snow had found itsway where it was, to say the least, not very welcome. But it was lightand feathery, and was soon dusted off or shaken out, and then the workwas to get out and disentangle the dogs. This was no easy matter. Someof them, in the wild rush down the hill, when struck by the sleds hadrolled over and over in such a way that their traces looked more likeropes than anything else. Others of them were now in such uncomfortablepositions that they were howling most piteously for help, while othersthat had happened to be thrown together, and perhaps each thinking thatthe others were to blame for this mix-up, were as vigorously fighting astheir entanglement in their harnesses and sleds would allow. 

After the rescue of the lads the Indians unfastened one of their mostpowerful dog-trains from one of the other sleds and hitched it to therear of these buried ones, from which they had, with the snow shoes asshovels, so thrown the snow that they could be reached. With a gooddeal of effort and a great deal of fun they were pulled out one by one. The dogs of each train were naturally indignant at thus beingunceremoniously dragged backward. As each sled and train were thushauled out and straightened in the trail, and the harness untangled, theamount of damage could be ascertained. With the exception of a fewloose articles that were buried somewhere in the drift there was noloss. It is true that some of the dogs seemed a little sore and stifffor a few days, but beyond that there was nothing serious. Snow is acapital substance in which to tumble if there is plenty of it. 

This adventure, which was often talked about and caused many a heartylaugh, delayed the party about a couple of hours. As the hill up whichthey were now to go was about as steep as the one down which they had soquickly come, it was decided to fasten two trains of dogs to each sled. This, while making the work easier on the dogs, caused considerabledelay. The result was that when the whole party had reached the topMemotas decided that it would be best there to camp. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

STILL ON THE WAY TO THE BEAVER HOUSE--THE WINTER CAMP IN THE WOODS--WORKFOR ALL--FEEDING THE DOGS--OUR BOYS GUARDING THEIR OWN TRAINS--THEEVENING MEAL--BITTER COLD--MILK IN LUMPS OF ICE--EVENING PRAYERS--THEWINTRY CAMP BED--TUCKED IN--MYSTERIOUS SOUNDS IN THE FOREST--SMOTHERINGSENSATIONS--SAM'S NIGHTMARE--BREAKFAST--TRICKY DOGS--METHODS OFCAPTURE--CARIOLES AND SLEDS RELOADED--TRAINS HARNESSED--JOURNEY RESUMED. 

A Winter camp in the North Land, and the temperature anywhere fromthirty to sixty below zero! cold? Yes, we think so, and so did Frank, Alec, and Sam, as now they were passing through their first experience. 

As was stated in our last chapter, to the guide was always assigned theresponsibility of selecting the camping place. The place here chosen byMemotas was considered a very good one. First, because there wasabundance of dead, dry trees to serve as fuel. These had been killed ayear or so before by a great forest fire that had run through thatregion of country. Second, there was a fine, dense balsam grove thathad escaped the fire. In one part of it there was sufficient space forthe camp. Then, in addition, by cutting down some of the smaller ofthese evergreen trees, their branches, finely broken up, would help tomake the bed more comfortable. 

These are the essentials for a good camp: plenty of fuel and a shelteredspot. It is not always easy to find good camping places, so the guideis generally on the lookout for such localities. The result is hisquick eye and good memory generally enable him to select all the campsthat will be required on a return journey. 

When all the sleds were at the spot selected, the first thing done wasto unharness the dogs, the faithful animals that had so well done theirwork. It seemed at first strange to the boys that the dogs could betreated so differently from what horses would have been when the day'swork was done. Indeed, everything was novel and startling. 

A days journey was ended, and they were about to take a night's rest. But how different from travelling elsewhere. Here was no pleasant hotelor country tavern in which they could find lodgings. Here were nohospitable settlers to invite these strangers in to be their guests. They were preparing to stop out here in the woods all night, where therewas neither hotel nor private dwelling place nearer than the home theyhad left now so many miles behind. 

No wonder Sam said, as he pulled a piece of ice as big as a peppercaster off the fur edge of his cap, that had there formed from hisbreath:

"This beats all the lodging houses I ever heard of. Faith, and where isthe landlord?"

Alec's practical reply was: "Well, there will be no bill to pay in themorning, anyway. "

"Pay or no pay, " said Sam, "I would like to know where we are going tosleep in such a place as this?"

"And where are we going to eat?" said Frank. 

"Wait a little while, " said Mr Ross, "and you will see a change thatwill astonish you. In the meantime each of you take an axe and seewhich of you can first cut down one of those trees. The exercise willdo you good, and then remember, " he said with a laugh, "we have nodeadheads on this trip. "

Eagerly the boys rushed off to the sleds for their axes, and, putting ontheir snowshoes--for the snow was too deep for comfortable work withoutthem--they were soon busily engaged at what was Gladstone's favouriteexercise. In the meantime the men were hard at work in preparing thecamp. The snow was between three and four feet deep at the placeselected. Using their snowshoes as shovels, they vigorously attackedthe snow and threw it up on two sides and in the rear, making a snowwall about five feet high on three sides. The two opposite walls wereabout twelve feet apart, while the rear wall was perhaps ten feet backfrom the front space where the snow was cleared away. Here a great logheap was soon piled up. Dry splinters and chips were placed under, andan Indian with his flint and steel soon had it ignited. In a littlewhile a glorious fire was blazing, lighting up the whole surroundings. The sun had gone down in splendour and the stars one by one had quicklycome out, and now the whole heavens were aglow with them. On the spacebetween the snowbanks a heavy layer of the green balsam boughs wereevenly spread. On these the robes and blankets from each sled werearranged by busy hands, while others attended to various other duties. Some took large kettles and filled and refilled them up with snow, andkept them on the blazing fire until they were nearly full of water. Meat was cooked in some, while tea was made in others. 

The dog-drivers looked after their own dogs. From the sleds sufficientfish were taken to give to each dog two good whitefish. These were thedaily rations of the dogs. The invariable rule is when travelling togive them but one meal a day, and that is given at the evening camp. Sosevere is the frost that these fish are frozen as hard as rocks, and sothe drivers have to knock them off the sticks where in tens they werestrung when caught. Then they are placed against a log that is rolledas near to the fire as it can be without burning. Against this log thefish are stood up next to the fire, and well thawed out, ere they aregiven to the dogs. Getting but one meal a day, they are naturally veryeager for it, and so it is no wonder if some of them get up anoccasional quarrel. Neither is it surprising if some of the strongerand more greedy strive to steal some portion of the supper from thosenot so active or quick in eating as themselves. One of the best timesto study dog nature is when they are being fed. 

The boys, having each cut down a good, large tree, hugely enjoyed thefeeding of the thawed-out fish to their own dogs. They were greatlyamused at the efforts of the greedy ones to rob others. They had theirwhips in hand, and while they each took good care not to strike his owndogs, they rather enjoyed giving a crack to some cunning old rascalsfrom some of the older trains, that having in all probability imposed onthe youngsters all summer imagined they could with impunity keep it uphere. 

"You would, would you, you thieving beast!" said Sam, as with heartygood will he brought his whip vigorously down on a powerful old dog thatwas making a cunning attempt to rob Spitfire of about half a fish. 

With a howl of rage the baffled fellow quickly sprang back into thegloom. 

Frank and Alec also had to be equally alert, to see that their dogs werenot robbed by others. 

Mr Ross and the Indians were much amused and pleased, to see the zealand promptness, with which the boys guarded the rights of their trains. They said that this was always the way with old dogs; that they wouldtry most persistently for a few nights, in the beginning of winter, torob the younger animals. A few good thrashings generally cured them ofit; and sometimes, to the surprise of some of these old fellows, ayoungster would develop such spirit and strength that he would turn onthe would-be robber and give him a thrashing himself. Then there wouldbe no trouble from that old fellow afterward. 

"I wonder where the dogs will sleep, " said Frank. 

"Wait a little while and you will see, " was the reply from Memotas, theguide. 

Sure enough, it was evident that they knew how to look out forthemselves. The older ones, after being certain that all the fish hadbeen distributed, would lift up their heads and sniff the breeze. Nomatter how slight it was they could easily detect it. Then they wouldtravel about the camp in the snow until they found a sheltered spot, free from the wind. Here they would turn round and round until they hadmade a hole in the snow, away down near the ground. Then down in itthey would curl themselves into as small a bundle as possible, withtheir tails over their noses, and there they would shiver or sleepthrough the night, as the cold would permit. 

The younger dogs seemed at first very uncertain as to their movements. Some of them followed the actions of the old dogs, but others, that hadbut little of the Eskimo blood in them, clung to the fire and thecompany of their masters. For these Mr Ross had a driver bring fromone of the sleds two or three extra buffalo skins, which he thoughtfullyhad brought along. These were spread out near the fire, at a spot fromwhich the snow was partially cleared. 

"Now tell your dogs to sleep there, " said Mr Ross. 

The boys quickly did so, and it was not long before those that had notgone off and dug nests in the snow for themselves, were closely cuddledtogether on the comfortable robes. 

In the meantime supper was being prepared by others. Meat and fish ingenerous quantities were cooked in the kettles. Bread and flat cakes, well supplied with grease or fat, were being thawed out, and a largequantity of good black tea was prepared. 

A large deerskin robe was carefully spread out before the fire, and overthis a plain tablecloth was laid. Then the dishes, which were allindestructible, were placed in position, and the fat meat, strong tea, and hot rolls or buns were vigorously attacked by Mr Ross and the boys. While they were thus enjoying their meal the rest of the party, not faroff, were similarly engaged. 

There were several things about this camping out in the woods that muchsurprised the boys. One was that the numerous sparks from the fire hadsuch long fiery tails. Another was that the frost so quickly froze upthe large pieces of meat, that often had to be thawed out two or threetimes at each meal. Another was that the ice often formed on their cupsof tea, which had been taken boiling hot out of the kettle only a fewminutes before. Then they were startled by sharp reports, like pistolor musket shots, that they kept hearing from places in the dark forestall around them, as though some lurking savages were taking snap shotsat them. Two especially were so near, and so real, that Sam jumped upso suddenly that he spilled his tea over the tablecloth. 

"Faith, indeed, " he exclaimed, "I don't want to be potted out here byany wild huntsmen, or Northern desperado, or red Indian. "

The other boys were also much startled, but Mr Ross quieted their fearsby telling them that these sounds were caused by the bursting in thetrees, as the result of the freezing sap. Water in freezing alwaysexpands, and as there is sufficient sap in some trees, when it freezes, it bursts them. It must expand, and tremendous is its power, as eventhe burst rocks show. 

"It is a good thing that the ice remains on the top of the water, " saidFrank. "As it freezes it expands, and thus, being lighter than thewater, it comes to the top. "

"What a mess we would be in, " said Sam, "if as the ice froze in chunksit sank to the bottom and kept at it all winter. Sure then, beforespring, in such a land as this, the lakes and rivers would all be onesolid mass of ice, and then what would become of the fish and us?"

"A sensible remark, Sam, and characteristically put, " said Mr Ross. "If the ice were heavier than the water, and continued sinking, thecolder regions would continually be encroaching on the warmer, to such adegree that in time the earth's habitable portions would be very muchdiminished. "

"Why is it, " said Alec, "that the milk which we are carrying in chunks, wrapped up in paper bags, when put into our cups of tea, does not meltas soon as do the lumps of white sugar of the same size?"

"Closely examine a lump of frozen milk, and also a lump of sugar, andyou will easily see the reason, " said Mr Ross. "When milk is firmlyfrozen it is very solid indeed--so solid that even hot water can onlymelt it on its surface. With a lump of sugar it is very different, ason account of its porousness the water at once forces its way throughit, and thus is able to quickly dissolve it. "

Thus in pleasant chat the hour passed away in spite of the bitter cold. They were all securely wrapped up, only portions of their faces beingvisible. They regretted that they could not handle their knives andforks with their heavy mittens on their hands, but were obliged toexchange them for well-lined gloves while they ate. After all had eatentheir hearty supper, and were now gathered near the fire, one of theIndians, who, like the rest of his country men in this party, was anearnest, devout Christian, struck up in a strong, melodious voice theEvening Hymn, translated into his own language. 

Quickly the others joined in, while Mr Ross and the boys sang in unisonthe English words. After the hymn was sung, and ended up with Ken'sbeautiful doxology, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow, " anotherIndian devoutly prayed in his own language, after which the serviceended by all repeating together the Lord's Prayer in English. 

The boys were very much pleased and delighted with this evening serviceof praise and prayer. Their weird surroundings added to itsimpressiveness. Then the fact that they were out in the cold forest, with no roof above them but the starry heavens and no walls around thembut snowbanks, and the temperature so many degrees below zero, made thepetition in the beautiful hymn sung very appropriate:

 Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, Beneath thine own almighty wings!

After prayers the men made a thorough examination of the sleds andharness, to see that everything was in good condition, as they intended, if all was well, to start on the journey long hours before daylight. 

Then the beds were made. This operation very much interested the boys. The first thing the Indians did was to put everybody out of the camp;then they scattered fresh green balsam boughs, finely broken up, overthe whole spot, from which the snow had nearly all been cleared. Then, on the side where Mr Ross and the boys were to sleep, the Indianbedmakers first spread out a deerskin wrapper, which during the day wasused to hold all the various articles constituting a sleigh load, thewhole then being securely lashed on by deerskin straps. It was made bysewing several large, well-dressed deerskins together. This largewrapper being made smooth and even, there was next spread out on it acouple of splendid buffalo skins. Then on the top of these the warm, thick blankets known as four-point Hudson Bay Company's blankets wereplaced. 

While the bed was being thus prepared Mr Ross and the three boys werebusily employed in preparing themselves to occupy it. It can be readilyunderstood that there was no such thing as "undressing" for bed in sucha cold bedroom. 

"Unloose your collars and shirt bands, " was all the directions given, asfar as disrobing was concerned. 

The heavy travelling moccasins used during the day were exchanged eitherfor long fur boots that came up to the hips, or for much larger andsofter moccasins than those used during the day. 

It generally added to the comfort if a few of the tightest buttons onsome of the inner garments were unloosed. Then the heavy blanket coats, which had been well dried of all the perspiration absorbed during theday, and well warmed, were put on. The heavy fur caps, with the big furears, were well drawn down, while, over all, the warm capotes, as hoods, were pulled up on the head and down in front to the nose. Great furmittens made of beaver and otter fur were then drawn on the hands, andthe night suit was complete. 

Mr Ross took the outside place. Then Sam, Alec, and Frank cuddled downin the order named. There they lay with their feet as near to the fireas it was safe, so as not to burn the blankets or robes. Then theIndians quickly threw some heavy blankets and fur robes over them andbegan at their feet to tuck them in. Indians are very clever and handyat all such work, their movements are all so gentle and skillful. Theywould make the best nurses in the world. No woman is quieter, quicker, or more prompt just to do the right thing in the right way than anIndian attendant with a little training. It seems to come to them morenatural than to any other people. So here they so daintily, and yet sothoroughly, tucked in the "master, " as they called Mr Ross, and histhree young guests. 

The boys enjoyed the operation hugely until they reached their heads. Then, as the Indians began to tuck in both blankets and fur robes undertheir heads, completely covering them up, it was a new experience, andone not very pleasant to contemplate. Mr Ross, who was an oldtraveller in this land, and one who had slept out hundreds of nights inthis way, was not at all discommoded by the tucking in. But it was toomuch for the boys. They stood it as long as they could, and then almostsimultaneously they threw up their arms and pulled down the heavycoverings from their faces. 

"O dear!" said Sam. "Let me freeze to death, but for dear old Ireland'ssake don't smother me. If ye must send word to my mother that I havebeen frozen to death or eaten by bears she will believe you, andsurvive, but let it never be told that the Irish lad perished in thiscountry under fur robes and blankets. "

This pathetic lament of Sam's brought forth roars of laughter from allwho could understand it. 

"What have you to say, Alec?" said Mr Ross. 

"Well, the fact is, " he replied, "I was feeling about as Sam hasexpressed it, only I put it in a different way. My thoughts were: `Itis queer that I should have escaped from the wolves to be suffocated inthis land for the want of fresh air!'"

"What say you, Frank. We may as well hear from all. "

His answer was: "Well, as I lay there on that contracted place, and thehalf-smothery sensation began to make life miserable, I remembered someof the lessons we were taught at school about requiring so many cubicfeet of fresh air, and began to wonder if such laws were obsolete outhere. "

With a little more freedom the boys were again tucked in, and it was notlong before they were sound asleep. 

Memotas, the guide, rolled himself up in a woven rabbit skin robe, whichwas made out of a hundred and twenty skins, sixty being the warp andsixty the woof. His place was next to Frank. Then the other Indians, in their blankets, when they had finished their smoking, laid downwherever there was room. These hardy natives do not wear half of theclothing by day that white people do, neither do they require such warmbeds at night. 

The only disturbance in the night was caused by Sam. He set up a greathowling, which caused the guide to spring up in a hurry to see what wasthe matter. In the morning, when Sam was questioned as to his troublesin the night, he said he was dreaming that he was sliding down one ofthe Rocky Mountains with an elephant after him, and just as he reachedthe bottom the elephant tumbled on him, and there he lay yelling forhelp, until at length some one came and drove the elephant away. 

This was too much for even the sedate, clever Memotas, and as Mr Rossnoticed his hearty laugh, as a thing so unusual, he said:

"Come, Memotas, you must surely know something about this. "

"Yes, " he answered, "I saw the elephant. It was Spitfire, his dog. Iheard Alec moaning gently at first, and so I uncovered my head, for Iwake very easily, and there was his dog. He was coming up from hisfeet, for the fire was burning low. He would take one or two steps andthen stop and smell. I saw he was trying to find his master, so I didnot disturb him. Soon he came up so far that he could lie down on Sam'schest, on the outside on the robes. Then Sam, he began howling, and sohe had what you white people call the nightmare, but this time it wasthe night-dog. " And Memotas softly laughed again, and others joinedwith him at Sam's expense. 

At Mr Ross's request a large quantity of fuel had been cut the previousevening, so that the fire was not allowed to go entirely out during thewhole night. The trees most common for fuel in all the North countryare the dry spruce and balsam. The guides, looking for the camp, loveto find a group of them where they are from fifty to seventy-five feethigh. All required are chopped down and then cut into lengths of fromten to fifteen feet. They are easily handed by the stalwart men, andmake a bright fire. Generally the fire is allowed to go out after allhave retired to rest. However, if the wolves are howling around, thefire is well looked after all night, as these vicious brutes are verymuch afraid of a bright flame. 

The stars were shining brightly, and there was no sign of light in theeastern sky, when all were up and busy making preparations for the day'sjourney. What most perplexed the boys was that there was no preparationmade for washing hands or faces. Towels and soap were not consideredessentials on such a journey. Each had in his pocket a comb and atoothbrush, and with these and a cup of melted snow he had to becontent. 

Frank, young Englishman that he was, dearly loved his tub, or bath, andso it seemed about the hardest deprivation thus far presented that hecould neither wash his hands nor face. 

"Too cold for that, " said the guide. "A missionary once tried it, although we warned him against it. He was three months healing up hischapped and bleeding hands. " Then the guide added, as a littleconsolation, "If you like you can give yourself a dry rub with a pieceof deerskin. "

The breakfast was similar to the supper of the previous evening. Indeed, there was about the same bill of fare for every meal. It wasstrong, hearty food, and everyone was ready to do ample justice to it. 

After breakfast came prayers. A few verses from the good Book were readby Memotas, and then prayers were offered. Twice every day do thesegodly Indians thus worship God. They are the converts of self-sacrificing missionaries who, coming into these lands, amid theprivations and hardships incident to such lonely, solitary places, herepatiently toiled and laboured to win these natives from their degrading, superstitious, abominable old religion to a knowledge of the one livingand true God. They have not toiled in vain, as the true, noble, consistent lives of hundreds of their converts now bear witness. 

The catching and harnessing of the dogs is a matter of pleasure ortrouble, just as the dogs have been trained. Dogs kindly treated, andtaught to obey, give no trouble, but with many, where their training wasdefective, there is constant annoyance and worry. The boys had treatedtheir dogs so kindly that the cheery call was all that was needed. Sowith all the trains of Mr Ross's except one. These were what might becalled a scratch train. They had been bought singly from differentparties. When in harness they were the equal of any, but the troublewas to get them into their harness. One was a white animal. At thefirst sound or movement in the camp, he would sometimes quickly sneakaway from where he had nested all night, and then lie down quietly inthe snow. So white and still was he that it was impossible for thekeenest eye to detect him in the early morning starlight. No callingwould bring him. He just lay there perfectly still, and buried enoughto be even with the snow around him. When he had one of these skulkingtricks on him the quickest way to find him was for several Indians tobegin tramping in ever-widening circles around the camp until they ranon him. He would never run away, but his cunning trick was really moreprovoking than if he did. He was at length broken of it by beingthoroughly blackened. Then, of course, he could be easily seen. Thisso grieved and humiliated him that he never tried the trick again, evenafter his beautiful white coat was cleaned for him, much to his greatjoy. 

Some dogs, as soon as they hear the bells jingling in the morning astheir drivers come for them, will skulk off into dark places in theforests. There it is often difficult to find them. Then again some areso wild that a rope at least sixty feet in length is tied to their necksin the evening as they are unharnessed. By tramping around them in themorning the driver at length gets hold of the rope and draws in theculprit. 

A missionary who travelled some thousands of miles every winter withdogs, had about the most satisfactory way of summarily dealing withskulkers. 

He had in his own team a powerful St. Bernard, so trained that all hehad to do was to show him the collar of the missing dog and then sendhim after the truant. Hamilton gave one smell at the collar and thenwas off. If that dog was anywhere within two miles he was driven intothe camp in a hurry. If a stubborn, obstinate dog objected to march inbefore him, he gave him a shaking that never had to be repeated. Dogshave good memories for various things. 

The loading the sleds was not as easy a matter as some might imagine. This the boys found out when they tried to attend to the workthemselves. As stated somewhere else, the sleds are only sixteen incheswide and ten feet long. They are made of two oak boards lying on theflat and well fastened together by crossbars. The front end is planedthin and steamed, and is then curled up more or less gracefully, according to the taste and skill of the maker. They have no runners onthem. They just glide along on the smooth flat under surface that bywear becomes like polished glass. Along each side numerous loops aresecurely fastened. When the empty sled is to be loaded, the first thingis to spread out over it one of these large deerskin wrappers, the sledbeing under the exact middle. Then the various articles constitutingthe load, blankets, robes, provisions, kettles, guns, dog-fish, andeverything else, are carefully piled up, the heaviest at the bottom, tomake the upsets as few as possible. Then the great deerskin leather iscarefully and tightly folded over from both sides, and the whole issecurely lashed on by the strong deerskin ropes, which are passed fromside to side through the strong loops on the sled. An experienceddriver will so well tie on a great load of the most miscellaneousarticles that it will not give an inch, or be in the slightest degreedisarranged, no matter how many times it may upset, or roll over, ortumble down hillsides, either end first, or sideways. So the boys, after finding that their best handiwork in this line often came to griefin bad places, were glad to avail themselves of the assistance of aclever Indian, and there was no more trouble. 

One careful look all around to see that nothing has been forgotten, andthe cheery "Marche!" is heard. Away rushes the guide, and another day'sjourney is begun. 

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

STILL ON THE WAY TO THE BEAVERS--THE BLIZZARD IN THE CAMP--SLEEPING ANDEATING UNDER DIFFICULTIES--VICIOUS LITTLE BEAVER DOGS--THE BEAVERHOUSE--PREPARATIONS FOR THEIR CAPTURE--THE BEAVERS' KITCHENS--DISCOVEREDBY THE LITTLE DOGS--HOW DESTROYED--THE METHOD OF CAPTURE--MAN'SEXPERIENCE VERSUS ANIMAL INSTINCT--THE RICH HARVEST OF BEAVERS. 

Still on the way for the beavers!

We are surely a long time getting there, but every mile of the journeyis interesting and full of novelty. We left the blazing camp fire at alittle this side of the Wolf's Cove. The stars were shining brightly inthe heavens. Even the morning star, now so brilliant, had not as theharbinger of the great sun yet made its appearance. 

As a help to brighten up the trail for a short distance it is generallycustomary to pile on the fire, before starting, all of the woodremaining. This makes things look cheerful, and assists in the lastinvestigation of the camp that nothing, not even a half-buried axe, isleft behind. 

At first the progress is not very rapid. It is fearfully cold. Thedogs seem a little stiff, and some of them act as though they would muchprefer to remain near that cozy camp fire. But there is no time forregrets or delays. 

"Marche! Marche!" is the cry, and as the whips, wielded by dexteroushands, give out their emphatic cracks the coldness and stiffness soonwear off, and after the first mile or two the progress is very muchimproved as dogs and men warm up to their work. 

We need not dwell much longer on the journey. Enough has been given toenable every bright boy and clever girl who reads these pages to see howit is that travellers get along in a land where only the canoe in summerand the dog-train in winter afford them any possibilities forlocomotion. Here are no locomotives, but lots of locomotion, and themost of it is done on foot, as often it is quite enough for the dogs todrag the heavy loads through the deep snow and in the long, tangledforests, without carrying an additional man or boy. So it is walk, orrun, or more generally trot, as the case may be, as the dogs are able toget on or the trail will permit. 

Another long day, with its glorious sunrise, and then, after the wearyhours of travel and the several stops to eat, the sunset in coldsplendour comes, and with it Memotas calls for the halt. Then anothernight in the woods, very similar to the one fully described, is passed, with the exception that during the hours of troubled slumber the fiercewinds arose, and the light, dry snow in the three piled-up snowbanks ofthe camp was rudely seized hold of by rough old Boreas and driven hitherand thither in his own rough way. Most of the snow seemed to find itsway back to the place, from which the snowshoes some hours before hadthrown it, and now well it is for our young lads that they are socompletely covered up in their bed, for the snow is now upon them to thedepth of a couple of feet. Fortunately, the snow is like an extrablanket which Dame Nature has thrown upon them to add to their comfort. When the storm was beginning, and they began to move as some erraticsnowflakes were so twisted around that they reached their faces, theguide, who well knew what a wretched night of discomfort would be theirsif they now, in the blinding storm, uncovered their heads, shouted tothem with a good deal of sternness, "Do not uncover your heads; liestill and sleep. " This, after a little effort, they were able to do. The fun, or rather discomfort, came in the morning, when the cry to getup was heard. Suddenly they sprang up, but in spite of all theirquickness some of the snow went into their faces, and down their necks, and--well, it was far from agreeable. 

