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diff --git a/23129.txt b/23129.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f9f6adb --- /dev/null +++ b/23129.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9210 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Young Voyageurs, by Mayne Reid + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Young Voyageurs + Boy Hunters in the North + +Author: Mayne Reid + +Illustrator: W. Harvey + +Release Date: October 20, 2007 [EBook #23129] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Young Voyageurs--Boy Hunters in the North, by Captain Mayne Reid. + +________________________________________________________________________ +The heroes are the three boys whom we met in "The Boy Hunters" where +they were off on a search for a white buffalo, which their father had +requested. Now, however, their father has died, and the only relative +they have is an uncle who works for the Hudson's Bay Company, in the +very north of Canada. The uncle sends for them, and sends his own son +to guide them over the Canadian part of the journey. + +This is the story of their journey from their original home in the south +of the U.S.A., many thousands of miles, to be with their uncle. At the +time the only way they could do this journey was by their own efforts, +by canoe, on foot, and, after the onset of winter, by sledge, or, if +they could get one, by dog-train. + +The canoe and much of their clothes, food and equipment is lost in a +major rapid, so they are very much thrown on their own ingenuity and +woodcraft. One of the boys has a major interest in natural history, and +we hear from him all about the various animals and birds encountered. +This is far from being a bore, as the author has taken care to make it +interesting. + +This is a very enjoyable book, even though it is over 150 years since it +was written. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS--BOY HUNTERS IN THE NORTH, BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THE FUR COUNTRIES. + +Boy reader, you have heard of the Hudson's Bay Company? Ten to one, you +have worn a piece of fur, which it has provided for you; if not, your +pretty little sister has--in her muff, or her boa, or as a trimming for +her winter dress. Would you like to know something of the country +whence come these furs?--of the animals whose backs have been stripped +to obtain them? As I feel certain that you and I are old friends, I +make bold to answer for you--yes. Come, then! let us journey together +to the "Fur Countries;" let us cross them from south to north. + +A vast journey it will be. It will cost us many thousand miles of +travel. We shall find neither railway-train, nor steamboat, nor +stage-coach, to carry us on our way. We shall not even have the help of +a horse. For us no hotel shall spread its luxurious board; no road-side +inn shall hang out its inviting sign and "clean beds;" no roof of any +kind shall offer us its hospitable shelter. Our table shall be a rock, +a log, or the earth itself; our lodging a tent; and our bed the skin of +a wild beast. Such are the best accommodations we can expect upon our +journey. Are you still ready to undertake it? Does the prospect not +deter you? + +No--I hear you exclaim. I shall be satisfied with the table--what care +I for mahogany? With the lodging--I can tent like an Arab. With the +bed--fling feathers to the wind! + +Enough, brave boy! you shall go with me to the wild regions of the +"North-west," to the far "fur countries" of America. But, first--a word +about the land through which we are going to travel. + +Take down your Atlas. Bend your eye upon the map of North America. +Note two large islands--one upon the right side, Newfoundland; another +upon the left, Vancouver. Draw a line from one to the other; it will +nearly bisect the continent. North of that line you behold a vast +territory. How vast! You may take your scissors, and clip fifty +Englands out of it! There are lakes there in which you might _drown_ +England, or make an island of it! Now, you may form some idea of the +vastness of that region known as the "fur countries." + +Will you believe me, when I tell you that all this immense tract is a +wilderness--a howling wilderness, if you like a poetical name? It is +even so. From north to south, from ocean to ocean,--throughout all that +vast domain, there is neither town nor village--hardly anything that can +be dignified with the name of "settlement." The only signs of +civilisation to be seen are the "forts," or trading posts, of the +Hudson's Bay Company; and these "signs" are few and far--hundreds of +miles--between. For inhabitants, the country has less than ten thousand +white men, the _employes_ of the Company; and its native people are +Indians of many tribes, living far apart, few in numbers, subsisting by +the chase, and half starving for at least a third part of every year! +In truth, the territory can hardly be called "inhabited." There is not +a man to every ten miles; and in many parts of it you may travel +hundreds of miles without seeing a face, red, white, or black! + +The physical aspect is, therefore, entirely wild. It is very different +in different parts of the territory. One tract is peculiar. It has +been long known as the "Barren Grounds." It is a tract of vast extent. +It lies north-west from the shores of Hudson's Bay, extending nearly to +the Mackenzie River. Its rocks are _primitive_. It is a land of hills +and valleys,--of deep dark lakes and sharp-running streams. It is a +woodless region. No timber is found there that deserves the name. No +trees but glandular dwarf birches, willows, and black spruce, small and +stunted. Even these only grow in isolated valleys. More generally the +surface is covered with coarse sand--the _debris_ of granite or +quartz-rock--upon which no vegetable, save the lichen or the moss, can +find life and nourishment. In one respect these "Barren Grounds" are +unlike the deserts of Africa: they are well watered. In almost every +valley there is a lake; and though many of these are landlocked, yet do +they contain fish of several species. Sometimes these lakes communicate +with each other by means of rapid and turbulent streams passing through +narrow gorges; and lines of those connected lakes form the great rivers +of the district. + +Such is a large portion of the Hudson's Bay territory. Most of the +extensive peninsula of Labrador partakes of a similar character; and +there are other like tracts west of the Rocky Mountain range in the +"Russian possessions." + +Yet these "Barren Grounds" have their denizens. Nature has formed +animals that delight to dwell there, and that are never found in more +fertile regions. Two ruminating creatures find sustenance upon the +mosses and lichens that cover their cold rocks: they are the caribou +(reindeer) and the musk-ox. These, in their turn, become the food and +subsistence of preying creatures. The wolf, in all its varieties of +grey, black, white, pied, and dusky, follows upon their trail. The +"brown bear,"--a large species, nearly resembling the "grizzly,"--is +found only in the Barren Grounds; and the great "Polar bear" comes +within their borders, but the latter is a dweller upon their shores +alone, and finds his food among the finny tribes of the seas that +surround them. In marshy ponds, existing here and there, the musk-rat +(_Fibre zibethieus_) builds his house, like that of his larger cousin, +the beaver. Upon the water sedge he finds subsistence; but his natural +enemy, the wolverene (_Gulo luscus_), skulks in the same neighbourhood. +The "Polar hare" lives upon the leaves and twigs of the dwarf +birch-tree; and this, transformed into its own white flesh, becomes the +food of the Arctic fox. The herbage, sparse though it be, does not grow +in vain. The seeds fall to the earth, but they are not suffered to +decay. They are gathered by the little lemmings and meadow-mice +(_arvicolae_), who, in their turn, become the prey of two species of +_mustelidae_, the ermine and vison weasels. Have the fish of the lakes +no enemy? Yes--a terrible one in the Canada otter. The mink-weasel, +too, pursues them; and in summer, the osprey, the great pelican, the +cormorant, and the white-headed eagle. + +These are the _fauna_ of the Barren Grounds. Man rarely ventures within +their boundaries. The wretched creatures who find a living there are +the Esquimaux on their coasts, and a few Chippewa Indians in the +interior, who hunt the caribou, and are known as "caribou-eaters." +Other Indians enter them only in summer, in search of game, or +journeying from point to point; and so perilous are these journeyings, +that numbers frequently perish by the way. There are no white men in +the Barren Grounds. The "Company" has no commerce there. No fort is +established in them: so scarce are the fur-bearing animals of these +parts, their skins would not repay the expense of a "trading post." + +Far different are the "wooded tracts" of the fur countries. These lie +mostly in the southern and central regions of the Hudson's Bay +territory. There are found the valuable beaver, and the wolverene that +preys upon it. There dwells the American hare, with its enemy the +Canada lynx. There are the squirrels, and the beautiful martens +(sables) that hunt them from tree to tree. There are found the foxes of +every variety, the red, the cross, and the rare and highly-prized +silver-fox (_Vulpes argentatus_), whose shining skin sells for its +weight in gold! There, too, the black bear (_Ursus Americanus_) yields +its fine coat to adorn the winter carriage, the holsters of the dragoon, +and the shako of the grenadier. There the fur-bearing animals exist in +greatest plenty, and many others whose skins are valuable in commerce, +as the moose, the wapiti, and the wood-bison. + +But there is also a "prairie" district in the fur countries. The great +table prairies of North America, that slope eastward from the Rocky +Mountains, also extend northward into the Hudson's Bay territory. They +gradually grow narrower, however, as you proceed farther north, until, +on reaching the latitude of the Great Slave Lake, they end altogether. +This "prairie land" has its peculiar animals. Upon it roams the +buffalo, the prong-horned antelope, and the mule-deer. There, too, may +be seen the "barking-wolf" and the "swift fox." It is the favourite +home of the marmots, and the gauffres or sand-rats; and there, too, the +noblest of animals, the horse, runs wild. West of this prairie tract is +a region of far different aspect,--the region of the Rocky Mountains. +This stupendous chain, sometimes called the Andes of North America, +continues throughout the fur countries from their southern limits to the +shores of the Arctic Sea. Some of its peaks overlook the waters of that +sea itself, towering up near the coast. Many of these, even in southern +latitudes, carry the "eternal snow." This "mountain-chain" is, in +places, of great breadth. Deep valleys lie in its embrace, many of +which have never been visited by man. Some are desolate and dreary; +others are oases of vegetation, which fascinate the traveller whose +fortune it has been, after toiling among naked rocks, to gaze upon their +smiling fertility. These lovely wilds are the favourite home of many +strange animals. The argali, or mountain-sheep, with his huge curving +horns, is seen there; and the shaggy wild goat bounds along the steepest +cliffs. The black bear wanders through the wooded ravines; and his +fiercer congener, the "grizzly"--the most dreaded of all American +animals--drags his huge body along the rocky declivities. + +Having crossed the mountains, the fur countries extend westward to the +Pacific. There you encounter barren plains, treeless and waterless; +rapid rivers, that foam through deep, rock-bound channels; and a country +altogether rougher in aspect, and more mountainous, than that lying to +the east of the great chain. A warmer atmosphere prevails as you +approach the Pacific, and in some places forests of tall trees cover the +earth. In these are found most of the fur-bearing animals; and, on +account of the greater warmth of the climate, the true _felidae_--the +long-tailed cats--here wander much farther north than upon the eastern +side of the continent. Even so far north as the forests of Oregon these +appear in the forms of the cougar (_Felis concolor_), and the ounce +(_Felis onza_). + +But it is not our intention at present to cross the Rocky Mountains. +Our journey will lie altogether on the eastern side of that great chain. +It will extend from the frontiers of civilisation to the shores of the +Arctic Sea. It is a long and perilous journey, boy reader; but as we +have made up our minds to it, let us waste no more time in talking, but +set forth at once. You are ready? Hurrah! + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS. + +There is a canoe upon the waters of Red River--Red River of the north. +It is near the source of the stream, but passing downward. It is a +small canoe, a frail structure of birch-bark, and contains only four +persons. They are all young--the eldest of them evidently not over +nineteen years of age, and the youngest about fifteen. + +The eldest is nearly full-grown, though his body and limbs have not yet +assumed the muscular development of manhood. His complexion is dark, +nearly olive. His hair is jet-black, straight as an Indian's, and long. +His eyes are large and brilliant, and his features prominent. His +countenance expresses courage, and his well-set jaws betoken firmness +and resolution. He does not belie his looks, for he possesses these +qualifications in a high degree. There is a gravity in his manner, +somewhat rare in one so young; yet it is not the result of a morose +disposition, but a subdued temperament produced by modesty, good sense, +and much experience. Neither has it the air of stupidity. No: you +could easily tell that the mind of this youth, if once roused, would +exhibit both energy and alertness. His quiet manner has a far different +expression. It is an air of coolness and confidence, which tells you he +has met with dangers in the past, and would not fear to encounter them +again. It is an expression peculiar, I think, to the hunters of the +"Far West,"--those men who dwell amidst dangers in the wild regions of +the great prairies. Their solitary mode of life begets this expression. +They are often for months without the company of a creature with whom +they may converse--months without beholding a human face. They live +alone with Nature, surrounded by her majestic forms. These awe them +into habits of silence. Such was in point of fact the case with the +youth whom we have been describing. He had hunted much, though not as a +professional hunter. With him the chase had been followed merely as a +pastime; but its pursuit had brought him into situations of peril, and +in contact with Nature in her wild solitudes. Young as he was, he had +journeyed over the grand prairies, and through the pathless forests of +the West. He had slain the bear and the buffalo, the wild-cat and the +cougar. These experiences had made their impression upon his mind, and +stamped his countenance with that air of gravity we have noticed. + +The second of the youths whom we shall describe is very different in +appearance. He is of blonde complexion, rather pale, with fair silken +hair that waves gently down his cheeks, and falls upon his shoulders. +He is far from robust. On the contrary, his form is thin and delicate. +It is not the delicacy of feebleness or ill-health, but only a body of +slighter build. The manner in which he handles his oar shows that he +possesses both health and strength, though neither in such a high degree +as the dark youth. His face expresses, perhaps, a larger amount of +intellect, and it is a countenance that would strike you as more open +and communicative. The eye is blue and mild, and the brow is marked by +the paleness of study and habits of continued thought. These +indications are no more than just, for the fair-haired youth _is_ a +student, and one of no ordinary attainments. Although only seventeen +years of age, he is already well versed in the natural sciences; and +many a graduate of Oxford or Cambridge would but ill compare with him. +The former might excel in the knowledge--if we can dignify it by that +name--of the laws of scansion, or in the composition of Greek idyls; but +in all that constitutes _real_ knowledge he would prove but an idle +theorist, a dreamy imbecile, alongside our practical young scholar of +the West. + +The third and youngest of the party--taking them as they sit from stem +to bow--differs in many respects from both those described. He has +neither the gravity of the first, nor yet the intellectuality of the +second. His face is round, and full, and ruddy. It is bright and +smiling in its expression. His eye dances merrily in his head, and its +glance falls upon everything. His lips are hardly ever at rest. They +are either engaged in making words--for he talks almost incessantly--or +else contracting and expanding with smiles and joyous laughter. His cap +is jauntily set, and his fine brown curls, hanging against the rich +roseate skin of his cheeks, give to his countenance an expression of +extreme health and boyish beauty. His merry laugh and free air tell you +he is not the boy for books. He is not much of a hunter neither. In +fact, he is not particularly given to anything--one of those easy +natures who take the world as it comes, look upon the bright side of +everything, without getting sufficiently interested to excel in +anything. + +These three youths were dressed nearly alike. The eldest wore the +costume, as near as may be, of a backwoods hunter--a tunic-like +hunting-shirt, of dressed buckskin, leggings and mocassins of the same +material, and all--shirt, leggings, and mocassins--handsomely braided +and embroidered with stained quills of the porcupine. The cape of the +shirt was tastefully fringed, and so was the skirt as well as the seams +of the mocassins. On his head was a hairy cap of raccoon skin, and the +tail of the animal, with its dark transverse bars, hung down behind like +the drooping plume of a helmet. Around his shoulders were two leathern +belts that crossed each other upon his breast. One of these slung a +bullet-pouch covered with a violet-green skin that glittered splendidly +in the sun. It was from the head of the "wood-duck" (_Anas sponsa_), +the most beautiful bird of its tribe. By the other strap was suspended +a large crescent-shaped horn taken from the head of an Opelousas bull, +and carved with various ornamental devices. Other smaller implements +hung from the belts, attached by leathern thongs: there was a picker, a +wiper, and a steel for striking fire with. A third belt--a broad stout +one of alligator leather--encircled the youth's waist. To this was +fastened a holster, and the shining butt of a pistol could be seen +protruding out; a hunting-knife of the kind denominated "bowie" hanging +over the left hip, completed his "arms and accoutrements." + +The second of the youths was dressed, as already stated, in a somewhat +similar manner, though his accoutrements were not of so warlike a +character. Like the other, he had a powder-horn and pouch, but instead +of knife and pistol, a canvass bag or haversack hung from his shoulder; +and had you looked into it, you would have seen that it was half filled +with shells, pieces of rock, and rare plants, gathered during the day-- +the diurnal storehouse of the geologist, the palaeontologist, and +botanist--to be emptied for study and examination by the night +camp-fire. Instead of the 'coon-skin cap he wore a white felt hat with +broad leaf; and for leggings and mocassins he had trousers of blue +cottonade and laced buskins of tanned leather. + +The youngest of the three was dressed and accoutred much like the +eldest, except that his cap was of blue cloth--somewhat after the +fashion of the military forage cap. All three wore shirts of coloured +cotton, the best for journeying in these uninhabited regions, where soap +is scarce, and a laundress not to be had at any price. + +Though very unlike one another, these three youths were brothers. I +knew them well. I had seen them before--about two years before--and +though each had grown several inches taller since that time, I had no +difficulty in recognising them. Even though they were now two thousand +miles from where I had formerly encountered them, I could not be +mistaken as to their identity. Beyond a doubt they were the same brave +young adventurers whom I had met in the swamps of Louisiana, and whose +exploits I had witnessed upon the prairies of Texas. They were the "Boy +Hunters,"--Basil, Lucien, Francois! I was right glad to renew +acquaintance with them. Boy reader, do you share my joy? + +But whither go they now? They are full two thousand miles from their +home in Louisiana. The Red River upon which their canoe floats is not +that Red River, whose blood-like waters sweep through the swamps of the +hot South--the home of the alligator and the gar. No, it is a stream of +a far different character, though also one of great magnitude. Upon the +banks of the former ripens the rice-plant, and the sugar-cane waves its +golden tassels high in the air. There, too, flourishes the giant reed +(_Arundo gigantea_), the fan-palm (_Chamaerops_), and the broad-leafed +magnolia, with its huge snow-white flowers. There the aspect is +Southern, and the heat tropical for most part of the year. + +All this is reversed on the Red River of the North. It is true that on +its banks sugar is also produced; but it is no longer from a plant but a +lordly tree--the great sugar-maple (_Acer saccharinum_). There is rice +too,--vast fields of rice upon its marshy borders; but it is not the +pearly grain of the South. It is the wild rice, "the water oats" +(_Zizania aquatica_), the food of millions of winged creatures, and +thousands of human beings as well. Here for three-fourths of the year +the sun is feeble, and the aspect that of winter. For months the cold +waters are bound up in an icy embrace. The earth is covered with thick +snow, over which rise the needle-leafed _coniferae_--the pines, the +cedars, the spruce, and the hemlock. Very unlike each other are the +countries watered by the two streams, the Red River of the South and its +namesake of the North. + +But whither go our Boy Hunters in their birch-bark canoe? The river +upon which they are _voyaging_ runs due northward into the great Lake +Winnipeg. They are floating with its current, and consequently +increasing the distance from their home. Whither go they? + +The answer leads us to some sad reflections. Our joy on again beholding +them is to be mingled with grief. When we last saw them they had a +father, but no mother. Now they have neither one nor the +other. The old Colonel, their father--the French _emigre_, the +_hunter-naturalist_--is dead. He who had taught them all they knew, who +had taught them "to ride, to swim, to dive deep rivers, to fling the +lasso, to climb tall trees, and scale steep cliffs, to bring down birds +upon the wing or beasts upon the run, with the arrow and the unerring +rifle; who had trained them to sleep in the open air, in the dark +forest, on the unsheltered prairie, along the white snow-wreath-- +anywhere--with but a blanket or a buffalo-robe for their bed; who had +taught them to live on the simplest food, and had imparted to one of +them a knowledge of science, of botany in particular, that enabled them, +in case of need, to draw sustenance from plants and trees, from roots +and fruits, to find resources where ignorant men would starve; had +taught them to kindle a fire without flint, steel, or detonating powder; +to discover their direction without a compass, from the rocks and the +trees and the signs of the heavens; and in addition to all, had taught +them, as far as was then known, the geography of that vast wilderness +that stretches from the Mississippi to the shores of the Pacific Ocean, +and northward to the icy borders of the Arctic Sea"--he who had taught +them all this, their father, was no more; and his three sons, the "boy +men," of whom he was so proud, and of whose accomplishments he was wont +to boast, were now orphans upon the wide world. + +But little more than a year after their return from their grand +expedition to the Texan prairies, the "old Colonel" had died. It was +one of the worst years of that scourge of the South--the yellow fever-- +and to this dread pestilence he had fallen a victim. + +Hugot, the _ex-chasseur_ and attached domestic, who was accustomed to +follow his master like a shadow, had also followed him into the next +world. It was not grief that killed Hugot, though he bore the loss of +his kind master sadly enough. But it was not grief that killed Hugot. +He was laid low by the same disease of which his master had died--the +yellow fever. A week had scarcely passed after the death of the latter, +before Hugot caught the disease, and in a few days he was carried to the +tomb and laid by the side of his "old Colonel." + +The Boy Hunters--Basil, Lucien, Francois--became orphans. They knew of +but _one_ relation in the whole world, with whom their father had kept +up any correspondence. This relation was an uncle, and, strange as it +may seem, a Scotchman--a Highlander, who had strayed to Corsica in early +life, and had there married the Colonel's sister. That uncle had +afterwards emigrated to Canada, and had become extensively engaged in +the fur trade. He was now a superintendent or "factor" of the Hudson's +Bay Company, stationed at one of their most remote posts near the shores +of the Arctic Sea! There is a romance in the history of some men wilder +than any fiction that could be imagined. + +I have not yet answered the question as to where our Boy Hunters were +journeying in their birch-bark canoe. By this time you will have +divined the answer. Certainly, you will say, they were on their way to +join their uncle in his remote home. For no other object could they be +travelling through the wild regions of the Red River. That supposition +is correct. To visit this Scotch uncle (they had not seen him for +years) was the object of their long, toilsome, and perilous journey. +After their father's death he had sent for them. He had heard of their +exploits upon the prairies; and, being himself of an adventurous +disposition, he was filled with admiration for his young kinsmen, and +desired very much to have them come and live with him. Being now their +guardian, he might command as much, but it needed not any exercise of +authority on his part to induce all three of them to obey his summons. +They had travelled through the mighty forests of the Mississippi, and +upon the summer prairies of the South. These great features of the +earth's surface were to them familiar things, and they were no longer +curious about them. But there remained a vast country which they longed +eagerly to explore. They longed to look upon its shining lakes and +crystal rivers; upon its snow-clad hills and ice-bound streams; upon its +huge mammalia--its moose and its musk-oxen, its wapiti and its monster +bears. This was the very country to which they were now invited by +their kinsman, and cheerfully did they accept his invitation. Already +had they made one-half the journey, though by far the easier half. They +had travelled up the Mississippi, by steamboat as far as the mouth of +the Saint Peter's. There they had commenced their canoe voyage--in +other words became "voyageurs"--for such is the name given to those who +travel by canoes through these wild territories. Their favourite horses +and the mule "Jeannette" had been left behind. This was a necessity, as +these creatures, however useful upon the dry prairies of the South, +where there are few or no lakes, and where rivers only occur at long +intervals, would be of little service to the traveller in the Northern +regions. Here the route is crossed and intercepted by numerous rivers; +and lakes of all sizes, with tracts of inundated marsh, succeed one +another continually. Such, in fact, are the highways of the country, +and the canoe the travelling carriage; so that a journey from one point +of the Hudson's Bay territory to another is often a canoe voyage of +thousands of miles--equal to a "trip" across the Atlantic! + +Following the usual custom, therefore, our Boy Hunters had become +voyageurs--"_Young Voyageurs_." They had navigated the Saint Peter's in +safety, almost to its head-waters. These interlock with the sources of +the Red River. By a "portage" of a few miles they had crossed to the +latter stream; and, having launched their canoe upon its waters, were +now floating downward and northward with its current. But they had yet +a long journey before them--nearly two thousand miles! Many a river to +be "run," many a rapid to be "shot," many a lake to be crossed, and many +a "portage" to be passed, ere they could reach the end of that great +_voyage_. + +Come, boy reader, shall we accompany them? Yes. The strange scenes and +wild adventures through which we must pass, may lighten the toils, and +perhaps repay us for the perils, of the journey. Think not of the +toils. Roses grow only upon thorns. From toil we learn to enjoy +leisure. Regard not the perils. "From the nettle danger we pluck the +flower safety." Security often springs from peril. From such hard +experiences great men have arisen. Come, then, my young friend! mind +neither toil nor peril, but with me to the great wilderness of the +North! + +Stay! We are to have another "_compagnon du voyage_." There is a +fourth in the boat, a fourth "young voyageur." Who is he? In +appearance he is as old as Basil, full as tall, and not unlike him in +"build." But he is altogether of a different _colour_. He is +fair-haired; but his hair (unlike that of Lucien, which is also +light-coloured) is strong, crisp, and curly. It does not droop, but +stands out over his cheeks in a profusion of handsome ringlets. His +complexion is of that kind known as "fresh," and the weather, to which +it has evidently been much exposed, has bronzed and rather enriched the +colour. The eyes are dark blue, and, strange to say, with _black_ brows +and lashes! This is not common, though sometimes observed; and, in the +case of the youth we are describing, arose from a difference of +complexion on the part of his parents. He looked through the eyes of +his mother, while in other respects he was more like his father, who was +fair-haired and of a "fresh" colour. + +The youth, himself, might be termed handsome. Perhaps he did not +possess the youthful beauty of Francois, nor the bolder kind that +characterised the face of Basil. Perhaps he was of a coarser "make" +than any of his three companions. His intellect had been less +cultivated by education, and _education adds to the beauty of the face_. +His life had been a harder one--he had toiled more with his hands, and +had seen less of civilised society. Still many would have pronounced +him a handsome youth. His features were regular, and of clean outline. +His lips expressed good-nature as well as firmness. His eye beamed with +native intelligence, and his whole face bespoke a heart of true and +determined honesty--_that made it beautiful_. + +Perhaps a close scrutiniser of countenances might have detected some +resemblance--a family one--between him and his three companions. If +such there was, it was very slight; but there might have been, from the +relationship that existed between them and him. He was their cousin-- +their full cousin--the only son of that uncle they were now on their way +to visit, and the new-comer who had been sent to bring them. Such was +the fourth of "the young voyageurs." + +His dress was not unlike that worn by Basil; but as he was seated on the +bow, and acting as pilot, and therefore more likely to feel the cold, he +wore over his hunting-shirt a Canadian _capote_ of white woollen cloth, +with its hood hanging, down upon his shoulders. + +But there was still another "voyageur," an old acquaintance, whom you, +boy reader, will no doubt remember. This was an animal, a quadruped, +who lay along the bottom of the canoe upon a buffalo's hide. "From his +size and colour--which was a tawny red--you might have mistaken him for +a panther--a cougar. His long black muzzle and broad hanging ears gave +him quite a different aspect, however, and declared him to be a hound. +He _was_ one--a bloodhound, with the build of a mastiff--a powerful +animal. He was the dog `Marengo.'" You remember Marengo? + +In the canoe there were other objects of interest. There were blankets +and buffalo-robes; there was a small canvass tent folded up; there were +bags of provisions, and some cooking utensils; there was a spade and an +axe; there were rifles--three of them--and a double-barrelled shot-gun; +besides a fish-net, and many other articles, the necessary equipments +for such a journey. + +Loaded almost to the gunwale was that little canoe, yet lightly did it +float down the waters of the Red River of the North. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +THE TRUMPETER SWAN AND THE BALD EAGLE. + +It was the spring season, though late. The snow had entirely +disappeared from the hills, and the ice from the water, and the melting +of both had swollen the river, and rendered its current more rapid than +usual. Our young voyageurs needed not therefore to ply their oars, +except now and then to guide the canoe; for these little vessels have no +rudder, but are steered by the paddles. The skilful voyageurs can shoot +them to any point they please, simply by their dexterous handling of the +oars; and Basil, Lucien, and Francois, had had sufficient practice both +with "skiffs" and "dugouts" to make good oarsmen of all three. They had +made many a canoe trip upon the lower Mississippi and the bayous of +Louisiana; besides their journey up the Saint Peter's had rendered them +familiar with the management of their birchen craft. An occasional +stroke of the paddle kept them in their course, and they floated on +without effort. Norman--such was the name of their Canadian or Highland +cousin--sat in the bow and directed their course. This is the post of +honour in a canoe; and as he had more experience than any of them in +this sort of navigation, he was allowed habitually to occupy this post. +Lucien sat in the stern. He held in his hands a book and pencil; and as +the canoe glided onward, he was noting down his memoranda. The trees +upon the banks were in leaf--many of them in blossom--and as the little +craft verged near the shore, his keen eye followed the configuration of +the leaves, to discover any new species that might appear. There is a +rich vegetation upon the banks of the Red River; but the _flora_ is far +different from that which appears upon the low _alluvion_ of Louisiana. +It is Northern, but not Arctic. Oaks, elms, and poplars, are seen +mingling with birches, willows, and aspens. Several species of +indigenous fruit trees were observed by Lucien, among which were +crab-apple, raspberry, strawberry, and currant. There was also seen the +fruit called by the voyageurs "le poire," but which in English +phraseology is known as the "service-berry" (_Amelanchier ovalis_). It +grows upon a small bush or shrub of six or eight feet high, with smooth +pinnate leaves. These pretty red berries are much esteemed and eaten +both by Indians and whites, who preserve them by drying, and cook them +in various ways. There was still another bush that fixed the attention +of our young botanist, as it appeared all along the banks, and was a +_characteristic_ of the vegetation of the country. It was not over +eight feet in height, with spreading branches of a grey colour. Its +leaves were three inches wide, and somewhat lobed liked those of the +oak. Of course, at this early season, the fruit was not ripe upon it; +but Lucien knew the fruit well. When ripe it resembles very much a red +cherry, or, still more, a cranberry, having both the appearance and +acrid taste of the latter. Indeed, it is sometimes used as a substitute +for cranberries in the making of pies and tarts; and in many parts it is +called the "bush cranberry." The name, however, by which it is known +among the Indians of Red River is "_anepeminan_," from "_nepen_," +summer, and "_minan_" berry. This has been corrupted by the fur-traders +and voyageurs into "Pembina;" hence, the name of a river which runs into +the Red, and also he name of the celebrated but unsuccessful settlement +of "Pembina," formed by Lord Selkirk many years ago. Both took their +names from this berry that grows in abundance in the neighbourhood. The +botanical appellation of this curious shrub is _Viburnum oxycoccos_; but +there is another species of the viburnum, which is also styled +"oxycoccos." The common "snowball bush" of our gardens is a plant of +the same genus, and very like the "Pembina" both in leaf and flower. In +fact, in a wild state they might be regarded as the same; but it is +well-known that the flowers of the snowball are sterile, and do not +produce the beautiful bright crimson berries of the "Pembina." Lucien +lectured upon these points to his companions as they floated along. +Norman listened with astonishment to his philosophic cousin, who, +although he had never been in this region before, knew more of its +plants and trees than he did himself. Basil also was interested in the +explanations given by his brother. On the contrary, Francois, who cared +but little for botanical studies, or studies of any sort, was occupied +differently. He sat near the middle of the canoe, double-barrel in +hand, eagerly watching for a shot. Many species of water-fowl were upon +the river, for it was now late in the spring, and the wild geese and +ducks had all arrived, and were passing northward upon their annual +migration. During the day Francois had got several shots, and had +"bagged" three wild geese, all of different kinds, for there are many +species of wild geese in America. He had also shot some ducks. But +this did not satisfy him. There was a bird upon the river that could +not be approached. No matter how the canoe was manoeuvred, this shy +creature always took flight before Francois could get within range. For +days he had been endeavouring to kill one. Even upon the Saint Peter's +many of them had been seen, sometimes in pairs, at other times in small +flocks of six or seven, but always shy and wary. The very difficulty of +getting a shot at them, along with the splendid character of the birds +themselves, had rendered Francois eager to obtain one. The bird itself +was no other than the great wild swan--the king of aquatic birds. + +"Come, brother!" said Francois, addressing Lucien, "bother your +viburnums and your oxycocks! Tell us something about these swans. See! +there goes another of them! What a splendid fellow he is! I'd give +something to have him within range of buck-shot." + +As Francois spoke he pointed down-stream to a great white bird that was +seen moving out from the bank. It was a swan, and one of the very +largest kind--a "trumpeter" (_Cygnus buccinator_). + +It had been feeding in a sedge of the wild rice (_Zizania aquatica_), +and no doubt the sight of the canoe or the plash of the guiding oar had +disturbed, and given it the alarm. It shot out from the reeds with head +erect and wings slightly raised, offering to the eyes of the voyageurs a +spectacle of graceful and majestic bearing, that, among the feathered +race at least, is quite inimitable. + +A few strokes of its broad feet propelled it into the open water near +the middle of the stream, when, making a half wheel, it turned head down +the river, and swam with the current. + +At the point where it turned it was not two hundred yards ahead of the +canoe. Its apparent boldness in permitting them to come so near without +taking wing, led Francois to hope that they might get still nearer; and, +begging his companions to ply the paddles, he seized hold of his +double-barrel, and leaned forward in the canoe. Basil also conceived a +hope that a shot was to be had, for he took up his rifle, and looked to +the cock and cap. The others went steadily and quietly to work at the +oars. In a few moments the canoe cleft the current at the rate of a +galloping horse, and one would have supposed that the swan must either +at once take wing or be overtaken. + +Not so, however. The "trumpeter" knew his game better than that. He +had full confidence both in his strength and speed upon the water. He +was not going to undergo the trouble of a fly, until the necessity arose +for so doing; and, as it was, he seemed to be satisfied that that +necessity had not yet arrived. The swim cost him much less muscular +exertion than flying would have done, and he judged that the current, +here very swift, would carry him out of reach of his pursuers. + +It soon began to appear that he judged rightly; and the voyageurs, to +their chagrin, saw that, instead of gaining upon him, as they had +expected, every moment widened the distance between him and the canoe. +The bird had an advantage over his pursuers. Three distinct powers +propelled him, while they had only two to rely upon. He had the current +in his favour--so had they. He had oars or paddles--his feet; they had +oars as well. He "carried sail," while they spread not a "rag." The +wind chanced to blow directly down-stream, and the broad wings of the +bird, held out from his body, and half extended, caught the very pith of +the breeze on their double concave surfaces, and carried him through the +water with the velocity of an arrow. Do you think that he was not aware +of this advantage when he started in the race? Do you suppose that +these birds do not _think_? I for one am satisfied they do, and look +upon every one who prates about the _instinct_ of these creatures as a +philosopher of a very old school indeed. Not only does the great swan +think, but so does your parrot, and your piping bullfinch, and the +little canary that hops on your thumb. All think, and _reason_, and +_judge_. Should it ever be your fortune to witness the performance of +those marvellous birds, exhibited by the graceful Mademoiselle +Vandermeersch in the fashionable _salons_ of Paris and London, you will +agree with me in the belief that the smallest of them has a mind like +yourself. + +Most certainly the swan, which our voyageurs were pursuing, thought, and +reasoned, and judged, and calculated his distance, and resolved to keep +on "the even tenor of his way," without putting himself to extra trouble +by beating the air with his wings, and lifting his heavy body--thirty +pounds at least--up into the heavens. His judgment proved sound; for, +in less than ten minutes from the commencement of the chase, he had +gained a clear hundred yards upon his pursuers, and continued to widen +the distance. At intervals he raised his beak higher than usual, and +uttered his loud booming note, which fell upon the ears of the voyageurs +as though it had been sent back in mockery and defiance. + +They would have given up the pursuit, had they not noticed that a few +hundred yards farther down the river made a sharp turn to the right. +The swan, on reaching this, would no longer have the wind in his favour. +This inspired them with fresh hopes. They thought they would be able +to overtake him after passing the bend, and then, either get a shot at +him, or force him into the air. The latter was the more likely; and, +although it would be no great gratification to see him fly off, yet they +had become so interested in this singular chase that they desired to +terminate it by putting the trumpeter to some trouble. They bent, +therefore, with fresh energy to their oars, and pulled onward in the +pursuit. First the swan, and after him the canoe, swung round the bend, +and entered the new "reach" of the river. The voyageurs at once +perceived that the bird now swam more slowly. He no longer "carried +sail," as the wind was no longer in his favour. His wings lay closely +folded to his body, and he moved only by the aid of his webbed feet and +the current, which last happened to be sluggish, as the river at this +part spread over a wide expanse of level land. The canoe was evidently +catching up, and each stroke was bringing the pursuers nearer to the +pursued. + +After a few minutes' brisk pulling, the trumpeter had lost so much +ground that he was not two hundred yards in the advance, and "dead +ahead." His body was no longer carried with the same gracefulness, and +the majestic curving of his neck had disappeared. His bill protruded +forward, and his thighs began to drag the water in his wake. He was +evidently on the threshold of flight. Both Francois and Basil saw this, +as they stood with their guns crossed and ready. + +At this moment a shrill cry sounded over the water. It was the scream +of some wild creature, ending in a strange laugh, like the laugh of a +maniac! + +On both sides of the river there was a thick forest of tall trees of the +cotton-wood species (_Populus angustifolia_). From this forest the +strange cry had proceeded, and from the right bank. Its echoes had +hardly ceased, when it was answered by a similar cry from the trees upon +the left. So like were the two, that it seemed as if some one of God's +wild creatures was mocking another. These cries were hideous enough to +frighten any one not used to them. They had not that effect upon our +voyageurs, who knew their import. One and all of them were familiar +with the voice of the _white-headed eagle_! + +The trumpeter knew it as well as any of them, but on him it produced a +far different effect. His terror was apparent, and his intention was +all at once changed. Instead of rising into the air, as he had +premeditated, he suddenly lowered his head, and disappeared under the +water! + +Again was heard the wild scream and the maniac laugh; and the next +moment an eagle swept out from the timber, and, after a few strokes of +its broad wing, poised itself over the spot where the trumpeter had gone +down. The other, its mate, was seen crossing at the same time from the +opposite side. + +Presently the swan rose to the surface, but his head was hardly out of +the water when the eagle once more uttered its wild note, and, half +folding its wings, darted down from above. The swan seemed to have +expected this, for before the eagle could reach the surface, he had gone +under a second time, and the latter, though passing with the velocity of +an arrow, plunged his talons in the water to no purpose. With a cry of +disappointment the eagle mounted back into the air, and commenced +wheeling in circles over the spot. It was now joined by its mate, and +both kept round and round watching for the reappearance of their +intended victim. + +Again the swan came to the surface, but before either of the eagles +could swoop upon him he had for the third time disappeared. The swan is +but an indifferent diver; but under such circumstances he was likely to +do his best at it. But what could it avail him? He must soon rise to +the surface to take breath--each time at shorter intervals. He would +soon become fatigued and unable to dive with sufficient celerity, and +then his cruel enemies would be down upon him with their terrible +talons. Such is the usual result, unless the swan takes to the air, +which he sometimes does. In the present case he had built his hopes +upon a different means of escape. He contemplated being able to conceal +himself in a heavy sedge of bulrushes (_Scirpus lacustris_) that grew +along the edge of the river, and towards these he was evidently +directing his course under the water. At each emersion he appeared some +yards nearer them, until at length he rose within a few feet of their +margin, and diving again was seen no more! He had crept in among the +sedge, and no doubt was lying with only his head, or part of it, above +the water, his body concealed by the broad leaves of the _nymphae_, +while the head itself could not be distinguished among the white flowers +that lay thickly along the surface. The eagles now wheeled over the +sedge, flapping the tops of the bulrushes with their broad wings, and +screaming with disappointed rage. Keen as were their eyes they could +not discover the hiding-place of their victim. No doubt they would have +searched for it a long while, but the canoe--which they now appeared to +notice for the first time--had floated near; and, becoming aware of +their own danger, both mounted into the air again, and with a farewell +scream flew off, and alighted at some distance down the river. + +"A swan for supper!" shouted Francois, as he poised his gun for the +expected shot. + +The canoe was headed for the bulrushes near the point where the +trumpeter had been last seen; and a few strokes of the paddles brought +the little craft with a whizzing sound among the sedge. But the culms +of the rushes were so tall, and grew so closely together, that the +canoemen, after entering, found to their chagrin they could not see six +feet around them. They dared not stand up, for this is exceedingly +dangerous in a birch canoe, where the greatest caution is necessary to +keep the vessel from careening over. Moreover, the sedge was so thick, +that it was with difficulty they could use their oars. They remained +stationary for a time, surrounded by a wall of green bulrush. They soon +perceived that that would never do, and resolved to push back into the +open water. Meanwhile Marengo had been sent into the sedge, and was now +heard plunging and sweltering about in search of the game. Marengo was +not much of a water-dog by nature, but he had been trained to almost +every kind of hunting, and his experience among the swamps of Louisiana +had long since relieved him of all dread for the water. His masters +therefore had no fear but that Marengo would "put up" the trumpeter. + +Marengo had been let loose a little too soon. Before the canoe could be +cleared of the entangling sedge, the dog was heard to utter one of his +loud growls, then followed a heavy plunge, there was a confused +fluttering of wings, and the great white bird rose majestically into the +air! Before either of the gunners could direct their aim, he was beyond +the range of shot, and both prudently reserved their fire. Marengo +having performed his part, swam back to the canoe, and was lifted over +the gunwale. The swan, after clearing the sedge, rose almost vertically +into the air. These birds usually fly at a great elevation--sometimes +entirely beyond the reach of sight. Unlike the wild geese and ducks, +they never alight upon land, but always upon the bosom of the water. It +was evidently the intention of this one to go far from the scene of his +late dangers, perhaps to the great Lake Winnipeg itself. After +attaining a height of several hundred yards, he flew forward in a +horizontal course, and followed the direction of the stream. His flight +was now regular, and his trumpet-note could be heard at intervals, as, +with outstretched neck, he glided along the heavens. He seemed to feel +the pleasant sensations that every creature has after an escape from +danger, and no doubt he fancied himself secure. But in this fancy he +deceived himself. Better for him had he risen a few hundred yards +higher, or else had uttered his self-gratulation in a more subdued tone; +for it was heard and answered, and that response was the maniac laugh of +the white-headed eagle. At the same instant two of these birds--those +already introduced--were seen mounting into the air. They did not fly +up vertically, as the swan had done, but in spiral curves, wheeling and +crossing each other as they ascended. They were making for a point that +would intersect the flight of the swan should he keep on in his +horizontal course. This, however, he did not do. With an eye as quick +as theirs, he saw that he was "headed;" and, stretching his long neck +upward, he again pursued an almost vertical line. But he had to carry +thirty pounds of flesh and bones, while the largest of the eagles--the +female bird--with a still broader spread of wing, was a "light weight" +of only seven. The result of this difference was soon apparent. Before +the trumpeter had got two hundred yards higher, the female of the eagles +was seen wheeling around him on the same level. The swan was now +observed to double, fly downward, and then upward again, while his +mournful note echoed back to the earth. But his efforts were in vain. +After a series of contortions and manoeuvres, the eagle darted forward, +with a quick toss threw herself back downward, and, striking upward, +planted her talons in the under part of the wing of her victim. The +lacerated shaft fell uselessly down; and the great white bird, no longer +capable of flight, came whistling through the air. But it was not +allowed to drop directly to the earth; it would have fallen on the bosom +of the broad river, and that the eagles did not wish, as it would have +given them some trouble to get the heavy carcass ashore. As soon as the +male--who was lower in the air--saw that his partner had struck the +bird, he discontinued his upward flight, and, poising himself on his +spread tail, waited its descent. A single instant was sufficient. The +white object passed him still fluttering; but the moment it was below +his level he shot after it like an arrow, and, clutching it in his +talons, with an outward stroke sent it whizzing in a diagonal direction. +The next moment a crashing was heard among the twigs, and a dull sound +announced that the swan had fallen upon the earth. + +The eagles were now seen sailing downward, and soon disappeared among +the tops of the trees. + +The canoe soon reached the bank; and Francois, accompanied by Basil and +Marengo, leaped ashore, and went in search of the birds. They found the +swan quite dead and lying upon its back as the eagles had turned it. +Its breast was torn open, and the crimson blood, with which they had +been gorging themselves, was spread in broad flakes over its snowy +plumage. The eagles themselves, scared by the dog Marengo, had taken +flight before the boys could get within shot of them. + +As it was just the hour for a "noon halt" and a luncheon, the swan was +carried to the bank of the river, where a crackling fire was soon +kindled to roast him; and while this operation was going on the +"naturalist" was requested by his companions to give them an account of +the "swans of America." + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +THE SWANS OF AMERICA. + +"Very well, then," said Lucien, agreeing to the request. "I shall tell +you all I know of the swans; and, indeed, that is not much, as the +natural history of these birds in their wild state is but little +understood. On account of their shy habits, there is not much +opportunity of observing them; and as they annually migrate and breed in +those desolate regions within the Arctic circle, where civilised men do +not live, but little information has been collected about them. Some of +the species, however, breed in the temperate zones, and the habits of +these are better known. + +"For a long time it was fancied there was but one species of swan. It +is now known that there are several, distinguished from each other in +form, colour, voice, and habits. `White as a swan,' is a simile as old, +perhaps; as language itself. This, I fancy, would sound strangely to +the ears of a native Australian, who is accustomed to look upon swans as +being of the very opposite colour, for the black swan is a native of +that country. + +"According to the naturalist Brehm, who has given much attention to this +subject, there are four distinct species of swans in Europe. They are +all white, though some of the species have a reddish orange tinge about +the head and neck. Two of them are `gibbous,' that is, with a knob or +protuberance upon the upper part of the bill. One of these Brehm terms +the `white-headed gibbous swan' (_Cygnus gibbus_). The other is the +`yellow-headed' (_Cygnus olor_); and this last also is known as the +_mute_ or _tame_ swan, because it is that species most commonly seen in +a tame state upon the ornamental lakes and ponds of England. The other +two European species Brehm has designated `singing swans,' as both of +them utter a note that may be heard to a considerable distance. + +"The black swan of Australia (_Cygnus niger_) has been naturalised in +Europe, and breeds freely in England, where, from its great size and +peculiar markings, it is one of the most ornamental of water-fowls. It +is, moreover, a great tyrant, and will not permit other birds to +approach its haunt, but drives them off, striking them furiously with +its strong broad wings. + +"Until a late period the swans of America were supposed to be all of one +kind. This is not the case. There are now known to be three distinct +species inhabiting the fur countries, and migrating annually to the +South. That which is best known is the `whistler,' or `hooper' (_Cygnus +Americanus_), because it is the species that abounds in the old States +upon the Atlantic, and was therefore more observed by naturalists. It +is believed to be identical with one of the European `singing' swans +(_Cygnus ferus_), but this is not certain; and for my part, I believe +they are different, as the eggs of the American swan are greenish, while +those of its European congener are brownish, with white blotches. + +"The `hooper' is four and a half feet in length, though there are males +still larger, some of them measuring five feet. Its colour is white, +except upon the head and back part of the neck, where there is a coppery +tinge. The bill and feet are black. From the angle of the mouth to the +eye there is a small naked `cere,' of a bright yellow colour. These +swans, like others of the genus, do not care much for the salt water. +They are rarely seen upon the sea, except near its shores, where they +may find the aquatic plants upon which they feed. Nor do they go out +upon the large lakes. When found upon these, it is generally close in +to the land. This is accounted for by the fact that the swans do not +`dive' for their food, but stretch down for it with their long necks, +which Nature has peculiarly adapted to this very purpose. Their +favourite food consists of the roots of aquatic plants, which are often +farinaceous. As these grow best in the shallow small lakes and along +the margins of rivers, such places are the usual resort of the swans. +Although their diet is a vegetable one, it is not exclusively so, as +they will eat frogs, worms, and small fish. Unlike the ducks and geese, +they rarely feed upon land, but while floating upon the surface of the +water. They walk but awkwardly on land, and are at home only on water +or in the air. In the air they are quite at home, and fly so swiftly +that it is no easy matter to shoot them, especially when going before +the wind. At such times they are supposed to fly at the rate of one +hundred miles an hour. When moulting, and unable to rise into the air, +it is no easy matter to follow them even with a canoe. By means of +their broad feet and strong wings, they can flutter so quickly over the +water, now and then diving, that the hunter cannot overtake them in his +boat, but is obliged to use his gun in the pursuit. + +"The `hoopers' are migratory,--that is, they pass to the north every +spring, and southward again in the autumn. Why they make these annual +migrations, remains one of the mysteries of nature. Some believe they +migrate to the north, because they there find those desolate uninhabited +regions where they can bring forth their young in security. But this +explanation cannot be the true one, as there are also uninhabited +regions in the south, even under the equator, where they may be equally +free from the presence of man. Another explanation might be offered. +In hot and tropical countries most of the small lakes and swamps, where +these birds love to dwell, dry up during the summer months: hence the +necessity of a migration to colder and moister regions. But this would +only hold good of the wading and water birds; it would not account for +the migration of the many other birds of passage. + +"A better explanation may be this: The north and the cold zones are the +natural habitat of most migratory birds. It is there that they bring +forth their young, and there they are at home. In tropical regions they +are only sojourners for a season, forced thither, some of them, by a +cold which they do not relish; but others, such as the water-fowl, by +the frost, which, binding up the lakes, rivers, and swamps, hinders them +from procuring their food. They are thus compelled to make an annual +migration to the open waters of the South, but as soon as the ice has +given way before the genial breath of spring, they all return rejoicing +to their favourite home in the North, when their season of love +commences. + +"The `hoopers' follow this general law, and migrate to the northward +every spring. They breed upon islets in the numerous lakes that stud +the whole northern part of the American continent. Eminences in swamps +are also chosen for breeding places, and the ends of promontories that +jut out into the water. The spot selected is always such that the swan, +when seated upon her nest, can have a view of the surrounding country, +and detect any enemy long before it can approach her. The top of the +dome-shaped dwellings of the musk-rat, or musquash (_Fibre zibethicus_), +is often selected by the swan for her nest. These curious little houses +are usually in the midst of impenetrable swamps: they are only occupied +by their builders during the winter; and as they are deserted by them in +early spring, they are therefore quite at the service of the swan for +the `balance of the season.' The bird makes a large cavity in the top, +and lines it with such reeds and grass as may be found near the spot. + +"The hooper lays from six to eight eggs, and sits upon them for a period +of six weeks, when the cygnets come forth covered with a thick down of a +bluish-grey colour. While sitting upon her eggs, the swan is +exceedingly watchful and shy. She `faces' towards the point whence she +most apprehends danger. When the weather is severe, and the wind cold +and keen, she changes into that position which is most comfortable. If +her nest be upon a promontory instead of an island, she usually sits +with her head to the land, as she feels secure that no enemy will reach +her from the waterside. From the land she has not only man to `look +out' for, but the wolverene (_Gulo luscus_), the lynx (_Felis +Canadensis_), foxes, and wolves. + +"The Indians often snare the swan upon her nest. Of course the snare--a +running noose made from the intestines of the deer--is set in her +absence. It is placed upon the side by which she enters, as these birds +enter and leave the nest upon opposite sides. The snare must be +arranged with great care, and with _clean hands_; and the Indians always +take the precaution to wash their hands before setting it, else the +swans, whose sense of smell is very acute, will perceive the presence of +danger, and will not only keep away for a time, but sometimes desert the +eggs altogether. There are many other birds that have a similar habit. + +"So much for the `hooper,'" continued Lucien; "now for the `trumpeter.' +This is the largest of the American swans, being found to measure +seventy inches in length. Its specific name `trumpeter' (Cygnus +_buccinator_) is given to it on account of its note, which resembles the +sound of a French horn, or trumpet, played at a distance. The bird is +white, with black bill and feet, and has also a reddish orange or copper +tinge upon the crown and neck; but it wants the yellow spot between the +split of the mandibles and the eye. It is easily distinguished from the +hooper, both by its louder note and larger body. Its habits, however, +are very similar, except that it seems to be more gregarious,--small +flocks of six or eight often appearing together, while the hooper is +seen only in pairs, and sometimes solitary. Another distinction is, +that the trumpeter arrives much earlier in its migrations to the North, +being the earliest bird that appears except the eagles. It breeds as +far South as latitude 61 degrees, but most generally within the Arctic +circle. Its nest is constructed similarly to those of the hooper, but +its eggs are much larger, one of them being a meal for a moderate eater, +without bread or any other addition. The trumpeter frequently arrives +in the North before the lakes or rivers are thawed. It is then obliged +to find sustenance at the rapids and waterfalls, where the Indians can +approach under cover, and many are shot at such times by these people. +At all other times, as you, Francois, have observed, it is a bird most +difficult of approach; and the Indian hunters only attempt it when they +have a long-range gun loaded with ball. + +"The third species of American swans is that known as Bewick's swan +(Cygnus _Bewickii_), called after the naturalist of that name. It is +the smallest of the three, rarely measuring over fifty-two inches in +length, and weighing only fourteen pounds, while the hooper is over +twenty pounds in weight, and the trumpeter is often obtained of the +enormous weight of thirty! + +"Bewick's swan is also said to be identical with one of Brehm's singing +swans. Its colour is almost similar to that of the hooper, and the two +are often mistaken for each other. The size and the tail-feathers of +all three of the American swans form a sufficiently specific +distinction. In the trumpeter these are twenty-four in number, in the +hooper twenty, while the small species has only eighteen. + +"Of the three, the last-mentioned is the latest on its annual journey, +but it breeds farther North than either