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'All that Aktkrxoux thi:v \v.\i,ki:d in the vShadow of Mount
Sti:i'ii ic.N . ' ■ — PaKt' -^ 1 •">.
THE BOY TRAMPS
OE AOEOSS CANADA
■T
J. MACDONALD OXLEY, LL.B., B.A.
AUTHOR OF ^'TKE ROMANCE OF COMMKRCB "
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BT
HENRY SANDHAM
TORONTO
THE Ml/SSON BOOK COMPANY
UMITED
ALlCANAaAIH>IIQOUGnON
T
e
i At) u*^
i
00]S^TE]S"TS.
Ohaptsr
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
V^I.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
At School and at Ska
Some Adventures Ashore .
The Beginning of the Tramp
Through the Rapids and over the Bridge
Perils and Pleasures by the Way
The Passage op the Slides
Paddle and Portage .
The Race with the Train .
By Foot and Buckboard
Cree and Constable
Bear and Broncho
From the Plains to the Peaks
By Mount and Stream
Banff, and Beyond
Good Luck in the Mountains
Through the Rockies to the Selkirks
Down the Glacier and into the CaSon
Thb End of ihb Tbami' .
Paob '
I
22
44
63
90
115
135
155
177
204
22S
243
258
280
305
318
833
844
THE BOY TRAMPS,
OR, ACROSS CANADA.
CHAPTER I.
AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA.
It seemed in flat opposition to the familiar adage
"like likes like" that Bruce Barclay and Arthur
Rowe should be the most devoted chums at Mer-
chiston Castle School, for certainly, to all outward
appearance, the only point of similarity between
them was that they both had fathers in the far
East enduring the pains of exile and braving the
perils of fever and cholera in the arduous pursuit
of fortune.
As they came upon the cricket-ground together
they presented a notable contrast, one to the other.
Bruce was one year the elder, and stood full two
inches above his companion. In many respects he
was a typical Scotch laddie, and needed only tartan
and sporran fitly to represent the son of a High-
land chieftain.
He was tall for his years, but his well-knit frame
was free from all suspicion of lankiness; and
2
THE BOY TRAMPS.
tliougli liis cheeks bore no tinge of red, they had
that healthy pallor whicli betokens a sound, strong
constitution. His features were regular, and when
his clear giay eyes lit up with merriment or ten-
derness, tlie most captious critic could not deny
that lie looked "na sae ill;" but in repose his
countenance wore a somewhat heavy expression,
due in large part to his tendency to "brown
studies,' that was not attractive. He had light-
brown hair that was always well bruslied, and a set
of white, regular teeth that owed nothing to the
dentist, and was altogether a thoroughly whole-
some, stalwart youth whose seventeenth birthday
wouhl soon come round.
If Arthur fell short of his friend in height, he so
surpassed him in sturdiness of build that they both
tipped the scale at the same weight, to wit, one
hundred and forty-five pounds. He was a worthy
son of John Bull, and promised, if spared to middle
age, to attain quite aldermanic proportions. In
the meantime, he stood five feet six inches in his
stockings, had an athletic figure, with every muscle
well developed, a frank and decidedly pleasing
face, deep blue eyes brimming with mischief, an
ever-ready smile, and a shock of crisp yellow curls
that seemed to bid defiance to the discipline of the
brush.
In their mental characteristics also the boys dif-
fered as widely as they did in their physical.
Acute as Bruce's intellect was, he never made
AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA.
3
haste to put his thoughts into action. Reason, not
impulse, was his master, and he often showed a de-
gree of discretion, an amount of canniness, in fact,
hardly to be expected from one of his years. He
had abundance of spirit, but he kept it so well
in hand that one who knew him slightly might
imagine him dull, little conceiving what a
geyser could burst forth if he were touched to
the quick.
Arthur, on the other hand, wore his heart always
on his sleeve, or, to use another simile, had the
latch-string of his mind ever hanging out. Of the
faculty called " reserve " he had practically none.
He did his thinking at electric speed, and had an
opinion ready as soon as the issue was presented.
His temper was as quick as his heart was warm,
and having once expressed an opinion or taken a
position, he would maintain his ground resolutely,
no matter what the odds might be against him.
In a word, he was a hearty, healthy boy, loyal to
his friends, fearless before his foes, and fated to
make a good mark in the world, provided his im-
petuosity did not entail some untimely disaster.
The one point of similarity between Arthur and
Bruce that has been noted needs further explana-
tion. Mr. Rowe and Mr. Barclay were merchants
in Shanghai, the former being engaged in tlie silk,
and the latter in the tea, trade. There the boys
had been playmates in the handsome English settle-
ment, and thence at an early age they had been
THE BOY TRAMPS.
sent away from the enervJiting climate to the brac-
ing air of Scotland, in which they had flourished
famously.
For the past nine years they had been at Mer-
chiston, making their way up from class to class,
and winning renown at cricket and football.
Bruce was decidedly the best scholar, and helped
Arthur over many a hard place by patient coach-
ing, although the latter needed only to give his
mind to his studies in order to take rank with the
leaders in the classes.
They had both reached the sixth class, Bruce
being at the top and Arthur not far from the bot-
tom, and were beginning to look forward question-
ingly to the future, for it was not decided whether
tliey should continue on to the University. They
hoped their fathers would allow them to do so, but
had no definite assurance in the matter.
In the meantime they were making the most of
their last year at dearly loved Merchiston, and a
memorable year it proved to be for both them and
the school, as it witnessed the signal defeat of
Loretto at cricket, and Fette^ at football, in the
achieving of which glorious double event they each
bore a brilliant part.
The football match took place in February, and
it was only due to the intercession of Bruce that
Arthur, in spite of his speed, and skill, and strength,
had a place on the fifteen, the trouble with him
being that he was impatient of discipline, and apt
AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA.
to take his own way of dealing with the ball instead
of implicitly obeying his captain.
For this reason, Bruce, who played forward,
while Arthur was one of the half-backs, felt espe-
cially anxious that he should cover himself with
glory, and before they went on the field he besought
him not only to play his best, but to do exactly
as he was bidden even though he thought he knew
a better way.
" It's your last chance, you know, / rthur, to beat
Fettes," he urged ; " and they gave us a bad licking
last year, and if they do it agai ^ this year ve'U be
sorry for it all our lives, wou't we? '
"But ihey*re not going to dci it," answered
Arthur, bringing his teeth together with a snap
and clenching his fists. " I'm going to get a touch-
down right behind their goal if I die for it." Then
after a moment's silence he added, "All right,
Bruce, I'll obey orders. You needn't worry about
me."
He proved as good as his word. Without
abating a jot of his energy or enterprise he played
his position in a way that rejoiced the captain's
heart, passing with great judgment and accuracy,
never failing in a tackle nor muffing a kick, and
obeying every order and signal like a well-drilled
soldier.
The struggle was a fierce one, and maintained
with splendid resolution on both sides. Neither
team gained any advanUige in the first half, and
ii
1,1
ill
6
THE BOY TRAMPS.
the second was well advanced before Arthur saw
the opportunity to redeem his pledge to Bruce.
He secured a mark on a sudden kick-out from a
maul, but instead of taking his kick determined to
attempt a run-in. He gave a quick glance of in-
quiry at his captain, who divined its meaning, and
nodded assent.
That instant Arthur was off like a startled deer,
clearing the opposing forwards before they had
time to recover from the maul, and thus having
only two of the half-backs and the back left to
reckon with.
The first half-back, having to come at him on a
slant from the rear, was easily disposed of. The
second gave more difficulty. It was Sangster, un-
doubtedly the best player on the Fettes team, and,
realizing the danger there was of Arthur's dashing
charge succeeding, he braced himself to meet him
with the low tackle for which he was renowned.
The chorus of cheers rose into a continuous roar
like that of a cataract as Arthur's feet flew over
the turf. He was apparently making no attempt
to evade Sangster, and Barclay, watching him
with throbbing anxiety, wondered what his strategy
might be.
Another moment made it p.ain, for, just as
Sangster's sinewy hands were about to encircle
his waist, he suddenly sprang high in the air, and
well to the left of his opponent, who, losing his
balance in the effort to turn quick enough, fell
AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA.
over on his knees, while Arthur sped exultantly
past him.
The outburst of applause that greeted this clever
feat reached even Arthur's ears, and stimulated
him for the task yet before him. He was now within
fifteen yards of the goal, and five yards in front of
it stood the full-back with every nerve and sinew
attent, like a panther ready for his spring.
Arthur knew he could not repeat the trick that
did for Sangster. But his resources were not yet
exhausted. His quick mind evolved another no
less brilliant.
When but five yards remained between him and
the back he dropped the ball upon his toe, kicked
it over the other's head, and then, having both
hands free, used them to thrust his opponent aside,
and, pressing past him, fell upon the ball as it lay
just behind the centre of the goal, the most ex-
hausted but happiest being on the ground.
It is one of the accepted statements of the school
that never had the " Chief," as the beloved head-
master was called for short, shown so much excite-
ment at a football match. In spite of his at times
provoking waywardness Arthur had a warm place
in his heart. Indeed, he had supported Bruce's
petition that he be allowed a place on the team,
and this really admirable performance consequently
gave him peculiar pleasure.
Amid a breathless silence the leather was placed,
Arthur himself being assigned to hold it, and Bruce
8
THE BOY TRAMPS.
got into position for the kick. It was an easy one
to make, to be sure, but many a place-kick fails,
and there was anxiety on the Merchiston side and
hope among those of Fettes.
As composedly as if it were an every-day occur-
rence, Bruce took a few swift strides, caught the
ball fairly with the point of his toe, and away it
went sailing over the uplifted hands and faces of
the baffled opponents, full ten feet above the centre
of the cross-bar. The touch-down had been duly
converted into a goal, and the match was won for
Merchiston.
Not one shadow of jealousy clouded Bruce's de-
light in Arthur's achievement. Under the special
circumstances he was really gladder at heart than
if he himself had been the hero of the day, and in
his enthusiasm he threw aside all his reserve as he
shouted and danced about in as lively a fashion as
the youngest boy in the school.
Arthur's turn to be jubilant over his chum's
powers came some months later when the annual
cricket match with Loretto was played at Pinkie.
Loretto, going first to the bat, had, in spite of the
utmost efforts of Gray and Hutchison, the Mer-
chiston bowlers, and the faultless fielding of the
other players, amassed the threatening total of two
hundred and fifty runs, the largest on record in the
contest between these schools.
Bruce was captain of the Merchiston eleven, and
his face grew more and more serious as the score
f
AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA.
9
rose steadily, until at last all the batters were out,
and it was Merchiston's turn to wield the willow.
" Now, fellows, we've got to play for our lives,"
were his words as the eleven gathered about him
for a minute. " There's not much chance of our
matching their score, but we might make a de-
cent draw if we play carefully. Let us all do our
best."
Bruce went in first, taking Loney, the " barn-
door " of the eleven, for his companion, and the
excitement was unusually keen as the innings
opened.
Arthur did not shine at cricket as at football,
and on this occasion was fain to be content with a
place among the spectators, whence his voice rang
out from time to time in commendation of some
pretty piece of work on the field.
The proceedings were tame at the outset, the
Loretto bowlers being well on the spot, and neither
of the batsmen caring to take any liberties with the
well-pitched balls. But presently Bruce began to
open his shoulders, and the score started to climb
after the high mark set by the other side.
At the end of half an hour Bruce had got
thoroughly set, and the bowlers were treated with
scant respect. One clever cut followed another,
varied by long drives to the off and to leg. The
telegraph figures grew apace, and even stolid Loney
caught inspiration from his captain, and made a
g?^llant effort to emulate him, which unhappily cost
10
THE BOY TRAMPS.
him his " life," but not before he had compiled the
respectable total of twenty, so that the score, first
wicket down, stood at sixty-five, and the feelings
of the Merchistonians took on a brighter hue.
None of the succeeding batsmen made so long a
stand as Loney, yet they all contributed their share
to the rapidly growing total, and meanwhile Bruce
kept on hitting freely, and piling up runs in a way
that left nothing to be desired.
At the end of two hours a rattling cheer, led off
by Arthur, announced that Bruce had completed
his century, and fifteen minutes later another
cheer greeted the appearance of the figures 200 on
the board.
The Loretto boys began to look anxious. The
victory that seemed so securely theirs might yet be
snatched from them. Nearly an hour of play still
remained, and Barclay showed no signs of weari-
ness or failing skill. There were five more wickets
to fall, and so stubbornly were these defended that
it took another half-hour to get rid of them.
Ten minutes before the time for drawing stumps
the Merchiston score stood at two hundred and
forty. As may be easily imagined the excitement
was now intense, only ten minutes more to play,
and ten runs yet to make to save a draw. All
Merchiston, from the " Chief " down to the newest
boy, held their breath as each ball was delivered,
and gave a sigh of relief when it was well taken
care of by the batsman.
AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA.
11
Presently a roar of " Well hit ! well hit ! " and a
fusillade of hand-clapping greeted a grand drive to
the off from Bruce that cleared the boundary fence
and was good for five.
Some anxious minutes of careful play followed
during which Bruce's partner added two useful
singles, and then just a moment before the call of
time Bruce himself laid hold of a short-pitched
ball on his leg side, and putting all his strength
into the stroke lifted it far above long leg's head,
and the match was won with two good wickets to
spare.
Bruce had carried out his bat after being nearly
three hours at the wickets, and having put together
the splendid score of one hundred and twenty-eight
runs, the highest ever made in a first-class school
match in the history of Merchiston.
The ovation that he received as he walked back
to the pavilion was enough to turn the head of any
boy. Even the defeated of Loretto joined heartily
in the cheers, and when the head-master wrung his
hand warmly, exclaiming, " Nobly done, Barclay !
I never saw better cricket in the school," Bruce
felt that his cup of happiness was full to over-
flowing.
As may be readily understood the difference in
the mental temperaments of the two lads showed
itself very markedly in their studies. Arthur had
great quickness of apprehension and a retentive
memory, but chafed against routine work and
1"
]
12
THE BOY TRAMPS.
sadly lacked steadfastness. Bruce, on the other
hand, although slowe^ to seize upon new ideas,
forgot nothing that he had once learned, and
had the power of pegging away patiently until
the most difficult task had to yield itself to
him.
As the close of the session drew near, Arthur
showed a little deeper interest in his work, but
Bruce kept steadily on at much the same pace as
he had started.
When the prize list was published, both names
appeared upon it, but with a big difference, for
Bruce, besides winning the Chalmers Mathematical
prize, had headed his class in Latin, German, and
Chemistry, while Arthur had gained only one
honor, and that, strange to say, on the very sub-
ject least likely to be congenial to one of his lively
nature, to wit. Divinity. Like a true friend, how-
ever, he took as much pleasure in his friend's
prizes as if they had been his own, and their last
year at dear old Merchiston was the happiest of
all, the only shadow being the fact that the}?^
must take their leave of a place where they had
spent so many joyous days, and go out into a world
of which they had so little knowledge.
Both Mr. Barclay and Mr. Rowe had provided
liberally for the boys during their stay at Merchis-
ton, and they had been able during the long holi-
days to join travelling parties visiting different
parts of Great Britain and the Continent; but all
AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA.
18
this was a mere trifle compared with the experience
that was before them now.
To the fathers in far-away Shanghai had gone
reguhir accounts of their sons' progress, and they
had been looking forward to the time when the
course at Mercliiston would be finished, and the
boys could go out and show themselves for paren-
tal approbation ere their future course was decided
upon.
As it was not advisable for them to reach
Shanghai until the summer heat had passed, and
they already had seen a good deal of the Old World,
it was arranged that they should spend a couple of
months travelling in the New World, proceeding
to Shanghai in the autumn.
This entirely fell in with their inclinations.
They had read much about the United States and
the Dominion of Canada, and were eager to visit
those countries, particularly Canada, because it was
a British colony, and they thought they would feel
much more at home there than they would among
their American cousins.
The matter being left largely to themselves, it
was finally decided that they should go to Canada
first, and then, if they had any time to spare, a tour
could be made of New York, Boston, Washington,
and some of the other chief cities of the United
States, before they went on to the Pacific Coast,
where the steamer would be taken for Shanghai.
Thus it came about that the last week in June
14
THE BOY TRAMPS.
saw them on their way to Liverpool, with Merchis-
ton and all the happy days spent there only a
memory to be cherished through life.
It was the fii*st time they had really been upon
their own responsibility, and they both felt highly
slated thereat, although Bruce, with his wonted
"reserve, managed tolerably well to conceal the fact.
But Arthur gave himself away with the utmost
frankness. He strutted up and down the platform
at the railway station like a young rooster on a
sunny morning. He patronized the porters, and
tipped the guard with what he flattered himself
was the nonchalance of a globe-trotter. He lolled
about on the cushions, affecting a fine indifference
to the scenery, and letting it be understood that
he was vastly bored by the journey, while all the
time he was mentally hugging himself at his good
fortune in getting off on this " grand tour " practi-
cally as his own master, and with the best friend
he had in the world as his companion.
At Liverpool they went on board the fine
steamer " Parisian " of the Allan Line, and were
delighted at the stateroom which was to be theirs
for the next ten days, and at the sumptuous fittings
of the saloon.
"Won't we just have a fine time!" exclaimed
Arthur, after they had got their things stowed
away and were able to look about them. " There'll
be lots of fun, you know, and Duffus, who's been
across in this steamer twice, says the grub is prime,
AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA.
16
a
led
red
en
le,
— as good as a Christmas dinner every day in the
week."
" But suppose you're seasick ? " suggested Bruce,
with a quiet smile. " It won't make much matter
how good the grub is then."
"Do you think I'm going to be such a fool?"
answered Arthur indignantly. " No, sir, no sea-
sickness for this child," and he set his feet
firmly on the deck, and rested his hands on his
hips.
Bruce discreetly said -lO more, although he felt
pretty sure that both he and his chum would have
to pay the usual tribute to old Neptune before they
had been long at sea.
The trip down the Mersey was full of interest,
the big steamer threading her way through the
maze of shipping witli an intelligent accuracy that
made her seem like some huge living creature.
The weather being fine the boys spent all their
time on deck, Arthur asking numberless questions
of the officers and men, and already beginning to
scrape acquaintance with some of the passengers,
while Bruce kept more in the background, yet lost
nothing of what was taking place.
They had appetites as keen as razors for dinner,
and were among the first to respond when the sum-
mons came. They found the fare provided fully
equal to their school-mate's description. From the
point of view of their Merchiston experience,
where the food had, of course, been more substantial
I
16
THE BOY TRAMPS.
than elaborate, as best befitted hearty boys, it was
as good as a Christmas dinner, and Arthur devoted
himself so assiduously to the different items of tlie
lengthy menu tliat his vis-a-vis, a gray -beard
traveller, leaning across the table with a humorous
twinkle in his shrewd gray eyes, said in an under-
tone :
" That is right, my lad, make hay while the sun
shines. You may want nothing but a bit of biscuit
and a cup of tea this time to-morrow."
Kindly as the tone was in which the words were
spoken, Arthur was quick enough to detect the
touch of satire that underlay it, and it made him
flush hotly.
His first impulse was to retort, "Will you be
good enough to mind your own business ? " but
Bruce, who feared something of the kind, gave him
a significant look, and what he did say was :
"That's all right, sir. I'll take my chances,"
and although it was not in the pleasantest tone
imaginable, yet the old gentleman took it in the
best of humor, and went on with his dinner, saying
to himself :
" A fine-spirited boy that I I thought he was
going to tell me to mind my own business, but
he's evidently been better trained. I must find out
who he is."
Not imagining that he had awakened any
interest in his fellow-passenger, Arthur paid him
no further attention, nor did he allow his intrusive
i
aw
i
iist
I
AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA.
17
my
ive
remark to cast any cloud upon his enjoyment of
the good things before him.
By the time the boys thought of getting into
their bunks the " Parisian " was roiling about in
the Irish channel at a rate that made the business
of undressing by no means an easy task. Just as
Arthur was trying to get out of his trousers the
steamer gave a sudden pitch that, finding him un-
prepared, and unable to balance himself, sent him
hard against Bruce, who was in his turn toppled
over by the sudden impact, and the two boys fell
in a tangled heap of legs, arms, bodies, and braces
in the corner by the sofa.
They were soon on their feet again, laughing
heartily and none the worse for the collapse, but
Arthur, as he straightened himself out, became
conscious of a dizziness in the head and uneasiness
in the stomach that caused him to hurry off the
remainder of his clothes and climb into his berth
with as little delay as possible. He even omitted
to say his prayers as was his wont, so pressing
did he feel the emergency to be, and so anxious
was he to give no vent of his feeling to his com-
panion.