The outlook was dismal enough. The storm still continued raging. Therewas, in addition to the wind playing all sorts of pranks, with what hadalready fallen, now a heavy snowfall besides. It seemed to penetrateeverywhere. It forced its way into their eyes and noses and pockets, and tried to get under their caps and capotes. The fire was completelyextinguished. In fact, where the bright, blazing fire was so cheerilythrowing out its heat and warmth when they were tucked in by thefaithful Indian, now a great snowdrift occupied the very spot. 

The experienced travellers in these lands, even under such conditionsand worse, do not lose heart. Quickly they went to work. Strong axessoon felled more dry trees, and cut them into logs. Others, withsnowshoes as shovels, soon cleared away the snow drift from thefireplace. A skillful firemaker soon had the dry kindling and chipsunder the logs in ablaze, and now the wind only fanned the flames to agreater brightness. 

As the downfall of snow continues very heavy some tough poles are cutdown and one end of them so fastened in the snow that they are firmlyheld. They are so slanted toward the fire, with the wind in the rear, that when roofed over with the big deerskin and a couple dropped eachside it is astonishing how comfortably sheltered a few persons thus canbe. The active Indians shook the dry snow off from some robes, andplacing them as a floor Mr Ross and the boys were soon under a storm-tight roof and gazing into the great fire just before them, that gavethem both warmth and cheer. A hot breakfast was enjoyed as soon as theIndians could cook it. 

Some of the Indians improvised a similar lean-to for themselves, whileothers stood out in the gale around the fire perfectly unconcerned. Tothem the heavy storm was as little heeded as the songs of the robins inspringtime, or the summer zephyrs among the trees. 

Owing to the delay of a half day on account of this disagreeable storm, the party did not reach the vicinity of the beaver house until towardevening. So it was resolved to find a good place for the camp, as theIndian hunters who owned this house said they would not take the beaversuntil the third day in the afternoon, and then they would take all theydecided to in a short time. This was, of course, all a mystery to theboys, and so they were obliged to have patience, and witness the contestbetween animal instinct and cunning, and man's reason, observation, andingenuity. 

The spot selected for the camp was not far from the beaver house, whichstood in its symmetrical proportions well covered with snow, and lookedlike a great haystack in some farmer's yard at home. 

The boys had observed on the sled of these Indians who owned the beaverhouse a little wicker-like basket well-lined with rabbit skin. One day, when peering into it, two fierce little dogs snapped at them mostviciously, and seemed very much annoyed at their intrusion. In theevening at the camp fire they asked Mr Ross about them, and weresurprised to hear that they are what are called beaver dogs. He saidthey were valuable, for with their help the Indians would get the beaverin a very novel which they would see commenced to-morrow. Mr Rosscautioned the boys not to put their naked hands near the vicious brutes, as they were very fierce, and especially disliked white people. 

The camp was a well-sheltered, comfortable one for such a place, and asthe storm had completely passed away, the evening, although very cold, was a fairly enjoyable one. The routine at this camp was similar to thefirst. The only excitement the boys had, was when one of the Indianscame in from exploring the beaver house and dam, and told them that alarge wolverine was seen walking on the dam the heavers had made, andthen round and round the beaver house. 

"Beaver plenty safe there, " he added, in his broken English. "Wall fourfeet thick. Frost make all like stone. Only one door, and that underthe thick ice and water. Wolverine no catch beaver in that house. "Then he added: "Beaver there for Injun to take. White boys see how himdo it quick, two days more. Plenty work first, then plenty beaver. "

This picturesque talk to the boys was very interesting, and so they wereall eager to see, as Sam said, "the curtain go up and the show begin. "

As nothing could be done the next day before daylight, there was noparticular hurry in getting up. After giving orders to the men who wereleft in charge at the camp to see that the dogs there remained, and thateverything was kept in the best of order, and dinner ready at a certainhour, Mr Ross and the boys, like the rest, strapped on their snowshoesand away they tramped. The Indian hunters had the little dogs withthem. These they carefully carried and kept covered up when not atwork. The boys were first taken to the top of a hill, from which thewhole pond, dam, and beaver house could be distinctly seen. Then MrRoss explained that, while the beaver generally dwelt in their houseduring the winter, they had in addition what the Indians calledkitchens. These were cunningly hid along the shore at the edge of theice. All were now out of sight and under the snow. They wereingeniously made, in such a way that the beaver by frequently visitingthem and breaking away the ice, as it formed on the inside, could thuskeep them open. They were really breathing places for the beaver incase they should be attacked in their houses and driven out. 

Inexperienced hunters often try to get the beaver by chopping, digging, or even blasting with gunpowder a hole into the beaver house. If thepond is well supplied with kitchens, or breathing places, the beaversneed only laugh at such hunters, for just as soon as they become alarmedby these outside noises they plunge into the water, which is always openin the warm house, and dive out under the outer edge and away they gounder the thick ice to the kitchens, which are so cunningly hid away. There they quietly remain and breathe the air, which is necessary as itcomes through the light snow, and through the rushes and reeds, fromwhich they keep the ice. When the noise is over and the beavers thinkthat their enemies have gone, they go back to the house. If theinvaders have much destroyed the house, the beavers desert it entirelyand live in these kitchens until the spring freshets come and melt andcarry away the ice. 

Sometimes a large colony of beavers with a big house will have twentykitchens. If one is discovered they swim to another. We must rememberthat the beaver, although an amphibious animal and able to remain quitea time under water, requires fresh air, and so must go where he can getit, or he will die. The length of time that a beaver can live under theice without air is a matter of dispute, even among the experiencedhunters themselves. They all, however, agree in saying that, whenbeavers find all of their retreats cut off, as a last resort they comeup to the ice and breathe out the air in their lungs against the ice, and then, when it is good, they breathe it in again. But the trouble isthat they lose some air bubbles each time, and so they soon becomeexhausted and die. 

In the meantime, while these interesting explanations were being made tothe boys the Indians had commenced their operations. They had cut downa couple of small green birch trees which were eight or ten inches indiameter. Then they cut off lengths of about eight feet each. On thesethey vigorously set to work with their axes, and so cut or trimmed thesedown, except a foot or fifteen inches at one end, so that when finishedthey were like gigantic pounders. 

With these made and thrown over their shoulders they took their way tothe pond, only carrying in addition the two little dogs. When the pondwas reached the little dogs were set down in the snow near the edge. Atfirst they only moaned and shivered and begged to be again taken up bytheir masters. These, however, had no intention of doing anything ofthe kind. 

"Umisk! Umisk!" they excitedly cried, and soon this Indian word for"beaver" began to have its effect upon the dogs. Pricking up theirears, they began running about, until at length, with a couple of yelpsof triumph, they were off. They hurried away as fast as their littlelegs could carry them through the light snow to a spot near the shore. Here they began making the snow fly as rapidly as was possible withtheir fore paws. One of the Indians assisted them by utilising hissnowshoe as a shovel, and, sure enough, there at the very edge of theice they found a mass of rushes and grass most cunningly arranged, witha little space in the centre where it was open water. This was abeaver's kitchen that had been so cunningly discovered by the keen scentof the little dogs. 

As soon as it had been discovered the Indians quickly picked up thelittle dogs and stowed the shivering creatures in warm bags on theirbacks. Now the boys were able to see the use to which these great bigpounders, hewn out of the young birch trees, were put. With both ofthem the men began vigorously pounding down the coarse grass and rushes, and left the place so exposed that in a few hours it would be so solidlyfrozen over that not a particle of air could enter. 

Leaving this kitchen now completely destroyed, they began skirting theshore for a little distance up farther from the beaver house. Once morethey lifted the little dogs out of the warm bags and placed theshivering animals on the ice. Then again the cry rang out, "Umisk!Umisk!" The result was as before. Like as an electric shock thesewords acted upon these queer little dogs, and at once they seemed toforget all about the cold and most vigorously set to work, and in a veryfew minutes had discovered another kitchen. This one was destroyed inthe same manner as was the first. 

Thus on and on they cautiously prospected and worked. At one placewhere they had gone but a short distance from the last kitchendestroyed, suddenly one of the little dogs obstinately turned back andrushed to a spot where even the most experienced Indian had not theslightest suspicion of anything being, until the keen instinct of thedog discovered it. Following up the little fellow to the spot where hewas now barking most furiously, the men had not dug long in the snowbefore they found the most cunningly hid away kitchen on the whole pond. So large was it, and so well arranged as the breathing place of a largenumber of beavers, that the hunters declared that if they had let thatsingle one escape them they would have completely failed when they madetheir attack upon the beaver house. This sharpness on the part of thelittle dog made the men the more careful, and so it was noon ere the endof the pond was reached and about half of this work was completed. 

Dinner was ready for all when they returned to the camp. The boys werehungry and the cold had helped to sharpen their appetites. 

"How is it?" said Sam, "that I find myself picking out the fattest partof the meat and hardly caring to eat anything else?"

"That is, " said Mr Ross, "because you are in first-class health. AndNature, true to her instincts, is giving you and the rest of us thecraving for just the kind of food that is now best adapted to ourrequirements. Fat food has more heat in it than any other kind, and sothat which you here crave is that which is really the most suitable. Living as we now are, day and night, out in the open air in this sharpcold weather, we require much more heat to keep us up to our normaltemperature than if we were inside of the warm walls of Sagasta-weekee. "

When dinner was ended the party returned to the pond, and the work ofdiscovering and destroying the remaining beavers' kitchens went on allthe afternoon. The following night the two Indian hunters, upon whom somuch depended, did not take any sleep, but with their heavy pounderskept on the alert against the efforts of the clever beavers. When theyreturned to the camp for a hasty breakfast in the morning they reportedthat they had had a very busy night, as the beavers seemed to havebecome possessed with the idea that an attack was soon to be made uponthem in their house. The result was they were very active all night, and persistent in their efforts to break through the new ice as itformed, and thus, if possible, keep some of their kitchens available incase of need. Some were so bold that if the Indians had been soinclined they could easily have speared them, as they so bravely chargedthe new ice with their heads and broke it up. They said that at thatlargest kitchen, which they so nearly overlooked, the beavers made theirmost persistent attacks. At times as many as a half dozen wouldtogether strike bravely at the ice. However, they thought that they hadnow succeeded in getting every place frozen air-tight and they couldsafely begin the work of attack upon the house, so that they would beready by to-morrow to begin the capture of the beaver. 

Axes and ice chisels were the powerful tools required to-day. Beginningat the shore on each side of the beaver house, the Indians cut twochannels in the ice about a foot wide, and so converging that they metabout six feet in front of the house. Then the ice was cut out aboutten feet further into the pond directly in front of the house. Thecapital letter Y will give a correct idea of the cuttings thus made. The upper two lines are the ones from the shore on each side of thebeaver house; the lower and wider part of the letter represents thechannel cut in front. This was perhaps ten feet long and about two feetin width. 

The next step was by careful measurement with a long pole to find thedepth of the water in these channels thus free of ice. When this wasdone everybody able to handle an axe was soon busily at work cuttingdown small trees into poles not less than four inches in diameter, andso long that when well driven in the mud the tops would still beconsiderably above the ice. None but straight, strong ones were of anyuse. Then, beginning close to the shore, the Indians, using, of course, the shorter poles where the water was shallow, began driving them in themud through the channels cut in the ice. They worked very carefully, for the beaver when aroused is a strong as well as a cunning animal, andthe hunter who would not fail must be prepared for every emergency. Thepoles were driven in the two upper sides until the approaching columnsof them came within about two feet of each other at the front. Fromthis point the Indians turned and began driving the poles in the mud intwo lines, parallel to each other, running out into the pond. This lefta channel, allowing for the diameter of the poles, of, say, from twelveto fifteen inches wide and ten feet long. 

Carefully examining and testing over and over again the grip of eachpole which had been driven into the mud at the bottom of the pond, themen were at length well satisfied with their work and said: "Very good. Injun have much fine beaver this time. We will have beavers' tails forsupper to-morrow night. "

So anxious were those Indian hunters that even during the second nightthey slept but little, and several times slipped away from the camp andwalked around from kitchen to kitchen to see that in every place the icewas firm and unbroken. In the morning, when all were at breakfast, theyreported that as the cold had become so intense they felt confident ofsuccess and anticipated the capture of a large number of beaver. Fordays they had been working up to this consummation. Experienced mengrimly and remorselessly had pitted their long years of experienceagainst the instincts and cunning of a colony of beavers, and, as italways is, in the end, man must conquer. 

"What are you going to do next?" is the question of the boys. All theanswer, however, they receive, is to be patient and they will soon seefor themselves. Their interest, however, is increased when to all isuttered the command, "Get all the guns ready, and load them heavily withpowder. " With several extra charges they are all soon on their way tothe beaver house. When there they find that the water in the channelcut in the front yesterday has ice on it fully six inches in thickness. This will give some idea of the severity of the cold, but nobody seemsto notice it in the excitement of the hour. Very quickly is this icebroken up and thrown out on the frozen surface of the pond. 

One of the Indians has in his hand a long, stiff rod about the size of abamboo fish pole. This will play an important part in the capture ofthe beaver, as we shall see later on. The next part of the program isof great interest to the boys. Everybody now goes to the land side ofthe beaver house, and at once there begins the greatest din and racketit is possible for the whole party to make. The guns are all fired off, and loaded and fired again and again. The men with their great poundersmost vigorously beat against the solid walls on the land side, as thoughthey would burst in upon the now terrified inhabitants. This attack andnoise continued until it is supposed that all of the frightened animalshave fled away from the house, which they must have imagined was aboutbeing knocked to pieces about their ears. The result is the house isdeserted, and the now frightened beaver are away out somewhere in thepond, swimming under the ice. 

As soon as the Indians feel confident that all have forsaken the housethey hurry out on the pond in the front. Here in the open water, in thespace between the poles which were so solidly driven, the long slenderpole is pushed down firmly through the water into the mud at the bottomof the pond. One of the Indians now quickly pulls off his shirt sleeve, as well as that of his coat, and throws himself down on the ice close tothe open channel which has been described. His comrade quickly throws awarm blanket over him to at least partly protect him from the intensecold. Then, arming himself with a heavy axe, this second Indian quietlysteps back a pace or two. 

"Hush! Everybody keep still or sit down on the ice, and do not utter aword. Do not move your feet on the ice; do not even breathe heavily, for beavers have wonderful powers of hearing. "

Promptly had everyone obeyed Mr Ross, who had uttered these commands. He had placed the boys where they could easily see the wonderful way, inwhich these experienced hunters would quickly gather up their beaverharvest, after all their effort and toil. 

But where are the beavers? They are in all probability out under theice, swimming about from one kitchen to another, vainly trying to findone in which they can get their lungs full of fresh air. If the men andthose saucy little dogs have been successful in closing up all of theseresorts, vain are the beavers' efforts. For a long time these wonderfulcreatures are able to keep alive under water, but there is a limit tothis ability, and then it becomes a matter of life or death to them. Thus it now was with these beavers. They had been frightened from theirhome, and had hoped to be able to obtain fresh air at places carefullyprepared for just such emergencies. But, alas! these have failed them, and now there is nothing else to do but to make the effort to get backto their home as soon as possible. This, they now find, is no easymatter. A strange barricade of stakes is in the way, and there is onlyone opening, and even that is a very narrow one. But they are now insuch sad straits for fresh air that they must try that one place and getto their home or perish. 

Meanwhile the boys, sitting so still and quiet on the ice, began tothink that it was getting very monotonous, especially Sam, who found itto be extremely difficult to have to hold his tongue so long. But look!The top of that long slender twig is being roughly shaken, and quick asa flash down goes the naked arm of the alert Indian, and as rapidly doesit come up again, and in the strong grasp of his hand is a fine, largebeaver. With a sudden swinging movement he sends it sprawling out onthe ice, where his comrade is waiting to dispatch it with his axe. 

Now the boys see the important part played by that little stick. See, it moves again, and once more the long, naked arm is thrust down andanother great beaver is thrown out on the ice. This one, like hispredecessor, is quickly dispatched. For a time all is still again. Thebeavers crowding behind these two that have been so readily capturedhave been frightened by their sudden movements, so unnatural, and sothey hesitated to follow. But others are closely following behind, andall are suffering acutely now for the want of fresh air, and thus it isonly a minute or two before the moving stick tells the story thatanother beaver is making the attempt to reach a spot where he can getsome fresh air. Vain indeed are his efforts, for no sooner does hetouch that fatal stick than down goes that strong, muscular hand and armand he is thrown out on the ice, to be killed in the same manner as werehis fellows. 

See what a splendid black beaver that is! But, O dear! he has lost him. Yes, he has. That is too bad, and he brought him up far enough for hishead to be out of the water, and so he once more filled up his lungs, and as he tumbled in he fell beyond the stick. So that one is lost forthis year. 

But there is no time for mourning over the loss of one, even if he was abeauty. They crowd up quickly now, and the Indians are busy. They keepcool and alert, for the harvest is increasing. 

The condition of the beavers is now so desperate that recklessly theyare crowding on, and although the man is pulling them out as rapidly aspossible it is evident that numbers, especially of the smaller ones, areslipping by, and thus are lost for that year. In order to secure agreater number the second Indian gives his axe to Mr Ross and goes tothe help of his comrade. 

No need of quiet now. The remaining beavers must get by that stick orperish, and as they make the attempt, while some are captured, manyothers escape. Thus it goes on until the last one has either beensecured by the Indians or has eluded them. Let us hope that he escapedto live another year. 

"Count the spoils, boys, " shouts Mr Ross. No second command is needed. They collect them together and find that there are forty-seven of them, and not a small one among them. In addition, there were plenty thatescaped to restock the house, and in two years it will in allprobability be as rich a beaver harvest field as it has been to-day. 

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

WISE ECONOMY OF INDIAN HUNTERS--GAME NEVER ALL KILLED--BEAVERS' TAILS--THE BOYS INTERESTED IN THEM--PREPARATIONS FOR THE RETURN TRIP--LOADSPACKED--WOLVERINES--THEIR CUNNING THEFT OF FIVE BEAVERS--DOGS AND MEN ONTHEIR TRAIL--SURVIVING BEAVERS ALREADY AT WORK--THE RETURN OF THEHUNTERS--CAPTURED WOLVERINES--JOURNEY RESUMED--THE CAMP--THE CRY OF"WOLVES!"

Allowing a number of the beavers to escape was the almost universalcustom of those northern Indian hunters. They never killed all the gameof any kind. Thus where they alone hunted, the forests continued toyield their yearly supplies. But when the white trapper enters with hissteel traps and poisons he kills all before him, if possible, even if hedoes not secure one half of it. The result is that great regions oncerich in valuable fur-bearing animals are now as completely denuded ofthem as are the prairies of the once countless herds of buffalo. Pathetic is the picture of the last of the buffalo!

The call, loud and clear, was sent by the far-reaching voice of one ofthe hunters to the watchers at the camp, and speedily in answer came acouple of trains of dogs. These were attached to the two now well-filled sleds, and the whole party, flushed with triumph at theirsuccess, returned to the camp. They are all in good trim for theirdinner, and speedily is it dispatched, for all these beavers must beskinned, if possible, before they freeze. 

The Indian servants of Mr Ross aid the hunters, and so the work israpidly done. As the flesh of the beaver is very much prized as anarticle of food, the carcasses were carefully prepared. The tails wereleft attached to the bodies, with the exception of a half dozen, whichwere left out for the evening meal. These tails very much interestedand amused the boys, not only on account of their odd appearance, butbecause of the many queer tales they had heard about them. The tail ofthe beaver serves as a rudder to its owner when he is swimming. It aidshim in various ways when he is building his cozy house and marvellouslyconstructed dam. Next to his powerful teeth it is his best weapon ofdefence, as with it he can strike a very heavy blow. Thus it was nowonder that the boys were interested in these half dozen tails, on whichthey expected to dine that evening. 

The process of preparation was very simple. The tails were from twelveto fifteen inches long and from six to eight inches in width, and aboutan inch thick. They were oval-shaped, somewhat resembling in appearancea mason's trowel. They were covered with close-fitting, fishlikescales. The first thing necessary in preparing them for the table is tohold them so close to a hot fire that the scales will speedily blisteroff. The next thing is to boil them for a long time, especially if theyare the tails of old beavers. Then it is best to allow them to getthoroughly cold, as they taste very much better then, than when eatenhot. On carving them the correct method is to cut the meat in longstrips from the powerful central bone. These are then to be served upand eaten with a little salt. Beavers' tails thus prepared make a verydainty dish. Indeed, it is one of the great delicacies of the country, prized alike by both Indians and travellers. The other two greatdelicacies of the country are the moose's nose and the bear's paws. 

"That looks queer to me, " said Sam, "that the delicacies of a countryshould be the beaver's tail, the bear's paws, and the moose's nose. Ifsuch is the case, you see that when here eating even the delicacies ofthe land you are reduced to extremities!"

"A very good one, Sam, " shouted the boys. "Old Ireland forever!"

The beavers' tails, although never tasted before by the boys, were verymuch enjoyed by them. They racked their brains and memories to try andthink of some article of food that had a taste somewhat similar, but hadto give it up. So they had to agree with Alec that if you wished toknow just how beavers' tails tasted--well, you must eat one. 

As the evening promised to be a calm and beautiful one, Mr Ross saidthat they had better start not long after midnight. They could travelon the back trail until they reached the camp where the storm had struckthem without much difficulty; after which in all probability they wouldhave to make a fresh trail. A blizzard storm in that land quicklyobliterates a trail, and thus the return journey is often made without asingle evidence of any other trip ever having been made in that regionof country. Their great success in capturing so many beavers meant alarge additional weight on their sleds. However, against that was thefact that their vigorous appetites had very considerably reduced theweight of their outfit, and in addition their dogs had, since they lefthome, devoured about a thousand-weight of fish. Forty-seven beaversweigh a good deal when they have to be drawn many scores of miles ondog-sleds, and so, in spite of the lightened loads, it was no easymatter to arrange them on the sleds. 

That they might be ready to make the desired start in good time, it wasthought best that Mr Ross and the boys should go to bed in their campoutfit as has been described, while the men should load up the sleds asfar as possible, just leaving sufficient room in the deerskin wrappingsfor the packing away of the bedding and the other essentials required atthe midnight meal. This meant that the Indians would have at least twohours' less sleep than the whites. This would be no unusual occurrence. As a general thing the Indians sleep very little when travelling, insummer or winter. This is especially the case when they are employed ascanoemen or dog-drivers. They are so alert and watchful and anxiousthat everything should go right, that often white men have travelled forweeks together with several of these red men in their employ, withoutever having once seen one of them asleep. They seldom think of lyingdown until long after their employers have gone to sleep, and then theyare up long before them in the mornings. And yet how few there are whohave given these most vigilant and faithful of comrades or servantstheir due meed of praise!

To the music of the few quiet whispered words of the men, as theyactively attended to the work of packing up the sleds, Mr Ross and theboys quickly fell into dreamless slumber. When the men had finishedpacking and fastening up the loads they dragged them out in line on thehomeward trail, leaving sufficient space between the sleds for the dogswhen they should be harnessed to them. The result was that the wholeline of sleds, when thus stretched out, extended quite a distance fromthe camp. 

Loud were the shoutings and many were the indignant utterances whichquickly aroused Mr Ross and his young bedfellows from their slumbers. 

"What is the matter?" demanded Mr Ross. 

"Wolverines!" was the quick response. 

Great indeed was the excitement, and at first the boys could hardlyrealise how the mention of that one word could cause such commotion. Even Mr Ross was about as much excited as anyone else. While guns werebeing loaded, and other preparations were being made for a speedy hunt, the cause of all the excitement was soon told. It was that, in spite ofthe presence of so many persons and dogs, the wolverines had crept up tothe sleds, and had stolen away five of the best beavers, and in additionhad so badly scented with their horrid odour more than a dozen othersthat they were absolutely worthless. 

"How was it possible that none of the dogs detected them?" asked MrRoss. "They are generally sleeping in various places around the camp. I am sure I cannot understand how those brutes, cunning as they are, could play such a trick upon us. "

In response to this one of the men explained that after they hadfinished arranging their loads they went out and brought into the campall of the dogs, so as to have no trouble in finding them when theywould be required. They stated also that, during the brief time theytried to get a little sleep, some of the dogs were very restless, andthey had to speak sternly to them to induce them to be quiet. Then headded:

"The dogs most uneasy were those of Sam's train. Several times theygrowled, and were very uneasy. Spitfire was the worst, and acted like adog ready for a fight. "

The stupid drivers, instead of calling the hunters, who were very sleepyfrom the fact that they had had hardly any sleep for several nightspast, sternly threatened the dogs, and thus succeeded in quieting themdown. After a time some disagreeably tainted air reached the sensitivenostrils of one of the Indian hunters. He did not require a secondsniff to tell him what it indicated. With a bound he was up. Suddenlyrousing his comrade, they rushed out into the gloom of the forest. Unfortunately for them, the fire was about out, and so at first it wasimpossible to see how great had been their loss from these stealthy, cunning animals. It was when they had rushed back to the camp, and wererousing up the other men and rebuilding the fire, that the commotion wasmade which had so suddenly called up Mr Ross and the boys. A casualglance had enabled them to see, as we have mentioned, something of thenature of their loss. On a closer investigation it was found that thedamage was even much greater. 