of the others. Its nest is +found upon the islands of the Arctic Sea; it is usually built of +peat-moss, and is of gigantic dimensions, being six feet long by five in +width, and nearly two feet high. In the top of this pile is the nest +itself, forming a large round cavity nearly two feet in diameter. The +eggs are of a brownish white, with clouds of darker tint. + +"I have remarked," continued Lucien, "a singularity in the geographical +distribution of these three species. Upon the Pacific coast the +smallest kind and the hooper only are met with, and the small ones +outnumber the others in the ratio of five to one. In the interior parts +of the continent only the hoopers and trumpeters appear; and the +trumpeters are by far the most numerous, while upon the eastern coasts +of America the hoopers are the sort best known. + +"The swans are eagerly hunted both by the Indians and white hunters. +Their skins, with the quills and down, form a source of profit to the +natives of the fur countries, who dispose of them to the Hudson's Bay +Company. In some years as many as ten thousand skins have been +exported, and sold at the rate of six or seven shillings each. Most of +the skins thus sold were those of the trumpeter swans, which are the +most numerous. + +"Now," said Lucien, in conclusion, "you know as much about the swans as +I do; so I shall drop the subject, and recommend to all of you a piece +of roast swan, which is now just done to a turn, and which I doubt not +will be found less dry than my lecture." + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +A SWAN-HUNT BY TORCHLIGHT. + +A few days brought our travellers to the settlement of Red River, where +they made but a very short stay; and, having procured a few articles +which they stood in need of, they resumed their journey, and floated on +towards Lake Winnipeg. The swans were seen in greater numbers than +ever. They were not less shy however, and Francois, as before, in vain +tried to get a shot at one. He was very desirous of bringing down one +of these noble birds, partly because the taste he had had of their flesh +had given him a liking for it; and partly because their shyness had +greatly tantalised him. One is always more eager to kill shy game, both +on account of the rarity of the thing, and the credit one gets for his +expertness. But the voyageurs had now got within less than twenty miles +of Lake Winnipeg, and Francois had not as yet shot a single swan. It +was not at all likely the eagles would help him to another. So there +would be no more roast swan for supper. + +Norman, seeing how eager Francois was to shoot one of these birds, +resolved to aid him by his advice. + +"Cousin Frank," said he, one evening as they floated along, "you wish +very much to get a shot at the swans?" + +"I do," replied Francois,--"I do; and if you can tell me how to +accomplish that business, I'll make you a present of this knife." Here +Francois held up a very handsome clasp-knife that he carried in his +pouch. + +A knife in the fur countries is no insignificant affair. With a knife +you may sometimes buy a horse, or a tent, or a whole carcass of beef, +or, what is stranger still, a wife! To the hunter in these wild +regions--perhaps a thousand miles from where knives are sold--such a +thing is of very great value indeed; but the knife which Francois +offered to his cousin was a particularly fine one, and the latter had +once expressed a wish to become the owner of it. He was not slow, +therefore, in accepting the conditions. + +"Well," rejoined he, "you must consent to travel a few miles by night, +and I think I can promise you a shot at the trumpeters--perhaps +several." + +"What say you, brothers?" asked Francois, appealing to Basil and Lucien; +"shall we have the sport? Say yes." + +"Oh! I have no objection," said Lucien. + +"Nor I," added Basil. "On the contrary, I should like it above all +things. I wish very much to know what plan our cousin shall adopt. I +never heard of any mode of approaching these birds." + +"Very well, then," answered Norman, "I shall have the pleasure of +instructing you in a way that is in use in these parts among the +Indians, who hunt the swan for its skin and quills, which they trade to +us at the post. We can manage it to-night, I think," continued he, +looking up at the sky: "there is no moon, and the sky is thick. Yes, it +will be dark enough." + +"Is it necessary the night should be a dark one?" asked Francois. + +"The darker the better," replied Norman. "To-night, if I am not +mistaken, will be as black as pitch. But we need to make some +preparations. It is near sundown, and we shall have just time to get +ready for the business. Let us get ashore, then, as quickly as +possible." + +"Oh! certainly--let us land," replied all three at once. + +The canoe was now turned to the shore; and when it had arrived within a +few feet of the land it was brought to a stop. Its keel was not allowed +to touch the bottom of the river, as that would have injured the little +craft. The greatest precaution is always observed both in landing and +embarking these vessels. The voyageurs first get out and wade to the +shore, one or two remaining to hold the canoe in its place. The cargo, +whatever it be, is then taken out and landed; and after that the canoe +itself is lifted out of the water, and carried ashore, where it is set, +bottom upward, to dry. The birch-bark canoe is so frail a structure, +that, were it brought rudely in contact either with the bottom or the +bank, it would be very much damaged, or might go to pieces altogether. +Hence the care with which it is handled. It is dangerous, also, to +stand upright in it, as it is so "crank" that it would easily turn over, +and spill both canoemen and cargo into the water. The voyageurs, +therefore, when once they have got in, remain seated during the whole +passage, shifting about as little as they can help. When landed for the +night, the canoe is always taken out of the water as described. The +bark is of a somewhat spongy nature; and if left in the water for a +length of time, would become soaked and heavy, and would not run so +well. When kept all night, bottom upward, it drips and becomes dryer +and lighter. In the morning, at the commencement of the day's journey, +it sits higher upon the water than in the afternoon and evening, and is +at that time more easily paddled along. + +Our voyageurs, having got on shore, first kindled a fire to cook their +supper. This they intended to despatch earlier than usual, so as to +give them the early part of the night for their swan-hunt, which they +expected to finish before midnight. Lucien did the cooking, while +Norman, assisted by Basil and Francois, made his preparations for the +hunt. Francois, who was more interested in the result than any of them, +watched every movement of his cousin. Nothing escaped him. + +Norman proceeded as follows:-- + +He walked off into the woods, accompanied by Francois. After going +about an hundred yards or so, he stopped at the foot of a certain tree. +The tree was a birch--easily distinguished by its smooth, silvery bark. +By means of his sharp hunting-knife he "girdled" this tree near the +ground, and then higher up, so that the length between the two +"girdlings," or circular cuttings, was about four feet. He then made a +longitudinal incision by drawing the point of his knife from one circle +to the other. This done he inserted the blade under the bark, and +peeled it off, as he would have taken the skin from a buffalo. The tree +was a foot in diameter, consequently the bark, when stripped off and +spread flat, was about three feet in width; for you must remember that +the circumference of a circle or a cylinder is always about three times +the length of its diameter, and therefore a tree is three times as much +"_round_" as it is "_through_." + +They now returned to the camp-fire, taking along with them the piece of +bark that had been cut off. This was spread out, though not quite flat, +still leaving it somewhat curved. The convex side, that which had lain +towards the tree, was now blackened with pulverised charcoal, which +Norman had directed Basil to prepare for the purpose; and to the bark at +one end was fastened a stake or shaft. Nothing more remained but to fix +this stake in the canoe, in an upright position near the bow, and in +such a way that the bottom of the piece of bark would be upon a level +with the seats, with its hollow side looking forward. It would thus +form a screen, and prevent those in the canoe from being seen by any +creature that might be ahead. + +When all this had been arranged, Norman shouldered the axe, and again +walked off into the woods. This time his object was to obtain a +quantity of "knots" of the pitch-pine (_Pinus rigida_), which he knew +would most likely be found in such a situation. The tree was soon +discovered, and pointed out to Francois, who accompanied him as before. +Francois saw that it was a tree of about fifty feet in height, and a +foot in diameter at its base. Its bark was thick, very dark in the +colour, and full of cracks or fissures. Its leaves, or "needles," were +about three inches long, and grew in threes, each three forming a little +bunch, bound together at its base by a brownish sheath. These bunches, +in botanical language, are termed "fasciles." The cones were somewhat +shorter than the leaves, nearly of the shape of eggs, and clustered +together in threes and fours. Francois noticed that the tree was +thickly branched, and therefore there are many knots in the wood. For +this reason it is not of much use as timber; but on account of the resin +which it contains, it is the best species for firewood; and for that +purpose it is used in all parts of the United States, where it grows. +Most of the _pine-wood_ sold for fuel in the large cities of America is +the wood of this species. + +Francois supposed that his companion was about to fell one of the trees. +He was mistaken, however; Norman had no such intention; he had only +stopped before one to examine it, and make sure that it was the species +he was in search of. He was soon satisfied of this, and moved on, +directing his eyes along the ground. Again he stopped; but this time it +was by a tree that had already fallen--blown down, perhaps, by the wind. +It was half decayed; but Francois could see that it was one of the same +species--the pitch-pine. + +This was the very thing Norman wanted, and plying his axe, he soon +knocked out a large quantity of the resinous knots. These he at length +collected, and putting them into a bag, returned with Francois to the +fire. He then announced that he had no further preparations to make. + +All four now sat down to supper, which consisted of dry meat, with +biscuits and coffee; and, as their appetites were sharpened by their +water journey, they made a hearty meal of it. + +As soon as they had finished eating, the canoe was launched and got +ready. The screen of birch-bark was set up, by lashing its shaft to the +bottom timbers, and also to one of the seats. Immediately in front of +this, and out upon the bow, was placed the frying-pan; and this having +been secured by being tied at the handle, was filled with dry +pine-knots, ready to be kindled at a moment's notice. These +arrangements being made, the hunters only awaited the darkness to set +forth. + +In the progress of their hunt they would be carried still farther +down-stream; but as that was the direction in which they were +travelling, they would only be progressing on their journey, and thus +"killing two birds with one stone." This was altogether a very pleasant +consideration; and, having stowed everything snugly in the canoe, they +sat chatting agreeably and waiting for the arrival of night. + +Night came at length, and, as Norman had predicted, it was as "dark as +pitch." Stepping gently into the canoe, and seating themselves in their +respective places, they pushed out and commenced floating down-stream. +Norman sat near the bow, in order to attend to his torch of pine-knots. +Francois was next to him, holding his double-barrel, loaded with +buck-shot, which is the same size as that used for swans, and in England +is even known as "swan-shot." + +Next came Basil with his rifle. He sat near Francois, just by the +middle of the little vessel. Lucien, who was altogether a man of peace +principles, and but little of a shot compared with either of his +brothers, handled the oar--not to propel the canoe, but merely to guide +it. In this way the party floated on in silence. + +Norman soon kindled his torch, which now cast its red glare over the +surface of the river, extending its fiery radii even to the banks on +both sides of the stream. The trees that overhung the water seemed +tinged with vermilion, and the rippling wave sparkled like liquid gold. +The light only extended over a semicircle. From the manner in which the +torch was placed, its light did not fall upon the other half of the +circle, and this, by contrast, appeared even darker than it would +otherwise have done. + +The advantage of the plan which Norman had adopted was at once apparent +to all. Ahead of the canoe the whole river was plainly seen for a +distance of several hundred yards. No object larger than a cork could +have floated on its surface, without being visible to those in the +vessel--much less the great white body of a trumpeter swan. Astern of +the canoe, on the other hand, all was pitchy darkness, and any one +looking at the vessel from a position ahead could have seen nothing but +the bright torch and the black uniform surface behind it. As I have +already stated, the concave side of the bark was towards the blaze, and +the pan containing the torch being placed close in to the screen, none +of the light could possibly fall upon the forms of those within the +canoe. They were therefore invisible to any creature from the front, +while they themselves could see everything before them. + +Two questions yet remained unanswered. First,--would our hunters find +any swans on the river? Second,--if they should, would these birds +allow themselves to be approached near enough to be shot at? The first +question Norman, of course, could not answer. That was a matter beyond +his knowledge or control. The swans might or might not appear, but it +was to be hoped they would. It was likely enough. Many had been seen +on the preceding day, and why not then? To the second question, the +young Canadian gave a definite reply. He assured his cousins that, if +met with, the birds would be easily approached in this manner; he had +often hunted them so. They would either keep their place, and remain +until the light came very near them, or they would move towards it (as +he had many times known them to do), attracted by curiosity and the +novelty of the spectacle. He had hunted deer in the same manner; he had +shot, he said, hundreds of these animals upon the banks of rivers, where +they had come down to the water to drink, and stood gazing at the light. + +His cousins could well credit his statements. They themselves had +hunted deer by torchlight in the woods of Louisiana, where it is termed +"fire-hunting." They had killed several in this way. The creatures, as +if held by some fascination, would stand with head erect looking at the +torch carried by one of the party, while the other took sight between +their glancing eyes and fired the deadly bullet. Remembering this, they +could easily believe that the swans might act in a similar manner. + +It was not long until they were convinced of it by actual experience. +As the canoe rounded a bend in the river, three large white objects +appeared in the "reach" before them. A single glance satisfied all that +they were swans, though, in the deceptive glare of the torch, they +appeared even larger than swans. Their long upright necks, however, +convinced the party they could be nothing else, and the canoe was headed +directly for them. + +As our hunters approached, one of the birds was heard to utter his +strange trumpet-note, and this he repeated at intervals as they drew +nearer. + +"I have heard that they sing before death," muttered Francois to Basil, +who sat nearest him. "If so, I hope that's the song itself;" and +Francois laughed quietly at the joke he had perpetrated. + +Basil also laughed; and Lucien, who had overheard the remark, could not +restrain himself from joining in the laughter. + +"I fear not," rejoined Basil; "there is hardly enough music in the note +to call it a song. They may live to `blow their own trumpet' a long +while yet." + +This remark called forth a fresh chorus of laughter, in which all took +part; but it was a very silent kind of laughter, that could not have +been heard ten yards off: it might have been termed "laughing in a +whisper." + +It soon ended, however, as matters now became serious: they were already +within less than two hundred yards of the game, and the greatest caution +had to be observed. The gunners had arranged the order of fire: Basil +was to shoot first, taking steady aim with his rifle at any one of the +birds; while Francois should fire as soon as he heard the report of his +brother's gun, taking the remaining swans upon the wing, with one or +both barrels, as he best might. + +At length Basil deemed himself near enough, and, levelling his piece, +fired. The bird threw out its wings, and flattened down upon the water, +almost without a struggle. The other two were rising into the air, when +"crack! crack!" went the two barrels of Francois' piece, and one of the +swans fell back with a broken wing, and fluttered over the surface of +the stream. Basil's had been shot dead, and was taken up easily; but +the wounded bird was only captured after a long chase with the canoe; +and when overtaken, it struck so fiercely with its remaining wing, that +one of the blows inflicted a painful wound on the wrist of Francois. +Both, however, were at length got safely aboard, and proved to be a male +and female of the largest dimensions. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +"CAST AWAY." + +Of course, the reports of the guns must have frightened any other swans +that were near. It was not likely they would find any more before going +some distance farther down the river; so, having stowed away in a safe +place the two already killed, the hunters paddled rapidly onward. + +They had hardly gone half a mile farther, when another flock of swans +was discovered. These were approached in a similar way, and no less +than three were obtained--Francois making a remarkable shot, and killing +with both barrels. A little farther down, one of the "hoopers" was +killed; and still farther on, another trumpeter; making in all no less +than seven swans that lay dead in the bottom of the canoe! + +These seven great birds almost filled the little craft to the gunwales, +and you would think that our "torch-hunters" ought to have been content +with such a spoil; but the hunter is hard to satisfy with game, and but +too often inclined to "spill much more blood" than is necessary to his +wants. Our voyageurs, instead of desisting, again set the canoe in +motion, and continued the hunt. + +A short distance below the place where they had shot the last swan, as +they were rounding a bend in the river, a loud rushing sounded in their +ears; similar to that produced by a cascade or waterfall. On first +hearing it, they were startled and somewhat alarmed. It might be a +"fall," thought they. Norman could not tell: he had never travelled +this route; he did not know whether there were falls in the Red River or +not, but he believed not. In his voyage to the South, he had travelled +by another route; that was, up the Winnipeg River, and through Rainy +Lake and the Lake of the Woods to Lake Superior. This is the usual and +well-known track followed by the _employes_ of the Hudson's Bay Company; +and Norman had travelled it. + +In this uncertainty the canoe was brought to a stop, and our voyageurs +remained listening. The noise made by the water was not very distant, +and sounded like the roaring of "rapids," or the rush of a "fall." It +was evidently one or the other; but, after listening to it for a +considerable time, all came to the conclusion that the sound did not +proceed from the Red River itself, but from some stream that emptied +into it upon the right. With this belief they again put the canoe in +motion, and glided slowly and cautiously onward. + +Their conjecture proved to be correct. As they approached nearer, they +perceived that the noise appeared every moment more and more to their +right; and presently they saw, below them, a rapid current sweeping into +the Red River from the right bank. This was easily distinguished by the +white froth and bubbles that were carried along upon its surface, and +which had evidently been produced by some fall over which the water had +lately passed. The hunters now rowed fearlessly forward, and in a few +moments came opposite the _debouchure_ of the tributary stream, when a +considerable cascade appeared to their view, not thirty yards from the +Red River itself. The water foamed and dashed over a series of steps, +and then swept rapidly on, in a frothy current. They had entered this +current, and were now carried along with increased velocity, so that the +oarsmen suspended operations, and drew their paddles within the canoe. + +A flock of swans now drew their attention. It was the largest flock +they had yet seen, numbering nearly a score of these noble birds,--a +sight, as Norman informed them, that was exceedingly rare even in the +most favoured haunts of the swan. Rarely are more than six or seven +seen together, and oftener only two or three. A grand _coup_ was +determined upon. Norman took up his own gun, and even Lucien, who +managed the stern oar, and guided the craft, also brought his piece--a +very small rifle--close to his hand, so that he might have a shot as +well as the others. + +The canoe was directed in such a manner that, by merely keeping its head +down the stream, it would float to the spot where the swans were. + +In a short while they approached very near the great birds, and our +hunters could see them sitting on the water, with upraised necks, gazing +in wonder at the torch. Whether they sounded their strange note was not +known, for the "sough" of the waterfall still echoed in the ears of the +canoemen, and they could not hear aught else. + +Basil and Norman fired first, and simultaneously; but the louder +detonations of Francois' double-barrel, and even the tiny crack of +Lucien's rifle, were heard almost the instant after. Three of the birds +were killed by the volley, while a fourth, evidently "winged," was seen +to dive, and flutter down-stream. The others mounted into the air, and +disappeared in the darkness. + +During the time occupied in this manoeuvre, the canoe, no longer guided +by Lucien's oar, had been caught by some eddy in the current, and swept +round stern-foremost. In this position the light no longer shone upon +the river ahead, but was thrown up-stream. All in a downward direction +was buried in deep darkness. Before the voyageurs could bring the canoe +back to its proper direction, a new sound fell upon their ears that +caused some of them to utter a cry of terror. It was the noise of +rushing water, but not that which they had already heard and passed. It +was before them in the river itself. Perhaps it was a cataract, and +_they were sweeping rapidly to its brink_! + +The voice of Norman was heard exclaiming, "Hold with your oars!--the +rapids!--the rapids!" At the same time he himself was seen rising up +and stretching forward for an oar. All was now consternation; and the +movements of the party naturally consequent upon such a sudden panic +shook the little craft until her gunwales lipped the water. At the same +time she had swung round, until the light again showed the stream ahead, +and a horrid sight it was. Far as the eye could see was a reach of +foaming rapids. Dark points of rocks, and huge black boulders, thickly +scattered in the channel, jutted above the surface; and around and +against these, the water frothed and hissed furiously. There was no +cataract, it is true--there is none such in Red River--but for all +purposes of destruction the rapids before them were equally dangerous +and terrible to the eyes of our voyageurs. They no longer thought of +the swans. The dead were permitted to float down unheeded, the wounded +to make its escape. Their only thought was to stop the canoe before it +should be carried upon the rapids. + +With this intent all had taken to the oars, but in spite of every +exertion they soon found that the light craft had got within the +influence of the strong current, and was sucked downward more rapidly +than ever. Their backward strokes were to no purpose. + +In a few seconds the canoe had passed over the first stage of the +rapids, and shot down with the velocity of an arrow. A huge boulder lay +directly in the middle of the channel, and against this the current +broke with fury, laving its sides in foaming masses. The canoe was +hurried to this point; and as the light was again turned up-stream, none +of the voyageurs could see this dangerous rock. But they could not have +shunned it then. The boat had escaped from their control, and spun +round at will. The rock once more came under the light, but just as the +canoe, with a heavy crash, was driven against it. + +For some moments the vessel, pressed by the current against the rock, +remained motionless, but her sides were stove in, and the water was +rushing through. The quick eye of Basil--cool in all crises of extreme +danger--perceived this at a glance. He saw that the canoe was a wreck, +and nothing remained but to save themselves as they best might. +Dropping the oar, and seizing his rifle, he called to his companions to +leap to the rock: and all together immediately sprang over the gunwale. +The dog Marengo followed after. + +The canoe, thus lightened, heeled round into the current, and swept on. +The next moment she struck another rock, and was carried over on her +beams. The water then rushed in--the white bodies of the swans, with +the robes, blankets, and implements, rose on the wave; the blazing knots +were spilled from the pan, and fell with a hissing sound: and a few +seconds after they were extinguished, and all was darkness! + +The Young Voyageurs--by Captain Mayne Reid + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +A BRIDGE OF BUCKSKIN. + +The canoe was lost, and all it had contained, or nearly all. The +voyageurs had saved only their guns, knives, and the powder-horns and +pouches, that had been attached to their persons. One other thing had +been saved--an axe which Basil had flung upon the rock as he stepped out +of the sinking vessel. All the rest--robes, blankets, swans, cooking +utensils, bags of provisions, such as coffee, flour, and dried meat-- +were lost--irrecoverably lost. These had either drifted off upon the +surface, or been carried under water and hidden among the loose stones +at the bottom. No matter where, they were lost; and our voyageurs now +stood on a small naked rock in the middle of the stream, with nothing +left but the clothes upon their backs, and the arms in their hands. +Such was their condition. + +There was something so sudden and awful in the mishap that had befallen +them, that for some minutes they stood upon the spot where they had +settled without moving or addressing a word to one another. They gazed +after the canoe. They knew that it was wrecked, although they could see +nothing either of it or its contents. Thick darkness enveloped them, +rendered more intense from the sudden extinction of the torchlight. +They saw nothing but the foam flickering along the river; like the +ghosts of the swans they had killed, and they heard only the roaring of +the water, that sounded in their ears with a hoarse and melancholy wail. + +For a long time they stood impressed with the lamentable condition into +which the accident had plunged them; and a lamentable condition it was, +sure enough. They were on a small rock in the midst of a rapid river. +They were in the midst of a great wilderness too, many long miles from a +settlement. The nearest could only be reached by travelling through +pathless forests, and over numerous and deep rivers. Impassable swamps, +and lakes with marshy shores, lay on the route, and barred the direct +course, and all this journey would have to be made on foot. + +But none of our young voyageurs were of that stamp to yield themselves +to despair. One and all of them had experienced perils before--greater +even than that in which they now stood. As soon, therefore, as they +became fully satisfied that their little vessel was wrecked, and all its +contents scattered, instead of despairing, their first thoughts were how +to make the best of their situation. + +For that night, at least, they were helpless. They could not leave the +rock. It was surrounded by rapids. Sharp, jagged points peeped out of +the water, and between these the current rushed with impetuosity. In +the darkness no human being could have crossed to either shore in +safety. To attempt it would have been madness, and our voyageurs soon +came to this conclusion. They had no other choice than to remain where +they were until the morning; so, seating themselves upon the rock, they +prepared to pass the night. + +They sat huddled close together. They could not lie down--there was not +room enough for that. They kept awake most of the night, one or other +of them, overcome by fatigue, occasionally nodding over in a sort of +half-sleep, but awakening again after a few minutes' uncomfortable +dreaming. They talked but little, as the noise of the rushing rapids +rendered conversation painful. To be heard, they were under the +necessity of shouting to one another, like passengers in an omnibus. It +was cold, too. None of them had been much wetted in escaping from the +canoe; but they had saved neither overcoat, blanket, nor buffalo-robe; +and, although it was now late in the spring, the nights near Lake +Winnipeg, even at that season, are chilly. They were above the latitude +of 50 degrees; and although in England, which is on that parallel, it is +not very cold of a spring night, it must be remembered that the line of +equal temperature--in the language of meteorologists the "_isothermal +line_,"--is of a much lower latitude in America than in Europe. + +Another fact worth remembering is, that upon the eastern or Atlantic +coast of the American Continent it is much colder in the same latitude +than on the western or Pacific side. The Pacific "sea-board" in its +climate is more like the western edge of the old continent. This would +seem to indicate that the climate of a coast country is much influenced +by the side upon which the ocean lies, whether east or west. This in +reality is the case, for you may observe on your map that the western +coasts of both the "old world" and the "new" are somewhat similarly +placed in regard to their oceans, and hence the similarity of their +climates. + +There are many other causes connected with this; such as the direction +of winds, and the different effects produced by them on the atmosphere +when they have passed over water or over land. It was, and is still by +many people believed, that the winds are produced by the air becoming +heated in a particular place, and then ascending, and leaving a "vacuum" +into which the colder air rushes from all sides around. This "rushing," +it was supposed, made the wind. To some extent this theory is true, but +there are several other causes that operate in producing wind. +Electricity--an agent hitherto but little known, but one of the most +important elements of our Earth--has much to do with the winds; and the +revolution of the Earth on its own axis has also an influence upon them. +Indeed it is to be wondered at, that mankind should have so long +remained satisfied with the very unsatisfactory theory of the _heated +air_. But it is not to be wondered at either, when we consider how +little mankind has had to do with these things--when we consider that as +yet nearly every country upon the face of the globe is despotic; that +the whole time of the great body of the people is occupied in a struggle +for life--occupied in toiling for a few, who by the most cunning devices +rob them of the fruits of their toils--rob them so skilfully that the +poor blinded masses have grown to consider eternal toil as the _natural +state of man_--nay more, are ready to persecute him who would elevate +them, and worship him who would sink them deeper in baseness and +bondage;--when we reflect on this almost hopeless darkness of soul that +has marked the history of the past, and is too much the character of the +present, we need not wonder that so few have had either leisure or +inclination to yield themselves to the acquirement or prosecution of +scientific knowledge. "The winds have blown where they listed, and we +have heard the sound thereof," but men absorbed in the hard struggle of +life have found but little time to inquire "whence they come or whither +they go." + +The people of the United States are yet but partially free. They still +inherit, from customs and prejudices, the fruits of an ancestral +oppression, and a bondage of centuries of duration. But even their +_partial_ freedom has already shown its good effects. At this moment +knowledge is progressing faster among these people than any other on the +face of the earth. Meteorology begins to assume the palpable shape of +an exact science. The winds are being traced in their currents, and +followed through all their windings, by Maury and other men of talent; +and if you live twenty years longer (and I hope you may live three times +as many years), you will no doubt be able to tell "whence the wind +cometh and whither it goeth." + +Well, we began this politico-scientific discussion by observing that it +was very cold in the latitude of Lake Winnipeg, even in late spring. +Only at night though; the days are sometimes so hot there that you might +fancy yourself in the tropics. These extremes are characteristic of the +climate of all American countries, and particularly those that lie at a +distance from the sea-coast. + +Our voyageurs were chilled to the very bones, and of course glad to see +the daylight glimmering through the tops of the trees that grew upon the +banks of the river. As soon as day broke, they began to consider how +they would reach those trees. Although swimming a river of that width +would have been to any of the four a mere bagatelle, they saw that it +was not to be so easy an affair. Had they been upon either bank, they +could have crossed to the other without difficulty--as they would have +chosen a place where the water was comparatively still. On the rock +they had no choice, as the rapids extended on both sides above and below +it. Between the boulders the current rushed so impetuously, that had +they attempted to swim to either bank, they would have been carried +downward, and perhaps dashed with violence against one or other of the +sharp stones. + +As soon as it was light, they saw all this; not without feelings of +apprehension and uneasiness. Their whole attention was now occupied +with the one object--how they should get to the bank of the river. + +The right bank was the more distant; but the passage in that direction +appeared the easier one. The current was not so swift, nor yet did it +seem so deep. They thought they might ford it, and Basil made the +attempt; but he soon got beyond his depth; and was obliged, after being +carried off his feet, to swim up under the lee of the rock again. + +From the rock to the right bank was about an hundred yards' distance. +Here and there, at irregular intervals, sharp, jagged stones rose above +the surface, some of them projecting three feet or more out of the +water, and looking _very_ much like upright tombstones. Lucien had +noticed these, and expressed the opinion that if they only had a rope, +they might fling it over one of these stones, and then, holding it fast +at the other end, might pass by that means from one to the other. + +The suggestion was a good one, but where was the rope to come from? All +their ropes and cords--lassoes and all--had been swept away in the +wreck. Not a string remained, except those that fastened their horns, +flasks, and other accoutrements; and these were only small thongs, and +would be of no use for such a purpose. It would require a rope strong +enough to carry the weight of a man impelled by a rapid current--in +fact, a weight equal to that of several men. They all set to thinking +how this was to be obtained. Each looked at the other, and scanned the +straps and thongs that were around their bodies. They were satisfied at +a glance that these would not be sufficient to make such a rope as was +wanted. They did not give up the hope of being able to obtain one. +They were all of them accustomed to resort to strange expedients, and a +sufficiently strange one now suggested itself. Basil and Norman seemed +to have thought of it at the same time, for both at once unbuckled their +straps, and commenced pulling off their buckskin hunting-shirts. The +others said nothing, as they knew well what they were going to do with +them--they knew they intended cutting them into strips, and then +twisting a rope out of them. + +All four set to work together. Lucien and Francois held the shirts +taut, while Basil and Norman handled the knives, and in a few minutes +the rock was covered with strips of buckskin about two inches wide, by a +yard or so in length. These were next joined and plaited together in +such a manner that a rope was formed nearly forty feet long. An eye was +made at one end, and through this the other end was reeved--so that a +running noose was obtained, in the same manner as the Mexicans and +Indians make their lassoes. The rope was now ready for use, and Basil +was the very hand to use it; for Basil knew how to fling a lasso as well +as either Mexican or Indian. He had practised it often, and had lassoed +many a long-horned bull upon the prairies of Opelousas and the +Attakapas. To Basil, therefore, the rope was given. He placed himself +on the highest part of the rock, having first coiled the new-made lasso, +and hung the coil lightly over his left arm. He then took the noose-end +in his right hand, and commenced winding it around his head. His +companions had laid themselves flat, so as not to be in the way of the +noose as it circled about. After a few turns the rope was launched +forth, and a loud "hurrah!" from Francois announced that the throw was +successful. It was so in fact, as the noose was seen settling smoothly +over the jutting-stone, taking full hold upon it. A pull from Basil +fixed it; and in a few minutes it was made quite fast, without the +slightest danger of its slipping off. The other end was then carried +round a projecting point of the rock on which they stood, and knotted +firmly, so that the rope was quite taut, and stretched in a nearly +horizontal direction, about a foot above the surface of the water. + +The voyageurs now prepared to cross over. Their guns, pouches, and +flasks were carefully secured, so that the water could not damage them. +Then each took a piece of the buckskin thong, and fastened it round his +waist, leaving enough to form a running loop. This loop was intended to +embrace the rope, and run along it, as they drew themselves forward by +their hands. + +Basil passed over first. He was the oldest, and, as he asserted, it was +but right he should run the risk in testing the new-fashioned bridge, of +which he was the architect. It worked admirably, and sustained the +weight of his body, with the whole force of the current acting upon it. +Of course he was swept far down, and the rope was stretched to its full +tension, but he succeeded in handing himself along, until he was able to +touch the second rock, and clamber upon it in safety. During the +passage across he was watched by his companions with emotions of no +ordinary character, but as soon as he had reached the opposite end of +the rope all three uttered a loud and simultaneous cheer. Lucien passed +over next, and after him Francois. Notwithstanding his danger, Francois +laughed loudly all the time he was in the water, while his brothers were +not without some fears for his safety. Marengo was next attached to the +rope, and pulled safely over. + +Norman was the last to cross upon the buckskin bridge, but, like the +others, he landed in safety; and the four, with the dog, now stood upon +the little isolated boulder, where there was just room enough to give +them all a footing. + +A difficulty now presented itself, which they had not hitherto thought +of. Another reach of rapid current was to be crossed, before they could +safely trust themselves to enter the water. This they knew before, but +they had also noticed that there was another jutting rock, upon which +they might fling their rope. But the rope itself was now the +difficulty. It was fast at both ends, and how were they to release it +from the rock they had left? One of them could easily cross over again +and untie it, but how was he to get back to the others? Here was a +dilemma which had not presented itself before, and they now saw +themselves no better off than ever. The rapid that remained to be +crossed, was as dangerous as the one they had succeeded in passing. +There was no hope that they could swim it in safety. They would +certainly be swept with violence against the rocks below. There was no +chance, then, of their going an inch farther--unless by some means +similar to that they had just used, and the rope was no longer at their +service. + +For some time they all stood silent, each considering the matter in his +own way. How could they free the rope? + +"It cannot be done," said one. "Impossible," rejoined another. "We +must make a second rope. Francois's shirt still remains, and our +leggings--we can use them." + +This was the mode suggested by Francois and Norman, and Lucien seemed to +assent to it. They had already commenced untying their leggings, when +Basil uttered the ejaculation-- + +"Stop!" + +"Well, what is it, brother?" asked Lucien. + +"I think I can free the rope at the other end. At all events, let me +try. It will not cost much, either in time or trouble." + +"How do you mean to do it, brother?" + +"Sit close, all of you. Give me room--you shall see presently." + +As directed by Basil, they all cowered closely down, so as to occupy as +little space as possible. Basil, having uncovered the lock of his +rifle--which had been carefully bound up in a piece of deer's bladder-- +placed himself in a firm position, and appeared as if about to fire. +Such was his intention--for in a few moments he was seen to raise the +gun to his shoulder, and take aim. None of his companions uttered a +word. They had already guessed the object of this movement, and sat +silently awaiting the result. + +On the rock which they had left, the rope still bound fast passed around +one of the angles, in such a way that, from the point where Basil stood, +it offered a fair mark. It was at this Basil was aiming. His object +was to cut the thong with his bullet. He could not do it with a single +shot, as the thong was broader than the bullet, but he had calculated +that he might effect his purpose with several. If he did not succeed in +cutting it clean through, the ball flattening upon the rock would, +perhaps, tear the rope in such a manner that, by pulling by the other +end, they might detach it. Such were the calculations and hopes of +Basil. + +A moment more and the crack of his rifle was heard. At the same instant +the dust rose up from the point at which he had aimed, and several small +fragments flew off into the water. Again was heard Francois's "hurrah," +for Francois, as well as the others, had seen that the rope had been hit +at the right place, and now exhibited a mangled appearance. + +While Basil was reloading, Norman took aim and fired. Norman was a good +shot, though perhaps not so good a one as Basil, for that was no easy +matter, as there were few such marksmen to be found anywhere, not even +among the professional trappers and hunters themselves. But Norman was +a fair shot, and this time hit his mark. The thong was evidently better +than half divided by the two; bullets. Seeing this, Francois took hold +of the other end, and gave it a strong jerk or two, but it was still too +much for him, and he ceased pulling, and waited the effect of Basil's +second shot. + +The latter had now reloaded, and, taking deliberate aim again, fired. +The rope was still held taut upon the rock, for part of it dragged in +the current, the force of which kept pressing it hard downward. +Scarcely was the report heard, when the farther end of the thong flew +from its fastening, and, swept by the running water, was seen falling +into the lee of the boulder on which the party now stood. A third time +was heard the voice of Francois uttering one of his customary "hurrahs." +The rope was now dragged up, and made ready for further use. Basil +again took hold of it; and, after coiling it as before, succeeded in +throwing the noose over the third rock, where it settled and held fast. +The other end was tied as before, and all passed safely to the new +station. Here, however, their labour ended. They found that from this +point to the shore the river was shallow, and fordable; and, leaving the +rope where it was, all four took the water, and waded safely to the +bank. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +DECOYING THE "GOATS." + +For the present, then, our voyageurs had escaped. They were safe upon +the river's bank; but when we consider the circumstances in which they +were placed, we shall perceive that they were far from being pleasant +ones. They were in the midst of a wilderness, without either horse or +boat to carry them out of it. They had lost everything but their arms +and their axe. The hunting-shirts of some of them, as we have seen, +were destroyed, and they would now suffer from the severe cold that even +in summer, as we have said, often reigns in these latitudes. Not a +vessel was left them for cooking with, and not a morsel of meat or +anything was left to be cooked. For their future subsistence they would +have to depend upon their guns, which, with their ammunition, they had +fortunately preserved. + +After reaching the shore, their first thoughts were about procuring +something to eat. They had now been a long time without food, and all +four were hungry enough. As if by one impulse, all cast their eyes +around, and looked upward among the branches of the tree's, to see if +any animal could be discovered that might serve them for a meal. Bird +or quadruped, it mattered not, so that it was large enough to give the +four a breakfast. But neither one nor the other was to be seen, +although the woods around had a promising appearance. The trees were +large, and as there was much underwood, consisting of berry-bushes and +plants with edible roots, our voyageurs did not doubt that there would +be found game in abundance. It was agreed, then, that Lucien and +Francois should remain on the spot and kindle a fire, while Basil and +Norman went off in search of something to be cooked upon it. + +In less than an hour the latter returned, carrying an animal upon his +shoulders, which both the boys recognised as an old acquaintance,--the +prong-horned antelope (_Antilope furcifer_), so called from the single +fork or prong upon its horns. Norman called it "a goat," and stated +that this was its name among the fur-traders, while the Canadian +voyageurs give it the title of "cabree." Lucien, however, knew the +animal well. He knew it was not of the goat kind, but a true antelope, +and the only animal of that genus found in North America. Its habitat +is the prairie country, and at the present time it is not found farther +east than the prairies extend, nor farther north either, as it is not a +creature that can bear extreme cold. In early times, however--that is, +nearly two centuries ago--it must have ranged nearly to the Atlantic +shores, as Father Hennepin in his Travels speaks of "goats" being killed +in the neighbourhood of Niagara, meaning no other than the prong-horned +antelopes. The true wild goat of America is a very different animal, +and is only found in the remote regions of the Rocky Mountains. + +What Norman had shot, then, was an antelope; and the reason why it is +called "cabree" by the voyageurs, and "goat" by the fur-traders, is +partly from its colour resembling that of the common goat, but more from +the fact, that along the upper part of its neck there is a standing +mane, which does in truth give it somewhat the appearance of the +European goat. Another point of resemblance lies in the fact, that the +"prong-horns" emit the same disagreeable odour, which is a well-known +characteristic of the goat species. This proceeds from two small +glandular openings that lie at the angles of the jaws, and appear spots +of a blackish brown colour. + +Both Lucien and Francois had shot antelopes. They had decoyed them +within range in their former expedition on the prairies, and had seen +wolves do the same. The Indians usually hunt them in this manner, by +holding up some bright-coloured flag, or other curious object, which +rarely fails to bring them within shot; but Norman informed his cousins +that the Indians of the Hudson's Bay Company care little about the +antelope, and rarely think it worth hunting. Its skin is of little +value to them, and they consider its flesh but indifferent eating. But +the chief reason why they take so little notice of it is, because it is +found in the same range with the buffalo, the moose, and the elk; and, +as all these animals are more valuable to the Indian hunter, he allows +the antelope to go unmolested, unless when he is hard pressed with +hunger, and none of the others are to be had. + +While skinning the antelope for breakfast, Norman amused his companions +by relating how he had killed it. He said that he had got near enough +to shoot it by practising a "dodge." After travelling through the woods +for some half-mile or so, he had come out into a country of "openings," +and saw that there was a large prairie beyond. He saw that the woods +extended no farther than about a mile from the banks of the river, and +that the whole country beyond was without timber, except in scattered +clumps. This is, in fact, true of the Red River country, particularly +of its western part, from which the great prairies stretch westward, +even to the "foot-hills" (_piedmont_) of the Rocky Mountains. Well, +then, after arriving at the openings, Norman espied a small herd of +antelopes, about ten or a dozen in all. He would rather they had been +something else, as elk or deer; for, like the Indians, he did not much +relish the "goat's" meat. He was too hungry, however, to be nice, and +so he set about trying to get within shot of the herd. There was no +cover, and he knew he could not approach near enough without using some +stratagem. He therefore laid himself flat upon his back, and raised his +heels as high as he could into the air. These he kicked about in such a +manner, as soon to attract the attention of the antelopes, that, curious +to make out what it was, commenced running round and round in circles, +of which Norman himself was the centre. The circles gradually became +smaller and smaller, until the hunter saw that his game was within +range; when, slyly rolling himself round on one shoulder, he took aim at +a buck, and fired. The buck fell, and the rest of the herd bounded off +like the wind. Norman feeling hungry himself, and knowing that his +companions were suffering from the same cause, lost no time in looking +for other game; but shouldering the "goat," carried it into camp. + +By this time Lucien and Francois had a fire kindled--a roaring fire of +"pine-knots"--and both were standing by it, smoking all over in their +wet leggings. They had got nearly dry when Norman returned, and they +proceeded to assist in butchering the antelope. The skin was whipped +off in a trice; and the venison, cut into steaks and ribs, was soon +spitted and sputtering cheerily in the blaze of the pine-knots. +Everything looked pleasant and promising, and it only wanted the +presence of Basil to make them all feel quite happy again. Basil, +however, did not make his appearance; and as they were all as hungry as +wolves, they could not wait for him, but set upon the antelope-venison, +and made each of them a hearty meal from it. + +As yet they had no apprehensions about Basil. They supposed he had not +met with any game, and was still travelling about in search of it. +Should he succeed in killing any, he would bring it in; and should he +not, he would return in proper time without it. It was still early in +the day. + +But several hours passed over, and he did not come. It was an unusual +length of time for him to be absent, especially in strange woods of +which he knew nothing; moreover, he was in his shirt-sleeves, and the +rest of his clothing had been dripping wet when he set out. Under these +circumstances would he remain so long, unless something unpleasant had +happened to him? + +This question the three began to ask one another. They began to grow +uneasy about their absent companion; and as the hours passed on without +his appearing, their uneasiness increased to serious alarm. They at +length resolved to go in search of him. They took different directions, +so that there would be a better chance of finding him. Norman struck +out into the woods, while Lucien and Francois, followed by the dog +Marengo, kept down the bank--thinking that if Basil had got lost, he +would make for the river to guide him, as night approached. All were to +return to the camp at nightfall whether successful or not. + +After several hours spent in traversing the woods and openings, Norman +came back. He had been unable to find any traces of their missing +companion. The others had got back before him. They heard his story +with sorrowing hearts, for neither had they fallen in with the track of +living creature. Basil was lost, beyond a doubt. He would never have +stayed so long, had not some accident happened to him. Perhaps he was +dead--killed by some wild animal--a panther or a bear. Perhaps he had +met with Indians, who had carried him off, or put him to death on the +spot. Such were the painful conjectures of his companions. + +It was now night. All three sat mournfully over the fire, their looks +and gestures betokening the deep dejection they felt. Although in need +of repose, none of them attempted to go to sleep. At intervals they +discussed the probability of his return, and then they would remain +silent. Nothing could be done that night. They could only await the +morning light, when they would renew their search, and scour the country +in every direction. + +It was near midnight, and they were sitting silently around the fire, +when Marengo started to his feet, and uttered three or four loud barks. +The echoes of these had hardly died among the trees when a shrill +whistle was heard at some distance off in the woods. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Francois, leaping to his feet at the instant; "that's +Basil's whistle, I'll be bound. I'd know it a mile off. Hurrah!" + +Francois' "hurrah!" rang through the woods, and the next moment came +back a loud "Hilloa!" which all recognised as the voice of Basil. + +"Hilloa!" shouted the three by the fire. + +"Hilloa, my boys! all right!" replied the voice; and a few seconds +after, the tall upright form of Basil himself was seen advancing, under +the glare of the pine-knots. A shout of congratulation was again +raised; and all the party, preceded by Marengo, rushed out to meet the +new-comer. They soon returned, bringing Basil up to the fire, when it +was seen that he had not returned empty-handed. In one hand he carried +a bag of grouse, or "prairie hens," while from the muzzle of his +shouldered rifle there hung something that was at once recognised as a +brace of buffalo tongues. + +"_Voila_!" cried Basil, flinging down the bag, "how are you off for +supper? And here," continued he, pointing to the tongues, "here's a +pair of tit-bits that'll make you lick your lips. Come! let us lose no +time in the cooking, for I'm hungry enough to eat either of them raw." + +Basil's request was instantly complied with. The fire was raked up, +spits were speedily procured, a tongue and one of the grouse were +roasted; and although Lucien, Francois, and Norman, had already supped +on the "goat's meat," they set to upon the new viands with fresh +appetites. Basil was hungrier than any, for he had been all the while +fasting. It was not because he was without meat, but because he knew +that his comrades would be uneasy about him, and he would not stop to +cook it. Of meat he had enough, since he had slain the two buffaloes to +which the tongues had belonged; and these same buffaloes, he now +informed them, had been the cause of his long absence. + +Of course, all were eager to know how the buffaloes could have delayed +him; and therefore, while they were discussing their savoury supper, +Basil narrated the details of his day's adventure. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +A "PARTRIDGE DANCE." + +"After leaving here," said Basil, "I struck off through the woods in a +line that led from the river, in a diagonal direction. I hadn't walked +more than three hundred yards, when I heard a drumming sound, which I at +first took to be thunder; but, after listening a while, I knew it was +not that, but the drumming of the ruffed grouse. As soon as I could +ascertain the direction of the sound, I hurried on in that way; but for +a long time I appeared to get no nearer it, so greatly does this sound +deceive one. I should think I walked a full mile before I arrived at +the place where the birds were, for there were many of them. I then had +a full view of them, as they went through their singular performances. + +"There were, in all, about a score. They had selected a piece of open +and level ground, and over this they were running in a circle, about +twenty feet in diameter. They did not all run in the same direction, +but met and crossed each other, although they never deviated much from +the circumference of the circle, around which the grass was worn quite +bare, and a ring upon the turf looked baked and black. When I first got +near, they heard my foot among the leaves, and I saw that one and all of +them stopped running, and squatted close down. I halted, and hid myself +behind a tree. After remaining quiet a minute or so, the birds began to +stretch up their necks, and then all rose together to their feet, and +commenced running round the ring as before. I knew they were performing +what is called the `Partridge Dance;' and as I had never witnessed it I +held back awhile, and looked on. Even hungry as I was, and as I knew +all of you to be, so odd were the movements of these creatures, that I +could not resist watching them a while, before I sent my unwelcome +messenger into their `ballroom.' Now and then an old cock would +separate from the pack, and running out to some distance, would leap +upon a rock that was there; then, after dropping his wings, flirting +with his spread tail, erecting the ruff upon his neck, and throwing back +his head, he would swell and strut upon the rock, exhibiting himself +like a diminutive turkey-cock. After manoeuvring in this way for a few +moments, he would commence flapping his wings in short quick strokes, +which grew more rapid as he proceeded, until a `booming' sound was +produced, more like the rumble of distant thunder than anything I can +think of. + +"This appeared to be a challenge to the others; and then a second would +come out, and, after replying to it by putting himself through a similar +series of attitudes, the two would attack each other, and fight with all +the fury of a pair of game-cocks. + +"I could have watched their manoeuvres much longer," continued Basil, +"but hunger got the better of me, and I made ready to fire. Those that +were `dancing' moved so quickly round the ring that I could not sight +one of them. If I had had a shot-gun, I might have covered several, but +with the rifle I could not hope for more than a single bird; so, wanting +to make sure of that, I waited until an old cock mounted the rock, and +got to `drumming.' Then I sighted him, and sent my bullet through his +crop. I heard the loud whirr of the pack as they rose up from the ring; +and, marking them, I saw that they all alighted only a couple of hundred +yards off, upon a large spruce-tree. Hoping they would sit there until +I could get another shot, I loaded as quickly as possible, and stepped +forward. The course I took brought me past the one I had killed, which +I picked up, and thrust hastily into my bag. Beyond this I had to pass +over some logs that lay along the ground, with level spaces between +them. What was my surprise in getting among these, to see two of the +cocks down upon the grass, and righting so desperately that they took no +notice of my approach! At first I threw up my rifle, intending to fire, +but seeing that the birds were within a few feet of me, I thought they +might let me lay hold of them, which they, in fact, did; for the next +moment I had `grabbed' both of them, and cooled their bellicose spirits +by wringing their heads off. + +"I now proceeded to the pack, that still kept the tree. When near +enough, I sheltered myself behind another tree; and taking aim at one, I +brought him tumbling to the ground. The others sat still. Of course, I +shot the one upon the lowest branch: I knew that, so long as I did this, +the others would sit until I might get the whole of them; but that if I +shot one of the upper ones, its fluttering down through the branches +would alarm the rest, and cause them to fly off. I loaded and fired, +and loaded and fired, until half-a-dozen of the birds lay around the +root of the tree. I believe I could have killed the whole pack, but it +just then occurred to me that I was wasting our precious ammunition, and +that, considering the value of powder and shot to us just now, the birds +were hardly worth a load apiece; so I left off cracking at them. As I +stepped forward to gather what I had killed, the rest whirred away into +the woods. + +"On reaching the tree where they had perched, I was very much surprised +to find a raw-hide rope neatly coiled up, and hanging from one of the +lower branches. I knew that somebody must have placed it there, and I +looked round to see what `sign' there was besides. My eye fell upon the +cinders of an old fire near the foot of the tree; and I could tell that +some Indians had made their camp by it. It must have been a good while +ago, as the ashes were beaten into the ground by the rain, and, +moreover, some young plants were springing up through them. I +concluded, therefore, that whoever had camped there had hung the rope +upon the tree, and on leaving the place had forgotten it. I took the +rope down to examine it: it was no other than a lasso, full fifty feet +long, with an iron ring neatly whipped into the loop-end; and, on trying +it with a pull, I saw it was in the best condition. Of course, I was +not likely to leave such a prize behind me. I had grown, as you may all +conceive, to have a very great regard for a rope, considering that one +had just saved all our lives; so I resolved on bringing the lasso with +me. In order to carry it the more conveniently, I coiled it, and then +hung the coil across my shoulders like a belt. I next packed my game +into the bag, which they filled chock up to the mouth, and was turning +to come back to camp, when my eye fell upon an object that caused me +suddenly to change my intention. + +"I was near the edge of the woods, and through the trunks I could see a +large open space beyond, where there were no trees, or only one here and +there. In the middle of this opening there was a cloud of dust, and in +the thick of it I could see two great dark animals in motion. They were +running about, and now and then coming together with a sudden rush; and +every time they did so, I could hear a loud thump, like the stroke of a +sledgehammer. The sun was shining upon the yellow dust-cloud, and the +animals appeared from this circumstance to be of immense size--much +larger than they really were. Had I not known what kind of creatures +were before me, I should have believed that the mammoths were still in +existence. But I knew well what they were: I had seen many before, +carrying on just such a game. I knew they were buffalo bulls, engaged +in one of their terrible battles." + +Here Basil's narrative was interrupted by a singular incident. Indeed, +it had been interrupted more than once by strange noises that were heard +at some distance off in the woods. These noises were not all alike: at +one time they resembled the barking of a cur dog; at another, they might +have been mistaken for the gurglings of a person who was being hanged; +and then would follow a shriek so dreadful that for some time the woods +would echo with its dismal sound! After the shriek a laugh would be +heard, but a miserable "haw-haw-haw!" unlike the laugh of a sane person. + +All these strange voices were calculated to inspire terror, and so have +they many a time, with travellers not accustomed to the solitary woods +of America. But our young voyageurs were not at all alarmed by them. +They knew from what sort of a creature they proceeded; they knew they +were the varying notes of the great horned-owl (_Strix Virginiana_); and +as they had seen and heard many a one before, they paid no heed to this +individual. + +While Basil was going on with his relation, the bird had been several +times seen to glide past, and circle around upon his noiseless pinions. +So easy was his flight, that the slightest inclining of his spread tail, +or the bending of his broad wing, seemed sufficient to turn and carry +him in any direction. Nothing could be more graceful than his flight, +which was not unlike that of the eagle, while he was but little inferior +in size to one of these noble birds. + +What interrupted Basil was, that the owl had alighted upon a branch not +twenty feet from where they were all sitting round the fire, by the +blaze of which they now had a full view of this singular creature. The +moment it alighted, it commenced uttering its hideous and unmusical +cries, at the same time going through such a variety of contortions, +both with its head and body, as to cause the whole party a fit of +laughter. It was, in fact, an odd and interesting sight to witness its +grotesque movements, as it turned first its body, and then its head +around, without moving the shoulders, while its great honey-coloured +eyes glared in the light of the fire. At the end of every attitude and +utterance, it would snap its bill with such violence, that the cracking +of the mandibles upon each other might have been heard to the distance +of several hundred yards. + +This was too much for Francois' patience to bear, and he immediately +crept to his gun. He had got hold of the piece, and cocked it; but, +just as he was about to take aim, the owl dropped silently down from the +branch, and, gliding gently forward, thrust out its feathered leg, and +lifted one of the grouse in its talons. The latter had been lying upon +the top of a fallen tree not six feet from the fire! The owl, after +clutching it, rose into the air; and the next moment would have been +lost in darkness, but the crack of Francois' rifle put a sudden stop to +its flight, and with the grouse still clinging to its claws it fell +fluttering to the earth. Marengo jumped forward to seize it; but +Marengo little knew the sort of creature he had to deal with. It +happened to be only "winged," and as soon as the dog came near, it threw +itself upon its back, and struck at him with its talons so wickedly, +that he was fain to approach it with more caution. It cost Marengo a +considerable fight before he succeeded in getting his jaws over it. +During the contest it continually snapped its bill, while its great +goggle eyes kept alternately and quickly opening and closing, and the +feathers being erected all over its body, gave it the appearance of +being twice its real size. Marengo at length succeeded in "crunching" +it--although not until he was well scratched about the snout--and its +useless carcass having been thrown upon the ground, the dog continued to +worry and chew at it, while Basil went on with his narration. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +BASIL AND THE BISON-BULL. + +"As soon as I saw the buffaloes," continued Basil, "my first thought was +to get near, and have a shot at them. They were worth a charge of +powder and lead, and I reflected that if I could kill but one of them, +it would ensure us against hunger for a couple of weeks to come. So I +hung my game-bag to the branch of a tree, and set about approaching +them. I saw that the wind was in my favour, and there was no danger of +their scenting me. But there was no cover near them--the ground was as +level as a table, and there was not a score of trees upon as many acres. +It was no use crawling up, and I did not attempt it, but walked +straight forward, treading lightly as I went. In five minutes, I found +myself within good shooting range. Neither of the bulls had noticed me. +They were too busy with one another, and in all my life I never saw two +creatures fighting in such earnest. They were foaming at the mouth, and +the steam poured out of their nostrils incessantly. At times, they +would back from each other like a pair of rams, and then rush together +head-foremost, until their skulls cracked with the terrible collision. +One would have fancied that they would break them at every fresh +encounter, but I knew the thickness of a buffalo's skull before that +time. I remember having fired a musket at one that stood fronting me +not more than six feet distant, when, to my surprise, the bullet +flattened and fell to the ground before the nose of the buffalo! The +creature was not less astonished than myself, as up to that time it had +not seen me. + +"Well," continued Basil after a pause, "I did not stop long to watch the +battle of the bison-bulls. I was not curious about that. I had seen +such many a time. I was thinking about the meat; and I paused just long +enough to select the one that appeared to have the most fat upon his +flanks, when I drew up my rifle and fired. I aimed for the heart, and +my aim was a true one, for the animal came to its knees along with the +crack. Just at that moment the other was charging upon it, and, to my +surprise, it continued to run on, until striking the wounded one full +butt upon the forehead, it knocked the latter right over upon its side; +where, after giving half-a-dozen kicks, it lay quite dead. + +"The remaining bull had dashed some paces beyond the spot, and now +turned round again to renew his attack. On seeing his antagonist +stretched out and motionless, he seemed to be as much astonished as I +was. At first, no doubt, he fancied himself the author of a grand +_coup_, for it was plain that up to this time he had neither noticed my +presence, nor the report of the rifle. The bellowing noise that both +were making had drowned the latter; and the dust, together with the long +shaggy tufts that hung over his eyes, had prevented him from seeing +anything more than his rival, with whom he was engaged. Now that the +other was no longer able to stand before him, and thinking it was +himself that had done the deed, he tossed up his head and snorted in +triumph. At this moment, the matted hair was thrown back from his eyes, +and the dust having somewhat settled away, he sighted me, where I stood +reloading my gun. I fancied he would take off before I could finish, +and I made all the haste in my power--so much so that I dropped the box +of caps at my feet. I had taken one out, however, and hurriedly +adjusted it, thinking to myself, as I did so, that the box might lie +where it was until I had finished the job. I brought the piece to my +shoulder, when, to my surprise, the bull, instead of running away, as I +had expected, set his head, and uttering one of his terrible bellows, +came rushing towards me. I fired, but the shot was a random one, and +though it hit him in the snout, it did not in the least disable him. +Instead of keeping him off, it only seemed to irritate him the more, and +his fury was now at its height. + +"I had no time to load again. He was within a few feet of me when I +fired, and it was with difficulty that, by leaping to one side, I +avoided his horns; but I did so, and he passed me with such violence +that I felt the ground shake under his heavy tread. + +"He wheeled immediately, and made at me a second time. I knew that if +he once touched me I was gone. His horns were set, and his eyes glared +with a terrible earnestness. I rushed towards the body of the buffalo +that lay near, hoping that this might assist me in avoiding the onset. +It did so, for, as he dashed forward over it, he became entangled among +the limbs, and again charged without striking me. He turned, however, +as quick as thought, and again rushed bellowing upon me. There was a +tree near at hand. I had noticed it before, but I could not tell +whether I should have time to reach it. I was now somewhat nearer it, +and, fearing that I might not be able to dodge the furious brute any +longer upon the ground, I struck out for the tree. You may be sure I +did my best at running. I heard the bull coming after, but before he +could overtake me, I had got to the root of the tree. It was my +intention, at first, only to take shelter behind the trunk; but when I +had got there, I noticed that there were some low branches, and catching +one of these I swung myself up among them. + +"The bull passed under me with a rush--almost touching my feet as I hung +by the branch--but I was soon safely lodged in a fork, and out of his +reach. + +"My next thought was to load my gun, and fire at him from my perch, and, +with this intention, I commenced loading. I had no fear but that he +would give me an opportunity, for he kept round the tree, and at times +attacked the trunk, butting and goring it with his horns, and all the +while bellowing furiously. The tree was a small one, and it shook so, +that I began to fear it might break down. I therefore made all the +haste I could to get in the load, expecting soon to put an end to his +attacks. I succeeded at length in ramming down the bullet, and was just +turning the gun to put on a cap, when I recollected that the cap-box was +still lying on the ground where it had fallen! The sudden attack of the +animal had prevented me from taking it up. My caps were all within that +box, and my gun, loaded though it was, was as useless in my hands as a +bar of iron. To get at the caps would be quite impossible. I dared not +descend from the tree. The infuriated bull still kept pacing under it, +now going round and round, and occasionally stopping for a moment and +looking angrily up. + +"My situation was anything but a pleasant one. I began to fear that I +might not be permitted to escape at all. The bull seemed to be most +pertinacious in his vengeance. I could have shot him in the back, or +the neck, or where I liked, if I had only had one cap. He was within +three feet of the muzzle of my rifle; but what of that when I could not +get the gun to go off? After a while I thought of making some tinder +paper, and then trying to `touch off' the piece with it, but a far +better plan at that moment came into my head. While I was fumbling +about my bullet-pouch to get at my flint and steel, of course my fingers +came into contact with the lasso which was still hanging around my +shoulders. It was this that suggested my plan, which was no other than +to _lasso the bull, and tie him to the tree_! + +"I lost no time in carrying it into execution. I uncoiled the rope, and +first made one end fast to the trunk. The other was the loop-end, and +reeving it through the ring, I held it in my right hand while I leaned +over and watched my opportunity. It was not long before a good one +offered. The bull still continued his angry demonstrations below, and +passed round and round. It was no new thing for me to fling a lasso, +and at the first pitch I had the satisfaction of seeing the noose pass +over the bison's head, and settle in a proper position behind his horns. +I then gave it a twitch, so as to tighten it, and after that I ran the +rope over a branch, and thus getting `a purchase' upon it, I pulled it +with all my might. + +"As soon as the bull felt the strange cravat around his neck, he began +to plunge and `rout' with violence, and at length ran furiously out from +the tree. But he soon came to the end of his tether; and the quick +jerk, which caused the tree itself to crack, brought him to his +haunches, while the noose tightening on his throat was fast strangling +him. But for the thick matted hair it would have done so, but this +saved him, and he continued to sprawl and struggle at the end of the +rope. The tree kept on cracking, and as I began to fear that it might +give way and precipitate me to the ground, I thought it better to slip +down. I ran direct to where I had dropped the caps; and, having got +hold of the box, I soon had one upon my gun. I then stole cautiously +back, and while the bison was hanging himself as fast as he could, I +brought his struggles to a period by sending a bullet through his ribs. + +"As it was quite night when I had finished the business, of course I +could not stay to butcher the bulls. I knew that you would be wondering +what kept me, so I cut out the tongues, and coming by the place where I +had left the grouse, brought them along. I left a `scare-wolf' over +both the bulls, however, and I guess we'll find them all right in the +morning." + +Basil having finished the narration of his day's adventures, fresh fuel +was heaped on the embers, and a huge fire was built--one that would last +until morning. This was necessary, as none of them had now either +blankets or bedding. Basil himself and Norman were even in their +shirt-sleeves, and of course their only chance for keeping warmth in +their bodies would be to keep up a roaring fire all the night. This +they did, and all four laying themselves close together, slept soundly +enough. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +THREE CURIOUS TREES. + +Next morning they were awake at an early hour. There was still enough +of the tongues and grouse left, along with some ribs of the antelope, to +breakfast the party; and then all four set out to bring the flesh of +Basil's buffaloes into camp. This they accomplished, after making +several journeys. It was their intention to dry the meat over the fire, +so that it might keep for future use. For this purpose the flesh was +removed from the bones, and after being cut into thin slices and strips, +was hung up on poles at some distance from the blaze. Nothing more +could be done, but wait until it became sufficiently parched by the +heat. + +While this process was going on our voyageurs collected around the fire, +and entered into a consultation about what was best to be done. At +first they thought of going back to the Red River settlement, and +obtaining another canoe, as well as a fresh stock of provisions and +implements. But they all believed that getting back would be a toilsome +and difficult matter. There was a large lake and several extensive +marshes on the route, and these would have to be got round, making the +journey a very long one indeed. It would take them days to perform it +on foot, and nothing is more discouraging on a journey than to be forced +by some accident to what is called "taking the back-track." All of them +acknowledged this, but what else could they do? It is true there was a +post of the Hudson's Bay Company at the northern end of Lake Winnipeg. +This post was called Norway House. How were they to reach that afoot? +To walk around the borders of the lake would be a distance of more than +four hundred miles. There would be numerous rivers to cross, as well as +swamps and pathless forests to be threaded. Such a journey would occupy +a month or more, and at Norway House they would still be as it were only +at the beginning of the great journey on which they had set out. +Moreover, Norway House lay entirely out of their way. Cumberland +House--another trading post upon the River Saskatchewan--was the next +point where they had intended to rest themselves, after leaving the Red +River settlements. To reach Cumberland House _afoot_ would be equally +difficult, as it, too, lay at the distance of hundreds of miles, with +lakes, and rivers, and marshes, intervening. What, then, could they do? + +"Let us _not_ go back," cried Francois, ever ready with a bold advice; +"let us make a boat, and keep on, say I." + +"Ha! Francois," rejoined Basil, "it's easy to say `make a boat;' how is +that to be done, I pray?" + +"Why, what's to hinder us to hew a log, and make a dugout? We have +still got the axe, and two hatchets left." + +Norman asked what Francois meant by a dugout. The phrase was new to +him. + +"A canoe," replied Francois, "hollowed out of a tree. They are +sometimes called `dugouts' on the Mississippi, especially when they are +roughly made. One of them, I think, would carry all four of us well +enough. Don't you think so, Luce?" + +"Why, yes," answered the student; "a large one might: but I fear there +are no trees about here of sufficient size. We are not among the great +timber of the Mississippi bottom, you must remember." + +"How large a tree would it require?" asked Norman, who knew but little +of this kind of craft. + +"Three feet in diameter, at least," replied Lucien; "and it should be of +that thickness for a length of nearly twenty feet. A less one would not +carry four of us." + +"Then I am sure enough," responded Norman, "that we won't find such +timber here. I have seen no tree of that size either yesterday, or +while we were out this morning." + +"Nor I," added Basil. + +"I don't believe there's one," said Lucien. + +"If we were in Louisiana," rejoined Francois, "I could find fifty +canoe-trees by walking as many yards. Why, I never saw such +insignificant timber as this here." + +"You'll see smaller timber than this, Cousin Frank, before we reach the +end of our voyage." + +This remark was made by Norman, who knew that, as they proceeded +northward, the trees would be found decreasing in size until they would +appear like garden shrubbery. + +"But come," continued he, "if we can't build a craft to carry us from +_one_ tree, perhaps we can do it out of _three_." + +"With three!" echoed Francois. "I should like to see a canoe made from +three trees! Is it a raft you mean, Cousin Norman?" + +"No," responded the other; "a canoe, and one that will serve us for the +rest of our voyage." + +All three--Basil, Lucien, and Francois--looked to their cousin for an +explanation. + +"You would rather not go back up the river?" he inquired, glancing from +one to the other. + +"We wish to go on--all of us," answered Basil, speaking for his brothers +as well. + +"Very well," assented the young fur-trader; "I think it is better as you +wish it. Out of these trees I can build a boat that will carry us. It +will take us some days to do it, and some time to find the timber, but I +am tolerably certain it is to be found in these woods. To do the job +properly I want three kinds; two of them I can see from where I sit; the +third I expect will be got in the hills we saw this morning." + +As Norman spoke he pointed to two trees that grew among many others not +far from the spot. These trees were of very different kinds, as was +easily told by their leaves and bark. The nearer and more conspicuous +of them at once excited the curiosity of the three Southerners. Lucien +recognised it from its botanical description. Even Basil and Francois, +though they had never seen it, as it is not to be found in the hot clime +of Louisiana, knew it from the accounts given of it by travellers. The +tree was the celebrated "canoe-birch," or, as Lucien named it, +"paper-birch" (_Betula papyracea_), celebrated as the tree out of whose +bark those beautiful canoes are made that carry thousands of Indians +over the interior lakes and rivers of North America; out of whose bark +whole tribes of these people fashion their bowls, their pails, and their +baskets; with which they cover their tents, and from which they even +make their soup-kettles and boiling-pots! This, then, was the +canoe-birch-tree, so much talked of, and so valuable to the poor Indians +who inhabit the cold regions where it grows. + +Our young Southerners contemplated the tree with feelings of interest +and curiosity. They saw that it was about sixty feet high, and somewhat +more than a foot in diameter. Its leaves were nearly cordate, or +heart-shaped, and of a very dark-green colour; but that which rendered +it most conspicuous among the other trees of the forest was the shining +white or silver-coloured bark that covered its trunk, and its numerous +slender branches. This bark is only white externally. When you have +cut through the epidermis you find it of a reddish tinge, very thick, +and capable of being divided into several layers. The wood of the tree +makes excellent fuel, and is also often used for articles of furniture. +It has a close, shining grain, and is strong enough for ordinary +implements; but if exposed to the weather will decay rapidly. + +The "canoe-birch" is not the only species of these trees found in North +America. The genus _Betula_ (so called from the Celtic word _batu_, +which means birch) has at least half-a-dozen other known representatives +in these parts. There is the "white birch" (_Betula populifolia_), a +worthless tree of some twenty feet in height, and less than six inches +diameter. The bark of this species is useless, and its wood, which is +soft and white, is unfit even for fuel. It grows, however, in the +poorest soil. Next there is a species called the "cherry-birch" +(_Betula lento_), so named from the resemblance of its bark to the +common cherry-tree. It is also called "sweet birch," because its young +twigs, when crushed, give out a pleasant aromatic odour. Sometimes the +name of "black birch" is given to this species. It is a tree of fifty +or sixty feet in height, and its wood is much used in cabinet-work, as +it is close-grained, of a beautiful reddish colour, and susceptible of a +high polish. + +The "yellow birch" is a tree of the same size, and is so called from the +colour of its epidermis. It is likewise used in cabinet-work, though it +is not considered equal in quality to the cherry-birch. Its leaves and +twigs have also an aromatic smell when bruised, not so strong, however, +as the last-mentioned. The wood makes excellent fuel, and is much used +for that purpose in some of the large cities of America. The bark, too, +is excellent for tanning--almost equal to that of the oak. + +The "red birch" is still another species, which takes its name from the +reddish hue of its bark. This is equal in size to the canoe-birch, +often growing seventy feet high, with a trunk of nearly three feet +diameter. Its branches are long, slender, and pendulous; and it is from +the twigs of this species that most of the "birch-brooms" used in +America are made. + +Still another species of American birches is the "dwarf birch" (_Betula +nana_), so called from its diminutive size, which is that of a shrub, +only eighteen inches or two feet in height. It usually grows in very +cold or mountainous regions, and is the smallest of these interesting +trees. + +This information regarding the birches of America was given by Lucien to +his brothers, not at that time, but shortly afterward, when the three +were engaged in felling one of these trees. Just then other matters +occupied them, and they had only glanced, first at the canoe-birch and +then at the other tree which Norman had pointed out. The latter was of +a different genus. It belonged to the order _Coniferae_, or +cone-bearing trees, as was evident from the cone-shaped fruits that hung +upon its branches, as well as from its needle-like evergreen leaves. + +The cone-bearing trees of America are divided by botanists into three +great sub-orders--the _Pines_, the _Cypresses_, and the _Yews_. Each of +these includes several genera. By the "pine tribe" is meant all those +trees known commonly by the names pine, spruce, fir, and larch; while +the _Cupressinae_, or cypress tribe, are the cypress proper, the cedars, +the arbour-vitae, and the junipers. The yew tribe has fewer genera or +species; but the trees in America known as yews and hemlocks--of which +there are several varieties--belong to it. + +Of the pine tribe a great number of species exist throughout the North +American Continent. The late explorations on the western slope of the +Rocky Mountains, and in the countries bordering on the Pacific, have +brought to light a score of species hitherto unknown to the botanist. +Many of these are trees of a singular and valuable kind. Several +species found in the mountains of North Mexico, and throughout those +desert regions where hardly any other vegetation exists, have edible +seeds upon which whole tribes of Indians subsist for many months in the +year. The Spanish Americans call them _pinon_ trees, but there are +several species of them in different districts. The Indians parch the +seeds, and sometimes pound them into a coarse meal, from which they bake +a very palatable bread. This bread is often rendered more savoury by +mixing the meal with dried "prairie crickets," a species of coleopterous +insects--that is, insects with a crustaceous or shell-like covering over +their wings--which are common in the desert wilds where these Indians +dwell. Some prairie travellers have pronounced this singular mixture +equal to the "best pound-cake." + +The "Lambert pine," so called from the botanist of that name, is found +in Oregon and California, and may be justly considered one of the +wonders of the world. Three hundred feet is not an uncommon height for +this vegetable giant; and its cones have been seen of eighteen inches in +length, hanging like sugar-loaves from its high branches! The wonderful +"palo Colorado" of California is another giant of the pine tribe. It +also grows above three hundred feet high, with a diameter of sixteen +feet! Then there is the "red pine," of eighty feet high, much used for +the decks and masts of ships; the "pitch-pine" (_Pinus rigida_), a +smaller tree, esteemed for its fuel, and furnishing most of the firewood +used in some of the American cities. From this species the strong +burning "knots" are obtained. There is the "white pine" (_Pinus +strobus_), valuable for its timber. This is one of the largest and best +known of the pines. It often attains a height of an hundred and fifty +feet, and a large proportion of those planks so well-known to the +carpenter are sawed from its trunk. In the State of New York alone no +less than 700,000,000 feet of timber are annually obtained from trees of +this species, which, by calculation, must exhaust every year the +enormous amount of 70,000 acres of forest! Of course, at this rate the +pine-forests of New York State must soon be entirely destroyed. + +In addition, there is the "yellow pine," a tree of sixty feet high, much +used in flooring houses; and the beautiful "balsam fir," used as an +ornamental evergreen both in Europe and America, and from which is +obtained the well-known medicine--the "Canada balsam." This tree, in +favourable situations, attains the height of sixty feet; while upon the +cold summits of mountains it is often seen rising only a few inches from +the surface. The "hemlock spruce" (_Pinus Canadensis_), is another +species, the bark of which is used in tanning. It is inferior to the +oak, though the leather made by it is of excellent quality. The "black" +or "double spruce" (_Pinus nigra_), is that species from the twigs of +which is extracted the essence that gives its peculiar flavour to the +well-known "_spruce beer_." Besides these, at least a dozen new species +have lately been discovered on the interior mountains of Mexico--all of +them more or less possessing valuable properties. + +The pines cannot be termed trees of the tropics, yet do they grow in +southern and warm countries. In the Carolinas, tar and turpentine, +products of the pine, are two staple articles of exportation; and even +under the equator itself, the high mountains are covered with +pine-forests. But the pine is more especially the tree of a northern +_sylva_. As you approach the Arctic circle, it becomes the +characteristic tree. There it appears in extensive forests, lending +their picturesque shelter to the snowy desolation of the earth. One +species of pine is the very last tree that disappears as the traveller, +in approaching the pole, takes his leave of the limits of vegetation. +This species is the "white spruce" (_Pinus alba_), the very one which, +along with the birch-tree, had been pointed out by Norman to his +companions. + +It was a tree not over thirty or forty feet high, with a trunk of less +than a foot in thickness, and of a brownish colour. Its leaves or +"needles" were about an inch in length, very slender and acute, and of a +bluish green tint. The cones upon it, which at that season were young, +were of a pale green. When ripe, however, they become rusty-brown, and +are nearly two inches in length. + +What use Norman would make of this tree in building his canoe, neither +Basil nor Francois knew. Lucien only guessed at it. Francois asked the +question, by saying that he supposed the "timbers" were to come out of +it. + +"No," said Norman, "for that I want still another sort. If I can't find +that sort, however, I can manage to do without it, but not so well." + +"What other sort?" demanded Francois. + +"I want some cedar-wood," replied the other. + +"Ah! that's for the timbers," said Francois; "I am sure of it. The +cedar-wood is lighter than any other, and, I dare say, would answer +admirably for ribs and other timbers." + +"You are right this time, Frank--it is considered the best for that +purpose." + +"You think there are cedar-trees on the hills we saw this morning?" said +Francois, addressing his Canadian cousin. + +"I think so. I noticed something like them." + +"And I, too, observed a dark foliage," said Lucien, "which looked like +the cedar. If anywhere in this neighbourhood, we shall find them there. +They usually grow upon rocky, sterile hills, such as those appear to +be--that is their proper situation." + +"The question," remarked Basil, "ought to be settled at once. We have +made up our mind to the building of a canoe, and I think we should lose +no time in getting ready the materials. Suppose we all set out for the +hills." + +"Agreed--agreed!" shouted the others with one voice; and then +shouldering their guns, and taking the axe along, all four set out for +the hills. On reaching these, the object of their search was at once +discovered. The tops of all the hills--dry, barren ridges they were-- +were covered with a thick grove of the red cedar (_Juniperus +viginiana_). The trees were easily distinguished by the numerous +branches spreading horizontally, and thickly covered with short +dark-green needles, giving them that sombre, shady appearance, that +makes them the favourite haunt of many species of owls. Their beautiful +reddish wood was well-known to all the party, as it is to almost every +one in the civilised world. Everybody who has seen or used a black-lead +pencil must know what the wood of the red cedar is like--for it is in +this the black-lead is usually incased. In all parts of America, where +this tree grows in plenty, it is employed for posts and fence-rails, as +it is one of the most durable woods in existence. It is a great +favourite also for kindling fires, as it catches quickly, and blazes up +in a few seconds, so as to ignite the heavier logs of other timbers, +such as the oak and the pine. + +The red cedar usually attains a height of about thirty to forty feet, +but in favourable situations it grows still larger. The soil which it +loves best is of a stony, and often sterile character, and dry barren +hill-tops are frequently covered with cedars, while the more moist and +fertile valleys between possess a _sylva_ of a far different character. +There is a variety of the red cedar, which trails upon the ground like a +creeping plant, its branches even taking root again. This is rather a +small bush than a tree, and is often seen hanging down the face of +inaccessible cliffs. It is known among botanists as the _Juniperus +prostrata_. + +"Now," said Norman, after examining a few of the cedar-trees, "we have +here all that's wanted to make our canoe. We need lose no more time, +but go to work at once!" + +"Very well," replied the three brothers, "we are ready to assist you,-- +tell us what to do." + +"In the first place," said the other, "I think we had better change our +camp to this spot, as I see all the different kinds of trees here, and +much better ones than those near the river. There," continued he, +pointing to a piece of moist ground in the valley,--"there are some +journeys if we go back and bring our meat to this place at once." + +To this they all of course agreed, and started back to their first camp. +They soon returned with the meat and other things, and having chosen a +clean spot under a large-spreading cedar-tree, they kindled a new fire +and made their camp by it--that is, they strung up the provisions, hung +their horns and pouches upon the branches around, and rested their guns +against the trees. They had no tent to pitch, but that is not necessary +to constitute a camp. In the phraseology of the American hunter, +wherever you kindle your fire or spend the night is a "camp." + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +HOW TO BUILD A BARK CANOE. + +Norman expected that they would be able to finish the canoe in about a +week. Of course, the sooner the better, and no time was lost in setting +about it. The ribs or "timbers" were the first thing to be fashioned, +and a number of straight branches of cedar were cut, out of which they +were to be made. These branches were cleared of twigs, and rendered of +an equal thickness at both ends. They were then flattened with the +knife; and, by means of a little sweating in the ashes, were bent so as +to bear some resemblance in shape to the wooden ox-yokes commonly used +in America, or indeed to the letter U. The ribs when thus bent were not +all of the same width. On the contrary, those which were intended to be +placed near the middle or gangway of the vessel, were about two feet +across from side to side, while the space between the sides of the +others was gradually less in each fresh pair, according as their +position was to be near to the stem and stern. When the whole of them +had been forced into the proper shape, they were placed, one inside the +other after the manner of dishes, and then all were firmly lashed +together, and left to dry. When the lashing should be removed, they +would hold to the form thus given them, and would be ready for fastening +to the kelson. + +While Norman was occupied with the timbers the others were not idle. +Basil had cut down several of the largest and straightest birches, and +Lucien employed himself in carefully removing the bark and cleansing it +of nodules and other inequalities. The broad sheets were suspended by a +smoke fire, so as completely to dry up the sap, and render it tough and +elastic. Francois had his part to play, and that was to collect the +resinous gum which was distilled, in plenty from the trunks of the +epinette or spruce-trees. This gum is a species of pitch, and is one of +the most necessary materials in the making of a bark canoe. It is used +for "paying" the seams, as well as any cracks that may show themselves +in the bark itself; and without it, or some similar substance, it would +be difficult to make one of these little vessels watertight. But that +is not the only thing for which the epinette is valued in +canoe-building; far from it. This tree produces another indispensable +material; its long fibrous roots when split, form the twine-like threads +by which the pieces of bark are sewed to each other and fastened to the +timbers. These threads are as strong as the best cords of hemp, and are +known among the Indians by the name of "watap." In a country, +therefore, where hemp and flax cannot be readily procured, the "watap" +is of great value. You may say that deer are plenty, and that thongs of +buckskin would serve the same purpose. This, however, is not the case. +The buckskin would never do for such a use. The moment it becomes wet +it is liable to stretch, so that the seams would open and the canoe get +filled with water. The watap, wet or dry, does not yield, and has +therefore been found to be the best thing of all others for this +purpose. The only parts now wanted were the gunwale and the bottom. +The former was easily obtained. Two long poles, each twenty feet in +length, were bent somewhat like a pair of bows, and then placed with +their concave sides towards each other, and firmly lashed together at +the ends. This was the gunwale. The bottom was the most difficult part +of all. For that a solid plank was required, and they had no saw. The +axe and the hatchet, however, were called into requisition, and a log +was soon hewn and thinned down to the proper dimensions. It was +sharpened off at the ends, so as to run to a very acute angle, both at +the stem and stern. When the bottom was considered sufficiently +polished, and modelled to the right shape, the most difficult part of +the undertaking was supposed to be accomplished. A few long poles were +cut and trimmed flat. These were to be laid longitudinally between the +ribs and the bark, somewhat after the fashion of laths in the roofing of +a house. Their use was to prevent the bark from splitting. The +materials were now all obtained complete, and, with a few days' smoking +and drying, would be ready for putting together. + +While waiting for the timbers to dry, paddles were made, and Norman, +with the help of the others, prepared what he jokingly called his +"dock," and also his "ship-yard." This was neither more nor less than a +long mound of earth--not unlike a new-made grave, only three times the +length of one, or even longer. It was flat upon the top, and graded +with earth so as to be quite level and free from inequalities. + +At length all the materials were considered quite ready for use, and +Norman went to work to put them together. + +His first operation was to untie the bundle of timbers, and separate +them. They were found to have taken the exact form into which they had +been bent, and the thongs being no longer necessary to keep them in +place, were removed. The timbers themselves were next placed upon the +bottom or kelson, those with the widest bottoms being nearer to +"midships," while those with the narrower bend were set towards the +narrower ends of the plank. Thus placed, they were all firmly lashed +with strong cords of watap, by means of holes pierced in the bottom +plank. Fortunately Lucien happened to have a pocket-knife, in which +there was a good awl or piercer, that enabled them to make these holes-- +else the matter would have been a much more difficult one, as an awl is +one of the most essential tools in the construction of a bark canoe. Of +course it took Norman a considerable time to set all the ribs in their +proper places, and fasten them securely; but he was ably assisted by +Francois, who waited upon him with much diligence, handing him now the +awl, and then the watap, whenever he required them. + +Norman's next operation was the laying of his kelson "in dock." The +timbers being attached to it, it was lifted up on the earthen mound, +where it reached quite from end to end. Half-a-dozen large heavy stones +were then placed upon it, so that, pressed down by these upon the even +surface of the mould, it was rendered quite firm; and, moreover, was of +such a height from the ground that the young shipwright could work upon +it without too much bending and kneeling. + +The gunwale, already prepared, was next placed so as to touch the ends +of the ribs all round, and these ends were adjusted to it with great +nicety, and firmly joined. Strong cross-pieces were fixed, which were +designed, not only to keep the gunwale from spreading or contracting, +but afterwards to serve as seats. + +Of course the gunwale formed the complete mouth, or upper edge of the +canoe. It was several feet longer than the bottom plank, and, when in +place, projected beyond the ribs at both ends. From each end of the +bottom plank, therefore, to the corresponding end of the gunwale, a +straight piece of wood was stretched, and fastened. One of these pieces +would form the stem or cutwater, while the other would become the stern +of the craft. The long poles were next laid longitudinally upon the +ribs outside, and lashed in their places; and this done, the skeleton +was completed, ready for the bark. + +The latter had been already cut to the proper dimensions and shape. It +consisted of oblong pieces--each piece being a regular parallelogram, as +it had been stripped from the tree. These were laid upon the ribs +longitudinally, and then sewed to the edge of the bottom plank, and also +to the gunwale. The bark itself was in such broad pieces that two of +them were sufficient to cover half a side, so that but one seam was +required lengthwise, in addition to the fastenings at the top and +bottom. Two lengths of the bark also reached cleverly from stem to +stern, and thus required only one transverse seam on each side. There +was an advantage in this arrangement, for where the birch-bark can only +be obtained in small flakes, a great number of seams is a necessary +consequence, and then it is extremely difficult to keep the canoe from +leaking. Thanks to the fine birch-trees, that grew in abundance around, +our boat-builders had procured the very best bark. + +The canoe was now completed all but the "paying," and that would not +take long to do. The gum of the epinette had to be boiled, and mixed +with a little grease, so as to form a species of wax. For this the fat +already obtained from the buffaloes was the very thing; and a small tin +cup which Basil had saved from the wreck (it had been strung to his +bullet-pouch), enabled them to melt the gum, and apply it hot. In less +than an hour the thing was done. Every crack and awl-hole was payed, +and the canoe was pronounced "watertight," and, as Francois added, with +a laugh, "seaworthy." + +A small pond was near, at the bottom of the hill: Francois espied it. + +"Come, boys," cried he, "a launch! a launch!" + +This was agreed to by all. The great stones were taken out. Basil and +Norman, going one to the stem the other to the stern, lifted the canoe +from the "dock," and, raising it upon their shoulders, carried it down +to the pond. The next moment it was pushed into the water, where it +floated like a cork. A loud cheer was given, in which even Marengo +joined; and a salute was then fired--a full broadside--from the four +guns. Francois, to complete the thing, seized one of the paddles, and +leaping into the canoe, shot the little craft out upon the bosom of the +pond, cheering all the while like one frantic. After amusing himself +for some minutes, he paddled back to the shore, when they all looked +eagerly into the canoe, and perceived to their gratification that not as +much as a drop of water had leaked during the "trip." Thanks and +congratulations now greeted Norman from every side; and, taking their +vessel from the water, the young voyageurs returned to their camp, to +regale themselves with a grand dinner, which Lucien had cooked for the +occasion. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +THE CHAIN OF LAKES. + +Our young voyageurs now prepared to resume their journey. While Norman +was engaged in building his canoe, with his assistant, Francois, the +others had not been idle. Basil was, of course, the hunter of the +party; and, in addition to the small game, such as hares, geese, and +grouse, he had killed three caribou, of the large variety known as +"woodland caribou." These are a species of the reindeer (_Cervus +tarandus_), of which I have more to say hereafter. Lucien had attended +to the drying of their flesh; and there was enough of it still left, as +our voyageurs believed, to supply their wants until they should reach +Cumberland House, where they would, of course, procure a fresh stock of +provisions. The skins of the caribou had also been scraped and dressed +by Lucien--who understood the process well--and these, with the skin of +the antelope, were sufficient to make a pair of hunting-shirts for Basil +and Norman, who, it will be remembered, had lost theirs by cutting them +up. + +Next morning the canoe was launched upon the river--below the rapids-- +and the dried meat, with their other matters, snugly stowed in the +stern. Then the young voyageurs got in, and, seating themselves in +their places, seized hold of the paddles. The next moment the canoe +shot out into the stream; and a triumphant cheer from the crew announced +that they had recommenced their journey. They found to their delight +that the little vessel behaved admirably,--shooting through the water +like an arrow, and leaking not water enough, as Francois expressed it, +"to drown a mosquito." They had all taken their seats in the order +which had been agreed upon for the day. Norman was "bowsman," and, of +course, sate in the bow. This, among the regular Canadian voyageurs, is +esteemed the post of honour, and the bowsman is usually styled "Captain" +by the rest of the crew. It is also the post that requires the greatest +amount of skill on the part of its occupant, particularly where there +are rapids or shoals to be avoided. The post of "steersman" is also one +of honour and importance; and both steersman and bowsman receive higher +wages than the other voyageurs, who pass under the name of "middlemen." +The steersman sits in the stern, and that place was now occupied by +Lucien, who had proved himself an excellent steersman. Basil and +Francois were, of course, the "middlemen," and plied the paddles. This +was the arrangement made for the day; but although on other days the +programme was to be changed, so as to relieve Basil and Francois, on all +occasions when there were rapids or other difficulties to be encountered +they were to return to this order. Norman, of course, understood canoe +navigation better than his Southern cousins; and therefore, by universal +assent, he was acknowledged "the Captain," and Francois always addressed +him as such. Lucien's claim to the post of second honour was admitted +to be just, as he had proved himself capable of filling it to the +satisfaction of all. Marengo had no post, but lay quietly upon the +buffalo skin between Lucien's legs, and listened to the conversation +without joining in it, or in any way interfering in the working of the +vessel. + +In a few hours our voyageurs had passed through the low marshy country +that lies around the mouth of the Red River, and the white expanse of +the great Lake Winnipeg opened before them, stretching northward far +beyond the range of their vision. Norman knew the lake, having crossed +it before, but its aspect somewhat disappointed the Southern travellers. +Instead of a vast dark lake which they had expected to see, they looked +upon a whitish muddy sheet, that presented but few attractive points to +the eye, either in the hue of its water or the scenery of its shores. +These, so far as they could see them, were low, and apparently marshy; +and this is, in fact, the character of the southern shores of Winnipeg. +On its east and north, however, the country is of a different character. +There the geological formation is what is termed _primitive_. The +rocks consist of granite, sienite, gneiss, etcetera; and, as is always +the case where such rocks are found, the country is hilly and rugged. +On the western shores a _secondary_ formation exists. This is +_stratified limestone_,--the same as that which forms the bed of many of +the great prairies of America; and, indeed, the Lake Winnipeg lies +between this secondary formation and the primitive, which bounds it on +the east. Along its western shores extends the flat limestone country, +partly wooded and partly prairie land, running from that point for +hundreds of miles up to the very foot of the Rocky Mountains, where the +primitive rocks again make their appearance in the rugged peaks of that +stupendous chain. Lake Winnipeg is nearly three hundred miles in +length, but it is very narrow--being in its widest reach not over fifty +miles, and in many places only fifteen miles from shore to shore. It +trends nearly due north and south, leaning a little north-west and +south-east, and receives many large rivers, as the Red, the +Saskatchewan, and the Winnipeg. The waters of these are again carried +out of it by other rivers that run from the lake, and empty into the +Hudson's Bay. There is a belief among the hunters and voyageurs that +this lake has its tides like the ocean. Such, however, is not the case. +There is at times a rise and overflow of its waters, but it is not +periodical, and is supposed to be occasioned by strong winds forcing the +waters towards a particular shore. + +Lake Winnipeg is remarkable, as being in the very centre of the North +American continent, and may be called the centre of the _canoe +navigation_. From this point it is possible to travel _by water_ to +Hudson's Bay on the north-east, to the Atlantic Ocean on the east, to +the Gulf of Mexico on the south, to the Pacific on the west, and to the +Polar Sea on the north and north-west. Considering that some of these +distances are upwards of three thousand miles, it will be perceived that +Lake Winnipeg holds a singular position upon the continent. All the +routes mentioned can be made without any great "portage," and even a +choice of route is often to be had upon those different lines of +communication. + +These were points of information communicated by Norman as the canoe was +paddled along the shore; for Norman, although troubling himself but +little about the causes of things, possessed a good practical knowledge +of things as they actually were. He was tolerably well acquainted with +the routes, their portages, and distances. Some of them he had +travelled over in company with his father, and of others he had heard +the accounts given by the voyageurs, traders, and trappers. Norman knew +that Lake Winnipeg was muddy,--he did not care to inquire the cause. He +knew that there was a hilly country on its eastern and a low level land +on its western shores, but it never occurred to him to speculate on this +geological difference. It was the naturalist Lucien who threw out some +hints on this part of the subject, and further added his opinion, that +the lake came to be there in consequence of the wearing away of the +rocks at the junction of the stratified with the primitive formation, +thus creating an excavation in the surface, which in time became filled +with water and formed the lake. This cause he also assigned for the +existence of a remarkable "chain of lakes" that extends almost from the +Arctic Sea to the frontiers of Canada. The most noted of these are +Martin, Great Slave, Athabasca, Wollaston, Deer, Lake Winnipeg, and the +Lake of the Woods. Lucien further informed his companions, that where +primitive rocks form the surface of a country, that surface will be +found to exhibit great diversity of aspect. There will be numerous +lakes and swamps, rugged steep hills with deep valleys between, short +streams with many falls and rapids. These are the characteristics of a +primitive surface. On the other hand, where secondary rocks prevail the +surface is usually a series of plains, often high, dry, and treeless, as +is the case upon the great American prairies. + +Upon such topics did Lucien instruct his companions, as they paddled +their canoe around the edge of the lake. They had turned the head of +their little vessel westward--as it was their design to keep along the +western border of the lake until they should reach the mouth of the +Saskatchewan. They kept at a short distance from the shore, usually +steering from point to point, and in this way making their route as +direct as possible. It would have been still more direct had they +struck out into the open lake, and kept up its middle; but this would +have been a dangerous course to pursue. There are often high winds upon +Lake Winnipeg, that spring up suddenly; and at such times the waves, if +not mountains high, at least arrive at the height of houses. Among such +billows the little craft would have been in danger of being swamped, and +our voyageurs of going to the bottom. They, therefore, wisely resolved +not to risk such an accident, but to "hug the shore," though it made +their voyage longer. Each night they would land at some convenient +place, kindle their fire, cook their supper, and dry their canoe for the +next day's journey. + +According to this arrangement, a little before sunset of the first day +they came to land and made their camp. The canoe was unloaded, +carefully lifted out of the water, and then set bottom upward to drip +and dry. A fire was kindled, some of the dry meat cooked, and all four +sat down and began to eat, as only hungry travellers can. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +WAPITI, WOLVES, AND WOLVERENE. + +The spot where our voyageurs had landed was at the bottom of a small +bay. The country back from the lake was level and clear of timber. +Here and there, nearer the shore, however, its surface was prettily +interspersed with small clumps of willows, that formed little copse-like +thickets of deep green. Beside one of these thickets, within a hundred +yards of the beach, the fire had been kindled, on a spot of ground that +commanded a view of the plain for miles back. + +"Look yonder!" cried Francois, who had finished eating, and risen to his +feet. "What are these, captain?" Francois pointed to some objects that +appeared at a great distance off upon the plain. + +The "captain" rose up, placed his hand so as to shade his eyes from the +sun, and, after looking for a second or two in the direction indicated, +replied to the other's question by simply saying-- + +"Wapiti." + +"I'm no wiser than before I asked the question," said Francois. "Pray, +enlighten me as to what a wapiti may be!" + +"Why, red deer; or elk, if you like." + +"Oh! elk--now I understand you. I thought they were elk, but they're so +far off I wasn't sure." + +Lucien at this moment rose up, and looking through a small telescope, +which he carried, confirmed the statement of the "captain," and +pronounced it to be a herd of elk. + +"Come, Luce," demanded Francois, "tell us what you know of the elk. It +will pass the time. Norman says it's no use going after them out there +in the open ground, as they'd shy off before one could get within shot. +You see there is not a bush within half-a-mile of them." + +"If we wait," interrupted Norman, "I should not wonder but we may have +them among the bushes before long. They appear to be grazing this way. +I warrant you, they'll come to the lake to drink before nightfall." + +"Very well then: the philosopher can tell us all about them before +that." + +Lucien, thus appealed to, began:-- + +"There are few animals that have so many names as this. It is called in +different districts, or by different authors, _elk, round-horned elk, +American elk, stag, red deer, grey moose, le biche, wapiti_, and +_wewaskish_. Naturalists have given not a _few of_ their designations, +as _Cervus Canadensis, Cervus major, Cervus alces, Cervus +strongylocerus, etcetera_. + +"You may ask, Why so many names? I shall tell you. It is called `elk' +because it was supposed by the early colonists to be the same as the elk +of Europe. Its name of `grey moose' is a hunter appellation, to +distinguish it from the real moose, which the same hunters know as the +`black moose.' `Round-horned elk' is also a hunter name. `Wewaskish,' +or `waskesse,' is an Indian name for the animal. `Stag' comes from the +European deer so called, because this species somewhat resembles the +stag; and `red deer' is a name used by the Hudson Bay traders. `Le +biche' is another synonyme of French authors. + +"Of all these names I think that of `wapiti,' which our cousin has +given, the best. The names of `elk,' `stag,' and `red deer,' lead to +confusion, as there are other species to which they properly belong, all +of which are entirely different from the wapiti. I believe that this +last name is now used by the best-informed naturalists. + +"In my opinion," continued Lucien, "the wapiti is the noblest of all the +deer kind. It possesses the fine form of the European stag, while it is +nearly a third larger and stronger. It has all the grace of limb and +motion that belongs to the common deer, while its towering horns give it +a most majestic and imposing appearance. Its colour during the summer +is of a reddish brown, hence the name red deer; but, indeed, the reddish +tint upon the wapiti is deeper and richer than that of its European +cousin. The wapiti, like other deer, brings forth its fawns in the +spring. They are usually a male and female, for two is the number it +produces. The males only have horns; and they must be several years old +before the antlers become full and branching. They fall every year, but +not until February or March, and then the new ones grow out in a month +or six weeks. During the summer the horns remain soft and tender to the +touch. They are covered at this time with a soft membrane that looks +like greyish velvet, and they are then said to be `in the velvet,' There +are nerves and blood-vessels running through this membrane, and a blow +upon the horns at this season gives great pain to the animal. When the +autumn arrives the velvet peels off, and they become as hard as bone. +They would need to be, for this is the `rutting' season, and the bucks +fight furious battles with each other, clashing their horns together, as +if they would break them to pieces. Very often a pair of bucks, while +thus contending, `lock' their antlers, and being unable to draw them +apart, remain head to head, until both die with hunger, or fall a prey +to the prowling wolves. This is true not only of the elk, but also of +the reindeer, the moose, and many other species of deer. Hundreds of +pairs of horns have been found thus `locked,' and the solitary hunter +has often surprised the deer in this unpleasant predicament. + +"The wapiti utters a whistling sound, that can be heard far off, and +often guides the hunter to the right spot. In the rutting season the +bucks make other noises, which somewhat resemble the braying of an ass, +and are equally disagreeable to listen to. + +"The wapiti travel about in small herds, rarely exceeding fifty, but +often of only six or seven. Where they are not much hunted they are +easily approached, but otherwise they are shy enough. The bucks, when +wounded and brought to bay, become dangerous assailants; much more so +than those of the common deer. Hunters have sometimes escaped with +difficulty from their horns and hoofs, with the latter of which they can +inflict very severe blows. They are hunted in the same way as other +deer; but the Indians capture many of them in the water, when they +discover them crossing lakes or rivers. They are excellent swimmers, +and can make their way over the arm of a lake or across the widest +river. + +"They feed upon grass, and sometimes on the young shoots of willows and +poplar-trees. They are especially fond of a species of wild rose (_Rosa +blanda_), which grows in the countries they frequent. + +"The wapiti at one time ranged over a large part of the continent of +North America. Its range is now restricted by the spread of the +settlements. It is still found in most of the Northern parts of the +United States, but only in remote mountainous districts, and even there +it is a rare animal. In Canada it is more common; and it roams across +the continent to the shores of the Pacific. It is not an animal of the +tropical countries, as it is not found in Mexico proper. On the other +hand, wapiti do not go farther north than about the fifty-seventh +parallel of latitude, and then they are not in their favourite habitat, +which is properly the temperate zone." + +Lucien was interrupted by an exclamation from Basil, who stood up +looking out upon the prairie. They all saw that he had been observing +the wapiti. + +"What is it?" cried they. + +"Look yonder!" replied Basil, pointing in the direction of the herd. +"Something disturbs them. Give me your glass, Luce." + +Lucien handed the telescope to his brother, who, drawing it to the +proper focus, pointed it towards the deer. The rest watched them with +the naked eye. They could see that there was some trouble among the +animals. There were only six in the herd, and even at the distance our +voyageurs could tell that they were all bucks, for it was the season +when the does secrete themselves in the woods and thickets to bring +forth their young. They were running to and fro upon the prairie, and +doubling about as if playing, or rather as if some creature was chasing +them. With the naked eye, however, nothing could be seen upon the +ground but the bucks themselves, and all the others looked to Basil, who +held the glass, for an explanation of their odd manoeuvres. + +"There are wolves at them," said Basil, after regarding them for a +second or two. + +"That's odd," rejoined Norman. "Wolves don't often attack full-grown +wapiti, except when wounded or crippled somehow. They must be precious +hungry. What sort of wolves are they?" + +To you, boy reader, this question may seem strange. You, perhaps, think +that a wolf is a wolf, and there is but one kind. Such, however, is not +the exact truth. In America there are two distinct species of wolves, +and of these two species there are many varieties, which differ so much +in colour and other respects, that some authors have classed them as so +many distinct species instead of considering them mere varieties. +Whether they may be species or not is still a question among +naturalists; but certain it is that _two_ well-defined species do exist, +which differ in size, form, colour, and habits. These are the _large_ +or _common wolf (Canis lupus_), and the barking or prairie wolf (_Canis +latrans_). The first species is the American representative of the +common wolf of Europe; and although an animal of similar nature and +habits, it differs very much from the latter in form and appearance. It +is, therefore, not the _same_, as hitherto supposed. This American wolf +is found in greater or less numbers throughout the whole continent; but +in the Northern regions it is very common, and is seen in at least five +different varieties, known by the characteristic names of _black, pied, +white, dusky_, and _grey_ wolves. Of these the grey is the most +numerous kind; but as I shall have occasion to speak of the large wolves +hereafter, I shall say no more of them at present, but direct your +attention to the second and very different species, the _prairie +wolves_. + +These are a full third smaller than the common kind. They are swifter, +and go in larger packs. They bring forth their young in burrows on the +open plain, and not among the woods, like the other species. They are +the most cunning of American animals, not excepting their kindred the +foxes. They cannot be trapped by any contrivance, but by singular +manoeuvres often themselves decoy the over-curious antelope to approach +too near them. When a gun is fired upon the prairies they may be seen +starting up on all sides, and running for the spot in hopes of coming in +for a share of the game. Should an animal--deer, antelope, or buffalo-- +be wounded, and escape the hunter, it is not likely to escape them also. +They will set after it, and run it down if _the wound has been a mortal +one_. On the other hand, if the wound has been only slight, and is not +likely in the end to cripple the animal, the wolves will not stir from +the spot. This extraordinary sagacity often tells the hunter whether it +is worth his while to follow the game he has shot at; but in any case he +is likely to arrive late, if the wolves set out before him, as a dozen +of them will devour the largest deer in a few minutes' time. The +prairie wolves as well as the others follow the herds of buffaloes, and +attack the gravid cows and calves when separated from the rest. +Frequently they sustain a contest with the bulls, when the latter are +old or wounded, but on such occasions many of them get killed before the +old bull becomes their prey. + +They resemble the common grey wolf in colour, but there are varieties in +this respect, though not so great as among the larger species. Their +voice is entirely different, and consists of three distinct barks, +ending in a prolonged howl. Hence the specific and usual name +"barking-wolf" (_Canis latrans_). They are found only in the Western or +prairie half of the continent, and thence west to the Pacific. Their +Northern range is limited to the fifty-fifth parallel of latitude--but +they are met with southward throughout Mexico, where they are common +enough, and known by the name of "coyote." + +Their skins are an article of trade with the Hudson's Bay Company. The +fur is of about the same quality with that of other wolves, and consists +of long hairs, with a thick wool at the base. In commerce they are +termed "cased wolves," because their skins, on being removed, are not +split open as with the large wolf-skins, but are stript off after the +manner of rabbits, and then turned inside out, or "cased," as it is +termed. + +So much for the _Canis latrans_. + +"Prairie wolves!" said Basil, in answer to the question put by his +cousin. + +"There must be something the matter with one of the bucks, then," +remarked Norman, "or else there's a good big pack of the wolves, and +they expect to tire one down. I believe they sometimes do try it that +way." + +"There appears to be a large pack," answered Basil, still looking +through the glass; "fifty at least--See! they have separated one of the +bucks from the herd--it's running this way!" + +Basil's companions had noticed this as soon as himself, and all four now +leaped to their guns. The wapiti was plainly coming towards them, and +they could now distinguish the wolves following upon his heels, strung +out over the prairie like a pack of hounds. When first started, the +buck was a full half-mile distant, but in less than a minute's time he +came breasting forward until the boys could see his sparkling eyes and +the play of his proud flanks. He was a noble animal to look at. His +horns were full-grown, but still "in the velvet," and as he ran with his +snout thrown forward, his antlers lay along both sides of his neck until +their tips touched his shoulders. He continued on in a direct line +until he was within less than an hundred paces of the camp; but, +perceiving the smoke of the fire, and the figures crouching around it, +he swerved suddenly from his course, and darted into the thicket of +willows, where he was for the moment hidden from view. The wolves-- +fifty of them at least--had followed him up to this point; and as he +entered the thicket several had been close upon his heels. The boys +expected to see the wolves rush in after him--as there appeared to be no +impediment to their doing so--but, to the astonishment of all, the +latter came to a sudden halt, and then went sneaking back--some of them +even running off as if terrified! At first the hunters attributed this +strange conduct to their own presence, and the smoke of the camp; but a +moment's reflection convinced them that this could not be the reason of +it, as they were all well acquainted with the nature of the prairie +wolf, and had never witnessed a similar exhibition before. + +They had no time to think of the wolves just then. The buck was the +main attraction, and, calling to each other to surround the thicket, all +four started in different directions. In a couple of minutes they had +placed themselves at nearly equal distances around the copse, and stood +watching eagerly for the reappearance of the wapiti. + +The willows covered about an acre of ground, but they were tolerably +thick and full-leaved, and the buck could not be seen from any side. +Wherever he was, he was evidently at a standstill, for not a rustle +could be heard among the leaves, nor were any of the tall stalks seen to +move. + +Marengo was now sent in. This would soon start him, and all four stood +with guns cocked and ready. But before the dog had made three lengths +of himself into the thicket, a loud snort was heard, followed by a +struggle and the stamping of hoofs, and the next moment the wapiti came +crashing through the bushes. A shot was fired--it was the crack of +Lucien's small rifle--but it had missed, for the buck was seen passing +onward and outward. All ran round to the side he had taken, and had a +full view of the animal as he bounded off. Instead of running free as +before, he now leaped heavily forward, and what was their astonishment +on seeing that he _carried another animal upon his back_! + +The hunters could hardly believe their eyes, but there it was, sure +enough, a brown shaggy mass, lying flat along the shoulders of the +wapiti, and clutching it with large-spreading claws. Francois cried +out, "A panther!" and Basil at first believed it to be a bear, but it +was hardly large enough for that. Norman, however, who had lived more +in those parts where the animal is found, knew it at once to be the +dreaded "wolverene." Its head could not be seen, as that was hid behind +the shoulder of the wapiti, whose throat it was engaged in tearing. But +its short legs and broad paws, its busily tail and long shaggy hair, +together with its round-arching back and dark-brown colour, were all +familiar marks to the young fur-trader; and he at once pronounced it a +"wolverene." + +When first seen, both it and the wapiti were beyond the reach of their +rifles; and the hunters, surprised by such an unexpected apparition, had +suddenly halted. Francois and Basil were about to renew the pursuit, +but were prevented by Norman who counselled them to remain where they +were. + +"They won't go far," said he; "let us watch them a bit. See! the buck +takes the water!" + +The wapiti, on leaving the willows, had run straight out in the first +direction that offered, which happened to be in a line parallel with the +edge of the lake. His eye, however, soon caught sight of the water, +and, doubling suddenly round, he made directly towards it, evidently +with the intention of plunging in. He had hopes, no doubt, that by this +means he might rid himself of the terrible creature that was clinging to +his shoulders, and tearing his throat to pieces. + +A few bounds brought him to the shore. There was no beach at the spot. +The bank--a limestone bluff--rose steeply from the water's edge to a +height of eight feet, and the lake under it was several fathoms in +depth. The buck did not hesitate, but sprang outward and downwards. A +heavy plash followed, and for some seconds both wapiti and wolverene +were lost under the water. They rose to the surface, just as the boys +reached the bank, but they came up _separately_. The dip had proved a +cooler to the fierce wolverene; and while the wapiti was seen to strike +boldly out into the lake and swim off, the latter--evidently out of his +element--kept plunging about clumsily, and struggling to get back to the +shore. Their position upon the cliff above gave the hunters an +excellent opportunity with their rifles, and both Basil and Norman sent +their bullets into the wolverene's back. Francois also emptied his +double-barrelled gun at the same object, and the shaggy brute sank dead +to the bottom of the lake. Strange to say, not one of the party had +thought of firing at the buck. This persecution by so many enemies had +won for him their sympathy, and they would now have suffered him to go +free, but the prospect of fresh venison for supper overcame their +commiseration, and the moment the wolverene was despatched all set about +securing the deer. Their guns were reloaded, and, scattering along the +shore, they prepared to await his return. But the buck, seeing there +was nothing but death in his rear, swam on, keeping almost in a direct +line out into the lake. It was evident to all that he could not swim +across the lake, as its farther shore was not even visible. He must +either return to where they were, or drown; and knowing this to be his +only alternative, they stood still and watched his motions. When he had +got about half-a-mile from the shore, to the surprise of all, he was +seen to rise higher and higher above the surface, and then all at once +stop, with half of his body clear out of the water! He had come upon a +shoal, and, knowing the advantage of it, seemed determined to remain +there. + +Basil and Norman ran to the canoe, and in a few minutes the little craft +was launched, and shooting through the water. The buck now saw that it +was likely to be all up with him, and, instead of attempting to swim +farther, he faced round and set his antlers forward in a threatening +attitude. But his pursuers did not give him the chance to make a rush. +When within fifty yards or so, Norman, who used the paddles, stopped and +steadied the canoe, and the next moment the crack of Basil's rifle +echoed over the lake, and the wapiti fell upon the water, where, after +struggling a moment, he lay dead. + +The canoe was paddled up, and his antlers being made fast to the stern, +he was towed back to the shore, and carried into camp. What now +surprised our voyageurs was, their finding that the wapiti had been +wounded before encountering either the wolves, wolverene, or themselves. +An arrow-head, with a short piece of the shaft, was sticking in one of +his thighs. The Indians, then, had been after him, and very lately too, +as the wound showed. It was not a mortal wound, had the arrow-head been +removed; but of course, as it was, it would have proved his death in the +long run. This explained why the wolves had assailed an animal, that +otherwise, from his great size and strength, would have defied them. +The wolverene, moreover, rarely attacks game so large as the wapiti; but +the latter had, no doubt, chanced upon the lair of his fierce enemy, who +could not resist such a tempting opportunity of getting a meal. The +wolves had seen the wolverene as they approached the thicket, and that +accounted for their strange behaviour in the pursuit. These creatures +are as great cowards as they are tyrants, and their dread of a wolverene +is equal to that with which they themselves often inspire the wounded +deer. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +A PAIR OF DEEP DIVERS. + +The wapiti was carefully skinned, and the skin spread out to dry. Since +their mishap our voyageurs had been very short of clothing. The three +skins of the woodland caribou had made only a pair of jackets, instead +of full hunting-shirts, and even these were pinched fits. For beds and +bed-clothes they had nothing but the hides of buffaloes, and these, +although good as far as they went, were only enough for two. Lucien, +the most delicate of the party, appropriated one, as the others insisted +upon his so doing. Francois had the other. As for Basil and Norman, +they were forced each night to lie upon the naked earth, and but for the +large fires which they kept blazing all the night, they would have +suffered severely from cold. Indeed, they did suffer quite enough; for +some of the nights were so cold, that it was impossible to sleep by the +largest fire without one-half of their bodies feeling chilled. The +usual practice with travellers in the Far West is to lie with their feet +to the fire, while the head is at the greatest distance from it. This +is considered the best mode, for so long as the feet are warm, the rest +of the body will not suffer badly; but, on the contrary, if the feet are +allowed to get cold, no matter what state the other parts be in, it is +impossible to sleep with comfort. Of course our young voyageurs +followed the well-known practice of the country, and lay with their feet +to the fire in such a manner that, when all were placed, their bodies +formed four radii of a circle, of which the fire was the centre. +Marengo usually lay beside Basil, whom he looked upon as his proper +master. + +Notwithstanding a bed of grass and leaves which they each night spread +for themselves, they were sadly in want of blankets, and therefore the +skin of the wapiti, which was a very fine one, would be a welcome +addition to their stock of bedding. They resolved, therefore, to remain +one day where they had killed it, so that the skin might be dried and +receive a partial dressing. Moreover, they intended to "jerk" some of +the meat--although elk-venison is not considered very palatable where +other meat can be had. It is without juice, and resembles dry +short-grained beef more than venison. For this reason it is looked upon +by both Indians and white hunters as inferior to buffalo, moose, +caribou, or even the common deer. One peculiarity of the flesh of this +animal is, that the fat becomes hard the moment it is taken off the +fire. It freezes upon the lips like suet, and clings around the teeth +of a person eating it, which is not the case with that of other species +of deer. The skin of the wapiti, however, is held in high esteem among +the Indians. It is thinner than that of the moose, but makes a much +better article of leather. When dressed in the Indian fashion--that is +to say, soaked in a lather composed of the brains and fat of the animal +itself, and then washed, dried, scraped, and smoked--it becomes as soft +and pliable as a kid-glove, and will wash and dry without stiffening +like chamois leather. That is a great advantage which it has, in the +eyes of the Indians, over the skins of other species of deer, as the +moose and caribou--for the leather made from these, after a wetting, +becomes harsh and rigid and requires a great deal of rubbing to render +it soft again. + +Lucien knew how to dress the elk-hide, and could make leather out of it +as well as any Indian squaw in the country. But travelling as they +were, there was not a good opportunity for that; so they were content to +give it such a dressing as the circumstances might allow. It was spread +out on a frame of willow-poles, and set up in front of the fire, to be +scraped at intervals and cleared of the fatty matter, as well as the +numerous parasites that at this season adhere to the skins of the +wapiti. + +While Lucien was framing the skin, Basil and Norman occupied themselves +in cutting the choice pieces of the meat into thin slices and hanging +them up before the fire. This job being finished, all sat down to watch +Lucien currying his hide. + +"Ho, boys!" cried Francois, starting up as if something had occurred to +him; "what about the wolverene? It's a splendid skin--why not get it +too?" + +"True enough," replied Norman, "we had forgotten that. But the beasts +gone to the bottom--how can we get at him?" + +"Why, fish him up, to be sure," said Francois. "Let's splice one of +these willow-poles to my ramrod, and I'll screw it into him, and draw +him to the surface in a jiffy. Come!" + +"We must get the canoe round, then," said Norman. "The bank's too steep +for us to reach him without it." + +"Of course," assented Francois, at the same time going towards the +willows; "get you the canoe into the water, while I cut the sapling." + +"Stay!" cried Basil, "I'll show you a shorter method. Marengo!" + +As Basil said this, he rose to his feet, and walked down to the bluff +where they had shot the wolverene. All of them followed him as well as +Marengo, who bounded triumphantly from side to side, knowing he was +wanted for some important enterprise. + +"Do you expect the dog to fetch him out?" inquired Norman. + +"No," replied Basil; "only to help." + +"How?" + +"Wait a moment--you shall see." + +Basil flung down his 'coon-skin cap, and stripped off his caribou +jacket, then his striped cotton shirt, then his under-shirt of fawn +skin, and, lastly, his trousers, leggings, and mocassins. He was now as +naked as Adam. + +"I'll show you, cousin," said he, addressing himself to Norman, "how we +take the water down there on the Mississippi." + +So saying, he stepped forward to the edge of the bluff; and having +carefully noted the spot where the wolverene had gone down, turned to +the dog, and simply said-- + +"Ho! Marengo! _Chez moi_!" The dog answered with a whimper, and a +look of intelligence which showed that he understood his master's wish. + +Basil again pointed to the lake, raised his arms over his head, placing +his palms close together, launched himself out into the air, and shot +down head-foremost into the water. + +Marengo, uttering a loud bay, sprang after so quickly that the plunges +were almost simultaneous, and both master and dog were for some time +hidden from view. The latter rose first, but it was a long time before +Basil came to the surface--so long that Norman and the others were +beginning to feel uneasy, and to regard the water with some anxiety. At +length, however, a spot was seen to bubble, several yards from where he +had gone down, and the black head of Basil appeared above the surface. +It was seen that he held something in his teeth, and was pushing a heavy +body before him, which they saw was the wolverene. + +Marengo, who swam near, now seized hold of the object, and pulled it +away from his master, who, calling to the dog to follow, struck out +towards a point where the bank was low and shelving. In a few minutes +Basil reached a landing-place, and shortly after Marengo arrived towing +the wolverene, which was speedily pulled out upon the bank, and carried, +or rather dragged, by Norman and Francois to the camp. Lucien brought +Basil's clothes, and all four once more assembled around the blazing +fire. + +There is not a more hideous-looking animal in America than the +wolverene. His thick body and short stout legs, his shaggy coat and +bushy tail, but, above all, his long curving claws and doglike jaws, +give him a formidable appearance. His gait is low and skulking, and his +look bold and vicious. He walks somewhat like a bear, and his tracks +are often mistaken for those of that animal. Indians and hunters, +however, know the difference well. His hind-feet are plantigrade, that +is, they rest upon the ground from heel to toe; and his back curves like +the segment of a circle. He is fierce and extremely voracious--quite as +much so as the "glutton," of which he is the American representative. +No animal is more destructive to the small game, and he will also attack +and devour the larger kinds when he can get hold of them; but as he is +somewhat slow, he can only seize most of them by stratagem. It is a +common belief that he lies in wait upon trees and rocks to seize the +deer passing beneath. It has been also asserted that he places moss, +such as these animals feed upon, under his perch, in order to entice +them within reach; and it has been still further asserted, that the +arctic foxes assist him in his plans, by hunting the deer towards the +spot where he lies in wait, thus acting as his jackals. These +assertions have been made more particularly about his European cousin, +the "glutton," about whom other stories are told equally strange--one of +them, that he eats until scarce able to walk, and then draws his body +through a narrow space between two trees, in order to relieve himself +and get ready for a fresh meal. Buffon and others have given credence +to these tales upon the authority of one "Olaus Magnus," whose name, +from the circumstance, might be translated "great fibber." There is no +doubt, however, that the glutton is one of the most sagacious of +animals, and so, too, is the wolverene. The latter gives proof of this +by many of his habits; one in particular fully illustrates his cunning. +It is this. The marten-trappers of the Hudson Bay territory set their +traps in the snow, often extending over a line of fifty miles. These +traps are constructed out of pieces of wood found near the spot, and are +baited with the heads of partridges, or pieces of venison, of which the +marten (_Mustela martes_) is very fond. As soon as the marten seizes +the bait, a trigger is touched, and a heavy piece of wood falling upon +the animal, crushes or holds it fast. Now the wolverene _enters the +trap from behind_, tears the back out of it before touching the bait, +and thus avoids the falling log! Moreover, he will follow the tracks of +the trapper from one to another, until he has destroyed the whole line. +Should a marten happen to have been before him, and got caught in the +trap, he rarely ever eats it, as he is not fond of its flesh. But he is +not satisfied to leave it as he finds it. He usually digs it from under +the log, tears it to pieces, and then buries it under the snow. The +foxes, who are well aware of this habit, and who themselves greedily eat +the marten, are frequently seen following him upon such excursions. +They are not strong enough to take the log from off the trapped animal, +but from their keen scent can soon find it where the other has buried it +in the snow. In this way, instead of their being providers for the +wolverene, the reverse is the true story. Notwithstanding, the +wolverene will eat _them_ too, whenever he can get his claws upon them; +but as they are much swifter than he, this seldom happens. The foxes, +however, are themselves taken in traps, or more commonly shot by guns +set for the purpose, with the bait attached by a string to the trigger. +Often the wolverene, finding the foxes dead or wounded, makes a meal of +them before the hunter comes along to examine his traps and guns. The +wolverene kills many of the foxes while young, and sometimes on finding +their burrow, widens it with his strong claws, and eats the whole family +in their nests. Even young wolves sometimes become his prey. He lives, +in fact, on very bad terms with both foxes and wolves, and often robs +the latter of a fat deer which they may have just killed, and are +preparing to dine upon. The beaver, however, is his favourite food, and +but that these creatures can escape him by taking to the water--in which +element he is not at all at home--he would soon exterminate their whole +race. His great strength and acute scent enable him to overcome almost +every wild creature of the forest or prairie. He is even said to be a +full match for either the panther or the black bear. + +The wolverene lives in clefts of rock, or in hollow trees, where such +are to be found; but he is equally an inhabitant of the forest and the +prairie. He is found in fertile districts, as well as in the most +remote deserts. His range is extensive, but he is properly a denizen of +the cold and snowy regions. In the southern parts of the United States +he is no longer known, though it is certain that he once lived there +when those countries were inhabited by the beaver. North of latitude 40 +degrees he ranges perhaps to the pole itself, as traces of him have been +found as far as man has yet penetrated. He is a solitary creature, and, +like most predatory animals, a nocturnal prowler. The female brings +forth two, sometimes three and four, at a birth. The cubs are of a +cream colour, and only when full-grown acquire that dark-brown hue, +which in the extreme of winter often passes into black. The fur is not +unlike that of the bear, but is shorter-haired, and of less value than a +bear-skin. Notwithstanding, it is an article of trade with the Hudson's +Bay Company, who procure many thousands of the skins annually. + +The Canadian voyageurs call the wolverene "carcajou;" while among the +Orkney and Scotch servants of the Hudson's Bay Company he is oftener +known as the "quickhatch." It is supposed that both these names are +corruptions of the Cree word _okee-coo-haw-gew_ (the name of the +wolverene among the Indians of that tribe). Many words from the same +language have been adopted by both voyageurs and traders. + +Those points in the natural history of the wolverene, that might be +called _scientific_, were imparted by Lucien, while Norman furnished the +information about its habits. Norman knew the animal as one of the most +common in the "trade"; and in addition to what we have recorded, also +related many adventures and stories current among the voyageurs, in +which this creature figures in quite as fanciful a manner, as he does in +the works either of Olaus Magnus, or Count de Buffon. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +A GRAND SUNDAY DINNER. + +After remaining a day at their first camp on the lake, our voyageurs +continued their journey. Their course lay a little to the west of +north, as the edge of the lake trended in that direction. Their usual +plan, as already stated, was to keep out in the lake far enough to shun +the numerous indentations of the shore, yet not so far as to endanger +their little craft when the wind was high. At night they always landed, +either upon some point or on an island. Sometimes the wind blew "dead +ahead," and then their day's journey would be only a few miles. When +the wind was favourable they made good progress, using the skin of the +wapiti for a sail. On one of these days they reckoned a distance of +over forty miles from camp to camp. It was their custom always to lie +by on Sunday, for our young voyageurs were Christians. They had done so +on their former expedition across the Southern prairies, and they had +found the practice to their advantage in a physical as well as a moral +sense. They required the rest thus obtained; besides, a general +cleaning up is necessary, at least, once every week. Sunday was also a +day of feasting with them. They had more time to devote to culinary +operations, and the _cuisine_ of that day was always the most varied of +the week. Any extra delicacy obtained by the rifle on previous days, +was usually reserved for the Sunday's dinner. On the first Sunday after +entering Lake Winnipeg the "camp" chanced to be upon an island. It was +a small island, of only a few acres in extent. It lay near the shore, +and was well wooded over its whole surface with trees of many different +kinds. Indeed, islands in a large lake usually have a great variety of +trees, as the seeds of all those sorts that grow around the shores are +carried thither by the waves, or in the crops of the numerous birds that +flit over its waters. But as the island in question lay in a lake, +whose shores exhibited such a varied geology, it was natural the +vegetation of the island itself should be varied. And, in truth; it was +so. There were upon it, down by the water's edge, willows and +cottonwoods (_Populus angulata_), the characteristic _sylva_ of the +prairie land; there were birches and sugar-maples (_Acer saccharinum_); +and upon some higher ground, near the centre, appeared several species +that belonged more to the primitive formations that bounded the lake on +the east. These were pines and spruces, the juniper, and tamarack or +American larch (_Laryx Americana_); and among others could be +distinguished the dark cone-shaped forms of the red cedar-trees. Among +the low bushes and shrubs there were rose and wild raspberry; there were +apple and plum trees, and whole thickets of the "Pembina" (_Viburnum +oxycoccos_). There is, in fact, no part of the world where a greater +variety of wild fruit has been found indigenous than upon the banks of +the Red River of the North, and this variety extended to the little +island where our voyageurs had encamped. + +The camp had been placed under a beautiful tree--the tacamahac, or +balsam poplar (_Populus balsamifera_). This is one of the finest trees +of America, and one of those that extend farthest north into the cold +countries. In favourable situations it attains a height of one hundred +and fifty feet, with a proportionate thickness of trunk; but it is +oftener only fifty or eighty feet high. Its leaves are oval, and, when +young, of a rich yellowish colour, which changes to a bright green. The +buds are very large, yellow, and covered with a varnish, which exhales a +delightful fragrance, and gives to the tree its specific name. + +It was near sunset on the afternoon of Saturday; the travellers had just +finished their repast, and were reclining around a fire of red cedar, +whose delicate smoke curled up among the pale-green leaves of the +poplars. The fragrant smell of the burning wood, mixed with the +aromatic odour of the balsam-tree, filled the air with a sweet perfume, +and, almost without knowing why, our voyageurs felt a sense of pleasure +stealing over them. The woods of the little island were not without +their voices. The scream of the jay was heard, and his bright azure +wing appeared now and then among the foliage. The scarlet plumage of +the cardinal grosbeak flashed under the beams of the setting sun; and +the trumpet-note of the ivory-billed woodpecker was heard near the +centre of the island. An osprey was circling in the air, with his eye +bent on the water below, watching for his finny prey; and a pair of bald +eagles (_Haliaetus leucocephalus_) were winging their way towards the +adjacent mainland. Half-a-dozen turkey vultures (_Cathartes atratus_) +were wheeling above the beach, where some object, fish or carrion, had +been thrown up by the waves. + +For some time the party remained silent, each contemplating the scene +with feelings of pleasure. Francois, as usual, first broke the silence. + +"I say, cook, what's for dinner to-morrow?" + +It was to Lucien this speech was addressed. He was regarded as the +_maitre de cuisine_. + +"Roast or boiled--which would you prefer?" asked the cook, with a +significant smile. + +"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Francois; "boiled, indeed! a pretty boil we could +have in a tin cup, holding less than a pint. I wish we _could_ have a +boiled joint and a bowl of soup. I'd give something for it. I'm +precious tired of this everlasting dry roast." + +"You shall have both," rejoined Lucien, "for to-morrow's dinner. I +promise you both the soup and the joint." + +Again Francois laughed incredulously. + +"Do you mean to make soup in your shoe, Luce?" + +"No; but I shall make it in this." + +And Lucien held up a vessel somewhat like a water-pail, which the day +before he had himself made out of birch-bark. + +"Well," replied Francois, "I know you have got a vessel that holds +water, but cold water ain't soup; and if you can boil water in that +vessel, I'll believe you to be a conjuror. I know you can do some +curious things with your chemical mixtures; but that you can't do, I'm +sure. Why, man, the bottom would be burned out of your bucket before +the water got blood-warm. Soup, indeed!" + +"Never mind, Frank, you shall see. You're only like the rest of +mankind--incredulous about everything they can't comprehend. If you'll +take your hook and line, and catch some fish, I promise to give you a +dinner to-morrow, with all the regular courses--soup, fish, boiled, +roast, and dessert, too! I'm satisfied I can do all that." + +"_Parbleu_! brother, you should have been cook to Lucullus. Well, I'll +catch the fish for you." + +So saying, Francois took a fish-hook and line out of his pouch, and +fixing a large grasshopper upon the hook, stepped forward to the edge of +the water, and cast it in. The float was soon seen to bob and then +sink, and Francois jerked his hook ashore with a small and very pretty +fish upon it of a silver hue, with which the lake and the waters running +into it abound. Lucien told him it was a fish of the genus _Hyodon_. +He also advised him to bait with a worm, and let his bait sink to the +bottom, and he might catch a sturgeon, which would be a larger fish. + +"How do you know there are sturgeon in the lake?" inquired Francois. + +"I am pretty sure of that," answered the naturalist; "the sturgeon +(_Acipenser_) is found all round the world in the northern temperate +zone--both in its seas and fresh waters; although, when you go farther +south into the warmer climate, no sturgeons exist. I am sure there are +some here, perhaps more than one species. Sink your bait, for the +sturgeon is a toothless fish, and feeds upon soft substances at the +bottom." + +Francois followed the advice of his brother, and in a few minutes he had +a "nibble," and drew up and landed a very large fish, full three feet in +length. Lucien at once pronounced it a sturgeon, but of a species he +had not before seen. It was the _Acipenser carbonarius_, a curious sort +of fish found in these waters. It did not look like a fish that would +be pleasant eating; therefore Francois again took to bobbing for the +silver fish (_Hyodons_), which, though small, he knew to be excellent +when broiled. + +"Come," said Basil, "I must furnish my quota to this famous dinner that +is to be. Let me see what there is on the island in the way of game;" +and shouldering his rifle, he walked off among the trees. + +"And I," said Norman, "am not going to eat the produce of other people's +labour without contributing my share." + +So the young trader took up his gun and went off in a different +direction. + +"Good!" exclaimed Lucien, "we are likely to have plenty of meat for the +dinner. I must see about the vegetables;" and taking with him his +new-made vessel, Lucien sauntered off along the shore of the islet. +Francois alone remained by the camp, and continued his fishing. Let us +follow the plant-hunter, and learn a lesson of practical botany. + +Lucien had not gone far, when he came to what appeared to be a mere +sedge growing in the water. The stalks or culms of this sedge were full +eight feet high, with smooth leaves, an inch broad, nearly a yard in +length, and of a light green colour. At the top of each stalk was a +large panicle of seeds, somewhat resembling a head of oats. The plant +itself was the famous wild rice (_Zizania aquatica_), so much prized by +the Indians as an article of food, and also the favourite of many wild +birds, especially the reed-bird or rice-bunting. The grain of the +zizania was not yet ripe, but the ears were tolerably well filled, and +Lucien saw that it would do for his purpose. He therefore waded in, and +stripped off into his vessel as much as he wanted. + +"I am safe for rice-soup, at all events," soliloquised he, "but I think +I can do still better;" and he continued on around the shore, and +shortly after struck into some heavy timber that grew in a damp, rich +soil. He had walked about an hundred yards farther, when he was seen to +stoop and examine some object on the ground. + +"It ought to be found here," he muttered to himself; "this is the very +soil for it,--yes, here we have it!" + +The object over which he was stooping was a plant, but its leaves +appeared shrivelled, or rather quite withered away. The upper part of a +bulbous root, however, was just visible above the surface. It was a +bulb of the wild leek (_Allium tricoccum_.) The leaves, when young, are +about six inches in length, of a flat shape and often three inches +broad; but, strange to say, they shrivel or die off very early in the +season,--even before the plant flowers, and then it is difficult to find +the bulb. + +Lucien, however, had sharp eyes for such things; and in a short while he +had rooted out several bulbs as large as pigeons' eggs, and deposited +them in his birchen vessel. He now turned to go back to camp, satisfied +with what he had obtained. He had the rice to give consistency to his +soup, and the leek-roots to flavour it with. That would be enough. + +As he was walking over a piece of boggy ground his eye was attracted to +a singular plant, whose tall stem rose high above the grass. It was +full eight feet in height, and at its top there was an umbel of +conspicuous white flowers. Its leaves were large, lobed, and toothed, +and the stem itself was over an inch in diameter, with furrows running +longitudinally. Lucien had never seen the plant before, although he had +often heard accounts of it, and he at once recognised it from its +botanical description. It was the celebrated "cow parsnip" (_Heracleum +lanatum_). Its stem was jointed and hollow, and Lucien had heard that +the Indians called it in their language "flute-stem," as they often used +it to make their rude musical instruments from, and also a sort of +whistle or "call," by which they were enabled to imitate and decoy +several kinds of deer. But there was another use to which the plant was +put, of which the naturalist was not aware. Norman, who had been +wandering about, came up at this moment, and seeing Lucien standing by +the plant, uttered a joyful "Hulloh!" + +"Well," inquired Lucien, "what pleases you, coz?" + +"Why, the flute-stem, of course. You talked of making a soup. It will +help you, I fancy." + +"How?" demanded Lucien. + +"Why, the young stems are good eating, and the roots, if you will; but +the young shoots are better. Both Indians and voyageurs eat them in +soup, and are fond of them. It's a famous thing, I assure you." + +"Let us gather some, then," said Lucien; and the cousins commenced +cutting off such stems as were still young and tender. As soon as they +had obtained enough, they took their way back to the camp. Basil had +already arrived with a fine _prairie hen (Tetrao cupido_) which he had +shot, and Norman had brought back a squirrel; so that, with Francois's +fish, of which a sufficient number had been caught, Lucien was likely to +be able to keep his promise about the dinner. + +Francois, however, could not yet comprehend how the soup was to be +boiled in a wooden pot; and, indeed, Basil was unable to guess. Norman, +however, knew well enough, for he had travelled through the country of +the Assinoboil Indians, who take their name from this very thing. He +had also witnessed the operation performed by Crees, Chippewas, and even +voyageurs, where metal or earthen pots could not be obtained. + +On the next day the mystery was cleared up to Basil and Francois. +Lucien first collected a number of stones--about as large as +paving-stones. He chose such as were hard and smooth. These he flung +into the cinders, where they soon became red-hot. The water and meat +were now put into the bark pot, and then one stone after another,--each +being taken out as it got cooled,--until the water came to a fierce +boil. The rice and other ingredients were added at the proper time, and +in a short while an excellent soup was made. So much, then, for the +soup, and the boiled dishes with vegetables. The roast, of course, was +easily made ready upon green-wood spits, and the "game" was cooked in a +similar way. The fish were broiled upon the red cinders, and eaten, as +is usual, after the soup. There were no puddings or pies, though, no +doubt, Lucien could have made such had they been wanted. In their place +there was an excellent service of fruit. There were strawberries and +raspberries, one sort of which found wild in this region is of a most +delicious flavour. There were gooseberries and currants; but the most +delicious fruit, and that which Francois liked best, was a small berry +of a dark blue colour, not unlike the huckleberry, but much sweeter and +of higher flavour. It grows on a low bush or shrub with ovate leaves; +and this bush when it blossoms is so covered with beautiful white +flowers, that neither leaves nor branches can be seen. There are no +less than four varieties of it known, two of which attain to the height +of twenty feet or more. The French Canadians call it "le poire," but in +most parts of America it is known as the "service-berry," although +several other names are given to it in different districts. Lucien +informed his companions, while they were crushing its sweet purplish +fruit between their teeth, that its botanical name is _Amelanchier_. + +"Now," remarked Francois, "if we only had a cup of coffee and a glass of +wine, we might say that we had dined in fashionable style." + +"I think," replied Lucien, "we are better without the wine, and as for +the other I cannot give you that, but I fancy I can provide you with a +cup of tea if you only allow me a little time." + +"Tea!" screamed Francois; "why, there's not a leaf of tea nearer than +China; and for the sugar, not a grain within hundreds of miles!" + +"Come, Frank," said Lucien, "nature has not been so ungenerous here,-- +even in such luxuries as tea and sugar. Look yonder! You see those +large trees with the dark-coloured trunks. What are they?" + +"Sugar-maples," replied Francois. + +"Well," said Lucien, "I think even at this late season we might contrive +to extract sap enough from them to sweeten a cup of tea. You may try, +while I go in search of the tea-plant." + +"Upon my word, Luce, you are equal to a wholesale grocery. Very well. +Come, Basil, we'll tap the maples; let the captain go with Luce." + +The boys, separating into pairs, walked off in different directions. +Lucien and his companion soon lighted upon the object of their search in +the same wet bottom where they had procured the _Heracleum_. It was a +branching shrub, not over two feet in height, with small leaves of a +deep green colour above, but whitish and woolly underneath. It is a +plant well-known throughout most of the Hudson's Bay territory by the +name of "Labrador tea-plant;" and is so called because the Canadian +voyageurs, and other travellers through these northern districts, often +drink it as tea. It is one of the _Ericaceae_, or heath tribe, of the +genus _Ledum_--though it is not a true heath, as, strange to say, no +true heath is found upon the continent of America. + +There are two kinds of it known,--the "narrow-leafed" and +"broad-leafed;" and the former makes the best tea. But the pretty white +flowers of the plant are better for the purpose than the leaves of +either variety; and these it was that were now gathered by Lucien and +Norman. They require to be dried before the decoction is made; but this +can be done in a short time over a fire; and so in a short time it was +done, Norman having parched them upon heated stones. Meanwhile Basil +and Francois had obtained the sugar-water, and Lucien having washed his +soup-kettle clean, and once more made his boiling stones red-hot, +prepared the beverage; and then it was served out in the tin cup, and +all partook of it. Norman had drunk the Labrador tea before, and was +rather fond of it, but his Southern cousins did not much relish it. Its +peculiar flavour, which somewhat resembles rhubarb, was not at all to +the liking of Francois. All, however, admitted that it produced a +cheering effect upon their spirits; and, after drinking it, they felt in +that peculiarly happy state of mind which one experiences after a cup of +the real "Bohea." + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +THE MARMOTS OF AMERICA. + +From such a luxurious dinner you may suppose that our young voyageurs +lived in prime style. But it was not always so. They had their fasts +as well as feasts. Sometimes for days they had nothing to eat but the +jerked deer-meat. No bread--no beer--no coffee, nothing but water--dry +venison and water. Of course, this is food enough for a hungry man; but +it can hardly be called luxurious living. Now and then a wild duck, or +a goose, or perhaps a young swan, was shot; and this change in their +diet was very agreeable. Fish were caught only upon occasions, for +often these capricious creatures refused Francois' bait, however +temptingly offered. After three weeks' coasting the Lake, they reached +the Saskatchewan, and turning up that stream, now travelled in a due +westerly direction. At the Grand Rapids, near the mouth of this river, +they were obliged to make a portage of no less than three miles, but the +magnificent view of these "Rapids" fully repaid them for the toil they +underwent in passing them. + +The Saskatchewan is one of the largest rivers in America, being full +1600 miles in length, from its source in the Rocky Mountains to its +_debouchure_, under the name of the "Nelson River," in Hudson's Bay. +For some distance above Lake Winnipeg, the country upon its banks is +well wooded. Farther up, the river runs through dry sandy prairies that +extend westward to the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains. Many of these +prairies may be properly called "deserts." They contain lakes as salt +as the ocean itself, and vast tracts--hundreds of square miles in +extent--where not a drop of water is to be met with. But the route of +our voyageurs did not lie over these prairies. It was their intention, +after reaching Cumberland House, to turn again in a northerly direction. + +One evening, when within two days' journey of the Fort, they had +encamped upon the bank of the Saskatchewan. They had chosen a beautiful +spot for their camp, where the country, swelling into rounded hills, was +prettily interspersed with bushy copses of _Amelanchiers_, and _Rosa +blanda_, whose pale red flowers were conspicuous among the green leaves, +and filled the air with a sweet fragrance, that was wafted to our +voyageurs upon the sunny breeze. The ground was covered with a grassy +sward enamelled by the pink flowers of the _Cleome_, and the deeper red +blossoms of the beautiful wind-flower (_Anemone_). Upon that day our +travellers had not succeeded in killing any game, and their dinner was +likely to consist of nothing better than dry venison scorched over the +coals. As they had been travelling all the morning against a sharp +current, and, of course, had taken turn about at the paddles, they all +felt fatigued, and none of them was inclined to go in search of game. +They had flung themselves down around the fire, and were waiting until +the venison should be broiled for dinner. + +The camp had been placed at the foot of a tolerably steep hill, that +rose near the banks of the river. There was another and higher hill +facing it, the whole front of which could be seen by our travellers as +they sat around their fire. While glancing their eyes along its +declivity, they noticed a number of small protuberances or mounds +standing within a few feet of each other. Each of them was about a foot +in height, and of the form of a truncated cone--that is, a cone with its +top cut off, or beaten down. + +"What are they?" inquired Francois. + +"I fancy," answered Lucien, "they are marmot-houses." + +"They are," affirmed Norman; "there are plenty of them in this country." + +"Oh! marmots!" said Francois. "Prairie-dogs, you mean?--the same we met +with on the Southern prairies?" + +"I think not," replied Norman: "I think the prairie-dogs are a different +sort. Are they not, Cousin Luce?" + +"Yes, yes," answered the naturalist; "these must be a different species. +There are too few of them to be the houses of prairie-dogs. The `dogs' +live in large settlements, many hundreds of them in one place; besides, +their domes are somewhat different in appearance from these. The mounds +of the prairie-dogs have a hole in the top or on one side. These, you +see, have not. The hole is in the ground beside them, and the hill is +in front, made by the earth taken out of the burrow, just as you have +seen it at the entrance of a rat's hole. They are marmots, I have no +doubt, but of a different species from the prairie-dog marmots." + +"Are there not many kinds of marmots in America? I have heard so," said +Francois. + +This question was of course addressed to Lucien. + +"Yes," answered he. "The _fauna_ of North America is peculiarly rich in +species of these singular animals. There are thirteen kinds of them, +well-known to naturalists; and there are even some varieties in these +thirteen kinds that might almost be considered distinct species. I have +no doubt, moreover, there are yet other species which have not been +described. Perhaps, altogether, there are not less than twenty +different kinds of marmots in North America. As only one or two species +are found in the settled territories of the United States, it was +supposed, until lately, that there were no others. Latterly the +naturalists of North America have been very active in their researches, +and no genus of animals has rewarded them so well as the marmots-- +unless, perhaps, it may be the squirrels. Almost every year a new +species of one or the other of these has been found--mostly inhabiting +the vast wilderness territories that lie between the Mississippi and the +Pacific Ocean. + +"As regards the marmots, the _closet-naturalists_, as usual, have +rendered their history as complicated and difficult to be understood as +possible. They have divided them into several genera, because one kind +happens to have a larger tubercle upon its tooth than another, or a +little more curving in its claws, or a shorter tail. It is true that in +the thirteen species some differ considerably from the others in size, +colour, and other respects. Yet, for all that, there is such an +identity, if I may so express it, about the mode of life, the food, the +appearance, and habits of all the thirteen, that I think it is both +absurd and ill-judged to render the study of them more difficult, by +thus dividing them into so many genera. They are all _marmots_, that is +what they are; and why confound the study of them by calling them +spermophiles and arctomys, and such-like hard names?" + +"I quite agree with you, Luce," said the hunter, Basil, who, although +not averse to the study of natural history (all hunters, I believe, love +it more or less), had no great opinion of the closet-naturalists and +"babblers about teeth," as he contemptuously called them. + +"When a family of animals," continued Lucien, "contains a great many +species, and these species differ widely from each other, I admit that +it may then be convenient and useful to class them into genera, and +sometimes even sub-genera; but, on the other hand, when there are only a +few species, and these closely allied to each other, I think nothing can +be more ridiculous than this dividing and subdividing, and giving such +unpronounceable names to them. It is this that renders the study +difficult, because even the committing to memory such a string of +unmeaning phrases is of itself no easy task. Take, for example, such a +phrase as `_Arctomys spermophilus Rickardsonii_,' which, although nearly +a yard long, means simply the `tawny marmot.' Do not mistake me," +continued Lucien; "I do not object to the use of the Greek or Latin +phraseology used in such cases. Some universal language must be +adopted, so that the naturalists of different countries may understand +each other. But then this language should, when translated, describe +the animal, by giving some of its characteristics, and thus have a +meaning. On the contrary, it usually, when put into plain English, +gives us only the name--often a clumsy and unpronounceable German one-- +of some obscure friend of the author, or, as is not unfrequently the +case, some lordly patron for whom your closet-naturalist entertains a +flunkeyish regard, and avails himself of this means of making it known +to his Maecenas. In my opinion," continued Lucien, warming with the +enthusiasm of a true naturalist, "it is a most impertinent interference +with the beautiful things of Nature--her birds and quadrupeds, her +plants and flowers--to couple them with the names of kings, princes, +lords, and lordlings, who chance to be the local gods of some +closet-naturalist. It is these catalogue-makers who generally multiply +synonymes so as to render science unintelligible. Sitting in their +easy-chairs they know little or nothing of the habits of the animals +about which they write; and therefore, to write something original, they +multiply names, and give measurements _ad infinitum_, and this among +them constitutes a science. I do not, of course, include among these +the man whose name is given--Richardson. No; he was a true naturalist, +who travelled and underwent hardships to earn the high name which he +bears and so well deserves." + +"Brother Luce," said Basil, "you grow excited upon this subject, and +that is something of a rarity to see. I agree with you, however, in all +you have said. Previous to our leaving home I read several books +upon natural history. They were the works of distinguished +closet-naturalists. Well, I found that all the information they +contained about the animals of these Northern regions--at least, all +that could be called _information_--I had read somewhere before. After +thinking for a while I recollected where. It was in the pages of the +traveller Hearne--a man who, among these scientific gentlemen, is +considered only in the light of a rude traveller, and not deserving the +name of naturalist. Hearne journeyed to the Arctic Sea so early as the +year 1771; and to him the world is indebted for their first knowledge of +the fact that there was no strait across the Continent south of the +seventieth parallel of latitude." + +"Yes," said Lucien, "he was sent out by the Hudson's Bay Company, +perhaps more scantily furnished than any explorer ever was before. He +underwent the most dreadful hardships and perils, and has left behind +him an account of the inhabitants and natural history of these parts, so +full and so truthful, that it has not only stood the test of subsequent +observation, but the closet-naturalists have added but little to it ever +since. Most of them have been satisfied with giving just what poor +Hearne had gathered--as, in fact, they knew nothing more, and could not, +therefore, add anything. Some of them have quoted his own words, and +given him the credit of his vast labour; while others have endeavoured +to pass off Hearne's knowledge as their own, by giving a slightly +altered paraphrase of his language. This sort of thing," said Lucien, +"makes me indignant." + +"It's downright mean," interposed Norman. "All of us in this country +have heard of Hearne. He was a right hardy traveller, and no mistake +about it." + +"Well, then," said Lucien, cooling down, and resuming the subject of the +marmots, "these little animals seem to form a link between the squirrels +and rabbits. On the side of the squirrels they very naturally join on, +if I may use the expression, to the ground-squirrel, and some of them +differ but little in their habits from many of the latter. Other +species, again, are more allied to the rabbits, and less like the +squirrels; and there are two or three kinds that I should say--using a +Yankee expression--have a `sprinkling' of the rat in them. Some, as the +ground-hog, or wood-chuck of the United States, are as large as rabbits, +while others, as the leopard-marmot, are not bigger than Norway rats. +Some species have cheek-pouches, in which they can carry a large +quantity of seeds, nuts, and roots, when they wish to hoard them up for +future use. These are the spermophiles, and some species of these have +more capacious pouches than others. Their food differs somewhat, +perhaps according to the circumstances in which they may be placed. In +all cases it is vegetable. Some, as the prairie-dogs, live upon +grasses, while others subsist chiefly upon seeds, berries, and leaves. +It was long supposed that the marmots, like the squirrels, laid up +stores against the winter. I believe this is not the case with any of +the different species. I know for certain that most of them pass the +winter in a state of torpidity, and of course require no provisions, as +they eat nothing during that season. In this we observe one of those +cases in which Nature so beautifully adapts a creature to its +circumstances. In the countries where many of the marmots are found, so +severe are the winters, and so barren the soil, that it would be +impossible for these creatures to get a morsel of food for many long +months. During this period, therefore, Nature suspends her functions, +by putting them into a deep, and, for aught we know to the contrary, a +pleasant sleep. It is only when the snow melts, under the vernal sun, +and the green blades of grass and the spring flowers array themselves on +the surface of the earth, that the little marmots make their appearance +again. Then the warm air, penetrating into their subterranean abodes, +admonishes them to awake from their protracted slumber, and come forth +to the enjoyment of their summer life. These animals may be said, +therefore, to have no winter. Their life is altogether a season of +summer and sunshine. + +"Some of the marmots," continued Lucien, "live in large communities, as +the prairie-dogs; others, in smaller tribes, while still other species +lead a solitary life, going only in pairs, or at most in families. +Nearly all of them are burrowing animals, though there are one or two +species that are satisfied with a cleft in the rock, or a hole among +loose stones for their nests. Some of them are tree-climbers, but it is +supposed they only ascend trees in search of food, as they do not make +their dwellings there. Many of the species are very prolific, the +females bringing forth eight, and even ten young at a birth. + +"The marmots are extremely shy and watchful creatures. Before going to +feed, they usually reconnoitre the ground from the tops of their little +mounds. Some species do not have such mounds, and for this purpose +ascend any little hillock that may be near. Nearly all have the curious +habit of placing sentries to watch while the rest are feeding. These +sentries station themselves on some commanding point, and when they see +an enemy approaching give warning to the others by a peculiar cry. In +several of the species this cry resembles the syllables `seek-seek' +repeated with a hiss. Others bark like `toy-dogs,' while still other +kinds utter a whistling noise, from which one species derives its +trivial name of `whistler' among the traders, and is the `siffleur' of +the Canadian voyageurs. + +"The `whistler's' call of alarm can be heard at a great distance; and +when uttered by the sentinel is repeated by all the others as far as the +troop extends. + +"The marmots are eaten both by Indians and white hunters. Sometimes +they are captured by pouring water into their burrows; but this method +only succeeds in early spring, when the animals awake out of their +torpid state, and the ground is still frozen hard enough to prevent the +water from filtering away. They are sometimes shot with guns; but, +unless killed upon the spot, they will escape to their burrows, and +tumble in before the hunter can lay his hands upon them." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +THE BLAIREAU, THE "TAWNIES," AND THE "LEOPARDS." + +Perhaps Lucien would have carried his account of the marmots still +farther--for he had not told half what he knew of their habits--but he +was at that moment interrupted by the marmots themselves. Several of +them appeared at the mouths of their holes; and, after looking out and +reconnoitring for some moments, became bolder, and ran up to the tops of +their mounds, and began to scatter along the little beaten paths that +led from one to the other. In a short while as many as a dozen could be +seen moving about, jerking their tails, and at intervals uttering their +"seek-seek." + +Our voyageurs saw that there were two kinds of them, entirely different +in colour, size, and other respects. The larger ones were of a greyish +yellow above, with an orange tint upon the throat and belly. These were +the "tawny marmots," called sometimes "ground-squirrels," and by the +voyageurs, "siffleurs," or "whistlers." The other species seen were the +most beautiful of all the marmots. They were very little smaller than +the tawny marmots; but their tails were larger and more slender, which +rendered their appearance more graceful. Their chief beauty, however, +lay in their colours and markings. They were striped from the nose to +the rump with bands of yellow and chocolate colour, which alternated +with each other, while the chocolate bands were themselves variegated by +rows of yellow spots regularly placed. These markings gave the animals +that peculiar appearance so well-known as characterising the skin of the +leopard, hence the name of these little creatures was "leopard-marmots." + +It was plain from their actions that both kinds were "at home" among the +mounds, and that both had their burrows there. This was the fact, and +Norman told his companion that the two kinds are always found together, +not living in the same houses, but only as neighbours in the same +"settlement." The burrows of the "leopard" have much smaller entrances +than those of their "tawny kin," and run down perpendicularly to a +greater depth before branching off in a horizontal direction. A +straight stick may be thrust down one of these full five feet before +reaching an "elbow." The holes of the tawny marmots, on the contrary, +branch off near the surface, and are not so deep under ground. This +guides us to the explanation of a singular fact--which is, that the +"tawnies" make their appearance three weeks earlier in spring than the +"leopards," in consequence of the heat of the sun reaching them sooner, +and waking them out of their torpid sleep. + +While these explanations were passing among the boys, the marmots had +come out, to the number of a score, and were carrying on their gambols +along the declivity of the hill. They were at too great a distance to +heed the movements of the travellers by the camp-fire. Besides, a +considerable valley lay between them and the camp, which, as they +believed, rendered their position secure. They were not at such a +distance but that many of their movements could be clearly made out by +the boys, who after a while noticed that several furious battles were +being fought among them. It was not the "tawnies" against the others, +but the males of each kind in single combats with one another. They +fought like little cats, exhibiting the highest degree of boldness and +fury; but it was noticed that in these conflicts the leopards were far +more active and spiteful than their kinsmen. In observing them through +his glass Lucien noticed that they frequently seized each other by the +tails, and he further noticed that several of them had their tails much +shorter than the rest. Norman said that these had been bitten off in +their battles; and, moreover, that it was a rare thing to find among the +males, or "bucks," as he called them, one that had a perfect tail! + +While these observations were being made, the attention of our party was +attracted to a strange animal that was seen slowly crawling around the +hill. It was a creature about as big as an ordinary setter dog, but +much thicker in the body, shorter in the legs, and shaggier in the coat. +Its head was flat, and its ears short and rounded. Its hair was long, +rough, and of a mottled hoary grey colour, but dark-brown upon the legs +and tail. The latter, though covered with long hair, was short, and +carried upright; and upon the broad feet of the animal could be seen +long and strong curving claws. Its snout was sharp as that of a +greyhound--though not so prettily formed--and a white stripe, passing +from its very tip over the crown, and bordered by two darker bands, gave +a singular expression to the animal's countenance. It was altogether, +both in form and feature, a strange and vicious-looking creature. +Norman recognised it at once as the "blaireau," or American badger. The +others had never seen such a creature before--as it is not an inhabitant +of the South, nor of any part of the settled portion of the United +States, for the animal there sometimes called a badger is the +ground-hog, or Maryland marmot (_Arctomys monax_). Indeed, it was for a +long time believed that no true badger inhabited the Continent of +America. Now, however, it is known that such exists, although it is of +a species distinct from the badger of Europe. It is less in size than +the latter, and its fur is longer, finer, and lighter in colour; but it +is also more voracious in its habits, preying constantly upon mice, +marmots, and other small animals, and feeding upon carcasses, whenever +it chances to meet with such. It is an inhabitant of the sandy and +barren districts, where it burrows the earth in such a manner that +horses frequently sink and snap their legs in the hollow ground made by +it. These are not always the holes scraped out for its own residence, +but the burrows of the marmots, which the blaireau has enlarged, so that +it may enter and prey upon them. In this way the creature obtains most +of its food, but as the marmots lie torpid during the winter months, and +the ground above them is frozen as hard as a rock, it is then impossible +for the blaireau to effect an entrance. At this season it would +undoubtedly starve had not Nature provided against such a result, by +giving it the power of sleeping throughout the winter months as well as +the marmots themselves, which it does. As soon as it wakes up and comes +abroad, it begins its campaign against these little creatures; and it +prefers, above all others, the "tawnies," and the beautiful "leopards," +both of which it persecutes incessantly. + +The badger when first seen was creeping along with its belly almost +dragging the ground, and its long snout projected horizontally in the +direction of the marmot "village." It was evidently meditating a +surprise of the inhabitants. Now and then it would stop, like a pointer +dog when close to a partridge, reconnoitre a moment, and then go on +again. Its design appeared to be to get between the marmots and their +burrows, intercept some of them, and get a hold of them without the +trouble of digging them up--although that would be no great affair to +it, for so strong are its fore-arms and claws that in loose soil it can +make its way under the ground as fast as a mole. + +Slowly and cautiously it stole along, its hind-feet resting all their +length upon the ground, its hideous snout thrown forward, and its eyes +glaring with a voracious and hungry expression. It had got within fifty +paces of the marmots, and would, no doubt, have succeeded in cutting off +the retreat of some of them, but at that moment a burrowing owl (_Strix +cunicularia_), that had been perched upon one of the mounds, rose up, +and commenced hovering in circles above the intruder. This drew the +attention of the marmot sentries to their well-known enemy, and their +warning cry was followed by a general scamper of both tawnies and +leopards towards their respective burrows. + +The blaireau, seeing that further concealment was no longer of any use, +raised himself higher upon his limbs, and sprang forward in pursuit. He +was too late, however, as the marmots had all got into their holes, and +their angry "seek-seek," was heard proceeding from various quarters out +of the bowels of the earth. The blaireau only hesitated long enough to +select one of the burrows into which he was sure a marmot had entered; +and then, setting himself to his work, he commenced throwing out the +mould like a terrier. In a few seconds he was half buried, and his +hindquarters and tail alone remained above ground. He would soon have +disappeared entirely, but at that moment the boys, directed and headed +by Norman, ran up the hill, and seizing him by the tail, endeavoured to +jerk him back. That, however, was a task which they could not +accomplish, for first one and then another, and then Basil and Norman-- +who were both strong boys--pulled with all their might, and could not +move him. Norman cautioned them against letting him go, as in a +moment's time he would burrow beyond their reach. So they held on until +Francois had got his gun ready. This the latter soon did, and a load of +small shot was fired into the blaireau's hips, which, although it did +not quite kill him, caused him to back out of the hole, and brought him +into the clutches of Marengo. A desperate struggle ensued, which ended +by the bloodhound doubling his vast black muzzle upon the throat of the +blaireau, and choking him to death in less than a dozen seconds; and +then his hide--the only part which was deemed of any value--was taken +off and carried to the camp. The carcass was left upon the face of the +hill, and the red shining object was soon espied by the buzzards and +turkey vultures, so that in a few minutes' time several of these filthy +birds were seen hovering around, and alighting upon the hill. + +But this was no new sight to our young voyageurs, and soon ceased to be +noticed by them. Another bird, of a different kind, for a short time +engaged their attention. It was a large hawk, which Lucien, as soon as +he saw it, pronounced to be one of the kind known as buzzards (_Buteo_). +Of these there are several species in North America, but it is not to +be supposed that there is any resemblance between them and the buzzards +just mentioned as having alighted by the carcass of the blaireau. The +latter, commonly called "turkey buzzards," are true vultures, and feed +mostly, though not exclusively, on carrion; while the "hawk buzzards" +have all the appearance and general habits of the rest of the falcon +tribe. + +The one in question, Lucien said, was the "marsh-hawk," sometimes also +called the "hen-harrier" (_Falco uliginosus_). Norman stated that it +was known among the Indians of these parts as the "snake-bird," because +it preys upon a species of small green snake that is common on the +plains of the Saskatchewan, and of which it is fonder than of any other +food. + +The voyageurs were not long in having evidence of the appropriateness of +the Indian appellation; for these people, like other savages, have the +good habit of giving names that express some quality or characteristic +of the thing itself. The bird in question was on the wing, and from its +movements evidently searching for game. It sailed in easy circlings +near the surface, _quartering_ the ground like a pointer dog. It flew +so lightly that its wings were not seen to move, and throughout all its +wheelings and turnings it appeared to be carried onwards or upwards by +the power of mere volition. Once or twice its course brought it +directly over the camp, and Francois had got hold of his gun, with the +intention of bringing it down, but on each occasion it perceived his +motions; and, soaring up like a paper-kite until out of reach, it passed +over the camp, and then sank down again upon the other side, and +continued its "quarterings" as before. For nearly half-an-hour it went +on manoeuvring in this way, when all at once it was seen to make a +sudden turning in the air as it fixed its eyes upon some object in the +grass. The next moment it glided diagonally towards the earth, and +poising itself for a moment above the surface, rose again with a small +green-coloured snake struggling in its talons. After ascending to some +height, it directed its flight towards a clump of trees, and was soon +lost to the view of our travellers. + +Lucien now pointed out to his companions a characteristic of the hawk +and buzzard tribe, by which these birds can always be distinguished from +the true falcon. That peculiarity lay in the manner of seizing their +prey. The former skim forward upon it sideways--that is, in a +horizontal or diagonal direction, and pick it up in passing; while the +true falcons--as the merlin, the peregrine, the gerfalcon, and the great +eagle-falcons--shoot down upon their prey _perpendicularly_ like an +arrow, or a piece of falling lead. + +He pointed out, moreover, how the structure of the different kinds of +preying birds, such as the size and form of the wings and tail, as well +as other parts, were in each kind adapted to its peculiar mode of +pursuing its prey; and then there arose a discussion as to whether this +adaptation should be considered a _cause_ or an _effect_. Lucien +succeeded in convincing his companions that the structure was the effect +and not the cause of the habit, for the young naturalist was a firm +believer in the changing and progressive system of nature. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +AN ODD SORT OF DECOY-DUCK. + +Two days after the adventure with the blaireau, the young voyageurs +arrived at Cumberland House--one of the most celebrated posts of the +Hudson's Bay Company. The chief factor, who resided there, was a friend +of Norman's father, and of course the youths were received with the +warmest hospitality, and entertained during their stay in the best +manner the place afforded. They did not make a long stay, however, as +they wished to complete their journey before the winter should set in, +when canoe-travelling would become impossible. During winter, not only +the lakes, but the most rapid rivers of these Northern regions, become +frozen up, and remain so for many months. Nearly the whole surface of +the earth is buried under deep snow, and travelling can only be done +with snow-shoes, or with sledges drawn by dogs. These are the modes +practised by the Indians, the Esquimaux, and the few white traders and +trappers who have occasion in winter to pass from one point to another +of that icy and desolate region. + +Travelling under such circumstances is not only difficult and laborious, +but is extremely perilous. Food cannot always be obtained--supplies +fall short, or become exhausted--game is scarce, or cannot be found at +all, as at that season many of the quadrupeds and most of the birds have +forsaken the country, and migrated to the South--and whole parties of +travellers--even Indians, who can eat anything living or dead, roast or +raw--often perish from hunger. + +Our travellers were well acquainted with these facts; and being anxious, +therefore, to get to the end of their journey before the winter should +come down upon them, made all haste to proceed. Of course they obtained +a new "outfit" at the Fort; but they took with them only such articles +as were absolutely necessary, as they had many portages to make before +they could reach the waters of the Mackenzie River. As it required two +of the party to carry the canoe, with a few little things besides, all +the baggage was comprised in such loads as the others could manage; and +of course that was not a great deal, for Francois was but a lad, and +Lucien was far from being in robust health. A light axe, a few cooking +utensils, with a small stock of provisions, and of course their guns, +formed the bulk of their loads. + +After leaving the Fort they kept for several days' journey up the +Saskatchewan. They then took leave of that river, and ascended a small +stream that emptied into it from the north. Making their first portage +over a "divide," they reached another small stream that ran in quite a +different direction, emptying itself into one of the branches of the +Mississippi, or Churchill River. Following this in a north-westerly +course, and making numerous other portages, they reached Lake La Crosse, +and afterwards in succession, Lakes Clear, Buffalo, and Methy. A long +"portage" from the last-mentioned lake brought them to the head of a +stream known as the "Clear Water;" and launching their canoe upon this, +they floated down to its mouth, and entered the main stream of the Elk, +or Athabasca, one of the most beautiful rivers of America. They were +now in reality upon the waters of the Mackenzie itself, for the Elk, +after passing through the Athabasca Lake, takes from thence the name of +Slave River, and having traversed Great Slave Lake, becomes the +Mackenzie--under which name it continues on to the Arctic Ocean. Having +got, therefore, upon the main head-water of the stream which they +intended to traverse, they floated along in their canoe with light +hearts and high hopes. It is true they had yet fifteen hundred miles to +travel, but they believed that it was all down-hill work now; and as +they had still nearly two months of summer before them, they doubted not +being able to accomplish the voyage in good time. + +On they floated down-stream, feasting their eyes as they went--for the +scenery of the Elk valley is of a most picturesque and pleasing +character; and the broad bosom of the stream itself, studded with wooded +islands, looked to our travellers more like a continuation of lakes than +a running river. Now they glided along without using an oar, borne +onward by the current; then they would take a spell at the paddles, +while the beautiful Canadian boat-song could be heard as it came from +the tiny craft, and the appropriate chorus "Row, brothers, row!" echoed +from the adjacent shores. No part of their journey was more pleasant +than while descending the romantic Elk. + +They found plenty of fresh provisions, both in the stream itself and on +its banks. They caught salmon in the water, and the silver-coloured +hyodon, known among the voyageurs by the name of "Dore." They shot both +ducks and geese, and roast-duck or goose had become an everyday dinner +with them. Of the geese there were several species. There were +"snow-geese," so called from their beautiful white plumage; and +"laughing geese," that derive their name from the circumstance that +their call resembles the laugh of a man. The Indians decoy these by +striking their open hand repeatedly over the mouth while uttering the +syllable "wah." They also saw the "Brent goose," a well-known species, +and the "Canada goose," which is the _wild goose par excellence_. +Another species resembling the latter, called the "barnacle goose," was +seen by our travellers. Besides these, Lucien informed them that there +were several other smaller kinds that inhabit the northern countries of +America. These valuable birds are objects of great interest to the +people of the fur countries for months in the year. Whole tribes of +Indians look to them as a means of support. + +With regard to ducks, there was one species which our travellers had not +yet met with, and for which they were every day upon the look-out. This +was the far-famed "canvass-back," so justly celebrated among the +epicures of America. None of them had ever eaten of it, as it is not +known in Louisiana, but only upon the Atlantic coast of the United +States. Norman, however, had heard of its existence in the Rocky +Mountains--where it is said to breed--as well as in other parts of the +fur countries, and they were in hopes that they might fall in with it +upon the waters of the Athabasca. Lucien was, of course, well +acquainted with its "biography," and could have recognised one at sight; +and as they glided along he volunteered to give his companions some +information, not only about this particular species, but about the whole +genus of these interesting birds. + +"The canvass-back," began he, "is perhaps the most celebrated and +highly-prized of all the ducks, on account of the exquisite flavour of +its flesh--which is thought by some epicures to be superior to that of +all other birds. It is not a large duck--rarely weighing over three +pounds--and its plumage is far from equalling in beauty that of many +other species. It has a red or chestnut-coloured head, a shining black +breast, while the greater part of its body is of a greyish colour; but +upon close examination this grey is found to be produced by a whitish +ground minutely mottled with zig-zag black lines. I believe it is this +mottling, combined with the colour, which somewhat resembles the +appearance and texture of ship's canvass, that has given the bird its +trivial name; but there is some obscurity about the origin of this. In +colour, however, it so nearly resembles the `pochard,' or `red-head' of +Europe, and its near congener the red-head (_Anas ferina_) of America, +that at a distance it is difficult to distinguish them from each other. +The last-mentioned species is always found associated with the +canvass-backs, and are even sold for the latter in the markets of New +York and Philadelphia. A naturalist, however, can easily distinguish +them by their bills and eyes. The canvass-back has red eyes, with a +greenish black bill, nearly straight; while the eyes of the red-head are +of an orange yellow, its bill bluish and concave along the upper ridge. + +"The canvass-back is known in natural history as _Anas valisneria_, and +this specific name is given to it because it feeds upon the roots of an +aquatic plant, a species of `tape-grass,' or `eel-grass;' but +botanically called `_Valisneria_,' after the Italian botanist, Antonio +Valisneri. This grass grows in slow-flowing streams, and also on shoals +by the seaside--where the water, from the influx of rivers, is only +brackish. The water where it grows is usually three to five feet in +depth, and the plant itself rises above the surface to the height of two +feet or more, with grass-like leaves of a deep green colour. Its roots +are white and succulent, and bear some resemblance to celery--hence the +plant is known among the duck-hunters as `wild celery.' It is upon +these roots the canvass-back almost exclusively feeds, and they give to +the flesh of these birds its peculiar and pleasant flavour. Wherever +the valisneria grows in quantity, as in the Chesapeake Bay and some +rivers, like the Hudson, there the canvass-backs resort, and are rarely +seen elsewhere. They do not eat the leaves but only the white soft +roots, which they dive for and pluck up with great dexterity. The +leaves when stripped of the root are suffered to float off upon the +surface of the water; and where the ducks have been feeding, large +quantities of them, under the name of `grass wrack,' are thrown by the +wind and tide upon the adjacent shores. + +"Shooting the canvass-backs is a source of profit to hundreds of gunners +who live around the Chesapeake Bay, as these birds command a high price +in the markets of the American cities. Disputes have arisen between the +fowlers of different States around the Bay about the right of shooting +upon it; and vessels full of armed men--ready to make war upon one +another--have gone out on this account. But the government of these +States succeeded in settling the matter peacefully, and to the +satisfaction of all parties." + +The canoe at this moment shot round a bend, and a long smooth expanse of +the river appeared before the eyes of our voyageurs. They could see +that upon one side another stream ran in, with a very sluggish current; +and around the mouth of this, and for a good stretch below it, there +appeared a green sedge-like water-grass, or rushes. Near the border of +this sedge, and in a part of it that was thin, a flock of wild fowl was +diving and feeding. They were small, and evidently ducks; but the +distance was yet too great for the boys to make out to what species they +belonged. A single large swan--a trumpeter--was upon the water, between +the shore and the ducks, and was gradually making towards the latter. +Francois immediately loaded one of his barrels with swan, or rather +"buck" shot, and Basil looked to his rifle. The ducks were not thought +of--the trumpeter was to be the game. Lucien took out his telescope, +and commenced observing the flock. They had not intended to use any +precaution in approaching the birds, as they were not extremely anxious +about getting a shot, and were permitting the canoe to glide gently +towards them. An exclamation from Lucien, however, caused them to +change their tactics. He directed them suddenly to "hold water" and +stop the canoe, at the same time telling them that the birds ahead were +the very sort about which they had been conversing--the "canvass-backs." +He had no doubt of it, judging from their colour, size, and peculiar +movements. + +The announcement produced a new excitement. All four were desirous not +only of shooting, but of _eating_, a canvass-back; and arrangements were +set about to effect the former. It was known to all that the +canvass-backs are among the shyest of water-fowl, so much so that it is +difficult to approach them unless under cover. While feeding, it is +said, they keep sentinels on the look-out. Whether this be true or not, +it is certain that they never all dive together, some always remaining +above water, and apparently watching while the others are under. A plan +to get near them was necessary, and one was suggested by Norman, which +was to tie bushes around the sides of the canoe, so as to hide both the +vessel and those in it. This plan was at once adopted--the canoe was +paddled up to the bank--thick bushes were cut, and tied along the +gunwale; and then our voyageurs climbed in, and laying themselves as low +as possible, commenced paddling gently downward in the direction of the +ducks. The rifles were laid aside, as they could be of little service +with such game. Francois' double-barrel was the arm upon which +dependence was now placed; and Francois himself leaned forward in the +bow in order to be ready, while the others attended to the guidance of +the vessel. The buck-shot had been drawn out, and a smaller kind +substituted. The swan was no longer cared for or even thought of. + +In about a quarter of an hour's time, the canoe, gliding silently along +the edge of the sedge--which was the wild celery (_Valisneria +spiralis_)--came near the place where the ducks were; and the boys, +peeping through the leafy screen, could now see the birds plainly. They +saw that they were not all canvass-backs, but that three distinct kinds +of ducks were feeding together. One sort was the canvass-backs +themselves, and a second kind very much resembled them, except that they +were a size smaller. These were the "red-heads" or "pochards." The +third species was different from either. They had also heads of a +reddish colour, but of a brighter red, and marked by a white band that +ran from the root of the bill over the crown. This mark enabled Lucien +at once to tell the species. They were widgeons (_Anas Americana_); but +the most singular thing that was now observed by our voyageurs was the +terms upon which these three kinds of birds lived with each other. It +appeared that the widgeon obtained its food by a regular system of +robbery and plunder perpetrated upon the community of the canvass-backs. +The latter, as Lucien had said, feeds upon the roots of the valisneria; +but for these it is obliged to dive to the depth of four or five feet, +and also to spend some time at the bottom while plucking them up. Now +the widgeon is as fond of the "celery" as the canvass-back, but the +former is not a diver--in fact, never goes under water except when +washing itself or in play, and it has therefore no means of procuring +the desired roots. Mark, then, the plan that it takes to effect this +end. Seated as near as is safe to the canvass-back, it waits until the +latter makes his _somersault_ and goes down. It (the widgeon) then +darts forward so as to be sufficiently close, and, pausing again, scans +the surface with eager eye. It can tell where the other is at work, as +the blades of the plant at which it is tugging are seen to move above +the water. These at length disappear, pulled down as the plant is +dragged from its root, and almost at the same instant the canvass-back +comes up holding the root between his mandibles. But the widgeon is +ready for him. He has calculated the exact spot where the other will +rise; and, before the latter can open his eyes or get them clear of the +water, the widgeon darts forward, snatches the luscious morsel from his +bill, and makes off with it. Conflicts sometimes ensue; but the +widgeon, knowing himself to be the lesser and weaker bird, never stands +to give battle, but secures his prize through his superior agility. On +the other hand, the canvass-back rarely attempts to follow him, as he +knows that the other is swifter upon the water than he. He only looks +after his lost root with an air of chagrin, and then, reflecting that +there is "plenty more where it came from," kicks up its heels, and once +more plunges to the bottom. + +The red-head rarely interferes with either, as he is contented to feed +upon the leaves and stalks, at all times floating in plenty upon the +surface. + +As the canoe glided near, those on board watched these curious +manoeuvres of the birds with feelings of interest. They saw, moreover, +that the "trumpeter" had arrived among them, and the ducks seemed to +take no notice of him. Lucien was struck with something unusual in the +appearance of the swan. Its plumage seemed ruffled and on end, and it +glided along in a stiff and unnatural manner. It moved its neck neither +to one side nor the other, but held its head bent forward, until its +bill almost touched the water, in the attitude that these birds adopt +when feeding upon something near the surface. Lucien said nothing to +his companions, as they were all silent, lest they might frighten the +ducks; but Basil and Norman had also remarked the strange look and +conduct of the trumpeter. Francois' eyes were bent only upon the ducks, +and he did not heed the other. + +As they came closer, first Lucien, and then Basil and Norman, saw +something else that puzzled them. Whenever the swan approached any of +the ducks, these were observed to disappear under the water. At first, +the boys thought that they merely dived to get out of his way, but it +was not exactly in the same manner as the others were diving for the +roots. Moreover, none of those that went down in the neighbourhood of +the swan were seen to come up again! + +There was something very odd in all this, and the three boys, thinking +so at the same time, were about to communicate their thoughts to one +another, when the double crack of Francois' gun drove the thing, for a +moment, out of their heads; and they all looked over the bushes to see +how many canvass-backs had been killed. Several were seen dead or +fluttering along the surface; but no one counted them, for a strange, +and even terrible, object now presented itself to the astonished senses +of all. If the conduct of the swan had been odd before, it was now +doubly so. Instead of flying off after the shot, as all expected it +would do, it was now seen to dance and plunge about on the water, +uttering loud screams, that resembled the human voice far more than any +other sounds! Then it rose as if pitched into the air, and fell on its +back some distance off; while in its place was seen a dark, round object +moving through the water, as if making for the bank, and uttering, as it +went, the same hideous human-like screams! + +This dark object was no other than the poll of a human being; and the +river shallowing towards the bank, it rose higher and higher above the +water, until the boys could distinguish the glistening neck and naked +shoulders of a red and brawny Indian! All was now explained. The +Indian had been duck-hunting, and had used the stuffed skin of the swan +as his disguise; and hence the puzzling motions of the bird. He had not +noticed the canoe--concealed as it was--until the loud crack of +Francois' gun had startled him from his work. This, and the heads and +white faces of the boys peeping over the bushes, had frightened him, +even more than he had them. Perhaps they were the first white faces he +had ever seen. But, whether or not, sadly frightened he was; for, on +reaching the bank, he did not stop, but ran off into the woods, howling +and yelling as if Old Nick had been after him: and no doubt he believed +that such was the case. + +The travellers picked up the swan-skin out of curiosity; and, in +addition to the ducks which Francois had killed, they found nearly a +score of these birds, which the Indian had dropped in his fright, and +that had afterwards risen to the surface. These were strung together, +and all had their necks broken. + +After getting them aboard, the canoe was cleared of the bushes; and the +paddles being once more called into service, the little craft shot +down-stream like an arrow. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +THE DUCKS OF AMERICA. + +Lucien now continued his "monograph" of the American ducks. + +"There are," said he, "more than two dozen species of ducks on the +waters of North America. These the systematists have divided into no +less than _eighteen genera_! Why it would be more easy to learn all +that ever was known about all the ducks in creation, than to remember +the eighteen generic names which these gentlemen have invented and put +forward. Moreover, the habits of any two species of these ducks are +more similar than those of any two kinds of dogs. Why then, I should +ask--why this complication? It is true that the ducks do not resemble +each other in every thing. Some species are fonder of water than +others. Some feed entirely upon vegetable substances; others upon small +fish, insects, crustacea, etcetera. Some live entirely in the sea; +others make their home in the freshwater lakes and rivers, while many +species dwell indifferently, either in salt or fresh waters. Some love +the open wave; others the sedgy marsh; while one or two species roost +upon trees, and build their nests in the hollow trunks. Notwithstanding +all this, there is such a similarity in the appearance and habits of the +different species, that I think the systematists have improved but +little, if anything, upon the simple arrangement of the true naturalist +Wilson, who--poor Scotch _emigre_ as he was, with an empty purse and a +loaded gun--has collected more original information about the birds of +America than all that have followed him. He described the ducks of +America under the single genus _Anas_; and, in my opinion, described +them in a more intelligent and intelligible manner than any one has done +since his time--not even excepting another great and true naturalist, +whose career has been longer, more successful, and happier; and whose +fame, in consequence of his better fortune, has become, perhaps, higher +and more extended. + +"The water-fowl of America," continued Lucien--"I mean the swans, geese, +and ducks, are of great importance in the fur countries where we are now +travelling. At certain seasons of the year, in many parts, they furnish +almost the only article of food that can be procured. They are all +migratory--that is, when the lakes and rivers of these regions become +frozen over in the winter they all migrate southward, but return again +to breed and spend the summer. They do this, perhaps, because these +wild territories afford them a better security during the season of +incubation, and afterwards of moulting. It is not very certain, +however, that this is the reason, and for my part I am inclined to think +not, for there are also wild, uninhabited territories enough in southern +latitudes, and yet they forsake these and migrate north in the spring. +`Their arrival in the fur countries,' writes a distinguished naturalist, +`marks the commencement of spring, and diffuses as much joy among the +wandering hunters of the Arctic regions, as the harvest or vintage +excites in more genial climes.' Both by the Indians and hunters in the +employ of the Hudson's Bay Company swans, geese, and ducks, are +slaughtered by thousands, and are eaten not only when fresh killed, but +they are salted in large quantities, and so preserved for winter use, +when fresh ones can no longer be procured. Of course, both Indian and +white hunters use all their art in killing or capturing them; and to +effect this they employ many different methods, as decoying, snaring, +netting, and shooting them: but Cousin Norman here could give a better +description of all these things than I. Perhaps he will favour us with +some account of them." + +"The Indians," said the young trader, taking up the subject without +hesitation, "usually snare them. Their most common way is to make a +number of hedges or wattle fences projecting into the water at right +angles to the edge of the lake, or, it may be, river. These fences are +two or three yards apart, and between each two there is, of course, an +opening, into which the birds swim, as they make towards the shore for +their food. In these openings, then, the snares are set and tied so +firmly to a post stuck in the bottom, that the birds, whether ducks, +geese, or swans, when caught, may not be able to drag it away. To keep +the snare in its place, it is secured to the wattles of the fence with +tender strands of grass, that of course give way the moment the fowl +becomes entangled. The snares are made out of deer sinews, twisted like +packthread, and sometimes of thongs cut from a `parchment' deerskin, +which, as you know, is a deerskin simply dried, and not tanned or +dressed. The making of the fences is the part that gives most trouble. +Sometimes the timber for the stakes is not easily had; and even when it +is plenty, it is no easy matter to drive the stakes into the bottom and +wattle them, while seated in a vessel so crank as a birch canoe. +Sometimes, in the rivers where the water-fowl most frequent, the current +is swift, and adds to this trouble. Where the lakes and rivers are +shallow, the thing becomes easier; and I have seen small lakes and +rivers fenced in this way from shore to shore. In large lakes this +would not be necessary, as most of the water-birds--such as the swans +and geese--and all the ducks that are not of the diving kinds, are sure +to come to the shore to feed, and are more likely to be taken close in +to land than out in the open water. + +"The Indians often snare these birds upon the nest, and they always wash +their hands before setting the snare. They have a notion--I don't know +whether true or not--that if their hands are not clean, the birds can +smell the snare, and will be shy of going into it. They say that all +these birds--and I believe it's true of all fowls that make their nests +upon the ground--go into the nest at one side, and out at the opposite. +The Indians knowing this, always set their snares at the side where the +bird enters, and by this they are more sure of catching them, and also +of getting them some hours sooner. + +"Besides snaring the water-fowl," continued Norman, "the Indians +sometimes catch them in nets, and sometimes on hooks baited with +whatever the birds are known to eat. They also shoot them as the white +hunters do, and to get near enough use every sort of cunning that can be +thought of. Sometimes they decoy them within shot, by putting wooden +ducks on the water near their cover, where they themselves are +stationed. Sometimes they disguise their canoes under brushwood, and +paddle to the edge of the flock; and when the moulting season comes +round, they pursue them through the water, and kill them with sticks. +The swans, when followed in this way, often escape. With their strong +wings and great webbed feet, they can flap faster over the surface than +a canoe can follow them. I have heard of many other tricks which the +Indians of different tribes make use of, but I have only seen these ways +I have described, besides the one we have just witnessed." + +Norman was one of your practical philosophers, who did not choose to +talk much of things with which he was not thoroughly acquainted. + +Lucien now took up the thread of the conversation, and gave some further +information about the different species of American ducks. + +"One of the most celebrated," said he, "is the `eider-duck' (_Anas +mollissima_). This is prized for its down, which is exceedingly soft +and fine, and esteemed of great value for lining quilts and making beds +for the over-luxurious. It is said that three pounds' weight of `eider +down' can be compressed to the size of a man's fist, and yet is +afterwards so dilatable as to fill a quilt of five feet square. The +down is generally obtained without killing the bird, for that which is +plucked from dead birds is far inferior, and has lost much of its +elasticity. The mode of procuring it is to steal it from the nest, in +the absence of the birds. The female lines the nest with down plucked +from her own breast. When this is stolen from her, by those who gather +the commodity, she plucks out a second crop of it, and arranges it as +before. This being also removed, it is said that the male bird then +makes a sacrifice of his downy waistcoat, and the nest is once more put +in order; but should this too be taken, the birds forsake their nest +never to return to it again. The quantity of `eider down' found in a +single nest is sufficient to fill a man's hat, and yet it will weigh +only about three ounces. + +"The eider-duck is about the size of the common mallard, or wild duck +proper. Its colour is black below, and buff-white on the back, neck, +and shoulders, while the forehead is bluish black. It is one of the +`sea-ducks,' or _fuligulae_, as the naturalists term them, and it is +rarely seen in fresh water. Its food is principally the soft mollusca +common in the Arctic seas, and its flesh is not esteemed except by the +Greenlanders. It is at home only in the higher latitudes of both +Continents, and loves to dwell upon the rocky shores of the sea; but in +very severe winters, it makes its appearance along the Atlantic coast of +the United States, where it receives different names from the gunners-- +such as `black-and-white coot,' `big sea-duck,' `shoal-duck,' and +`squaw-duck;' and under these titles it is often sold in the markets of +American cities. Some suppose that the eider-duck could be easily +domesticated. If so, it would, no doubt, prove a profitable as well as +an interesting experiment; but I believe it has already been attempted +without success. It is in the countries of Northern Europe where the +gathering of the eider down has been made an object of industry. On the +American Continent the pursuit is not followed, either by the native or +white settler. + +"Another species common to the higher latitudes of both Continents is +the `king-duck,' so called from its very showy appearance. Its habits +are very similar to the `eider,' and its down is equally soft and +valuable, but it is a smaller bird. + +"A still smaller species, also noted for its brilliant plumage, inhabits +the extreme north of both continents. This is the `harlequin-duck;' or, +as the early colonists term it, the `lord.' + +"But the `wood-duck' (_Anas sponsa_) is perhaps the most beautiful of +all the American species, or indeed of all ducks whatever--although it +has a rival in the _mandarin duck_ of China, which indeed it very much +resembles both in size and markings. The wood-duck is so called from +the fact of its making its nest in hollow trees, and roosting +occasionally on the branches. It is a freshwater duck, and a Southern +species--never being seen in very high latitudes; nor is it known in +Europe in a wild state, but is peculiar to the Continent of America. It +is one of the easiest species to domesticate, and no zoological garden +is now without it; in all of which its small size--being about that of a +widgeon--its active movements and innocent look, its musical +_peet-peet_, and, above all, its beautiful plumage, make it a general +favourite. + +"Besides these, there are many others of the American ducks, whose +description would interest you, but you would grow tired were I to give +a detailed account of them all; so I shall only mention a few that are +distinguished by well-known peculiarities. There is the `whistler' +(_Anas clangula_), which takes its trivial name from the whistling sound +of its wings while in flight; and the `shoveller,' so called from the +form of its bill; and the `conjuring,' or `spirit' ducks of the Indians +(_Anas vulgaris_ and _albeola_), because they dive so quickly and +dexterously, that it is almost impossible to shoot them either with bow +or gun. There is the `old wife,' or `old squaw' (_Anas glacialis_), so +called from its incessant cackle, which the hunters liken to the +scolding of an ill-tempered old wife. This species is the most noisy of +all the duck tribe, and is called by the voyageurs `caccawee,' from its +fancied utterance of these syllables; and the sound, so often heard in +the long nights of the fur countries, has been woven into and forms the +burden of many a voyageur's song. In some parts of the United States +the caccawee is called `south-southerly,' as its voice is there thought +to resemble this phrase, while at the time when most heard--the autumn-- +these ducks are observed flying in a southerly direction. + +"Besides these," continued Lucien, "there are the teals--blue and +green-winged--and the coots, and the widgeon--slightly differing from +the widgeon of Europe--and there is the rare and beautiful little ruddy +duck (_Anas rubida_), with its bright mahogany colour--its long upright +tail and short neck--that at a distance give it the appearance of a duck +with two heads. And there is the well-known `pintail,' and the +`pochard' or `red-head;' and the `mallard,' from which comes the common +domestic variety, and the `scoter,' and `surf,' and `velvet,' and +`dusky,' ducks--these last four being all, more or less, of a dark +colour. And there are the `shell-drakes,' or `fishers,' that swim low +in the water, dive and fly well, but walk badly, and feed altogether on +fish. These, on account of their toothed bills, form a genus of +themselves--the `mergansers,'--and four distinct species of them are +known in America." + +The approach of night, and the necessity of landing, to make their night +camp, brought Lucien's lecture to a close. Indeed Francois was glad +when it ended, for he was beginning to think it somewhat tedious. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +THE SHRIKE AND THE HUMMING-BIRDS. + +The picturesque scenery of the Elk appeared to be a favourite resort +with the feathered creation. Here our voyageurs saw many kinds of +birds; both those that migrate into the fur countries during summer, and +those that make their home there in the cold, dark days of winter. +Among the former were observed,--the beautiful blue bird of Wilson +(_Sialia Wilsoni_) which, on account of its gentle and innocent habits, +is quite as much esteemed in America as the "robin" in England. Another +favourite of the farmer and the homestead, the purple martin, was seen +gracefully wheeling through the air; while, among the green leaves, +fluttered many brilliant birds. The "cardinal grosbeak" (_Pitylus +cardinalis_) with his bright scarlet wings; the blue jay, noisy and +chattering; the rarer "crossbill" (_Loxia_) with its deep crimson +colour; and many others, equally bright and beautiful, enlivened the +woods, either with their voice or their gaudy plumage. There was one +bird, however, that had neither "fine feathers" nor an agreeable voice, +but that interested our travellers more than any of the others. Its +voice was unpleasant to the ear, and sounded more like the grating of a +rusty hinge than anything else they could think of. The bird itself was +not larger than a thrush, of a light grey colour above, white +underneath, and with blackish wings. Its bill resembled that of the +hawks, but its legs were more like those of the woodpecker tribe; and it +seemed, in fact, to be a cross between the two. It was neither the +colour of the bird, nor its form, nor yet its song, that interested our +travellers, but its singular habits; and these they had a fine +opportunity of observing at one of their "noon camps," where they had +halted to rest and refresh themselves during the hot midday hours. The +place was on one of the little islets, which was covered with underwood, +with here and there some larger trees. The underwood bushes were of +various sorts; but close to the spot where they had landed was a large +thicket of honeysuckle, whose flowers were in full bloom, and filled the +air with their sweet perfume. + +While seated near these, Francois' quick eye detected the presence of +some very small birds moving among the blossoms. They were at once +pronounced to be humming-birds, and of that species known as the +"ruby-throats" (_Trochilus rolubris_), so called, because a flake of a +beautiful vinous colour under the throat of the males exhibits, in the +sun, all the glancing glories of the ruby. The back, or upper parts, +are of a gilded green colour; and the little creature is the smallest +bird that migrates into the fur countries, with one exception, and that +is a bird of the same genus,--the "cinnamon humming-bird" (_Trochilus +rufus_). The latter, however, has been seen in the Northern regions, +only on the western side of the Rocky Mountains; but then it has been +observed even as far north as the bleak and inhospitable shores of +Nootka Sound. Mexico, and the tropical countries of America, are the +favourite home of the humming-birds; and it was, for a long time, +supposed that the "ruby-throats" were the only ones that migrated +farther north than the territory of Mexico itself. It is now known, +that besides the "cinnamon humming-bird," two or three other species +annually make an excursion into higher latitudes. + +The "ruby-throats" not only travel into the fur countries, but breed in +numbers upon the Elk River, the very place where our travellers now +observed them. + +As they sat watching these little creatures, for there were several of +them skipping about and poising themselves opposite the flowers, the +attention of all was attracted to the movements of a far different sort +of bird. It was that one we have been speaking of. It was seated upon +a tree, not far from the honeysuckles; but every now and then it would +spring from its perch, dash forward, and after whirring about for some +moments among the humming-birds, fly back to the same tree. + +At first the boys watched these manoeuvres without having their +curiosity excited. It was no new thing to see birds acting in this +manner. The jays, and many other birds of the fly-catching kind +(_Muscicapae_), have this habit, and nothing was thought of it at the +moment. Lucien, however, who had watched the bird more narrowly, +presently declared to the rest that it was catching the humming-birds, +and preying upon them--that each time it made a dash among the +honeysuckles, it carried off one in its claws, the smallness of the +victim having prevented them at first from noticing this fact. They all +now watched it more closely than before, and were soon satisfied of the +truth of Lucien's assertion, as they saw it seize one of the +ruby-throats in the very act of entering the corolla of a flower. This +excited the indignation of Francois, who immediately took up his +"double-barrel," and proceeded towards the tree where the bird, as +before, had carried this last victim. The tree was a low one, of the +locust or _pseud-acacia_ family, and covered all over with great thorny +spikes, like all trees of that tribe. Francois paid no attention to +this; but, keeping under shelter of the underwood, he crept forward +until within shot. Then raising his gun, he took aim, and pulling +trigger, brought the bird fluttering down through the branches. He +stepped forward and picked it up--not that he cared for such unworthy +game, but Lucien had called to him to do so, as the naturalist wished to +make an examination of the creature. He was about turning to go back to +camp, when he chanced to glance his eye up into the locust-tree. There +it was riveted by a sight which caused him to cry out with astonishment. +His cry brought the rest running up to the spot, and they were not less +astonished than he, when they saw the cause of it. I have said that the +branches of the tree were covered with long thorny spikes that pointed +in every direction; but one branch in particular occupied their +attention. Upon this there were about a dozen of these spines pointing +upward, and upon each spike _was impaled a ruby-throat_! The little +creatures were dead, of course, but they were neither torn nor even much +ruffled in their plumage. They were all placed back upwards, and as +neatly spitted upon the thorns as if they had been put there by human +hands. On looking more closely, it was discovered that other creatures, +as well as the humming-birds, had been served in a similar manner. +Several grasshoppers, spiders, and some coleopterous insects were found, +and upon another branch two small meadow-mice (_Arvicolae_) had been +treated to the same terrible death! + +To Basil, Norman, and Francois, the thing was quite inexplicable, but +Lucien understood well enough what it meant. All these creatures, he +informed them, were placed there by the bird which Francois had shot, +and which was no other than the "shrike" (_Lanius_) or "butcher-bird"--a +name by which it is more familiarly known, and which it receives from +the very habit they had just observed. Why it follows such a practice +Lucien could not tell, as naturalists are not agreed upon this point. +Some have asserted that it spits the spiders and other insects for the +purpose of attracting nearer the small birds upon which it preys; but +this cannot be true, for it preys mostly upon birds that are not +insect-eaters, as the finches: besides, it is itself as fond of eating +grasshoppers as anything else, and consumes large quantities of these +insects. The most probable explanation of the singular and apparently +cruel habit of the butcher-bird is, that it merely places its victims +upon the thorns, in order to keep them safe from ground-ants, rats, +mice, raccoons, foxes, and other preying creatures--just as a good cook +would hang up her meat or game in the larder to prevent the cats from +carrying it off. The thorny tree thus becomes the storehouse of the +shrike, where he hangs up his superfluous spoil for future use, just as +the crows, magpies, and jays, make their secret deposits in chinks of +walls and the hollows of trees. It is no argument against this theory, +that the shrike sometimes leaves these stores without returning to them. +The fox, and dog, as well as many other preying creatures, have the +same habit. + +Wondering at what they had seen, the voyageurs returned to their camp, +and once more embarked on their journey. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +THE FISH-HAWK. + +A few days after, another incident occurred to our voyageurs, which +illustrated the habits of a very interesting bird, the "osprey," or +fish-hawk, as it is more familiarly known in America. + +The osprey (_Falco halicetus_) is a bird of the falcon tribe, and one of +the largest of the genus--measuring two feet from bill to tail, with an +immense spread of wing in proportion, being nearly six feet from tip to +tip. It is of a dark-brown colour above, that colour peculiar to most +of the hawk tribe, while its lower parts are ashy white. Its legs and +bill are blue, and its eyes of a yellow orange. It is found in nearly +all parts of America, where there are waters containing fish, for on +these it exclusively feeds. It is more common on the sea-coast than in +the interior, although it also frequents the large lakes, and lives in +the central parts of the continent during summer, when these are no +longer frozen over. It is not often seen upon muddy rivers, as there it +would stand no chance of espying its victims in the water. It is a +migratory bird, seeking the South in winter, and especially the shores +of the Great Mexican Gulf, where large numbers are often seen fishing +together. In the spring season these birds move to the northward, and +make their appearance along the Atlantic coast of the continent, where +they diffuse joy into the hearts of the fishermen--because the latter +know, on seeing them, that they may soon expect the large shoals of +herring, shad, and other fish, for which they have been anxiously +looking out. So great favourites are they with the fishermen, that they +would not knowingly kill an osprey for a boat-load of fish, but regard +these bold fishing birds in the light of "professional brethren." In +this case the old adage that "two of a trade never agree" is clearly +contradicted. The farmer often takes up his gun to fire at the osprey-- +mistaking it for the red-tailed buzzard (_Buteo borealis_) or some other +hawk, several species of which at a distance it resembles--but, on +discovering his mistake, brings down his piece without pulling trigger, +and lets the osprey fly off unharmed. This singular conduct on the part +of the farmer arises from his knowledge of the fact, that the osprey +will not only _not_ kill any of his ducks or hens, but that where he +makes a settlement he will drive off from the premises all the hawks, +buzzards, and kites, that would otherwise prey upon the poultry. With +such protection, therefore, the osprey is one of the securest birds in +America. He may breed in a tree over the farmer's or fisherman's door +without the slightest danger of being disturbed in his incubation. I +say _his_ incubation; but the male takes no part in this domestic duty, +further than to supply his loved mate with plenty of fish while she does +the hatching business. Of course, thus protected, the osprey is not a +rare bird. On the contrary, fish-hawks are more numerous than perhaps +any other species of the hawk tribe. Twenty or thirty nests may be seen +near each other in the same piece of woods, and as many as three hundred +have been counted on one little island. The nests are built upon large +trees--not always at the tops, as those of rooks, but often in forks +within twenty feet of the ground. They are composed of large sticks, +with stalks of corn, weeds, pieces of wet turf, and then lined +plentifully with dry sea-grass, or any other grass that may be most +convenient. The whole nest is big enough to make a load for a cart, and +would be heavy enough to give any horse a good pull. It can be seen, +when the woods are open, to an immense distance, and the more easily, as +the tree upon which it is built is always a "dead wood," and therefore +without leaves to conceal it. Some say that the birds select a dead or +decaying tree for their nest. It is more probable such is the effect, +and not the cause, of their building upon a particular tree. It is more +likely that the tree is killed partly by the mass of rubbish thus piled +upon it, and partly by the nature of the substances, such as sea-weed in +the nest, the oil of the fish, the excrement of the birds themselves, +and the dead fish that have been dropped about the root, and suffered to +remain there; for when the osprey lets fall his finny prey, which he +often does, he never condescends to pick it up again, but goes in search +of another. Boys "a-nesting" might easily discover the nest of the +osprey; but were they inclined to despoil it of its three or four eggs +(which are about the size of a duck's, and blotched with Spanish brown), +they would find that a less easy task, for the owners would be very +likely to claw their eyes out, or else scratch the tender skin from +their beardless cheeks: so that boys do not often trouble the nest of +the osprey. A very curious anecdote is related of a negro having +climbed up to plunder a nest of these birds. The negro's head was +covered with a close nap of his own black wool, which is supposed by a +certain stretch of fancy to have the peculiarity of "growing in at both +ends." The negro, having no other protection than that which his thick +fur afforded him, was assailed by both the owners of the nest, one of +which, making a dash at the "darkie's" head, struck his talons so firmly +into the wool, that he was unable to extricate them, and there stuck +fast, until the astonished plunderer had reached the foot of the tree. +We shall not answer for the truthfulness of this anecdote, although +there is nothing improbable about it; for certain it is that these birds +defend their nests with courage and fury, and we know of more than one +instance of persons being severely wounded who made the attempt to rob +them. + +The ospreys, as already stated, feed exclusively on fish. They are not +known to prey upon birds or quadrupeds of any kind, even when deprived +of their customary food, as they sometimes are for days, on account of +the lakes and rivers, in which they expected to find it, being frozen +over to a later season than usual. Other birds, as the purple grakles, +often build among the sticks of the osprey's nest, and rear their young +without being meddled with by this generous bird. This is an important +point of difference between the osprey and other kinds of hawks; and +there is a peculiarity of structure about the feet and legs of the +osprey, that points to the nature of his food and his mode of procuring +it. His legs are disproportionately long and strong. They are without +feathers nearly to the knees. The feet and toes are also very long, and +the soles are covered with thick, hard scales, like the teeth of a rasp, +which enable the bird to hold securely his slippery prey. The claws, +too, are long, and curved into semicircles, with points upon them almost +as sharp as needles. + +I have stated that an incident occurred to our party that illustrated +some of the habits of this interesting bird. It was upon the afternoon +of a Saturday, after they had fixed their camp to remain for the +following day. They had landed upon a point or promontory that ran out +into the river, and from which they commanded a view of a fine stretch +of water. Near where they had placed their tent was the nest of an +osprey, in the forks of a large poplar. The tree, as usual, was dead, +and the young were plainly visible over the edge of the nest. They +appeared to be full-grown and feathered; but it is a peculiarity of the +young ospreys that they will remain in the nest, and be fed by the +parent birds, until long after they might be considered able to shift +for themselves. It is even asserted that the latter become impatient at +length, and drive the young ones out of the nest by beating them with +their wings; but that for a considerable time afterwards they continue +to feed them--most likely until the young birds learn to capture their +finny prey for themselves. + +This Lucien gave as a popular statement, but did not vouch for its +truth. It was not long, however, before both he and his companions +witnessed its complete verification. + +The old birds, after the arrival of the voyageurs upon the promontory, +had remained for some time around the nest, and at intervals had shot +down to where the party was, uttering loud screams, and making the air +whizz with the strokes of their wings. Seeing that there was no +intention of disturbing them, they at length desisted from these +demonstrations, and sat for a good while quietly upon the edge of their +nest. Then first one, and shortly after the other, flew out, and +commenced sailing in circles, at the height of an hundred feet or so +above the water. Nothing could be more graceful than their flight. Now +they would poise themselves a moment in the air, then turn their bodies +as if on a pivot, and glide off in another direction. All these motions +were carried on with the most perfect ease, and as if without the +slightest aid from the wings. Again they would come to a pause, holding +themselves fixed in mid-air by a gentle flapping, and appearing to +scrutinise some object below. Perhaps it was a fish; but it was either +too large a one, or not the species most relished, or maybe it had sunk +to too great a depth to be easily taken. Again they sail around; one of +them suddenly arrests its flight, and, like a stone projected from a +sling, shoots down to the water. Before reaching the surface, however, +the fish, whose quick eye has detected the coming enemy, has gone to the +dark bottom, and concealed himself; and the osprey, suddenly checking +himself by his wings and the spread of his full tail, mounts again, and +re-commences his curvilinear flight. + +After this had gone on for some time, one of the birds--the larger one, +and therefore the female--was seen to leave off hunting, and return to +the nest. There she sat only for a few seconds, when, to the +astonishment of the boys, she began to strike her wings against the +young ones, as if she was endeavouring to force them from the nest. +This was just what she designed doing. Perhaps her late unsuccessful +attempt to get them a fish had led her to a train of reflections, and +sharpened her determination to make them shift for themselves. However +that may be, in a few moments she succeeded in driving them up to the +edge, and then, by half pushing, and half beating them with her wings, +one after the other--two of them there were--was seen to take wing, and +soar away out over the lake. + +At this moment, the male shot down upon the water, and then rose again +into the air, bearing a fish, head-foremost, in his talons. He flew +directly towards one of the young, and meeting it as it hovered in the +air, turned suddenly over, and held out the fish to it. The latter +clutched it with as much ease as if it had been accustomed to the thing +for years, and then turning away, carried the fish to a neighbouring +tree, and commenced devouring it. The action had been perceived by the +other youngster, who followed after, and alighted upon the same branch, +with the intention of sharing in the meal. In a few minutes, the best +part of the fish was eaten up, and both, rising from the branch, flew +back to their nest. There they were met by the parents, and welcomed +with a loud squeaking, that was intended, no doubt, to congratulate them +upon the success of their first "fly." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +THE OSPREY AND HIS TYRANT. + +After remaining for some time on the nest along with the others, the old +male again resolved to "go a-fishing," and with this intent he shot out +from the tree, and commenced wheeling above the water. The boys, having +nothing better to engage them, sat watching his motions, while they +freely conversed about his habits and other points in his natural +history. Lucien informed them that the osprey is a bird common to both +Continents, and that it is often seen upon the shores of the +Mediterranean, pursuing the finny tribes there, just as it does in +America. In some parts of Italy it is called the "leaden eagle," +because its sudden heavy plunge upon the water is fancied to resemble +the falling of a piece of lead. + +While they were discoursing, the osprey was seen to dip once or twice +towards the surface of the water, and then suddenly check himself, and +mount upward again. These manoeuvres were no doubt caused by the fish +which he intended to "hook" having suddenly shifted their quarters. +Most probably experience had taught them wisdom, and they knew the +osprey as their most terrible enemy. But they were not to escape him at +all times. As the boys watched the bird, he was seen to poise himself +for an instant in the air, then suddenly closing his wings, he shot +vertically downward. So rapid was his descent, that the eye could only +trace it like a bolt of lightning. There was a sharp whizzing sound in +the air--a plash was heard--then the smooth bosom of the water was seen +to break, and the white spray rose several feet above the surface. For +an instant the bird was no longer seen. He was underneath, and the +place of his descent was marked by a patch of foam. Only a single +moment was he out of sight. The next he emerged, and a few strokes of +his broad wing carried him into the air, while a large fish was seen +griped in his claws. As the voyageurs had before noticed, the fish was +carried head-foremost, and this led them to the conclusion that in +striking his prey beneath the water the osprey follows it and aims his +blow from behind. + +After mounting a short distance the bird paused for a moment in the air, +and gave himself a shake, precisely as a dog would do after coming out +of water. He then directed his flight, now somewhat slow and heavy, +toward the nest. On reaching the tree, however, there appeared to be +some mismanagement. The fish caught among the branches as he flew +inward. Perhaps the presence of the camp had distracted his attention, +and rendered him less careful. At all events, the prey was seen to drop +from his talons; and bounding from branch to branch, went tumbling down +to the bottom of the tree. + +Nothing could be more opportune than this, for Francois had not been +able to get a "nibble" during the whole day, and a fresh fish for dinner +was very desirable to all. Francois and Basil had both started to their +feet, in order to secure the fish before the osprey should pounce down +and pick it up; but Lucien assured them that they, need be in no hurry +about that, as the bird would not touch it again after he had once let +it fall. Hearing this, they took their time about it, and walked +leisurely up to the tree, where they found the fish lying. After taking +it up they were fain to escape from the spot, for the effluvium arising +from a mass of other fish that lay in a decomposed state around the tree +was more than any delicate pair of nostrils could endure. The one they +had secured proved to be a very fine salmon of not less than six pounds +weight, and therefore much heavier than the bird itself! The track of +the osprey's talons was deeply marked; and by the direction in which the +creature was scored, it was evident the bird had seized it from behind. +The old hawks made a considerable noise while the fish was being carried +away; but they soon gave up their squealing, and, once more hovering out +over the river, sailed about with their eyes bent upon the water below. + +"What a number of fish they must kill!" said Francois. "They don't +appear to have much difficulty about it. I should think they get as +much as they can eat. See! there again! Another, I declare!" + +As Francois spake the male osprey was seen to shoot down as before, and +this time, although he appeared scarcely to dip his foot in the water, +rose up with a fish in his talons. + +"They have sometimes others to provide for besides themselves," remarked +Lucien. "For instance, the bald eagle--" + +Lucien was interrupted by a cackling scream, which was at once +recognised as that of the very bird whose name had just escaped his +lips. All eyes were instantly turned in the direction whence it came-- +which was from the opposite side of the river--and there, just in the +act of launching itself from the top of a tall tree, was the great enemy +of the osprey--the white-headed eagle himself! + +"Now a chase!" cried Francois, "yonder comes the big robber!" + +With some excitement of feeling, the whole party watched the movements +of the birds. A few strokes of the eagle's wing brought him near; but +the osprey had already heard his scream, and knowing it was no use +carrying the fish to his nest, turned away from it, and rose spirally +upward, in the hope of escaping in that direction. The eagle followed, +beating the air with his broad pinions, as he soared after. Close +behind him went the female osprey, uttering wild screams, flapping her +wings against his very beak, and endeavouring to distract his attention +from the chase. It was to no purpose, however, as the eagle full well +knew her object, and disregarding her impotent attempts, kept on in +steady flight after her mate. This continued until the birds had +reached a high elevation, and the ospreys, from their less bulk, were +nearly out of sight. But the voyageurs could see that the eagle was on +the point of overtaking the one that carried the fish. Presently, a +glittering object dropped down from the heavens, and fell with a plunge +upon the water. It was the fish, and almost at the same instant was +heard the "whish!" of the eagle, as the great bird shot after it. +Before reaching the surface, however, his white tail and wings were seen +to spread suddenly, checking his downward course; and then, with a +scream of disappointment, he flew off in a horizontal direction, and +alit upon the same tree from which he had taken his departure. In a +minute after the ospreys came shooting down, in a diagonal line, to +their nest; and, having arrived there, a loud and apparently angry +consultation was carried on for some time, in which the young birds bore +as noisy a part as either of their parents. + +"It's a wonder," said Lucien, "the eagle missed the fish--he rarely +does. The impetus which he can give his body enables him to overtake a +falling object before it can reach the earth. Perhaps the female osprey +was in his way, and hindered him." + +"But why did he not pick it up in the water?" demanded Francois. + +"Because it went to the bottom, and he could not reach it--that's +clear." + +It was Basil who made answer, and the reason he assigned was the true +one. + +"It's too bad," said Francois, "that the osprey, not half so big a bird, +must support this great robber-tyrant by his industry." + +"It's no worse than among our own kind," interposed Basil. "See how the +white man makes the black one work for him here in America. That, +however, is the _few_ toiling for the _million_. In Europe the case is +reversed. There, in every country, you see the million toiling for the +few--toiling to support an oligarchy in luxurious ease, or a monarch in +barbaric splendour." + +"But why do they do so? the fools!" asked Francois, somewhat angrily. + +"Because they know no better. That oligarchy, and those monarchs, have +taken precious care to educate and train them to the belief that such is +the _natural_ state of man. They furnish them with school-books, which +are filled with beautiful sophisms--all tending to inculcate principles +of endurance of wrong, and reverence for their wrongers. They fill +their rude throats with hurrah songs that paint false patriotism in +glowing colours, making loyalty--no matter to whatsoever despot--the +greatest of virtues, and revolution the greatest of crimes; they +studiously divide their subjects into several creeds, and then, playing +upon the worst of all passions--the passion of religious bigotry--easily +prevent their misguided helots from uniting upon any point which would +give them a real reform. Ah! it is a terrible game which the present +rulers of Europe are playing!" + +It was Basil who gave utterance to these sentiments, for the young +republican of Louisiana had already begun to think strongly on political +subjects. No doubt Basil would one day be an M.C. + +"The bald eagles have been much blamed for their treatment of the +ospreys, but," said Lucien, "perhaps they have more reason for levying +their tax than at first appears. It has been asked: Why they do not +capture the fish themselves? Now, I apprehend, that there is a +_natural_ reason why they do not. As you have seen, the fish are not +always caught upon the surface. The osprey has often to plunge beneath +the water in the pursuit, and Nature has gifted him with power to do so, +which, if I am not mistaken, she has denied to the eagles. The latter +are therefore compelled, in some measure, to depend upon the former for +a supply. But the eagles sometimes do catch the fish themselves, when +the water is sufficiently shallow, or when their prey comes near enough +to the surface to enable them to seize it." + +"Do they ever kill the ospreys?" inquired Francois. + +"I think not," replied Lucien; "that would be `killing the goose,' +etcetera. They know the value of their tax-payers too well to get rid +of them in that way. A band of ospreys, in a place where there happens +to be many of them together, have been known to unite and drive the +eagles off. That, I suppose, must be looked upon in the light of a +successful _revolution_." + +The conversation was here interrupted by another incident. The ospreys +had again gone out fishing, and, at this moment, one of them was seen to +pounce down and take a fish from the water. It was a large fish, and, +as the bird flew heavily upward, the eagle again left its perch, and +gave chase. This time the osprey was overtaken before it had got two +hundred yards into the air, and seeing it was no use attempting to carry +off the prey, it opened its claws and let it drop. The eagle turned +suddenly, poised himself a moment, and then shot after the falling fish. +Before the latter had got near the ground, he overtook and secured it +in his talons. Then, arresting his own flight by the sudden spread of +his tail, he winged his way silently across the river, and disappeared +among the trees upon the opposite side. The osprey, taking the thing as +a matter of course, again descended to the proper elevation, and betook +himself to his work. Perhaps he grinned a little like many another +royal tax-payer, but he knew the tax had to be paid all the same, and he +said nothing. + +An incident soon after occurred that astonished and puzzled our party +not a little. The female osprey, that all this time seemed to have had +but poor success in her fishing, was now seen to descend with a rush, +and plunge deeply into the wave. The spray rose in a little cloud over +the spot, and all sat watching with eager eyes to witness the result. +What was their astonishment when, after waiting many seconds, the bird +still remained under water! Minutes passed, and still she did not come +up. _She came up no more_! The foam she had made in her descent +floated away--the bosom of the water was smooth as glass--not a ripple +disturbed its surface. They could have seen the smallest object for a +hundred yards or more around the spot where she had disappeared. It was +impossible she could have emerged without them seeing her. Where, then, +had she gone? This, as I have said, puzzled the whole party; and formed +a subject of conjecture and conversation for the rest of that day, and +also upon the next. Even Lucien was unable to solve the mystery. It +was a point in the natural history of the osprey unknown to him. Could +she have drowned herself? Had some great fish, the "gar pike," or some +such creature, got hold of and swallowed her? Had she dashed her head +against a rock, or become entangled in weeds at the bottom of the river? + +All these questions were put, and various solutions of the problem were +offered. The true one was not thought of, until accident revealed it. +It was Saturday when the incident occurred. The party, of course, +remained all next day at the place. They heard almost continually the +cry of the bereaved bird, who most likely knew no more than they what +had become of his mate. On Monday our travellers re-embarked and +continued down-stream. About a mile below, as they were paddling along, +their attention was drawn to a singular object floating upon the water. +They brought the canoe alongside it. It was a large fish, a sturgeon, +floating dead, with a bird beside it, also dead! On turning both over, +what was their astonishment to see that the talons of the bird were +firmly fixed in the back of the fish! It was the _female osprey_! This +explained all. She had struck a fish too heavy for her strength, and +being unable to clear her claws again, had been drawn under the water +and had perished along with her victim! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +THE VOYAGE INTERRUPTED. + +About ten days' rapid travelling down the Elk River brought our party +into the Athabasca Lake--sometimes called the "Lake of the Hills." This +is another of those great bodies of fresh water that lie between the +primitive rocks of the "Barren Grounds," and the more fertile limestone +deposit upon the west. It is nearly two hundred miles long from west to +east, and is only fifteen miles in breadth, but in some places it is so +narrow and full of islands that it looks more like a broad river than a +lake. Its shores and many of its islands are thickly wooded, +particularly upon the southern and western edges; and the eye of the +traveller is delighted with many a beautiful vista as he passes along. +But our voyageurs took little heed of these things. A gloom had come +over their spirits, for one of their party had taken ill, and was +suffering from a painful and dangerous disease--an intermittent fever. +It was Lucien--he that was beloved by all of them. He had been +complaining for several days--even while admiring the fair scenery of +the romantic Elk--but every day he had been getting worse, until, on +their arrival at the lake, he declared himself no longer able to travel. +It became necessary, therefore, to suspend their journey; and choosing +a place for their camp, they made arrangements to remain until Lucien +should recover. They built a small log-hut for the invalid, and did +everything to make him as comfortable as possible. The best skins were +spread for his couch; and cooling drinks were brewed for him from roots, +fruits, and berries, in the way he had already taught his companions to +prepare them. Every day Francois went forth with his gun, and returned +with a pair of young pigeons, or a wood-partridge, or a brace of the +beautiful ruffed grouse; and out of these he would make delicate soups, +which he was the better able to do as they had procured salt, pepper, +and other ingredients, at the Fort. They had also brought with them a +stock of tea--the real China tea--and sugar; and as the quantity of both +was but small, this luxurious beverage was made exclusively for Lucien, +and was found by him exceedingly beneficial during his illness. + +To the great joy of all the invalid was at length restored to health, +and the canoe being once more launched and freighted, they continued +their journey. + +They coasted along the shores of the lake, and entered the Great Slave +River, which runs from the Athabasca into the Great Slave Lake. They +soon came to the mouth of another large river, called the Peace. This +runs into the Great Slave a short distance below Lake Athabasca, and, +strange to say, the sources of the Peace River lie upon the _western_ +side of the Rocky Mountains, so that this stream actually runs across +the mountain-chain! It passes through the mountains in a succession of +deep gorges, which are terrible to behold. On both sides dizzy cliffs +and snow-capped peaks rise thousands of feet above its rocky bed, and +the scenery is cold and desolate. Its head-waters interlock with those +of several streams that run into the Pacific; so that, had our voyageurs +wished to travel to the shores of that ocean, they might have done so in +their birch-bark canoe nearly the whole of the way. But this was not +their design at present, so they passed the _debouchure_ of the Peace, +and kept on for the Great Slave Lake. They were still upon the same +water as the Elk, for the Great Slave is only another name for that part +of the river lying between the two lakes--Athabasca and Great Slave. Of +course the river had now become much larger by the influx of the Peace, +and they were travelling upon the bosom of a magnificent stream, with +varied scenery upon its banks. They were not so happy, however, as when +descending the Elk--not but that they were all in good health, for +Lucien had grown quite strong again. No, it was not any want of health +that rendered them less cheerful. It was the prospect before them--the +prospect of coming winter, which they now felt certain would arrive +before they had got to the end of their journey. The delay of nearly a +month, occasioned by Lucien's illness, had deranged all their +calculations; and they had no longer any hope of being able to finish +their voyage in what remained of the short summer. The ice would soon +make its appearance; the lakes and rivers would be frozen up; they could +no longer navigate them in their canoe. To travel afoot would be a most +laborious undertaking, as well as perilous in an extreme degree. In +this way it is only possible to carry a very small quantity of +provisions--for the traveller is compelled to load himself with +skin-clothing in order to keep out the cold. The chances of procuring +game by the way in that season are precarious, and not to be depended +upon. Most of the birds and many of the quadrupeds migrate to more +southern regions; and those that remain are shy and rare. Besides, +great snow-storms are to be encountered, in which the traveller is in +danger of getting "smoored." The earth is buried under a deep covering +of snow, and to pass over this while soft is difficult, and at times +quite impossible. All these circumstances were known to our young +voyageurs--to Norman better than any of them--and of course the prospect +was a cheerless one--much more so than those unacquainted with the +winter of these dreary regions would be willing to believe. + +It was the month of August, near its end, when they reached the Great +Slave Lake, in the latitude of 62 degrees. The days had now become very +short, and their journeys grew short in proportion. They already +experienced weather as cold as an English winter. There were slight +frosts at night--though not yet enough to cover the water with ice--and +the midday hours were hot, sometimes too hot to be comfortable. But +this only caused them to feel the cold the more sensibly when evening +set in; and all their robes and skins were necessary to keep them warm +during the night. + +The Great Slave Lake, like the Athabasca, is very long and very narrow. +It extends full 260 miles from east to west, but at its widest part is +not over thirty, and in some places much less. Along its northern +shores lies the edge of the "Barren Grounds," and there nothing meets +the eye but bleak and naked hills of primitive rock. On its southern +side the geology is entirely of a different character. There the +limestone prevails, and scarcely anything that deserves the name of hill +is to be seen. There are fine forests too, in which poplars, pines, and +birches, are the principal trees. The lake is filled with islands, many +of which are wholly or partially covered with timber of these kinds, and +willows also are abundant. There are fish of several species in its +waters, which are in many places of great depth--sixty fathoms deep--and +in some of the islands, and around the wooded shores, game exists in +abundance in the summer season. Even in winter it is not scarce, but +then it is difficult to follow it on account of the deep snow. Many of +the animals, too, at this season become torpid, and are of course hidden +in caves and hollow trees, and even in the snow itself, where no one can +find them. Notwithstanding all this, our voyageurs knew that it would +be the best place for them to make their winter camp. They saw that to +complete their journey during that season would be impossible. Even had +it been a month earlier it would have been a difficult undertaking. In +a few days winter would be upon them. They would have to stop +somewhere. There was no place where they could so safely stay as by the +lake. One thing they would have there, which might not be found so +plenty elsewhere, that was wood for their fire; and this was an +inducement to remain by the lake. Having made up their minds, +therefore, to encamp on some part of it, they looked from day to day for +a place that would be most suitable, still continuing their journey +towards its western end. As yet no place appeared to their liking, and +as the lake near its western point trends away towards the south, Norman +proposed that they should follow the shore no longer, but strike across +to a promontory on the northern shore of the lake, known as "Slave +Point." This promontory is of the limestone formation, and as Norman +had heard, is well wooded, and stocked with game. Even buffaloes are +found there. It is, in fact, the farthest point to the north-east that +these animals range, and this presents us with a curious fact. It is +the farthest point that the limestone deposit extends in that direction. +Beyond that, to the east and north, lie the primitive rocks of the +Barren Grounds, into which the buffaloes never stray. Thus we observe +the connexion that exists between the _fauna_ of a country and its +geological character. + +Of course they all agreed to Norman's proposal. The canoe was, +therefore, headed for the open waters; and, after a hard day's +paddling--for there was a head-wind--the voyageurs landed upon a small +wooded island, about halfway over the lake, where they encamped for the +night, intending next day to cross the remaining part. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +FISHING UNDER THE ICE. + +On awaking next morning, to their great surprise, they saw that the +_lake was frozen over_! They had almost anticipated as much, for the +night was one of the coldest they had yet experienced--so cold that one +and all of them had slept but badly. As yet the ice was thin, but so +much the worse. It was thick enough to prevent them from using the +canoe, but too thin to bear their weight, and they now saw that they +were _prisoners upon the island_! + +It was not without some feelings of alarm that they made this discovery; +but their fears were allayed by reflecting, that they could remain upon +the island until the ice either thawed away or became strong enough to +bear them, and then they could cross upon it to the northern shore. + +With this consolation, therefore, they set about making their temporary +quarters upon the island as snug as circumstances would permit. Their +apprehensions, however, began to return again, when several days had +passed over, and the ice neither grew any thinner nor any thicker, but +seemed to remain at a standstill. In the early part of the morning it +was almost strong enough to bear them; but during the day the sun melted +it, until it was little better than a scum over the surface of the +water. The alarm of our voyageurs increased. Their provisions were +nearly out. There was no game on the islet--not so much as a bird--for +they had beaten every bush, and found nothing. Once or twice they +thought of launching their canoe and breaking a way for it through the +ice. But they knew that this proceeding would be one of much labour as +well as danger. The islet was full ten miles from the shore, and they +would therefore have to break the ice for ten miles. Moreover, to stand +up in a bark canoe, so as to get at the work, would be a difficult task. +It could not be accomplished without endangering the equilibrium of the +vessel, and indeed without upsetting it altogether. Even to lean +forward in the bow would be a perilous experiment; and under these +considerations the idea of breaking a way was abandoned. But their +provisions were at length entirely exhausted, and what was to be done? +The ice was still too weak to carry them. Near the shore it might have +been strong enough, but farther out lay the danger. There they knew it +was thinner, for it had not frozen over until a later period. It would +have been madness to have risked it yet. On the other hand, they were +starving, or likely to starve from hunger, by staying where they were. +There was nothing eatable on the island. What was to be done? In the +water were fish--they doubted not that--but how were they to catch them? +They had tried them with hook and line, letting the hook through a hole +in the ice; but at that late season the fish would not take a bait, and +although they kept several continually set, and "looked" them most +regularly and assiduously, not a "tail" was taken. + +They were about to adopt the desperate expedient, now more difficult +than ever, of breaking their way through the ice, when, all at once, it +occurred to Norman, that, if they could not coax the fish to take a +bait, they might succeed better with a net, and capture them against +their will. This idea would have been plausible enough, had there been +a net; but there was no net on that islet, nor perhaps within an hundred +miles of it. The absence of a net might have been an obstacle to those +who are ever ready to despair; but such an obstacle never occurred to +our courageous boys. They had two _parchment_ skins of the caribou +which they had lately killed, and out of these Norman proposed to make a +net. He would soon do it, he said, if the others would set to work and +cut the deerskins into thongs fine enough for the purpose. Two of them, +therefore, Basil and Lucien, took out their knives, and went briskly to +work; while Francois assisted Norman in twining the thongs, and +afterwards held them, while the latter wove and knotted them into +meshes. In a few hours both the skins were cut into fine strips, and +worked up; and a net was produced nearly six yards in length by at least +two in width. It was rude enough, to be sure, but perhaps it would do +its work as well as if it had been twined out of silk. At all events, +it was soon to have a trial--for the moment it was finished the sinkers +were attached to it, and it was carried down to the edge of the water. + +The three "Southerners" had never seen a net set under ice--for in their +country ice is an uncommon thing, and indeed never freezes of sufficient +thickness to carry the weight of a man. They were therefore very +curious to know how the thing was to be done. They could not conceive +how the net was to be stretched under the ice, in such a manner as to +catch the fish. Norman, however, knew all about it. He had seen the +Indians, and had set many a one himself. It was no new thing for him, +and he set about it at once. + +He first crept out upon the ice to the distance of about twenty or +thirty yards from the shore. He proceeded cautiously, as the ice +creaked under him. Having arrived at the place where he intended to set +the net, he knelt down, and with his knife cut several holes in the ice, +at the distance of about six feet from each other, and all in one line. +He had already provided himself with a straight sapling of more than six +feet in length, to one end of which he had attached a cord. The other +end of this cord was tied to the net, at one of its corners. He now +thrust the sapling through the first hole he had made, and then guided +it so as to pass directly under the second. At this hole he took a +fresh hold of the stick, and passed it along to the next, and so on to +the last, where he pulled it out again, and of course along with it the +string. The net was now drawn into the first hole, and by means of the +cord already received through, was pulled out to its full length. The +sinkers, of course, fell down in the water, and drew it into a vertical +position. At both its upper corners the net was made fast above the +ice, and was now "set." Nothing more could be done until the fish came +into it of their own accord, when it could be drawn out upon the ice by +means of the cord attached; and, of course, by the same means could +easily be returned to its place, and set again. + +All of them now went back to the fire, and with hungry looks sat around +it, waiting the result. They had made up their minds, should no fish be +caught, to get once more into the canoe and attempt breaking their way +to the shore. Summoning all their patience, therefore, they waited for +nearly two hours, without examining the net. Then Norman and Basil +crawled back upon the ice, to see what fortune had done for them. They +approached the spot, and, with their hearts thumping against their ribs, +untied the knot, and commenced hauling out. + +"It certainly feels heavy," said Basil, as he net was being drawn. +"Hurrah!" he shouted, "Something kicks, hurrah!" and with the second +"hurrah!" a beautiful fish was pulled up through the hole, and landed +upon the ice. A loud "hurrah" was uttered in response by Lucien and +Francois--who, fearing the ice might not bear so many, had remained upon +the shore. A yard or two more of the net was cleared, and a second fish +still larger than the former was greeted with a general "hurrah!" The +two fish were now taken out--as these were all that had been caught--and +the net was once more carefully set. Basil and Norman came back to the +shore--Norman to receive quite a shower of compliments from his +companions. The fish--the largest of which weighed nearly five pounds-- +proved to be trout; and it was not long before their quality was put to +the proof. All declared they had never eaten so fine trout in their +lives; but when the condition of their appetites is taken into account, +we may infer that there was, perhaps, a little exaggeration in this +statement. If hunger really makes good sauce, our voyageurs had the +best of sauce with their fish, as each of them was as hungry as a +half-famished wolf. + +They felt quite relieved, as far as present appetite went, but they were +still uneasy for the future. Should they not succeed in taking more +fish--and it was by no means certain they should succeed--they would be +no better off than ever. Their anxiety, however, was soon removed. +Their second "haul" proved even more successful than the first--as five +fish, weighing together not less than twenty pounds, were pulled up. + +This supply would enable them to hold out for a long time, but they had +not much longer to remain on the islet. Upon that very night there was +one of those severe frosts known only in high latitudes, and the ice +upon the lake became nearly a foot in thickness. They had no longer any +fear of its breaking under their weight; and taking their canoe with all +their "traps," they set out to cross over upon the ice. In a few hours +they reached the shore of the lake, near the end of the promontory, +where they chose a spot, and encamped. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +AN ODD ALARM. + +The first thing our voyageurs did after choosing a suitable situation, +was to build a log-hut. Being young backwoodsmen this was but a trifle +to them. All four of them knew how to handle an axe with dexterity. +The logs were soon cut and notched, and a small cabin was put up, and +roofed with split clap-boards. With the stones that lay near the shore +of the lake they built a chimney. It was but a rude structure, but it +drew admirably. Clay was wanted to "chink" the cabin, but that could +not be had, as the ground was hard frozen, and it was quite impossible +to make either clay or mud. Even hot water poured out would freeze into +ice in a few minutes. This was a serious want--for in such a cold +climate even the smallest hole in the walls will keep a house +uncomfortable, and to fill the interstices between the logs, so as to +make them air-tight, some soft substance was necessary. Grass was +suggested, and Lucien went off in search of it. After a while he +returned with an armful of half-withered grass, which all agreed would +be the very thing; and a large quantity was soon collected, as it grew +plentifully at a short distance from the cabin. + +They now set to work to stuff it into the chinks; when, to their +astonishment, they found that this grass had a beautiful smell, quite as +powerful and as pleasant as that of mint or thyme! When a small +quantity of it was flung into the fire it filled the cabin with a +fragrance as agreeable as the costliest perfumes. It was the "scented +grass," which grows in great profusion in many parts of the Hudson's Bay +territory, and out of which the Indians often make their beds, burning +it also upon the fire to enjoy its aromatic perfume. + +For the first day or two, at their new abode, the travellers had lived +altogether on fish. They had, of course, brought their net with them +from the island, and had set it near the shore in the same way as +before. They had captured as many as they wanted, and, strange to say, +at one haul they found no less than five different species in the net! +One kind, a white fish, the _Coregonus albus_ of naturalists, but which +is named "tittameg" by the fur-traders, they caught in great plenty. +This fish is found in nearly all the lakes and rivers of the Hudson's +Bay territory, and is much prized both by whites and Indians for its +delicate flavour. At some of the trading posts it often forms, for +weeks together, the only food which the residents can obtain; and they +are quite satisfied when they can get enough of it. The tittameg is not +a large fish; the largest attain to the weight of about eight pounds. + +There was another and still smaller species, which, from its colour, the +voyageurs call the "poisson bleu," or blue fish. It is the _Coregonus +signifer_ of ichthyologists. It is a species of grayling, and frequents +sharp-running water, where it will leap at the fly like a trout. +Several kinds of trout also inhabit the Great Slave Lake, and some of +these attain to the enormous weight of eighty pounds! A few were +caught, but none of so gigantic proportions as this. Pike were also +taken in the net, and a species of burbot (_Gadus lota_). This last is +one of the most voracious of the finny tribe, and preys upon all others +that it is able to swallow. It devours whole quantities of cray-fish, +until its stomach becomes crammed to such a degree as to distort the +shape of its whole body. When this kind was drawn out, it was treated +very rudely by the boys--because its flesh was known to be extremely +unsavoury, and none of them cared to eat it. Marengo, however, had no +such scruples, and he was wont to make several hearty meals each day +upon the rejected burbot. + +A fish diet exclusively was not the thing; and as our party soon grew +tired of it, the hunter Basil shouldered his rifle, and strode off into +the woods in search of game. The others remained working upon the +cabin, which was still far from being finished. + +Basil kept along the edge of the lake in an easterly direction. He had +not gone more than a quarter of a mile, when he came upon a dry gravelly +ridge, which was thickly covered with a species of pine-trees that +resembled the Scotch fir (_Pinus sylvestris_). These trees were not +over forty feet in height, with very thick trunks and long flexible +branches. No other trees grew among them, for it is the nature of this +pine--which was the "scrub" or grey pine (_Pinus Banksiana)_ to +monopolise the ground wherever it grows. As Basil passed on, he noticed +that many of the trees were completely "barked," particularly on the +branches; and small pieces of the bark lay scattered over the ground, as +though it had been peeled off and gnawed by some animal. He was walking +quietly on and thinking what creature could have made such a wreck, when +he came to a place where the ground was covered with fine sand or dust. +In this, to his astonishment, he observed what he supposed to be the +tracks of human feet! They were not those of a man, but small tracks, +resembling the footsteps of a child of three or four years of age. He +was about stooping down to examine them more closely, when a voice +sounded in his ears exactly like the cry of a child! This brought him +suddenly to an erect attitude again, and he looked all round to discover +who or what had uttered that strange cry. He could see no one--child or +man--and strange, too, for he had a clear view through the tree-trunks +for several hundred yards around. He was filled with curiosity, not +unmixed with alarm; and, stepping forward a few paces, he was about to +bend down and examine the tracks a second time, when the singular cry +again startled him. This time it was louder than before, as if he was +closer to whatever had uttered it, but Basil now perceived that it +proceeded from above him. The creature from which it came was certainly +not upon the ground, but high up among the tops of the trees. He looked +up, and there, in the fork of one of the pines, he perceived a singular +and hideous-looking animal--such as he had never before seen. It was of +a brown colour, about the size of a terrier-dog, with thick shaggy hair, +and clumped up in the fork of the tree--so that its head and feet were +scarcely distinguishable. Its odd appearance, as well as the peculiar +cry which it had uttered, would have alarmed many a one of less courage +than our young hunter, and Basil was at first, as he afterwards +confessed, "slightly flurried;" but a moment's reflection told him what +the animal was--one of the most innocent and inoffensive of God's +creatures--the Canada porcupine. It was this, then, that had barked the +scrub-pines--for they are its favourite food; and it was its track-- +which in reality very much resembles that of a child--that Basil had +seen in the sand. + +The first thought of the young hunter was to throw up his rifle, and +send a bullet through the ungainly animal; which, instead of making any +effort to escape, remained almost motionless, uttering, at intervals, +its child-like screams. Basil, however, reflected that the report of +his rifle would frighten any large game that might chance to be near; +and as the porcupine was hardly worth a shot, he concluded, upon +reflection, it would be better to leave it alone. He knew--for he had +heard Lucien say so--that he would find the porcupine at any time, were +it a week, or even a month after--for these creatures remain sometimes a +whole winter in the same grove. He resolved, therefore, should no other +game turn up, to return for it; and, shouldering his rifle again, he +continued his course through the woods. + +As he proceeded, the timber became thinner. The scrub-pines gave place +to poplar-trees, with here and there an undergrowth of willows. The +trees stood far apart, and the willows grew only in clumps or "islands," +so that the view was nearly open for many hundred yards around. Basil +walked on with all the silence and watchfulness of a true "still" +hunter--for, among backwoodsmen, this species of hunting is so called. +He ascended a low hill, and keeping a tree in front of him, looked +cautiously over its crest. Before him, and stretching from the bottom +of the hill, was a level tract of considerable extent. It was bounded +on one side by the edge of the lake, and on all the others by thin +woods, similar to those through which the hunter had been for some time +travelling. Here and there, over the plain, there stood trees, far +apart from each other, and in nowise intercepting the view for a mile or +more. The ground was clear of underwood, except along the immediate +edge of the lake, which was fringed by a thicket of willows. + +As Basil looked over the hill, he espied a small group of animals near +the interior border of the willows. He had never seen animals of the +same species before, but the genus was easily told. The tall antlered +horns, that rose upon the head of one of them, showed that they were +deer of some kind; and the immense size of the creature that bore them, +together with his ungainly form, his long legs, and ass-like ears, his +huge head with its overhanging lip, his short neck with its standing +mane, and, above all, the broad palmation of the horns themselves, left +Basil without any doubt upon his mind that the animals before him were +moose-deer--the largest, and perhaps the most awkward, of all the deer +kind. The one with the antlers was the male or bull-moose. The others +were the female and her two calves of the preceding year. The latter +were still but half-grown, and, like the female, were without the +"branching horns" that adorned the head of the old bull. They were all +of a dark-brown colour--looking blackish in the distance--but the large +one was darker than any of the others. + +Basil's heart beat high, for he had often heard of the great moose, but +now saw it for the first time. In his own country it is not found, as +it is peculiarly a creature of the cold regions, and ranges no farther +to the south than the northern edge of the United States territory. To +the north it is met with as far as timber grows--even to the shores of +the Polar Sea! Naturalists are not certain, whether or not it be the +same animal with the elk (_Cervus alces_) of Europe. Certainly the two +are but little, if anything, different; but the name "elk" has been +given in America to quite another and smaller species of deer--the +wapiti (_Cervus Canadensis_). The moose takes its name from its Indian +appellation, "moosoa," or "wood-eater;" and this name is very +appropriate, as the animal lives mostly upon the leaves and twigs of +trees. In fact, its structure--like that of the camelopard--is such +that it finds great difficulty in reaching grass, or any other herbage, +except where the latter chances to be very tall, or grows upon the +declivity of a very steep hill. When it wishes to feed upon grass, the +moose usually seeks it in such situations; and it may often be seen +browsing up the side of a hill, with its legs spread widely on both +sides of its neck. But its favourite food is found at a more convenient +height, and consists of the young shoots of many species of trees. It +prefers those of the poplar, the birch-tree, and willows, and one kind +of these last, the red willow, is its particular favourite. The +"striped" maple (_Acer striatum_) is also much relished by the moose-- +hence the name "moose-wood," by which this tree is known among the +hunters. It loves also the common water-lilies (_Nympha_); and in +summer it may be seen wading out into lakes, and plucking up their +succulent leaves. It takes to the water also for other purposes--to +cool its body, and rid itself of several species of gnats and mosquitoes +that at this season torment it exceedingly. At such times it is more +easily approached; and the Indians hunt it in their canoes, and kill it +in the water, both with spears and arrows. They never find the moose, +however, in large numbers--for it is a solitary animal, and only +associates in pairs during one part of the year, and in families at +another season--as Basil now found it. In winter the Indians track it +through the snow, following it upon snow-shoes. These give them the +advantage of skimming along the surface, while the moose plunges through +the deep drift, and is therefore impeded in its flight. +Notwithstanding, it will frequently escape from the hunter, after a +_chase of several days' duration_! Sometimes, in deep snow, a dozen or +more of these animals will be found in one place, where they have got +accidentally together. The snow will be trodden down until the place +appears as if enclosed by a wall. This the hunters term a +"moose-pound," and when found in such situations the moose are easily +approached and surrounded--when a general _battue_ takes place, in which +few or none of the animals are allowed to escape. + +I have said that Basil's heart beat high at the sight of the moose. He +was very desirous of killing one--partly on account of the novelty of +the thing, and partly because he and his companions at the camp were +anxious for a change of diet. Moose-meat was the very thing; and he +knew that if he could return to camp with a few pieces of this strung +over his gun, he would receive a double welcome. He was well aware that +the flesh of the moose was of the most savoury and delicate kind, and +that the long pendulous upper lip is one of the "tit-bits" of the fur +countries. Moreover, the fine hide would be an acceptable addition to +their stock, as it is the best of all deerskins for mocassins, as well +as snow-shoes--articles which Basil knew would soon be needed. For +these reasons he was unusually desirous of killing one of the moose. + +He knew it would be difficult to approach them. He had heard that they +were shyest at that very season--the beginning of winter--and indeed +such is the case. No deer is so difficult to get a shot at as a moose +in early winter. In summer it is not so--as then the mosquitoes torment +these animals to such a degree that they pay less heed to other enemies, +and the hunter can more easily approach them. In winter they are always +on the alert. Their sense of smell--as well as of sight and hearing--is +acute to an extreme degree, and they are cunning besides. They can +scent an enemy a long distance off--if the wind be in their favour--and +the snapping of a twig, or the slightest rustle of the leaves, is +sufficient to start them off. In their journeyings through the snow, +when they wish to rest themselves, they make a sort of _detour_, and, +coming back, lie down near the track which they have already passed +over. This gives them an opportunity of hearing any enemy that may be +following upon their trail, and also of making off in a side-direction, +while the latter will be looking steadfastly ahead for them. + +Basil had heard of all these tricks of the moose--for many an old +moose-hunter had poured his tale into Basil's ear. He proceeded, +therefore, with all due caution. He first buried his hand in his +game-bag, and after a little groping brought out a downy feather which +had chanced to be there. This he placed lightly upon the muzzle of his +rifle, and having gently elevated the piece above his head, watched the +feather. After a moment, the breeze carried it off, and Basil noted the +direction it took. This is called, in hunter phrase, "tossing the +feather," and gave Basil the exact direction of the wind--an important +knowledge in the present case. To Basil's gratification he saw that it +was blowing down the lake, and nearly towards himself. He was not +exactly to leeward of the moose; but, what was better still, the willows +that fringed the lake were, for he could see them bending from the deer, +as the breeze blew freshly. He knew he could easily get among the +willows; and as they were not yet quite leafless, and, moreover, were +interspersed with tall reed-grass, they formed a tolerable cover under +which he might make his approach. + +Without losing time, then, he made for the willows, and placing them +between himself and the game, commenced "approaching" along the shore of +the lake. + +He had a full half-hour's creeping--at one time upon his hands and +knees--at another, crawling flat upon his breast like a gigantic lizard, +and now and then, at favourable spots, walking in a bent attitude. A +full half-hour was he, and much pain and patience did it cost him, +before getting within shot. But Basil was a hunter, and knew both how +to endure the pain and practise the patience--virtues that, in hunting +as well as in many other occupations, usually meet with their reward. +And Basil was likely to meet with his, for on parting the leaves, and +looking cautiously through, he saw that he had arrived at the right +spot. Within fifty yards of him he saw the high shoulders of the +bull-moose and his great flat antlers towering over the tops of the +willows, among the leaves of which the snout of the animal was buried. +He also caught a glimpse of parts of the other three beyond; but he +thought only of the bull, and it was upon him that he kept his eyes +fixed. Basil did not think of the quality of the meat, else he would +have selected either the cow or one of the calves. Had it been +buffaloes he would certainly have done so; but as he had never killed a +moose, he was determined to slay the leader of the herd. + +Indeed, had he wished to shoot one of the others, it might not have been +so easy, as they were farther off, and he could only see the tops of +their shoulders over the willows. Neither did the bull offer a fair +mark. He stood face to face with the hunter, and Basil fancied that a +shot on the frontal bone might not kill him. He knew it would not kill +a buffalo. There was only one other part at which he could aim--the +fore-shoulder; and after waiting some moments for the animal to give him +a fairer chance, he took aim at this and fired. He heard a loud +cracking of hoofs, as the cow and calves shambled off over the plain, +but he saw that the bull was not with them. He was down behind the +willows. No doubt he was dead. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +ENCOUNTER WITH A MOOSE. + +What was a rare thing for Basil to do, he rushed forward without +reloading his gun. A few springs brought him into the open ground, and +in presence of the game. To his astonishment, the bull was not dead, +nor down neither, but only upon his knees--of course wounded. Basil saw +the "crease" of the bullet along the neck of the animal as he drew near. +It was only by a quick glance that he saw this, for as soon as the bull +saw him he rose to his full height--his eyes flashing like a tiger's-- +and setting his antlers in a forward position, sprang upon the hunter! +Basil leaped aside to avoid the encounter; and in the first rush was +successful, but the animal turned suddenly, and, coming up a second +time, raised his fore-feet high in the air, and struck forward with his +long-pointed hoofs. Basil attempted to defend himself with his rifle, +but the piece was struck out of his hand in an instant. Once more +avoiding the forward rush of the infuriated beast, the young hunter +looked around for some object to save him. A tree fell under his eye, +and he ran towards it with all his speed. The moose followed close upon +his heels, and he had just time to reach the tree and get around its +trunk, when the animal brushed past, tearing the bark with his sharp +antlers. Basil now slipped round the trunk, and when the moose again +turned himself the two were on opposite sides of the tree! The beast, +however, rushed up, and struck the tree furiously first with his brow +antlers, and then with his hoofs, uttering loud snorts, and at intervals +a shrill whistling sound that was terrible to hear. The disappointment +which the enraged animal felt, at seeing his enemy thus escape him, +seemed to have added to his rage; and he now vented his spite upon the +tree, until the trunk, to the height of six feet, was completely +stripped of its bark. While this was going on, Basil remained behind +the tree, "dodging" round as the moose manoeuvred, and taking care +always to have the animal on the opposite side. To have got into a +safer situation he would have climbed the tree; but it happened to be a +poplar, without a branch for many feet from the ground, and of too great +a girth to be "embraced." He could do nothing, therefore, but remain +upon the ground, and keep the tree-trunk between himself and the bull. + +For nearly an hour this lasted, the moose now remaining at rest for a +few minutes, and then making fresh onsets that seemed to abate nothing +in their fury. His rage appeared to be implacable, and his vengeance as +tenacious as that of a tiger or any other beast of prey. The wound +which the hunter had given him was no doubt painful, and kept his +resentment from cooling. Unfortunately, it was not a mortal wound, as +Basil had every opportunity of seeing. The bullet had hit the +fore-shoulder; but, after tearing along the skin, had glanced off +without injuring the bone. It had only enraged the bull, without +crippling him in the least degree. Basil began to dread the result. He +was becoming faint with fatigue as well as hunger. When would he be +relieved? When would the fierce brute feel inclined to leave him? +These were questions which the hunter put to himself repeatedly, without +being able to divine an answer. He had heard of hunters being killed by +wounded moose. He had heard that these creatures will remain for days +watching a person whom they may have "treed." He could not stand it for +days. He would drop down with fatigue, and then the bull would gore and +trample him at pleasure. Would they be able to trace him from the camp? +They would not think of that before nightfall. They would not think of +him as "lost" before that time; and then they could not follow his trail +in the darkness, nor even in the light--for the ground was hard as a +rock, and he had made no footmarks. Marengo might trace him. The dog +had been left at the camp, as Basil preferred "still-hunting" without +him. But in his present situation the hunter's apprehensions were +stronger than his hopes. Even Marengo might be baffled in lifting the +scent. The trail was an exceedingly devious one, for Basil had +meandered round the sides of the hill in search of game. Deer or other +animals might have since crossed it, which might mislead the hound. It +would be cold at night, and much colder next morning. There were many +chances that no relief might reach him from the camp. Impressed with +this conviction, Basil began to feel serious alarm. Not despair, +however--he was not the boy to despair. His mind only grew more alive +to the necessity for action. He looked around to discover some means of +escape. His gun lay not a hundred yards off. Could he only get hold of +the piece, and return safely to the tree again, he could there load it +and put at end to the scene at once. But to reach the gun was +impossible. The moose would bound after and overtake him to a +certainty. The idea of getting the gun was abandoned. + +In the opposite direction to that in which the gun lay, Basil perceived +that there were other trees. The nearest was but a dozen yards from +him; and others, again, grew at about the same distance from that one, +and from each other. Basil now conceived the idea of escaping to the +nearest, and from that to the next, and by this means getting back into +the thick forest. Once there, he believed that he would be the better +able to effect his escape, and perhaps reach the camp by dodging from +tree to tree. He could beat the moose for a dozen yards--getting a +little the start of him--and this he hoped to be able to do. Should he +fail in his short race, however--should his foot slip--the alternative +was fearful. _It was no other than death_! + +He knew that, but it did not change his resolution to make the attempt. +He only waited for the animal to work round between him and the tree +towards which he intended to run. You will wonder that he did not +prefer to have the moose on the other side. But he did not, for this +reason--had the bull been there, he could have sprung after him at the +first start; whereas, when heading the other way, Basil believed he +could brush close past, and gain an advantage, as the unwieldy brute, +taken by surprise, would require some time in turning himself to give +chase. + +The opportunity at length arrived; and nerving himself for the race, the +hunter sprang past the moose, brushing the very tips of its antlers. He +ran without either stopping or even looking back, until he had reached +the tree, and sheltered himself behind its trunk. The moose had +followed, and arrived but the moment after, snorting and whistling +furiously. Enraged at the _ruse_, it attacked this tree, as it had the +other, with hoof and horns; and Basil nimbly evaded both by keeping on +the opposite side, as before. + +In a few minutes he prepared himself for a second rush, and once more +started. A third tree was reached in safety--and then a fourth, and a +fifth, and many others, in a similar manner--the moose all the while +following in hot pursuit. Basil had begun to hope that in this way he +would get off, when, to his chagrin, he saw that an open space still +intervened between him and the thick woods, upon which there were only a +few trees, and those so small that not one of them would have sheltered +him. This tract was full two hundred yards in width, and extended all +along the edge of the thick forest. He dared not cross it. The moose +would overtake him before he could get half the way; and he was obliged +to give up the idea of making the attempt. + +As he stood behind the last tree he had reached, he saw that it +branched, and the lowest branches grew but a little above his head. He +could easily climb it, and at once resolved to do so. He would there be +safe for the time, and could at least rest himself, for he was now weak +with fatigue. He, therefore, stretched up his hands, and, laying hold +of a branch, swung himself up into the tree. Then climbing up a little +higher, he sat down on one of the forks. + +The moose appeared as furious as ever; and ran round the tree, now +striking it with his horns, and then rearing upon his hind-legs, and +pouncing against the trunk with his hoofs. At times his snout was so +close to Basil, that the latter could almost touch it; and he had even +drawn his hunting-knife, and reached down with the intent of giving the +creature a stab. + +This last action led to a train of thought, and Basil seemed suddenly to +adopt some new resolution. Leaving the fork where he had perched +himself, he climbed higher up the tree; and, selecting one of the +longest and straightest branches, commenced cutting it off close to the +trunk. This was soon effected; and then, drawing it along his knee, he +trimmed off all the twigs and tops until the branch became a straight +pole, like a spear-handle. Along one end of this he laid the handle of +his knife; and with thongs, which he had already cut out of the strap of +his bullet-pouch, he spliced the knife and pole together. This gave him +a formidable weapon--for the knife was a "bowie," and had a long blade, +with a point like a rapier. He was not slow in using it. Descending +again to the lowermost limbs, he commenced making demonstrations, in +order to bring the moose within reach. This he very soon succeeded in +doing; and the animal ran forward and reared up against the tree. +Before it could get upon its four legs again, Basil had thrust it in the +neck, giving full force to the blow. The blood rushed forth in a thick +stream, as the jugular vein had been cut by the keen blade; and the huge +brute was seen to totter in its steps, and then fall with a dull heavy +sound to the earth. In a few moments the hunter had the satisfaction of +perceiving that it was quite dead. + +Basil now dropped out of the tree, and walking back to where his rifle +lay, took up the piece and carefully reloaded it. He then returned to +the moose, and opening the great jaws of the animal, gagged them with a +stick. He next unspliced his knife, took off the gristly lips, and cut +out the tongue. These he placed in his game-bag, and shouldering his +rifle, was about to depart; when some new idea caused him to halt, put +down his gun, and again unsheath his knife. Once more approaching the +carcass, he made an incision near the kidneys; and having inserted his +hand, drew forth what appeared to be a part of the intestines. It was +the bladder. He then looked around as if in search of something. +Presently his eye rested upon some tall reed-grass that was growing +near. This was just what he wanted, and, pulling up one of the stems, +he cut and fashioned it into a pipe. With this the moose-bladder was +blown out to its full dimensions, and tied at the neck by a piece of +thong. The other end of the thong was fastened to one of the branches +of the tree above, so that the bladder dangled within a few feet of the +carcass of the moose, dancing about with the lightest breath of wind. +All these precautions Basil had taken to keep the wolves from devouring +the moose--for it was his intention to return and butcher it, as soon as +he could get help. When he had hung the bladder to his liking, he put +up his knife again; and, once more shouldering his rifle, walked off. + +On reaching the camp--which he did shortly after--the tongue of the +moose was broiled without delay, and, after making a delicious meal of +it, the whole party went off for the remainder of the meat. They found +it all quite safe; although, had it not been for the bladder, not much +of it would have been there--as no less than a dozen great gaunt wolves +were seen lurking about, and these would have eaten it up in the +shortest possible time. The bladder, however, had kept them off; for, +strange to say, these creatures, who are as cunning as foxes, and can +hardly be trapped, can yet be deceived and frightened by such a simple +thing as a bladder dangling from a branch. + +The moose proved to be one of the largest of his kind. His height was +quite equal to that of a horse; and his horns, flattened out to the +breadth of shovels, weighed over sixty pounds. His carcass was not less +than fifteen hundred pounds weight; and our voyageurs had to make two +journeys to convey the meat to their camp. On the last journey, +Francois brought the porcupine as well--having found it on the very same +tree where Basil had left it! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +LIFE IN A LOG-HUT. + +The log-hut was finished on the 1st of September, and not a day too +soon; for on that very day the winter set in with full severity. A +heavy fall of snow came down in the night; and next morning, when our +voyageurs looked abroad, the ground was covered to the depth of a foot, +or more; and the ice upon the lake was also white. Walking through the +great wreaths now became very difficult; and the next thing to be done +was the making of "snow-shoes." + +Snow-shoes are an invention of the Indians; and, in the winter of the +Arctic regions of America, are an article almost as indispensable as +clothing itself. Without them, travelling afoot would be impossible. +In these countries, as already stated, the snow often covers the ground +to the depth of many feet; and remains without any considerable +diminution for six, and, in some years, eight or nine months. At times, +it is frozen hard enough on the surface to bear a man without the +snow-shoes; but oftener on account of thaws and fresh falls, it becomes +quite soft, and at such times travelling over it is both difficult and +dangerous. To avoid both the difficulty and the danger, the Indians +make use of this _very_ singular sort of foot-wear--called "snow-shoes" +by the English, and "raquets" by the Canadian voyageurs. They are used +by all the Indian tribes of the Hudson's Bay territory; and were it not +for them these people would be confined to one place for months +together, and could not follow the deer or other game. As almost all +savages are improvident, and none more so than the North American +Indians, were they prevented for a season from going out to hunt, whole +tribes would starve. Indeed, many individuals of them perish with +hunger as it is; and the life of all these Indians is nothing more than +one continued struggle for food enough to sustain them. In summer they +are often in the midst of plenty; slaughtering deer and buffalo by +hundreds, taking out only the tongues, and recklessly leaving the flesh +to the wolves! In winter the very same Indians may be seen without a +pound of meat in their encampment--the lives of themselves and their +families depending upon the success of a single day's hunt! + +But let us return to the snow-shoes. Let us see what they are, and +learn how they are made. + +Any boy who has snared sparrows in snow-time, has, no doubt, done so by +tying his snares upon a hoop netted across with twine or other small +cord. Now, if he will conceive his hoop bent into an oblong shape-- +something like what the figure of a boat turned on its mouth would make +in snow--and if he will also fancy the netting to consist of thongs of +twisted deer-hide woven somewhat closely together, he will get a very +good idea of an Indian snow-shoe. It is usually from three to four feet +long, by about a foot wide at the middle part, from which it tapers +gently to a point, both at the heel and toe. The frame, as I have said, +is like the hoop of a boy's bird-snare. It is made of light, tough +wood, and, of course, carefully bent and polished with the knife. The +slender branches of the "scrub-pine" (_Pinus Banksiana_) are esteemed +excellent for this purpose, as their wood is light, flexible and tough +in its fibres. This is also a favourite tree, where it grows, to make +tent-poles, canoe-timbers, and other implements required by the Indians; +and these people use so much of it for their arrows, that it has +received from the Canadian voyageurs the name of _bois de fleche_ +(arrow-wood). + +Well, then, the frame of the snow-shoes being bent to its proper shape, +two transverse bars are placed across near the middle, and several +inches from each other. They are for the foot to rest upon, as well as +to give strength to the whole structure. These being made fast, the +netting is woven on, and extends over the whole frame, with the +exception of a little space in front of the bars where the ball of the +foot is to rest. This space is left free of netting, in order to allow +play to the toes while walking. The mesh-work is made of thongs usually +cut from the parchment-skin of a deer, and twisted. Sometimes twisted +intestines are used, and the netting exactly resembles that seen in +"racquets" for ball play. + +The snow-shoe, when finished, is simply fastened upon the foot by means +of straps or thongs; and a pair of them thus placed, will present a +surface to the snow of nearly six square feet--more, if required, by +making them larger. But this is enough to sustain the heaviest man upon +the softest snow, and an Indian thus "shod" will skim over the surface +like a skater. + +The shoes used by all tribes of Indians are not alike in shape. There +are fashions and fancies in this respect. Some are made--as among the +Chippewa Indians--with one side of the frame nearly straight; and these, +of course, will not do for either foot, but are "rights and lefts." +Generally, however, the shape is such that the snow-shoe will fit either +foot. + +The snow-shoes having now become a necessary thing, our young voyageurs +set about making a complete set for the whole party--that is, no less +than four pairs. Norman was the "shoemaker," and Norman knew how. He +could splice the frames, and work in the netting, equal to an Indian +squaw. Of course all the others assisted him. Lucien cut the +moose-skin into fine regular strips; Basil waded off through the snow, +and procured the frames from the wood of the scrub-pine-trees where he +had encountered the porcupine; and then he and Francois trimmed them +with their knives, and sweated them in the hot ashes until they became +dry, and ready for the hands of the "shoemaker." + +This work occupied them several days, and then each had a pair of shoes +fitted to his size and weight. + +The next consideration was, to lay in a stock of meat. The moose had +furnished them with enough for present use, but that would not last +long, as there was no bread nor anything else to eat with it. Persons +in their situation require a great deal of meat to sustain them, much +more than those who live in great cities, who eat a variety of +substances, and drink many kinds of drinks. The healthy voyageur is +rarely without a keen appetite; and meat by itself is a food that +speedily digests, and makes way for a fresh meal; so that the ration +usually allowed to the _employes_ of the fur companies would appear +large enough to supply the table of several families. For instance, in +some parts of the Hudson's Bay territory, the voyageur is allowed eight +pounds of buffalo-meat _per diem_! And yet it is all eaten by him, and +sometimes deemed barely sufficient. A single deer, therefore, or even a +buffalo, lasts a party of voyageurs for a very short time, since they +have no other substance, such as bread or vegetables, to help it out. +It was necessary, then, that our travellers should use all their +diligence in laying up a stock of dried meat, before the winter became +too cold for them to hunt. There was another consideration--their +clothing. They all had clothing sufficient for such weather as they had +yet experienced; but that would never do for the winter of the Great +Slave Lake, and they knew it. Many deer must be killed, and many hides +dressed, before they could make a full set of clothing for all, as well +as a set of deerskin blankets, which would be much needed. + +As soon as the snow-shoes were finished, therefore, Basil and Norman +went out each day upon long hunting expeditions, from which they rarely +returned before nightfall. Sometimes they brought with them a deer, of +the caribou or reindeer species, and the "woodland" variety, which were +plenty at this place. They only carried to camp the best parts with the +skin, as the flesh of the woodland caribou is not much esteemed. It is +larger than the other kind--the "Barren Ground caribou," weighing about +one hundred and fifty pounds; but both its venison and hide are of +inferior quality to those of the latter species. Sometimes our hunters +killed smaller game; and on several occasions they returned without +having emptied their guns at all. But there was one day that made up +for several--one grand day when they were extremely successful, and on +which they killed a whole herd of moose, consisting of five +individuals--the old bull, a spike buck--that is, a young buck, whose +horns had not yet got antlers upon them--the cow, and two calves. These +they had tracked and followed for a long distance, and had succeeded, at +length, in running into a valley where the snow was exceedingly deep, +and where the moose became entangled. There had been a shower of rain +the day before that had melted the surface of the snow; and this had +again frozen into an icy crust, upon which the deer lacerated their +ankles at every plunge, leaving a track of blood behind them as they +ran. Under these circumstances they were easily trailed, and Basil and +Norman, skimming along upon their snow-shoes, soon came up with them, +and shot first one and then another, until the whole herd were stretched +in the valley. They then butchered them, and hung the hides and +quarters upon high branches, so as to secure them from wolves and +wolverenes. When the job was finished, the whole place looked like a +great slaughter-yard! Next day a rude sledge was constructed; and the +voyageurs, returning in full force, transported the meat to camp. Huge +fires were kindled outside the hut, and several days were spent in +cutting up and drying the flesh. Had our travellers been certain that +the frost would have continued all winter, this would not have been +necessary--since the meat was already frozen as hard as a brick. But +they knew that a sudden thaw would spoil it; and, as there was plenty of +good firewood on the spot, they were not going to run the risk of losing +it in that way. + +They had now enough provision to last them for months; and hunting +became no longer necessary, except to obtain fresh meat--which was, of +course, preferable to the dry stock. Hunting, also, gave them exercise +and amusement--both of which were necessary to their health; for to +remain idle and inactive in a situation such as that in which they were +placed is the worst possible plan, and is sure to engender both sickness +and _ennui_. Indeed, the last grew upon them, notwithstanding all the +pains they took to prevent it. There were days on which the cold was so +extreme, that they could not put their noses out of the door without the +danger of having them frost-bitten--although each had now a complete +suit of deerskin clothing, made by Lucien, the "tailor" of the party. +Upon such days they were fain to remain shut up in their hut; and, +seated around their huge log-fire, they passed the time in cleaning +their guns, mending their nets, stitching their clothes, and such-like +employments. These days were far from being their dullest; for, what +with the varied and scientific knowledge of Lucien, which he took +pleasure in imparting to his companions--what with the practical +experience of Norman amid scenes of Arctic life, and the many "voyageur +tales" he could tell--what with Francois' merry jokes and _bon mots_-- +and what with Basil's _talent for listening_--not the least important +element in a good _conversazione_,--our _quartette_ of young voyageurs +found their indoor days anything but dull. + +This was all well enough for a while. For a month or two they bore +their odd kind of life cheerfully enough; but the prospect of nearly six +months more of it began to appal them, when they reflected upon it; and +they soon found themselves longing for a change. Hunting adventures, +that at other times would have interested them, now occurred without +creating any excitement; and the whole routine of their employments +seemed monotonous. Nearly all of them were boys of an active character +of mind; and most of them were old enough to reason about the value of +time. Their idea of such a long isolation from civilised life, and, +above all, the being debarred from following any useful pursuit, began +to impress some of them forcibly. Others, as Francois, could not be +contented for a very great stretch of time with any sort of life; so +that all of them began to sigh for a change. + +One day, while conversing upon this theme, a bold proposal was made by +Basil. It was, that they should "strike camp," and continue their +journey. This proposal took the others by surprise, but they were all +just in the frame of mind to entertain and discuss it; and a long +consultation was held upon the point. Francois chimed in with the +proposal at once; while Lucien, more cautious, did not exactly oppose, +but rather offered the reasons that were against it, and pointed out the +perils of the undertaking. Norman, of course, was appealed to--all of +them looking to him as one whose advice, upon that question at least, +was more valuable than their own. + +Norman admitted the dangers pointed out by Lucien, but believed that +they might overcome them by a proper caution. On the whole, Norman +approved of the plan, and it was at length adopted. Perhaps Norman's +habitual prudence was to some extent influenced on this occasion by the +very natural desire he had of returning to what he considered his home. +He had now been absent nearly two years, and was desirous of once more +seeing his father and his old companions at the Fort. There was another +feeling that influenced nearly all of them: that was _ambition_. They +knew that to make such a journey would be something of a feat, and they +wished to have the credit of performing it. To minds like that of +Basil, even the danger had something attractive in it. It was resolved +then to break up the encampment, and continue their journey. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +TRAVELLING ON SNOW-SHOES. + +Once their resolution was taken, they lost but little time in making +preparations to carry it out. Most of the articles required for such a +journey were already in their hands. They had the proper dresses-- +snow-shoes, skin-blankets, and gloves. They had prepared for themselves +sets of "snow spectacles." These were made out of red cedar-wood. Each +pair consisted of two small thin pieces, that covered the eyes, joined +together and fastened on by thongs of buckskin. In each piece an oblong +slit served for the eye-hole, through which the eye looked without being +dazzled by the snow. Without this, or some like contrivance, travelling +in the Arctic regions is painful to the eyes, and the traveller often +loses his sight. Indeed, one of the most common infirmities of both the +Indians and Esquimaux of these parts is blindness or soreness of the +eyes, caused by the reflexion of the sunbeams from the crystals of the +frozen snow. Norman was aware of this, and had made the spectacles to +guard against this peril. Out of their spare skins they had made a +small tent. This was to be carried along by Marengo in a light sledge, +which they had long since constructed, and taught the dog to draw. +Nothing else remained but to pack their provisions in the smallest bulk +possible, and this was done, according to the custom of the country, by +making "pemmican." The dry meat was first pounded until it became a +powder; it was then put into small skin bags, made for the purpose, and +the hot melted fat was poured in and well mixed with it. This soon +froze hard, and the mixture--that resembled "potted meat,"--was now +ready for use, and would keep for an indefinite time without the least +danger of spoiling. Buffalo-beef, moose-meat, or venison of any sort, +thus prepared, is called "_pemmican_," and is more portable in this +shape than any other. Besides no further cooking is required--an +important consideration upon those vast prairie deserts, where firewood +is seldom to be procured without the trouble of carrying it a great +distance. + +Norman, who was the maker of the pemmican, had produced a superior +article upon this occasion. Besides the pounded meat and fat, he had +mixed another ingredient with it, which rendered it a most delicious +food. This third ingredient was a small purple-coloured berry--of which +we have already spoken--not unlike the whortleberry, but sweeter and of +a higher flavour. It grows through most of the Northern regions of +America; and in some places, as upon the Red River and the Elk, the +bushes that produce it are seen in great plenty. When in flower, they +appear almost white, so thickly are they covered with blossoms. The +leaves are small, and generally of an oval shape; but there are several +varieties of the bush, some of them having the dimensions and form of +trees, of twenty-five feet in height. The berries have received +different names in different parts of America. They are known as +"shadberries", "June-berries", "service-berries," and by the Canadian +voyageurs they are called "le poire." Even the botanists have given +them a great variety of names, as _pyrus, mespilus, aronia, crataegus_, +and _amelanchier_. No matter which may be the best name, it is enough +to know that these little berries are delicious to eat when fresh, and +when dried, after the manner of currants, are excellent to mix in +puddings, as well as in pemmican. + +Previous to the setting in of winter, our voyageurs had collected a +large bagful upon the banks of the Elk, which they had dried and stored +away--expecting to stand in need of them for this very purpose. They +now came into use, and enabled Norman to make his pemmican of the very +choicest quality. Five bags of it were put up, each weighing over +thirty pounds. One of these was to be drawn upon the sledge, along with +the tent, the axe, and a few other articles. The rest were to be +carried by the voyageurs themselves--each shouldering one, which, along +with their guns and accoutrements, would be load enough. + +These arrangements being at length complete, the party bid adieu to +their log-hut--gave a parting look to their little canoe, which still +rested by the door--and then, shouldering their guns and bags of +pemmican, set out over the frozen surface of the snow. + +Of course before starting they had decided upon the route they were to +take. This decision, however, had not been arrived at until after much +discussion. Lucien advised that they should follow the shore of the +lake until they should reach the Mackenzie River--which of course was +now frozen up. Its channel, he argued, would then guide them; and, in +case their provisions should run short, they would be more likely to +find game upon its banks than elsewhere, as these were wooded almost to +the sea--in consequence of its head-waters rising in southern latitudes, +and carrying with them a warmer climate. + +There was plausibility in Lucien's argument, combined with much +prudence. Norman, however, advised a contrary course. He said that +they would have to make a considerable journey westward before reaching +the place where the Mackenzie River flows out of the lake; and, +moreover, he knew that the river itself was very crooked--in some places +winding about in great curves, whose ends come near meeting each other. +Should they keep the course of the river, Norman believed it would +almost double their journey. A much shorter route, he said, would be +obtained by striking across the country in a north-westerly direction, +so as to reach the Mackenzie near where another great stream--the River +of the Mountains--empties into it from the west. This would certainly +be a more direct route, and they would avoid the windings of the river +channel. + +Norman's reasoning prevailed. Basil and Francois readily agreed to his +plan, and Lucien at length also gave his assent, but with some +reluctance. Norman knew nothing whatever of the route he was advising +them to take. His former journeys up and down the Mackenzie had been +made in summer, and of course he had travelled by canoe, in company with +the traders and voyageurs. He only knew that to strike across the +country would be the shorter way. But "the shortest way is not always +the nearest," says the proverb; and although Lucien remembered this +prudent maxim, the others did not give it a thought. Before the end of +their journey they received a practical lesson of its wisdom--a lesson +they were not likely to forget. But they knew not what was before them, +and they started off in high spirits. + +Their first three or four days' journeys were without any event worth +being chronicled. They travelled full twenty miles each day. The +Southerners had become quite skilful in the management of their +snow-shoes, and they skimmed along upon the icy crust at the rate of +three or four miles an hour. Marengo and his sledge gave them very +little trouble. There was full sixty pounds weight upon it; but to the +huge dog this was a mere bagatelle, and he pulled it after him without +any great strain. His harness was neatly made of moose-skin, and +consisted of a collar with a back strap and traces--the traces meeting +behind, where they were attached to the head of the sledge. No +head-gear was necessary, as Marengo needed not to be either led or +driven. The sledge consisted of two or three light planks of smooth +wood, laid alongside each other, and held together by transverse bands. +In front it turned up with a circular sweep, so as not to "plough" the +snow; and at the top of this curved part the traces were adjusted. The +load was, of course, carefully packed and tied, so that the overturning +of the vehicle did no damage whatever, and it could be easily righted +again. Marengo required no one to guide him, but followed quietly in +the tracks of the snow-shoes, and thus avoided the trees, rocks, and +other inequalities. If a rabbit or other creature started up, Marengo +knew better than to go galloping after it; he felt that he had a more +important duty to perform than to throw away his time upon +rabbit-hunting. Each night a spot was chosen for the camp by the side +of some lake or stream, where wood could be obtained for their fire. +Water was got by breaking a hole in the ice, and the little tent was +always set up in a sheltered situation. + +Upon the fifth day after leaving the log-hut the woods began to grow +thinner and more straggling; and towards night of the same day they +found themselves travelling through a country, where the timber only +grew here and there in small clumps, and the individual trees were small +and stunted. Next day still less timber was seen upon their route; and +when camping-time came, they were obliged to halt at a spot where +nothing but willows could be procured for their fire. They had, in +fact, arrived upon the edge of that vast wilderness, the Barren Grounds, +which stretches in all its wild desolation along the Northern half of +the American continent, (from the Great Slave Lake even to the shores of +the Arctic Sea on the north, and to those of Hudson's Bay on the east). +This territory bears an appropriate name, for, perhaps, upon the whole +surface of the earth there is no tract more barren or desolate--not even +the Sahara of Africa. Both are deserts of immense extent, equally +difficult to cross, and equally dangerous to the traveller. On both the +traveller often perishes, but from different causes. On the Sahara it +is _thirst_ that kills; upon the Barren Grounds _hunger_ is more +frequently the destroyer. In the latter there is but little to be +feared on the score of water. That exists in great plenty; or where it +is not found, snow supplies its place. But there is water everywhere. +Hill succeeds hill, bleak, rocky, and bare. Everywhere granite, gneiss, +or other primitive rocks, show themselves. No vegetation covers the +steep declivities of the hills, except the moss and lichen upon the +rocks, a few willows upon the banks of streams, the dwarf birch-tree +(_Betula nana_), or the scrub-pines, rising only to the height of a few +inches, and often straggling over the earth like vines. Every hill has +its valley, and every valley its lake--dark, and deep, and silent--in +winter scarce to be distinguished under the snow-covered ice. The +prospect in every direction exhibits a surface of rocks, or bleak hills, +half covered with snow. The traveller looks around and sees no life. +He listens and hears no sound. The world appears dead and wrapped in +its cold winding-sheet! + +Amidst just such scenes did our voyageurs find themselves on the seventh +day after parting from the lake. They had heard of the Barren +Grounds,--had heard many fearful stories of the sufferings of travellers +who had attempted to cross them; but the description had fallen far +short of the actual reality. None of them could believe in the +difficulties to be encountered, and the desolateness of the scene they +were to witness, until now that they found themselves in its midst; and, +as they proceeded on their journey, getting farther and farther from the +wooded region, their apprehensions, already aroused by the wild aspect +of the country, grew stronger and stronger. They began to entertain +serious fears, for they knew not how far the barren tract extended along +their route. On calculation they found they had provisions enough to +last them for a month. That in some measure restored their confidence; +but even then, they could not help giving way to serious reflections. +Should they get lost or retarded in their course by mountains, or other +obstacles, it might take them longer than a month to reach some place +where game was to be met with. Each day, as they advanced, they found +the country more hilly and difficult. Precipices often bounded the +valleys, lying directly across their track; and as these could not be +scaled, it was necessary to make long _detours_ to pass them, so that +some days they actually advanced less than five miles upon their +journey. + +Notwithstanding these impediments, they might still have got over the +Barren Grounds without further suffering than the fatigue and necessary +exposure to cold; but at this time an incident occurred, that not only +frustrated all their calculations, but placed them in imminent danger of +perishing. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +THE BARREN GROUNDS. + +The Barren Grounds are not entirely destitute of animal life. Even in +winter--when they are almost covered with snow, and you would suppose +that no living creature could procure subsistence upon them--even then +they have their denizens; and, strange to say, there are many animals +that choose them for their home. There is no part of the earth's +surface so sterile but that some animated being can find a living upon +it, and such a being Nature adapts to its peculiar situation. For +instance, there are animals that prefer the very desert itself, and +would not thrive were you to place them in a country of mild climate and +fertile soil. In our own species this peculiarity is also found--as the +Esquimaux would not be happy were you to transplant him from his icy hut +amidst the snows of the Arctic regions, and give him a palace under the +genial skies of Italy. + +Among other creatures that remain all winter upon the Barren Grounds, +are the wolves. How they exist there is almost a question of the +naturalists. It is true they prey upon other animals found at times in +the same district; but wolves have been met with where not the slightest +traces of other living creatures could be seen! + +There is no animal more generally distributed over the earth's surface +than the wolf. He exists in nearly every country, and most likely has +at one time existed in all. In America there are wolves in its three +zones. They are met with from Cape Horn to the farthest point northward +that man has reached. They are common in the tropical forests of Mexico +and South America. They range over the great prairies of the temperate +zones of both divisions of the continent, and in the colder regions of +the Hudson's Bay territory they are among the best known of wild +animals. They frequent the mountains, they gallop over the plains, they +skulk through the valleys, they dwell everywhere--everywhere the wolf +seems equally at home. In North America two very different kinds are +known. One is the "prairie" or "barking" wolf, which we have already +met with and described. The other species is the "common" or "large" +wolf; but it is not decided among naturalists that there are not several +distinct species of the latter. At all events, there are several +varieties of it--distinguished from each other in size, colour, and even +to some extent in form. The habits of all, however, appear to be +similar, and it is a question, whether any of these varieties be +_permanent_ or only _accidental_. Some of them, it is well-known, are +accidental--as wolves differing in colour have been found in the same +litter--but late explorers, of the countries around and beyond the Rocky +Mountains, have discovered one or two kinds that appear to be +specifically distinct from the common wolf of America--one of them, the +"dusky wolf," being much larger. + +This last is said to resemble the wolf of Europe (the Pyrenean wolf, +_Canis lupus_) more than the other American wolves do--for there is a +considerable difference between the wolves of the two continents. Those +of the Northern regions of America have shorter ears, a broader snout +and forehead, and are of a stouter make, than the European wolves. +Their fur, too, is finer, denser, and longer; their tails more bushy and +fox-like; and their feet broader. The European wolf, on the contrary, +is characterised by a gaunt appearance, a pointed snout, long jaws, high +ears, long legs, and feet very narrow. It is possible, notwithstanding +these points of difference, that both may be of the same species, the +difference arising from a want of similitude in the circumstances by +which they are surrounded. For instance, the dense wool of the Hudson's +Bay wolf may be accounted for by the fact of its colder habitat, and its +broader feet may be the result of its having to run much upon the +surface of the snow. The writer of this little book believes that this +peculiar adaptation of Nature--which may be observed in all her +kingdoms--may explain the difference that exists between the wolves of +the Northern parts of America and those of the South of Europe. He +believes, moreover, that those of the Southern parts of the American +continent approximate more nearly to the Pyrenean wolves, as he has seen +in the tropical forests of Mexico some that possessed all that "gaunt" +form and "sneaking" aspect that characterise the latter. It would be +interesting to inquire whether the wolves of Siberia and Lapland, +inhabiting a similar climate to that of the Northern parts of America, +do not possess the same peculiarities as the North American kind--a +point which naturalists have not yet considered, and which you, my boy +reader, may some day find both amusement and instruction in determining +for yourself. + +With regard to colour the wolves of both continents exhibit many +varieties. In North America there are more than half-a-dozen colours of +them, all receiving different names. There is the "grey wolf," the +"white," the "brown," the "dusky," the "pied," and the "black." These +trivial names will give a good enough idea of the colours of each kind, +but there are even varieties in their markings. "Yellow" wolves, too, +have been seen, and "red" ones, and some of a "cream colour." Of all +these the grey wolf is the most common, and is _par excellence the +wolf_; but there are districts in which individuals of other colours +predominate. Wolves purely black are plenty in many parts, and white +wolves are often seen in large packs. + +Even those of the same colour differ in size, and that to a considerable +extent. And, what is also strange, large wolves will be found in one +district of country, while much smaller ones _of the same colour and +species_ inhabit another. The largest in size of American wolves are +about six feet in length, the tail included; and about three feet in +height, measuring to the tips of the standing fur. The tail is usually +about one-third of the whole length. + +The habits of the American wolf are pretty much like those of his +European cousin. He is a beast of prey, devouring all the smaller +animals he can lay hold of. He pursues and overtakes the deer, and +often runs down the fox and makes a meal of it. He will kill and eat +Indian dogs, although these are so near his own species that the one is +often taken for the other. But this is not all, for he will even eat +his own kind, on a pinch. He is as cunning as the fox himself, and as +cowardly; but at times, when impelled by hunger, he becomes bolder, and +has been known to attack man. Instances of this kind, however, are +rare. + +The American wolves burrow, and, like the fox, have several entrances to +their holes. A litter of young wolves numbers five puppies, but as many +as eight are often produced at one birth. + +During their journey through the Barren Grounds our voyageurs had +frequently observed wolves. They were mostly grey ones, and of great +size, for they were travelling through a district where the very largest +kind is found. At times they saw a party of five or six together; and +these appeared to be following upon their trail--as each night, when +they came barking about the camp, our travellers recognised some of them +as having been seen before. They had made no attempt to shoot any of +them--partly because they did not want either their skins or flesh, and +partly because their ammunition had been reduced to a small quantity, +and they did not wish to spend it unnecessarily. The wolves, therefore, +were allowed to approach very near the camp, and howl as much as they +liked--which they usually did throughout the livelong night. What they +found to allure them after our travellers, the latter could not make +out; as they had not shot an animal of any kind since leaving the lake, +and scarcely a scrap of anything was ever left behind them. Perhaps the +wolves were _living upon hope_. + +One evening our travellers had made their camp on the side of a ridge-- +which they had just crossed--and under the shelter of some rough rocks. +There was no wood in the neighbourhood wherewith to make a fire; but +they had scraped the snow from the place over which their tent was +pitched, and under it their skins were spread upon the ground. As the +tent was a very small one, Marengo's sledge, with the utensils and +pemmican bags, was always left outside close by the opening. Marengo +himself slept there, and that was considered sufficient to secure all +these things from wolves, or any other creatures that might be prowling +about. + +On the evening in question, the sledge was in its usual place--the dog +having been taken from it--and as our voyageurs had not yet had their +supper, the pemmican bags were lying loosely about, one or two of them +being open. There was a small rivulet at the foot of the ridge--some +two hundred paces distant--and Basil and Francois had gone down to it to +get water. One of them took the axe to break the ice with, while the +other carried a vessel. On arriving near the bank of the rivulet, the +attention of the boys was attracted to a singular appearance upon the +snow. A fresh shower had fallen that morning, and the surface was still +soft, and very smooth. Upon this they observed double lines of little +dots, running in different directions, which, upon close inspection, +appeared to be the tracks of some animal. At first, Basil and Francois +could hardly believe them to be such, the tracks were so very small. +They had never seen so small ones before--those of a mouse being quite +double the size. But when they looked more closely at them, the boys +could distinguish the marks of five little toes with claws upon them, +which left no doubt upon their minds that some living creature, and that +a very diminutive one, must have passed over the spot. Indeed, had the +snow not been both fine-grained and soft, the feet of such a creature +could not have made any impression upon it. + +The boys stopped and looked around, thinking they might see the animal +itself. There was a wide circle of snow around them, and its surface +was smooth and level; but not a speck upon it betrayed the presence of +any creature. + +"Perhaps it was a bird," said Francois, "and has taken flight." + +"I think not," rejoined Basil. "They are not the tracks of a bird. It +is some animal that has gone under the snow, I fancy." + +"But I see no hole," said Francois, "where even a beetle could have gone +down. Let us look for one." + +At Francois' suggestion, they walked on following one of the dotted +lines. Presently they came to a place, where a stalk of long grass +stood up through the snow--its seedless panicle just appearing above the +surface. Round this stalk a little hole had been formed--partly by the +melting of the snow, and partly by the action of the wind upon the +panicle--and into this hole the tracks led. It was evident that the +animal, whatever it was, must have gone down the culm of the grass in +making its descent from the surface of the snow! They now observed +another track going from the hole in an opposite direction, which showed +that the creature had climbed up in the same way. Curious to know what +it might have been, the boys hailed Lucien and Norman, telling them to +come down. These, followed by Marengo, soon arrived upon the spot. +When Lucien saw the tracks, he pronounced them at once to be those of +the little shrew-mouse (_Sorex parvus_), the smallest of all the +quadrupeds of America. Several of them had evidently been out upon the +snow--as there were other dotted lines--and the tops of many stalks of +grass were seen above the surface, each of which had formed a little +hole around it, by which the mice were enabled to get up and down. + +Norman, who had seen these little animals before, cautioned his +companions to remain quiet awhile, and perhaps some of them might come +to the surface. They all stopped therefore, and stood some time without +moving, or speaking to one another. Presently, a little head not much +bigger than a pea was seen peeping up, and then a body followed, which +in size did not exceed that of a large gooseberry! To this a tail was +suspended, just one inch in length, of a square shape, and tapering from +root to point, like that of any other mouse. The little creature was +covered with a close smooth fur, of a clove-brown colour above, but more +yellowish upon the belly and sides; and was certainly, as it sat upon +the even surface of the snow, the most diminutive and oddest-looking +quadruped that any of the party had ever beheld. + +They were just whispering to one another what means they should use to +capture it, when Marengo, whom Basil had been holding quiet, all at once +uttered a loud bay; and, springing out of the hands of his master, +galloped off towards the camp. All of them looked after, wondering what +had started the dog; but his strange behaviour was at once explained, +and to their consternation. Around the tent, and close to its entrance, +several large wolves were seen. They were leaping about hurriedly, and +worrying some objects that lay upon the ground. What these objects were +was too plain. They were _the bags of pemmican_! Part of their +contents was seen strewed over the snow, and part was already in the +stomachs of the wolves. + +The boys uttered a simultaneous shout, and ran forward. Marengo was by +this time among the wolves, and had set fiercely upon one of them. Had +his masters not been at hand, the fierce brutes would soon have settled +the account with Marengo. But the former were now close by, and the +wolves, seeing them, ran off; but, to the consternation of the boys, +each of them carried off a bag of the pemmican in his mouth with as much +lightness and speed as if nothing encumbered them! + +"We are lost!" cried Norman, in a voice of terror. "Our provisions are +gone!--all gone!" + +It was true. The next moment the wolves disappeared over the summit of +the ridge; and although each of the boys had seized his gun, and ran +after, the pursuit proved an idle one. Not a wolf was overtaken. + +Scarce a scrap of the pemmican had been left--only some fragments that +had been gnawed by the ravenous brutes, and scattered over the snow. +That night our travellers went to bed supperless; and, what with hunger, +and the depression of spirits caused by this incident, one and all of +them kept awake nearly the whole of the night. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +THE ROCK-TRIPE. + +They left their skin-couch at an early hour, close after daybreak. +Hunger and anxiety drove them out of their tent. Not a morsel of +anything for breakfast! They looked abroad over the country, in order, +if possible, to descry some living creature. None could be seen-- +nothing but the wilderness waste of snow, with here and there the side +of a steep hill, or a rock showing cold and bleak. Even the wolves that +had robbed them were no longer to be seen, as if these creatures knew +that they had got all that was worth having, and had now taken +themselves off to hunt for plunder elsewhere. + +The situation of our travellers was really one of extreme peril, +although it may be difficult for you, young reader, to conceive why it +should be so. They, however, knew it well. They knew that they might +travel for days through that inhospitable region, without falling in +with anything that would make a single meal for them. But less time +than that would suffice to starve them all. Already they felt the pangs +of hunger--for they had not eaten since their breakfast of the preceding +day, the wolves having interrupted their preparations for dinner. + +It was of no use remaining where they were; so, striking their tent once +more, they travelled forward. It was but poor consolation to them that +they travelled much lighter than before. They had nothing to carry but +their guns, and these they had got ready for work--so that their journey +partook somewhat of the character of a hunting excursion. They did not +even follow a direct course, but occasionally turned to one side or the +other, wherever a clump of willows, or any other roughness on the +ground, looked like it might be the shelter of game. But during that +whole day--although they travelled from near sunrise to sunset--not a +living thing was seen; and for the second night they went supperless to +bed. + +A man will bear hunger for many days--some more, some less--without +actually dying of it; but at no period will his sufferings be greater +than during the third or fourth day. He will grow more feeble +afterwards, but the pain which he endures will not be greater. + +On the third day the sufferings of our party were extreme. They began +to chew pieces of their skin-tent and blankets; but although this took +the sharp edge off their appetites, it added nothing to their strength; +and they still craved for food, and grew feebler. + +To use a poetical phrase, Marengo now became the "cynosure of every +eye." Marengo was not very fat. The sledge and short rations had +thinned him down, and his ribs could be easily traced. Although the +boys, and Basil in particular, would have suffered much before +sacrificing him, yet starvation will reconcile a man to part with his +best friend. In spite of their friendship for Marengo, his masters +could not help scanning him from time to time with hungry looks. +Marengo was an old dog, and, no doubt, as tough as a piece of +tan-leather; but their appetites were made up for anything. + +It was near midday. They had started early, as on the day before. They +were trudging wearily along, and making but little progress. Marengo +was struggling with his sledge, feeble as any of the party. Basil saw +that the eyes of his companions were from time to time bent upon the +dog; and though none of them said anything, he understood the thoughts +that were passing within them. He knew that none of them wished to +propose it--as Basil was the real master of Marengo--but their glances +were sufficiently intelligible to him. He looked at the downcast +countenance of the once merry Francois,--at the serious air of Norman-- +at the wan cheek and sunken eye of Lucien, whom Basil dearly loved. He +hesitated no longer. His duty to his companions at once overcame his +affection for his faithful dog. + +"We must kill him!" said he, suddenly stopping, and pointing to Marengo. + +The rest halted. + +"I fear there's no help for it," said Norman, turning his face in every +direction, and sweeping the surface of the snow with hopeless glances. + +Francois also assented to the proposal. + +"Let us make a condition," suggested Lucien; "I for one could walk five +miles farther." And as Lucien said this, he made an effort to stand +erect, and look strong and brave; but Basil knew it was an effort of +_generosity_. + +"No," said he,--"no, dear Luce. You are done up. We must kill the +dog!" + +"Nonsense, Basil, you mistake," replied the other; "I assure you I am +far from being done up. I could go much farther yet. Stay!" continued +he, pointing ahead; "you see yonder rocks? They are about three miles +off, I should think. They lie directly in our course. Well, now, let +us agree to this condition. Let us give poor Marengo a chance for his +life. If we find nothing before reaching those rocks, why then--" + +And Lucien, seeing Marengo gazing up in his face, left the sentence +unfinished. The poor brute looked up at all of them as though he +understood every word that they were saying; and his mute appeal, had it +been necessary, would not have been thrown away. But it did not require +that to get him the proposed respite. All agreed willingly with +Lucien's proposition; and, shouldering their pieces, the party moved on. + +Lucien had purposely understated the distance to the rocks. It was +five, instead of three miles; and some of them made it full ten, as they +were determined Marengo should have the benefit of every chance. They +deployed like skirmishers; and not a brake or brush that lay to the +right or left of the path but was visited and beaten by one or other of +them. Their diligence was to no purpose. After two hours' weary work, +they arrived among the rocks, having seen not a trace of either +quadruped or bird. + +"Come!" cried Lucien in his now feeble voice, still trying to look +cheerful, "we must pass through them. There is a chance yet. Let him +have fair play. The rocks were to be the limit, but it was not stated +what part of them. Let us pass through to the other side--they do not +extend far." + +Encouraged by the words of Lucien, the party entered among the rocks, +moving on separate paths. They had gone only a few paces, when a shout +from Norman caused the rest to look to him for an explanation. No +animal was in sight. Had he seen any? No; but something that gratified +him certainly, for his voice and manner expressed it. + +"What is it?" inquired the others, all speaking at the same time. + +"_Tripe de roche_!" answered he. + +"_Tripe de roche_?" + +"Yes," replied Norman, "look there!" and he pointed to one of the rocks +directly ahead of them, at the same time moving forward to it. The +others hastened up after. On reaching the rock, they saw what Norman +had meant by the words _tripe de roche_ (rock-tripe). It was a black, +hard, crumply substance, that nearly covered the surface of the rock, +and was evidently of a vegetable nature. Lucien knew what it was as +well as Norman, and joy had expressed itself upon his pale cheeks at the +sight. As for Basil and Francois they only stood waiting an +explanation, and wondering what value a quantity of "rock moss," as they +deemed it, could be to persons in their condition. Lucien soon informed +them that it was not a "moss," but a "lichen," and of that celebrated +species which will sustain human life. It was the _Gyrophora_. Norman +confirmed Lucien's statement, and furthermore affirmed, that not only +the Indians and Esquimaux, but also parties of voyageurs, had often +subsisted upon it for days, when they would otherwise have starved. +There are many species,--not less than five or six. All of them possess +nutritive properties, but only one is a palatable food--the _Gyrophora +vellea_ of botanists. Unfortunately, this was not the sort which our +voyageurs had happened upon, as it grows only upon rocks shaded by +woods, and is rarely met with in the open barrens. The one, however, +which Norman had discovered was the "next best," and they were all glad +at finding even that. + +The first thing to be thought of was to collect it, and all four set to +peeling and scraping it from the rocks. The next thought was to make it +ready for eating. Here a new difficulty stared them in the face. The +_tripe de roche_ had to be boiled,--it could not be eaten else,--and +where was the fire? where was the wood to make one? Not a stick was to +be seen. They had not met with a tree during all that day's journey! + +They were now as badly off as ever. The _tripe de roche_ would be of no +more use to them than so much dry grass. What could they do with it? + +In the midst of their suspense, one of them thought of the sledge-- +Marengo's sledge. That would make a fire, but a very small one. It +might do to cook a single meal. Even that was better than none. +Marengo was not going to object to the arrangement. He looked quite +willing to part with the sledge. But a few hours before, it came near +being used to cook Marengo himself. He was not aware of that, perhaps, +but no matter. All agreed that the sledge must be broken up, and +converted into firewood. + +They were about taking it to pieces, and had already "unhitched" Marengo +from it, when Basil, who had walked to the other side of the rocky +jumble, cried back to them to desist. He had espied some willows at no +great distance. Out of these a fire could be made. The sledge, +therefore, was let alone for the present. Basil and Francois +immediately started for the willows, while Norman and Lucien remained +upon the spot to prepare the "tripe" for the pot. + +In a short time the former parties returned with two large bundles of +willows, and the fire was kindled. The _tripe de roche_, with some +snow--for there was no water near--was put into the pot, and the latter +hung over the blaze. + +After boiling for nearly an hour, the lichen became reduced to a soft +gummy pulp, and Norman thickened the mess to his taste by putting in +more snow, or more of the "tripe," as it seemed to require it. The pot +was then taken from the fire, and all four greedily ate of its contents. +It was far from being palatable, and had a clammy "feel" in the mouth, +something like sago; but none of the party was in any way either dainty +or fastidious just at that time, and they soon consumed all that had +been cooked. It did not satisfy the appetite, though it filled the +stomach, and made their situation less painful to bear. + +Norman informed them that it was much better when cooked with a little +meat, so as to make broth. This Norman's companions could easily +credit, but where was the meat to come from? The Indians prefer the +_tripe de roche_ when prepared along with the roe of fish, or when +boiled in fish liquor. + +Our weary voyageurs resolved to remain among the rocks for that night at +least; and with this intent they put up their little tent. They did not +kindle any fire, as the willows were scarce, and there would be barely +enough to make one or two more boilings of the rock-tripe. They spread +their skins within the tent, and creeping in, kept one another as warm +as they could until morning. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +THE POLAR HARE AND GREAT SNOWY OWL. + +Of course hunger kept them from sleeping late. They were up and out of +the tent by an early hour. Their fire was re-kindled, and they were +making preparations for a fresh pot of rock-tripe, when they were +startled by the note of a well-known bird. On looking up, they beheld +seated upon the point of a rock the creature itself, which was the +"cinereous crow" (_Garrulus Canadensis_), or, as it is better known, the +"whiskey Jack." The latter name it receives from the voyageurs, +on account of the resemblance of its Indian appellation, +"whiskae-shaw-neesh," to the words "whiskey John." Although sometimes +called the "cinereous crow," the bird is a true jay. It is one of the +most inelegant of the genus, being of a dull grey colour, and not +particularly graceful in its form. Its plumage, moreover, does not +consist of webbed feathers, but rather more resembles hair; nor does its +voice make up for the plainness of its appearance, as is the case with +some birds. On the contrary, the voice of "whiskey Jack" is plaintive +and squeaking, though he is something of a mocker in his way, and +frequently imitates the notes of other birds. He is one of those +creatures that frequent the habitations of man, and there is not a fur +post, or fort, in all the Hudson's Bay territory, where "whiskey Jack" +is not familiarly known. He is far from being a favourite, however, as, +like his near relative the magpie, he is a great thief, and will follow +the marten-trapper all day while baiting his traps, perching upon a tree +until the bait is set, and then pouncing down, and carrying it off. He +frequently pilfers small articles from the forts and encampments, and is +so bold as to enter the tents, and seize food out of any vessel that may +contain it. Notwithstanding all this, he is a favourite with the +traveller through these inhospitable regions. No matter how barren the +spot where the voyageur may make his camp, his tent will hardly be +pitched, before he receives a visit from "whiskey Jack," who comes, of +course, to pick up any crumbs that may fall. His company, therefore, in +a region where all other wild creatures shun the society of man, endears +him to the lonely traveller. + +At many of their camps our voyageurs had met with this singular bird, +and were always glad to receive him as a friend. They were now doubly +delighted to see him, but this delight arose from no friendly feelings. +Their guest was at once doomed to die. Francois had taken up his gun, +and in the next moment would have brought him down, had he not been +checked by Norman. Not that Norman intended to plead for his life, but +Norman's eye had caught sight of another "whiskey Jack,"--which was +hopping among the rocks at some distance--and fearing that Francois' +shot might frighten it away, had hindered him from firing. It was +Norman's design to get both. + +The second "whiskey Jack," or, perhaps, it was the whiskey "Jill," soon +drew near; and both were now seen to hop from rock to rock, and then +upon the top of the tent, and _one of them actually settled_ upon the +edge of the pot, as it hung over the fire, and quietly looking into it, +appeared to scrutinise its contents! + +The boys could not think of any way of getting the birds, except by +Francois' gun; and it was at length agreed that Francois should do his +best. He was sure of one of them, at least; so telling the others to +get behind him, he fired at the more distant one where it sat upon the +tent, and took the other on the wing. + +Both shots were successful. The two jays fell, and were soon divested +of their soft, silky, hair-like plumage, and dropped into the boiling +pot. They did not weigh together more than about six or seven ounces; +but even that was accounted something under present circumstances; and, +with the _tripe de roche_, a much better breakfast was made than they +had anticipated. + +No more of the lichen could be found. The rocks were all searched, but +only a few patches--not enough for another full meal--could be obtained. +The travellers had no other resource, therefore, but to continue on, +and passing through the rocky ground, they once more embarked upon the +wilderness of snow. + +During that whole day not a living creature gladdened their eyes. They +saw nothing that was eatable--fish, flesh, fowl, or vegetable. Not even +a bit of rock-tripe--in these parts the last resource of starving men-- +could be met with. They encamped in a plain, where not a tree stood-- +not even a rock to shelter them. + +Next morning a consultation was held. Marengo was again the subject of +their thoughts and conversation. Should they kill him on the spot or go +a little farther? That was the question. Lucien, as before, interposed +in his favour. There was a high hill many miles off, and in their +proper course. "Let us first reach yonder hill," proposed Lucien. "If +nothing is found before that, then we must part with Marengo." + +The proposal was agreed to, and, striking their tent, they again set +out. + +It was a toilsome long way to that hill--feeble and weary as they all +were--but they reached it without having observed the slightest trace of +animal life. + +"Up the hill!" cried Lucien, beckoning to the others, and cheering them +with his weak voice, "Up the hill!" + +On they went, up the steep declivity--Marengo toiling on after them. +The dog looked downcast and despairing. He really appeared to know the +conditions that had been made for his life. His masters, as they crept +upward, looked sharply before them. Every tuft that appeared above the +snow was scrutinised, and every inch of the ground, as it came into +view, was examined. + +At length they crossed the escarpment of the hill, and stood upon the +summit. They gazed forward with disappointed feelings. The hill-top +was a sort of table plain, of about three hundred yards in diameter. It +was covered with snow, nearly a foot in depth. A few heads of withered +grass were seen above the surface, but not enough to subdue the uniform +white that prevailed all over. There was no creature upon it; that was +evident. A bird as big as a sparrow, or a quadruped as large as a +shrew-mouse, could have been seen upon any part of it. A single glance +satisfied all of them that no living thing was there. + +They halted without proceeding farther. Some of them could not have +gone another mile, and all of them were tottering in their tracks. +Marengo had arrived upon the summit, and stood a little to one side, +with the sledge behind him. + +"_You_ must do it!" said Basil, speaking to Norman in a hoarse voice, +and turning his head away. Lucien and Francois stepped aside at the +same time, and stood as if looking down the hill. The countenances of +all three betokened extreme sorrow. There was a tear in Basil's eye +that he was trying to wipe away with his sleeve. + +The sharp click of Norman's gun was heard behind them, and they were all +waiting for the report, when, at that moment, a dark shadow passing over +the white declivity arrested their attention! It was the shadow of a +bird upon the wing. The simultaneous exclamation of all three stayed +Norman's finger--already pressing upon the trigger--and the latter, +turning round, saw that they were regarding some object in the air. It +was a bird of great size--almost as large as an eagle, but with the +plumage of a swan. It was white all over--both body and wings--white as +the snow over which it was sailing. Norman knew the bird at a glance. +Its thick short neck and large head--its broad-spreading wings, of milky +whiteness, were not to be mistaken. It was the "great snowy owl" of the +Arctic regions. + +Its appearance suddenly changed the aspect of affairs. Norman let the +butt of his rifle fall to the ground, and stood, like the rest, watching +the bird in its flight. + +The snowy owl (_Strix nyctea_) is, perhaps, the most beautiful, as it is +one of the most powerful birds of its genus--of which there are more +than a dozen in North America. It is a bird of the Polar regions--even +the most remote--and in the dead of winter it is found within the Arctic +circle, on both Continents--although at the same season it also wanders +farther south. It dwells upon the Barren Grounds as well as in wooded +districts. In the former it squats upon the snow, where its peculiar +colour often prevents it from being noticed by the passing hunter. +Nature has furnished it with every protection from the cold. Its +plumage is thick, closely matted, and downy, and it is feathered to the +very eyes--so that its legs appear as large as those of a good-sized +dog. The bill, too, is completely hidden under a mass of feathers that +cover its face, and not even a point of its whole body is exposed. + +The owl is usually looked upon as a night-bird, and in Southern +latitudes it is rarely seen by day; but the owls of the Northern regions +differ from their congeners in this respect. They hunt by day, even +during the bright hours of noon. Were it not so, how could they exist +in the midst of an Arctic summer, when the days are months in duration? +Here we have another example of the manner in which Nature trains her +wild creatures to adapt themselves to their situation. + +At least a dozen species of owls frequent the territory of the Hudson's +Bay Company--the largest of which is the cinereous owl, whose wings have +a spread of nearly five feet. Some species migrate south on the +approach of winter; while several, as the snowy owl, remain to prey upon +the ptarmigan, the hares, and other small quadrupeds, who, like +themselves, choose that dreary region for their winter home. + +Our travellers, as I have said, stood watching the owl as it soared +silently through the heavens. Francois had thrown his gun across his +left arm, in hopes he might get a shot at it; but the bird--a shy one at +all times--kept away out of range; and, after circling once or twice +over the hill, uttered a loud cry and flew off. + +Its cry resembled the moan of a human being in distress; and its effect +upon the minds of our travellers, in the state they then were, was far +from being pleasant. They watched the bird with despairing looks, until +it was lost against the white background of a snow-covered hill. + +They had noticed that the owl appeared to be just taking flight when +they first saw it. It must have risen up from the hill upon which they +were; and they once more ran their eyes along the level summit, curious +to know where it had been perched that they had not seen it. No doubt, +reflected they, it had been near enough, but its colour had rendered it +undistinguishable from the snow. + +"What a pity!" exclaimed Francois. + +While making these reflections, and sweeping their glances around, an +object caught their eyes that caused some of them to ejaculate and +suddenly raise their guns. This object was near the centre of the +summit table, and at first sight appeared to be only a lump of snow; but +upon closer inspection, two little round spots of a dark colour, and +above these two elongated black marks, could be seen. Looking steadily, +the eye at length traced the outlines of an animal, that sat in a +crouching attitude. The round spots were its eyes, and the black marks +above them were tips of a pair of very long ears. All the rest of its +body was covered with a soft white fur, hardly to be distinguished from +the snow upon which it rested. + +The form and colour of the animal, but more especially its long erect +ears, made it easy for them to tell what it was. All of them saw it was +a hare. + +"Hush!" continued Norman, as soon as he saw it, "keep still all of you-- +leave it to me." + +"What shall we do?" demanded Basil. "Can we not assist you?" + +"No," was the reply, uttered in a whisper, "stay where you are. Keep +the dog quiet. I'll manage puss, if the owl hasn't scared her too +badly. That scream has started her out of her form. I'm certain she +wasn't that way before. Maybe she'll sit it out. Lucky the sun's +high--don't move a step. Have the dog ready, but hold him tight, and +keep a sharp look out if she bolts." + +After giving these instructions, that were all uttered quickly and in an +under tone, Norman moved off, with his gun carried across his arm. He +did not move in the direction of the hare, but rather as if he was going +from her. His course, however, bent gradually into a circle of which +the hare was the centre--the diameter being the full breadth of the +summit level, which was about three hundred yards. In this circle he +walked round and round, keeping his eye fixed upon the crouching animal. +When he had nearly completed one circumference, he began to shorten the +diameter--so that the curve which he was now following was a spiral one, +and gradually drawing nearer to the hare. The latter kept watching him +as he moved--curiosity evidently mingling with her fears. Fortunately, +as Norman had said, the sun was nearly in the vertex of the heavens, and +his own body cast very little shadow upon the snow. Had it been +otherwise, the hare would have been frightened at the moving shadow, and +would have sprung out of her form, before he could have got within +range. + +When he had made some four or five circuits, Norman moved slower and +slower, and then stopped nearly opposite to where the others were. +These stood watching him with beating hearts, for they knew that the +life of Marengo, and perhaps their own as well, depended on the shot. +Norman had chosen his place, so that in case the hare bolted, she might +run towards them, and give them the chance of a flying shot. His gun +was already at his shoulder--his finger rested on the trigger, and the +boys were expecting the report, when again the shadow of a bird flitted +over the snow, a loud human-like scream sounded in their ears, and the +hare was seen to spring up, and stretch her long legs in flight. At the +same instant the great snowy owl was observed wheeling above, and +threatening to pounce upon the fleeing animal! + +The hare ran in a side-direction, but it brought her as she passed +within range of the party by the sledge. The owl kept above her as she +ran. A dozen leaps was all the hare ever made. A loud crack was heard, +and she was seen to spring up and fall back upon the snow, dead as a +doornail. Like an echo another crack followed--a wild scream rang +through the air, and the great white owl fell fluttering to the earth. +The reports were not of a rifle. They were the louder detonations of a +shot-gun. All eyes were turned towards Francois, who, like a little +god, stood enveloped in a halo of blue smoke. Francois was the hero of +the hour. + +Marengo rushed forward and seized the struggling owl, that snapped its +bill at him like a watch-man's rattle. But Marengo did not care for +that; and seizing its head in his teeth, gave it a crunch that at once +put an end to its flapping. + +Marengo was reprieved, and he seemed to know it, as he bounded over the +snow, waving his tail, and barking like a young fool. + +They all ran up to the hare, which proved to be the "Polar hare" (_Lepus +glacialis_), and one of the largest of its species--not less than +fifteen pounds in weight. Its fur, soft and white like swan-down, was +stained with red blood. It was not quite dead. Its little heart yet +beat faintly, and the light of life was still shining from its beautiful +honey-coloured eyes. Both it and the owl were taken up and carried to +the sledge, which was once more attached to Marengo, as the party +intended to go forward and halt under the shelter of the hill. + +"There must be some wood in this quarter," remarked Norman: "I never +knew this sort of hare far from timber." + +"True," said Lucien, "the Polar hare feeds upon willows, arbutus, and +the Labrador tea-plant. Some of these kinds must be near." + +While they were speaking, they had reached the brow of the hill, on the +opposite side from where they had ascended. On looking into the valley +below, to their great joy they beheld some clumps of willows, and +good-sized trees of poplar, birch, and spruce-pine (_Pinus alba_), and +passing down the hill, the travellers soon stood in their midst. +Presently was heard the chipping sound of an axe and crash of falling +timber, and in a few moments after a column of smoke was seen soaring up +out of the valley, and curling cheerfully towards the bright blue sky. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +THE JUMPING MOUSE AND THE ERMINE. + +Large as the hare was, she would have made but a meal for our four +hungry voyageurs, had they eaten at will. By Lucien's advice, however, +they restrained themselves, and half of her was left for supper, when +the "cook" promised to make them hare-soup. The head, feet, and other +spare bits, fell to Marengo's share. The owl, whose flesh was almost as +white as its plumage, and, as Norman well knew, most delicate eating, +was reserved for to-morrow's breakfast. + +They had pitched their tent with the intention of remaining at that +place all night, and continuing their journey next day; but, as it still +wanted several hours of sunset, and the strength of all was considerably +recruited, they resolved to hunt about the neighbourhood as long as they +had light. It was of great importance that they should procure more +game. The owl would make but a spare breakfast, and after that where +was the next meal to come from? They had had a temporary relief, and +while their strength lasted, they must use every effort to procure a +further supply. The valley in which their new camp was placed looked +well for game. It was a sort of oasis in the Barren Grounds. There was +a lake and a considerable skirting of timber around it--consisting, as +we have said, of willows, poplars, spruce-pine, and dwarf birch-trees +(_Betula nana_). The Alpine arbutus, whose berries are the food of many +species of animals, also grew upon the side of the hills; and the +Labrador tea-plant (_Ledum palustre_) was found upon the low ground +around the lake. The leaves of this last is a favourite food of the +Polar hare, and our voyageurs had no doubt but that there were many of +these animals in the neighbourhood. Indeed, they had better evidence +than conjecture, for they saw numerous hare-tracks in the snow. There +were tracks of other animals too, for it is a well-known fact that where +one kind exists, at least two or three others will be found in the same +habitat--all being connected together by a "chain of destruction." + +A singular illustration of this was afforded to Lucien, who remained at +the camp while the rest went out hunting. He had gathered some of the +leaves of the Labrador tea, and was drying them over the coals, +intending to cheer his comrades with a cup of this beverage after +supper. The hare-soup was boiling, and the "cook" sat listening to the +cheerful sounds that issued from the pot--now and then taking off the +lid to examine its savoury contents, and give them a stir. He would +then direct his attention to the tea-leaves that were parching in the +frying-pan; and, having shifted them a little, felt himself at liberty +to look about for a minute or two. + +On one of these occasions, while glancing up, his attention was +attracted to an object which appeared upon the snow at a short distance +from where he sat. A wreath of snow, that had formed under the shelter +of the hill, extended all around its base, presenting a steep front in +every direction. This front was only two or three feet in height; but +the top surface of the wreath was many yards wide--in fact, it extended +back until it became blended with the slope of the hill. It was smooth +and nearly level, but the hill above was steep, and somewhat rough and +rocky. The steep front of the wreath came down within half-a-dozen +paces of the fire where Lucien was seated; and it was upon the top or +scarpment of it that the object appeared that had drawn his attention. +It was a small creature, but it was in motion, and thus had caught his +eye. + +A single glance showed him that the little animal was a mouse, but of a +somewhat singular species. It was about the size of the common mouse, +but quite different in colour. The upper half of its body was of a +light mahogany tint, while the lower half, including the legs and feet, +were of a milky whiteness. It was, in fact, the "white-footed mouse" +(_Mus leucopus_), one of the most beautiful of its kind. + +Here and there above the surface of the snow protruded the tops of +arbutus-trees; and the little creature was passing from one of these to +the other, in search, no doubt, of the berries that remain upon these +trees all the winter. Sometimes it ran from point to point like any +other mouse, but now and then it would rear itself on its hind-legs, and +leap several feet at a single bound! In this it evidently assisted +itself by pressing its tail--in which it possesses muscular power-- +against the snow. This peculiar mode of progression has obtained for it +the name of the "jumping mouse," and among the Indians "deer"-mouse, +because its leap reminds them of the bounding spring of the deer. But +there are still other species of "jumping mice" in America that possess +this power to a greater degree even than the _Mus leucopus_. + +Lucien watched its motions without attempting to interfere with it, +until it had got nearly out of sight. He did not desire to do injury to +the little creature, nor was he curious to obtain it, as he had already +met with many specimens, and examined them to his satisfaction. He had +ceased to think of it, and would, perhaps, never have thought of it +again, but, upon turning his eyes in the opposite direction, he observed +another animal upon the snow. This creature had a far different aspect +from the mouse. Its body was nearly a foot in length, although not much +thicker than that of the other! Its legs were short, but strong, and +its forehead broad and arched convexly. It had a tail more than half +the length of the body, hairy, and tapering like that of a cat. Its +form was the well-known form of the weasel, and it was, in fact, a +species of weasel. It was the celebrated _ermine (Mustela erminea_), +celebrated for its soft and beautiful fur, so long prized as an ornament +for the robes of the rich. It was white all over, with the exception of +its tail; and that, for about an inch or so at the tip, was covered with +black silky hair. On some parts of the body, too, the white was tinged +with a primrose yellow; but this tinge is not found in all animals of +this species, as some individuals are pure white. Of course it was now +in its winter "robes;" but in the summer it changes to a colour that +does not differ much from that of the common weasel. + +When Lucien first saw it, it was running along the top of the wreath, +and coming from the same direction from which the mouse had come. Now +and then it paused awhile, and then ran on again. Lucien observed that +it kept its nose to the ground, and as it drew nearer he saw that it was +following on the same path which the other had taken. To his +astonishment he perceived that it was _trailing the mouse_! Wherever +the latter had doubled or made a _detour_, the ermine followed the +track; and where the mouse had given one of its long leaps, there the +ermine would stop, and, after beating about until it struck the trail +again, would resume its onward course at a gallop. Its manoeuvres were +exactly like those of a hound upon the fresh trail of a fox! + +Lucien now looked abroad to discover the mouse. It was still in sight +far off upon the snow, and, as Lucien could see, busily gnawing at the +arbutus, quite unconscious that its _greatest_ enemy was so near. I say +greatest enemy, for the _Mus leucopus_ is the _natural_ prey of the +_Mustela erminea_. + +The mouse was soon made aware of the dangerous proximity, but not until +the ermine had got within a few feet of it. When it perceived the +latter it shrunk, at first, among the leaves of the arbutus; but seeing +there would be no protection there--as the other was still springing +forward to seize it--it leaped up, and endeavoured to escape by flight. +Its flight appeared to be in alternate jumps and runs, but the chase was +not a long one. The ermine was as active as a cat, and, after a few +skips, its claws were struck into the mouse. There was a short, slender +squeak, and then a "crunch," like the cracking of a hazel-nut. This +last sound was produced by the teeth of the ermine breaking through the +skull of its victim. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +THE ARCTIC FOX AND WHITE WOLF. + +Lucien turned round to get hold of his rifle, intending to punish the +ermine, although the little creature, in doing what it did, had only +obeyed a law of nature. But the boy had also another design in killing +it: he wished to compare it with some ermines he had seen while +travelling upon Lake Winnipeg, which, as he thought, were much larger-- +one that he had caught having measured more than a foot in length, +without including the tail. He wished, also, to make some comparison +between it and the common weasel; for in its _winter dress_, in the +snowy regions, the latter very much resembles the ermine; and, indeed, +the trappers make no distinction between them. + +With these ideas Lucien had grasped his gun, and was raising himself to +creep a little nearer, when his eye was arrested by the motions of +another creature coming along the top of the wreath. This last was a +snow-white animal, with long, shaggy fur, sharp-pointed snout, erect +ears, and bushy tail. Its aspect was fox-like, and its movements and +attitudes had all that semblance of cunning and caution so +characteristic of these animals. Well might it, for it _was_ a fox--the +beautiful white fox of the Arctic regions. + +It is commonly supposed that there are but two or three kinds of foxes +in America; and that these are only varieties of the European species. + +This is an erroneous idea, as there are nearly a dozen varieties +existing in North America, although they may be referred to a less +number of species. There is the Arctic fox, which is confined to the +cold Northern regions, and which in winter is white. + +The "sooty fox" is a variety of the "Arctic," distinguished from it only +by its colour, which is of a uniform blackish brown. + +The "American fox" (_Vulpes fulvus_), or, as it is commonly called, the +"red fox," has been long supposed to be the same as the European red +fox. This is erroneous. They differ in many points; and, what is +somewhat curious, these points of difference are similar to those that +exist between the European and American wolves, as already given. + +The "cross fox" is supposed by the Indians and some naturalists to be +only a variety of the last. It derives its name from its having two +dark stripes crossing each other upon the shoulders. Its fur from this +circumstance, and perhaps because the animal is scarce, is more prized +than that of the red variety. When a single skin of the latter is worth +only fifteen shillings, one of the cross fox will bring as much as five +guineas. + +Another variety of the red fox, and a much more rare one, is the +"black," or "silver" fox. The skins of these command six times the +price of any other furs found in America, with the exception of the +sea-otter. The animal itself is so rare that only a few fall into the +hands of the Hudson's Bay Company in a season; and Mr Nicholay, the +celebrated London furrier, asserts that a single skin will fetch from +ten to forty guineas, according to quality. A remarkable cloak, or +pelisse, belonging to the Emperor of Russia, and made out of the skins +of silver-foxes, was exhibited in the Great London Exposition of 1851. +It was made entirely from the neck-part of the skins--the only part of +the silver-fox which is pure black. This cloak was valued at 3400 +pounds; though Mr Nicholay considers this an exaggerated estimate, and +states its true value to be not over 1000 pounds. George the Fourth had +a lining of black fox-skins worth 1000 pounds. + +The "grey fox" is a more southern species than any already described. +Its proper home is the temperate zone covered by the United States; +although it extends its range into the southern parts of Canada. In the +United States it is the most common kind, although in that district +there is also a "red fox," different from the _Vulpes fulvus_ already +noticed; and which, no doubt, is the red fox of Europe, introduced by +the early colonists of America. + +Still another species, the smallest and perhaps the most interesting of +any, is the "kit fox." This little creature is an inhabitant of the +prairies, where it makes its burrows far from any wood. It is extremely +shy, and the swiftest animal in the prairie country--outrunning even the +antelope! + +When Lucien saw the fox he thought no more of the ermine, but drew back +and crouched down, in hopes he might get a shot at the larger animal. +He knew well that the flesh of the Arctic fox is highly esteemed as +food, particularly by persons situated as he and his companions were, +and he hoped to be able to add it to their larder. + +When first seen it was coming towards him, though not in a direct line. +It was engaged in hunting, and, with its nose to the snow, was running +in zig-zag lines, "quartering" the ground like a pointer dog. Presently +it struck the trail of the ermine, and with a yelp of satisfaction +followed it. This of course brought it close past where Lucien was; +but, notwithstanding his eagerness to fire, it moved so rapidly along +the trail that he was unable to take sight upon it. It did not halt for +a moment; and, as Lucien's gun was a rifle, he knew that a flying shot +would be an uncertain one. In the belief, therefore, that the fox would +stop soon--at all events when it came up with the ermine--he restrained +himself from firing, and waited. + +It ran on, still keeping the track of the ermine. The latter, hitherto +busy with his own prey, did not see the fox until it was itself seen, +when, dropping the half-eaten mouse, it reared up on its hindquarters +like a squirrel or a monkey, at the same time spitting as spitefully as +any other weasel could have done. In a moment, however, it changed its +tactics--for the open jaws of the fox were within a few paces of it--and +after making a short quick run along the surface, it threw up its +hindquarters, and plunged head-foremost into the snow! The fox sprang +forward, and flinging his brush high in air, shot after like an arrow! + +Both had now disappeared from Lucien's sight. For a moment the surface +of the snow was disturbed above the spot where they had gone down, but +the next moment all was still, and no evidence existed that a living +creature had been there, except the tracks, and the break the two +creatures had made in going down. Lucien ran forward until he was +within a few yards of the place, and stood watching the hole, with his +rifle ready--thinking that the fox, at least, would soon come up again. + +He had waited for nearly five minutes, looking steadily at this point, +when his eye was attracted by a movement under the snow, at a +considerable distance, quite fifty paces, from where he stood. The +frozen crust was seen to upheave; and, the next moment, the head of the +fox, and afterwards his whole body, appeared above the surface. Lucien +saw that the ermine lay transversely between his jaws, and was quite +dead! He was about to fire, but the fox, suddenly perceiving him, shot +off like an arrow, carrying his prey along with him. He was soon out of +reach, and Lucien, seeing that he had lost his chance, was about to +return to the fire, when, all at once, the fox was observed to stop, +turn suddenly in his tracks, and run off in a new direction! Lucien +looked beyond to ascertain the cause of this strange manoeuvre. That +was soon ascertained. Coming down from among the rocks was a large +animal--five times the fox's size--but in other respects not unlike him. +It was also of a snow-white colour, with long hair, bushy tail, and +short erect ears, but its aspect was not to be mistaken. It was the +great _white wolf_. + +When Lucien first saw this new-comer, the latter had just espied the +fox, and was about stretching out into a gallop towards him. The fox, +_watching backwards_ as he ran, had not seen the wolf, until the latter +was within a few springs of him; and now when he had turned, and both +were in full chase, there was not over twenty yards between them. The +direction in which they ran would bring them near to Lucien; and so they +came, and passed him--neither of them seeming to heed his presence. +They had not got many yards farther, before Lucien perceived that the +wolf was fast closing on the fox, and would soon capture him. Believing +he would then stop, so as to offer him a fairer chance for a shot, +Lucien followed. The wolf, however, had noticed him coming after, and +although the next moment he closed his great jaws upon the fox, he did +not pause for a single instant, but, lifting the latter clear up from +the ground, ran on without the slightest apparent diminution of speed! + +Reynard was seen to struggle and kick, while he squeaked like a shot +puppy; but his cries each moment grew feebler, and his struggles soon +came to an end. The wolf held him transversely in his jaws--just as he +himself but the moment before had carried the ermine. + +Lucien saw there was no use in following them, as the wolf ran on with +his prey. With some disappointment, therefore, he was about to return +to the fire, where, to add to his mortification, he knew he would find +his tea-leaves parched to a cinder. He lingered a moment, however, with +his eyes still fixed upon the departing wolf that was just about to +disappear over the crest of a ridge. The fox was still in his jaws, but +no longer struggling. Reynard looked limber and dead, as his legs swung +loosely on both sides of the wolf's head. Lucien at that moment saw the +latter suddenly stop in his career, and then drop down upon the surface +of the snow as if dead! He fell with his victim in his jaws, and lay +half doubled up, and quite still. + +This strange action would have been a difficult thing for Lucien to +explain, but, almost at the same instant in which he observed it, a puff +of blue smoke shot up over the ridge, and quickly following was heard +the sharp crack of a rifle. Then a head with its cap of raccoon skin +appeared above the snow, and Lucien, recognising the face of Basil, ran +forward to meet him. + +Both soon stood over the body of the dead wolf, wondering at what they +saw; but Basil, far more than Lucien--for the latter already knew the +circumstances of that strange scene of death. First there was the great +gaunt body of the wolf stretched along the snow, and quite dead. +Crossways in his mouth was the fox, just as he had been carried off; and +across the jaws of the latter, lay the long worm-like body of the +ermine, still retaining between its teeth the half-devoured remains of +the white-footed mouse! A very chain of destroyers! These creatures +died as they had lived, preying one upon the other! Of all four the +little mouse alone was an innocent victim. The other three, though +morally guilty by the laws of man, yet were only acting in obedience to +the laws of Nature and necessity. Man himself obeys a similar law, as +Basil had just shown. Philosophise as we will, we cannot comprehend why +it is so--why Nature requires the sacrifice of one of her creatures for +the sustenance of another. But although we cannot understand the cause, +we must not condemn the fact as it exists; nor must we suppose, as some +do, that the destruction of God's creatures for our necessities +constitutes a crime. They who think so, and who, in consistency with +their doctrines, confine themselves to what they term "vegetable" food, +are at best but shallow reasoners. They have not studied Nature very +closely, else would they know that every time they pluck up a parsnip, +or draw their blade across the leaf of a lettuce, they cause pain and +death! How much pain we cannot tell; but that the plant feels, as well +as the animal, we can clearly _prove_. Probably it feels less, and it +may be each kind of plant differs from others in the amount, according +to its higher or lower organism. Probably its amount of pleasure--its +capability of enjoyment--is in a direct proportion to the pain which it +endures; and it is highly probable that this double line of ratios runs +in an ascending scale throughout the vegetable kingdom, gradually +joining on to what is more strictly termed the "animal." But these +mysteries of life, my young friend, will be interesting studies for you +when your mind becomes matured. Perhaps it may be your fortune to +unravel some of them, for the benefit of your fellow-men. I feel +satisfied that you will not only be a student of Nature, but one of her +great teachers; you will far surpass the author of this little book in +your knowledge of Nature's laws; but it will always be a happiness to +him to reflect, that, when far advanced upon the highway of science, you +will look back to him as one you had passed upon the road, and who +_pointed you to the path_. + +Though Basil had shot the wolf, it was plain that it was not the first +nor yet the second time he had discharged his rifle since leaving the +camp. From his game-bag protruded the curving claws and wing-tips of a +great bird. In one hand he carried a white hare--not the Polar hare-- +but a much smaller kind, also an inhabitant of these snowy regions; and +over his shoulders was slung a fierce-looking creature, the great +wild-cat or lynx of America (_Lynx Canadensis_). The bird in his bag +was the golden eagle (_Aquila chrysaetos_), one of the few feathered +creatures that brave the fierce winter of a northern climate, and does +not migrate, like its congeners the "white-head" and the osprey, to more +southern regions. + +Basil had returned alone--for the three, Basil, Norman, and Francois, +had taken different directions at setting cut. This they had done, in +order to have as great a number of chances as possible of finding the +game. Norman came in a few minutes after, bearing a whole deer upon his +shoulders--a glad sight that was--and, a short interval having passed, +Francois's "hurrah" sounded upon their ears, and Francois himself was +seen coming up the valley loaded like a little donkey with two bunches +of large snow-white birds. + +The camp now exhibited a cheering sight. Such a variety was never seen +even in the larder of a palace kitchen. The ground was strewed with +animals like a dead menagerie. There were no less than a dozen kinds +upon it! + +The hare-soup was now quite ready, and was accordingly served up by +Lucien in the best style. Lucien had dried a fresh "grist" of the +tea-leaves, and a cheering cup followed; and then the party all sat +around their log-fire, while each of them detailed the history of his +experience since parting with the others. + +Francois was the first to relate what had befallen him. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +THE JERFALCON AND THE WHITE GROUSE. + +"Mine," began Francois, "was a bird-adventure, as you all see--though +what kind of birds I've shot I can't tell. One of them's a hawk, I'm +sure; but it's a _white_ hawk, and that I never saw before. The rest, I +suppose, are _white_ partridges. Everything appears to be white here. +What are they, Luce?" + +"You are right about this first," answered Lucien, taking up one of the +birds which Francois had brought back with him, and which was white all +but a few spots of clove-brown upon its back. "This is a hawk, as you +may tell, by its appearance, or rather I should say a `falcon,' for you +must know there is a difference." + +"What difference?" demanded Francois, with some eagerness of manner. + +"Why the principal difference is the formation of their beaks or bills. +The bills of the true falcons are stronger, and have a notch in the +lower mandible answering to a tooth in the upper one. Their nostrils, +too, are differently formed. But another point of distinction is found +in their habits. Both feed on warm-blooded animals, and neither will +eat carrion. In this respect the hawks and falcons are alike. Both +take their prey upon the wing; but herein lies the difference. The +hawks capture it by skimming along horizontally or obliquely, and +picking it up as they pass; whereas the true falcons `pounce' down upon +it from above, and in a line nearly vertical." + +"Then this must be a true falcon," interrupted Francois, "for I saw the +gentleman do that very thing; and beautifully he did it, too." + +"It is a falcon," continued Lucien; "and of the many species of hawks +which inhabit North America--over twenty in all--it is one of the +boldest and handsomest. I don't wonder you never saw it before; for it +is truly a bird of the Northern regions, and does not come so far south +as the territory of the United States, much less into Louisiana. It is +found in North Europe, Greenland, and Iceland, and has been seen as far +north on both continents as human beings have travelled. It is known by +the name of `jerfalcon,' or `gyrfalcon,' but its zoological name is +_Falco Islandicus_." + +"The Indians here," interposed Norman, "call it by a name that means +`winter bird,' or `winterer'--I suppose, because it is one of the few +that stay in these parts all the year round, and is therefore often +noticed by them in winter time. The traders sometimes call it the +`speckled partridge-hawk,' for there are some of them more spotted than +this one is." + +"True," said Lucien; "the young ones are nearly of a brown colour, and +they first become spotted or mottled after a year or two. They are +several years old before they get the white plumage, and very few +individuals are seen of a pure white all over, though there are some +without a spot. + +"Yes," continued the naturalist, "it is the jerfalcon; and those other +birds which you call `white partridges,' are the _very_ creatures upon +which it preys. So _you_ have killed both the tyrant and his victims. +They are not partridges though, but grouse--that species known as +`willow-grouse' (_Tetrao saliceti_)." + +And as Lucien said this, he began to handle the birds, which were of a +beautiful white all over, with the exception of the tail-feathers. +These last were pitch-black. + +"Ho!" exclaimed Lucien, in some surprise, "you have two kinds here! +Were they all together when you shot them?" + +"No," answered Francois; "one I shot along with the hawk out in the open +ground. All the others I killed upon a tree in a piece of woods that I +fell in with. There's no difference between them that I can see." + +"But I can," said Lucien, "although I acknowledge they all look very +much alike. Both are feathered to the toes--both have the black +feathers in the tail--and the bills of both are black; but if you +observe closely, this kind--the willow-grouse--has the bill much +stronger and less flattened. Besides, it is a larger bird than the +other, which is the `rock-grouse' (_Tetrao rupestris_). Both are +sometimes, though erroneously, called `ptarmigan;' but they are not the +true ptarmigan (_Tetrao mutus_)--such as exist in North Europe--though +these last are also to be met with in the Northern parts of America. +The ptarmigan are somewhat larger than either of these kinds, but in +other respects differ but little from them. + +"The habits of the `rock' and `willow' grouse are very similar. They +are both birds of the snowy regions, and are found as far north as has +been explored. The willow-grouse in winter keep more among the trees, +and are oftener met with in wooded countries; whereas the others like +best to live in the open ground, and, from your statement, it appears +you found each kind in its favourite haunt." + +"Just so," said Francois. "After leaving here, I kept down the valley, +and was just crossing an open piece of high ground, when I espied the +white hawk, or falcon as you call it, hovering in the air as I'd often +seen hawks do. Well, I stopped and hid behind a rock, thinking I might +have a chance to put a few drops into him. All at once he appeared to +stand still in the air, and, then closing his wings, shot down like an +arrow. Just then I heard a loud `_whur-r-r_,' and up started a whole +covey of white partridges--grouse, I should say--the same as this you +call the `rock-grouse.' I saw that the hawk had missed the whole of +them, and I marked them as they flew off. They pitched about a hundred +yards or so, and then went plunge under the snow--every one of them +making a hole for itself just like where one had poked their foot in! I +guess, boys, this looked funny enough. I thought I would be sure to get +a shot at some of these grouse as they came out again; so I walked +straight up to the holes they had made, and stood waiting. I still saw +the hawk hovering in the air, about an hundred yards ahead of me. + +"I was considering whether I ought to go farther on, and tramp the birds +out of the snow; for I believed, of course, they were still under the +place where the holes were. All at once I noticed a movement on the +crust of the snow right under where the hawk was flying, and then that +individual shot down to the spot, and disappeared under the snow! At +the same instant, the crust broke in several places, and up came the +grouse one after another, and whirred off out of sight, without giving +me any sort of a chance. The hawk, however, had not come up yet; and I +ran forward, determined to take him as soon as he should make his +appearance. When I had got within shooting distance, up he fluttered to +the surface, and--what do you think?--he had one of the grouse +struggling in his claws! I let him have the right barrel, and both he +and grousy were knocked dead as a couple of door-nails! + +"I thought I might fall in with the others again; and kept on in the +direction they had taken, which brought me at last to a piece of +woodland consisting of birches and willow-trees. As I was walking along +the edge of this, I noticed one of the willows, at some distance off, +covered with great white things, that at first I took for flakes of +snow; but then I thought it curious that none of the other trees had the +same upon them. As I came a little nearer, I noticed one of the things +moving, and then I saw they were birds, and very like the same I had +just seen, and was then in search of. So I crept in among the trees; +and, after some dodging, got within beautiful shooting distance, and +gave them both barrels. There, you see the result!" + +Here Francois triumphantly pointed to the pile of birds, which in all, +with the jerfalcon, counted four brace and a half. + +One was the rock-grouse, which the falcon had itself killed, and the +others were willow-grouse, as Lucien had stated. Francois now remained +silent, while Basil related his day's adventure. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +THE HARE, THE LYNX, AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE. + +"Frank," began he, "has called his a `bird-adventure.' I might give +mine somewhat of the same title, for there was a bird mixed up with it-- +the noblest of all birds--the eagle. But you shall hear it. + +"On leaving the camp, I went, as you all know, up the valley. After +travelling for a quarter of a mile or so, I came upon a wide open +bottom, where there were some scattered willows and clumps of dwarf +birch-trees. As Luce had told me that such are the favourite food of +the American hare, or, as we call it in Louisiana, `rabbit,' I looked +out for the sign of one, and, sure enough, I soon came upon a track, +which I knew to be that of `puss.' It was fresh enough, and I followed +it. It kept me meandering about for a long while, till at last I saw +that it took a straight course for some thick brushwood, with two or +three low birches growing out of it. As I made sure of finding the game +there, I crept forward _very_ quietly, holding Marengo in the leash. +But the hare was not in the brush; and, after tramping all through it, I +again noticed the track where she had gone out on the opposite side. I +was about starting forth to follow it, when all at once an odd-looking +creature made its appearance right before me. It was that fellow +there!" And Basil pointed to the lynx. "I thought at first sight," +continued he, "it was our Louisiana wild-cat or bay lynx, as Luce calls +it, for it is very like our cat; but I saw it was nearly twice as big, +and more greyish in the fur. Well, when I first sighted the creature, +it was about an hundred yards off. It hadn't seen me, though, for it +was not running away, but skulking along slowly--nearly crosswise to the +course of the hare's track--and looking in a different direction to that +in which I was. I was well screened behind the bushes, and that, no +doubt, prevented it from noticing me. At first I thought of running +forward, and setting Marengo after it. Then I determined on staying +where I was, and watching it a while. Perhaps it may come to a stop, +reflected I, and let me creep within shot. I remained, therefore, +crouching among the bushes, and kept the dog at my feet. + +"As I continued to watch the cat, I saw that, instead of following a +straight line, it was moving in a circle! + +"The diameter of this circle was not over an hundred yards; and in a +very short while the animal had got once round the circumference, and +came back to where I had first seen it. It did not stop there, but +continued on, though not in its old tracks. It still walked in a +circle, but a much smaller one than before. Both, however, had a common +centre; and, as I noticed that the animal kept its eyes constantly +turned towards the centre, I felt satisfied that in that place would be +found the cause of its strange manoeuvring. I looked to the centre. At +first I could see nothing--at least nothing that might be supposed to +attract the cat. There was a very small bush of willows, but they were +thin. I could see distinctly through them, and there was no creature +there, either in the bush or around it. The snow lay white up to the +roots of the willows, and I thought that a mouse could hardly have found +shelter among them, without my seeing it from where I stood. Still I +could not explain the odd actions of the lynx, upon any other principle +than that it was in the pursuit of game; and I looked again, and +carefully examined every inch of the ground as my eyes passed over it. +This time I discovered what the animal was after. Close in to the +willows appeared two little parallel streaks of a dark colour, just +rising above the surface of the snow. I should not have noticed them +had there not been two of them, and these slanting in the same +direction. They had caught my eyes before, but I had taken them for the +points of broken willows. I now saw that they were the ears of some +animal, and I thought that once or twice they moved slightly while I was +regarding them. After looking at them steadily for a time, I made out +the shape of a little head underneath. It was white, but there was a +round dark spot in the middle, which I knew to be an eye. There was no +body to be seen. That was under the snow, but it was plain enough that +what I saw was the head of a hare. At first I supposed it to be a Polar +hare--such as we had just killed--but the tracks I had followed were not +those of the Polar hare. Then I remembered that the `rabbit' of the +United States also turns white in the winter of the Northern regions. +This, then, must be the American rabbit, thought I. + +"Of course my reflections did not occupy all the time I have taken in +describing them. Only a moment or so. All the while the lynx was +moving round and round the circle, but still getting nearer to the hare +that appeared eagerly to watch it. I remembered how Norman had +manoeuvred to get within shot of the Polar hare; and I now saw the very +same _ruse_ being practised by a dumb creature, that is supposed to have +no other guide than instinct. But I had seen the `bay lynx' of +Louisiana do some `dodges' as cunning as that,--such as claying his feet +to make the hounds lose the scent, and, after running backwards and +forwards upon a fallen log, leap into the tops of trees, and get off in +that way. Believing that his Northern cousin was just as artful as +himself," (here Basil looked significantly at the "Captain,") "I did not +so much wonder at the performance I now witnessed. Nevertheless, I felt +a great curiosity to see it out. But for this curiosity I could have +shot the lynx every time he passed me on the nearer edge of the circle. +Round and round he went, then, until he was not twenty feet from the +hare, that, strange to say, seemed to regard this the worst of her +enemies more with wonder than fear. The lynx at length stopped +suddenly, brought his four feet close together, arched his back like an +angry cat, and then with one immense bound, sprang forward upon his +victim. The hare had only time to leap out of her form, and the second +spring of the lynx brought him right upon the top of her. I could hear +the child-like scream which the American rabbit always utters when thus +seized; but the cloud of snow-spray raised above the spot prevented me +for a while from seeing either lynx or hare. The scream was stifled in +a moment, and when the snow-spray cleared off, I saw that the lynx held +the hare under his paws, and that `puss' was quite dead. + +"I was considering how I might best steal up within shooting distance, +when, all at once, I heard another scream of a very different sort. At +the same time a dark shadow passed over the snow. I looked up, and +there, within fifty yards of the ground, a great big bird was wheeling +about. I knew it to be an eagle from its shape; and at first I fancied +it was a young one of the white-headed kind--for, as you are aware, +these do not have either the white head or tail until they are several +years old. Its immense size, however, showed that it could not be one +of these. It must be the great `_golden' eagle_ of the Rocky Mountains, +thought I. + +"When I first noticed it, I fancied that it had been after the rabbit; +and, seeing the latter pounced upon by another preying creature, had +uttered its scream at being thus disappointed of its prey. I expected, +therefore, to see it fly off. To my astonishment it broke suddenly out +of the circles in which it had been so gracefully wheeling, and, with +another scream wilder than before, darted down towards the lynx! + +"The latter, on hearing the first cry of the eagle, had started, dropped +his prey, and looked up. In the eagle he evidently recognised an +antagonist, for his back suddenly became arched, his fur bristled up, +his short tail moved quickly from side to side, and he stood with +glaring eyes, and claws ready to receive the attack. + +"As the eagle came down, its legs and claws were thrown forward, and I +could then tell it was not a bald eagle, nor the great `Washington +eagle,' nor yet a fishing eagle of any sort, which both of these are. +The fishing eagles, as Lucien had told me, _have always naked legs_, +while those of the true eagles are more feathered. So were his, but +beyond the feathers I could see his great curved talons, as he struck +forward at the lynx. He evidently touched and wounded the animal, but +the wound only served to make it more angry; and I could hear it purring +and spitting like a tom-cat, only far louder. The eagle again mounted +back into the air, but soon wheeled round and shot down a second time. +This time the lynx sprang forward to meet it, and I could hear the +concussion of their bodies as they came together. I think the eagle +must have been crippled, so that it could not fly up again, for the +fight from that time was carried on upon the ground. The lynx seemed +anxious to grasp some part of his antagonist's body--and at times I +thought he had succeeded--but then he was beaten off again by the bird, +that fought furiously with wings, beak, and talons. The lynx now +appeared to be the attacking party, as I saw him repeatedly spring +forward at the eagle, while the latter always received him upon its +claws, lying with its back upon the snow. Both fur and feathers flew in +every direction, and sometimes the combatants were so covered with the +snow-spray that I could see neither of them. + +"I watched the conflict for several minutes, until it occurred to me, +that my best time to get near enough for a shot was just while they were +in the thick of it, and not likely to heed me. I therefore moved +silently out of the bushes; and, keeping Marengo in the string, crept +forward. I had but the one bullet to give them, and with that I could +not shoot both; but I knew that the quadruped was eatable, and, as I was +not sure about the bird, I very easily made choice, and shot the lynx. +To my surprise the eagle did not fly _off_, and I now saw that one of +its wings was disabled! He was still strong enough, however, to scratch +Marengo severely before the latter could master him. As to the lynx, he +had been roughly handled. His skin was torn in several places, and one +of his eyes, as you see, regularly `gouged out.'" + +Here Basil ended his narration; and after an interval, during which some +fresh wood was chopped and thrown upon the fire, Norman, in turn, +commenced relating what had befallen him. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +THE "ALARM BIRD" AND THE CARIBOU. + +"There wasn't much `adventure' in my day's sport," said he, "though I +might call it a `bird-adventure' too, for if it hadn't been for a bird I +shouldn't have had it. I shot a deer--that's all. But maybe it would +be curious for you to know how I came to find the animal, so I'll tell +you. + +"The first thing I did after leaving here was to climb the hill +yonder,"--here Norman pointed to a long hill that sloped up from the +opposite shore of the lake, and which was the direction he had taken, as +Basil and Francois had gone right and left. + +"I saw neither bird, beast, nor track, until I had reached the top of +the hill. There I got a good view of the country ahead. I saw it was +very rocky, without a stick of timber, and did not look very promising +for game. `It's no use going that way,' I says to myself; `I'll keep +along the ridge, above where Frank's gone. He may drive some varmint +out of the hollow, and I'll get a crack at it, as it comes over the +hill.' + +"I was about to turn to the left when I heard the skreek of a bird away +ahead of me. I looked in that direction; and, sure enough, saw one +wheeling about in the air, right above the rocky jumble with which the +country was covered. + +"Now it's a mighty curious bird that I saw. It's a sort of an owl, but, +I should say myself, there's a sprinkling of the hawk in it--for it's as +much like the one as the other." + +"No doubt," interrupted Lucien, "it was one of the day owls of these +Northern regions, some of which approach very near to the hawks, both in +shape and habits. This peculiarity arises from the fact of the long +summer day--of weeks in duration--within the Arctic circle, requiring +them to hunt for their prey, just as hawks do; and therefore Nature has +gifted them with certain peculiarities that make them resemble these +birds. They want the very broad faces and large tufted heads of the +true owls; besides the ears, which in the latter are remarkable for +their size, and also for being operculated, or with lids, in the former +are not much larger than in other birds of prey. The small hawk-owl +(_Strix funerea_), which is altogether a Northern bird, is one of this +kind." + +"Very well," continued Norman, "what you say may be very true, cousin +Luce; I only know that the bird I am speaking about is a mighty curious +little creature. It ain't bigger than a pigeon, and is of a +mottled-brown colour; but what I call it curious for is this:--Whenever +it sees any creature passing from place to place, it mounts up into the +air, and hovers above them, keeping up a constant screeching, like the +squalling of a child--and that's anything but agreeable. It does so, +not only in the neighbourhood of its nest--like the plover and some +other birds--but it will sometimes follow a travelling party for hours +together, and for miles across the country. From this circumstance the +Indians of these parts call it the `alarm bird,' or `bird of warning,' +because it often makes them aware of the approach either of their +enemies or of strangers. Sometimes it alarms and startles the game, +while the hunter is crawling up to it; and I have known it to bother +myself for a while of a day, when I was after grouse. It's a great +favourite with the Indians though--as it often guides them to deer, or +musk-oxen, by its flying and screaming above where these animals are +feeding. + +"Just in the same way it guided me. I knew, from the movements of the +bird, that there must be something among the rocks. I couldn't tell +what, but I hoped it would turn out to be some creature that was +eatable; so I changed my intention, and struck out for the place where +it was. + +"It was a good half-mile from the hill, and it cost me considerable +clambering over the rocks, before I reached the ground. I thought to +get near enough to see what it was, without drawing the bird upon +myself, and I crouched from hummock to hummock; but the sharp-eyed +creature caught sight of me, and came screeching over my head. I kept +on without noticing it; but as I was obliged to go round some large +rocks, I lost the direction, and soon found myself wandering back into +my own trail. I could do nothing, therefore, until the bird should +leave me, and fly back to whatever had first set it a-going. In order +that it might do so, I crept in under a big stone that jutted out, and +lay quiet a bit, watching it. It soon flew off, and commenced wheeling +about in the air, not more than three hundred yards from where I lay. +This time I took good bearings, and then went on. I did not care for +the bird to guide me any longer, for I observed there was an open spot +ahead, and I was sure that there I would see something. And sure enough +I did. On peeping round the end of a rock, I spied a herd of about +fifty deer. They were reindeer, of course, as there are no others upon +the `Barren Grounds,' and I saw they were all does--for at this season +the bucks keep altogether in the woods. Some of them were pawing the +snow to get at the moss, while others were standing by the rocks, and +tearing off the lichens with their teeth. It so happened that I had the +wind of them, else they would have scented me and made off, for I was +within a hundred yards of the nearest. I was not afraid of their taking +fright, so long as they could only see part of my body--for these deer +are so stupid, or rather so curious, that almost anything will draw them +within shot. Knowing this, I practised a trick that had often helped me +before; and that was to move the barrel of my gun, up and down, with the +same sort of motion as the deer make with their horns, when rubbing +their necks against a rock or tree. If I'd had a set of antlers, it +would have been all the better; but the other answered well enough. It +happened the animals were not very wild, as, likely, they hadn't been +hunted for a good while. I bellowed at the same time,--for I know how +to imitate their call--and, in less than a minute's time, I got several +of them within range. Then I took aim, and knocked one over, and the +rest ran off. That," said Norman, "ended my adventure--unless you call +the carrying a good hundred pounds weight of deer-meat all the way back +to camp part of it. If so, I can assure you that it was by far the most +unpleasant part." + +Here Norman finished his narration, and a conversation was carried on +upon the subject of reindeer, or, as these animals are termed, in +America, "caribou." + +Lucien said that the reindeer (_Cervus tarandus_) is found in the +Northern regions of Europe and Asia as well as in America, but that +there were several varieties of them, and perhaps there were different +species. Those of Lapland are most celebrated, because they not only +draw sledges, but also furnish food, clothing, and many other +commodities for their owners. In the north of Asia, the Tungusians have +a much larger sort, which they ride upon; and the Koreki, who dwell upon +the borders of Kamschatka, possess vast herds of reindeer--some rich +individuals owning as many as ten or twenty thousand! + +It is not certain that the reindeer of America is exactly the same as +either of the kinds mentioned; and indeed in America itself there are +two very distinct kinds--perhaps a third. Two kinds are well-known, +that differ from each other in size, and also in habits. One is the +"Barren Ground caribou," and the other, the "Woodland caribou." The +former is one of the smallest of the deer kind--the bucks weighing +little over one hundred pounds. As its name implies, it frequents the +Barren Grounds, although in winter it also seeks the shelter of wooded +tracts. Upon the Barren Grounds, and the desolate shores and islands of +the Arctic Sea, it is the only kind of deer found, except at one or two +points, as the mouth of the Mackenzie River--which happens to be a +wooded country, and there the moose also is met with. Nature seems to +have gifted the Barren Ground caribou with such tastes and habits, that +a fertile country and a genial clime would not be a pleasant home for +it. It seems adapted to the bleak, sterile countries in which it +dwells, and where its favourite food--the mosses and lichens--is found. +In the short summer of the Arctic regions, it ranges still farther +north; and its traces have been found wherever the Northern navigators +have gone. It must remain among the icy islands of the Arctic Sea until +winter be considerably advanced, or until the sea is so frozen as to +allow it to get back to the shores of the continent. + +The "Woodland caribou" is a larger variety--a Woodland doe being about +as big as a Barren Ground buck--although the horns of the latter species +are larger and more branching than those of the former. The Woodland +kind are found around the shores of Hudson's Bay, and in other wooded +tracts that lie in the southern parts of the fur countries--into which +the Barren Ground caribou never penetrates. They also migrate annually, +but, strange to say, their spring migrations are southward, while, at +the same season, their cousins of the Barren Grounds are making their +way northward to the shores of the Arctic Sea. This is a very singular +difference in their habits, and along with their difference in bulk, +form, etcetera, entitles them to be ranked as separate species of deer. +The flesh of the Woodland caribou is not esteemed so good an article of +food as that of the other; and, as it inhabits a district where many +large animals are found, it is not considered of so much importance in +the economy of human life. The "Barren Ground caribou," on the other +hand, is an indispensable animal to various tribes of Indians, as well +as to the Esquimaux. Without it, these people would be unable to dwell +where they do; and although they have not domesticated it, and trained +it to draught, like the Laplanders, it forms their main source of +subsistence, and there is no part of its body which they do not turn to +some useful purpose. Of its horns they form their fish-spears and +hooks, and, previous to the introduction of iron by the Europeans, their +ice-chisels and various other utensils. Their scraping or currying +knives are made from the split shin-bones. The skins make their +clothing, tent-covers, beds, and blankets. The raw-hide, cleared of the +hair and cut into thongs, serves for snares, bow-strings, net-lines, and +every other sort of ropes. The finer thongs make netting for +snow-shoes--an indispensable article to these people--and of these +thongs fish-nets are also woven; while the tendons of the muscles, when +split, serve for fine sewing-thread. Besides these uses, the flesh of +the caribou is the food of many tribes, Indians and Esquimaux, for most +of the year; and, indeed, it may be looked upon as their staple article +of subsistence. There is hardly any part of it (even the horns, when +soft) that is not eaten and relished by them. Were it not for the +immense herds of these creatures that roam over the country, they would +soon be exterminated--for they are easily approached, and the Indians +have very little difficulty, during the summer season, in killing as +many as they please. + +Norman next gave a description of the various modes of hunting the +caribou practised by the Indians and Esquimaux; such as driving them +into a pound, snaring them, decoying and shooting them with arrows, and +also a singular way which the Esquimaux have of taking them in a +pit-trap built in the snow. + +"The sides of the trap," said he, "are built of slabs of snow, cut as if +to make a snow-house. An inclined plane of snow leads to the entrance +of the pit, which is about five feet deep, and large enough within to +hold several deer. The exterior of the trap is banked up on all sides +with snow; but so steep are these sides left, that the deer can only get +up by the inclined plane which leads to the entrance. A great slab of +snow is then placed over the mouth of the pit, and revolves on two axles +of wood. This slab will carry the deer until it has passed the line of +the axles, when its weight overbalances one side, and the animal is +precipitated into the pit. The slab then comes back into a horizontal +position as before, and is ready to receive another deer. The animals +are attracted by moss and lichens placed for them on the opposite side +of the trap--in such a way that they cannot be reached without crossing +the slab. In this sort of trap several deer are frequently caught +during a single day." + +Norman knew another mode of hunting practised by the Esquimaux, and +proposed that the party should proceed in search of the herd upon the +following day; when, should they succeed in finding the deer, he would +show them how the thing was done: and he had no doubt of their being +able to make a good hunt of it. All agreed to this proposal, as it +would be of great importance to them to kill a large number of these +animals. It is true they had now provision enough to serve for several +days--but there were perhaps months, not days, to be provided for. They +believed that they could not be far from the wooded countries near the +banks of the Mackenzie, as some kinds of the animal they had met with +were only to be found near timber during the winter season. But what of +that? Even on the banks of the great river itself they might not +succeed in procuring game. They resolved, therefore, to track the herd +of deer which Norman had seen; and for this purpose they agreed to make +a stay of some days at their present camp. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +A BATTLE WITH WOLVES. + +Next morning they were up by early daybreak. The days were now only a +few hours in length, for it was mid-winter, and they were but three or +four degrees south of the Arctic circle. Of course they would require +all the day for the intended hunt of the caribou, as they might have to +follow the track of the herd for many miles before coming up with the +animals. Lucien was to remain by the camp, as it would never do to +leave the animals they had already lulled without some guard. To have +hung them on the trees, would have put them out of the reach of both +wolves and foxes; but the lynx and wolverene are both tree-climbers, and +could easily have got at them there. They had reason to believe there +were wolverenes about; for these fierce and destructive beasts are found +in every part of the fur countries--wherever there exist other animals +upon which they can prey. Eagles, hawks, and owls, moreover, would have +picked the partridges from the branches of the trees without difficulty. +One proposed burying them in the snow; but Norman assured them that the +Arctic foxes could scent them out, and dig them up in a few minutes. +Then it was suggested to cover them under a pile of stones, as there +were plenty of these lying about. To this Norman also objected, saying +that the wolverene could pull off any stones they were able to pile upon +them--as this creature in its fore-legs possesses more than the strength +of a man. Besides, it was not unlikely that one of the great brown +bears,--a species entirely different from either the black or grizzly +bears, and which is only met with on the Barren Grounds--might come +ranging that way; and he could soon toss over any stone-heap they might +build. On the whole it was better that one of the four should remain by +the camp; and Lucien, who cared less about hunting than any of them, +willingly agreed to be the one. + +Their arrangements were soon completed, and the three hunters set out. +They did not go straight towards the place where Norman had found the +deer upon the preceding day, but took a cross-cut over the hills. This +was by Norman's advice, who guided himself by the wind--which had not +changed since the previous day. He knew that the caribou in feeding +always travel _against_ the wind; and he expected therefore to find them +somewhere in the direction from which it was blowing. Following a +course, which angled with that of the wind, they kept on, expecting soon +to strike the trail of the herd. + +Meanwhile Lucien, left to himself, was not idle. He had to prepare the +flesh of the different animals, so as to render it fit to be carried +along. Nothing was required farther than to skin and cut them up. +Neither salting nor drying was necessary, for the flesh of one and all +had got frozen as stiff as a stone, and in this way it would keep during +the whole winter. The wolf was skinned with the others, but this was +because his fine skin was wanted. His flesh was not intended to be +eaten--although only a day or two before any one of the party would have +been glad of such a meal. Not only the Indians, but the voyageurs and +fur-traders, while journeying through these inhospitable wilds, are +often but too delighted to get a dinner of wolf-meat. The ermine and +the little mouse were the only other creatures of the collection that +were deemed uneatable. As to the Arctic fox and the lynx, the flesh of +both these creatures is highly esteemed, and is white and tender, almost +as much so as the hares upon which they feed. The snowy owl too, the +jerfalcon, and the eagle, were looked upon as part of the larder--the +flesh of all being almost as good as that of the grouse. Had it been a +fishing eagle--such as the bald-head--the case would have been +different, for these last, on account of their peculiar food, taste rank +and disagreeable. But there was no danger of their falling in with a +fishing eagle at that place. These can only exist where there is _open_ +water. Hence the cause of their annual migrations to the southward, +when the lakes and rivers of the fur countries become covered with their +winter ice. + +Though Lucien remained quietly at the camp he was not without adventures +to keep him from wearying. While he was singeing his grouse his eye +happened to fall upon the shadow of a bird passing over the snow. On +looking up he saw a very large bird, nearly as big as an eagle, flying +softly about in wide circles. It was of a mottled-brown colour; but its +short neck and great round head told the naturalist at a glance that it +was a bird of the owl genus. It was the largest of the kind that Lucien +had ever seen, and was, in fact, the largest known in America--the +"great cinereous owl" (_Strix cinerea_). Now and then it would alight +upon a rock or tree, at the distance of an hundred yards or so from the +camp; where it would watch the operations of Lucien, evidently inclined +to help him in dissecting some of the animals. Whenever he took up his +gun and tried to approach within shot, it would rise into the air again, +always keeping out of range. Lucien was provoked at this--for he +wished, as a naturalist, to examine the bird, and for this purpose to +kill it, of course; but the owl seemed determined that he should do no +such thing. + +At length, however, Lucien resolved upon a plan to decoy the creature +within shot. Taking up one of the grouse, he flung it out upon the snow +some thirty yards from the fire. No sooner had he done so, than the +owl, at sight of the tempting morsel, left aside both its shyness and +prudence, and sailed gently forward; then, hovering for a moment over +the ground, hooked the grouse upon its claws, and was about to carry it +off, when a bullet from Lucien's rifle, just in the "nick of time," put +a stop to its further flight, and dropped the creature dead upon the +snow. + +Lucien picked it up and brought it to the camp, where he passed some +time in making notes upon its size, colour, and other peculiarities. +The owl measured exactly two feet in length from the point of the bill +to the end of the tail; and its "alar spread," as naturalists term it, +was full five feet in extent. It was of a clove-brown colour, +beautifully mottled with white, and its bill and eyes were of a bright +gamboge yellow. Like all of its tribe that winter in the Arctic wilds, +it was feathered to the toes. Lucien reflected that this species lives +more in the woods than the "great snowy owl," and, as he had heard, is +never found far out on the Barren Grounds during winter. This fact, +therefore, was a pleasant one to reflect upon, for it confirmed the +testimony which the travellers had already obtained from several of the +other creatures they had killed--that is to say, that they must be in +the neighbourhood of some timbered country. + +Lucien had hardly finished his examination of the owl when he was called +upon to witness another incident of a much more exciting nature. A +hill, as already mentioned, or rather a ridge, rose up from the opposite +shore of the lake by which the camp was pitched. The declivity of this +hill fronted the lake, and sloped gradually back from the edge of the +water. Its whole face was smooth and treeless, covered with a layer of +pure snow. The camp commanded a full view of it up to its very crest. + +As Lucien was sitting quietly by the fire a singular sound, or rather +continuation of sounds, fell upon his ear. It somewhat resembled the +baying of hounds at a distance; and at first he was inclined to believe +that it was Marengo on a view-hunt after the deer. On listening more +attentively, however, he observed that the sounds came from more than +one animal; and also, that they bore more resemblance to the howling of +wolves than the deep-toned bay of a bloodhound. This, in fact, it was; +for the next moment a caribou shot up over the crest of the hill, and +was seen stretching at full gallop down the smooth declivity in the +direction of the lake. Not twenty paces in its rear followed a string +of howling animals, evidently in pursuit of it. There were a dozen of +them in all, and they were running exactly like hounds upon the "view +holloa." Lucien saw at a glance they were wolves. Most of them were +dappled-grey and white, while some were of a pure white colour. Any one +of them was nearly as large as the caribou itself; for in these parts-- +around Great Slave Lake--the wolf grows to his largest size. + +The caribou gained upon them as it bounded down the slope of the hill. +It was evidently making for the lake, believing, no doubt, that the +black ice upon its surface was water, and that in that element it would +have the advantage of its pursuers, for the caribou is a splendid +swimmer. Nearly all deer when hunted take to the water--to throw off +the dogs, or escape from men--and to this habit the reindeer makes no +exception. + +Down the hill swept the chase, Lucien having a full view both of +pursuers and pursued. The deer ran boldly. It seemed to have gathered +fresh confidence at sight of the lake, while the same object caused its +pursuers a feeling of disappointment. They knew they were no match for +a caribou in the water, as no doubt many a one had escaped them in that +element. It is not likely, however, that they made reflections of this +sort. There was but little time. From the moment of their appearance +upon the crest of the hill till the chase arrived at the edge of the +lake, was but a few seconds. On reaching the shore the caribou made no +stop; but bounded forward in the same way as if it had been springing +upon water. Most likely it expected to hear a plunge; but, instead of +that, its hoofs came down upon the hard ice; and, by the impulse thus +given, the animal shot out with the velocity of a skater. Strange to +say, it still kept its feet; but, now seemingly overcome by surprise, +and knowing the advantage its pursuers would have over it upon the +slippery ice, it began to plunge and flounder, and once or twice came to +its knees. The hungry pursuers appeared to recognise their advantage at +once, for their howling opened with a fresh burst, and they quickened +their pace. Their sharp claws enabled them to gallop over the ice at +top speed; and one large brute that led the pack soon came up with the +deer, sprang upon it, and bit it in the flank. This brought the deer +upon its haunches, and at once put an end to the chase. The animal was +hardly down upon the ice, when the foremost wolves coming up +precipitated themselves upon its body, and began to devour it. + +It was about the middle of the lake where the caribou had been +overtaken. At the time it first reached the ice, Lucien had laid hold +of his rifle and run forward in order to meet the animal halfway, and, +if possible, get a shot at it. Now that the creature was killed, he +continued on with the design of driving off the wolves, and securing the +carcass of the deer for himself. He kept along the ice until he was +within less than twenty yards of the pack, when, seeing that the fierce +brutes had torn the deer to pieces, and perceiving, moreover, that they +exhibited no fear of himself, he began to think he might be in danger by +advancing any nearer. Perhaps a shot from his rifle would scatter them, +and without further reflection he raised the piece, and fired. One of +the wolves kicked over upon the ice, and lay quite dead; but the others, +to Lucien's great surprise, instead of being frightened off, immediately +sprang upon their dead companion, and commenced tearing and devouring +it, just as they had done the deer! + +The sight filled Lucien with alarm; which was increased at seeing +several of the wolves--that had been beaten by the others from the +quarry--commence making demonstrations towards himself! Lucien now +trembled for his safety, and no wonder. He was near the middle of the +lake upon slippery ice. To attempt running back to the camp would be +hazardous; the wolves could overtake him before he had got halfway, and +he felt certain that any signs of fear on his part would be the signal +for the fierce brutes to assail him. + +For some moments he was irresolute how to act. He had commenced loading +his gun, but his fingers were numbed with the cold, and it was a good +while before he could get the piece ready for a second fire. He +succeeded at length. He did not fire then, but resolved to keep the +charge for a more desperate crisis. Could he but reach the camp there +were trees near it, and one of these he might climb. This was his only +hope, in case the wolves attacked him, and he knew it was. Instead of +turning and running for this point, he began to back for it stealthily +and with caution, keeping his front all the while towards the wolves, +and his eyes fixed upon them. He had not got many yards, when he +perceived to his horror, that the whole pack were in motion, and _coming +after him_! It was a terrible sight, and Lucien, seeing that by +retreating he only drew them on, stopped and held his rifle in a +threatening attitude. The wolves were now within twenty yards of him; +but, instead of moving any longer directly towards him, they broke into +two lines, swept past on opposite sides of him, and then circling round, +met each other in his rear. _His retreat was cut off_! + +He now stood upon the ice with the fierce wolves forming a ring around +him, whose diameter was not the six lengths of his gun, and _every_ +moment growing shorter and shorter. The prospect was appalling. It +would have caused the stoutest heart to quail, and Lucien's was +terrified. He shouted at the top of his voice. He fired his rifle at +the nearest. The brute fell, but the others showed no symptoms of fear; +they only grew more furious. Lucien clubbed his gun--the last resort in +such cases--and laid around him with all his might; but he was in danger +of slipping upon the ice, and his efforts were feeble. Once down he +never would have risen again, for his fierce assailants would have +sprung upon him like tigers. As it was, he felt but little hope. He +believed himself lost. The teeth of the ferocious monsters gleamed +under his eyes. He was growing weaker and weaker, yet still he battled +on, and swept his gun around him with the energy of despair. Such a +struggle could not have continued much longer. Lucien's fate would have +been sealed in a very few minutes more, had not relief arrived in some +shape or other. But it did come. A loud shout was heard upon the hill; +and Lucien, glancing suddenly towards it, saw several forms rushing +downward to the lake! It was the hunting party returned, and in a +moment more they were crossing the ice to his rescue. Lucien gaining +confidence fought with fresh vigour. The wolves busy in their attack +had either not heard or were regardless of the new-comers; but the +"crack, crack" of the guns--repeated no less than four times--and then +the nearer reports of pistols, made a speedy impression upon the brutes, +and in a short while half their number were seen tumbling and kicking +upon the ice. The rest, uttering their hideous howls, took to flight, +and soon disappeared from the valley; and Lucien, half dead with +fatigue, staggered into the arms of his deliverers. + +No less than seven of the wolves were killed in the affray--two of which +Lucien had shot himself. One or two were only wounded, but so badly, +that they could not get away; and these were handed over to the tender +mercies of Marengo, who amused himself for some time after by worrying +them to death. + +The hunting party had made a good day of it. They had fallen in with +the caribou, and had killed three of them. These they were bringing to +camp, but had dropped them upon the hill, on perceiving the perilous +position of Lucien. They now went back, and having carried the deer to +their camping-place, were soon engaged in the pleasant occupation of +eating a savoury dinner. Lucien soon recovered from his fright and +fatigue, and amused his companions by giving an account of the +adventures that had befallen him in their absence. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +END OF THE "VOYAGE." + +Our party remained several days at this place, until they had made a +fresh stock of "pemmican" from the flesh of the caribou, several more of +which they succeeded in killing; and then, arranging everything anew, +and taking with them such skins as they wanted, they continued their +journey. + +They had two days' hard travelling through a rocky mountainous country, +where they could not find a stick of wood to cook their meals with, and +were exposed to cold more than at any other place. Both Francois and +Lucien had their faces frost-bitten; but they were cured by Norman, who +prevented them from going near a fire until he had well rubbed the parts +with soft snow. + +The rocks through which they passed were in many places covered with the +_tripe de roche (Gyrophora_) of several species; but our voyageurs cared +nothing about it so long as their pemmican lasted, and of that each of +them had nearly as much as he could carry. + +In the most dreary part of the mountains they chanced upon a herd of +those curious animals, the musk-oxen, and shot one of them; but the meat +tasted so rank, and smelt so strongly of musk, that the whole of it was +left to the wolves, foxes, and other preying creatures of these parts. + +On the third day, after leaving their camp by the lake, a pleasant +prospect opened before them. It was the valley of the Mackenzie, +stretching to the west, and extending north and south as far as the eye +could reach, covered with forests of pine and poplar, and other large +trees. Of course the landscape was a winter one, as the river was bound +up in ice, and the trees themselves were half-white with frozen snow; +but after the dreary scenery of the Barren Grounds, even this appeared +warm and summer-like. There was no longer any danger they should be +without a good fire to cook their dinners, or warm themselves at, and a +wooded country offers a better prospect of game. The sight, therefore, +of a great forest was cheering; and our travellers, in high spirits, +planted their tent upon the banks of the great Northern river. They had +still many hundred miles to go before arriving at their destination; but +they determined to continue their journey without much delay, following +the river as a guide. No more "near cuts" were to be taken in future. +They had learned, from their recent experience, that "the shortest way +across is sometimes the longest way round," and they resolved to profit +by the lesson. I hope, boy reader, you too will remember it. + +After reaching the Mackenzie the voyageurs halted one day, and upon the +next commenced their journey down-stream. Sometimes they kept upon the +bank, but at times, for a change, they travelled upon the ice of the +river. There was no danger of its giving way under them, for it was +more than a foot in thickness, and would have supported a loaded waggon +and horses, without even cracking. + +They were now drawing near the Arctic circle, and the days grew shorter +and shorter as they advanced. But this did not much interfere with +their travelling. The long nights of the Polar regions are not like +those of more Southern latitudes. They are sometimes so clear, that one +may read the smallest print. What with the coruscations of the aurora +borealis, and the cheerful gleaming of the Northern constellations, one +may travel without difficulty throughout the livelong night. I am sure, +my young friend, you have made good use of your globes, and need not be +told that the length of both nights and days, as you approach the pole, +depends upon two things--the latitude of the place, and the season of +the year; and were you to spend a whole year _leaning against the pole +itself_, (!) you would _live but one day and one night_--each of them +six months in length. + +But no doubt you know all these things without my telling you of them, +and you are impatient to hear not about that, but whether the young +voyageurs safely reached the end of their journey. That question I +answer briefly at once--they did. + +Some distance below the point where they had struck the Mackenzie, they +fell in with a winter encampment of Dog-rib Indians. Some of these +people had been to the Fort to trade; and Norman being known to them, he +and his Southern cousins were received with much hospitality. All their +wants were provided for, as far as it lay in the power of these poor +people to do; but the most valuable thing obtained from the Indians was +a full set of dogs and dog-sledges for the whole party. These were +furnished by the chief, upon the understanding that he should be paid +for them on his next visit to the Fort. Although the reindeer of North +America are not trained to the sledge by the Esquimaux and Indians, +several kinds of dogs are; and a single pair of these faithful creatures +will draw a full-grown man at a rate that exceeds almost every other +mode of travelling--steam excepted. When our voyageurs, therefore, +flung away their snow-shoes, and, wrapped in their skin cloaks, seated +themselves snugly in their dog-sledges, the five hundred miles that +separated them from the Fort were soon reduced to nothing; and one +afternoon, four small sledges, each carrying a "young voyageur," with a +large bloodhound galloping in the rear, were seen driving up to the +stockade fence surrounding the Fort. Before they had quite reached the +gate, there was a general rush of trappers, traders, voyageurs, +_coureurs-des-bois_, and other _employes_, to reach them; and the next +moment they were lost in the midst of the people who crowded out of the +Fort to welcome them. This was their hour of happiness and joy. + +To me there is an hour of regret, and I hope, boy reader, to you as +well--the hour of our parting with the "Young _Voyageurs_." + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Young Voyageurs, by Mayne Reid + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS *** + +***** This file should be named 23129.txt or 23129.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/1/2/23129/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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