Bruce suspected the truth, notwithstanding,
but was too considerate to make any remark. He
knew quite well he had his own battle to fight,
and was not disposed to be critical of others.
They had a very restless and uncomfortable
light of it, as the " Parisian " pitched and tossed un-
18
THE BOY TRAMPS.
ceasingly ; and when morning came Arthur realized
that in spite of his rash boasting he had fallen a
victim to the remorseless power of the sea, and
that liis place at the breakfast-table would be
Viicant for that morning.
He was too wret(.'hed to feel much concerned
over this. I lis one thought was, how soon would
he be himself again ; yet, since misery loves com-
pany, he did find some consolation in the dis-
covery that Bruce was no less upset, and that they
were likely to fairly share the confinement to the
stateroom.
" How long do you think we'll be like this ? "
he groaned, looking straight up at the ceiling, for
he did not dare lean over the edge of the berth,
Bruce being below him.
" Only to-day, I hope," responded Bruce, striv-
ing nobly to put a cheerful tone into his voice.
" If we keep still all day we'll be right enough by
to-morrow."
Keep still, indeed I The suggestion was easily
enough made, but it was far from being easy of
execution, with the great steamer apparently mak-
ing frantic efforts to turn somersaults, and the
boys' interior departments seeming to be in quick
and distressful sympathy with her every move-
ment.
However, thanks to the kind ministrations of an
attentive steward, they did manage somehow to
get through the long, dreary day, and the following
AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA.
19
morning being bright and clear with little wind,
they succeeded in crawling out on deck, when the
keen fresh air so braced thetn up that by dinner-
time they felt equal to resuming their places at the
table.
As the old gentleman who sat opposite to
Arthur took his seat he gave him a pleasant nod
of recognition wliich seemed to reply :
" Well, hero you are again, but I was right, you
see, after all."
Ar ^ the boy, in a sudden impulse to frank con-
fession of having boasted prematurely, leaned
across with reddening cheeks to say :
"I didn't want even the tea and biscuit this
time yesterday. I was awfully knocked up."
A bright smile broke over the gentleman's
face.
" An honest confession is good for the soul, they
say," he returned. " You've shown the right spirit,
my lad, and I hope we shall soon become better
acquainted."
That he was sincere in the expression of this
hope was manifested when they all rose from din-
ner and went on deck, for as soon as he had lit
his cigar he joined them, and introducing himself
as Mr. Gillespie, of Montreal, availed himself of
the privilege of age to ask them a number of ques-
tions about themselves.
They were soon deep in talk, Bruce, as usual,
allowing Arthur to take the lead in the conversa-
f^
20
THE BOY TRAMPS.
tion, yet not in anywise standing aloof, but show-
ing by his attentive listening and occasional
shrewd remarks that he felt thoroughly at ease.
Mr. Gillespie, who had a houseful of sons at
home, took a deep interest in the young travellers,
and before the voyage ended gave them so cordial
an invitation to spend some days with him in
Montreal that they gladly accepted it.
The days slipped by very pleasantly upon the
*' Parisian," each one finding the boys' list of ac-
quaintances extending until it embraced nearly all
the first-class passengers, the chief exception being
the men who spent their time in the smoking-room
playing cards and drinking champagne with a zeal
and zest that made it appear they regarded these
occupations as the chief end of life.
Nor was Arthur content with the saloon as his
sphere of activity. His eagerness for information
took him all over the ship. He got himself spat-
tered with oil in the engine-room, and grimy with
coal-dust down among the furnaces. He even pen-
etrated into the steerage, carrying cakes and fruit
to the dirty-faced children that swarmed there like
rabbits in a burrow.
To one of these youngsters, a pretty, blue-eyed,
fair-haired German boy about five years of age, he
took a great fancy, and one day brought him on
the main deck to show him to Mr. Gillespie.
They were having a lively game of romps to-
gether when Arthur, picking up the child in his
AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA.
21
arms, held him over the railing to give him a bit
of a scare ; but, instead of being frightened, the
little chap crowed and kicked so vigorously that
Arthur lost his balance, and before he could re-
cover himself the boy had slipped out of liis grasp
and dropped into the waves twenty feet below I
^
■4-
22
THE BOY TRAMPS.
CHAPTER II.
SOME ADVENTURES ASHORE.
Arthur's first feeling as the child slipped from
liis grasp, and, with a splash scarce audible to
him so far above, vanished beneath the breeze-
rippled water, was one of paralyzing horror. But
it was only for a moment. The next instant,
throwing off his coat and cap, with one quick
movement he raced down to the stern, and not
hesitating a second at the height, leaped off the
taffrail into the foam of the steamer's wake.
Suddenly as it all took place Bruce was nearly
as quick as his companion ; but his cool, clear
head told him a better thing to do. Snatching up
one of the life-preservers, ready at hand for just
such an emergency, he sprang after Arthur, and
just as the latter appeared above the waves with
tlie child firmlv held in his left hand, while he
struck out strongly with the right, Bruce also ap-
peared not twenty yards away with the life-pre-
server, and called out cheeringly :
"It's all right, Arthur, I've got a life-preserver.
Stay where you are. Ill bring it to you."
Never had his chum's voice sounded so sweet to
!
SOME ADVENTURES ASHORE.
28
1
Arthur before. In his noble impulse to rescue he
had not stopped to consider how, if he got the
child, he would be able to keep it and himself afloat
during the time that must necessarily elapse before
a boat could be lowered to pick them up. But
now the thoughtfulness of Bruce had solved that
problem ; and as the life-preserver came within
his reach he grasped it with a tremendous feeling
of relief, exclaiming enthusiastically :
" What a brick you are, Bruce I We'll save
little Dutchie between us all right."
Meanwhile there was intense excitement on
board the steamer. Mr. Gillespie had at once
given the alarm, the engines had been stopped, and
preparations made for lowering one of the boats as
rapidly as possible.
Although not a moment was lost in this, it
seemed awfully long to the anxious passengers
crowded at the stern before the boat got off, the
headway of the huge vessel being so great that the
boys were far astern, and scarcely visible before
the first oar struck the water.
But the rowers put all their strength into every
stroke, and the heavy boat fairly tore through the
water, which happily was not at all rough, until
after ten minutes of hard pulling the welcome
order " Easy all " told them they had reached
their goal.
When the boat ran alongside the boys, and the
men in the stern lifted them and the child care-
24
THE BOY TRAMPS.
fully over the gunwale, the rowers held their oars
upright in the air, and gave a mighty " hurrah ! "
which, making its way back to the steamship, was
echoed by the relieved and rejoicing passengers
who had been watching every movement of the
boat with feverish eagerness.
The boys had a rousing reception on their re-
turn to the steamer, the gentlemen cheering and
clapping them on the back, and pronouncing them
most emphatically " the right sort," and " fine,
manly fellows," and so on ; while the ladies, their
eyes brimming with tears, felt quite ready to kiss
them, all dripping as they were. As for " little
Dutchie," he was fairly overwhelmed with caresses,
to which he submitted with the stolidity of his
race. He was also the object of many gifts, which
he accepted as calmly as he did the caresses.
After Bruce and Arthur had changed their
clothes they returned to the deck, where they
found Mr. Gillespie on the lookout for them.
" You came out of that handsomely, my lads,"
said he, giving a hand to each. "You," looking at
Arthur, "only did your duty under the circum-
stances, but it couldn't have been done better ; and
you," turning to Bruce, " acted like a true friend.
It warmed my old heart to see you, and I tell
you," he added, his face kindling, "if I'd only
been twenty years younger I'd have gone over
with you to make sure you were equal to the job."
" Oh, I felt pretty sure of that, thank you,"
SOME ADVENTURES ASHORE.
25
responded Bruce modestly. "Arthur and I are
good swimmers, and could have kept afloat a long
time without the life-preserver, but I thought it
was better to have it, all the same."
This incident deepened the friendship between
the old man and the boys, and they were more to-
gether than ever. He seemed to enjoy keenly the
stories of their school life, and they completely
exhausted their stores of such for his benefit.
In return he gave them many interesting
chapters from his own long and eventful life,
nearly all of which had been spent in Canada ; and
they were absorbed listeners as he described some
exciting experience in the early days of the city,
or a thrilling escape from the perils of travel
through regions where, not only the railway, but
the post-road, was yet unknown.
lii this way the boys grew so interested in
Canada that they began to discuss between them-
selves whether they would not spend the whole
summer in that country, and leave the United
States for another time.
" We've only got until September, you know,"
argued Arthur, who entirely favored the idea,
" and it's an awful big country."
"That's true enough," assented Bruce, who, how-
ever, had not his mind quite made up. " But so are
the United States, and the dear only knows when
we'll get another chance of seeing something of
them. Don't let us decide now," he added,
26
THE BOY TRAMPS.
" wait until we've been in Canada a little while,
and then see what we'll do."
Arthur agreed to this, and the matter then
dropped for the time, there being plenty of other
things to occupy the boys' attention.
They had grand games of shovel-board and deck-
quoits, they read the books in the steamer's library
when it was too stormy to be on deck, and they
turned up with a good appetite at each one of the
five meals so lavishly provided for all who cared to
take them, so that not for a moment did time hang
heavy on their hands ; and presently the always
welcome cry of "Land ho!" was raise'\ for the
"Parisian" had come to the entrance of the Straits
of Belle Isle, and the ocean voyage was over, the
remainder of the trip being practically inland
sailing.
As they passed through the Straits, and steered
southward along the coast of Newfoundland, Mr.
Gillespie interested the boys greatly with tales of
the dangers of navigation in the great Gulf of St.
Lawrence, and how many fine vessels had been
wrecked on the pitiless coasts, or through collision
with icebergs in the fog, or by running into one
another when enshrouded in mist.
When darkness came on, the lighthouses placed
here and there to warn navigators to keep off, sent
their bright rays gleaming througli the night, and
so familiar was Mr. Gillespie with tlie course, that
he knew each one of them as they were opened up,
!' 'I-
SO^fE ADVENTURES ASHORE.
27
«
— Point Armour on the Labrador coast, and Point
Rich on the Newfoundland side, — and he had a
story for each.
That night one of the fogs so frequei.t in those
waters enveloped the steamer, and the fog-horn
was kept going steadily, much to the disturbance
of the boys, who could not sleep for its mournful
bellowings.
" Oh, dear, I wish that horrid thing would shut
up," groaned Arthur, rolling over in his berth and
trying to shut out the persistent sound by cover-
ing his head with the clothes. " It'll drive me
crazy if it keeps up like that all night."
" Wouldn't you rather have it going than take
your chance of having some other steamer run us
down?" asked Bruce, whose habit of mind was to
take the most reasonable view of anything that
occurred.
" Oh, I guess this steamer can take care of her-
self," growled Arthur, determined not to be ap-
peased, for he was indeed desj:)erately sleepy.
*' She's too big for anything to hurt her, anyway."
" Not a bit of it," replied Bruce. " They've got
to be just as careful as if she were a steam-launch.
But, listen ! " he exclaimed, starting up in his
berth. " Is that an echo, or is it another steamer
answering us
9"
The boys listened breathlessly, and sure enough
there could be heard in the intervals of the blasts
of the " Parisian's " horn a fainter blast that evi-
28
THE BOY TRAMPS.
dently was not an echo, for it had a different
pitch and a briefer duration.
" It is another steamer, and it's coming right
toward us," said Bruce. " Now, my boy, don't
you think it's a good thing our fog-horn has been
kicking up such a row? See, they're signalling
each other with hjng and short blasts so as to
show how to pass."
The idea of another vessel as big and as swift as
the " Parisian " emerging suddenly out of the
dense obscurity and charging right at her for lack
of knowledge as to her position came over Arthur
so strongly that he gave a big gasp of relief, and
said in quite a meek tone :
" rU forgive the fog-horn, even if it does seem a
nuisance when a fellow wants to go to sleep. I
wish I could get a look at that other steamer."
But it was altogether too dense for that, even
if they had been on deck, and as they listened,
the sound of her warning blasts grew fainter and
fainter until it was heard no more.
Shortly after this they both fell asleep despite
the incessant bellowing of the horn, and had got
well into the land of dreams when they were sud-
denly aroused by a shock that nearly tumbled
them out of their berths.
Scrambling on to the floor of the stateroom they
cried at the same moment :
" What's happened ? Have we struck ? "
But as neither could answer the other they
SOME ADVENTURES ASHORE.
29
soon saw there was nothing to learn by staying
where they were, and, without more ado, they
hastened to jiull on some clothes, and get out
into the saloon, where they found many of the
other passengers already gathered in various
stages of dishabille that might have been amus-
ing at any other time.
They were all rushing about in a frantic fashion,
demanding to know what had happened, and there
seemed nobody competent to answer until one of
the officers appeared, and was immediately sur-
rounded by a score of excited men and women
who shouted at him as though they thought him
deaf.
When he was able to make himself understood,
it appeared that the steamer had run down a sail-
ing-vessel, striking her almost amidships, but that
she had not sunk, being timber-laden, and her
crew would all be rescued, while it was not
thought that the " Parisian " had received any seri-
ous damage.
This announcement was enough to cause Bruce
and others to complete dressing and to hasten on
deck. Working their way to the bow they found
that the steamer had not yet entirely disengaged
herself from the other vessel, and there was a
great flashing of lights and shouting of commands
going on.
Being relieved from all anxiety as to their own
safety, or that of the crew of the stricken ship.
30
THE BOY TRAMPS.
they could look on at the busy scene with easy
minds.
What the captain of the " Parisian " desired
was to get the wreck cleared away from the bow and
drawn alongside until those on board had time to
remove everything of value to the steamer, when
the wreck must be abandoned to its fate.
In spite of the admirable discipline which he
maintained, the suddenness of the shock and the
darkness of the night confused his men at first,
and they did not execute his orders with their
wonted intelligence and rapidity, putting him in a
towering rage, which greatly impressed the boys,
who had never before seen him otherwise than in
a genial mood.
Before long, however, despite the difficulties of
the situation, the vessel was cut loose and drawn
alongside, and all on board her reached the " Pari-
sian's " deck with their clothes and other belongings,
which, being accomplished, the steamer resumed
her course. A careful examination of the fore-hold
having established the welcome fact that although
the bow had suffered some slight damage, it was
not enough to cause a serious leak, and at the
worst, only the fore-compartment would be flooded.
When the excitement had all subsided the boys
went back to their berths, and as they turned in
for the second time, Bruce said :
" That settles the fog-horn question, doesn't it,
Arthur? If that vessel we ran down had only
SOME ADVENTURES ASHORE.
31
in
it,
ily
been blowing a horn like the steamer we met we'd
have gone hy her all right instead of smashing into
her as we did."
" That's so, Bruce," assented Arthur sleepily ;
"Til never feel mad at a fog-horn agjiin ; " a!id
having delivered himself of this virtuous resohi-
tion, he rolled over to finish his much-interrupted
night's rest.
The following morning they were steaming by
the big island of Anticosti, which stands riglit in
the heart of the St. Lawrence Gulf, and as they
gave its dangerous shores a wide berth Mr. Gilles-
pie told them many thrilling tales of the terrible
disasters of which the island had been the scene.
Well had it deserved the ill-omened title of " Isle
of Shipwrecks," from the day when Sir William
Phipps' troop-ships were cast away upon it with
the loss of hundreds of brave British soldiers until
the present, when the wrecks of several fine iron
steamships were still to be seen sprawling upon
its merciless reefs.
The boys were also told about Gamache, the
mysterious smuggler and wrecker, whose sinister
renown had filled the whole Gulf in years gone by,
and wbo was believed by the superstitious sailors
to be in league with the devil, and able to exercise
supernatural powers if hard pressed.
They reached Quebec on the afternoon of Fri-
day, and on the advice of Mr. Gillespie got off the
steamer to spend a day or two in looking over the
62
THE BOY TRAMPS.
old city, whose towering citadel at once made plain
to them why it was known as the Gibraltar of
America.
Arranging to meet their kind friend in Montreal,
they bade "good-by " to the " Parisian" and betook
themselves to a hotel, feeling glad enough to be
on terra firma once more, full of enjoyment and
interest as the trip across the ocean had been.
Immediately after dinner they set out to explore
the city, with its steep, narrow, tortuous streets, its
quaint old-fashioned buildings, and its foreign-
looking people chattering away in a language that
the instruction they had received in French at
Merchiston in nowise helped them to understand.
Presently they were hailed by the driver of a
very odd-looking vehicle, who seemed in a great
state of anxiety to be hired.
" That must be one of those caliches Mr. Gil-
lespie was telling us about. Let's hire him for a
while and drive around. We'll get along ever so
much better that way," said Arthur, always ready
for something new.
It was a lovely evening, and there was a full
hour of clear twilight at:ir. to come, so Bruce
thought the idea a good jne, and much to the
gratification of the cabbie they climbed into his
curious chariot, that very much resembled an
ancient two-wheeled gig, and bid him drive them
about for an hour.
What a queer old place this is, to be sure 1 " ex-
it
SOME ADVENTURES ASHORE.
S8
claimed Arthur after they had been threading their
way for some time through streets so narrow that
th(!re was scarce room for two carriages to psiss.
"It's a good ileal like Edinburgh, isn't it, though
the houses aren't half so high."
But when their drive brought them to Dufferin
Terrace, more than half-way up the precipitous
flank ol Cape Diamond, and from this superb
promenade there opened out one of the most mag-
nificent views in the world, they forgot all about
the contracted shadowy streets in their admiration
for the wonderful panorama spread before and be-
neath them.
Right at their feet lay the old town, now dark
in shadow, beyond it the glorious river, bearing
scores of vessels of every variety on its bosom,
swept steadily seaward, its farther shore seeming
dim in the distance, so great was its breadth.
Above them the citadel rose in successive terraces
of mighty masonry, while on their left the newer
part of the city stretched away in rank after rank
of solid stone structures.
"Auld Reekie can't show anything finer than
this, can she, Bruce ? " said Arthur. " It's cer-
tainly worth coming a long way to see, isn't it? "
" It is, indeed," assented Bruce, letting the com-
parison with Edinburgh go by unchallenged,
because, loyal as he was to the Scotch capital, he
did not wish to take issue with Arthur on the
matter. " Just look there," he added, pointing to
f
84
THE BOY TRAMPS.
the east, where the moon was rising like a huge
crimson balloon. " I wish we had the Chief here,
lie's so fond of a fine view."
The assurance of bright moonlight decided them
on prolonging their outing until bedtime, so they
directed the caleche driver to take them out of the
city a little, as they wanted to see something else
than rows of gray houses.
They were accordingly driven out through St.
John's gate and along the St. Foye road, on which
stand a number of the finest residences Quebec
could boast. The driver called out the names of
the proprietors, but his pronunciation was so exe-
crable that neither of the boys could understand
what he said.
" It's too bad we're so weak on our parley
Frangais^^^ said Bruce in a rueful tone. " I'd like
to be able to understand that fellow."
His desire to understand him, and to make him-
self understood by him, was presently intensified
by the man's strange behavior. On the way out the
road he had stopped in the dark shadow of some
trees to hold a whispered conversation with two
other 311 en who were invisible to the boys, and now
when he was ordered to turn about, instead of going
back over the same route he went aside into a nar-
row road that seemed to lead nowhere in particular.
" What can he be up to ? " asked Bruce, with an
accent of suspicion in his voice. " He's not going
back the same road as we came out on."
SOME ADVENTURES ASHORE.
85
" Let us see if we can't find out," responded
Arthur, and giving the driver an emphatic poke in
the back he shouted in his ear as if he thought
him deaf, " Say, look here, driver, where are you
taking us ? We want to go back the same road as
we came."
Instead of vouchsafing any explanation, the
driver shook his head as though to say, " I don't
know what you're driving at," and giving his horse
a sharp cut that sent the creature off at a gallop,
bent forward in his seat as if to avoid further ques-
tioning.
Beginning to realize that their situation was
vey perplexing, if not indeed perilous, the boys
hurriedly consulted as to what they should do, and
had just made up their minds to lay hold of the
driver and compel him by main force to do their
bidding when the caliche came to a stop with a
suddenness that nearly pitched them out of it.
At once they sprang up from their seat, wrathful
and alert for danger, and at the same moment were
grasped by two men who seemed to have come up
out of the ground, so 3udden was their appearance.
" Hit hard, .Arthur, they mean mischief ! " cried
Bruce, and, suiting the action to the word, he let
fly his tightly clenched fist full into the face of his
assailant, catching him squarely on the bridge of
the nose, and causing him to loosen his hold with
a howl of pain.