What was to be done? This was the question now discussed, and quicklywas a decision arrived at. It was to organise a party, and have themget on the trail of the wolverines, and follow them up until they werereached. It was decided that those dogs which manifested any greateagerness to pick up and follow on the trail should be the onesencouraged to push on as rapidly as possible, while the hunters withtheir guns should follow as speedily as it could be done in the dense, gloomy forest. 

Spitfire and the rest of Sam's train were the first when taken to theplace to immediately pick up the scent, and, as soon as they wereencouraged by Sam to do so, away they dashed in the gloom. Bruce andhis comrades were equally as eager, and as Alec's cheery voice rang outhis dogs quickly responded, and away they sped on the hot trail of theaudacious, cunning thieves. The two hunters and a couple of Mr Ross'sbest men, with their guns well-loaded and with their snowshoes on theirfeet, as rapidly as was possible strode after them. 

Mr Ross and the boys waited until the last sounds of the dogs were lostin the distance, and then, by the light of the now brilliant camp fire, made a more careful inspection of the sleds, and so were able to see thefull extent of the depredations made by these most cunning of allanimals in those regions. There they not only saw the full extent oftheir destructiveness, but, under the guidance of the Indian now keepingwatch over the sleds, they were able, by following back on their tracks, to see how five wolverines had outwitted the whole of them, dogsincluded. 

When they returned to the warmth and cheer of the camp fire they foundthat old Memotas and others had prepared for them a good warm breakfast. While it was being partaken of, Frank turned to Memotas and said:

"How is it that you, who are so great a hunter, are not off in the woodswith those other men?"

With a grim, sarcastic smile he replied: "Better some one stay in campfor fear wolverines come in on other side and steal what is left. "

This answer was at first quite a riddle to the boys. But the fact was, he was so thoroughly disgusted at the remissness of those whose duty hadbeen to have watched that night, that he felt that a great disgrace hadcome to them all. The idea of allowing five wolverines to thus stealsuch a march upon them was too much for even the patient, kind-heartedMemotas. 

"Why, " said he, "it will be the story at every camp fire this winter--yes, and for long years to come. We all know that wolverines arecunning animals, but when the fact is known that there were so many ofus in the camp at the time that five beavers were stolen from oursleds--why, great will be their ridicule and contempt for us. "

It was indeed a long time since Memotas had made such a long speech ofthis kind, and so, when he stopped, there was an awkward silence. EvenMr Ross had nothing to say. It was very evident, however, that he feltthat there had been very great carelessness on the part of somebody, andperhaps he chided himself that he had not interested himself in thematter. However, he had his hopes that, in spite of the cunning of thewolverines, the men would succeed in killing some of them, and as onewolverine skin is worth four beaver skins, if they were successful therewould at least be some satisfaction in that. 

As it was still a long time until daylight the boys were persuaded tolie down in their bed, and Memotas carefully tucked them in. Refreshingsleep speedily came to them again, and when they awoke it was to hearMr Ross giving some final instructions to three dog-drivers who werejust about to start on the trail made at midnight by the wolverines, barking dogs and angry, indignant hunters. Wrapped securely upon theirsleds was a liberal supply of food, with kettles, axes, and other thingsthat might be required. 

As they started the eastern sky almost suddenly became illuminated withthe brightness of the coming day. So beautiful was the morning that theboys longed to go with the departing trains. It was thought best, however, owing to the uncertainty and probable hardships that might haveto be encountered, not to run the risk. To pleasantly and profitablypass the time it was suggested that some of them go out on a tour ofinvestigation on the trail of the wolverines, and see in what directionthey came and how it was that they had so well succeeded in theirmovements. Dear Old Memotas, disconsolate as he was, was persuaded togo along and explain the various movements of these clever animals tothe boys. This he could well do, as he had hunted them for many yearsand knew much about them, although he always declared that there weresome of them that could outwit any Indian. 

They all first went to the spot where stood the sleds, from which thebeavers had been stolen. Then, with Memotas leading, they followed backon the tracks, and soon they found, as they went on, that the cautiousanimals had completely crept around the camp, ere they had begun theirdepredations. Continuing on their trail, still going back, they foundthat the wolverines had come directly from the spot on the dam where thebeavers had been captured, as has been described. 

While so near the beaver house Memotas said to the boys that it might beinteresting to try and find out if the surviving beavers had as yet goneto work again. That anything could be found out seemed impossible tothe boys, but the experienced eye of the old Indian saw evidences oftheir industry very close at hand. Of course the intense cold had againfrozen up the water where from it the ice had been cut and thrown out. This newly formed ice, of course, firmly held up the row of strongstakes which with so much trouble and care the men had driven so solidlyin the ground. Drawing his hunting axe from his belt, Memotas struckthe projecting ends of the stakes a few smart blows, just sufficient toloosen them from the new ice. Then said Memotas to the boys:

"Try and see which of you is strong enough to pull any of them up. "

Eagerly they each seized hold of one, and, expecting that the other endwas still securely stuck in the mud, they pulled with such vigour thatthe three of them nearly fell over on their backs. To theirastonishment they found by the appearance of the short sticks in theirhands that the beavers had cut them off just below the ice. 

After some further interesting investigation they returned to the camp, for very naturally they were all anxious to get some word from thehunters and the dogs. Fortunately they had not long to wait, for verysoon after their return the expected ones dashed into their midst. Ontheir sleds they had three dead wolverines. The dogs had returnedpanting and tired. They were all in good shape, except Bruce andanother one of Alec's train. These, in battle with the wolverines, hadeach received a couple of severe flesh wounds, but they seemed to thinknothing of them, and in a short time they completely healed up. Everybody was, of course, anxious to hear their story, and so one of thehunters was asked to be the spokesman for the whole, and here is aboutwhat he said:

"You all know how we started. You boys set your dogs on the tracks, andaway they went and we after, as fast as we could follow. The dogs couldtravel much faster than we could, and so it was not long before theywere out of hearing. The wolverines must have got a good start, as itwas a long time before we found any trace of them. But we pushed on asfast as it was possible for us to do in the darkness. Sometimes thenorthern lights shone out, and then we made very much better time. Byand by we came to a half-eaten beaver that had been dropped by one ofthe thieves. This told us that the dogs must be driving them veryclose, for a wolverine will make a big fight, before he will give upwhat he has secured. Still on we hurried, and it was not long afterthis before we heard the dogs again. Then we found another of theskinned beavers, and now the barkings of the dogs told us that the fightwas on in good earnest. 

"We had been so much hindered by the dense woods, that was the reason wewere so far behind, but now, as we came out from a bad piece of theforest, right there before us was a sight to please us for our anger atthe loss of the beaver. The dogs had driven one wolverine up into thebranches of a large tree, while others were barking furiously at twoothers which they had chased up among some steep rocks. It was at thistime, just as we reached them, that some of the dogs got cut andwounded. They seemed to be so glad to see us coming to their help thatthey made a furious attack upon the two that were upon the rocks, andsome of them were taught that wolverines have sharp teeth and know wellhow to use them. 

"We speedily shot these three animals, and then began at once to lookfor the tracks of the other two. After some time we found them, and infollowing them up we soon saw that they had reached the great cliffs, among which are their dens. We could not then hope for much moresuccess. So we returned to the spot where we had left the three deadones, and were just about beginning to skin them when the sleds arrived, and it was thought best, after we had had something to eat from thesupplies Mr Ross was so good as to send us, for us all to return, andhere we are. "

This was the story, and it showed quick, sharp, thorough work on thepart of both men and dogs. This long delay had caused quite a break intheir plans. Mr Ross, however, decided that just as soon as thewolverines could be skinned, and dinner prepared and eaten, the homejourney must be resumed. Some of the party would have preferred to haveremained until the next day before starting, but Memotas sarcasticallyremarked that they had better go on for fear some more wolverines mightcome and carry away the rest of the beavers! It is a remarkable fact, and one interesting to study, that the Indians are much more bitter andsarcastic on each other for any act of carelessness in capturing orsecuring their game, than for any other defect or folly. 

The homeward journey was soon resumed, and after travelling about twentymiles the winter camp was prepared. Fortunate was it for them that theywere able to find a favourable place in the very midst of a largequantity of dry trees. So warm and invigorating was the work of cuttingdown these tall dry trees that not only did the boys, but several of themen, as they said, for the fun of it, slash away until an unusuallylarge number had thus been made ready for the fire. 

The owners of the beavers were not to be caught napping again, and sothey erected a kind of a staging near to the camp, on which the valuableloads of meat and furs were safely placed. Memotas had to have anotherdrive or two at them, and so he ironically congratulated them on theirlate precautions. Sam said it looked like the old proverb of lockingyour stable after the horse was stolen. Alec's more charitable remarkwas, "It is best to be made wise by the loss, and then strive to savethe rest. "

Yes, indeed, it was a wise precaution, for even now, while the men werethus hard at work and others were thus discussing their actions, farback on the trail hungry and cruel enemies have caught the rich scent ofthe beaver, and with long, louping strides are rapidly drawing near. Supper and prayers were over, and the men had nicely tucked in the boysin their warm bed. Before lying down themselves they had as usual littheir pipes and were having a quiet chat over the usual incidents of theday. With a sudden start they were all on their feet in an instant, forcoming down on the wind, in the direction in which they had so recentlytravelled, they heard a sound so blood-curdling and so ominous that ithas chilled the very heart and caused the cheeks to blanch of many astout-hearted traveller, the howlings of a pack of wolves!

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

THE COMING BATTLE WITH THE WOLVES--THOROUGH PREPARATIONS--THE CRY OF THEWOLVES FOR REINFORCEMENTS--THE FIRST ATTACK AND REPULSE--WOUNDED WOLVESDEVOURED--MEMOTAS'S COMMENTS--THE SECOND ATTACK--THE POWDER EXPLOSIONS--FINAL VICTORY--DOGS RELUCTANT TO ATTACK WOLVES--EXPLANATIONS--MR. ROSS'SSTORY OF THE BEARS STEALING HIS PIGS--DOGS MORE CONFIDENT IN ATTACKINGBEARS. 

The Indians very quickly aroused Mr Ross, who at once realised thedanger that menaced them. The Indians, prompt to act in suchemergencies, had already begun their preparations to meet the oncomingfoes. They had seized their axes, and were already hard at work cuttingdown more trees, that there might be an additional supply of wood withwhich the fire could be kept brilliantly burning. Some of the men werebusily engaged in getting the guns and ammunition ready and in makingother arrangements that would aid to success in the approaching battle. 

To Mr Ross the Indians left the work of calling up the boys andinforming them of the coming danger. This he speedily did, and greatwas their surprise when informed of the fact that in all probabilitythey were in for a fierce battle with an unknown number of savagewolves. 

To judge by their howlings the wolves were still a long distance fromthe camp. The hearing of the Indians is very acute, and when thetemperature is down so low that the mercury is frozen, sounds are heardvery much more distinctly, and from a greater distance, than underordinary atmospheric conditions. Thus there was fortunately a littletime for preparation ere they would have to meet the fierce assault. 

The boys were each urged to quickly put the harness on their own dogsand bring them into the camp, which was rapidly being enlarged. The olddogs, that had a wholesome dread of wolves, were, it was thought, wiseenough to look after themselves. Before even Mr Ross and the boys hadheard the wolves, the old dogs had detected falling on their ears themelancholy sound, and trembling with fear they came crowding into thecamp, and to the feet of their different drivers. 

Trees were fallen all around, under the vigorous blows of the choppers, and were being cut into lengths that could be carried in. Three or fourmen would seize hold of these great dry logs and speedily bring theminto the position which they well knew would be to the best advantage. The sleds were rearranged, and so placed that logs could be piled onthem. The harnesses were all hung high, and everything made as secureas possible. Wolves are afraid of fire, and so now it was that on thisfire the Indians were going mainly to depend. Already the men hadthrown a number of fresh logs on the fire, as well as extended it out increscent shape to the right and left. Behind the camp they cut down anumber of the trees, so placing them that they made a natural barricadeas they crashed into each other. It was not at all wolf-proof, but itwould prevent a rush attack, and those bold enough to try to venturethrough could be easily seen and shot. 

About five hundred yards from the camp the trail made quite an ascentere the camp was reached. Up to the moment when the wolves reached thetop of this ascent they had travelled altogether by the strong scent ofthe castoreum which is found in the body of the beaver, and which hadmost thoroughly perfumed the whole party, dogs, men, and outfit. As thebrilliant fire now for the first moment was seen by them, their howlingssuddenly ceased, and it was evident that they were very much perplexed. 

"Bothered are you?" chuckled Memotas, as he carefully examined his gun. "Wanted beaver, did you, and prepared to take it raw, and now it looksas though, if you get it, you will have to take it hot? come on for it, if you dare. "

These sarcastic words were helpful to the boys, who had workedsplendidly under Mr Ross's guidance. There was no doubt about it thatthe boys were excited. Alec, whose fearful race against such monsterscame visibly before him, was agitated, yet he bravely did everythingdesired of him, and felt that he was in for another triumph. It is nosign of cowardice to be conscious of the danger to be faced. Thebravest of the brave are those who realise the greatness of the taskbefore them, and then unflinchingly face it, to conquer or to die. 

Unfortunately, on this trip the boys had not brought with them theirguns. However, before starting Mr Ross had seen that one apiece foreach of his men, including Memotas, with abundance of ammunition, wasplaced upon the sleds. The hunters fortunately had an extra gun withthem, and this was handed to Mr Ross. 

"I wonder what conspiracy they are hatching now, " said Memotas, as thewolves continued so strangely silent. 

"Nothing that bodes any good to us, " replied Mr Ross. He had been incritical positions like this before, and now as the scent of battle oncemore was on him he handed his gun with pleasure and rejoiced in theexcitement of the hour. He would have been glad if the boys had beensafe at Sagasta-weekee, for as yet it was utterly impossible to form anyestimate of their as yet unseen foes' numbers, or to judge of thefierceness of the attack which they would shortly make. 

For about half an hour this strange, unnatural stillness continued, andthen there broke upon their ears a horrid din that seemed to come fromevery point in the compass around them. Although the sound was somedistance off, yet so blood-curdling was it that the boys were startled, and Alec pulled his fur cap down over his ears in a vain endeavour toshut out the horrid sounds. The dogs seemed at first to try and answerthis noisy challenge, but soon their courage sadly oozed out, and theytremblingly huddled together in the camp, or close to their masters'feet. 

To the boys' amazement, the Indians unconcernedly put down their guns, and taking up their pipes began to smoke. Turning to the boys, Mr Rosssaid:

"You had all better lie down and sleep, for we are not going to betroubled with the wolves for a good while. "

"Why, dare we do that, " said Frank, "when the wolves are now all aroundus?"

"Yes, " said Mr Ross, "that last cry we heard was from different pointsaround us, but it was not the challenge of immediate attack, but a callsent out for reinforcements. Every wolf within ten miles of us heardthat far-reaching cry, and is galloping in this direction. "

"That means, " said Sam, "that every wolf within four hundred miles of usis mustering for the fight?"

"Precisely, " said Alec, "if you square the circle. "

It was rather trying for the boys to be asked to lie down and go tosleep under such circumstances, yet they promptly obeyed the request ofthose they knew would only give them the best of advice. Strange as itmay appear to some, our brave boys were soon sound asleep, and when, about an hour after they were called up again, they found themselvesrefreshed and doubly nerved for the coming conflict. 

The subdued howlings of the wolves were again distinctly heard, and itwas the opinion of the Indians that they were holding a big council todecide on the plan of their attack. Knowing so well their methods, itwas the opinion of them all that the heaviest assault would be on theleeward side, as there the wind carried the strong scent from thecastoreum and the meat. To impede them in their rush if they should trythat method of attack, a couple of Indians with their axes ventured outin that direction and cut down a number of trees, which they caused tofall in such a way that the wolves, when approaching, would be delayedby them, and thus render it easier for them to be shot. While these menwere thus chopping, in that advanced position of danger, others withloaded guns stood not far behind as their defenders. However, they werenot disturbed except by one skulking fellow, that was doubtless actingas a scout. When he saw that he was discovered, he quickly retreatedback in the gloom of the forest. 

The increasing din and the more confident yelps told the men, who, living in the forest, had become familiar with the various sounds andcalls of the wild beasts, that reinforcements were coming in, and thatthe attack would soon be made. 

The camp could muster ten guns. Six of these were doubled-barrelled, but they were all muzzle-loaders. When the boys were aroused the secondtime they were each given small-sized axes as their weapons of defence, in case the battle should reach the camp, which, however, was notanticipated. In addition they were expected to keep the dogs together, and soothe and quiet them as much as possible. 

Noticing some peculiar rolls of birch bark well back from the fire, onwhich Memotas was keeping a careful eye, Sam inquired what they were, and was interested to learn that they were a kind of improvised handgrenade, made by Memotas, to be used if the wolves should strive to cometoo close. They each contained two or more pounds of powder, and ifthey did but little execution they would at least add to the noise andexcitement. 

At the request of all the men Mr Ross was appointed as captain, whoseword was to be obeyed by all. That he might be able to wisely directthe men to the points where the attack seemed to be most directed, ascaffold of logs was hurriedly erected on the windward side of the camp. So abundant was the supply of wood that the fire was kept burning sobrightly that Mr Ross, from his elevated position, could see quite adistance into the forest in every direction. 

As was anticipated, the attack was made on the leeward side with a rush, and, with howlings that were blood-curdling, the savage beasts in a packrushed forward, as though confident of success and an easy victory. Thenewly fallen trees bothered them but for a moment, as on they rushed. As they emerged from them the men began firing at them, from the pointin front of the camp, to which they had advanced. As the first volleyfrom the ten guns rang out a number of wolves fell dead, while others, badly wounded, with howls of pain quickly retreated. Mr Ross could seethat they met with no sympathy, for, wounded as they were, they had tofight for their lives against some of their comrades that, having tastedthe blood of their wounds, were anxious to devour them. 

In the meantime the men with the double-barrelled guns kept picking offthe more venturesome of the wolves, while the men with the other guidesrapidly loaded them. Thus they kept loading and firing until thedisheartened survivors drew back beyond the range of the light into thedarkness of the forest. For a time all that was heard were the yelpingsand snarlings of the wounded and their assailants. These discordantcries seemed to amuse Memotas very much. 

"Ha, ha!" said he, "you came for beaver, did you?--with perhaps a man orboy or two thrown in; and now you are content to eat your brother wolf'sflesh! You are easily contented, anyway. "

"Wait, Memotas, " said another Indian; "those wolves are not through withus yet, and it is likely that we will have a bigger attack from themthan what we already have had. "

Quietly calling one of the Indians, who was possessed of marvellouspowers of vision, up on the scaffolding where he was, Mr Ross calledhis attention to the stealthy movements of the wolves. Keen as were thepowers of vision possessed by Mr Ross, those of this Indian were muchsuperior, and so he at once was able to detect the wolves skulking backto a point far in the rear of the camp. Their object was to make anattack from that direction. To meet this new movement, Mr Rosswithdrew most of the men from the front, and placed them where theywould be able to render most effective service. About a hundred feet ormore behind the camp stood a very tall, dead balsam tree. Seizing alarge axe, and calling another Indian to do likewise, Memotas rushed outwith his comrade and speedily cut down that tree, causing it to falldirectly from the camp. Then taking his queer-looking rolls ofgunpowder in his arms, and slipping his snowshoes on his feet, hehurried back to the place where the top of the tree now lay upon theground. This was at the place along which the wolves would probablycome when they again made their attack. Here Memotas carefully arrangedhis powder-loaded rolls of birch bark, and connected the fuses of eachwith a heavy sprinkling of gunpowder, which reached to the trunk of thetree. Then pulling the cork out of a horn full of powder, which hadbeen slung on his back, he laid a train on the trunk the whole length ofthe tree. Coming into the camp, as he relit his pipe, he coolly said tothe boys, "I think I will give them some singed wolf meat as a changeafter a while. "

As was anticipated, at this point a number of wolves gathered to makethe attack. They cunningly kept themselves as much in the shadows ofthe trees as possible, and so were the more difficult to hit. However, they never got very near the camp until the firing for a time had to benearly suspended owing to the guns becoming too hot from rapid use. This was Memotas's opportunity. Seeing a number of wolves, emboldenedby the apparent ceasing of the firing, coming on with a rush toward thespot where he had placed his birch rolls of powder, he boldly seized aflaming brand from the fire and rushed out to the spot where he hadstood when he had cut down the tree. As from his position he could notvery well see the oncoming wolves, he waited for Mr Ross to give himnotice when to fire his little train of gunpowder. The instant the wordwas given he touched the firebrand to the powder, and at once rushedback to join the other Indians, who with their guns were again ready fortheir foes. Some of the wolves, more eager than their comrades, hadalready passed by the mine laid for them, and so were a little startledby the spluttering little stream of fire that passed them as it made itsway along the trunk of that tree. Carefully and well had Memotas donehis work, for soon there was a series of explosions mingled withyelpings of pain and terror, and a number of frightened hairless andwounded wolves turned into the forest and were seen no more. A forwardrush of the men, firing heavily as they advanced, completed the work, and that strange battle was over. 

There was but little rest or sleep for any of the party in the campduring the brief remainder of the night. The fires were kept brightlyburning, and in turns the men with guns loaded kept vigilant watchagainst their treacherous foes. As an extra precaution a gun wasoccasionally fired, so that any skulking wolf remaining in theneighbourhood might know that the inhabitants of the camp were on theirguard, and ready to renew the fight if it were necessary. 

As soon as it was broad daylight, escorted by some of the Indians, fullyarmed, Mr Ross and the boys went out on a tour around what might becalled the battle field. They were surprised at not finding more deadwolves than they did. They were, however, simply disgusted at the manyevidences of the rank cannibalism of those that had escaped the bullets. They had without any pity or remorse most rapidly devoured the dead andwounded, with the exception of those that had been singed by Memotas'simprovised fireworks. So successful had been this explosion, and soaccurate the aim of the men, that several wolves of different kinds werefound within a radius of half a mile. Some had been killed instantly, and so lay just where they fell. Others, mortally wounded, had managedto crawl away quite a distance ere they died. But of all those that inany way had been singed or burnt by the fire not one had been torn ormangled by the survivors. However, such had been the effects of thefire upon them that their skins were valueless as fur, and so they wereleft undisturbed where they had fallen. 

A good breakfast was ready for them all when they returned to the camp. Soon after it was over the sleds were again loaded, the dogs harnessed, and the journey once more resumed. 

It had been a memorable night for the boys. They had remained cool andcollected, but alert and watchful. The conduct of the dogs ratherhumiliated and disappointed them. Why some of them should act socowardly, and so tremble at the howlings of the wolves, was to them amystery and an annoyance. They, however, stoutly declared that theirown young trains growled, and even barked back their defiance, when thehowlings of the wolves were most severe. At the resting place wherethey stopped for dinner they had quite a discussion on the subject. Samconfessed that he had been eager to let the dogs loose and then urgethem on to the attack. At this candid confession Mr Ross was muchamused, and said that when a boy, long ago, travelling with his fatherand some Indians, one night in a camp where they were bothered by thehowlings of some wolves he, against their advice, urged his own splendidtrain of young dogs to the attack. Only three of them managed to getback to the camp, and they were in such a wounded, torn condition thatthey were worth but little for weeks. The fourth one had been devouredby the wolves. 

"As one result, " added Mr Ross, "I had to walk or run on snowshoes therest of the long journey home, and as it was over a hundred miles Ioften wished I had not been so eager to set my dogs on a number of greatnorthern wolves. "

"What do you think would have happened, " said Alec, "if Sam had set thethree trains we boys are driving on to those wolves that attacked uslast night?"

"I think, " said Mr Ross, with a bit of a twinkle in his eye, "thatthere would have been seen along here somewhere three tired, down-hearted boys trudging along on snowshoes and mourning the loss of twelvesplendid dogs. "

"Well, " said Frank, "I am glad we did not get up a wolf fight, for thisis jollier than trudging along all day on snowshoes. "

With a laugh he threw himself on his dog-sled, and then with a cheer hewas first off on the trail of the guide. Quickly the rest followed, andthe journey was resumed. 

When the journey was ended, and in after days as various incidents ofthis eventful trip were being discussed, the boys were loth to have tobelieve that it was running a big risk to allow sleigh dogs to attackwolves. 

"What about bears?" said Sam. 

"There is not one quarter the risk run by dogs in attacking bears, thatthere is when they venture to assail wolves, " said Mr Ross. "These bigwolves of the North are generally in a half-starved condition. Whenattacked they seem to know that it is for their very life they arefighting, and so they use their long, sharp teeth and powerful jaws withthe greatest ferocity imaginable. Bears, on the contrary, fight in anentirely different way. When they are assailed by dogs they veryseldom, if ever, fasten on them with their teeth as do the more viciouswolves. Their one great effort in the conflict is to seize hold of thedogs. If they can once get them in the grip of their long, strong, muscular forearms--well, one hug is all the most powerful dog requiresto use him up for that day. Fortunate is he if he is not killed by thefearful squeezing he has received. Dogs seem, by some sort of instinct, to very quickly find out where their danger is, and so, unless they areyoung and inexperienced, they will fight shy of getting within the reachof those strong forearms that can give such an unlovely hug. "

"How do the clever, experienced dogs attack bears?" asked Alec. 