Not less promptly did Arthur act, but in a dif-
y
86
THE BOY TRAMPS.
ferent way. His position was such that he could
not strike out to advantage, so, lowering his head,
he butted his man violently in the stomach, putting
hira hors de combat for the nonce.
Ha\ ing thus shaken off their assaihmts the boys
dashed away up the road down which they had
been driven, and, being in good trim for running,
had no difficulty in leaving far behina the caleche
driver, who had not been able, owing to his horse
starting at the noise, to render his fellow-scoun-
drels any assistance.
The boys did not slacken speed until they were
back again on the broad, bright St. Foye road, and
even then, not feeling perfectly safe from a renewal
of the attack, they hastened on until they came to
a house whose open door seemed to invite them in
for protection.
Bruce rang the bell, and was marvellously re-
lieved when it was answered by a pleasant-looking
gentleman whose look of inquiry was caused by
their disordered appearance and heavy breathing.
" Can you speak English, sir ? " panted Arthur,
with a bob of his head which was hatless, its cover-
ing having been lost in the short struggle.
" That I can, my lad," was the prompt reply
given with an encouraging smile, " very much
better than I can French. What is it you want? "
Thereupon the two boys between them told
their story as best they could in their breathless
condition.
,1
■.ft
SOME ADVENTURES ASHORE.
87
They found an attentive and sympathetic auditor,
who, when they had finished their narration, ex-
pressed lively indignation at the assault upon
them.
" That's not the first thing of the kind that has
happened here," said he. '' There seems to be a
regular gang of these scoundrels, and you were
very lucky to escape from their clutches without
being robbed, and perhaps beaten half to death."
Then, at the thought of the two rascals, one with
only the blow on the face, and the other with the
butt in the stomach, to show for their villanous
enterprise, he broke out laughing. " But you cer-
tainly did teach those ruffians a lesson they're not
likely to forget in a hurry. I wish I'd seen you
knock them out. What a wiry couple you must
be I Come in to the parlor, and let us get better
acquainted."
Only too glad to accept this offer of hospitality,
the boys went into the parlor, which ^ d a de-
lightfully home-like look, and having given their
names were introduced to the lady of the house,
who received them graciously.
The upshot of the matter was that they remained
for over an hour, and after being served with re-
freshments, were accompanied a good part of the
way back to the hotel by the gentleman and his
huge mastiff, "to redeem the lionor of old Quebec,"
their thoughtful escort said when they assured him
they could get along all right by themselves.
y
■4»
88
THE BOY TRAMPS.
On reaching the hotel and reporting thoir
experience to the proprietor he was very anxioun
for them to put the matter into the hands of the
police, but they shrank from doing this, not know*
ing how much trouble it might entail.
" And besides," added Bruce, with a quiet smile,
" you see they got very much the worst of it, any-
way, and we're quite satisfied to let the thing rest,
aren't we, Arthur ? "
Arthur l • Ided an emphatic consent, so the
hotel manager • :
" Oh, well, of I. arse it's for you to say. If I were
in your place, however, I'd follow the thing up."
But they were much more anxious to get to bed
than to set the police on the trail of the foiled
highwaymen, and went oif to their room, well
enough satisfied at having got safely back to it.
The next morning they had, of course, to visit
the famous falls of Montmorency, and, determining
to be in good hands tliis time, they hired one of the
carriages belonging to the hotel.
The drive to the falls was full of interest, the
road leading along the river-side past old red-
roofed chateaux, moss-covered and many-gabled,
quaint stone houses with double rows of dormer-
windows picturesquely set in their steep roofs, and
frequent churches cf " Our Lady " with cross-
crowned spires.
Farther on they came to comfortable farms with
thatched barns and granges, with dove-cotes full
SOME ADVENTURES ASHORE.
89
of feathered beauties, and with old-fashioned wind-
mills extending their gaunt arms to catch the
breeze.
" Isn't it like what we saw in France ? " said
Arthur. "It seems easier to believe that we're
on the other side of the Channel, than of the At-
lantic."
" You may well say so," responded Bruce.
" Just look at these girls spinning in the doorways.
Isn't that just the way they did in Picardy ? Let
us stop and ask for a drink; I want to have a
better look at them."
Ordering the driver to pull up, the boys got out
and made their way to the door of one of the farm-
houses, where two dark-eyed, olive-skinned girls
were standing, and in the best French he could
command Arthur asked for a drink.
The girls blushed and giggled, looked at one an-
other with a puzzled expression, and then, after
whispering together, went off to the back of the
house, presently returning, each with a piece of
wood which they offered him with a graceful
curtsey.
At once, seeing that he had made some mistake,
Arthur shook his liead energetically, saying :
"iVbw — non — c^est quelque chose des hois que nous
vo'"lons^^^ illustrating his meaning by smacking his
lips and pointing down his throat, whereupon
the girls' faces lit up with a look of compre-
hension, and bursting into merry laughter they
f,
I ' 'I
I
40
THE BOY TRAMPS.
darted off, and returned this time with two bowls
of rich milk, which they presented with renewed
curtseys.
Having quaffed the milk, and offered payment
therefor, which was smilingly refused, the boys
made their best bow and withdrew. When they
settled in their seats again, Arthur said, in a very
meek tone :
"There was evidently something wrong about
my French. Have you any idea what it was,
Bruce ? "
Bruce 'ooked very thoughtful for a moment.
Then he broke into a shout of laughter.
" Why, ■ >; Course," he cried. " You said des bois,
didn't you ? and you should have said a hoire —
queique chose a boire. That's good enough French
for something to drink."
Seeing his mistake at once, Arthur joined heart-
ily in the laughter, and, as the joke seemed too
good to keep, the}' told it to the driver, who was
greatly tickled.
" We ought to stay here awhile and practise up
our French," said Arthur. "It's a wery different
thing working out a good exercise in it at school,
and speaking the language so that the people will
know what you are driving at.''
" Right you are, chum," asserted Bruce. " To
be offered a stick of wood when you're dying for a
drink may seem funny, but it's rather too dry
humor for me."
SOME ADVENTURES ASHORE.
41
" Bully for you, my boy ! " cried Arthur, slap-
ping his companion heartily on the back. " You've
actually made a joke, haven't you ? and not ,
bad one, either. Bless me if I don't send that to
the ' Merchistonian ' by the first mail."
" Get out with you," laughed Bruce, blushing
furiously. " You'll do nothing of the kind.
You'd have to give yourself away too badly to tell
it right."
"Well, it's good enough to be sent, anyway,"
persisted Arthur. "And now you've begun, I
hope you'll keep it up. I'm immensely fond of
jokes, though the only ones I ever make seem to
be always at my own expense."
By this time they were nearing the falls, whose
mighty roar was already sounding in their ears.
" They say you're apt to be disappointed by your
first look at a water-fall," said Bruce. " I hope it
won't be so in our case."
Following the advice of the driver they did not
go at once to the edge of the falls, in which case they
would certainly have been disappointed, but made
their way down the steep bank by a path through
the trees, and thus came out at a point where the
cataract burst upon their view in all its fury and
splendor.
As they gazed upward at the foaming flood, fall-
ing full two hundred and fifty feet upon the great
bowlders a little below them, and felt the cool
touch of its spray upon their cheeks, heated by
h
42
THE BOY TRAMPS.
^,
I 1
their exertions, they were for some time silent. The
majesty of Montmorency had not simply equalled ■
their expectations, it had far surpassed them.
"This is grand, and no mistake," exclaimed
Arthur, giving a sigh of profound admiration. " I
don't wonder they talk so much of their falls.
Why, just look at that water ! You might think it
was milk, it's so white, mightn't you ? "
" Well, you know the people about here," an-
swered Bruce, " the habitants^ Mr. Gillespie called
them, have given the name of La vache — the
cow — to these falls. I saw it in a guide-book at
the hotel."
" If it really was milk," said Arthur, " I'd like
to run a dairy here, and have the contract for sup-
plying the city — it wouldn't take a fellow long to
get rich on those terms."
" I'm afraid Montmorency's milk would hardly
be as good as that the girls gave us," returned
Bruce, "and by the same token I'd appreciate
another bowl of it if it was handy."
For lack of milk the boys decided to have a
drink of water, and despite the warnings of the
driver, who told them the rocks were very slippery,
proceeded to clamber farther down to where they
could see a tiny pool gleaming attractively out of
r-i^ach of the spray.
They were both good rock-climbers, having had
plenty of experience in Scotland during the holi-
days, and the very fact of the presence of a spice
SOML ADVENTURES ASHORE.
48
of danger made the undertaking all the more
attractive.
They reached the pool all right, and, having
slaked their thirst, were about to make their way
back again, when Bruce, who was an ardent
botanist, caught sight of a lovely cluster of delicate
fern nestling on a ledge, where, from time to time,
the breeze blew to it the spray from the falls.
"I must have a bit of that fern," he cried.
" Wait a moment until I get it."
Not being interested in botany, Arthur sat down
on a smooth rock to watch him satisfying his scien-
tific enthusiasm.
The ledge was not easy of access, but, undaunted
by more than one slip backward, Bruce persevered
until he got his fingers within reach of the fern,
and carefully detached a good handful of it.
" Bravo ! chum," exclaimed Arthur, who had
been watching his efforts with much interest from
his comfortable seat. " ' If at first you don't suc-
ceed, try, try again,' works well as a rule. I hope,
now you've got your fern, it'll be worth all the
trouble you've taken to get it."
The last word had hardly left his lips when the
narrow ledge on which Bruce was standing gave
way under his weight, and, with a cry of alarm, he
went slipping down towards the wild welter of
foam and fury at the falls' foot I
f
44
THE BOY TRAMPS.
' 1:
■ I
CHAPTER III.
THE BEGINNING OF THE TRAMP.
i^'t
Echoing his companion's cry Arthur rushed to
the edge of the shelf and peered over in an agony
of apprehension.
Bruce, still holding tightly to the ferns, had
partly slipped, partly fallen, full twenty feet below,
where by a happy chance a projecting point of
rock had arrested his descent a few yards short of
certain death.
When he saw Arthur looking over he called out
to him in a tone of entire self-possession :
" Don't try to come down — you can't help me
that way. Get something to pull me up. I can't
hold on here long."
Now, Arthur was as quick at devising expedients
as he was hasty in undertaking risks, and Bruce
had hardly spoken before a happy thought flashed
into his mind that he proceeded to put into execu-
tion with his wonted promptness.
Clambering back to where the cabman stood he
said to him, " Stay where you are, I'll be back in a
minute," and then he darted up the p>ath by which
they had come down.
1
THE BEGINNING OF THE TRAMP. 45
he
In a
lich
In a wonderfully short time, considering how far
he had to go, and how steep the way was, he was
back again bearing tlie reins taken from the horse,
and without wasting a moment in explanations he
gasped out :
" It's all right, come along, your help's needed,"
and disappeared down the cliff.
Sorely puzzled, but convinced that there was
something wrong, the cabman followed as best
he could, and arrived in time to see Bruce catch
the end of the reins which Arthur had flung to
him.
"Now, then," panted Arthur, who indeed had
little strength left after his tremendous exertions,
shoving the end of the rein into the cabman's
hands, "pull away, and we'll soon have him up
here."
Uniting their strength the man and boy had
little difficulty in bringing Bruce up beside them,
and a pretty well-drenched and dishevelled-looking
creature he was ; yet, as he sank down on the rock
utterly exhausted by the strain he had endured, he
held up the bunch, saying, with a faint smile :
" I held on to it, you see."
" What a chap you are ! " exclaimed Arthur ad-
miringly, patting him on the back, "l^^ aren't
you hurt somewhere?"
" I believe 1 am," replied Bruce, rolling up his
trouser legs and revealing a pair of shins with
numerous scrapes and bruises. "Nothing worse
J
46
THE BOY TRAMPS.
than that," he said cheerfully. "It might have
been ever so much worse, eh, Arthur ? "
" A (leal sight worse," resijonded Arthur. " Some
fellows would have broken their necks if they'd
been in the same box, but you're one of the luc
chaps, Bruce. Can you climb kick to the car-
riage without help ? "
" Of course I can," said Bruce, and picking
himself up he began the ascent as if nothing had
happened.
He looked so comical with his clothes clinging
damply to him that Arthur could not resist the
chance of trying his hand at joke-making.
'* Say, Bruce," he exclaimed suddenly, " there's
nothing dry about Montmorency's humor, ^s
there ? "
It was now Bruce's turn to offer congratulatiouo,
which Arthur accepted with the comfortable feel-
ing that they were on even terms now.
The day was so bright and warm that the drive
back did Bruce no harm, and on arriving at the
hotel a generous application of arnica and sticking-
plaster so soothed and mended his various hurts,
that after a hearty lunch and a couple of hours'
rest he felt quite equal to joining Arthur in a visit
to the citadel that afternoon.
They went on foot, the better to enjoy the glo-
rious prospect which opened more widely at each
stage of the ascent, and after a leisurely walk
came to the great gate whose leaves were formed
I! I
It
riJE BEGir^NTNC! OF THE TRAMP. 47
of interlaced iron chains immensely strong, and
passing through they crossed a wide deep fosse be-
tween high stone walls, and then by a sally-port
entered the fortress.
Crossing the level space of the interior, they
went to the edge of the ram[)arts and looked over.
A sheer descent of three hundred feet met their
gaze, and so narrow seemed the strip of land be-
tween the foot of the precipice and the river, that
it appeared almost possible to spring from the
ramparts clear into the swift current of the St.
Lawrence.
" What a dive that would be ! " exclaimed Ar-
thur, who was very fond of diving from a height,
and very expert at the rather dangerous amuse-
ment.
" Would you care to try it ? " inquired Bruce.
" No, sirree," responded Arthur. " I 'm not that
tired of life just yet. But, I say, Bruce, wouldn't
this be a grand place to try a flying-machine like the
one we were reading about the other day ? A
fellow couldn't wish a better place to start from,
could he?"
"What a chap you are, Arthur," said Bruce,
smiling. " First you think this would be a fine
place for a champion dive, then you would try a
flying-machine from it. What on earth will come
into your head next ? "
Arthur was silent for a while, as if thinking
deeply. Then, lifting his head, his eyes flashing
48
THE BOY TRAMPS.
with the brilliance inspired by a new idea, he lam
hold of Briice's arm, saying .
" ril tell you what next. Let us make a walk-
ing tour of tliis trip through Canada, and begin by
footing it from here to Montreal."
Bruce's answer was a long whistle and a look
that seemed to sa}^ : " Well, this beats everything !
Are you losing your senses ? "
Interpreting the meaning of the look, Arthur,
without waiting for it to be followed by speech,
hastened to say :
" And why not ? We had many a good long tramp
in Scotland, and this wouldn't be any harder, and
it would be ever so much more fun than riding in
the stuffy cars in this glorious weather."
" But look here, Arthur," replied Bruce. " You
know you'd get sick and tired of it before we had
walked fifty miles, and it's nearly two hundred
to Montreal."
" I wouldn't do anything of the kind," returned
Arthur, in a tone touched with vexation. " If I set
out to do it, I'll go right through with it. I
iiromise you that."
Now, Bruce was not one to commit himself
iashly, and Arthur's proposal was so entirely novel
'hat he wanted time to consider it, so he just said
pleasantly :
" It's a great notion, Arthur, but I'd like to
think it over. We'll talk about it again to-night,
eh?"
THE BEGINNING OF THE TRAMP. 49
"All right," responded Arthur; "there's no
hurry. Let's see some more of this queer place."
Going over to the western riimparts they looked
out across the Plains of Abraham, where Wolfe had
won Canada for England at the cost of his own life.
"It was too bad altogether," said Bruce, with a
deep sigh, " that Wolfe was killed. He ought to
have lived to see the British banner take the place
of the French one, and to have enjoyed all the
honors he deserved."
"It was hard lines, wasn't it?" said Arthur.
"But, you see, he would go into the thick of it
himself, and the bullets were bound to find him.
Suppose we go over and have a look at his
monument."
Leaving the citadel they made their way over
to the monument, and then, having examined it,
roamed about the Plains until their growing hunger
suggested a return to the hotel.
After dinner Arthur bi ought up his walking
project again, and they discussed it for some time,
Bruce, as was characteristic of his cautious, far-see-
ing nature, dwelling on the difficulties and draw-
backs of the plan, and Arthur, the most sanguine
of optimists, doing his best to remove them each
and all.
Finally, after a talk with the manager of the
hotel, whom they took into their confidence, and
who thought Arthur's idea perfectly feasible, Bruce
gave in, saying :
1^
mmm
60
THE BOY TRAMPS.
i
11
" All right, Arthur, I'll try it ; but if we give
out half-way, and have to take to the cars, remem-
ber I prophesied it."
Too well pleased at having carried his point to
be hurt by his companion's persistent scepticism,
Arthur shouted :
" Hurrah for you, Bruce, you're a ' mp !
There's no fear of you giving out, and I'll .lOt let
you beat me if I have to crawl along on my hands
and knees."
The following morning, having sent their port-
manteaus on by train, they girded up their Icins for
their long walk. They were well provide 1 with
money, and, upon the advice of the hotel ma aager,
they procured a small revolver apiece and a good
supply of cartridges.
"There's only one chance in twenty of your
needing them for protection, but if you do, you
may need them mighty bad," said he ; " and, any-
way, you can amuse yourselves with them on the
way, only take care and don't shoot any cows or
hens by mistake."
" Oh, we'll take good care of that," answered
Arthur. " We're not going to be shooting promis-
cuously, 3^ou may depend upon that."
Carrying nothing in their hands but stout walk-
ing-sticks the two boys made their way out of the
city, and, striking a good steady pace, took their
course along the northern bank of the mighty
river. The road was in good condition. The day
THE BEGINNING OF THE TRAMP. 61
or
lay
was bright and fine without being oppressively
warm, and they were both in the best of spirits.
" This beats riding in those hot, dusty cars out
of sight, doesn't it, Bruce ? " exclaimed Arthur
enthusiastically. " We're in no hurry, you know,
and if we do get tired we can rest whenever we
like, or ask some of the farmers to give us a lift if
they're going our way."
" But how are we going to make them under-
stand what one wants when we're so weak in our
French?" inquired Bruce. "We may have to
starve to death, because we can't get it into their
heads that we need something to eat."
This, of course, was said with a smile that showed
the speaker was not serious, so Arthur, carrying on
the pretence, responded:
" Oh, that's easy enough; we'll just go into the
house and take what we want, and then pay for it."
" Yes, and have our heads broken for our im-
pertinence," returned Bruce. " No, no, we'll have
to manage better than that."
As they talked they were walking along through
a country that might have been a bit of Normandy
in old France.
The hamlets that succeeded one another so
closely had a strangely foreign appearance, with
their quaint, red-roofed houses rich in dormer-win-
dows, their huge chimneys, and the big ovens built
outside the houses, that each seemed capable of
cooking enough for a company of soldiers.
y
62
THE BOY TRAMPS.
((
.1'
What folks they must be for eating about
here 1 " said Bruce, noting the size of these
ovens.
"And as it's getting pretty close to lunch-time,
I vote we try what they can do for us in that
way," suggested Arthur, who had a noble appetite.
" Very well," assented Bruce, " you go ahead,
and see if you can get something better than a
stick of wood this time."
Entering the gate of a very comfortable-looking
farm-house, Arthur went up to the door and
knocked gently. No response being elicited, he
knocked more loudly, and at last there appeared
an aged dame into whose wrinkled face came a
look of surprise mingled with suspicion as her eyes
fell upon the two boys.
This look was not dissipated, but, on the con-
trary, deepened, when Arthur essayed to explain
his object, and after listening to him for a very
brief moment she shut to the door in his face with
a bang whose emphasis admitted of no misin-
terpretation.
" By Jove I " cried Arthur, in blank amazement
at this summary treatment, " the old dame's got
queer notions of civility."
" I suspect she was afraid for her spoons," said
Bruce, with a quiet smile ; " we must look like a
pair of desperadoes on a foraging expedition."
Involuntarily Arthur glanced at his companion
pud then at himself.
t: h
THE BEGINNING OF THE TRAMP. 53
a
" Nonsense," he responded, with a short laugh of
derision at the idea, " we look all right."
" W3II, then, perhaps it was your bad French
that frightened her," suggested Bruce meekly.
" Never you mind my bad French," retorted
Arthur, with some heat. " If you think you can
do any better I just wish you'd try. I'm only too
glad to leave it to you."
" We may as well go away from here, anyway,"
said Bruce, waiving the point as to which could do
best at the French. " See, the old lady's watching
us from the window."
With an awkward, crestfallen feeling the boyp
returned to the road and plodded along for some
"^ime in silence. Arthur, like all sanguine people,
being easily discouraged, already began to fear that
his plan would have to be abandoned, while Bruce
began to congratulate himself on this being quite
probable.
Presently they caught sight of a tin-sheeted
spire flashing above the trees, and Bruce said,
" That means a church, and a church means some
sort of a village, and there's sure to be an inn.
Let us push ahead, we'll have a good lunch yet."
A few more turns of the road and they came out
into an open space which at the first glance prom-
ised to fulfil all of Bruce's surmises. There stood
the church, stone-walled, tin-roofed, solid, and
attractive, and around it clustered a number of
houses, looking well-kept and comfortable.
wm
54
THE BOY TRAMPS.
" Ha, ha ! that looks hopeful," exclaimed
Arthur, brightening up, "and there's the priest
just coming out of the church. We'll ask him.
He's sure to give us a civil answer, anyway."
Hastening up to the cur^, who had a plump, pleas-
ant countenance and the air of being at peace with
all the world, himself not excepted, Arthur began
to address him in French, but the old man, with a
courteous wave of the hand, said smilingly :
"Pray do not trouble yourself to speak our
language, I understand your own very well."
Whereupon Arthur, feeling much relieved, pro-
ceeded to state the case, not forgetting to tell
about the humiliating reception they had met with
at the farm-house down the road.
The cur<3 chuckled in evident enjoyment of the
tale.
" Ah," he said, with a deprecatory lift of the
head, " that was Madame Groth^, no doubt. She
is a poor, nervous body who lives all alone ; you
must not think hard things of her. And now come
with me. There is what they call a hotel here. It
is a small place, but quite clean, and the Madame
can cook," the last words being accompanied by a
smack of the lips that spoke volumes for the cu-
linary art of the mistress of the establishment.
As they walked toward the hotel they fell into
easy converse, and the good cur^ manifested such
interest in the boys and their doings that Arthur
was moved to invite him to have lunch with them,
\ |i
h
f
THE BEGINNING OF THE TRAMP. 55
which invitation, after some little demur for mere
form's sake, he accepted.
When they reached the hotel, Bruce, deter-
mined that the meal should not be spoilt for lack
of proper instructions to the mistress of the house,
asked the priest if he would be so kind as to give
the necessary directions.
" And what would you like to order?" he asked,
evidently well pleased at the commission.
" Oh, we'll leave that entirely to you," Bruce
answered. " We're very hungry, as we had an
early breakfast, and have walked a good many miles
since, and we'd better call this dinner, I thirk."
While the meal was being prepared the three
sat in the shade of the house, and the boys asked
many questions of their new acquaintance.
He heartily approved of the idea of walking to
Montreal, greatly to Arthur's satisfaction.
" It's like one long village street nearly all the
way," he said, " with churches every six miles or
so, and plenty of little hotels like this one. You
need never go to a farm-house."
The waiting for dinner naturally served to whet
the boys' appetites to a very keen edge, and they
hailed the summons to the dining-room with a
shout of delight.
Simple and plain as the furnishings of the table
were, they could not have been improved upon
neatness, and when the dinner was served it fully
justified the curd's promise.
56
THE BOY TRAMPS.
First came a delicious soup, slightly flavored
with garlic ; then a fine roast fowl tliat the priest
carved with admirable skill ; after that an omelette
aux fines herhes worthy of Paris, followed by a lus-
cious pudding, with coffee to finish off. The bread
and butter was of the best, there was cream in
abundance, and altogether tlie boys enjoyed their
repast so thoroughly that Arthur accurately voiced
the sentiments of both when, leaning back in his
chair with a sigh of unspeakable content, he
said :
" I'd just like to stay here for a week. This is
the best dinner I've had for ever so long."
The cur^ seemed highly pleased at their appre-
ciation of the fare and establishment.
" It is very good, is it not?" said he, rubbing his
hands together. "Madame Ouimet understands
how to look after her guests. She would be very
glad to have you stay with her for a week, I am
sure."
" Oh, we can't do that, thank you," replied
Bruce quickly, for fear Arthur should show some
willingness to consider the idea. " We must keep
right on, for it's a long walk to Montreal, you
know."
After sitting a while over their coffee, the boys
paid the reckoning, which was only one-half what
they expected ; and having thanked the good cur^
for his kindness, and received his paternal bless-
ing, they set forth again, resolved to keep going
;:
r I I lU'i
THE BEGINNING OF THE TRAMP. 67
g
until dark If possible, the curd having told them of
a comfortable hotel about ten miles ahead.
They both felt in high spirits, and ready for a
lark of some kind should opportunity offer.
As a rule, persons in that frame of mind have
not long to wait before their chance comes, and
they had not gone more than a couple of miles
when they came to a snug-looking barn, in whose
adjoining yard a number of hens clucked and
scratched busily.
Just as the boys were opposite the gate, a big
rooster sprang on top of it and crowed in the most
vigorous manner. There was something peculiarly
bumptious and challenging on liis part that re-
minded Arthur, who was a diligent student of
" Punch," of the " Gallic cock " so often pictured
in its cartoons.
" Just look at him," cried he ; " he's calling us
names, as sure as you live. I'll just give him a
scare, to teach him better manners."
So saying he pulled out his revolver, and before
Bruce could stop him pointed it at the rooster and
pulled the trigger.
Now, he had not intended to injure the bird at all,
but simply to shoot over its head and frighten it
with the report. But as luck would have it, his
aim proved better than he imagined, and to his
horror the bullet struck the ill-fated fowl full in
the neck, almost severing the head from the body,
and over it tumbled into the muck of the barn-
y
1^
68
THE BOY TRAMPS.
ti. !■
yard, flapping its wings in the convulsions of
death.
The boys' first impulse was to take to their heels
and get out of sight as soon as possible ; but their
second thoughts did them more credit, and, stand-
ing their ground, they looked about to see if any
one would appear to call them to account.
They had not long to wait. Out of the barn
darted a middle-aged hahitan in whose countenance
alarm and anger were curiously blended. He had
heard the report, and now saw his pet rooster
weltering in its own blood.
As soon as he appeared Arthur stepped up to
the gate, and forgetting in his agitation to put his
revolver away, and still holding it in his hand, said
in English :
" I am very sorry I killed your rooster. I really
didn't mean to, and I will pay you whatever it
was worth."
Not understanding a word he said, and terrified
at the sight of the revolver, the poor hahitan
shrunk behind the fence, and then deeming dis-
cretion the better part of valor, took to his heels
incontinently, disappearing behind the corner of
the house, which stood a little distance from the
barn.
In spite of their concern at the damage unin-
tentionally done, the boys could not refrain from
bursting into laughter, the conduct of the fright-
ened farmer was so comical. At the same time
I.. ,
IK 'if
THE BEGINNING OF THE TRAMP. 59
of
led
'tan
dis-
eels
of
the
rht-
ime
%
they felt bound to make fitting reparation, so they
followed the fugitive to his house, Arthur taking
care to put his revolver out of sight.
Their knocking at the front door produced no
response, and in some perplexity as to what ought
to be done, they were about to turn away when
from behind the house came the farmer accom-
panied by two sallow-faced, black-haired youths
who were evidently his sons.
Pointing at the boys, who now began to feel that
the situation was in some danger of becoming
complicated, he spoke with great vehemence and
such rapidity as to be altogether unintelligible to
the pedestrians. Anxious to bring the affair to a
speedy conclusion, Bruce now stepped forward
and asked :
" Can any of you speak English ? " at which the
elder of the sallow youths brightened up and re-
plied with a conscious blush :
"Oh, yes, I can, myself. I have been in the
big city."
Much relieved at this discovery, Bruce then
hastened to explain what had happened, and how
sorry they were, and how willing to pay the full
value of the defunct rooster.
The young French-Canadian having repeated all
this to his father, there was a manifest lifting of the
clouds, and the atmosphere became less oppressive.
After consulting with his sons for a few minutes
the one who spoke English said :
60
THE BOY TRAMPS.
" My father understands now, and is not angry
any more, and he says he will be content with one
doUar for the cock."
It was more than the real value of the creature,
but the boys were in no mood for bargaining.
They -wanted to push on without further delay.
Arthur therefore paid over the sum asked in
silver, and bidding the trio, whose faces were
now wreathed in smiles, a hearty " good-day," the
boys resumed their walk at a rapid pace.
The afternoon lengthened out as they trudged
steadfastly onward, being anxious to reach Pont
Rouge, if possible, before nightfall. The rooster
episode had quite satisfied their desire for a lark,
and their mood was one of strict business.
The miles slipped by one by one, and they began
to feel leg-weary ; but not a liint of it did the one
give the other, although the entire cessation of
talk between them was enough to show that their
whole energies were concentrated in the task of
keeping their feet going.
At last Arthur could not keep his feelings to
himself.
" Oh, dear ! " he groaned, "when shall we get to
that place ? It must be ever so much farth r tl.
the priest said. I'm more than h^^* Mipted to
try another farm-house."
" Yes — and meet with the same wai re ption
that Madame Grothd gave you," said Bruc o, smil-
ing. "No, no," he added, "we won't do that
I I
77/ /i nicr; INNING of the Til a MP.
61
to
ption
, smil-
that
unless there's no other alternative than sleeping
in a barn."
Just at this juni'ture the rattle of a wagon was
lieard behind tliem, and tln'ovtcrh the dusk there
came one of those loni^-bodied country expresses
that have such fuie carrying capacity. It con-
tained two people, presumably man and wife, and
there was lots of room in the back part.
"Here's our chance," cried Bruce. "Let us
ask them for a lift."
When the wagon reached them, Bruce took off
his cap politely and called out :
'''' Monmeur^ voulez-vouH nous emharque)'?''^
The farmer at once pulled up his horses and
answered pleasantly :
" Oui^f eertainmenf, emharquez^ s'il vous plaity
Feeling very much elated at the success of his
attempt at French, Bruce sprang into the wagon,
and Arthur promptly followed his example. There
were some sacks of grain that made capital seats,
and the tired boys stretched out upon them with a
delicious feeling of relief.
Their good Samaritan seemed very eager to
converse with them, and poured out a flood of
questions in his own tongue, the gist of which
Bruce could not catch at all, and at last he was
fain to confess that his French did not go far, and
to ask the farmer if he could not speak English.
As it happened he could do something with
English, and managed to maintain a conversation
f
\,
■■■■I
u
62
THE BOY TRAMPS.
in this language as tliey jogged along toward Pont
Rouge, which was his destination also.
They had gone about a couple of miles, and
were descending a steep inclii.e, when a part of
the harness suddenly gav»> way that let the wagon
run forward on to the horses' heels. They were a
sturdy pair of French-Canadian ponies, full of
spirit, and this unexpected assault from the rear
frightened them into a wild gallop.
There was no brake on the wagon, and it swayed
from side Lo side of the road as it plunged down
the hill at a fearful pace.
m !
THROUGH THE RAPIDS.
tjii
CHAPTER IV.
THROUGH THE IlAPIDS AND OVER THE BRIDGE.
Utterly powerless to offer any assistance, the
boys could only hold tightly on to the heavy bags
of grain while the wagon bumped and bounded
over the road.
Had it been bright daylight their situation would
not have been so alarming, but by this time dark-
ness had closed in around them, and they could
hardly see the length of the wagon ahead.
It was a long descent, and a deep ditch bordered
the road on both sides, to the edge of which thi
wheels came perilously near from time to time as
the affrighted horses dashed onward with uncon-
trollable impetuosity.
The farmer, holding manfully to the reins, was
one moment calling soothingly to his horses and
the next offering explosive ejaculations of prayer
to his patron saint for supernatural assistance,
while his wife, evidently overcome with terror,
crouched down between the seat and the low dash-
board of the wagon uttering plaintive moans that
were very pitiful.
In this way they must have gone some hundreds
\i
BW^MH"
64
THE BOY TRAMPS.
of yards when the catast/oDhe which had been con-
tinually threatening took place. The heavy wagon
swung over the side of the road into the ditch, and
after rolling and pitching for an instant or two
like a ship in a storm brought up against the other
bank with a shock that sent all four of its occu-
pants liurtling out of it.
The boys hap[)ily liad braced themselves for this
emergency, and, dark as it was, they managed to
spring out clear of the wagon and to land upon
the side of the ditch. Although they came down
pretty hard, the bank, being of soft tnrf, received
them kindly, so that beyond a sharp shock which
dazed them for a moment neither suffered any
damage.
But the poor farmer and his wife were not so
fortunate.
He was pitched forward upon the horses and re-
ceived from one of them a kick in the stomach that
completely knocked the wind out of him, and slie
was flung out over the dash-board against the bank,
striking against it head first with such violence as
to be rendered insensible.
Picking themselves up at once, both boys hast-
ened to help their less lucky companions. They
first gave attention to the woman, and drawing her
up to the top of the bank, sought to revive her by
fanning her face with their hats.
Finding, however, that this availed nothing, and
fearing from the farmer's groans that he was in a
THROUGH THE RAPIDS.
65
d re-
tliat
I she
jank,
Ice as
hast-
iThey
iop her
lo
jer by
and
ill a
worse plight still, they went over to him. By
this time he had regained his wind somewhat and
was able to call out lustily for help.
Lifting him upon his feet they brought him to
liis wife, and at once the good fellow forgot his own
suffering in anxiety for his helpmate. His anxiety
was quite pathetic as he held her head in his hands
and besought her to speak to him.
At this juncture the welcome light of a lantern
appeared upon the road, and the boys saw with
vast relief that it was in the hands of one man
while another walked beside him.
"Hurrah!" exclaimed Arthur. "We'll be all
right now. We'll be able to see what we're do-
iiig."
The new-comers belonged to the nearest house,
having been attracted by the noise of the disaster,
and they at once set to work to put matters right
with a vigor and wisdom of action that showed
them to be people of no common intelligence.
Bidding the farmer give his whole attention to
his wife a few moments longer, they extricated the
helpless horses from the tangle of harness, and got
them up on the road, neither one of them being
])adly hurt.
Then one of them brought some water in his cap,
(ind this being dashed in the face of tlie unconscious
woman aroused her from her faint, and enabled it
to be made clear that she had no bones broken.
The house from which these efficient helpers
66
THE BOY TRAMPS.
came was not far distant, and soon the whole party
moved thither, taking the horses but leaving the
wagon where it was until the morning.
On reaching the house the boys inquired how
much farther on Pont Rouge was, and learning
that it was only a mile, they decided to push on,
although cordially invited to pass the night at the
farm-house.
Walking rapidly they got to Pont Rouge with-
out mishap, and, fuidiiigthe hotel quickly, tumbled
into bed, thoroughly tired out.
They were both somewhat stiff and sore the fol-
lowing morning, and in no particular hurry to
resume their tramp. But neither had any thought
of abandoning it notwithstanding.
They postponed the start until after mid-day,
and then setting forth with good spirit put a dozen
miles behind them ere nightfall, getting rid of all
their stiffness, and thoroughly enjoying the exer-
cise.
That day and the following ones were devoid of
exciting incident, but full of pleasant sights and
sounds. The road ran through a continuous series
of farms that stretched like broad ribbons up from
the water-side to the woods above. A decent degree
of comfort seemed the common lot, while the great
stone-walled, tin-roofed churches with lofty spires
that were met with every six miles or so showed
that the people had not only enough for them-
selves, but good tithes to render to the great
THROUGH THE RAPIDS.
67
id of
and
eries
from
3gree
reat
nres
wed
hem-
reat
religious system which held undivided sway in
that part of the countr}^
The people all appeared happy and contented,
and their courtesy never failed, so that the boys
began to feel their inherited contempt for every-
thing French weakening considerably under the
influence of this new experience. As Arthur
bluntly expressed it :
" They're not a bad lot at all, these Canadian
frog-eaters, are they, Bruce ? I don't mind owning
up that I'm getting to like them better than I ever
thought I could."
To which frank admission Bruce gave his assent
in his own temperate way.
The curious names of some of the places they
passed through amused them greatly, and they
made zealous efforts to master the pronunciation
of such puzzlers as Lachevrotiere, Yamachiche,
Maskinonge, Lanoraie, and Sault-aax-Recollets.
Now and then they acceptc-d the offer of a
" lift " extended by some one driving in the same
direction, and they always managed to make some
village before dark where there was a hotel in
which accommodation could be had for the night.
In this way they came to Montreal, entering the
city from the east end and availing themselves of
the tram-cars to reach the Windsor Hotel, at which
Mr. Gillespie had advised them to put up.
They were not a little surprised at the size and
splendor of the Canadian city, whose crowded
y
68
THE BOY TRAMPS.
'i' I'
(i;
streets, lined with great buildings for business, or
handsome homes, reminded them of the big cities
of the Mother Land.
" We must stay here some days," said Arthur.
" There'll be lots to see, I'm sure."
" Yes, indeed," responded Bruce. '' It Avill be
quite a treat, too, after the country life we've been
having. We must liunt up our boxes and things
as soon as possible, and get on some fresh clothes.
I'm beginning to feel frowsy; aren't you?"
Arthur did not take as much thought for his
appearance as his chum did, but he liked to look
well all the same, and was no less eager than the
other to regain the baggage from which they had
parted at Quebec.
Not knowing just how to accomplish their object
they determined on seeking out Mr. Gillespie.
There was no difficulty about this, he being so well
known in the city, and the welcome they received
on entering his office showed that they had made
no mistake in taking him at his word :
"And so here you are at last," he exclaimed,
smiling cordially and grasping a hand of each.
"You've been so long on the way that I was be-
ginning to wonder if something had happened,
and to think quite seriously of making some
inquiry about you. Sit down now and tell me
what you've been up to since you left us at
Quebec."
Whereupon the boys gave between them a full
THROUGH THE RAPIDS.
69
led,
icli.
be-
led,
)me
me
at
Ifull
and spirited account of their various adventures
that i\Ir. Gillespie enjoyed keenly, the shooting of
the rooster especially tickling him.
" Ah, ha I " he laughed, throwing himself back
in his chair. " That was certainly a great shot,
Arthur, and well worth the dollar it cost you.
There's a nuisance of a rooster somewhere near
my place that I wish you'd treat in the same
way."
Having been told of their difficulty about getting
their things, Mr. Gillespie at once put that matter
right by despatching a clerk to have them taken
to the hotel, and then insisted that they should
dine with him that evening, saying i .at he would
send his carriage for them.
Mr. Gillespie's was one of the finest residences
on the mountain-side, and the elegance and lux-
ury of its appointments gave his young guests sen-
sations of surprise that they found some difficulty
in politely concealing, the truth being that they
had not expected to find in Canada, a country of
which their notions were still very vague, such
tokens of wealth and refinement as now sur-
rounded them.
So home-like was the atmosphere of the house
that they were not long in becoming entirely at
their ease, and spent a delightful evening, whose
hours slipped all too quickly.
Among the members of the family were two
boys much about their own age, and the next few
If
3
70
THE BOY TRAMPS.
days were devoted to seeing the lions of Montreal
under their guidance.
A noisy, merry quartet they made as they visited
the docks crowded with steamers and other ship-
i)ing; climbed the towers of Notre Dame ; made a
pilgrimage of the catliedrals and principal churches;
and explored the highways and byways of the
Mountain Park.
It was while on one of these tramps through the
park that they rendered a timely service which
caused them to be the heroes of the hour.
The four boys had been playing a game of foUow-
my-leader, and Bruce and Arthur had become
separated from the other two. Being somewhat
weary from their exertions they were resting for
a few minutes on a rock by the roadside when
they heard the sharp clatter of hoofs approach-
ing at no ordinary rate, and rising above them
the shrill screams of a terrified woman.
" That's a runaway, sure," cried Arthur, spring-
ing to his feet; and he had hardly spoken before
there came around the bend of the road above
them a light carriage containing two ladies, and
drawn by a pair of large ponies, both as black as
night.
The ponies had taken fright at something, and
were coming down the road at full gallop, their
heads stretched out at full length, and their hoofs
fairly spurning the ground.
The ladies, having in some way lost the reins,
THROUGH THE itAPIDS.
71
: as
ms,
which trailed at the ponies' lieels, were crouching
helplessly on the seat, one having her face buried
in her hands as though to shut out the danger, the
other with wide-staring eyes and ashen face, look-
ing straight ahead as she uttered shriek after
shriek with the full force of her lungs.
"Now then, Arthur," exclaimed Bruce, darting
across the road so as to be opposite his companion,
"you take one horse and I'll take the other."
He had just spoken when the ponies were be-
fore them, and the boys in the same instant sprang
for their heads.