"I am in hopes, " said Mr Ross, "that before many more months you willbe able to see for yourselves, but as there is much uncertainty aboutall these things, I will try and describe a battle we had not a mileaway from Sagasta-weekee a couple of years ago. We had brought someyoung pigs out from the Selkirk country, and had them well housed in awarm pen, around which was erected a high, strong stockade. We knewthat bears were fond of pork, and were also aware of the fact that theywere good climbers, but with all our experience of them we neverimagined that they would attempt to scale that high stockade and try tosteal our pigs. But they did, and with a certain measure of success. Without alarming the dogs, or even any of the several Indians about theplace, they succeeded in climbing over that high stockade, and eachbear--for there were three of them--grabbed a pig, each one weighingperhaps fifty pounds, and succeeded in getting back over the stockade, and off for the woods ere the loud squealings of the frightened youngporkers gave them away. Of course, we were instantly aroused by theseunusual noises, and at once suspecting the cause, I gave instant ordersthat the dogs that were at home should be immediately let out of theirkennels and put on to the trail of the bears. As soon as possible anumber of us quickly followed. Fortunately for us, the morning had soadvanced that there was sufficient light for us to see our way. We hadno trouble in reference to the direction in which to go, as the squealsof the pigs and the excited barkings of the dogs were quite sufficientto guide us. When we reached them we beheld a sight that made the moststoical of my Indians laugh. Here we found the three bears brought tobay. Each one of them was bravely holding in one forearm, as a motherdoes a child, one of the stolen pigs, while with his other forepaw hewas giving resounding whacks to every dog that was rash enough to comewithin range. My largest sleigh dogs were still out with Kinesasis attheir summer home, and so the bears were more able to repel the attacksof these much smaller ones. Still there were some plucky ones among thedozen or so in this pack, and they knew how to fight bears when they hadthem on the run. But they were bothered to know what to do with thesebig fellows, sitting here with their backs against a tree and a noisypig in one forearm while they used the other like a terrible boxer. 

"From a distance we watched for a time the peculiar conflict, andperhaps would have done so longer if it had not been that we saw one ofmy pet dogs, a very courageous little fellow, make a too venturesomerush and get within the sweep of that great arm. Suddenly the beardragged him in, and although the plucky fellow tried to use his teeth, it was of no use. The bear hugged him to himself with such a crushinggrip that the poor dog's ribs were broken like clay pipe-stems. Thensuddenly the dog was flung quite a distance to one side. 

"We did not want to see any more valuable dogs thus treated, and so weat once pushed forward. When the alert bears saw us approaching they atonce started for the distant woods. Now the advantage was all with thedogs. It was very comical to see the desperate efforts made by thosebears to hold on to those pigs, and also to fight the dogs and to keepup their retreat. Experienced dogs know that the tenderest spot in abear is the tendon of his hind leg, and so that is where they try toseize hold of him. Two clever dogs are all that are necessary to delay, until the hunters come up, the largest black bears in our country. Itdoes not depend very much on the size of the dogs. Indeed, large dogsare rather at a disadvantage, as it is harder for them to get out of therange of the bear when he turns upon them. In this fight all my dogsdid was to assail each bear in front and rear. While the dog in frontkept up a vigorous barking as close to his nose as it was safe toventure, the dog in the rear, watching his opportunity, sprang in andgave him a severe nip in the tender spot in his hind leg. This, ofcourse, could not be put up with, and so the bear, still holding on tohis pig, quickly whirled around to repel this second assailant. Theinstant he did so the clever dog that had been in front, but was now inthe rear, instantly sprang in and caught the bear in the same tenderspot. This, of course, brought the bear back again to him, but he wastoo clever to hang on, and having done his work he quickly sprang out ofthe reach of those dreaded paws. Seeing the bear once more turned fromhim, the other dog again dashed in and gave him another severe bite inthe same place. Thus it was that the dogs, while not daring to closewith such large bears, were yet able to keep them from escaping until wecame up and shot them. "

"What about the pigs?" said Frank. 

"They were alive, and not much the worse for their queer adventure, although for some days they seemed dull and sore, " was the reply. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

A BEAR HUNT IN WINTER--MUSTAGAN A FAMOUS INDIAN GUIDE--BEARS' DEN--HOWDISCOVERED--BOYS' PERPLEXITY--THE JOURNEY TO THE DEN--A COLD MORNING--THE TELLTALE COLUMN OF STEAM--THE ATTEMPT TO DIG DOWN TO THE BEARS--TOTAL FAILURE--SUCCESSFUL TUNNELLING OPERATIONS--EXCITING FIGHT IN THEICY CAVERN--THE BATTLES BETWEEN THE MEN AND DOGS AND THE ESCAPING BEARS. 

A Bear hunt in winter! No wonder the boys were excited when they heardof it. Yes, that was what it was, and a very interesting one at that. 

Mustagan was a famous hunter, as we have already seen. In addition tothat, he was a wonderful guide, and had also been a great traveller. Hehad gone several times on great expeditions to the Arctic Ocean. He waswith Sir John Richardson on his memorable search for Sir John Franklin. He had also gone with Dr Rae and others on similar Arctic exploringtrips. Then this Mustagan was the old Cree Indian who found the silverspoons and other remains of Sir John Franklin among the Eskimos. Theirrecovery gave the final definite knowledge of the tragic ending of thatmemorable expedition. These relics of that sad expedition, in whichabout a hundred and forty of the bravest of men perished, some of whommight have been saved if Paulette had been true, are now in theGreenwich Museum. 

But although Mustagan had been long years thus employed he was yet inthe full vigour of life, and as a hunter was unexcelled. He was, likeBig Tom, particularly noted for his skill as a moose hunter, and it waswhen out on the tracks of a moose that he made the singular discoverythat led to this bear hunt in winter. When he came over to Sagasta-weekee with the news that he had some rare sport for the boys they were, of course, full of curiosity to get all the information. 

During the previous summer they had all had their peculiar experiencesin bear fights, but this finding of bears in winter was a revelation, asthey were always taught that the bears, especially in cold countries, hibernate during the winter; that is, that they den up in some quietretreat in the rocks, if possible, and there remain in a semi-unconscious condition for months together. They generally go in veryfat, and on this fat they keep alive all winter. 

"Is it true, " said Sam to Mustagan, "that a bear sucks his paws like ababy does his thumb?"

"That is what is believed by the Indians, " said the old man. "But, " headded, with a bit of a twinkle in his eye, "I don't remember any one ofus ever having sat up to watch one doing it. "

"How in the world did you find out where this bear's den is which youare inviting us to see?" said Alec. 

"Perhaps, " said Frank, "he marked it in the fall, like other Indiansmark their beavers' houses. "

"No, indeed, " said Mustagan. "I never thought of one being in thatplace until I found it by the steam. "

Here was a bigger mystery than ever. 

"Steam!" said Sam; "and where was the engine?"

"Down deep under the snow in a den among the rocks, " was the answergiven. 

This did not clear up the mystery, but rather added to their curiosity. 

"How far away is it?" asked Mr Ross. 

"One day's journey, " said Mustagan. 

So it was decided that on the following Tuesday, if the weathercontinued bright and fine, the start would be made very early fromSagasta-weekee. 

"No use going then, " said Memotas, "if the days are not bright and cold. No see any steam if no sunshine. "

This was a great perplexity to the boys, and they appealed to Mr Rossto help them out. But he wished them to have the real surprise thatMustagan had in store for them, and so he told them to wait until theycould see it for themselves, when on the ground. 

The weather was everything that could be desired. On Monday four trainsof dogs, with a full camping outfit and plenty of supplies to last forfive or six days, were prepared. The boys took their guns along withthem and plenty of ammunition. They were going to have their share ofshooting if there was any to be done. Mustagan, with a couple of hissons and two dog-sleds, arrived very early, and the whole party startedwhile the stars were still shining. One of Mustagan's sons, who hadbeen with the old man when the den was discovered, ran on ahead of thetrains as guide. As the trail had been made by Mustagan and his sonwhen they returned after the discovery of the bears, this made thetravelling more rapid and agreeable. 

Three or four times during the day's journey they stopped, and cuttingdown some dry trees made up a big roaring fire, at which they warmedthemselves and cooked a hearty meal. About an hour before sundown theyreached the place. As it was too late to do anything that evening inthe way of bear-hunting, it was decided to make the camp and have a goodnight's rest. This was not as easy a matter as it had been in someother places. There was not at any one spot sufficient dry wood for agood camp, especially if they should be attacked by wolves and thusrequire for their safety a good bright fire all night. However, thematter was arranged by making the dogs help. They were unfastened fromtheir sleds, and while some of the men cut down the dry trees, whereverthey could be found, the boys and one or two men hitched their dogs tothem and dragged them to the vicinity of the camp, where they werespeedily cut up into the desired lengths. There were numbers of greenbalsams around, and so some of these were cut down and so arranged as tobe helpful in keeping off the cold winds. The frozen fish were thawedfor the dogs, and then some of the men prepared the usual supper, whichconsisted of the fattest meat that could be obtained. Prayers wereoffered after the Evening Hymn had been sung, the beds of fur robes andblankets were made, and Mr Ross and the boys were soon very thoroughlytucked in. Nothing unusual disturbed them in the night, although someof the men had an uneasy half hour, as the dismal howlings of a solitarywolf in the distance could be distinctly heard. The mournful sounds atlength died away, and the men again went to sleep. 

As they were retiring Mustagan told the boys that the steam would begoing best just after sunrise, and so they had better all be up earlyand, after a good warm cup of tea and something to eat, be off to see itand then return to breakfast. Then he said, "After that we will findout what makes the steam. "

There was only the faintest glimmer of the coming dawn when the boyswere called up. My, but it was cold that morning! How the lads didshiver! Wistfully they looked back at the warm robes and blankets whichthe men were rapidly rolling up. Gladly would they have tumbled underthem again, the cold was so terrible, it must have been at least fiftybelow zero. It seemed to chill them to the very marrow of their bones. Their teeth chattered. The tears in their eyes froze into ice. Thebreath touching their fur caps, or capotes, instantly became white andshining. Well was it for them that the fire was brightly burning erethey were called. Speedily were seats of rolls of blankets prepared forthem, and here, with a big buffalo skin thrown around each one as anadditional protection, they were seated as close to the fire as it waspossible to get without setting their clothes or robes on fire. Howwarming and delicious was the tea that morning!--well-sweetened, andwith a lump of cream in it. Cup after cup was taken, and soon thebitter cold was forgotten. 

"Very cold morning, " said Mustagan. "Take good breakfast now, thenanother good one will be ready when we come back from seeing the steam. "

With all the clothing that could well be worn consistent with rapidsnow-shoeing the party soon set off. Their direction from the camp wasdue south. As far as the boys could make out the region was full ofgreat rocky ravines. But the snow covered everything, and it wasevident that the high winds had caused enormous quantities to drift intothe hollows and ravines. Mr Ross and Mustagan were in front, while theboys and some Indians were not far behind. All at once Mustagan, whohad been on the alert, called Mr Ross's attention to an object which atfirst was to him more imaginary than real. Sharp as were his eyes, hewas asked to look upon what to him was at present invisible andintangible. The party had all now stopped, and each one wasendeavouring to see what already seemed so real to Mustagan. 

"O, I see it!" shouted Alec and Sam together. "See, as the sun's raysfall upon it, it shines like a small bit of a rainbow. "

"Yes, " said Frank, "I see it, like a thin column of steam lit up by themorning sun. "

Then it was visible to all. For as the sun arose a little higher, andits full rays fell on it, at the right angle to the spot where our partynow stood, there it was, clear and distinct, a tiny spiral column ofsteam rising up in the clear cold air from a great snowy expanse. Therewas not a sign of a tree or of a den. Then Mustagan explained thatthere was a deep ravine full of the snow, and at the bottom of it somebears had made their winter's nest in the fall. Whether they had muchof a den or not he did not know. They would find that out when they dugthem out. Anyway, here they were under many feet of snow. Thebreathing caused the snow to melt around them and above them, until itformed an icy crystal roof. Then, as they went on breathing andbreathing, by and by in a little opening it found its way through thecrust and through the fine snow, until it made a small chimney all theway up to the top; and then he added, "There it comes out, as you see itnow. "

Carefully they all walked up to the spot. The opening was not more thanan inch in diameter. It was hardy perceptible. The little bit of steamfroze into the tiniest particles of ice, which were invisible exceptwhen the sun's bright rays shone on them. It was a great curiosity tothe boys. "How many feet below us are the bears?" asked Sam, in tonesso subdued that everybody laughed. But the fact that only a lot oflight snow separated him from he knew not how many savage bears had atendency to make him a little nervous, and hence his whispered question. Glancing over the landscape, and taking notice of the hills in thedistance and the amount of country that the storm had swept over, Mustagan and Mr Ross came to the conclusion that between twenty andthirty feet of snow were between them and the icy cave where these bearswere drowsily sleeping away the long winter months. After some furtherinvestigation, and a talk about the best way of getting down to thosebears, the party returned to camp for breakfast. 

The snowshoe run back was a vigorous one, and enjoyed on account of thecold. The second breakfast was dispatched, and the plans talked overfor getting down to the bears. If the snow should be found light anddry quite a distance down it would be impossible to dig a well-like holedown to them. If the wind had packed the snow hard as it filled up theravine it would be an easy matter. If it were found impracticable toget to them that way, then they would have to tunnel in from below, inthe valley, until they reached them. A tunnel can always be dug in deepsnow, as the pressure of the mass above sufficiently hardens the snownear the ground to make it quite possible to accomplish the work. Thusthey discussed various plans, and then decided to go and beginoperations on what seemed the best way when they reached the spot. 

Axes, ropes, a big baglike bucket for hauling up snow, snowshovels, andother things considered necessary were taken along on a couple of dog-trains to the spot where the steam was quite visible, now that it hadbeen discovered. After some consultation it was decided to go to acluster of trees not far off, and cut down a number of them and build akind of platform on the snow directly over the steam orifice, and thencommence the work of digging down to the den below. 

Soon all were busy. The men cut down the trees, and the boys claimedthe honour of driving the dogs that dragged the logs to the place wherethey were to be used. As the snow over the bears' den was so very deepthe boys had to keep on their snowshoes all the time. It was verydifficult at first for the dogs to get along, but, after the snowshoeshad tramped out the trail a few times, the snow then easily held themup. 

The log platform was built, and in the large space left cleared in thecentre, which was about eight feet square, the work of digging wascommenced. When all the snow was thrown out that could be reached withthe long-handled snowshovels a rude windlass was made, and then theleather baglike bucket was brought into requisition, and the work wenton as fast as it was possible to haul up the snow and have it draggedaway on the dog-sleds. When the well-like hole was down about fifteenfeet, and they were congratulating themselves that at least half of thework was accomplished, there was a sudden collapse. The whole thing hadcaved in and carried down the platform and all to a distance of eight orten feet. Nobody was badly hurt. The two men who were in the bottom atthe time, busily filling up the leather bucket, were hit with some ofthe falling logs and nearly buried in the avalanche of snow that seemedto them to come from every quarter above them. Those who had tumbled inwere more scared than hurt. The difficulty now was to get the men out, as the sides were so light and yielding. 

"Use the dogs to do it, " said Frank. And quickly a strong rope was tiedto an empty sled and it was let down to the first man. A strong dog-train was attached to the other end of the rope. 

"Marche!" was shouted, and away went the dogs, and soon there emergedone of the men who had fallen in. Quickly was he rescued, and speedilythis operation was repeated until the dogs had dragged out all thereinimprisoned. 

All this work had gone for nothing. Some other plan must be devised. Half a day's work gone and nothing to show for it. This was ratherdiscouraging. 

"What is to be tried next?" was asked by several. 

"Dinner is next, " said Mr Ross. And so away they hurried back to camp, and there, while eating their well-earned meal, they talked over thenext attempt, and decided to go down where the ravine ended out on alevel place and there begin tunnelling. 

When they came back and examined the spot, and measured the drift, theyfound that in order to get low enough to reach the bears they would haveto tunnel at least two hundred feet. This meant a lot of heavy work. But they were there to get those bears, and were bound to succeed. Atfirst they dug away the snow like a deep trench, until they reached aplace where it was too deep to be thrown out, and then the work oftunnelling really began. To their delight, they found when they hadgone some way in, that the pressure of the immense mass of snow upon thelower portion had so packed it that it would not require supports, ashas already been referred to. 

They worked in relays with their big shovels, and cut the snow out ingreat pieces, which were dragged away by the dogs as fast as the sledscould be loaded. 

That evening, when they stopped work, they estimated that they had cutabout half the way into the bears' den. Then they returned to the campfor supper and rest, and hoped to be able to finish their work on themorrow. 

That night there was a most beautiful display of the aurora borealis. Their ever-changing glories delighted and so fascinated the boys thatthey were loth to cover up their heads in their camp beds. Thesewondrous visions in the North Land exceed in weird beauty anything elsethat this wide world can show. 

Mr Ross was so anxious that they should get the bears to-day, so thatthe whole party could begin the return journey to-morrow, that he hadthem all up at such an early hour that they were eating breakfast bystarlight. Just as the sun rose, and the Indians were calling, "Sagastao! Sagastao!" ("The sun rises!") to each other, they werealready at the tunnel, anxious to resume operations. They had to becareful now to so run the tunnel that they would directly strike thebears. So, while the men were digging, Mr Ross and Mustagan wereconstantly travelling on their snowshoes with a compass to try and helpthe diggers, who were rapidly pushing on their work. 

The boys could hardly understand how it was that it could be so cozy andcomfortable in the tunnel while outside the cold was so terrible. Totheir surprise, they here learned that there was warmth even in a snowtunnel. While thus digging away and dragging out the loads, all at oncethe dogs became very much excited, and began barking furiously. Suspecting that it was because of the scent of the bears, which passes along distance through the snow, the guns and some axes were immediatelysent for. 

"Did you ever shoot a bear?" said Mustagan to Sam. 

"I was chased by one once, " said Sam, with a laugh. "But I fancy I goteven with him before the summer ended. "

"O yes, " said Mustagan, with a comical grin, "I do remember now a boycoming running into the camp with a bear at his heels. That's why yourhair stands up so straight ever since. "

Poor Sam, whose hair had a natural tendency to stand on end, said hethought he had heard enough of that bear story of his, and so was aboutblaming the old Indian for being too hard on him, when he was astonishedat hearing him say:

"I want you to be the first to walk into that bears' den with me. MrBear chased you once. You killed some of his relatives since then, buthe has lots of brothers, and perhaps some of them are in this den, andso now is your chance to teach them a lesson for one of their relativesmaking your hair stand up straight. Fact is, " added the old Indian, whohad never seen a person with his hair standing up like Sam's, "Indianthinks you will have to keep killing bears until your hair gets over itsscare and lies down flat again. "

This bit of humour from Mustagan amused everybody, and Sam himselfjoined heartily in the laugh. 

Thus they chatted until the guns and axes arrived. Then the work wasvigorously pursued. The tunnel was dug in further and further, as fastas the snow could be hauled out. Every time the dogs came in with theirempty sleds they were permitted to remain a few minutes to scent thebears. As they had quieted down after their first noisy actions it wasdecided that they were still a good way off from the bears. 

As a precautionary measure Memotas went out and cut a long, slim pole, which was about twenty feet long. This he pushed in through the snowahead of the diggers. By this plan he was able to guard against anysurprise, for he had stated to Mr Ross that, as the snow was so deep, the den would be found very warm, and he would not be surprised if theyfound the bears so wide-awake that they would have a bit of a fight withthem ere they killed them. When this was heard it added much to theexcitement of the whole party, and so while everyone worked with a willthey were all on the alert for some sudden developments. 

After Mustagan had pushed in the pole two or three times and foundnothing but the ordinary snow, which was being rapidly dug away, he atlength struck against something hard, which was about fifteen feet infrom the end of the now long tunnel. When the dogs came in for theirlast loads Mustagan pulled out the pole and let the dogs put their nosesto the opening. They were simply furious, and at once began mostvigorously to dig into the snow around the hole. Of course, they werequickly stopped and again fastened to the sleds, which on account of thenarrowness of the tunnel had to be backed in. Cautiously they worked, and soon were only within four or five feet of the obstruction, whateverit was, that prevented the pole being pushed along any further. 

A consultation was now held, and it was decided to very much enlarge theend of the tunnel, so that if there was to be much of a fight therewould be room enough for the men to stand up and easily move around. This enlarging the tunnel and getting out the snow consumed the bestpart of an hour. Fortunately, it was not very dark, although they wereso far from daylight in any direction. The pure white snow seems tothrow off a certain amount of light. However, it was warm work, and sothe men frequently went out with the dogs in relays. Once outside theyquickly cooled off and were glad to return. When the enlargement of thetunnel was about completed, and the men were again engaged in cuttingout great blocks of the snow that was between them and the bears, theresuddenly reached them a perfume so strong as to be almost sickening. Noneed of telling anyone who has ever been near a close old bears' denwhere they were now. 

All the shovels except a couple were quickly dropped, and the weaponswere seized by those who were expected to do the fighting. Thearrangements were speedily made. It was difficult to say how many bearswere in the den. If only two or three, there would not be much troublein killing them, but if, as sometimes happened, a number had clubbedtogether, there might be as many as eight or ten, and if so there wouldbe lots of excitement, and perhaps somebody might get hurt. So it wasdecided that Mr Ross with Frank and Alec should go out to the mouth ofthe tunnel, and there with their weapons remain, with the dogsunharnessed, and wait for developments, while Mustagan with Sam and theothers would face them in their dens. If any tried to escape throughthe tunnel those watching at the mouth would fire at them or run themdown with the dogs. 

Cautiously the intervening wall of snow was broken down and trampledunder foot. Listen! There are low growlings heard, and it is evidentthat the bears are on the alert. These sounds show that the bears havelong been hearing the noise made by the approach of the tunnellers, andare getting their courage up for a fight with the disturbers of theirlong repose. Mustagan had taken the precaution to bring along sometorches which he had specially made. The principal materials of themwere rolls of birch bark saturated in balsam gum. The gum had beenboiled down, and otherwise so prepared, that when ignited it made a mostbrilliant light and yet emitted but little smoke. At length the diggerscame to a wall of icy snow, which was very close and hard. This was thewall and roof of the whole den. The party attentively listened, and nowthe bears were easily heard. Mustagan said:

"Some of them wide-awake, others seem like sleepy boys called early. They are growling and snarling, and seem to say, `Be quiet and let ussleep till it is time to get up. ' We'll wake you so you will want toget up in a hurry, " added the old man with a chuckle, as he made hisfinal arrangements. 

These were as follows: The men who had been using the shovels wereordered to exchange them for their heavy axes. With these they were toat once smash in a place large enough for Mustagan and Sam to stepthrough. They would each have one of the brightest torches, and so theold man believed that the sleeping animals would crowd from thebewildering light to the other side of the den. So the flint and steelwere struck and a light made by one of them, while the axemen nowvigorously broke through the thin glassy wall. 

Soon an opening sufficiently large was made, and the old Indian and Samfearlessly stepped in, with guns and torches. As anticipated byMustagan, the bears, frightened by the brilliant torches, at oncecrowded away from the dazzling flames. So he and Sam were safely in, but it did not take him long to see that they were not altogether safein there. My, what a crowd of them! and bears of all sizes too. 

"Chop away at the ice, " was Mustagan's first command, as he and Sam keptslowly edging their way around. So numerous were the bears that theydare not think of letting go their splendid torches that were burningbrightly. 

"We are going to try and drive them out, " were his next words; and thenthe old Indian shouted, "Look out, men, and be ready for them!"

Sam was cool and collected, for he had all confidence in Mustagan, buthe could not help being startled and surprised at the number of thebears that lay there snarling and growling like a drove of pigs. Thesize and beauty of the winter house was also a revelation. As thewinter had advanced the warmth of the bears had caused the icy walls androof to keep slowly receding, until now here was a capacious vault-likeroom of clearest crystal. As the brilliant light flashed on it, itseemed like some dream of fairyland. One look, however, at thestartled, growling bears showed that the fierce occupants were anythingbut nymphs and fairies. Seeing their numbers, Mustagan quickly calledin a couple more men, with axes and additional torches. Pointing out avery large one that seemed ready to begin battle at any moment, he said, "You, Sam, you shoot him fair between the eyes. "

Sam at once obeyed. Tremendous was the effect. So confined was theplace that the sound was as though a cannon had been fired. All thetorches were instantly extinguished but one, and the ice cracked andfell in great pieces around them. Speedily were the torches relighted. The bears were wide-awake now. Fortunately, the biggest and fiercestwas stone dead. Sam's aim had been sure, and his bullet had done itswork. Mustagan was now so fiercely attacked by the next largest onethat he could not bring up his gun to his shoulder, but he skillfullyfired from his side and sent a bullet into the heart of his assailant. This quickly finished him. This second report was, if possible, worsethan the first, and so some seconds were lost in relighting the torches. 

"Drop your guns, " said Mustagan, "and fight with your axes and knives. "

And fight they had to, for the bears were now full of fight and eachwent for an opponent. Sam bravely tackled a fine two-year-old with hisaxe. He raised it and made a desperate blow to try and split theanimal's skull open. But just as he plunged forward to strike the bearsuddenly rose up and with a side blow struck the axe such a clip that itfairly flew out of Sam's hands, while the lad, unable to keep hisfooting, stumbled forward at the bear's hind feet. He was fortunatelyable to reach sideways and seize one of the flaming torches that hadbeen thrown on the ground, and which was still fiercely burning. He wasnone too soon, for already the bear's strong forearms were winding roundhim for a hug that he would have long remembered. However, as theblazing torch was pushed into the bear's face it so suddenly singed hishandsome whiskers that he had to throw up his paws to defend his face. Finding himself thus free again, Sam was quickly on his feet. Drawinghis knife, he was able to look around. Two or three bears were killedand others wounded, but so carefully were they using their paws inparrying the blows of the men that they were fairly holding their own. One man had a shoulder blade broken, and another's crushed ribs weremaking him groan. 

"Let us drive them out, " said Mustagan, and already it was evident thatthe bears' quick instinct had enabled them to catch the scent of thefresh air through the tunnel. 

"Run for your lives!" shouted Mustagan to the two men who had been leftin the tunnel, "and tell Mr Ross and the boys to be ready at the mouthto receive them. "

They lost no time in getting out, for they were about half blinded andsuffocated by the smoke of the guns and could render but little service. They were soon out, and found Mr Ross and the boys ready for thebears. All were much excited, for they had distinctly heard the twoshots fired inside. 