Being thus assailed on right and left both
ponies tried to swerve, and the simultaneous " shy "
caused them to crush against one another with the
result of compelling a momentary stumble, and
breaking of their furious pace. Of this the boys
did not fail to take full advantage, and, holding
hard upon the bridles, they dragged at tlie animals'
heads until at last their weight told, and the pair
were brought to a stand-still only a few feet short
of a declivity, to have gone over which would have
inevitably entailed injury, if not death, to some
members of the quartet.
As it was, no harm had come to any one, not
even the ponies being the worse for their escapade
beyond being badly blown, while the ladies were
soon sufficiently recovered to be able to express their
lively gratitude to their timely rescuers.
It was while this was being done that the Gilles*
J
72
THE BOY TRAMPS.
pie boys came up, and, having the acquaintance
of the hidies, were able formally to present Bruce
and Arthur, wliich made matters still more pleasant.
The disturbed state of their nerves not permit-
ting the ladies to resume their drive, the Clillespie
boys volunteered to take the now subdued ponies
home, while Bruce and Arthur escorted the ladies
thither on foot ; and although the two chums had
not hitherto had much op])ortunity to cultivate
feminine society, nevertheless they managed to
acquit themselves very well indeed, and at the
conclusion of the walk were most cordially invited
to call at their first opportunity.
The story of their daring feat soon spread
through the city, and for the first time in their
lives they found themselves subjects for newspaper
notice. Ingenious reporters interviewed them,
and put in their mouths many things they had not
said at all, and wliat purported to be their por-
traits, but looked far more like two choice selec-
tions from the Rogues' Gallery, appeared in an
enterprising evening paper.
Arthur rather liked this notoriety, but to Bruce
it was quite displeasing. He preferred being
allowed to go on in his own way, and although
Arthur sent copies of all the papers to his father,
Bruce mentioned the matter so briefly in a letter
to his father that one might have supposed such an
event was a comparatively common occurrence.
Mr. Gillespie was so delighted at his young
THROUGH THE RAPIDS.
:ter
an
mg
friends' exploit that he gave a grand dinner-party
in honor thereof, to which, of course, the two
Ladies were invited, and their rescuers had a fine
time receiving the attentions of admiring friends.
The (jtlier great event of tlieir slay in Montreal
was tlie passage of the Lachine Kapids. Tliese
rapids, which are in the St. Lawrence Kiver a few
miles ahove the city, are usually passed in large
steamhoats which make the trip every day during
the summer. Hut occasionally a more exciting
and dangerous method is possible, and it was of
this the boys had an experience.
They had gone up to Lachine in company with
the Gillespie boys to pass the day at that charm-
ing summer suburb of the city, ami after a jolly
morning spent in canoeing and bathing, and a
hearty lunch at the hotel, they were lounging about
on the long pier down which the railway ran to
meet the steamers, when their attention was at-
tracted by a stalwart Indian who was talking
earnestly to a group of men in the shade of the
station.
He was such a splendid specimen of humanity
that even if he had not been an Lidian, Bruce and
Arthur would have wanted to have a good look at
him, but when in answer to their inquiry Jack
Gillespie replied, " That man? oh, that's Big John,
the Caughnawaga Indian, who used to pilot the
steamers through the rapids," their interest was
aroused to the highest pitch.
W
w
74
THE BOY TRAMPS.
\[
They had, it is true, seen some Indians on the
way up from Quebec, particularly at Lorette, but
none of tliem compared with Big John, and although
his dress was much like that of the men with
whom he was talking, still there was sullicient of
the red man in it to make it appropriate to its dusky
wearer.
Moved more by the desire to get close to the man
than curiosity to hear what he was saying, Arthur
drew near tlie group, and soon gathered the purport
of his talk.
It seemed that he proposed to undertake one of
the trips through the rapids for whicli he was re-
nowned, that afternoon, provided lie could get
enough passengers to make it worth while, and he
was trying to persuade two of those who were lis-
tening to go with him.
As soon as Arthur understood this he became
fired with a thrilling idea, and, without waiting to
consult the others, spoke it out boldly :
" Would you take us boys with you ? " he asked,
standing in front of Big John, and looking up
eagerly into his face.
" To be sure, young gentleman, I would, if you
pay rae."
" And does it cost very much ? " Arthur inquired,
hoping that no exorbitant amount would be named.
Big John glanced across to where the other boys
were, and, indicating them with a nod of his head,
asked :
ii!
TlIllOlKlIT Till': RAPIDS.
75
:ed,
up
^ou
:ed,
^ed.
joys
]ad,
"Tliey all come ? "
Arthur uow felt it uecessary to consult the
others, and so he called them over to see what thej
would say. Big John's terms were ten dollars io'
the four. Bruce thought it too much to pay, hut
he was overruled by the Gillespies, who welcomed
the notion cordially; and Big John succeeding in
persuading two of the men to go also, they paying
another ten dollars, the party was made up, and
the Indian pilot said he would be ready to start at
three o'clock.
Sharp at the appointed time he appeared in a
large boat of the kind locally known as a lumber-
man's bonne. A craft more admirably adapted for
the difficult and dangerous undertaking could
hardly be built. Full twenty-live feet in length,
with sharply slanting bow and stern, sloping sides,
and broad, flat bottom, put together in the strongest
possible fashion, and having a crew of four swarthy,
sinewy Indians from the village opposite, each
holding a short, heavy, ash oar, wdiile Big John
towered on the stern wielding a huge paddle as
tall as himself, the whole outfit was certainly
well calculated to inspire confidence, and the four
boys leaped on board without a twinge of appre-
hension.
Pushing out from the pier the boat, urged on-
ward by the quick strokes of the oarsmen, rounded
the projecting arm of the pier, and at once began
to feel the touch of the mighty St. Lawrence, the
U
76
THE BOY TRAMPS.
current at that point having a speed of more than
six miles an hour.
As they shot down with it towards the superb
arch of the Canadian Pacific Railway cantilever
bridge, and darted beneath its widest part, the
water around them bes^an to break into swirls and
to bubble up as though rising from springs at the
bottom.
It was of a light-green tint, like aquamarine, and
looked very pretty and enticing, so that Arthur,
who felt greatly exhilarated by his novel surround-
ings was moved to say :
"Wouldn't I like to have a swim in that water!
It looks just like the ocean."
" Ah, my brave boy," said one of the gentlemen
who was sitting beside him, " if you went in
there you'd never come out alive."
" I suppose not," replied Arthur. " But it does
look tempting, doesn't it ? "
The nearer they drew to the rapids, the more
swiftly the boat moved, yet the men did not cease
rowing. Big John, alert, watchful, quick, and
strenuous of command and action, looked like a
king, with the sharp-peaked stern for a throne, and
the boys gazed now upon the bubbling, speeding
waters, and now upon him, with feelings of unre-
served admiration.
He spoke to his crew in their native tongue, so
that just what he said could not be gathered, ex-
cept from the manner in which it was obeyed.
THROUGH THE RAPIDS.
11
The rowers never turned their heads, but, with
their eyes fixed on the pilot, pulled hard upon the
right or left, according to command.
Presently the roar of the rapids broke loudly on
the ear, and the snow-white foam that capped the
great billows showed clea' \j in front.
"It looks very dreadful, doesn't it?" said Jack
Gillespie, pressing close to Bruce, who, with calm
face and steady eye, was gazing ahead, trying to
make out what the course would be through that
wild welter of waters.
" It does that," responded Bruce. " But Big
John has often been through it before, you know."
Arthur, recking nothing of the risk, could hardly
keep still on the thwart for very delight. The
only thing that could have added to his happiness
would have been to exchange places with Big
John, provided, of course, he were equal to the
situation.
Just before the heart of the rapids was reached
a lanre island divided the river into two branches,
and an inexperienced voyager would certainly
have turned into the left branch, the commotion of
the water being manifestly much milder there than
in the right branch.
But it was towards the latte^ that Big John
pointed the boat, and not only so, but directly
into that part where the billows leaped highest
and the foam was whitcbt.
Here the arrowy stream was opposed by two tiny
w
rs
THJ^ BOY TRAMPS,
islets, one, indeed, being little more than a huge
bowlder, and right between these and the rock-
guarded shore of the large island the honne was
headed.
" Now, boys, hold tight on to the gunwale, and
don't mind being splashed a bit," said one of the
gentlemen. " We'll be into the thick of it in a
minute."
Big John took no more notice of his passengers
than if they had not been there. His whole atten-
tion was absorbed in the thrilling task he had in
hand.
Borne as lightly as though it were a mere chip
on the back of a great mass of water plunging
downward, the heavy boat poised for an instant at
the edge of the first fall, and then dived straight
into the smother of foam.
The boys did not only hold fast to the gunwale,
they held their breath likewise, and their hearts
seemed to them to stop beating in the supreme
excitement of that moment.
Stout and strong as the boat had appeared when
beside the pier, it seemed a mere cockle-shell now,
when in the grasp of the Lachine Rapids.
The water roared, and whirled, and billowed,
and foamed all around them, and to their eyes
no way out of the seething turmoil presented
itself.
But a few sharp orders from Big Jolin, half a
dozen quick, powerful strokes of the oars, siipple-
THROUGH THE RAPIDS.
79
at
'\
merited by the huge paddle in the pilot's brawny
hands, and the boat emerged from the first watery
chaos unharmed and ready for a tussle with the
next.
There was a brief space of quieter water, and
then another deep dip, after whicli came a wild
whirl[)0()l at the side of a great mass of rock whose
top had been worn smooth by the incessant dash
of the waves over it.
Just beyond this the boat took a sudden swerve
as if it had for a moment escaped from the steers-
man's control, and the bow struck a hidden rock
with a startling shock tliat sent a thrill through
the hearts of the six passengers.
" We've struck bottom ! " cried Jack Gillespie,
and moved by a common impulse all four boys
turned to look into Big John's face.
Not a trace of alarm or concern did it manifest.
The Indian seemed as impassive as the Sphinx, and
in response to a curt command the rowers gave two
fierce tugs at the oars that fairly lifted the l)oat
over the obstruction, and off she darted again like
a living creature.
" Hurrah, we're clear again ! " shouted Arthur,
clapping his hands in expression of his : elief, while
Bruco's face lit up with a smile. " We'll soon be
through now, won't we ? "
There was not much more of the rapids left, and
they shot throigh them without mishap, reaching
the still water b dow, a little splashed with spray,
80
THE BOY TRAMPS.
but otherwise bearing no sign of their exciting
experience.
Bruce had not spoken during the passage, but
when it was (jver he went up to Big John and said
in his lieartiest manner:
'* It has been a splendid trip, and I've enjoyed
it more than I can tell you. I hope you'll always
have as good luck as you've had with us."
Big John looked much elated, for, although he
performed the feat every year, still the 2)leasure
of success had not yet lost its edge, and he took
an honest pride in the skill for which he stood
alone.
" That's all right," he replied, his bronzed
features losing their tense expression and relaxing
into a smile. " You like it very much? You tell
plenty people come too — eh ? "
Bruce laughed as he answered, " Oh, yes, I'll tell
my friends, but most of them .vould have a long
way to come."
The talk now became general as the boat glided
on past Laprairie and Nun's Island, under the
great tube of the Victoria Bridge, and across the
harbor to the canal dock, where the passengers
took leave oi Big John and his crew, and the boys
then made ^heir way back to the hotel.
They spent that evening at Mr. Gillespie's dis-
cussing their plans for the future. Encouraged by
the success that had upon the whole attended their
tramp from Quebec, Arthur was anxious to con-
THROUGH THE RAPIDS.
81
.41
in-
tinue it along the line so far as practicable, and
Bruce offered no strong objection.
But Mr. Gillespie said it was out of the question
for them to walk any farther than Ottawa, as beyond
that the Canadian Pacific Railway ran for the most
part through a wilderness until it reached Winni-
peg, when the great prairies begin.
" Well, then," said Arthur, " let us walk to
Ottawa, ride on the cars as far as Winnipeg, and
then \valk the rest of tlic way, or as much of it as
we feel inclined to, at all events. Do you agree to
that, Bruce ? "
" Yes, that seems fair enough," assented Bruce.
" If you are determined upon that, tlien," said Mr.
Gillespie, " Til go with you to see the authorities
at the head office of the railway, and have it so
arranged that you can take the train wherever
you like."
" Oh, that will be splendid ! " exclaimed Arthur ;
" for you know we may get tired of tramping, and
it will be jolly to be able to take the cars at the
next station if we feel like it."
Accordingly the next morning they went witli
Mr. Gillespie to tlie chief offices of the railway at
Windsor Station, and as luck would have it they
encountered the president himself in one of the
corridors.
Mr. Gillespie, who knew him well, at once ac-
costed him, and hastened to explain the purpose of
his visit, at the same time introducing the two boys.
82
THE BOY TRAMPS.
The president, who was a man of large and ini'
posing presence, with a strong, handsome face,
regarded the boys in silence for a moment, and
then with an amused chuckle said :
" They'll soon get sick of tliat notion, but there's
no objection to their trying it. I'll fix things up
for them the way you want. Just come into my
office and I'll have it attended to."
The boys had idready heard a good deal of this
wonderful man who had worked up from the post
of telegraph clerk to tlie presidency of one of the
greatest railway systems in the world, and tliey
watched liim with mingled feelings of awe and
admiration as lie disposed with lightning speed of
a lot of business awaiting liis attention, and then
took their affair in hand to deal with it in the
space of a minute by some brief directions to a
clerk who came in response to the pressure of an
electric button.
After a few minutes' waiting the boys found
themselves provided with an unlimited stop-over
ticket without extra charge, and also some im-
portant letters to the officials along the line, in-
structing them to give the young travellers due
CL ^rtesy and assistance whenever required.
Having duly thanked the president for his kind-
ness, and received his best wishes for a pleasant
and prosperous journey, the boys took themselves
off, too full of admiration for the great man who
had thus shown his interest in them to feel at all
rn ROUGH THE RAPIDS.
83
hurt at his scepticism as to their sticking to their
program.
" He thinks we'll not hold out long," said Arthur ;
" but he doesn't know us, does he, Bruce ? "
" We'll not give in until we have to, anyway,"
responded Bruce, who was now as heartily com-
mitted to the undertaking as his chum.
" The experience will do you no harm, boys,"
said Mr. Gillespie, " and you're sure to have more
adventures than you would if you went in the
ordinary way. But I hope you won't be in any
hurry to leave us. We have not begun to get tired
of you yet."
" Then this is the time we ought to go," an-
swered Bruce, " while our welcome is still fresh,
and then you'll be glad to see us again if we ever
come this way."
" Oh, you'll never lack for a welcome so long as
I am in Montreal," returned Mr. Gillespie ; " and
you must take some letters to friends of mine in
Ottawa and Winnipeg, so that you may have a
good time at these places."
" There's one thing I'd like to do before I leave
Montreal," interjected Arthur, whose mind was
ever busy devising fresh adventures.
" And what may that be, Sir Venturesome ? "
asked Mr. Gillespie, smiling on him iiidulgently.
" Why, sir, it's to walk across the river on top
of the Victoria Bridge," replied Arthur. " I sup-
pose lots of people have done it already."
y
84
THE BOY TRAMPS.
Mr. Gillespie gave a whistle of surprise, and
regarded his young friend with a look of ad-
miration.
" Upon my word," he exclaimed, " you are
enterprising, and no mistake. Here I've lived in
Montreal since before that bridge was built, and
such a notion never entered my mind. Indeed, I
don't know of anybody but the workmen being
allowed on top of the bridge."
" Oh, yes, sir," spoke up Arthur eagerly, " other
people have walked across. I was told about it
yesterday, and they say it isn't so hard to do."
"All right, my boy, I'll make some inquiry,"
said Mr. Gillespie. " I am well acquainted with
the chief engineer, and if there's no objection to
your trying it I will arrange with him about it."
" Oh, thank 3'ou, sir," cried the boys together,
for Bruce, as soon as Arthur propounded the
scheme, had given it a warm welcome in his mind.
Mr. Gillespie kept his promise promptly, as was
his wont, and that evening was able to inform the
boys that the chief engineer would allow them to
cross the bridge the following morning in charge
of one of the workmen.
Jack Gillespie was very anxious to be allowed
to accompany them, but his father would not con-
sent, fearing that the boys might get larking to-
gether, and have an accident of some kind.
At the hour appointed the boys went down
to the bridge, armed with a note from the chief
i
THROUGH THE RAPIDS,
85
»>
:
engineer of the Grand Trunk Railway, and were
met by one of the foremen of the re[)air-shops,
who was to be their guide, lie had a pleasant, in-
telligent countenance, and seemed quite to enjoy
the taking the boys in charge and spending the
morning with them, instead of in the grimy shop
at his dreary round of toil.
" You'll have to be careful, sirs," said he as
they walked towards the entrance to the bridge.
"There's a bit of a breeze this morning, and you'll
feel it pretty strong when you're out in the
middle."
" Oh, we'll be careful," they answered. " We'll
not let the breeze blow us away."
It was quite an undertaking getting on top
of the huge tube which spanned the great river,
but the boys made light of it, and were soon stand-
ing high above the rushing stream, and able to
command an unbroken view of the city and its
picturesque surroundings.
But they had no eyes for this prospect, fine as it
was. Their whole attention was absorbed by the
wonderful roadway of wrought iron that stretched
before them for the space of almost two miles,
curving slightly in its course from the northern to
the southern shore of the St. Lawrence.
" Wouldn't it be grand to ride across on a bi-
cycle ? " said Arthur.
" Yes, and be blown into the river before you'd
got half-way across," responded Bruce. " No,
i-^\
86
THE BOY TRAMPS.
thank you, no bicycle for me. We'll find it
quite enough of a job to get across on our feet."
Bruce was right enough in this, for the farther
out they went the more they felt the force of the
wind, which did not blow steadily, but in gusts that
tugged hard at the boys' hats as if determined to
carry them off their heads.
Pushing ahead with careful, steady steps they
reached the middle of the bridge, and there rested
for a while to look up and down the river, and wait
for the passing of the Laprairie ferry-steamer that
was passing up against the heavy current.
The steamer seemed almost at a stand-still so
sturdily did the stream oppose her advance, and
when she came to the central span the boys might
have leaped upon her deck far below had they
cared nothing for the consequences.
They were lying flat upon their chests and
looking down at the people on board when a
sudden gust caught Bruce's hat from off his
head, and sent it sailing through the air like a
bird.
Slanting this way and that it flew downwards
until with a big swoop it fell plump into the lap of
a lady passenger sitting on the upper deck, who,
startled by the unexpected donation, gave a wild
shriek, and tumbled over backwards, to the great
consternation of the other passengers.
" Oh, my hat ! " groaned Bruce ; too much con-
cerned at the loss of his head-gear to appreciate
THROUGH THE RAPIDS.
87
the ludicrous scuiiu on board the steamer. "How
can I get it again?"
" I guess you'll have to let it go," said the fore-
man ; "you can get another over at St. Lam-
bert's."
" I suppose there's no help for it," siglied JJruce.
" I'm sorry it scared that lady so badly."
" What a yell she did give ! " said Arthur ; '' you
could hear it away up here as plainly as if you
were right beside her. I wondtir has she got over
her fright yet."
Crossing to the other side they looked over and
saw that the lady was still in the hands of lier
friends, while a big red-faced man, presumably her
husband, seeing them above him, shook his fist at
them angrily, as though he considered that the
hat had been thrown down on purpose.
" He evidently imagines I did it for a lark," said
Bruce ruefully ; " he doesn't know how glad I'd
be to have my hat back again."
There was no possible chance of that, however,
so, tying his handkerchief on his head, he made the
best of the situation, and the three resumed their
lofty promenade.
In spite of the breeze, which bothered tliem not
a little, the boys were enjoying their novel experi-
ence very much when the foreman's hat blew off
his head, and in making a quick spring to recover
it he tripped upon a projecting bolthead and fell
forward with such violence as to be rendered in-
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vith his mouth open so
as to show his long, white teeth and to give forth
a deep, hoarse, growling bark.
The moment Arthur's eyes fell on the creature
he conceived an intense dislike to him, he was
so repulsive in appearance and seemed so rfct*.^y
for mischief.
" You ugly brute ! " he exclaimed, stopping to
look right into the dog's face, " you ought to be
killed on sight for being such a fright.'
Of course the animal did not understand his
words, but it really seemed as if it must have
read aright the contemptuous expression of his
countenance, for as Arthur finished speaking it
gave a fierce bark that was almost a roar, and
sprang over the gate, with hair bristling and fangs
protruding ominously.
Now, neither of the boys had had the slightest
idea of provoking an attack. They were simply
amusing one another with comments upon what
they saw, and Arthur was completely taken aback
\
i^i
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92
THE BOY TRAMPS.
when he found this dangerous-looking customer
bearing down upon him.
But he had no idea of being put to flight, never-
theless. In his hand he held a stout oak walking-
stick with which Mr. Gillespie had thoughtfully
presented him, and, swinging this over his shoulder,
he met the dog's onset with a blow on his head
that knocked him off his feet.
Like a flash the infuriated creature recovered
himself and sprang at Arthur's throat before the
boy, not suspecting so quick a return, could put
himself on guard again. He missed the boy's
throat, but caught him at the shoulder, and might
have inflicted a serious bite had not Bruce grasped
him at the neck with both hands and throttled him
until he dropped to the ground limp and power-
less.
" Now, then, let us run for it," said Bruce, "be-
fore the brute gets his breath again, or his master
finds out what's going on."
So off they started full pelt, and did not pull up
until they had put a couple of hundred yards
behind them. Then, as there was no sign of pur-
suit from dog or man, they stopped to get their
breath, and to see the extent of Arthur's injuries.
Fortunately they were not at all serious, the
dog's teeth not having penetrated the sleeve of his
coat, and making only blue bruises without draw-
ing blood.
" You've been more frightened than hurt, Arthur,
PERILS AND PLEASURES.
98
this time," said Bruce, with a sigh of relief ; then
adding, with a smile, " But you mustn't call the
dogs hard names again, they've evidently got very
tender feelings in this country."
" So it seems," laughed Arthur. "That fellow
gave me a regular scare. I never thought he was
coming at me until he jumped. You just stopped
him in time, I tell you, my boy, for he was hurting
awfully," and he rubbed his shoulder to ease the
pain.
" It can't be much fun stealing apples if all the
farmers keep dogs like that," said Bruce. " I won-
der how the rascal feels now. He won't forget
the choking I gave him for a while."
Keeping on steadily after this little excitement
they passed Sault-aux-Recollets, where they had a
chance to admire the noisy rapids of a branch of
the Ottawa river, and to wish that Big John was
at hand to take them through in his big boat.
Two miles beyond was St. Martin Junction, where
they halted for dinner and a rest, having made
twelve good miles since starting out.
That afternoon they spent in the society of the
saints, or rather of the pretty little French villages
which had been named in their honor, proceed-
ing from St. Martin to Sainte Rose, from Sainte
Rose to Sainte Therese, and from Sainte Theresa
to Saint Augustin, which place they reached just
before dark, and there remained for the night, find-
comfortable quarters in a diminutive hotel.
c
mg
94
THE BOY TRAMPS.
A
:'i:i
From Sainte Rose their road had followed the
northern bank of the Ottawa, of which broad
stream they were continuously getcing charming
views as it rolled onward to the St. Lawrence,
bearing man}^ steamboats, lumber barges, and rafts
of timber upon its brown bosom, and the beauti-
ful river was their companion throughout the re-
mainder of their tramp.
Leaving Saint Augustin bright and early, they
resolved not to stop until they had got to Lachute,
some seventeen miles ahead, and by dint of very
close attention to business they accomplished their
object. Their route lay through narrow but well-
tilled farms, mostly given to dairy products, and
they met or passed many people with pleasant,
contented faces who always nodded or smiled in a
friendly way. Some, indeed, who were driving and
who had room in their wagons invited the boys to
jump in, but they declined with thanks, as they
wanted to do the whole distance on foot.
Lachute they found to be a flourishing town
with huge paper-mills utilizing the abundant water-
power, which they spent an hour in visiting, and
were highly interested by the various processes
which turned a block of wood into a roll of paper.
An afternoon's hard walking, aided by a lift in a
wagon for several miles, brought them to Grenville
in good time for tea, and they spent a pleasant
evening there watching the rapids which at that
place break the course of navigation, rendering a
1
t 'i:
PERILS AND PLEASURES.
96
mt
lat
canal necessary in order that steamers may pass
up and down.
Here they saw for the first time a raft of square
timber. It had come down from the liead-waters
of the Ottawa, and was manned by a stalwart tawny
crew of Indians, half-breeds, and French Canadians,
who, the day's work being over, were free to in-
dulge their fondness for song, and dance, and bois-
terous laughter.
Being anxious to have a good look at these
raftsmen the boys asked if they might go on
board the big raft, and, receiving a hearty assent,
joined the group of men around the "caboose,"
where the great fire of logs lit up their swarthy
faces, and was reflected in their flashing eyes.
They were singing one after another of tlieir
river songs, and very pleasant it was to lisien
to them, as their rich and soft, though untrained,
voices, now in solo and now in full chorus, rendered
these quaint chansons which had been handed
down through generations.
Both Bruce and Arthur loved music, and they
keenly enjoyed this curious open-air concert with
its pict iresque surroundings. The men were evi-
dently well pleased to have them as listeners,
although they made no attempt to enter into con-
versation with them.
After several songs had been given and liberally
applauded one of the men produced a fiddle, and
drew from it merry strains of music that would
1 'i
9'3
THE BOY TRAMPS.
have set the toes of an auld kirk elder tapping.
No sooner liad he begun to play than a handsome
young half-breed stepped out from tlie circle, and
began dancing in a graceful fashion, snapping his
fingers, and giving a shout from time to time by
way of emphasis.
After he had fuiished, the foreman of the gang
of raftsmen, a ruddy-haircul, freckle-faced Scotch-
man, a[)proach(»d the boys and said in a courteous
tone of invitation :
" Maybe ye can sing or dance a bit yerselves ? "
Bruce shook his head with a smile of denial,
but Arthur, whose pulses had been stirred by the
moving music, asked :
"Would one of our school songs do you ? "
" Ay, to be sure," responded the big Scotch-
man heartily. " We'll be much obliged for the
same."
" Come on, then, Bruce," said Arthur. " Let us
give them a song."
Bruce at first shrank from attempting it, but
Arthur urged him strongly, arguing that it would
be only civil, seeing how hospitably they had been
received; so in the end he consented, and they
sang a couple of glees that went very well indeed,
and were lustily applauded.
Then Arthur, who was in great spirits, gave his
companion a start by asking :
" Can any one play Scotch music ? My chum
can dance the fling and sword-dance splendidly."
\
PERILS AND PLEASURES.
97
in
us
m
"What nonsense!" exclaimed Bruce, blushing
furiouyly. " Don't pay any attention to him."
But the foreman's face liad brightened at the
question, and snatching the fiddle out of the hands
of the man wlio had been playing, he cried :
" Play Scotch music, is it ? Maybe I'm your
man for that," and at once the fiddle broke forth
into the liveliest kind of a lilt, whereupon Arthur
shoved Bruce out into the middle of the circle,
saying :
" Foot it featly now, my boy."
Somewhat hesitatingly at first Bruce began the
dance, but as the inspiring strains fired his blood,
he put more and more vigor into his movements
until he seemed the very incarnation of energy,
the Scotchman urging him on with encouraging
shouts of enthusiastic approval until he could
dance no more, and was fain to throw himself upon
a big timber, completely blown.
A perfect storm of applause greeted the per-
formance, and the delighted spectators were eager
for more ; but Bruce was not to be persuaded, and
to escape their importunities he bade them " Good-
night" and took himself off, Arthur following
reluctantly, for he would have liked to stay until
the j)arty broke up.
Instead of going direct to the hotel they walked
down the river bank some distance, the night being
bright and clear, and the swiftly rushing waters
very attractive. They had gone some little dis-
98
THE BOY TRAMPS.
tiince past the houses, and were about to retrace
their steps, when the shrill cry of a woman in
great fear came from the other side of a low hill.
'* What's that ? " exchiimed Arthur, looking at
Bruce as though he might have an answer ready.
'' It's a woman crying for help," answered Bruce.
" Let us go and see what's the matter."
They hurried over the hill, and on the other side
found a young girl struggling to free herself from
the grasp of a raftsman who was apparently
attempting to kiss her.
" Hi, there I stop that ! let the girl alone I "
shouted Arthur, his choler rising in an instant, and
rushing forward he caught the raftsman from be-
hind, making him loosen his grip of the girl, who
at once darted off without so much as saying
" Thank you."
Furious at this interference, the raftsman, who
was a sinister-looking half-breed, turned upon
Arthur with a horrible oath. But Bruce was too
quick for him. Putting out his foot he tripped
him cleverly, and as he fell prostrate, leaped upon
his back, pinning him to the ground.
As he did so Arthur noticed a long knife stuck
in a sheath and hanging at the raftsman's hip.
With a quick movement he drew it out, and when
the ruffian, throwing off Bruce, regained his feet,
lie found his other opponent facing him with the
keen blade.
Having had a sample of the strength of both
III !l
PERILS AND PLEASURES.
99
lO
)U
)n
he
th
lads, and being deprived of the weapon to which
he naturally resorted in a scuflle, the half-breed
decided that under the circumstances discretion
was the better part of valor, and after relieving
his feelings by a torrent of abuse, set off for the
raft, Arthur calling after him, "• If you want your
knife again, call at the hotel. We'll leave it there
for you."
Keeping a sharp eye on him to make suro that
he did not double on them, and attack thern 1. "
\0
«**!
uJ
^f->"^^
142
THE BOY TRAMPS.
One of Mr. Stewart's stories particularly im-
pressed them ; it gave them so vivid a conception
of what winter travel on foot in the northern wilds
of Canada meant.
" It was in the winter of 1874, and I had set out
from the post at Red Rock for Fort William on an
important piece of business which could not be
delayed. I had only one companion- a half-breed,
who was stupid enough to lame himself the first
day, and rather than be delayed, I sent him back
and pushed on alone, hoping to meet some Indians
who might keep me company. But not a living
soul did I meet, and I was still alone when night
came on. That night, before a blazing fire that
threw its light far out among the tall birches and
spruces, I thought I heard a noise of some one
coming. It could not be the wind ; there was
none now to stir the brandies. Soon the sound
ceased. Just as I was crediting it to my imagina-
tion, I heard it nearer and almost behind me. It
might be a stray Indian, who would keep me com-
pany for the night. But why should he not come
boldly into the firelight? And why should he
move from place to place beyond its rays ? Now
I heard the sound to my left, and was peering in
that direction when the snow was crunched more
distinctly, and I saw advancing two luminous balls
which seemed as large as eggs, and of prismatic
colors. Just then a log of the fire fell down, and a
fine blaze rose. There stood but a few yards
PADDLE AND PORTAGE.
143
nd
he
Ida
rda
away a great moose ! He gazed for a full miniito,
as if spellbound by the firelight.
" At a slight movement of mine he uttered some-
thing between a snort and a whistle, wheeled into
the dark woods, and I saw him no more. In my
loneliness I felt the loss of even the animal's com-
pany. The following morning I half-repented of
my resolution to go on alone, and was strongly
tempted to return to Red Rock ; but my pride would
not let me, and I started off. The course took me
to a lake of which I knew something, and I
diverged a little to have the advantage of travelling
on the ice down a long bay and outlet stream of
which I had heard from an Indian. The sun was
obscured all day, and yet I was so perfectly sure I
was right that I went along the rugged coast with-
out once consulting my compass. About four
o'clock in the afternoon I was astonished to liear
the sound of a water-fall. Pushing on I soon saw
the cloud of mists. Then I knew I was off my
course. The secret was that there were two out-
lets, and I had mistaken the smaller for the larger,
which begins five miles more to the north, and
flows to the falls on a course almost at right angles
to that which I had followed. Some distance above
the falls both streams unite in a long, deep rapid.
The island between this junction is lofty, with pre-
cipitous banks. As I ought to have been on the
north side, there was nothing for me to do but to
cross the river, or go back to the lake and follow
.aMSD
»
%
^
i! "' '
144
THE BOY TRAMPS.
the northerly outlet, or else strike out from the
lake and make a bee-line for the right trail. There
was no crossing below the falls, so far as I could
see, for the banks were high and precipitous. To
go back to the lake would be a dangerous loss of
time. But it appeared not impossible to cross so
narrow a stream at the brow of the falls. Ther^^
the spray and snow, advancing from each sia
during the winter, had formed an irregular ice-
bridge. In the centre it was narrowed to about
six feet wide — simply a mass of frozen foam and
spray. I had no choice but to venture on this or
retrace my steps. As either choice seemed abou ,
ec'ially desperate, I resolved to cross at all hazards.
" If the frail bridge should give way, no one would
know my fate unless I left some trace on the bank.
For that purpose I cut a large chip out of a birch,
and wrote on the white wood : ' Feb. 22, 1874.
I must cross this ice-bridge over these falls. If it
break, you know my fate and my name ' — which
I appended. Out on the bridge I went till I
reached the narrow place, which was about six feet
across. On its edge I loosened my pack and threw
my snow-shoes and satchel across. Next moment
I would have given the world to have them back
again. But now the die was cast. I must go on
or soon freeze. It was impossible for me to travel
without snow-shoes. With a pole to steady me I
advanced, with my heart in my mouth, to the nar-
row space of frozen foam. It seemed honeycombed
PADDLE AND PORTAGE.
145
har-
med
but hard. The roar of the Avater just beneath
scared me, and the sight of the chasm below the
falls made me giddy. I felt my feet crushing the
foamy mass ; but I dared not spring on the frail
structure. My only hope was in going on gently,
and subjecting it to no such shock as I should give
it by a jump. Then all was suddenly over — the
perilous place was passed in a few seconds — I was
safe ! Now, it seemed almost childish to have left
that message on the tree. I would have given a
good deal to be able to blot it out, but cross again?
No ! In adjusting my snow-slioe strings for the
rest of my journey, I missed my knife, but soon
remembered that I had put it in my satchel after
lunching. Turning out the contents of the satchel
1 found not only the knife, but two matches. I
fairly screamed with joy. Now I could rest instead
of tramping all night around some tree to keep my-
self warm. After a frugal supper I did rest well
before a great fire of branches that I wrested from
dead and living trees. To keep the fire smoulder'
ing till morning I hacked down a birch with my
tomahawk, cut it into three long lengths, and
* niggered ' these each into two by turning them
on the coals. Then I put them all on the fire and
lay down. On awakening I found three inches of
new snow on my blankets.
" But last night's embers still smouldered, and 1
soon blew them to a blaze. Again I breakfasted
alone, and resumed my lonely way over fallen tim-
!.l.
. f
J.'"':
146
THE BOY TRAMPS.
ber, hills, and rocks. About eleven o'clock that
morning I came to what looked like a river about
fifty yards wide. When I had nearly crossed it,
the ice became ' glare.' The water had appar-
entlv risen here over the first ice formed, and then
run along the bank till it swept away the snow,
had then been re-covered with ice, and had finally
receded, leaving a shell of ice. Here and there a
snag protruded
" I did not think from appearances that there was
deep water under the shell and near it, but as I
advanced I kept poking cautiously with my pole.
When I was not more than five yards from shore,
my right snow-shoe broke bodily through as if a
great bubble or mere scale of ice had been just
there. I had time to throw my weight on the
other foot, but there I was stuck. My right snow-
shoe had turned, and was held under the ice. I
tried every conceivable plan for extricating it, and
all in vain. I dare not try to kick my foot loose
from the snow-shoe, for if I lost it in the current I
could not travel farther. I dared not lean back to
loosen the strings, and so haul off the shoe, for
thus I might lose my balance on the left foot, and
plump down through the hole. I was wholly mis-
taken, too, as to the depth of the river ; by my
pole the water was nearly seven feet deep. If the
ice under my left foot should give way I was done
for. I dared not struggle, lest it should break
down. At the end of a quarter of an hour I was
III •■:
li ! ■
PADDLE AND PORTAGE.
147
n i
worse off than ever, for my left leg was weakening
with the strain I was at my wits' end, when a
way out of my peril suggested itself. There was a
small snag near, but it was just beyond my reach.
I could catch my tomahawk's head on the snag,
but not firmly, and I dared not pull with so slight
a hold, for fear of losing it and falling backward.
It occurred to me that I might chop away the ice
around the snag, and then pull it near enough to
clutch.
" In this I succeeded after many minutes' labor.
Now I could pull myself free, but dared not try
lest I should lose my snow-shoe. The hold I had
enabled me, however, to move my right foot, which
I did in every conceivable way, for perhaps ten
minutes. At last, when I had almost given up
hope, a lucky turn brought the shoe up edgewise,
and I carefully made my way ashore over the most
treacherous of ice. My right leg was wet nearly
to the knee, but the weather was not very cold.
I made a fire with my last match, warmed myself
well, and resumed my journey. Three hours of
precious daylight had been lost, but I managed to
reach the main dog-trail about sundown. There I
might have spent the moderate night even without
a fire, but my pluck was reenforced, and I resolved
to try for camp that night. There was a good
trail and a clear moon. The line might have gone
ahead about seven miles after I left it, I supposed.
But it seemed I had been on it for twenty miles,
; i
III'
iS""
I *
j«!
"IP"
■I
148
THE BOY TRAMPS.
when the trail led me on and off a long, narrow lake.
I was so tired that I felt that I could go little farther,
when I happened to see some patches in the snow.
Stooping, I found them to be bits of rabbits' fur,
and 1 knew some Indian wigwam was probably
near. Soon I came across new snow-shoe tracks
diverging from the trail. These I followed about
^lity yards and found the wigwam, banked up to
the middle with snow and cedar bark. A friendly
column of smoke rose up from the pointed roof
into the clear, moonlit air, and here I resolved to
sta}'^ for the night. I entered, with the everlasting
' booshoo ' as my salutation, and as the Indian eti-
quette demands, shook hands all round. There
were two big Indians making snow-shoes at one
side, and two squaws with an old one and two
papooses at the other. A bright fire blazed on the
' caboose,' with some ilat stones around it, on
which pieces of rabbits' flesh and beaver tail were
roasting. After the first salute no one took the
slightest notice of me.
" The men went on with their work and the three
squaws looked vacantly into the fire. I put off my
pack and satchel and sat for a while in solemn
silence. Then I took out two big plugs of to-
bacco, handed one to each of the men, and gave
my whole remaining stock of sugar and tea to one
of the squaws, whom I supposed to be the ' mis-
tress of the house.' This called out all round a
series of ' mequitches ' — thanks. Again there
PADDLE AND PORTAGE.
149
ree
my
mn
to-
ve
ne
is-
a
re
was long silence, after which the squaw to whom
I had presented the groceries rose silently and put
some water into a tin can with some tea from one
of the little bags I had given her. Then another
long silence. When the water boiled, she handed
me the can of tea and my little sugar bag, which,
after sweetening my tea, I returned to her with
the usual ^ mequitch.^ She then pointed to the
roast on the hot stones, and muttered ' Buckate '
— ' You are hungry.' I certainly was, but that
mess was too much for me, although I appreciated
her hospitality. I excused myself on some plea or
other, and ate instead the remainder of my cheese
with some biscuit and tea, dividing the remaining
biscuit between the two papooses. The wigwam
could not be much more than ten feet across, and
I was wondering how eight human beings could
find room to sleep in it, when one of the Indians
took his snow-shoes and went out. After a little
while he returned with some cedar brush, which he
laid down by me. Then in a low voice he drawled
out '•Nehagan ' — ' Your bed.' Rabbit-skin blankets
were then produced, and, without a word, each
Indian curled up for the night. So did I, and
slept like a top until late in the morning. I had
no difficulty in engaging one of the Indians to ac-
company me the rest of the way in consideration
of sundry pounds of tea and tobacco, which I was
glad enough to give him for his service."
With the conclusion of Mr. Stewart's thrilling
,^r
./
150
THE BOY TRAMPS.
1;
storj'', a very decided conviction came into the
boys* minds that, however pleasant might be tlie
life of a Hudson Bay official in the canoeing and
fiyhing season, it was not at all to be envied in the
long, cold winter of the north.
Mr. Stewart's business did not take long to trans-
act, and he was ready to go back the following
morniug. The boys would have very well liked to
stay longer at Poplar Post, but of course they said
nothing to that effect, allowing their regret at
leaving to find expression in their farewells to Mr.
Graham, who gave them a warm invitation to visit
him again.
The return trip was a much easier undertaking
than the going up, and there was a great deal
more fun for the boys. Once the Nepigon river
was entered the paddling became mere child's
play compared with the strenuous toil it had been
up-stream. Right out in mid-channel, courting
instead of dodging the current, the canoes glided
smoothly down the rippling waters, now swiftly,
now slowly, occasionally pausing to have a try at a
big trout in an eddy.