Mustagan, Sam, and the Indians had now wedged themselves so around thebears that they had them all between them and the opening into thetunnel. The cunning animals were loth to leave their winter quarters, and so they very slowly and reluctantly gave ground as Mustagan and theothers, with their flaming torches, gradually forced them on ahead. Itwould now have been easy to have shot some of them, but Mustagan wasafraid that as so much of the ice had fallen already from the roof ofthe den a few more such reports might find them all buried under thegreat mass above them. So he decided to drive the bears out into theopen air, where the fight could be renewed. 

At the great opening in the crystal wall the bears made a determinedstand. There were still seven or eight of them unwounded. There theyraised themselves upon their hind feet against the opening, and seemedto say, "We will not be thus driven out of our house. " Beyond thispoint it seemed impossible to drive them. The torches would not burnmuch longer, and something desperate had to be done. Mustagan, whilefearful of the effects of a powder explosion on the roof, yet resolvedto try one. Skillfully throwing some powder in handfuls at the feet ofthe bears, he said to Sam and to the men:

"Get back as far as possible, before I fire this train of powder. Pullyour caps over your eyes, and put your heads to the ground. "

Then he plunged one of the torches into the little train of gunpowderthat reached from him to the bears. Away flew the little stream of fireacross the den, and then there was a commotion. The powder went off insheets and tongues. The bears went off also. They did not stand onceremony now. They could not stand such a fiery house, and so theywanted to get out of it as quickly as possible. With growls and snarlsaway they hurried, while Mustagan and Sam and the rest, with theexpiring torches and noisy yells, followed quickly after, keeping themon the move. Mr Ross and the others heard them coming. They hadwisely retired a little from the mouth of the tunnel, so as to let thebears get well out before they should catch sight of these newassailants. At the mouth of the tunnel, as they caught the cold air, sodifferent from the comfortable quarters they had left, there was adecided desire on the part of the bears to retrace their steps, but thathorrid din and those blazing torches were just behind, and so they madea break for the distant forest, which was quite visible across the snowywaste. 

"Fire now!" was the cry. And the guns of Mr Ross, Alec, and Frank rangout, and a couple of bears tumbled over, one of which quickly regainedhis feet and was off after his comrades. Unfortunately, the man holdingthe six dogs that had been unharnessed could no longer restrain them, and so they were off after the bears. This was a great annoyance to themen who had guns and were now emerging from the tunnel. They dare notnow fire at the bears, for fear of hurting the dogs. The snow on theopen plain was not more than a foot deep, and so the bears, as well asthe dogs, could make very good speed. Some time was lost ere the menand boys could get their snowshoes on and take up the chase. It was agreat fight. Some foolish dog would close in on a bear and would get ahug that sent him howling back. Others were wiser and went in pairs. When they overtook a bear they immediately separated, one rushing to thefront, while the other remained behind. Thus they keep at him and, as ageneral thing, so thoroughly engage his attention that the hunter cancome up and shoot him at his leisure. In this way Frank and Alec wereeach able to get a shot at a couple of bears, which they easily killedwithout any great risk to themselves. 

A single dog has hardly any chance with a large bear, as one of Frank'strain found to his cost. Pluckily he rushed in and made a gallanteffort to seize the bear by the throat, but the powerful forearms gavehim a hug so terrible that he was so crushed that he had to be shot tobe put out of misery. His ribs were found broken like clay pipe-stems. Poor Frank dropped a few honest tears over Swag's grave, which was onlya hole in the deep snow. This death was the first break in any of theboys' teams, and although another fine dog took poor Swag's place, itwas long before the boys ceased talking about him and his sad end. 

Some of the fleeter bears succeeded in reaching the trees, but they madethere in the bitter cold but a sorry fight, and were soon all killed. 

For the first time almost for hours, now that the last bear was killed, one and all began to feel the terrible cold, and no wonder. Such hadbeen the excitement of the last few hours that they had not noticed thatit was long past the dinner hour, and, when eating is neglected in sucha temperature, much suffering will quickly follow. So the cry was, "Back to the camp!" No second order was necessary, and great was thedelight of the boys to find that some one more level-headed and lessexcited had long since returned and had a bountiful dinner awaitingeveryone. 

It was too late to return home that day, and so a swift runner was sentback for additional sleds, while the men, under Mustagan's guidance, with the dogs available--and they were not many--dragged the bears tothe camp, and there during the evening and night carefully skinned themand cut up the meat. 

Mr Ross and the boys, who were thoroughly tired, wrapped themselveswell up in their robes and rested in the camp, feeling that they had hadenough excitement for that day. This unique experience of bear-huntingin the depth of winter was often talked about in after years. Manysceptics scoffed at it as a dream, but they who were in it knew better. 

Frank never forgot poor Swag's sad end, and for long days he mourned theloss of his faithful dog. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

THE FIRST SIGNS OF SPRING--THE EAGLE MOON--EXPRESSIVE INDIAN NAMES FORSOME OF THE MONTHS--CHATS AMONG THE BOYS ABOUT THE PHENOMENA OF THENORTH LAND--POWER OF THE FROST--CUNNING OF ANIMALS--CLEVERNESS OF THEGUIDES--INVITATION TO A MUSKRAT HUNT GLADLY ACCEPTED--HABITS OF THESELITTLE ANIMALS--METHODS OF CAPTURE--THEIR MANY FOES--THE QUEER BATTLEBETWEEN WILD CATS AND WOLVERINES. 

Thus rapidly and pleasantly passed the winter months at Sagasta-weekee. Cold they were, and at times the blizzards had howled around, but as ageneral thing the days had been full of sunshine and the nights ofwondrous beauty. Wretched days of fogs and mists and damps were almostunknown. The air at all times was full of ozone, and knew no taint offever or malaria. There was a luxury in living where the skies werenearly always bright and the air was always absolutely pure. 

For long months the Frost King had reigned supreme, but now there wereindications that his grip was lessening and that his power was coming toan end. In sunny, sheltered spots the snow began to soften and then todisappear. Then tiny little rivulets in the warmest hours of the daybegan to make sweet music, gathering strength and courage and hurryingon to play hide and seek as they dashed under the great icy coverings ofthe still frozen lakes. Strong south winds blew frequently, and undertheir magic influences the great snowdrifts rapidly lessened and thendisappeared. From underneath the still hard, dry snow some mysteriousmelting influence was at work, and the great masses sank down, and soonall flitted away under the wondrous but unseen influences of the comingspring. 

"I saw a great golden eagle, " said Alec, as one day he came in from ashort hunting trip with Big Tom. 

"Did you see it first?" said Sam. 

"No, indeed, " replied Alec; "Big Tom's eyes were more alert, and so hefirst saw it and then pointed it out to me as it was flying in gracefulcircles far up in the blue heavens. "

"The Indians will be all saying that spring indeed has come, " said MrRoss. "As the appearance of the eagle is, as I think I told you, thebeginning of spring, Mikisewpesim, the eagle moon, is the first springmonth. "

"Is it not, " said Frank, "a very uncertain way of marking the seasons?"

"The variation is not as great as a person would at first imagine, " wasMr Ross's reply. "We talk about an early spring or a late spring, andMarch with us is sometimes like April. Then some other years it is justthe reverse. So the Indians' methods of marking the months by thearrival of the birds, or other events in nature, is not generally muchout of the way. "

"What birds follow the eagles?" asked Sam. 

"The wild geese, " replied Mr Ross, "and as they do not come until thegreat marshes, which are their early feeding grounds, are partiallybared of snow, they are about a month behind the eagles. "

"Then is there a goose month also?" asked Alec. 

"Yes, indeed, " replied Mr Ross, "and it is a very important one to theIndians, and I anticipate that we, too, will have our share ofexcitement in it. It is called Niskepesim, from `niska, ' goose, or`niskuk, ' geese, and `pesim, ' month. The Niskepesim, goose moon, whichcorresponds with our April, is followed by Unekepesim, frog moon, asthen those denizens of the swamps and ponds begin their croakings. Inour North Land frog moon corresponds with May. Then comes `Wawepesim, 'egg moon, as in June the birds are nesting and hatching out their young. So it is with all the other months, each has some equally expressivename. "

"I am sure we are thankful for all this information, " said Frank. 

"It is a pleasure to get information, even if it sometimes has to beacquired under difficulties, and it is equally pleasing to impart it tothose who will make use of it, " was Mr Ross's reply. 

"I am sure, " said Sam, "we will have a deal to talk about when we returnhome next summer. The only thing that is bothering me is that lots willsay that it is only a pack of lies that I am trying to cram down theirthroats. "

"Well, then, " replied Frank, "we will not be the only returnedtravellers whose veracity will be questioned. Don't you remember, Sam, about the first ambassadors to England from a tropical country in thesouth of Asia, that when they returned home they were rash enough to saythat in England sometimes in winter the water became hard enough to walkon. Then the king was so mad at them for telling such monstrous liesthat he immediately handed them over to the executioner and had themshortened by the length of their heads. "

"I wonder what he would have done with me, " said Sam, "after I hadenlightened him on some of the facts of this country, for that meretrifle of a statement about ice forming on a river in England was amighty small incident, in comparison with what I have here discovered. "

"What would you tell him, " asked Alec, "supposing the old rascal werestill alive, and should ask you to visit him and then set your tongue a-wagging?"

"Sure, " replied Sam, without any hesitancy, "if his Satanic majesty--Ibeg his pardon, that Siamese king--wanted any more water information, Iwould say to him, `Sire, your majesty, once, in a fit of indignation atthe doing of a stable man, called Pasche, I seized a bucket of water, just drawn, and up with it to throw over the fellow, and, wonderful torelate, it just hit him in chunks of ice as dry as marble. '"

"Well, we know that is true, " said Alec; "but supposing the old fellowstill left your head on your shoulders, what next would you tell him?"

"If the old questioner still wanted anything more about liquid matter, Iwould just inform him that we carry the milk of our cows wrapped up inold newspapers, and that it keeps that way for months, as solid and tidyand handy as a brickbat in the end of a stocking. "

"If he could stand that and let you survive, what next?" said Frank. 

"I fancy I would confound his intellect by telling him that the breath-laden air of the church, one bitterly cold Sunday, where some hundredsof Indians worshipped, so froze up that the whole of it fell to thefloor in beautiful snow so plentifully that in one place, near a coldwindow, it was over a foot deep. "

"Supposing he survived that, or rather let you survive, what next wouldyou cram him with?" said Frank. 

Sam, glib of tongue and ever ready, at once answered:

"Well, if that son of the sun, or whatever his Oriental title may be, wanted any more information about our liquids, I would enlighten himwith the information that here, as a pastime or scientific experiment, we take quicksilver or mercury and cast it into bullets that become ashard and solid as lead, and then shoot them through stable doors. "

"Anything more?" said Mr Ross, who had been an amused listener, and hadbeen much pleased with Sam's ready answers, which showed how well he wasgathering up the facts of the country to use them in other lands inyears to come. 

"Well, yes, " said Sam, "I would tell his bibulous majesty, if he were inthe habit of imbibing moisture of a fiery kind, that on one of our longjourneys with our dogs I had with me on my sled, for purposes that neednot concern his majesty, a bottle of the strongest wine. One day, whenno eyes were on me, for good and honest purposes I made a visit to theaforesaid bottle, and to my horror and grief I found the bottle burstinto a hundred pieces. Feeling carefully around--for it was in the darkwhen I had made this visit--I discovered that the wine itself was frozeninto a solid mass exactly the shape of the bottle. I carefully wrappedit up in a handkerchief, and thus carried it along. Suffice to say, none of it was lost. "

"Well, " said Frank, "if just about water, milk, mercury, and wine wewill be able to tell such things, shall we not have lots of fun when wetalk of our dogs and their doings, and of many other things that atfirst seemed so marvellous to us, but are now everyday occurrences andhave in a measure lost their force and novelty?"

"I fancy, " said Alec, "that some of the things we can also tell themabout the cunning and cleverness of the wild animals we have beenhunting, or seeing the Indians hunt, will open their eyes. "

"After all, " said Frank, "the cleverness of the Indian guides in findingtheir way through the pathless forests, day or night, where there wasnot the least vestige of a trail, sometimes for hundreds of miles, andoften when blizzard storms howled around them for days together, was tome as wonderful and unaccountable as anything I have witnessed. "

"Yes, " said Mr Ross, "that is indeed wonderful. I have been studyingit all my life, and am just as much puzzled to-day as I was at firstwith these first-class guides. They are not all thus gifted, but thereare some who never blunder, or even hesitate, under the most difficultcircumstances. The sky may be leaden with clouds all day, and anordinary person get so bewildered that he does not know north fromsouth, or east from west, but the guide never hesitates for an instant, but on and on, with unerring accuracy, he pushes day after day, or evennight after night. "

"That is wonderful indeed, " replied Alec, "but the cleverness with whichthe wolves tried to get ahead of me by cutting across the necks of landin the river, and their other deviltries, are what I will never forget. "

Here this most interesting conversation was ended by the arrival ofPaulette and Mustagan, with the word that the melting snow had exposedthe houses of the muskrats, and that they were off on a huntingexcursion to a great pondlike swamp where these animals were known to bevery numerous. At once it was decided that a party would be made up tojoin them at a designated spot in the forest on the edge of this greatswamp. The distance was between twenty and thirty miles, and as thegreater part of the route would be on the ice, it was decided not tostart until the chill of the evening had hardened the snow, which nownearly every day softened in the midday sun. Travelling with dog-trainsin half-melted snow, or even when it is just soft enough to stick, isvery heavy, laborious work. However, as soon as the sun ceases to shineupon it, at this season, it hardens up again very quickly. 

Arrangements were made for a three or four days' trip, so a regular campoutfit was taken along on the dog-sleds. In addition to their guns theboys were each supplied with a long, lancelike barbed spear foreffective use when securing the muskrats. Two or three Indians weretaken along by Mr Ross, who remarked to the boys, when he decided toaccompany them himself, that perhaps this was the last hunting trip ofthe season with the dogs, with perhaps the exception of the one to thegoose hunt, which would not be long distant. 

The whole party left Sagasta-weekee about sundown, and as it was acrisp, cold, beautiful moonlight night, everybody enjoyed the tripexceedingly. The boys, however, could not help remarking the greatchange in the temperature from midday. Then the sun was so hot that thesnow was melting at a marvellous rate; now everything was as hard andfirm as though it were still January. Through the portages and over thefrozen ice expanses they hurried, and some time before midnight theyreached a splendid camp already prepared for them by Paulette andMustagan. A great roaring fire looked very attractive to all, even tothe boys, as they had become quite accustomed to these wintry restingplaces when the heavy day's work was done. Kettles were quickly filledand a late supper was eaten, and then all lay down to sleep. Nothingdisturbed their rest except the distant mournful screeches of the wildcats and some other wild animals, that were already, now that spring wascoming, like themselves, on the lookout for muskrats. 

In the morning, after an early breakfast, the whole party set off forthe great pondlike morass that extended for miles. Numerous tracks ofwild animals were seen, and Mustagan pointed out to the boys not onlythose of some wild cats, but also a number of those made by the greatfeet of the wolverines, as these latter animals are as fond of muskratsas are any other. When the edge of the shore was reached the boys weresurprised to see how rapidly the snow had disappeared from the surfaceof this lakelike pond. On it they noticed a large number of what seemedlike bundles of straw, as though a farmer in a great loaded wagon haddriven over the surface and had here and there in many places pitchedout large forkfuls and left them to decay. 

"It looks, " said Sam, "as though some farmer hereabouts had been drawingout the contents of his barnyard to enrich his fields. "

"Just what I thought, " said Alec. 

"All those little hillocks of marsh hay and reeds are muskrat nests, "explained Mr Ross. "They were made last summer on the little mossyhillocks that everywhere abound in all of these great marshes. Beingthen entirely surrounded by water, they are fairly safe from theprowling wild animals that hunt them as their prey, as wolverines andwild cats dislike the water. Then in the winter they are completelycovered by the deep snow, and so are as safe as beavers' kitchens. Butin the early spring, when the snow melts off the ice, they are at themercy of their foes. The ice remains solid for another month or so, andon its hard surface these water-hating enemies travel and tear openthese nests and devour those that have not deep enough burrowings inwhich to hide themselves away. Of course, as soon as open water comesthey are safe, as they are thoroughly amphibious animals. "

The boys were each armed with long, lancelike spears, while the Indianshad in addition to these some axes and guns. At the first nest the boysfound that the wild cats and wolverines had been there before them andhad cleared out every muskrat. However, as under the guidance of theIndians they pushed out further on the ice, they found many nests orlittle houses undisturbed. A few blows with the axes knocked the houseto pieces, and then there was quick work in spearing the almost helplessanimals. In the houses near the channel of the stream, or where therewas deep water, very often the clever muskrats had a channel dug fromtheir little straw houses to the water. These "runs, " as they arecalled, serve as a line of retreat whenever their home is attacked. Inother places the muskrats contented themselves with merely having awell-like place under their little houses. While some of them were deepenough to save them from the wild cats or wolverines, they were notsufficient to save them from the spears of our boys and Indians. Itseemed at first cruel to thus stab the helpless animals, but their fleshwas food for the natives, and their furs were sold to the traders forthings essential to the Indians' comfort. So numerous were the nests inthis extensive morass that there was work enough for the hunters fordays. The boys, however, soon became tired of killing the poormuskrats, and so only remained at the work with the Indians for the oneforenoon. After that they left their long spears at the camp, andtaking a dog or two with them, and their guns, had some good sport amongthe partridges, which were fairly numerous. 

The second morning the boys were aroused very early by a couple of theIndians who had been on the watch during the night guarding the nowlarge pile of muskrats and skins. Paulette and Mustagan were too cleverto let their game be stolen from them, as were some beavers earlier inthe winter from other hunters, as we have described elsewhere. 

"Get ready soon, and get your guns and come with us, and we will showyou something that will please you. "

It did not take them long to respond, and so they were soon on the trailwith Mr Ross, while the two old Indians noiselessly led the way. Theother Indians had orders to remain in the camp and keep the dogs withthem, and as quiet as possible. They had not travelled more than half amile before the boys heard the most discordant screeches. Still theyhad not the slightest idea of what sort of an experience was beforethem. Louder and louder were these sounds, as they came directly withthe wind toward them. When they reached a little depression in thetrail they found that Mustagan and Paulette had stopped and wereawaiting their arrival. It was now so light in the eastern sky that theboys could see as they approached that the Indians were making signs forperfect quiet. So, as noiselessly as possible they, with Mr Ross, joined them. Then they were informed that just over the brow of thesteep hill before them a couple of wolverines had chased a couple ofwild cats up into a large tree. The cats had each captured a muskrat, and were making off with them when the wolverines came along and triedto rob them of their prey. However, the wild cats had succeeded ingetting up into this solitary large tree with their game, and althoughthe wolverines can climb trees they did not like to do so to attackthese fierce cats, as their being already above them in the tree wouldgive them such an advantage. 

Very distinctly now could be heard the growls of the wolverines, andthen the defiant snarls of the cats. With their guns loaded with ball, they all began the cautious crawl up the hillside, with the Indians inthe advance. Fortunately for them, the top of the hill was studded withshort, stunted spruce trees. By each person keeping one of these wellin front of him, they were all able to crawl up to positions where theycould distinctly see the tree with the wild cats ensconced on its largebranches and the wolverines at the foot of it. The tree was not anevergreen, and so every branch was distinctly visible. For a time theywatched the various manoeuvres of the animals. They noticed that whenthe wolverines were not active in their movements the wild cats kepteating bits off the muskrats. This seemed to anger the furious bruteson the ground, and so they would one after another make the attempt toget up the hard, smooth trunk. How the cats had succeeded was a mysteryto the boys. Wolverines are fairly good tree climbers, but they had noshow at all here, for when one of them succeeded in getting well up thealmost smooth, bare trunk, a fierce blow from the unencumbered paw ofone of the wild cats, securely seated on the large lowest limb, whichran out almost parallel from the trunk of the tree, quickly caused himto loose his grip and fall helplessly to the ground. Then, withapparent satisfaction, the wild cat would take another bite or two ofhis muskrat. Several times, as though on purpose, the wild cats droppedsmall bits of meat or half-picked bones to the ground. The taste orsmell of these fairly drove the wolverines furious, and so they woulddesperately make fresh attempts to get at their enemies, but withoutsuccess. 

It was fortunate for our party that the wind was blowing toward then, and also that the air was so thoroughly tainted with the musky smell ofthe muskrats. Under ordinary circumstances they would have beendetected long ere they had reached the top of the hill. So, unsuspected, they watched the strange antics of these animals, untilsuddenly the reports of a couple of guns rang out, and then up sprangboth Mustagan and Paulette and dashed down to the foot of the tree, loudly calling to the rest of the party to quickly follow. FollowingMr Ross, the boys speedily obeyed, and when they reached the tree theyfound that one wolverine was dead and the other was hobbling off, asspeedily as he could, on three legs. The other had been broken by theball of one of the Indians. The frightened wild cats had dropped whatwas left of the muskrats, which was not much, and had found their waymuch higher up in the large tree, where they vainly tried to hidethemselves by stretching out on a couple of large branches. Quicklyloading his gun again, Paulette hurried off after the wounded wolverine, that, in spite of his broken leg, was rapidly making for the distantdense forest. But vain were all his efforts, for behind him was anIndian who, although now well up in years, was one of the fleetestrunners in the tribe. Soon the gun rang out and another wolverine wasdead. 

It was decided that the boys should have the work of shooting the wildcats. So close and flat did they crawl down on the big branches thatthe boys had to move back to a considerable distance from the tree toget a good aim. Sam and Alec were to fire first, and if either catfailed to drop, then Frank was to bring it down. Mr Ross and Mustaganwith loaded guns stood ready for any emergency, for wild cats areuncertain animals, and are not to be trifled with. They are veryfierce, and will sometimes, when thus treed, if furious with hunger, ordriven from their young, spring down into the midst of the hunters andfight like tigers. When the boys had secured a good position, and eachknew which wild cat he was expected to kill, Mustagan gave the signal, and together the reports of their guns rang out. The cat at which Samhad fired at once dropped to the ground, stone dead. The other did notmove, much to the chagrin of Alec, who could not understand how heshould have missed him. Just as Frank raised his gun to fire Mustagan'squick eye saw what the boys did not, and so before Frank could fire hestopped him by saying:

"That cat is dead; do not waste another bullet on it. You only moreinjure his skin. "

And so it was; when the body was at length obtained it was found thatAlec's bullet had hit him squarely behind the fore shoulder and had goneclean through his body, of course killing him so suddenly that there wasnot even that muscular quiver which generally causes animals, when thuskilled, to fall to the ground. This was what actually happened to theone that Sam shot. 

Paulette soon after made his appearance, dragging the wolverine. Theywere all delighted with the morning's work. Mr Ross and the boyshurried back to the camp and speedily dispatched an Indian with a dog-train and empty sled for the game. While some skinned these animals, others spent the day in killing additional muskrats, and then aftersupper, as soon as the snow had frozen hard again and the glorious moonwas well up in the heavens, the home trip was commenced. Loaded down asthey were, they did not travel as fast as they had done in the outwardtrip, and so it was about daybreak when they reached Sagasta-weekee. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

NISKEPESIM, THE GOOSE MOON--EXCITEMENT AMONG THE INDIANS--THE FIRSTGOOSE--THEIR NORTHERN MIGRATIONS--FEEDING GROUNDS--METHODS OF HUNTINGTHEM--NESTS--DECOYS--OUR BOYS OFF WITH THE INDIANS--THE SHOOTINGGROUNDS--THEIR CAMP--GREAT SUCCESS--FRANK'S QUEER ACCIDENT--HIT BY ADEAD GOOSE--SAM'S COMMENTS--LADEN WITH SPOILS. 

Not many days after the return from the muskrat hunt the weather became, for that land, decidedly warmer. This created so much excitement amongthe generally stoical Indians that the boys could not but observe it. So one day, when a number of them were at Sagasta-weekee, Sam askedMustagan the cause of it. The old man answered but one word, and thatwas:

"Niskepesim. " ("The goose moon. ")

"Yes, " said Kinesasis, who had just come in, "it has surely come. Somepassing hunters saw some wild geese near the mouth of the river, at LakeWinnipeg, and others who were out spearing muskrats said that they heardflocks of them passing over during the night. "

Great indeed was the excitement everywhere at this news. It rapidlyflew from Sagasta-weekee to the fort, and then on to the mission. Asthough by some mysterious telegraphy, it passed from one Indiansettlement to another, yea, from wigwam to wigwam, until the cryeverywhere was, "Niskepesim! Niskepesim!" ("The goose moon! The goosemoon!")

Why there should be such commotion among these northern Indians aboutthe arrival of the wild geese has long been a puzzle to outsiders whohappen to be among them at the time. Nevertheless such is the case. The fact that this moon is really the beginning of spring, which is sowelcome, after the long and dreary winter, may have something to do withthis general excitement and gladness. It is really the first month thatthe family have a flitting out from the close, confined houses orwigwams in which they have passed the cold, dreary months. Then itbrings them a welcome change of diet, which is much prized after thelong six months' dining twenty-one times a week on frozen whitefish, with only the variation of a little venison, muskrat, or beaver. 

At Sagasta-weekee the excitement was as great as anywhere else. MrRoss had to exert a good deal of authority to keep some of his men atwork after they had seen a great flock of these splendid grey geese flyover their heads. Over at the mission Mr Hurlburt had failedcompletely in holding his men. He had been for some time urging them toclear up and put under cultivation what ground they had around theirvillage that was good and fertile. At a good deal of expense he hadsecured a fine supply of axes, hoes, spades, and other necessaryimplements, as well as seeds, to help them. For some days they hadworked industriously and well, and there was every prospect of a largeportion of the ground being prepared and planted. One day, when MrHurlburt had about thirty men hard at work in the fields, what shouldcome flying along on the south wind but a great flock of geese? Theywere in broken ranks, not more than fifty feet above the ground, andevidently tired and looking for a feeding place. The sight was too muchfor the hunting instinct of the Indians, and so every axe, hoe, andspade was instantly dropped, and away they rushed for their guns. Themissionary did not see one of them again for two weeks. 

The wild geese are of various varieties. The first to arrive are thegreat grey ones. They seem to come up from Central America, Mexico, andSouthern California, where they have spent the winter months. Thenfollow the brants, wavey, or laughing geese, which are all smallervarieties. When on their long migrations the geese all fly very high, and generally in long lines or triangles. But when they reach the northcountry, where they hope to spend the summer, they fly low over theground. They seem to be then on the lookout for feeding grounds andsuitable locations for nest building. If undisturbed, they speedilybreak up in pairs. They arrive very hungry, and so spend some days inheavy feeding on the peculiar many-jointed grass, called goose grass, the Indian name of which is Niskeanuskwa. 

At Sagasta-weekee the boys had heard so much about the goose hunt thatthey were full of curiosity and excitement as the time of its expectedarrival drew near. White suits and white caps had already been made forthem, and the guns were all freshly cleaned and oiled. Camping outfitswere all ready, and the boys observed that in addition to the winter'ssupplies there were added large heavy oilcloths, like tarpaulins. Thenext morning, after Kinesasis had reported the words of the passingIndians, there came in another hunter, and he had with him the firstgoose of the season. He was delighted to be the first, as a handsomereward is given to the one who is fortunate enough to kill and bring inthis kind of first fruits of the harvest of these great birds. Thesight of this goose was all that was necessary to have all arrangementscompleted, and it was decided that on the next morning all who could goshould be off to the great goose hunt. 

The point selected for the camp was on the border of one of these greatswampy plains, from which the greater part of the snow had been meltedby the warm south wind, leaving exposed, over hundreds of acres, vastquantities of this jointed grass, on which the geese feed with suchavidity. The frost was still in the ground, and so there was nodifficulty on the part of the hunters in arranging their shooting nestsand decoys as they desired. The camp was made very similar to thosealready described. There were a few changes, however. The soft snowwas all cleared away, and a deep layer of fine balsam boughs were evenlyspread out over the cleared place. Then over this a couple oftarpaulins were spread, and on these the usual camp beds of robes andblankets were arranged as elsewhere described. A great log fire wasbuilt up in front, and numerous logs were cut for use when required. Anumber of good stiff long poles were also cut and placed where theycould be quickly utilised, if needed, to erect a roof or barrier againsta storm of sleet or rain which might unexpectedly come up. 

While the camp was thus being prepared by some of the party, in thiscozy elevated place, back among the trees, where it would not frightenthe geese, others were equally hard at work making the nests out on thegreat open meadowlike place where the goose grass was most abundant. These nests were built up of dry grass and dead brush, and made so thatthey looked just as their names would indicate--like great nests. Eachof them was large enough to comfortably hold two hunters, who couldeasily move around, and thus be able to fire in any direction. Theywere about four feet high, and so constructed that when the huntersinside were crouching down they were quite invisible to the passinggeese. Some Indians used to pile lumps of snow here and there on theedge of the nest to help the disguise. It is a peculiarity of wildgeese that white objects never frighten them. This was the reason whythe hunters all wore white suits and white caps. Then a number ofdecoys were made. They were rather rude affairs. The bodies were hewnout of logs about the size of a goose. A couple of sticks were drivenin for legs; then the heads and necks, which had been preparedbeforehand out of crooked roots, were fastened in their places. Theywere poor affairs, but seemed quite sufficient to attract the simplegeese. A number of these decoys were assigned to each nest, and thehunter had to arrange his own according to his own judgment. Thedirection of the wind had much to do in rightly placing them. Care hadto be exercised in arranging the nests so that the occupants of onewould not be in danger from the firing from another, as in theexcitement of the settling down of a large flock, or in their circlingcompletely around a nest, a person is apt to forget everything but hisanxiety to shoot as many as possible. 

As soon as the sleds were unloaded they were all sent back to Sagasta-weekee, as not a dog must be allowed at the camp. No geese will comewhere there are barking dogs. For the first day or two there wasnothing but anxious watching. The southern horizon was eagerly scannedfor the oncoming lines of grey geese that were so eagerly anticipatedbut seemed to be so late in arriving. During the second night the wind, which had been blowing from the north-east, suddenly veered round to thesouth-west. This was noticed at once by the old, experienced men, Mustagan, Big Tom, Memotas, and Kinesasis, who had been invited by MrRoss to join his party. They were convinced that this wind would bringthe geese, and so, dark as it was, they proceeded to make allarrangements for the next day's shooting. They first went out andarranged all the decoys in the right position, so as to attract thegeese coming with such a wind. Then they carried the guns and arrangedthem four apiece in each nest, with the ammunition. 

Before this work had been completed the geese could be heard flying overtheir heads. Some of the flocks were so low that the vibrations of theair could be easily felt. When they returned to the camp, although itwas still starlight, they called up Mr Ross and the boys. Breakfastwas quickly prepared, and while it was being eaten the rush and calls ofthe rapidly increasing flocks could be distinctly heard. Then Mustaganand Frank, each taking a white blanket with him, hurried off to the mostdistant nest, which was almost north from the camp. There they cozilyensconced themselves and anxiously waited for the first blush ofmorning. Alec and Big Tom took possession of the nest on their left, about two hundred yards away. Sam and Memotas were assigned to the nestabout the same distance south of them, while Mr Ross and Kinesasis tookpossession of the one about three hundred yards distant on the right. All were in white suits, and had in addition their white blankets, as aprotection against the cold. While one or two men were left to takecare of the camp, the others went off to different places where theythought they could get successful shots. 

It was not long before the morning star showed up above the easternhorizon, and then the first dawning of the day appeared. 

"Chist!" ("Listen!") said Memotas to Sam, and quickly they were on thealert. The Indian's quick ear had detected a low-flying flock, and so, before they were seen in the dim morning light, they were heard. Onthey came, little dreaming of danger now that they were so far away fromcivilisation, and so they flew not a hundred feet above this hiddenplace of their enemies. 

Bang! bang! went the two guns into their midst, and soon bang! bang!went the other two barrels. With loud, discordant cries, those thatwere uninjured veered off to right and left. Memotas then threw downhis empty gun and quickly seized his loaded one, but did not attempt tofire it. Sam also quickly picked up his extra loaded one, and was aboutto fire at the now rapidly retreating geese. Memotas, however, stoppedhim, and showed him that his gun was pointed exactly in the direction inwhich was the nest where Alec and Big Tom were stationed. Sam wasfrightened at what might have been the consequences if he had fired, andgratefully thanked Memotas for his caution. Memotas, who was busilyengaged in reloading the guns, only said:

"Soon daylight; then you will see better. "

In the meantime the others had heard the firing and were on the alert, and so when the divided flock turned to the right and left some of thegeese came close to the nest of Alec and Big Tom, and the rest were notvery far from that of Mr Ross and Kinesasis. There was firing fromboth parties, but their success was not very much, as the darkness wasstill too great, and the geese were not so close to them as they hadbeen to Sam's nest. Memotas went out and found a couple of geese whichhe brought into the nest. He and Sam were quite proud of having killedthe first. In the meantime, with the increase of the wind there was anincrease in the number of the passing flocks. And now soon they beganto be distinctly visible, and the firing became quite frequent. Ofcourse, a good many shots were lost, as it is no easy matter to hit aflying goose, large as it is. No experienced hunter thinks of firingdirectly at a goose that is flying by him, or even overhead. He has tocalculate for at least a foot ahead for, say, each hundred feet thegoose is away from him, and it takes a quick eye and good judgment tocorrectly estimate the distance. Sam said he liked best to fire at themwhen there was a string of them in line. Then by blazing away at thefirst he generally brought down the third or fourth. 

It was now full daylight, and so it was necessary for the hunters to bemuch more wary and keep themselves well down in their nests and veryquiet. When they were perfectly still the geese took them for lumps ofsnow. This was the reason why there was nothing but white in theirdress. Even the belts they had tied around them were pure white. Soonthe Indians began calling, to bring the geese within range. The rudedecoys were placed as though they were having a glorious time feastingon the rich goose grass. The calls of the Indians were exact imitationsof the geese calling to their fellows. Sometimes these cries soundedlike "Honk! honk! honk!" Then they seemed to be more like "Uk! uk! uk!"Then sometimes they were like the calls that the ordinary barnyardgeese make when well satisfied with food. It was interesting to theboys to notice how quickly a far-away flock caught these sounds. Marvellously acute was their hearing. Then they acted so differently. Some were very wary and shy, and at once began to endeavour, as it were, to climb up higher and higher in the sky. This, however, was adifficult task just then, as the wind was behind them. When geese, as ageneral thing, wish to quickly rise up high in the air, they turn and goagainst the wind. In some way or other it speedily seems to lift themup. Other flocks, as soon as they thought they heard some of theircomrades having such a good time, came right on and were close to thedecoys and nests before they were aware of their blunder. Then thefiring was rapid and destructive. Some of the flocks had dropped downso low that in order to rise up again they had to circle round and goback against the wind. Then there was double sport for the hunters. Often a flock would come in on the left side, and just as it was aboutto light among the decoys the guns would ring out and do their deadlywork. The survivors were so low down that they could not go on with anyadvantage, and so had to turn sharp to the right and try to get away bygoing back against the wind. This movement brought them now on theright side of the nest, and as they passed more of the guns were firedand more victims fell dead to the ground. 

Such were the positions of the nests in reference to the wind, that Samand Memotas had, by all odds, the best place that day. Generally, afterthey had fired, the flock broke in two, and Alec and Big Tom got part, while the other portion generally found Mr Ross and Kinesasis. However, when a great flock pushed on unbroken, it generally wentdirectly over, and very near, the nest where Frank and Mustagan hadtheir quarters. Then there was some fine shooting, as each had twodouble-barrelled guns and Frank had become quite famous as a shot. Manyof the geese dropped at once to the ground when shot. Others, althoughmortally wounded, only fell when quite a distance beyond, as themomentum of their rapid flight seemed to carry them on. Some fell whenthey were only shot through one wing. During the lull after the firing, when the boys went out from the nests to bring in the spoils, there weresome additional battles to be fought ere some of the geese wereconquered. Especially was this the case with those that were injured inonly one wing. When these were approached they instantly stood on thedefensive and struck out most viciously with the unwounded wing. Someof the boys had had some experience in this line, and so were now ontheir guard, and thus escaped feeling the tremendous power of a goose'swing. Others viciously used their bills and made lively work for theboys ere they were conquered. Others, unwounded in their legs, made offas rapidly as possible, and then there was great fun in the work ofrunning them down. Those that could use even their wounded wing, orwings, to help them in their movements made capital time, and while mostof then were captured, others succeeded in getting away altogether. Doubtless they would be picked up by alert Indian hunters, who were, orwould be in a day or so, literally swarming over every place where agoose was likely to be obtained. 

When noon arrived they nearly all returned to the camp, where dinneralready awaited them. Twenty-seven geese were the results of theshooting in the four nests. Other Indians came in with their bags. Some had done on the average better than this, and some not so well. Asthe wind remained steady in the one direction the flocks of geese werevery numerous. There was hardly a period of ten minutes' time when somewere not visible. Of course, the great majority of the flocks were highup in the air. On and on they flew, their eyes fixed on a point furthernorth, perhaps a thousand miles beyond. No call from the huntersreached them, no ball even from a rifle pierced the thin air of thatexalted region in which, at perhaps a rate of a hundred miles an hour, on they flew. The Indians say that the same geese come back, whenpossible, to their old feeding grounds year after year. 

After dinner the sport was resumed. When no flocks were near, the boyswould jump out of their nests and, by some racing and frolicking on theice, keep themselves warm, as there was much of winter still in the air. The cry of "Niskuk! niskuk!" ("Geese! geese!") would send them racingback to their respective nests, and it was often as much as they coulddo to reach their retreats ere the geese were upon them. 

A queer accident happened to Frank. As a small flock passed over thenest in which Sam and Memotas were sitting Sam blazed away with his lastbarrel, just as the geese had gone by. He struck one of them andmortally wounded it, but it had vitality enough left to keep itself upuntil it reached the nest where Frank and Mustagan were crouched down, watching another flock that was approaching from the other side. Without any warning the goose suddenly dropped dead with a whack on topof Frank, knocking him over most thoroughly and causing his gun tosuddenly go off, but fortunately without hitting his Indian companion. A great grey goose weighs something, and so the whack from this dead onenearly knocked Frank senseless. The inmates of the other nests quicklycame to his assistance. He was so dazed with the blow that it wasdecided that he and Sam, who had had about enough of goose-killing tosuit them, should go to the camp for the rest of the afternoon. It waswisely thought that Sam's irrepressible fun and good nature would be thebest medicine for Frank for the time being. 

That evening, when the shooting was over and all were seated on theircomfortable robes around the bright camp fire, there was a lot of talkabout Frank's queer accident. All were thankful that the blow did nomore serious harm. Mustagan said that he had shot geese flying over theice where they had fallen with such force that they had broken cleanthrough ice so strong that men could walk over it with safety. 

"What do you think about it, Sam?" said Alec. 

"Think about it, do you ask me?" replied Sam. "I have done a deal ofthinking about it. I've been thinking that was the queerest weapon ofoffence I ever heard or dreamed of. I have heard of arrows and bulletsand darts and clubs and shillalahs and tomahawks and boomerangs, andeven thunderbolts, but the idea of hitting a poor, defenceless Englishlad with a dead goose! it beats me hollow! Sure I can hardly believe mysenses. I'll be denying the whole thing to-morrow, although I saw thecomplete performance to-day. "

The next morning Frank was fully recovered from this queer blow, andjust as eager as ever to take his place in his nest with Mustagan. Thewind veered around to the south-east, and so all of the decoys had to bechanged. The shooting was good all day, but not equal to the previousone. The Indians were very clever in even calling some flocks back thathad been fired into with deadly results. The explanation the Indiansgave for the returning of these flocks was that although they still kepttogether in great numbers the geese had selected their mates, and theshooting of one or other of these pairs had caused the whole flock toreturn to look them up, in response to the cries of the bereavedsurvivors. 

Sam said that he thought that the elegant voices of the Indians as theycried "Honk! honk!" had more to do with it than any affection in theheart or gizzard of an old goose. This remark of Sam's was at oncechallenged, and a number of stories were related to prove that even thedespised goose was worthy of a much better record than was generallygiven her. 

Thus, with varied success, several days were spent at the goose grounds. Two or three times the boys succeeded in each bringing down four geesewith the four barrels of the two guns. This was considered very clevershooting on the part of young fellows on their first spring's hunt. 

In due time the dog-trains returned from Sagasta-weekee. The lastvisits to the nests were made, and the closing two hours of the goosehunt were voted by all to have been the best, as the geese were sonumerous that at times the guns were hot with the rapid work. The boyswould have liked to remain longer, but Mr Ross stated that they hadalready shot as many geese as they could eat at home or could give away, and that it would not be right to kill any more of such valuable birds. The true hunter thinks not only of present needs, but of the years tocome. In times of plenty he remembers there are days and years ahead. This was a satisfactory explanation to all. 

The loading up of the geese on the extra sleds was soon accomplished. Agood warm supper was eaten, and then at about ten o'clock at night, whenthe frost had again hardened up the snow that had been so soft andslushy a few hours before, the home journey was begun, and among "thewee small hours beyond the twelve, " the welcome lights in Sagasta-weekeewere seen, and the happy, tired excursionists were glad to hurry off andhalf bury themselves in the beds and pillows filled with the downyfeathers of geese killed at the spring hunts of years before. 

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

SUDDEN TRANSITION FROM WINTER TO SPRING--INTERESTING PHENOMENA--SAM'SLAST GREAT RUN WITH HIS DOGS--HIS UNIQUE ADVENTURE--THE OPEN WATER--HISNOVEL RAFT--SUCCESSFUL CROSSING--FRANK AND ALEC'S DUCK-SHOOTING TRIP--THE MIGHTY NELSON--A HUNTER'S PARADISE--RETURNING UNDER DIFFICULTIES--ONE MORE SHOT AT THE WILD GEESE--FRANK AND RUMOURS--THE FAIR VISITANTSAT SAGASTA-WEEKEE. 

Very rapid indeed is the transformation from one season to another inthe high latitudes. When the long, steady winter breaks it does so witha suddenness that is startling to a person who observes it for the firsttime. The snow disappears with a marvellous rapidity. The ice, thatwas like granite in hardness and several feet thick on the great lakes, becomes dark and porous, and in spots literally seems to rot away. Thenalong the great cracks, where it had burst by the power of the terriblefrost some months before, it now opens, and soon great fields of itbecome floating masses on the waters. Under the action of the brilliantrays of the sun it becomes disintegrated, and falls away in crystalsthat are of various sizes and as long as the ice is thick. Thiscrystallisation begins early, and makes the ice very dangerous anduncertain. The Indians call this slivering of the ice, candling. 

Sam had a narrow escape from drowning on account of this rapidtransformation of the ice. He had harnessed his dogs and gone out onthe shining lake for a run. The snow had all disappeared from the land, and so the great icy expanse was all that was left for an invigoratingrun with the dogs. The frost had been keen in the night, and soeverything was firm and hard when he left in the morning. The day wasan ideal April one. The sun was full of brightness, and the south windswere full of warmth. For miles and miles Sam recklessly dashed alongwith his splendid dogs. He was sorry at the thought that he was so soonto forever leave them behind in that North Land. Soon some pools ofwater on the ice into which his dogs splashed brought him to his senses, and he turned for the home run to Sagasta-weekee, now perhaps twentymiles away. 

"Rip Van Winkle, " said Sam; "sure. I am that same old fellow, to judgeby the change since I travelled over this icy lake. "

Great indeed was the transformation which the sun and south wind hadmade. While there was still plenty of good ice, there were many dark, treacherous spots all around, which had so crystallised by the sun'srays that, although the ice there was still three or four feet thick, itwas unsafe for dogs or boy. Fortunately, dogs become very wise in thismatter, and so Spitfire carefully wended his way among these dangerousplaces, cautiously keeping where the ice was firm and solid. Rapidtravelling was in some places impossible, for fear of running into a bitof rotten ice. 

Suddenly Sam was stopped by coming to a long stretch of open water. Itwas a place where, during one of the coldest nights, the ice hadsuddenly burst open with a report like a great cannon. The crack thenmade was about twenty or thirty feet wide and some miles in length. Sointense was the cold that the ice in a few hours formed again on thewater which was in this great opening. But when these great breaks inthe thick ice occur, toward the end of the winter, the new ice thatforms is never so thick as is the rest, and so when the spring warmthcomes it is the first to disappear. It was to one of these open seamsthat Sam had now come. In the early hours of the morning it had beencovered with ice sufficiently strong to hold him, but now it was full ofbroken fragments that rose and fell on the water that was stirred up bythe strong south wind. As far as the eye could reach north and southextended this open channel. Sam was perplexed, and hardly knew what todo. To drive across was impossible, as the seam was much wider than hiscariole was long. To wait until the night frost again froze up thewater was a risk, as to judge by the warm south wind then blowing, if itso continued there would be no freezing of any consequence. Thus Samwas troubled and annoyed at having allowed himself to be thus caught, especially as he and the other boys had heard Mr Ross and the Indiansrefer to just such experiences. With his vexation at having thus hadhis trail so suddenly broken, there flashed into his memory the storiesof how some of the Indians, when in just such dangerous places, hadescaped by making great rafts of the ice and on them floating across theopen water. No sooner had this thought come to Sam than he fairlyshouted out:

"This is my plan. Now I will have a story to tell that will sound wellin dear, darling Dublin. "

It was well for him that an axe and ice chisel, which he had been usingin cutting a hole in the ice the day before, were still lying in hiscariole. With these in his possession there came a feeling of elationin his heart, and he fairly shouted with delight at the position inwhich he found himself. With great zeal he set to work, and havingplaced his dogs in what he imagined was a safe position, he firstcarefully marked out around them a line to indicate where he was tochop. Industriously he set to work. But, O dear!--well, it was hardwork. Soon off came his outer coat, then he threw down his mittens, andhis fur cap followed next. Bravely he toiled, until his hands wereabout blistered and his back sore. To his great disgust he found outthat not one tenth part of the task was accomplished, and yet he wasabout tired out. He had selected the firmest ice he could find, inorder that his raft might be perfectly safe. While this was a wisething to do, and would have been all right if there had been sufficientstrength available to cut it out, it was a mistake on the part of Sam, and so he realised when he had toiled until weary. But he was notdisheartened, and so resolved to try and find a place where the sun'srays could be utilised. Straightening out his dogs, he drove along theice for a mile or so before he reached a place that seemed to suit him. When he had found what he thought would do he set to work at once, forthe day was now advancing. 

The spot selected was a solid-looking piece of ice not much longer orwider each way than his dogs and cariole. It projected somewhat intothe water, and on the icy side were several dark places where the icewas rotten, on account of its crystallisation by the sun's rays. HereSam with renewed vigour set to work. He made rapid progress, and foundthat all he had to do was to cut the firm ice that lay between thesedifferent dark spots where the ice had lost all of its cohesive powerSam found ere he had finished that his dogs were getting strangelynervous, and to keep them from rushing off he had to turn the trainaround and tie them to the cariole. While doing this he discovered thecause of their fear, and was also thankful that he was with them in themiddle of his now floating raft. The strong wind blowing directly upthe channel, narrow though it was, had so agitated the water that therewas a good deal of force in it, and so now, even before Sam hadcompletely severed the ice from the main body, the water had begun tocause it to slightly move. Dogs are more sensitive than human beings, and so they had noticed it before Sam had, and while he was trying toquiet them the whole thing broke loose and began slowly to move north. 

As this novel raft broke loose it was quite unsteady for a few minutes, and Sam saw with disgust his axe slide into the water and disappear. However, he still had the ice chisel, with its strong handle, which wasabout eight feet in length. At first he had all he could do to quiethis excited dogs. They acted as though they would plunge into the waterin spite of all his efforts. Some soothing words, and also somevigorous kicks, quieted those of different temperaments, and theysettled down at last and seemed to say: "Well, if our master can standthis, surely we ought to be able to. " Not until Sam felt that he hadhis dogs well under control did he make any effort to get his novel raftacross the channel. But when they all lay still and quiet he took uphis ice chisel and was ready for work. He vigorously pushed against theicy shore from which he had broken loose, but his strength did not atfirst seem to make much impression, as the wind was somewhat againsthim, and so his raft at times ground roughly against the side from whichhe had broken away. However, he was slowly working north, and he wasnot discouraged. Sam was always an observant lad. When on shipboard hehad been interested in watching the sailors shift the sails to catch thechanging winds. So now an idea came to him, and he resolved to see whatcould be done with an improvised sail, even if it were only made out ofa large buffalo robe. Lashing one side of the robe to the pole of hisice chisel, he then firmly fastened one end of it to the head of hiscariole. Cutting two holes in the outer corners of the robe, he theretied a couple of strong deerskin strings. Then, taking his place in hiscariole, he pulled his sail up against the wind and awaited the result. 

He was not very sure just how to manage to get across the channel, buthe had no anxiety about getting further off, as that was animpossibility, as he was now jammed up against the ice. So he pulled inhis sail and then let it out, until at length he found the right anglefor the brisk wind to cause him to gradually draw away from the side hehad been on. When in the middle of the channel so pleased was he withhis novel craft that he let out his sail, and for a time sped alongnorth between the two icy shores. Then, observing an indenture in theice to the east sufficiently large to serve for a harbour for his queervessel, he steered for it and safely ran in, but struck the icy landingplace with such a crash that his raft was split in the middle under him. However, all he had to do was to hang on to his cariole and straightenout his dogs by the calls they well understood. In an instant theysprang ashore, and easily dragged Sam and the cariole after them. Facing toward the distant home, the dogs required no special urging, andso rapidly, yet carefully watching against the treacherous places, theyhurried on, and about sundown home was reached. 

Mr and Mrs Ross had begun to feel anxious about him, and so were notonly relieved by his return, but very much amused by the characteristicaccount he gave of his adventure on the ice raft. 

In the meantime, although it was not quite dark, there was no word asyet from Frank and Alec, who with some Indians had gone off early in themorning on a duck-shooting excursion. 

Following the geese, the hunting of which has been so fully described ina previous chapter, came the ducks in great flocks. They could be seenin great multitudes during every hour of the day, and the whistlingsounds that accompany their rapid flights could be heard every hour ofthe night. They seemed to be of about every known variety, from thegreat grey ducks down to the smallest teals. The Indians were afterthem incessantly, and killed great numbers of them. They resorted to nosuch elaborate preparations in hunting them as they did at the goosehuntings, but shot them at the various points along which they seemed tocrowd, and in the many pieces of open water on the marshy shores, wherethey tried to find some favourite food. The boys were out almost everyday, either with Mr Ross or some trusted Indians, and had some capitalsport. 

The morning that Sam had prepared to have a good long final run with hisdogs, Frank and Alec had gone to what was called the Old Fort, where themighty Nelson, gathering in Lake Winnipeg the waters of many rivers, begins in its full strength its fierce, rapid, onward career, that endsonly when it reaches the Hudson Bay. This has been for generations afavourite shooting ground of the Indians, and here for the day the twolads and their Indian attendants came. They had made the journey veryearly in the morning, and so their dogs had had no trouble with the ice, which in the night frost had quickly become firm and hard. In thefriendly shelter of some trees they had secured their dog-trains. Herebuilding a fire, their Indian cook had a second breakfast soon ready forthem. While eating it they could hear the cries of many wild birds, that the now strong south wind was bringing over them. Flocks of wildgeese, principally the waveys, a very much smaller variety than thegreat grey geese, were quite numerous, as well as an occasional one ofthe larger kinds. Swans flew by in straight lines with such rapiditythat many a shot was lost in trying to shoot them. Pelicans were alsothere in great numbers, and the boys were intensely interested in theirawkward, and at times comical, movements. As they are not good forfood, only one or two were shot, as curiosities. Cranes stalked alongon their long, slender legs in the marshy places, while snipe and manysimilar birds ran rapidly along the sandy shores. The ducks wereeverywhere, and so the shooting was everything that our enthusiastichunters could desire. 