Many of the rapids that had to be laboriously
avoided by portages on the way up were run with-
out landing, and the paddlers got so in the spirit
of this exciting sport that they ventured upon try-
ing one that they had not been through before.
It was in two parts, the first rapid being intri-
cate and dangerous from sunken rocks and startling
:;li«l
ri M
PADDLE AND PORTAGE.
151
Ih-
ly-
ri-
passages through which only unerring skill sufficed
to steer the canoes.
Then came a wide, still pool, a sharp turn, and a
long, dark slope, with a white fringe at the bottom,
as to the meaning of which there could be no mis-
take.
The bowman in Mr. Stewart's canoe looked at
it with some dismay, but it was too late to draw
back. Whipping off his coat he quickly unwound
and regirded his sash, thus preparing for a swim
for life, if necessary. " Sit down low," he cried
warniiigly to Bruce, who had been up on the cross-
thwart, and who now instantly squatted down in
the centre of the canoe, feeling a tickling of his
midriff that was not altogether pleasant.
Glancing back at Arthur, whose canoe was just
behind, Bruce called out :
" How do you like tliis, Arthur?" and, nervous
as he felt himself, he could not help being amused
at seeing his chum sitting low in the canoe and
holding tight on to the sides with both hands as
though he was afraid of the thing slipping away
from underneath him.
" Keep a tight hold, Arthur," he cried, " we're
just coming to the worst of it."
Arthur, forcing a smile of indifference, contented
himself with replying by a nod, and the next in-
stant both canoes were glancing down the smooth
incline, like toboggans descending a slide, and
almost as swiftly.
f
1
.^fc
} J
152
THE BOY TRAMPS.
w
Anxious as they were «at the sight of the foam-
ing billows, the boys did not fail to enjoy this
curious coast, and their hearts thrilled with ex-
citement as, with paddles poised in air, the canoes
reached the great curls which lifted their crests
where the dark purple water broke into white.
" Here goes for it ! " Bruce said to himself, as
the canoe plunged right into the midst of the
wildly agitated waters, and a wave sprang aboard,
drenching the bowman to the skin.
For some moments it seemed as if the paddlers
had overestimated their ability, and the whole
party would pay the penalty of their rashness with
their lives. The light birch-bark structures were
tossed like chips from billow to billow, the spray
repeatedly breaking over their occupants so that
the boys were filled with fear.
But by dexterous mighty strokes the paddlers
won the day, and presently both canoes swung
safely into the eddy far below the fall.
" Very big water," was the pithy remark of one
of the half-breeds as he looked back at the great
white waves whose gauntlet had been so skilfully
run.
The remainder of the return trip was marked by
no special incident, but the boys enjoyed every
moment of it, and were quite sorry when their
arrival at Red Rock brought their canoeing ex-
perience to an end.
It fell out that they were in time to catch that
PADDLE AND Pi. ^"^ AGE.
153
by
JX-
day's train as it rolled in from the East, so they
made haste to do so, taking leave of Mr. Stewart
with many expressions of gratitude for the pleasure
he had afforded them.
The car in which they took their seats was so
precisely like the one in which they had ridden
from Ottawa to Nepigon, that they for a moment
looked around with the expectation of seeing some
familiar faces.
But instead of greetings they were met with
cold stares of curiosity, for in truth they presented
a rather odd appearance, their clothes heing a good
deal the worse for wear, and they themselves being
badly sunburned.
They did not mind being stared at, however, and
settled themselves down comfortably to talk over
the events of the past few days, and to make plans
for the future.
" Vv e ought to have some fine adventures walk-
ing across the prairies," said Arthur. " I'm quite
impatient to begin, aren't you? "
" I can't say that I am," responded Bruce, as he
stretched himself out on the cushions. " It's very
comfortable on board these cars, and we get over
the ground so fast."
" But you're not thinking of giving up the walk-
ing, are you?" Arthur asked in an anxious tone,
looking into his companion's face.
Bruce kept silence for a while as though medi-
tating on the matter, until Arthur, growing im-
I ,'
i
154
THI-: BOY TRAMPS.
patient for a reply, caught hold of his arm and
demanded witli eonsiderable tem})er in his tone :
" Answer me, Bruce I Do you want to back
out ? "
Now, it was not according to Bruce's nature to
back out of anytliing to wliich he had once fully
committed himself, unless it proved to be impracti-
cable or injudicious, and that Arthur should sug-
gest such a thing nettled him so that he retorted :
u Well — and what if I should ? "
In an instant Arthur's face was aflame, and,
making no pretence of controlling his voice, he
fairly shouted :
" If you do, I'll have nothing more to do with
you, and Til think you're too mean for anything ! "
It was the first time since their leaving Edin-
burgh together that they had had anything
approaching a falling out, and Bruce, not trusting
himself to re[)ly, for he was stung to the quick,
sprang from the seat and made his way to the rear
of the car, leaving Arthur in the seat, strangely
divided in feeling between anger at his chum's
behavior, and anxiety lest he should really have
it in mind to give up the walking across the prai-
ries, and perform the journey tamely in the viars
instead.
THE RACE WITH THE TRAIN.
15i
CHAPTER VIIT.
THE RACE WITH THE TRAIN.
Both Bruce and Arthur were liigh-spirited boys,
and as each thought the other was at fault their
pride prevented them from making overtures
toward a reconciliation, and they were still at
variance when the train reached Port Artliur.
Here Arthur jumped off to have a look at the
place that bore his own name, and having mis-
understood the porter's reply to his question as to
how long the train stayed there, strolled up the
street some distance, with his hands in his pockets.
Noticing some enticing candy in a confection-
er's window he stepped in to buy a pound of it,
intending to make it serve as the olive branch of
peace when he returned to the train.
The girl who served him was very slow in mak-
ing change of the note he offered in payment, and
on leaving the shop he was horrified to hear the
engine toot, and to see the train glide off without
lim.
He raced down to the station, shouting fran-
tically, but by the time he reached the platform
the trail, was a couple of hundred yards off, and
I '
il
UH
15^
THE BOY TRAMPS.
speeding away at a rate that precluded all possi-
bility of his overtaking it.
Out of breath from his effort, and overcome
with vexation, he threw himself down upon a
packing-case, and had hard work to keep himself
from bursting into tears.
" Well, if I'm not a duffer I " he exclaimed in
profound chagrin at what had happened. " What
did that black fellow mean by saying that we had
fifteen minutes to stay here, when the train didn't
wait more than five? I'd just like to punch his
woolly head for him. And what will Bruce think
when he finds out I'm not on the train? What
will he do, anyway? I wonder will he go on to
Winnipeg, and there wait for me to ca -ch ud to
him."
Just then, seeing the station-master coming
along the platform, Arthur went up to him, and in
a shamefaced manner — for he felt that he had
made a considerable fool of himself — told him the
plight he was in.
Much to his relief the station-master did not
seem to consider the case very serious.
" You and your friend weren't going any farther
than Winnipeg, you say ? " he responded. " Well,
there's not much harm done. He'll wait for you
there, and you can go on on to-morrow's train."
"Won't there be another train befor*^ to-
morrow?" exclaimed Arthur.
" Why, no," answered the station-master, smil-
THE RACE WITH THE TRAIN.
157
o
in
ad
the
tier
ill,
rou
to-
ing at his blank expression. " There's only the
one passenger train each way a day. But you'll
be all right liere. They'll make you very com-
fortable up at the hotel."
Convinced that there was notliing to do but
suffer patiently the consequences of his mistake,
Arthur went up to the hotel, and sat down on the
veranda to consider the situation, lie felt sure
that Bruce would be greatly disturbed on missing
him from the train, and at the tliought of his con-
cern all resentment against him vanished, and had
Bruce appeared at that moment Arthur wns ready
to rush to meet liim Avith open arms.
As he sat there moodily turning over these
things in his mind, a tall man with a wild Western
look dropped into the chair beside hmi, and, ele-
vating his feet to the railing, said in an easy,
drawling voice :
" Are you playin' a lone hand, young fellow, or
have you some partner in with you ? "
Only too glad in his loneliness to have some one
to talk w^ith, even though he was rather a strange-
looking customer, Arthur brightened up, and ex-
plained his position to his questioner.
The big man seemed to find it quite a joke, for
he laughed so heartily as to nettle xVrthur, who was
seeking for sympathy, not to be entertaining.
The man evidently noticed this, for he hastened
to say in a mollifying tone :
" Don't ye git riled, young fellow. I'm quick
iiM^
J
1 1'
168
THE BOY TRAMPS.
'
r'. ,v
!!! ii
; 1 1' •
on the laugh, I know, and it's kinder comical the
way you're fixed. But don't yc worry, you'll get
your partner all right again."
While they were talking a boy came up from
the station holding a yellow envelope, and seeing
them he called out :
"Do you know if Arthur Rowe is around
here?"
Arthur at once jumped to his feet, and re-
sponded eagerly, if not grammatically :
" That's me ! What do you want of me ? "
The boy was lazily climbing the steps without
troubling himself to make any reply, when Arthur,
overcome with impatience, and guessing that the
envelope was for him, sprang forward and snatched
it out of his hand.
Sure enough it was addressed to him, and, tear-
ing it open, he read this message :
" Fort William.
" I've got oflf here. Come along right away.
" Bruce Barclay."
Having no idea where Fort William might be,
Arthur handed the despatch to the man beside
him, saying:
" He tells me to go on to Fort William. Do
you know where that is?"
The big fellow had another laugh as he an-
swered :
I i M^
n
THE RACE WITH THE TRAIN.
159
)o
" About five miles clue west. That's where the
big elevators are."
" Five miles ! " echoed Arthur. " Is that all ?
Why, I'd think nothing of walking there, and " —
pulling out his watch i.nd consulting it — " I've got
lots of time. I'll start right away."
" Hold on, young fellow," said the man. " Don't
you think you'd better get your dinner first. It's
just about ready now, and if you don't mind
waiting till we've had our feed, I'll drive you over
to Fort William for the fun of the thing."
This proposition suited Arthur perfectly, and he
accepted it with grateful alacrity, for he was very
hungry, and the notion of a drive with his interest-
ing acquaintance was quite attractive.
Accordingly, after a comfortable dinner, which
he keenly relished, the two set off for Fort William
behind a horse of so fiery a spirit that Arthur
every moment expected him to jump clear out of
the harness.
He was a beautiful creature, as black and shiny
as a lump of coal ; and his stalwart owner was
evidently very proud of him, showing not the
slightest concern at his rearing and plunging, but
keeping a firm hand on the reins, and saying
soothingly :
" Easy now, Blackie, go easy, my beauty."
By the end of the first half-mile the horse came
more under control, and presently settled down to
a swift, steady trot that swept the light wagon
f:i
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160
THE BOY TRAMPS.
along at a delightful rate over the smooth, level
road.
" How does that strike you for a gait ? " asked
the driver in a tone of confident self-satisfaction.
Not having had time to recover his breatli, which
the alarming antics of the animal had quite taken
away, Arthur could only gasp out : " It's perfectly
splendid, sir ! "
" Right you are," responded ths man cordially.
" I guess you know a good horse when you see it."
Just then a freight train came tooting up behind
them, the two roads being not fifty yards apart,
and in full sight of each other.
The shriek of the engine and roar of tlie Lrain
proved too much for the iiigh-strung nerves of the
horse, and, with a sudden plunge, he darted off at
the top of his speed.
Strange to say, instead of showing any alarm,
the horse's owner, after uttering a good round
oath, said, in a tone that showed temper rather
than terror :
" They think they're mighty smart on that en-
gine ; but I'll put the laugh on them by showing
them the way to the station."
Then, instead of trying to hold in his horse, he
let the reins loose, and shouted to the flying
creature :
" Hit her up, Blackie, hit her up ! Show the
fools your heels."
The remainder of that ride Arthur will never
THE RACE WTTII THE TRAIN.
161
m-
^g
Ihe
ler
forget. The splendid animal, with outstretched
head, open mouth, and tossing tail, tore along the
road as madly as Tam O'Shanter's Meg flying
from the warlocks and witches, while his
owner, leaning forward till his face seemed in
danger from the flashing heels, kept encouraging
the straining brute with mingled oaths and words
of en^^earment.
It WcS a light wagon with a low seat, and sway-
ing and swerving as it was along the road, Arthur
had no little difficulty in keeping his place, although
lie held on to the seat for all he was worth.
But the excited driver gave him no heed, and
he did not dare to speak to him, he seemed so ab-
sorbed in urging his horse to the utmost.
Meanwhile the train was thundering on a little
distance behind, but gaining nothing, the driver
and fireman and the rest of the train crew watch-
ing the wagon with countenances betokening no
less surprise tlian admiration.
" What if we meet another team on the road ? "
Arthur asked himself with considerable perturba-
tion, and the thought had hardly passed through
his mind before a big country cart came into view
as they 3wung round a turn of the road.
" Surely he will pull up," murmured Arthur.
But no, the driver still let the reins hang loose,
and kept urging on the horse until it seemed as
if a collision were inevitable, wlieu, by a sharp
tug at the right rein, he turned aside just enough
Vv'
r*
162
THE BOY TRAMPS.
to pass without going into the ditch on the other
■side.
Arthur gave a great gasp of relief at this avoid-
ance of the danger, but no sooner was one peril
passed than another presented itself, for not far
ahead, lying at ease in the shade thrown across
the road by a large elm, was a cow, whose head
being turned away, was not aware of the approach
of the living thunderbolt.
" Heavens above I look at that cow ! " cried
Arthur, involuntarily making a grasp at the
reins.
The man shook him off roughly.
" Say, do you think I'm blind ? " he growled, and
kept straight on.
There seemed no possibility of avoiding a col-
lision, as the road was too narrow and too much
elevated to allow of both wheels keeping to it, and
the ditch on the left side was decidedly deep.
On dashed the horse, and before the cow,
sleepily chewing her cud, awoke to the situation,,
the right wheels struck her back, rose up over her,
and came down on the other side.
Arthur would assuredly have been pitched out
on his head had not the driver quickly thrown his
left arm around him and held him in his place, and
the next instant the wagon was whirling along
through the dust, while the astounded cow, rising
clumsily to her feet, stood still one moment in
sheer bewilderment, and then, with uplifted tail
THE RACE WITH THE TRAIN.
163
M<
lis
In
and tossing head, galloped down the road in wild
confusion.
Startled as he was, Arthur, looking back to see
how the unfortunate cow fared, could not help
breaking into a laugh at her panic, whereat the
man, evidently accepting it as a tribute to his skill
in the case, said in a complacent tone :
'' Pretty sharp bit of driving that, eh, sonny ?
It's got to be a tight place that I can't send
Blackie through, eh, my boy ? " and leaning over
the dashboard he actually succeeded in giving the
horse an affectionate pat on the hind-quarter.
The houses of Fort William now came into view,
and Arthur wondered if the man wouldn't moder-
ate his pace as he entered the town.
But not a bit of it. The freight train still
thundered along in the rear, and he was bound to
reach the station before it, so the wild flight was
maintained, until at last, with a great flourish, and
a big round oath to express his satisfaction, this
modern Jehu pulled up his panting, foaming steed
in front of the station a full hundred yards in ad-
vance of the train.
Who should be standing on the platform watch-
ing the performance with lively interest but
Bruce. The moment Arthur saw him he sprang
from the wagon, and running to him gave him a
regular hug, exclaiming :
" Here I am, safe and sound ; but, oh, what a
drive I've had I "
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164
THE BOY TRAMPS.
^:i:i
,:1 1
Bruce heartily responded to the hug, and then
asked :
" What have you been up to ? Tell me all about
it."
From both their minds all trace of mutual re-
sentment had vanished, and the slcy was clear of
clouds once more.
Before beginning his story, Arthur turned to in-
troduce Bruce to his new acquaintance, but the
man had disap})eared, having indeed taken his
hoi"se away to rub him down after his tremendous
exertions.
" Oh, dear ! " said Arthur regretfully, " he's
gone already, and I never thanked him for being
so kind to me ; but," he added, " I expect he's
just taken his horse to the stable, and 111 see h\m
again."
Having thus relieved his mind, he hastened to
tell Bruce all that had happened since the train
went off without him, and how glad he was that
they were together again.
When he had finished, Bruce said : " Well, your
luck is certainly amazing. You're always falling
on your feet. Here, now, instead of being alone
at Port Arthur until to-morrow's train could
bring you along, you've had a good dinner and
an exciting ride, and you're all ready for another
adventure."
Arthur laughed, and looked well pleased at his
chum's words.
liii
THE RACE WITH THE TRAIN.
105
" You see I'm a good chap to travel with. There
must be a good fairy in special charge of me, and
you'll be all safe so long as you're in my company.
And now what are we going to do with ourselves
for the rest of the day?"
" Why, let us do the lions, if there are any," sug-
gested Bruce. " What can those big buildings on
the other side of tlie railway tracks be ? "
"Those must be the elevators," responded Ar-
thur. " Suppose we go over and see them."
So they made their way across by the overhead
bridge, and on reaching the great wooden wharves
that lined the bank of the river Kaministiquia,
and above which the big buildings towered high
and broad, they were delighted to .find a fine iron
steamer moored alongside.
" Why, that's an ocean steamer ! " exclaimed
Bruce in surprise. " I never expected to see one
like that away up here."
" I wonder will they let us on board," said
Arthur, with a longing look at the gangway.
"Suppose we try. They can only turn us back,
and that won't hurt us."
" I'm agreed," answered Bruce.
They accordingly climbed the gangway, and no
one making any objections or asking any questions
they went all over the steamer, admiring the solid
comfort of her appointments, and surprised that
such a steamer should be needed for fresh-water
navigation.
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166
THE BOY TRAMPS.
Encountering an oiHcor with a gilt cap they
ventured to ask him some questions, which, being
politely answered, led on to a conversation in the
course of which they learned that the steamer was
one of three belonging to the Canadian Pacific
Railway, which voyaged between Fort William and
Owen Sound, on Lake Huron, the big buildings
being grain elevators for storing vast quantities
of wheat from the cars, and pouring it out again
into the holds of the steamer.
Having seen the steamer, nothing would do
Arthur but that they should see the inside of one
of the elevators. This was not so easily managed,
however, but, thanks to the intervention of the
officer, they were permitted to go over one, and
got themselves finely powdered with grain dust in
the process.
The afternoon was gone by the time they were
through with the sight-seeing, and they went back
to the hotel, where Arthur was glad to find the
man who had given him so thrilling a drive.
" Oh, sir ! " he cried, running up to him, " please
forgive me for not thanking you for that splendid
ride. But you went off before I had a chance to.
Is your horse all right ? "
" I reckon he is, young fellow," answered the
man pleasantly. "A little break like that don't
hurt him. But, say, didn't those galoots on that
train look sick when we made the station a hun-
dred yards ahead of them ? "
!n
THE RACE WITH THE TRAIN.
167
" They did, indeed," said Arthur. "• They never
imagined that a horse coukl beat them, and they
found out their mistake."
Tlie man from the West then went on to talk
about BLickie, and other liorses that he owned,
and the boys learned that liis name was Ralston,
and that he was a horse-dealer who was there
awaiting a consignment of horses from the ranches
near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
He had many good stories to tell that evening
as he sat with the boys on the veranda, and they
were sorry enough when he took his departure for
Port Arthur, having urged upon them to be sure
and visit some of the cattle ranches when they
were out in that part of the country.
Among the guests at the hotel was a man who
might have stood as a model for some painter de-
picting Methuselah, and the boys happening to
look at him with a good deal of interest the hotel-
keeper said :
" Tliat's our oldest inhabitant. Would you like
to be introduced to him ? He used to be in the
Hudson's Bay Company, and he can tell you a
good many interesting things about the place long
before the railway came here."
Bruce replied that if the old man wouldn't mind
they would like to know him, so they were pre-
sented in due form to the veteran, whose name
was Andrew Graham, and who readily responded
to their request to be told something about the
early days of Fort William.
l\
^m
igjA
V
t<(
168
THE BOY TRAMPS.
Considering the weight of years he bore, Mr.
Graham was a remarkably vigorous man, and evi-
dently found keen enjoyment in recalling the past
when the Hudson's Bay Company held sovereign
sway over the whole Northwest, and Fort William
was one of the most important of its posts.
Situated at the very head of lake navigation,
and eonnected by a wonderful net-work of rivers
and lakes with ])oth the semi-arctic waters of Hud-
son's Bay and the vast grass-covered prairies that
began at Red River and stretched clear across to
the Rocky Mountains, every one coming and going
between Montreal and the Northwest territories
stopped at Fort William on their way, and it was
always full of life and bustle.