The Indians, toward noon, began to get uneasy about the return trip, onaccount of the effects of the sun's rays and the south winds on the ice. They suggested an early start, but so fascinated had the boys become inthe shooting that they kept putting it off from hour to hour. However, the return trip was at length begun, and then the boys saw the wisdom ofthe Indians' suggestion for an earlier start, and heartily wished theyhad agreed to it. Playgreen Lake, which in the morning seemed still onegreat mass of glittering ice, now appeared half broken up. Wherever theice had burst in the winter, and there frozen up again, now there werelong channels of open water. Suspicious-looking pools of water were onthe ice in many places, and so the outlook for the return trip wasanything but pleasant. Frank's train was the first to come to grief. His heavy dogs in passing over a dark-looking patch of ice brokethrough, and were with much difficulty pulled out. What amazed him andAlec was that the ice was still over two feet thick where the accidentoccurred, but under the effects of the rays of the sun it had simplydisintegrated into long icy crystals that had no cohesiveness, and sowhen they were trodden upon they afforded little more support than somuch water. 

The dripping dogs were no sooner hauled out, and once more started, thanthe appearance of a flock of geese, in one of the open stretches ofwater, was too great a temptation to be resisted. The trains werehalted, and Frank and Alec took their guns, and crept round to an icyhillock, from which they would be able to get a capital shot. In a fewminutes the guns rang out their reports, and up rose the great flocks ofgeese, as well as many ducks and other birds. Frank and Alec had bothbeen successful, and so speedily they dashed over the ice to attempt tosecure their geese, which seemed to be only badly wounded. As theIndians, who were in charge of the dogs, saw them thus recklesslydashing straight for the open water they instantly started the dog-trains toward them. They were none too soon, for the boys, apparentlyseeing only their splendid game struggling in the narrow channel, noticed not the dangerous black spots on the ice. Poor Frank, who was alittle in advance, almost suddenly disappeared. Down he went, and thatso quickly that he had not time even to throw from him his gun, whichspeedily sank. 

He had all he could do to save himself as he sank in the icy crystalsthat sounded around him like the smashing of scores of panes of glass. Alec, alarmed at Frank's sad plight, madly rushed to his rescue, but erehe had gone a dozen yards he too found himself, as he afterwardexpressed it, like a person dropping into a well. Fortunately, he washolding his gun crossways to his body, and as the hole of rotten iceinto which he so speedily dropped was but a small one the gun strucksolid ice each side, and as he had held on securely to it he did notfall in as completely as did poor Frank. His plight was, however, avery awkward one, as the hole was so small and the firm, jagged ice sogripped him that unaided he would have had some difficulty inextricating himself. 

Well was it that the Indians had been on the alert, and so it was but afew minutes ere they were on the spot, and at once set about the work ofrescue. Alec was the first reached and was speedily pulled out, although it required some effort to do so on account of his being sowedged in so small a hole with the sharp, jagged ice. His ribs weresore for many days. In the meantime Frank's position was much moredangerous. The speed with which he was running, when he so suddenlytumbled in, caused him to go completely under the ice. He was, however, a good swimmer, and had presence of mind enough to know that for his ownsafety he must come up in the same place where he had gone down, as allaround was solid ice. He was sorry to have to drop his gun, but therewas no hope for it if life was to be saved. He found the sensation oftrying to swim up through a mass of ice crystals that seemed to be twoor three feet long, and no larger in size than pencils, a uniqueexperience. As he bravely struggled through them they broke inthousands of pieces, some of them cutting his face like glass. When hewas able to get his head above them he found that only a few strokeswere necessary to take him to the strong ice, as this bad spot, in whichhe had fallen, was not more than twenty feet across. Getting out ofsuch a hole on the slippery ice is no easy matter, and so, as he couldsee that help was near, after a few efforts he was content to wait untilstrong arms came to his assistance and rescue. 

Speedily were some of the outer garments of the boys pulled off, and asmuch of the water as could be rubbed off from those remaining on them. Two of the Indians pulled off their dry coats, and, with these on, theboys were well wrapped up in their carioles, out of which many duckswere thrown, and then at once, with the swiftest and yet most cautiousIndian on ahead as a guide for the safe places, the rapid race toSagasta-weekee began. It was no easy matter for the Indian in frontwhen darkness began to hide the dangerous places. More than once therotten, treacherous ice gave way under him, and only by a suddenthrowing of himself forward did he escape going through into the water. 

The distant lights in the windows of Sagasta-weekee, well called thehouse full of sunshine, were indeed welcome sights. Mr and Mrs Rossand Sam had been long on the lookout for them, and were shocked andfrightened at the sad plight of the two boys. Frank and Alec, however, tried to make light of it, but neither had the slightest objection tooffer to the hot baths at once prepared, and then their suppers, takenthat night in bed. They were both badly shaken up. Frank felt worse inhis mind, because he had lost such a valuable gun, while Alec's ribswere the spots that were for some days his tenderest places. 

All sorts of rumours went out in reference to the accident. The storyhad so enlarged that when it reached the mission house it was that theboys had been rescued in a dying condition and were still very low, andso there was great sorrow over there, even so much that it was said thattwo sweet young ladies refused to be comforted. When Mrs Ross heardthis her motherly heart was touched, and so, as the wind had changed andthe cold north wind had again made the ice safe for experienced Indiandrivers, two carioles were dispatched to the mission for the aforesaidyoung ladies to come and spend a week or two at Sagasta-weekee. Themissionary, with his dog-train in charge of an experienced driver, alsocame over at the same time as did his daughters. Ere they arrived theboys were up and dressed in moccasins and dressing gowns, and so wereable to receive their very welcome visitors. Mr Hurlburt only remainedto a very early tea, and then after an earnest prayer, in which therewas a great deal of thanksgiving for their deliverance, he, with MartinPapanekis, the driver, returned to his home. 

Of that happy week that followed we confess our inability to write. That it was a very delightful one was evident to all. The only sorrowthat tinged its brightness and bliss was the fact that soon the icewould be all gone, the boats would be arriving, and then the home tripof these three boys would begin. 

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPRING PACKET--WELCOME LETTERS--ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEHOME-FLITTING--SAM'S RAILLERY--RACHEL AND WINNIE AT SAGASTA-WEEKEE--HAPPY HOURS--CANOEING EXCURSIONS--THE CYCLONE--YOUNG EXCURSIONISTSEXPOSED TO ITS AWFUL POWER--THE NARROW ESCAPE--THE REFUGE OF THE ROCK--NAPOLEON, THE TAME BEAR, IN POSSESSION--GUN SIGNALS--THE HAPPY RESCUE. 

The arrival of the spring packet was, and still is, an interesting eventto the dwellers in those remote northern regions. Not a letter or paperhad reached Sagasta-weekee since the Christmas packet, and now it wasJune. And so when the first boats of the Hudson Bay Company arrivedfrom Red River and Fort Garry, with supplies and great bundles ofletters and periodicals, there was great excitement. A swift canoe wasin readiness at the fort, and so it was not long ere the large numberdirected to Sagasta-weekee were hurried over to the expectant ones. They were quickly assorted, and then each person with his own rushed offto fairly devour the contents. 

"Faith, " said Sam, as he eagerly seized his bundle, "the sight of myblessed mother's handwriting puts sand in my eyes and a lump in mythroat. Blessings on the darling! May she live a thousand years!"

Frank and Alec were equally as much interested, but they controlledtheir feelings and left to the more demonstrative Sam these joyousebullitions, that were as natural as it was for him to breathe. 

After Mr Ross had perused a number of his letters he quietly signalledto Mrs Ross, and immediately they both left the room. He had receiveda letter from Liverpool which informed him that a very serious diseasehad begun to undermine the constitution of Frank's father, and while noimmediate fatal results were expected, it was thought best that Frankshould return by the speediest route possible. In Frank's own lettersfrom home all that had been mentioned in reference to the matter wasthat, "father was not quite up to his usual health, and they would allbe glad to have him return as speedily as possible. " Neither Mr norMrs Ross said anything to the boys in reference to the matter of theirreturn until after the evening meal, when they were all in the cozystudy discussing the various events that had been occurring in theoutside world during the last six months, and of which they had all beenin profound ignorance until that day. 

Each boy had read his letters to the others, and together they had beendelighted with all the news received, except that concerning Frank'sfather. Then, for the first time, the matter of the return home wasseriously discussed. So happy had been the months since their arrival, nearly a year before, that even the discussion of the return trip hadbeen kept in the background as much as possible. But now they were faceto face with it, and sharp and quick must be their decision if theywould avail themselves of the first opportunity for their departure. This would be by the return of these Hudson Bay Company's boats to RedRiver. In them they could travel as far as to Fort Garry. From thatpoint they would take the overland trail on the great plains to St. Paul, and there, boarding the flat-bottomed steamers on the Mississippi, would once more begin travelling in a civilised manner. 

This plan was the one on which they finally settled. It would be muchmore expeditious than the long waiting for the sailing ship at YorkFactory, and then returning by the Hudson Bay and North Atlantic route. This decided, the next question was how to make the best of the ten daysthat would elapse ere the journey would begin. 

"I'll wager my dog-whip against a pair of moccasins, " said Sam, "that Iknow where a good part of the time will be spent if a couple of younggentlemen friends of mine can have their own way. "

"All right, " quickly responded Mrs Ross, "for although I consider awager, at best, is but a fool's argument, and so you may keep your whip, I will accept your challenge and say that I know that here at Sagasta-weekee is the spot where the two young gentlemen you have in your mindwill prefer to spend the time until the home journey is commenced. "

The sudden extinguishment of Sam's pet phrases of "I'll wager" and "I'llbet" by the gentle Mrs Ross was much relished by Frank and Alec, whowell knew that they were the young gentlemen to whom he referred, and onwhom he was about to turn his raillery. Generous, good-natured Sam wasquick to acknowledge the error of his ways, in the use of thoseexpressions from the betting world that had, he hardly knew how, foundtheir way into his vocabulary. Still, as he gracefully apologised toMrs Ross, there was a half-comical, half-perplexed look in his face, and so, as he never could keep even his thoughts to himself, amidst thelaughter of all he blurted out:

"Sure I was thinking of the young ladies over the way there at themission, and that it would be in their sweet smiles my two chums wouldwish to be basking. "

"We have been thinking of them also, " said Mrs Ross, "and before this, I imagine, the canoe has reached the mission, with a cordial invitationfor both of them to come over, with as many others of the family as canleave, and spend the time with us until the boats start for Red River. "

"Hurrah!" shouted Frank and Alec in chorus, and ere they seemed aware ofwhat they were doing, in the exuberance of their boyish delight, theyhad hold of Mrs Ross and were gyrating with her around the room, to thegreat amusement of all, especially of Roderick and Wenonah, who speedilyjoined in the sport. 

This being settled, the next thing was to talk over the preparationsessential for the return trip. So many and varied were the trophies ofthe chase, as well as Indian curios that each of the boys wished to takeback to the home land, that orders were at once given to the carpentersfor the requisite number of large cassettes. This is the name given inthat region to water-tight boxes made out of the spruce lumber of thecountry. Indian women also were engaged to prepare the requisitetravelling outfits for both the water and prairie routes. Then they allsettled down to a loving talk over the happy months of the past and theoutlook of the future. Speaking for the three boys, Frank said:

"We can never sufficiently thank Mr and Mrs Ross for this memorableyear. It has been an education to us all that will, we are sure, behelpful to us in years to come. We shall not only, in the many trophiesof these happy and sometimes exciting days, have before us in ourdifferent homes the tangible reminders of our glorious sports andadventures, but engraved in our memories will be the many remembrancesof the unfailing love and indulgent sympathy you have ever shown towardus. We are all very grateful to you both, and, while naturally pleasedat the prospect of soon being with our loved ones across the sea, we arevery sorry that we shall soon have to say good-bye. "

This touching and nicely worded speech of Frank's was too much fortender-hearted Wenonah and Roderick, and so they burst out into weepingand hurriedly left the room. Sam seemed to be suddenly attacked with abad cold and blew his nose vigorously, and for once had nothing to say. Alec, more able to control himself, added a few kindly, grateful wordsto these so well put by Frank. 

Mr and Mrs Ross were deeply stirred, and in reply stated the happinessthat had come to them in having had within their home three younggentlemen who had ever been a source of pleasure and inspiration tothem. Kindly were the words of counsel given them for their guidance inthe harder battles of life before them--to be manly, self-reliant, andever honest and true. "Remember this, " added Mr Ross, "upright, honestboys will make the true men the world needs. "

The memory of that evening long lingered with them, and in after years, in some fierce moral conflicts, in which they each had to wear a face asof flint against temptation, the words of wisdom there heard, enabledthem to triumph against the fiercest attacks. "A word in season, howgood it is!"

Early the next morning the boys were up, and after breakfast and prayersthey began assorting their various collections gathered, for skillfulIndian hands to carefully pack up for the long, rough journey that laybetween them and their distant homes. A month or so before this theyhad parted with their dogs. Kinesasis had taken them all out to thedistant island, where in idleness they could spend the few brilliantsummer months, ere another winter would call them back to their workagain. The boys had found it hard to part with the faithful animals. Alec especially, who had, in his Scottish nature, formed a greatattachment to his gallant four that had found a warm place in his heartby the way they had secured for him his victory in that memorable race, was almost disconsolate. Two or three times had he secured a couple ofIndians and a good canoe, and had gone over to the island for a rompwith them. 

The friends from the mission arrived in the afternoon, and werecordially welcomed. They had accepted Mrs Ross's invitation in thespirit in which it had been so genuinely given. In such a land there isbut little of the artificial and conventional. Friendship is true andgenuine, and loving words have but one meaning. Frank and Alec greetedRachel and Winnie in Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou fashion. They did not knowwhether to be pleased or sorry when they saw tears in the bright eyes ofthese young ladies, when the news was told them of the speedy departureof the three young gentlemen to their distant homes across the sea. Alec said he was rather proud of seeing the tears in Winnie's eyes, asit made him more than ever think that she did really think something ofhim, and he would try by hard and steady effort in the coming years toprove himself worthy of her love. Frank, more open and impulsive, whenhe saw the tears in the eyes of his beloved Rachel, could not restrainhis own, and was visibly affected. Sam, who had been an interestedspectator of the arrival and the various greetings, must of course makea few remarks. 

"Look at Alec there, " said he. "The self-opinionated young Scotchman!He thinks so much of himself that he is pleased to see a sweet younglady shedding some tears for him. "

This was rather severe on the part of Sam, but he could not bear to seeanyone in tears, and so he was a little extra-critical just now. Hiskeen eyes had also narrowly watched Frank, and as he saw the tears inhis eyes and noticed his visible emotion, even fun-loving Sam wastouched, and he impulsively exclaimed:

"Frank, my darling, I love you for your great big heart. But myfeelings are all mixed, for why should a young gentleman, who has justkissed his sweetheart, be after weeping and giving redness of eyes tothe rest of us?"

Then, with a merry laugh, he roused himself out of these dumps, as hecalled them, and exclaimed:

"Frank, my boy, here is a conundrum for you: Of which of the venerablemen of the past does your conduct remind me?"

Various guesses were made, but none were considered satisfactory, and soSam was called upon to solve his own riddle. His answer was clever andcharacteristic. "Well, " said he, "when reading the blessed book mymother gave me I found a portion which said, `And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. ' Why he should have shed any tearsat such an interesting transaction bothered me. But now I think I get aglimmering idea in reference to it, since I have seen the events of to-day. "

"Sam, Sam, " said Mrs Ross, who had heard this quaint reference to theold patriarch, "why do you thus bring in such names in yourpleasantries?"

"I don't know, " replied the irrepressible Sam, "unless it is that it isin my blood; for one of the last things I heard my mother say, ere Ileft home, was that, to judge by the thinness of the milk furnished bythe farmer who supplied us, he much reminded her of Pharaoh's daughter, as he took a _profit_ out of the water!"

"Chestnuts, " said Alec. "I have heard that before. "

It was new to the majority, and the droll way in which Sam gave it puteverybody in a good humour, and a very happy, delightful time was spentby them all. 

Rapidly sped on the few days that intervened between the arrival of thepacket and the return trip of the boats to Red River. These Hudson BayCompany's boats had come loaded with furs caught the previous winter, which would be sent down to York Factory with vast quantities from otherparts of the great country, and from that fort shipped to England. Then, loaded with goods for the next winter's trade, the boats wouldreturn to the different posts from which they had come. With theexception of canoes, they afforded the only means of travel in thesummer time in those regions. 

Mr Ross had gone over to the fort at Norway House, and had obtainedfrom the gentlemen there in charge permission to send Frank, Alec, andSam in these boats as far as Fort Garry. He also decided to accompanythem that far in their journey, and see that everything was securednecessary for their long trip across the prairies to St. Paul. 

As the weather had now become very pleasant for canoeing, several verydelightful outings were arranged by Mr and Mrs Ross for the youngfolks. The boys had become expert canoeists, and in the long gloamingsof the lengthened days in June in those high north lands, they had manymemorable excursions. 

As the Indian women and maidens are all experts in handling the paddle, so it becomes a point of honour among the ladies, young and old, in theHudson Bay fort and mission to be able to, at least in a measure, imitate the dusky, bronzed maidens of the wigwams. Mr Hurlburt hadwisely trained his daughters in this accomplishment. Living as theydid, where there were really no walks except the trails that immediatelyled into the primeval forests, where lurking wild beasts were at timesso bold that they came up close to the dwellings of the villagers, itwas really dangerous to go far from home. Canoeing thus became thegreat summer recreation and amusement. And for the upper part of thebody there is no better exercise. The result was that Rachel and Winniewere both skillful and fearless canoeists, and very much enjoyed this, which has well been called "the poetry of motion. "

Mr Ross prided himself on his beautiful, graceful canoes for the summertime, about as much as he loved his dogs in the long winter months. TheIndians, knowing his love for their graceful canoes, had presented himwith some great beauties, on which they had exercised all theiringenuity and skill in construction, and their artistic taste inornamentation. These were all now in much demand, and merry and happyindeed was the whole party, as perhaps in six or eight canoes theystarted from the little land-locked harbour of Sagasta-weekee. Frankand Rachel were company enough for one of the prettiest canoes, whilethe same could be said of Alec and Winnie in another not less handsome. 

To the last, Sam's joy was to have with him the little children, Wenonahand Roderick. To him was assigned a large, safe canoe, and a couple oftrusty Indians to aid in the paddling. The rest of the party went outmore or less frequently, as it best suited them. So much had to be doneto complete the arrangements for the journey that often the young folkswent out alone on their joyous trips. 

One afternoon Mr Ross was a little troubled, and at first seemedinclined to ask all to give up their excursions on the water for thatday and amuse themselves at home. His trusty barometer, that had stoodso steady for fine settled weather for days, was now acting in a mosterratic manner. A change of some kind was evident, and so Sam and thechildren did not venture out. Still, as the sky was cloudless and theblue waters of the island-studded lake looked so peaceful and quiet, hedid not prevent Frank and Alec, with the young ladies, from venturingout, but gave them some words of caution and then let the happycanoeists embark, and saw them strike out in unison as away they glidedover the little sun-kissed waves. For a little while the music of theirlaughter and song fell on the ears of those who had gone to see themoff. When they had disappeared among the beautiful fir-clad islands thespectators returned to the house, and were soon busy in their variousduties. 

Crash! Boom! What is that?

Too well was it known by Mr Ross and those who had lived in that land. It was a dreadful thunderbolt, the precursor of the fierce cyclone, thesudden storm that is coming upon them at the rate of something near ahundred miles an hour. Worst of all, four young people are out in it, in a couple of frail canoes, and who can tell what may happen to themwhen in its full fury it bursts upon them?

And how fares it with the young folks about whom there is now naturallyso much anxiety at Sagasta-weekee? With laughter and song we saw themdash away, as under their skillful strokes their light canoes, like seabirds, glided along over the peaceful waters. Now, drenched and halfdazed by the blinding glare of the terrific storm, they are battling forlife in a very maelstrom of waters. Suddenly had the storm struck them. They had remarked the strange actions and the frightened cries of thebirds, that all seemed hurrying in one direction. Then they hadobserved the dead calm that had settled down on everything. Even theaspen leaves on the trees, on the islands along which they glided, foronce were ominously still. Every wavelet on the waters hushed itselfasleep, and the whole surface of the lake was as a sea of polishedglass. 

Rachel was the first to take alarm from this deadly calm, and sheexclaimed:

"This is unnatural, and means danger. Let us return at once. "

Quickly they turned their canoes, and now only a few yards apart theybegan the race before the coming storm, although as yet it had notrevealed itself. The first intimation they had of its approach was therapidly rising wind, which fortunately arose directly behind them. Itwas at first different from any ordinary breeze. It seemed to comealong like a thing of life, now catching up a handful of water andscattering it like sand, then bounding up in wanton sport, and then oncemore trailing on the waters and making it ripple in lines or lanes, asin mad sport it now more rapidly hurried along. 

Then, as they looked back over their shoulders to the north-west, theysaw coming up the cyclonic cloud. It was dark as midnight, ragged atits edges, and above it was a rim of sky so green and so unnatural thatour brave young people for a moment almost recoiled with terror at thesight. 

"Paddle for that island!" shouted Rachel. "No canoe can live in such astorm as will soon be on us. "

Hardly had she uttered these words ere there shot out a thunderbolt sovivid that they were all nearly blinded by its intense brightness. Itseemed to fill the whole heavens around them with its dazzlingwhiteness, and then as suddenly it was gone. 

"One, two, three, four, " began Rachel, who, although paddling withwondrous effectiveness, was calm and collected. 

"O, don't stop to count, " called Winnie, who was like the restdesperately yet cautiously using her paddle. "It would be better topray than do that. "

"We'll do that shortly, but paddle for dear life now, and don'tinterrupt the count. Where was I? Ten, eleven, twelve--" and ateighteen there came the crash of the thunder of that lightning flashthat had so nearly blinded them. It was as though a thousand greatcannon had simultaneously been fired. 

"Hurrah!" shouted the brave girl the instant it died away. "We have twominutes and a half yet ere the cyclone reaches us. In two minutes wemust reach the other side of that high rocky point, and in the remaininghalf minute we must get on the lee side of the great sheltering rocks. Courage all, and let every stroke tell!"

And there was need for courage, for already the white caps were aroundthem, and behind them the waters hissed and shrieked like demons letloose and howling for their victims. The heavens were rapidly beingoverwhelmed with the blackness of darkness. But here is the point!Skillfully the two girls, who were in the stern of the canoes, steeredthem sharply around, and the strong strokes of Frank and Alec did therest, and they were in the shelter of the rock. But it would only besafe for an instant. 

"Now all spring for your lives!" again cried Rachel; "and let everythinggo, Frank, but your gun and some cartridges. "

"Can we not save the canoes?" shouted Alec. 

"No, no!" cried Rachel. "It is our lives here only that we must thinkabout, for the sake of those who even now, perhaps, are mourning us asdead. "

The shelter of the rocks was within a few flying bounds, and they weresafe. It was an enormous rock that towered up some scores of feet, andon the lee side, where our young folks had found shelter, hung over forperhaps twenty feet. Fortunate indeed were they to have reached such arefuge. 

A few seconds later, when, with backs against the mighty rock, they werein a measure recovering from the violent exertion of that fearfulstruggle, Winnie cried out, "O, where are the canoes?"

Not a vestige of them was ever after seen. They had been caught up inthat cyclone that came thundering on so close behind that in the briefseconds in which the young people had run from them to the rock they hadbeen picked up and whirled into oblivion. 

"It is well, " said Alec, "I did not stop to try and save the one I wasin. But why, Rachel, did you ask Frank to bring along his gun andammunition?"

"You will soon see, " said the brave, thoughtful girl, "that they will beworth more to us and our anxious friends than the canoes. "

In the meantime, the storm in passing the point had spread out over thewhole place, and the rain, which was now descending in torrents, beganto be very uncomfortable. A rim of light was still in the distance, andwith the now almost incessant flashings of the lightning it was possibleto grope around for a dry and more sheltered spot under the great rock. Alec, who had volunteered to go out and try to find a drier place, andwho was now groping along in one direction as the lightning lit up hispath, was heard to suddenly let out a cry of alarm and then almostimmediately after burst into a hearty peal of laughter. 

"What in the world have you found in such a place to cause you to actlike this?" said Frank, who was really annoyed at the merriment of Alecafter such a narrow escape. 

"Come here and you will see, " was the only reply they could secure fromAlec, who was acting in a manner so strange and unaccountable. 

So, waiting for the lightning flashes to enable them to pick their wayover the rough stones under the sheltered place, they cautiously movedtoward him. As they came within a few feet and were now in the gloom, waiting for another flash to light up the way, Alec said: "Don't befrightened at what you will see. It is only old Napoleon, and he is asfrightened as he can be, and seems glad to have me with him. "

The sight that met them as the next vivid flash blazed out was indeedenough to try older and stronger nerves, for there was Alec with hisback against the dry rock and one of his arms around the neck of anenormous bear. 

"Don't be alarmed, " shouted Alec. "It is old Napoleon, and he is morefrightened by the cyclone than any of us. "

"How do you know it is Napoleon?" asked Winnie, who was noted for herextreme cautiousness. 

"Know him? Why, of course I know him, and he was as pleased as anaffectionate dog to see me. And see, here are the two brass rings I putin his little round ears last winter at the fort, some time beforeChristmas. "

This was convincing proof that their comrade was a tame, harmless bear, and so without any more alarm they all crowded into what proved to be adry and safe retreat from the fearful storm that still raged outside. 

"Bears know a thing or two, " said Alec, "and so old Nap in selectingthis spot was quite confident that it could stand a cyclone. "

Meantime the storm continued to rage with awful fury, but sheltered bythe rocks they were safe from its ravages. All they could do was topatiently wait until its fury was spent. So they sang some sweet hymns, and the girls gave some reminiscences of previous storms and adventures. 

As soon as the storm began to abate Rachel said, "I think, Frank, it istime you began to use your gun. "

"What, would you have him shoot this affectionate old bear?" asked Alec. 

A merry laugh burst from the lips of both of the girls, and Winnie askedhim if he had any idea of the reason why Rachel so urged Frank to savehis gun and ammunition, even if everything else should be lost. 

"Not the slightest idea, " was his answer. 

"Well, " replied Rachel, "as the fury of the storm is about spent, it istime to be beginning to explain the mystery. And so now suppose youtake the gun and go out on the beach and fire three times in quicksuccession. "

Frank and Alec at once comprehended the riddle, and laughed at their ownstupidity. The firing of the gun would bring their rescuers speedily tothem. 

Unfortunately for these young people, their retreat was too distant fromSagasta-weekee for the report of their gun to reach that place. However, just as soon as Mr Ross saw the storm approaching he summonedevery available man, and had boats in readiness to begin the search assoon as it was possible to risk the angry waves which a cyclone of thisdescription stirs up. For at least three hours they had to wait erethey could make a start. Then in the still angry waters they shoved outtheir boats, and in different directions started on the search. 

In the meantime let us again go back to the young people in theirstrange place of refuge. Noting the increasing brightness, as the blackclouds were now rapidly rolling away, Rachel suggested that three moreshots be fired. In a few minutes more they were repeated, and soonafter, as the rain had now nearly ceased, the whole party came out fromtheir gloomy cave retreat. On every side were evidences of the terrificpower of the cyclone. Great trees had been torn up by the roots, whileothers had been snapped off, leaving the stumps standing from twenty tofifty feet high. 

Apart from the sad evidences of the storm, everything was soon simplydelightful. In those high latitudes the June evenings are very long. Here was now one of wondrous beauty. The angry waves were quickly dyingaway into pleasant ripples. The sun was setting behind some lovelyclouds of gold and crimson, and the air, purified by the cyclone, seemedexhilarating in the extreme. 

"Keep up your firing, Frank, " said Rachel, "for doubtless there areboats out long ere this, looking for what is left of us. "

"Listen!" said Winnie, who, being wonderfully gifted in hearing, hadbeen the first to detect an answering gun. "One, two, three, four. Fire again!" she cried. "They have heard, but are uncertain as to thedirection. "

Again the three reports of the gun sounded in quick succession, and soonthere was the answer of two guns, which meant, "We hear you now and willsoon be with you. "

To Mr Ross's great relief and satisfaction, it was the boat, manned byfour oarsmen, of which he himself had charge that was the first to hearthe firing of Frank's gun. Some of his Indian crew had detected reportsbefore he had, but nothing would satisfy him until the welcome soundfell on his own ears. 

"Pull, men!" he fairly shouted, "and let us see how many of those lovedones have survived that storm. If any of them are drowned, you need nottake me home. "

Not a man in that boat, white or Indian, needed any urging. Such wasthe love they all had for those young people that gladly would any oneof them have risked his own life for theirs. 

Around the next point, now not far away, again rang out the threereports, and soon a most welcome sight greeted the eyes of Mr Ross andhis crew. For there, distinctly visible on the shore, were four happyyoung people waving their welcomes. 

"Thank God, " reverently said Mr Ross. "They are all safe. " And, strong man that he was, he wept like a child. Other eyes than his weremoist also. With an effort he checked his deep emotion, and was so ableto control himself that ere the shore was reached he was calm andcollected. 

When within hailing distance hearty words of congratulation rapidlypassed back and forward. Such was the nature of the shore that a goodplace where they could step into the boat from the shore was not easilyfound, and so the men at the oars rowed up on the sandy beach as far asthey could, and then, running out three oars, made a walk that answeredvery well. 

Good Mr Ross was so wild with delight at the fact of the preservationof these young folks, whom he loved so well, that he was the first torush out and try and gather them all in his arms. 

In the excitement of the rescue Napoleon, the tame bear, had been quiteforgotten, but now he acted as though he had been doing his share ofthinking, and had come to the conclusion that, if his liberty was to beassociated with cyclones, he had had enough of it; and so, just as MrRoss and the young people were about to go on board the boat, hedeliberately came marching out of the cave and, carefully balancinghimself, walked up on the oars and took a comfortable position in theboat. 

His unexpected appearance very much startled the men, and there was ageneral scramble for guns. Alec, quick to see his danger, rushed up, and taking a position beside Napoleon forbade any shooting, and speedilymade some very necessary explanations, much to the relief and amusementof all. 

It did not take long to return to Sagasta-weekee, and great indeed werethe rejoicings there. 

Soon the other search boats returned, and the anxieties of all were thusspeedily relieved. After the recital of the story of their narrowescape an impressive thanksgiving service was held, and every heart wasfull of gratitude for their deliverance. 

Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

HOMEWARD BOUND--FAREWELL TO SAGASTA-WEEKEE--OLD NORWAY HOUSE--SAM'SCLEVER SURMISINGS--A GLAD SURPRISE FOR FRANK AND ALEC--SAM'S WELL-DESERVED DUCKING--A GLORIOUS EVENING--THE EARLY CALL--JUST ONE MORESWEET "GOOD-BYE"--"ALL ABOARD"--ON GREAT LAKE WINNIPEG--SAM'S SUCCESSFULSHOT AT A BEAR--RED RIVER--FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE PRAIRIES--FORT GARRY--THE BELLS OF ST. BONIFACE--THE LONG TRIP ACROSS THE PLAINS--THE EXCITINGBUFFALO HUNT--SAINT PAUL'S--STILL ON BY LAKES AND RIVERS--MONTREAL--ONBOARD SHIP--THE OCEAN VOYAGE--LIVERPOOL--HOME AT LAST. 

The start was made from Sagasta-weekee in time for the boats to go thatafternoon as far as to the old Norway House fort, where the mightyNelson River begins its career. Here for scores of years it has beenthe custom for the boats to camp for at least one night and make theirfinal preparations for the long trip of the whole length of LakeWinnipeg to the mouth of the Red River. 

To the great delight of the boys, some extra boats were sent in with theRed River brigade, and so they had Big Tom as their guide, MartinPapanekis as their cook, and Soquatum as bowman. 

These boats are each propelled by eight sturdy oarsmen. The work ofrowing all day at these heavy oars is very laborious, and so there isgreat delight when the wind is favourable and a mast can be placed inposition and a great square sail hauled up into the favouring breeze. Then the voyage is a joyous holiday. What is most dreaded is a long, continuous head wind, against which they can neither sail nor use theoars with good effect. 

Early in the forenoon on the day of starting the young gentlemen saidfarewell to their good friends of the mission, Mr and Mrs Hurlburt andthe sweet young ladies, Rachel and Winnie. It is almost needless to addthat both Frank and Alec declared themselves as the most devoted oflovers, and vowed that in a few years they would return and claim themas their brides. We must leave time to tell the results of theseyouthful loves, which had begun under such happy and romantic auspices. 

To the surprise of the young gentlemen, Mrs Ross and the children leftSagasta-weekee at the same time as did Mr Hurlburt and his family, andso were not there to see them off when they left a few hours later. 

So thoroughly and well had the packing been done that not much time waslost after the arrival of the boats before everything was on board. Thekindly farewells to all were said, and they were off. Sam could nothelp shouting back to Pasche, as he stood on a rock with a sorrowfulface:

"Don't set any more traps for moose bulls, Pasche!"

"No, mon garcon, I have had enough of that work, " he shouted, amid thelaughter of the other servants. 

With waving of handkerchiefs and shouts of "Bon voyage" and "Good-bye, "Sagasta-weekee was left behind. There were tears in the eyes of thelads who had spent within its comfortable walls such an eventful year. They had grown much, not only physically, but there had been developmentmentally and morally that would tell for good in the oncoming years. Tohave been under the guidance of such a couple as Mr and Mr Ross insuch a formative period of their young lives was of incalculable value. Happy are the boys who have such guardians; happier still if their ownparents are of this splendid class. 

As the wind sprang up from the north the mast, which had been securelytied to the outside of the boat, was quickly placed in position, and thesail was soon doing its work. Mr Ross and the lads had comfortableseats arranged for them in the stern of the boat. Just behind themstood Big Tom, skillfully using a great oar as a rudder. Wild ducks anda few geese flew by, but there was now no time for shooting. On theysped, and it was easy to observe from the quiet yet frequentconsultations in the Indian language that passed between Mr Ross andBig Tom that there was something more than the sail in the Sam, who hadpicked up quite a knowledge of Indian, was the first to suspect what wasbefore them, and so he blurted out:

"Faith, I believe Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou is going to be repeated. "

"What do you mean?" asked Frank. 

"Mean, is it, you ask? Why, I mean that I fancy some other hands thanMartin's will pour the tea for us to-night. "

"Do stop talking riddles, Sam, " said Alec, "and tell us what yourpalaver is all about. "

"Well, " replied the incorrigible tease, "I fancy that, if you younggentlemen are getting sick of having pledged yourselves to eternalloyalty, or, in other words, plighted your troths either to others, asthe book says, you will both have a chance to tell the fair damsels totheir faces ere the sun goes down. "

"Sam!" they both shouted, "what do you mean?"

This explosion on their part caused Mr Ross to turn from hisconsultation with Big Tom. In response rather to his looks thananything he uttered Sam said:

"I have been trying to get it into the thick heads of these two boysthat there is an agreeable conspiracy on foot for their mutualconsolation and edification, but for the life of me I believe they areas much in the dark as when I began. "

"Chist!" ("Look!") cried Big Tom. "Akota wigwam!" ("There is thetent!")

These words of Big Tom caused everything else to be forgotten, and soeven Mr Ross, who was vastly amused that Sam had been so observant, didnot make any reply to the lad's remarks. 

Rapidly they sped along, and now soon to all was visible a large tentand a number of persons on the distant sandy beach. Sam keenly watchedhis comrades, and saw their cheeks flush, and their eyes get moist, asthey caught the sight of white handkerchiefs, waving from the hands ofthose to whom they had become so deeply attached. 

"It is too good to be true, " said Frank, as he gripped Alec one hand, while with the other he was waving his handkerchief wildly in responseto those of the loved ones on the shore. 

Onward sped the boat, and soon all were recognised. Here they found allwho had left early in the morning--Mrs Ross and the children and allthe mission friends. What a delightful surprise, and how happy they allwere that it had been such a success! Poor Sam, the only one to seethrough it, was the only one to come to grief. He had not patienceenough to wait until three or four of the big oars were lashed together, to serve as a rude gangway on which to walk safely to the shore but, seeing the ease with which some of the agile Indians ran out on a singleoar, in spite of the rocking of the boat, he boldly tried to do thesame, and ere he knew where he was he was down in the water, and nearlydrowned by a retreating wave under the boat. Quickly he was rescued, but he was completely drenched to the skin. He was somewhat bruised, but was not long the worse for the accident. But as he was quicklyhurried off to the shelter of the tent and dry clothes secured for himhe admitted that he deserved the ducking, as he had purposely hurriedashore to make a few remarks when the young lovers should meet again. 

And so Frank had the joy of again meeting his Rachel, and Alec his sweetWinnie, and a delightful visit they had with them while Sam was havinghis bruised body well rubbed in sturgeon oil by a stalwart Indian. Thisis the Indian's drastic remedy for such a mishap, and a good one it is. Very delightfully passed that long June evening. It was full eleveno'clock ere the gorgeous colours all died away in the west and the starsone by one came out in their quiet beauty and decked as with diamondsthat peerless northern sky. After a time the auroras flashed and blazedin quiet beauty. To-night they seemed not as warriors bent on carnage, but as troops of lovers tripping in joyous unison to some sweet strainsof music unheard by mortal ears. 

Amid such surroundings sat and talked this happy group. It was, theywell knew, their last evening together, and so amid its joyousness therewas a tinge of sorrow and regret. As the evening darkened into nightthey had all gathered near the great brilliant camp fire, which isalways welcome and agreeable even in June nights, no matter how warm hasbeen the day. 

After the delightful events and incidents of the past had been referredto and discussed by all, the conversation turned to the many dangersthat had come to some of them, and their narrow escapes. Gratitude toGod for their many marvellous deliverances was the uppermost feeling intheir hearts. Mr Hurlburt and Mr Ross spoke most impressively on thiswonderful providential care that had been over them. 

The Indians, except those whose duty it was to see to the welfare oftheir masters and mistresses, were all now asleep. Wrapped up each inhis blanket, they lay around on the rocks in picturesque places. 

During the evening all the other boats had arrived from Norway House, and so it was arranged that if the wind continued favourable they wouldmake an early start in the morning. When Mr Ross felt that it was timeto break up the delightful circle he asked Mr Hurlburt to take chargeof the devotional service. Always hallowed and precious were thesesacred hours of worship in the forest or on the shores, and this lastone was not less suggestive and profitable. First from memory they allrepeated the one-hundred-and-third psalm, then they sang the sweet hymn, "Abide with me, " and at its close Mrs Ross's sweet voice struck up, "Blest be the tie that binds. " Then Mr Hurlburt, the devotedmissionary, led in prayer. Heaven seemed very near as the good mantalked with God and commended Frank, Alec, and Sam to his loving, omnipotent care during the long, varied journey before them. 

"Say good-bye as well as good night, " said Mr Ross; "for we may be offin the morning without disturbing those who remain behind. "

So the tender farewells were uttered, and all the ladies of the partyretired to the large, commodious tent that, as we have seen, had beenprepared for them. Mr Ross, Mr Hurlburt, and the boys went to thecamp beds that had been long waiting for them on the dry beach. Herethe Indians quickly tucked them in, and soon they were fast asleep--sofast that Sam declared when he heard the sharp call, "Leve! leve!" inthe morning that he had not had time for even one sweet dream. 

Quickly were the morning preparations made. The kettles were soonboiling and a hasty breakfast prepared. When this was eaten theChristian Indians asked Mr Hurlburt to take charge of their morningdevotions. This he cheerfully did, and so, as was customary, theservice was conducted in Cree and English. 

Then the cry was, "All aboard!" The boys--Frank and Alec, we mean--could not help casting their eyes toward the snow-white tent in hopes ofat least one more glimpse at two of its inmates. They were almost indespair, when Sam's cheery voice rang out:

"Don't lose heart, my hearties! If all the boys should go to China, thegirls would surely go to Pekin. Sure they are _peekin'_ now, and herethey come! Hurrah, and welcome!"

Yes, here they come. Love's ears are sharp, and so Rachel and Winnieheard the call to the travellers, and up they had sprung and dressed, and now, radiant and lovely, once more they came in their sweet beautyto greet and say "Good-bye" again, and "God be with you till we meetagain. " For a few minutes they chatted, and then the "All aboard!"again rang out, and so they once more lovingly saluted each other andparted. Rachel and Winnie at once returned to the tent. Frank and Alecwere soon in their places in the boat. One after another of the boatspushed off, until the whole little fleet was under way. The wind wasfavourable, and so it was a pretty sight to see the whole brigadespeeding on over the rippling waves with the white sails filled by thenorthern breeze. 

Spider Islands were nearly reached ere much was said by anybody but Sam. His good humour and mirth were irrepressible, and soon it becamecontagious. He had tried his hand at a big oar, and, "catching a crab, "had tumbled back amid some boxes, much to the amusement of all. 

Thus on they sped. At Montreal Point they stopped long enough to boiltheir kettles, and then their journey was resumed. At Poplar Point theyspent a few hours and had a good sleep. Then next morning, bright andearly, they were off again. At Beren's River they stopped for dinner, then on they sped. At the Narrows they saw a great black bear swimmingacross the channel. Poor bruin got into a tight place. Some of theboats headed him off, and when he attempted to return he found thatothers were between him and the shore. His perplexity was very greatand his temper much ruffled. Soon the bullets began to whistle aroundhim, and these added to his trouble. A bear swims very low in thewater, and so, unless in anger he inflates his lungs and raises himselfup to growl, there is very little to fire at. The result was, in thiscase, the flintlock guns did not seem to be able to pierce his skull. 

Mr Ross, who could not bear to see even a bear tortured, took out hisrifle and, loading it, handed it to Big Tom, to kill the animal at once. Big Tom took the rifle, looked at it and then at Sam, and gravely said:

"Sam ran away from his first bear, suppose he shoots his last one. "

Nothing could please the reckless Sam better, and so he quickly sprangup beside Big Tom, who at once gave him some directions about allowingfor the motion of the boat. 

"Now, " said Big Tom, "I will swing the boat so that his head will beright in front of you. When I call he will raise his head, and you hithim right between the eyes. "

Quickly was the boat swung in the right position, and as from Tom's lipsthere was emitted a sound like the call of another bear, the one in thewater instantly raised up his head, in a listening attitude. Instantlythe report rang out, and a dead bear lay there in the water. 

"Well done, Sam!" shouted Frank and Alec, while perhaps Big Tom was theproudest man in the boat. 

The bear was hauled on board by the crew of one of the boats in therear. That night the men skinned the bear, and as rapidly as possibledried the robe, which was carried home to Ireland by Sam with his othertrophies. 

Thus day after day passed. Sometimes there was hardly a breath of wind, and then the men rowed all day. A couple of days were lost on accountof strong head winds, but, on the whole, they had a fairly good trip, for at the end of the tenth day they entered the mouth of Red River andcamped on its low, marshy shores, amid its miles of reedy morass and itsmillions of mosquitoes. This was the boys' first experience of them forthe season, but it was enough for a lifetime. 

"The pious villains!" said Sam. "They sing over us and they prey uponus!"

But the longest night has an end, and next day the boats were rowed upto Lower Fort Garry. Here the boys bade good-bye to Big Tom and theother Indians, after they had taken them up into the Hudson BayCompany's store and bought for each some handsome presents. Mr Rossfound urgent letters here awaiting him, and so that afternoon horseswere secured, and he and our three boys were driven along the beautifulprairie road, on the western bank of the winding Red River, twenty milesup to Fort Garry. 

This was the first glance the boys had ever had of a genuine prairie. They were simply wild with delight at its vastness and inimitablebeauty. Seeing it as they did, in this early summer time, with its richgrasses at the greenest and its brilliant spring flowers at theperfection of their beauty, it was no wonder that they were in suchraptures of delight. Twenty miles of travel brought them to Upper FortGarry. This old historic fort had long played a prominent part in thehistory of that country. Here they were hospitably entertained by theofficers of the Hudson Bay Company. 

A few days only were needed to make all preparations for the long tripacross the prairies to St. Paul, in Minnesota. Some Red River carts, each drawn by an ox, were secured to carry the baggage and supplies. For the boys a double-seated buckboard wagon, with a canvas top, waspurchased, and Baptiste, a famous half-breed French and Indian driver, was hired to manage the rather uncertain horses that in relays were todrag the affair along. Saddles were also taken along for them to travelon horseback when they so desired. 

As there were all sorts of rumours and stories of troubles among thehostile Sioux and Chippewa Indians along the route, it was decided thatthe party should join a large brigade of carts that, loaded principallywith buffalo robes and furs, was just starting for St. Paul. Thesebrigades carried the trading flag of the Hudson Bay Company. Its mottowas "Pro pella cutem" ("Skin for skin"). It is a remarkable fact thatfor generations, even among the most hostile tribes of Indians, thisflag was respected, and those carrying it were never robbed or in anyway interfered with. 

With sincere regret and sorrow the parting between Mr Ross and the boystook place. However, they were delighted at his promise that, if allwent well, he would see them a couple of years hence in their own homesin the old land. 

Just as they were leaving in the early morning the bells of St. Bonifacerang out their silvery notes. These are the bells, the first out thereon the lonely prairies, that Whittier has made famous by his beautifulpoem:

 "The voyageur smiles as he listens To the sound that grows apace; Well he knows the vesper ringing Of the bells of St. Boniface--

 "The bells of the Roman Mission That call from their turrets twain To the boatmen on the river, To the hunter on the plain!

 "Even so in our mortal journey The bitter north winds blow, And thus upon life's Red River Our hearts as oarsmen row. "

As some officials of the Hudson Bay Company went along with the largebrigade, our young folks had some capital company. After a few days thetrip lost much of its excitement and interest. The prairies, beautifulas they at first looked, became somewhat monotonous. Every littlelake--and they passed many--was greeted with pleasure. As the horsescould travel faster than the oxen, sometimes Baptiste would hurry onahead to some well-known lake full of wild ducks, and here the boys andtheir friends would have some capital shooting, which largely andagreeably added to the food supply. 

When out about a week they were told by some of the outriders, who camegalloping up from the front, that a herd of buffalo was not far distant, and that some Sioux Indians were preparing to run them. Saddles were atonce put on some of the relay horses, and Frank, Alec, and Sam, and someof their comrades, at once set off to the front to see the excitingsport. They fortunately reached a high swell in the prairie just intime to have a splendid view of the whole affair. The buffaloesnumbered about six or eight hundred. Attacking them were perhaps fiftyor sixty of the finest horsemen in the world. Their horses were trainedbuffalo runners, and entered into the mad, wild sport with all theenthusiasm of the riders. All the saddle these riders had was a smallpiece of buffalo robe so securely fastened on that it could not slip. There was neither halter nor bride on their horses' heads. One end of along lariat was fastened loosely around their necks, while the rest ofit dragged along the ground. 

The Indians availed themselves of a great swell in the prairies, and sowere able to get quite close to the herd ere they were discovered. Veryfew of these warriors had guns, but they were well armed with theirfamous bows and arrows. About two miles away from our party they beganthe attack on the opposite side of the herd. The result was that as thefrightened animals came thundering on before their dreaded foes the boyshad a splendid view of the whole scene. For a time it looked as thoughthey might be involved in the mass of terrified animals, as the slope uptoward them was very gradual and they were in the direct line of therush. However, Baptiste and others, who well knew how to meet such anemergency, quickly bunched the party together, and had all the gunsfired off in quick succession. This speedily parted the oncoming herd, and so they in two divisions thundered by on the right and left, withtheir merciless pursuers on their flanks and in the rear, rapidlythinning their numbers. 

It was a most exciting scene, and one to a genuine sportsman that wasworth many a day's travel to see. The boys were wild to plunge into thefray, especially when the great buffaloes went galloping by not twohundred yards on each side of them; but their horses, although excited, were untrained for such sport, and in all probability if started off atfull speed would soon have stumbled into some badger's hole or prairiedog's nest, and thus send their riders over their heads. So Baptistewisely restrained their ardour. The next day our party visited thevillage of these noted warriors of the plains. 

St. Paul at length was reached. Here passage was secured in a flat-bottomed steamer, with its great wheel at the stern. Down to St. Croix, on the Mississippi, in this they voyaged. Then across the State ofWisconsin to Milwaukee they travelled by railroad. At this city theysecured passage in a steam propeller to Montreal. The trip throughLakes Michigan, Huron, St. Chair, and Erie was very delightful. In theCanal the boys were much interested as they entered into the series oflocks, by which great vessels go up and down the great hillside. Onthey steamed through the beautiful Lake Ontario. Then out into thegreat St. Lawrence River they glided. The Thousand Islands seemed likefairyland. The rapids, down which they plunged with the speed of anexpress train, very much excited and delighted them. Toward the eveningof the fifth day from Milwaukee the towers and steeples of Montrealbecame visible, with its splendid mountain in the rear. Soon they werealongside of one of the wharves of that great, busy shipping port, andthis part of the journey was ended. By telegraph their berths hadalready been secured for them, and so all our travellers had to do wasto oversee the trans-shipment of their boxes and bales from the lakepropeller to the ocean steamship. 

As a day or two would intervene ere the voyage would begin, they had anopportunity for a drive or two around the glorious mountain which givesthe city its name. They also visited the quaint old cathedral and otherplaces of historic interest in that famous city. 

In due time the ocean voyage was begun. The great St. Lawrence is amagnificent and picturesque river. Quebec, in its stern grandeur, verymuch charmed the boys, and they gazed with interest as some well-readtravellers pointed out Wolfe's Cove, and the place up which Wolfe'sgallant men clambered in the night, to fight the next day, on the Plainsof Abraham, that fierce battle that caused half of the continent tochange from French to English masters. Then on again they steamed. Soon they were out on the stormy Atlantic. The voyage was uneventful, and in ten days or so they sighted the coast of Ireland. On and on theypushed, until the Mersey was reached. The tide was favourable, and sothere was no delay. 

Here they were at length, after all their wanderings, in dear oldEngland. Very green and beautiful did the country look, after theirlong voyage on the stormy ocean. Yonder, in the distance, is Liverpool, that mighty city where at its marvellous stone docks are seen the shipsof every sea. The boys are excited now. They are nearing home. Thecoming of the ship has been reported hours before, and now, as shegallantly feels her way among the many vessels passing out, the boys, with staring eyes, are at the front, gazing for the sight of loved onesthat they are sure will be there to meet them. 

"Hurrah!" they shout; for there, with waving handkerchiefs and excitedgestures, are representatives from three families to welcome home ourFrank, Alec, and Sam. Delightful is the home-coming; joyous are thewelcomes. 

Here we leave them. We have had a very happy time together. We areloath to separate from them. Whether we shall see them again and takethem back to those interesting regions to meet and wed theirsweethearts, left in that far-away country, will much depend upon eventswhich are beyond our ken at present. Suffice to say that the year spentin the Great Lone Land proved to have been one of the most profitable oftheir lives. They had returned in the most perfect health. Theirreadings had not been neglected, and then they had in addition the richstores of knowledge and information that a year so full of variedadventure could not fail to bestow. 

They had also returned with something like correct views of the redIndians of North America. Instead of war whoops and scalping scenes, they had seen how the genuine Indian, when honourably dealt with, is apeaceful person, and can, under decent treatment, become the most loyalof friends. They delighted also to speak most emphatically andencouragingly of the work accomplished by the self-denying missionariesamong them, who had been instrumental in winning thousands of them froma degrading paganism to Christianity, and successfully introducing amongthem the best phases of a genuine and abiding civilisation.