Mr. Graham had been a clerk at the Fort in the
I)almy days of its prosperity, and he made the
boys' eyes shine with delighted interest as he
graphically described the visits of the chief officers
of the Company, swelling with dignity and sur-
rounded with luxury ; the arrival and departure of
the bronzed voyageur^ and fur-hunters, as dark of
skin almost as the Indians themselves, the Chippe-
was, Sioux, and Crees, who were so apt to give
trouble if they succeeded in getting hold of the fire-
water, for which they were always willing to barter
their very souls.
So romantic was it all that the sentiments of tlie
old man found a ready response in the boys' hearts
when he regretfully exclaimed :
THE RACE WITH THE TRAIN,
160
" Ah ! those were the good old days, my lads,
when a man had to be a man every inch of him if
he would amount to anything. But now it's all
changed. The fur trade isn't a circumstiinee to
what it used to be, and the railroad's taken all the
romance out of our life. Eh, ho ! it's tlie way of
the world, I su})[)Ose, and we old chaps that can't
keep up with it must be satisfied to lie ])y in a
corner, as I'm doing, until their time comes to go
under the sod."
For the sake of seeing Fort William in its
glory the boys would gladly have had tlie railroad
and the big grain elevators and the fine steamship
vanish, and the portage path and the canoe resume
their places.
But there was no chance of that, and they h;id
to content themselves with accompanying Mr.
Graham the following morning to see the only relic
of the old Fort still visible, — a shabby stone build-
ing used as an engine-house !
Having exhausted the resources of the place by
mid-day they were very glad when the train from
the East came in to the station, and they could
take their places to complete their journey to Win-
nipeg.
It was about nine o'clock of the following morn-
ing when they rolled into Winnipeg, and before
doing anything else set about seeing that the
trunks forwarded from Montreal had duly arrived
and were awaiting them.
i
.»^
n -'■■::
170
THE BOY TRAMPS.
r I
■ ;• i
iJ
After some little difficulty they were all found
in good order and condition, and their minds being
made easy on that point, they set out to explore
the place.
" Why, this is a regular city ! " was Arthur's ex-
clamation as, turning away from the station, they
looked up Main sti-eet, a thoroughfare of mighty
breadtli, well paved with cedar blocks, lined with
attractive shops, and crowded with hurrying carts
and wagons.
" Well," queried Bruce, " and what else did you
expect it to be ? "
" I don't know," answered Arthur, with a shrug
of his shoulders. " Something of the same kind
of a place as Port Arthur or Fort William, I
suppose."
" But this is the capital of the province, and it
ought to be a good deal more of a city than they
are," returned Bruce. " Vty the way, we mustn't
forget those letters of introduction Mr. Gillespie
gave us. Hadn't we better go to a hotel, and put
on some better togs, and see if we can find the
people to whom they're addressed ? "
"I suppose that is our best plan," assented
Arthur.
So they strolled along until they came to a hotel
the appearance of which was satisfactory, and hav-
ing engaged quarters, sent for all their baggage,
as they wanted to overhaul their belongings before
setting out from Winnipeg again.
THE RACE WITH THE TRAIN.
171
While they were thus engaged they had a visitor
in the shape of a reporter from one of the evening
papers, who had been told something about them-
selves and their plans by one of their fellow-pas-
sengers on the train, and who was determined to
interview them.
Bruce would have much preferred declining to
say anything, but Arthur, feeling flattered by this
attention of the press, welcomed the caller cor-
dially, and talked freely with him, the result being
that the " Evening Palladium " contained nearly a
column of brightly written matter relating to the
boys, their experiences since coming to Canada, and
their novel idea of walking across the remainder
of the continent.
Of course this made them the objects of much
notice, and several gentlemen called upon them to
express their interest in their undertaking. They
also received numerous invitations to lunch and
dinner, were put up t*,t the club for the period of
their stay, and Arthur, happening to mention
something about Cruce's skill on the cricket-field,
he was invited to play in a match against the
Brandon Club the following Saturday.
As much to please Arthu^r as himself, Bruce ac-
cepted the invitation, and made a very creditable
performance, his score of thirty-five runs b' .aq a
substantial contribution to Winnipeg's success,
while he did very good work in the tield.
So hospitable did they find the good people of
J
172
THE BOY TRAMPS.
I »la
i'
I V
Winnipeg, and so many were the forms of amuse-
ment offered them, that they might have spent a
month there without having a dull liour. But
Bruce soon grew impatient to start on their long
tramp, and they had to forswear man^'- social
beguilements in order to set about the necessary
preparations.
The advice they received was sufficient in quan-
tity and variety to have bewildered much older and
more experienced heads, while of solemn warning
against the possible perils of the route they had
enough to have frightened less daring spirits out
of the enterprise entirely.
Arthur was inclined to pay a good deal of heed
to the different counsellors, and would eagerly
indorse this suggestion and that, and want them
immediately acted upon. But Bruce took things
more coolly, listening with due courtesy to the
often convicting counsel offered, yet not commit-
ting himself to the adoption of any of it.
Every day added to the number of friends who
were anxious to do something for them, and one
of the pleasantest incidents of their stay was their
visit to Silver Heights, which occupied an after-
noon.
They drove out in a big open wagon behind a
spanking team of bays, there being half a dozen in
the party, and the going was so smooth and pleas-
ant that they felt sorry when they reached their
destination.
THE RACE WITH THE TRAIN,
173
a
I in
is-
Silver Heights (so called because the prairie
knoll on whicli it stood used to shine as with a
silver rim when the sun was reflected from the
polished culms of the buffalo-grass) was placed
near the left bank of the Assiniboine river, al)oat
five miles from the city. It was formerly the resi-
dence of the Chief Commissioner of the Hudson's
Bay Company, who had taken an old log-house
and enlarged and beautified it until it became a
stately mansion, surrounding it with garden, farm,
and orchard that made the sliow-place of the
prairie province.
' I think I wouldn't mind spending a summer
here," Arthur remarked with a significant smile
as they sauntered through the grounds and noted
the abundance of fruit-trees, — apples, cherries,
currants, gooseberries, — and on tlie sunny side of
the walls sprawling grape-vines that promised
luscious bunches in due time.
The cherries were already ripe, and the leader of
the party being well known to the man in charge,
they were permitted to pluck a quantity, and found
them very juicy and sweet.
But what interested the boys most dee[)ly was a
small herd of buffalo, a surviving remnant of the
vast herd that once populated the boundless
prairies. These were carefully maintained in a
large enclosure by therarelves, and evidently
throve well in captivity, to judge by their well-
covered ribs.
174
THE BOY TRAMPS.
It
i I
ii'';
"Well, what do you think of them?" asked
Mr, Martm, whose guest the boys were. " You've
read a good deal about buffalo, no doubt. Now,
tell me frankly, do they come up to your expecta-
tions ? "
Both Bruce and Arthur hesitated to reply for
the same reason, they were afraid of giving offence
if thc}^ spoke their minds, yet, as Mr. Martin evi-
dently expected an answer, Arthur said in a hesi-
tating way, " They'd look a great deal better if they
were only groomed, wouldn't they?"
Mr. Martin burst into a hearty laugh, in which
the other three Winnipeggers joined.
"Well said, my boy," he exclaimed, giving
Arthur an approving clap on the back. " You'd
make a first-class politician. I know you're dread-
fully disappointed in the looks of the brutes, but
you're too polite to say so for fear of hurting our
feelings."
In truth, the dishevelled, dilapidated appearance
of the buffalo (which had not yet g'^^ through
shedding their winter coats, and were consequently
hung all over with matted tufts of rusty hair), com-
bined with their sleepy and spiritless bearing,, like
that of stall-fed cattle, could not fail to be a sharp
disappointment to the boys, whose conception of
the former monarchs of the prairie had been formed
from pictures representing magnificent creatures
with superb manes thundering over the turf with
head lowered and tail aloft.
ii
THE RACE Wiril THE TRAIN.
175
igl
)m-
Ke
arp
of
led
ires
dth
" If you don't mind my saying so, they're not
just what I thought they would be," responded
Arthur. '* They're not a bit fierce, are they ? "
" Not as a rule," said Mr. Martin. " At certain
times in the year the bulls become dangerous, and
liave to be watched, but usually they're as quiet as
other cattle."
While they were talking, a saucy little fox-terrier
belonging to one of the party darted througli the
fence and began springing at the big bull of the
herd with noisy barking.
The old fellow rose ponderously to his feet,
his great bulk, as he did so, causing the boys to
revise their first impressions considerably, and,
after standing a moment as if in blank astonish-
ment at the impertinence of his tiny assailant,
gave a dull roar of anger, and moved down upon
the dog.
The dog's owner did his best to call him off, but
the little rascal paid no heed to hiin ; in fact, he
seemed to be urged on by the vigorous shouts and
whistling.
All the buffalo were now on their foet, and show-
ing signs of excitement, which greatly improved
their appearance. But the fox-terrier paid atten-
tion to none of them save the bull, and the more
the big creature resented liis worrying the more
zealously did he persecute him.
"Confound the little wretch!" exclaimed Mr.
Martin, shying a stick at the pertinacious terrier.
1) ■
IP
i.:
176
TTIE BOY TRAMPS.
I
" It'll serve him right if that bull tosses him clear
over the fence."
There seemed little danger of this happening,
however, the dog being altogether too agile for the
clumsy creature he was annoying.
Presently, after tempting the bull well out into
the field, the terrier, seeming suddenly to weary of
his sport, turned tail and fairly scooted for the
other side of the fence.
As it happened, he chose where the gate was for
his exit. The bull charged furiously after him,
gaining speed at every stride, until, by the time he
reached the gate, he was under full headway.
" By Jupiter I if he hits the gate going at that
rate he'll go through it sure," cried Mr. Martin, in
a tone of alarm.
He had hardly spoken before the bull, following
close on the terrier, which slipped under the bars
not more than five yards in advance, struck the
gate in the centre with such tremendous force as
to shatter the fastenings, and throw it wide open,
and the next instant he was out in the road ready
for any mischief.
" Look out for yourselves, everybody ! " Mr.
Martin shouted. " He means murder."
For one moment the enraged animal paused, as
if uncertain which of the party to attack, then,
singling out Bruce, probably because he clianced
to be the nearest, he charged furiously at him.
'P
BY FOOT AND BUCKBOARD.
177
CHAPTER IX.
BY FOOT AND BUCKBOARD.
f!?i
1
as
" Look out for yourself, Barclay ! " cried Mr.
Martin, picking up a large stone and hurling it
at the animal, hoping thereby to divert his atten-
tion, but only succeeding in intensifying his fury.
Bruce was doing hit; best to look out for him-
self, and his eye lighting upon an apple-tree that
stood not far away with low-hanging limbs offering
an easy refuge, he made a fine sprint for it, the
buffalo bull not far in the rear.
Meanwhile Arthur had been tortured with
anxiety for his chum, and wondering what he
could do to aid him. It was not according to his
nature to be a mere spectator of such an affair,
and nothing else occurring to him lie laid hold of
a stout stick and rushed after the bull, shouting :
" Go it, Bruce, he'll not catch you ! "
Bv dint of utmost effort Bruce reached tlie
apple-tree a little in advance of the bull, })ut liis
lead was not enough to enable him to more than
clear the animal's horns as he charged madly after
him.
Then a very curious and comical thing hap-
i:
.#*
f m
"in^^pi
178
THE BOY TRAMPS.
■i
pened. The bull's huge head struck the trunk of
the tree with such tremendous force that Bruce,
who was at that instant reaching for a higher
branch, missed his hold, and fell, like a ripe apple,
plump on top of the creature's hump, which he
frantically clutched lest he should fall under his
hoofs and be trampled to death.
Completely bewildered by this unexpected
movement on the part of his intended victim the
buffalo came to a full stop, and tossed his shaggy
head violently up and down, in wild endeavor to
free himself of his living load.
This halt gave Arthur time to come up, and
recking nothing of the risk to himself in his gen-
erous passion for help to his imperilled friend, he
proceeded to belabor the hind-quarters of the bull
most vigorously with the stick, although it would
be pretty hard to make out just what he expected
to accomplish by so doing.
By this time Mr. Martin and the others of the
party had also got hold of sticks, and they came
nobly to Arthur's support, the whole of them
shouting at the top of their voices as they ham-
mered away.
Now, to have a big heavy boy astride of his
hump, and to be beaten with many sticks into the
bargain, was sometliing the bull had not at all
taken into account when he charged so blithely
after Bruce, and these most persuasive arguments
to desist did not fail of their due effect upon him.
BY FOOT AND RUCKBOARD.
179
For a bare moment he stood his ground, sliak-
ing his head furiously, and roaring with baffled
rage. Then, witli a wild plunge and upward fling
of his heels, he dashed off at a tangent in manifest
flight.
" Jump off, Barclay, jump off I " shouted Mr.
Martin, seeing a new danger for the boy unless he
promptly dismounted.
To jump was out of the question, but Bruce did
the next best thing, he let go, and came flop on
the ground, while his strange steed went careering
off, no doubt immensely relieved at being rid of
his rider.
Bruce got his clothes very dusty, but suffered
no other damage ; and when the others had con-
gratulated him upon having come off so well, and
he had regained his breath, he was not disposed
deeply to regret the experience, which would in
all probability be a unique one, and well worth
telling about.
Feeling themselves responsible for the buffalo
being at large, Mr. Martin and his companions did
not rest until by their united efforts he had been
driven back into the field, and the broken gate
secured again. They then returned to Winnipeg
in high hilarity over their memorable outing.
Amid the pleasant surprises of Winnipeg, the
boys had one great disappointment, and that was
the almost total disappearance of Fort Garry, noth-
ing remaining of the famous old fort save a dilapi-
I;
180
THE BOY TRAMPS.
'■%\
dated stone gateway, standing solitary and shame-
faced in the middle of a grassy common.
They had looked for strong high walls and
sturdy towers, such as the pictures hiwl promised ;
but this was all they found, and they felt as if
they had been cheated.
" I think they might have left the fort just as
it used to be," was Bruce's regretful remark.
" Everybody who came here would want to see it.
Wouldn't Ballantyne be disgusted if he were to
come back and find that they had torn the old
place to pieces, just to turn it into building lots ! "
Arthur had not much sentiment in his compo-
sition, and just how Ballantyne might feel did not
concern him greatly ; but he shared in Bruce's
disappointment, because any kind of a fortifica-
tion appealed to his military spirit, and he would
have appreciated the peculiar interest of one set in
the heart of the Canadian wilderness, which had
been the centre of so many stirring episodes.
But, barring this, the few days spent in Winni-
peg were filled with enjoyment, and only their
impatience to begin the really important part of
their novel enterprise enabled them to withstand
the many temptations the}'' had to prolong their
visit.
It was on a bright sunny Monday morning
when they finally got started, with all the omens
in their favor, despite the kindly croaking of some
friends who would fain have persuaded them to at
BY FOOT AND BUCKBOARD.
181
least take horses, since they would have nothing
to do with the cars.
" You're very good," was Arthur's reply, to
wliich Bruce gave assenting silence. " But we've
pledged ourselves to try walking it, and we'll do
our best first. Of course, if we've got to give up,
why, we'll do so, but not before we've made the
attempt."
They arranged matters in this wise : Their
trunks were forwarded by train to llegina, three
hundred and fifty miles ahead, to await their ar-
rival, so that they might be able to get a fresh
supply of clothing, which they would be sure to
need.
They themselves went in as light marching order
iis possible, their only baggage being light knap-
sacks, containing extra stockings, handkerchiefs,
matches, and a few other necessaries, and their re-
volvers, which hung at their belt.
In their hands they carried stout sticks that
could be used as weapons of defence, if necessary,
and in their breasts as light a pair of hearts as
ever crossed the billowy prairies.
The track of the Canadian Pacific Railway was
to be their pathway, and they lost no time in pass-
ing through the maze of sidings and railway shops
that covered nearly a square mile on the western
edge of the city.
Having shaken off this cinder-strewn suburb
they found themselves right out on the prairie
.. «und
sloping southward to the Assiniboine rivei, and
were tempted by the long twilight to continue
their walk down to the river bank, about a mile
distant.
No sooner had Arthur seen the wat^'.r than the
desire for a swim took possession of him.
" Happy thought ' Let us have a plunge, Bruce,"
he cried, giving a joyous snap of his fingers. " I'm
just grimy with dust, and it'll be ever so much
more fun taking a bath here than at the hotel."
" I'm with you," responded Bruce, " though
the water doesn't seem very clear, and the bank is
decidedly muddy."
Seeking out a spot where the grassy bank jutted
well into the stream, they lost no time in throwing
off their clothes and diving into the brown flood of
the Assiniboine.
■it
I, ■
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ill
r '
186
THE BOY TRAMPS,
'\
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i i>
The water was deliciously warm, and had a soft,
smooth feeling that was inexpressibly grateful to
them after their two days of steady walking under
a bright sun.
" Isn't this just fine? " exclaimed Arthur enthusi-
astically. " Come now, Bruce, I'll race you across
the river and back."
" Ail right, my boy," answered Bruce ; and in a
moment they were hard at it, cutting swiftly
through the tawny water.
Arthur was first to touch bottom on the other
side, but on the way back Bruce drew up to him,
and they were head and head together, puffing and
blowing like a pair of porpoises.
Arthur, in his eagerness to win, hardly looked
ahead, but Bruce, not being familiar with the river,
kept a good lookout forward, and was not a little
startled to see through the gathering gloom a dark
figure stealing stealthily over the grass towards
the spot where they had left their clothes.
" Arthur I Arthur ! " he called softly to his com-
panion, who at once stopped his vigorous strokes,
fearing that something had happened. " Look
there ! " he continued ; " what's the meaning of
that?"
Arthur glanced toward the shore.
" Some rascal is trying to pick our pockets, or
perhaps steal our clothes. What shall we do?"
he whispered.
Bruce thought for a moment, and then answered :
BY FOOT AND BUCKBOARD.
is:
I, or
I?"
ted:
" You go vip the river a little, and I'll go down,
and we'll get ashore as quietly as we can, and try
to run the fellow down."
Arthur approved of the plan, and so they sepa-
rated, and swam shoreward in different directions,
not uttering a word, although they could easily
make out the figure of the person, who was evi-
dently taking some liberties with their clothing.
Strangely enough he did not seem to be looking
out for them, but v/as giving his whole attention
to the examination of their belongings, and they
consequently were enabled to land before he took
alarm.
Then, as if waking up to his danger, he gathered
an armful of clothes and started to run in the
direction of the city, at which proceeding both
boys set up a shout, and recking nothing of their
nakedness, for the case was manifestly desperate,
made after him at the top of their speed.
It was well for them that the grassy sward
offered a soft carpet for their bare feet, or other-
wise they would have been at a sore disadvantage ;
as it was, the odds were, if anything, in their favor,
barring the head-start the thief already had.
The chase that ensued was so exciting that it
seemed a great pity there were not some spectators
— of the male sex, of course — to witness it. Cer-
tainly a more diverting foot-race had not been run
across the prairie since the lays when the Indians
held undivided sway.
J
J
! i
11
1»8
THE BOY TRAMPS.
Hi.
The boys were somewhat fatigued and out of
bieath from their exertions in the water, but on
the other liand the thief was burdened by the
bundle of clothes so that he could not run as
rapidly as if his hands were free.
" Keep it up, Arthur, we're gaining on him ! "
Bruce cried, as they raced up the slope from the
river's edge to the level of the prairie.
" I'm all right," Arthur panted back. " We'll
catch him."
The thief at this point evidently began to have
some fears of the success of his rascally enterprise,
as he dropped a couple of articles, perhaps with
the hope that the boys would pause to pick thom
up. But his pursuers were not to be fooled by
any such device. Paying no heed to these lures
they kept right on, and their fine running powers
commenced to tell in their favor.
The distance between them and the object of
their pursuit lessened so rapidl}'" that in sheer
fright he dropped everything he had picked up,
and, with empty hands swinging at his side, fled
frantically from them.
Seeing that he had surrendered everything Bruce
stopped short.
" Let him go, Arthur," he said ; " he's got noth-
ing, and we'll have enough to do to find all our
things before it gets too dark to see them."
Bruce's counsel was indeed of the best, for it
was no easy task to discover all their things as
;i
t (.
BY FOOT AND BUCKBOARD.
189
^'11
up,
fled
:uce
loth-
our
)r it
as
they lay scattered on the grass, and by the tiuio
they had got them together it was so dark that
but for the lights of the city they would hardly
have been able to find their way back there.
Yet the whole episode had so comical a side to
it, that in spite of their natural irritation at the
attempted rascality they could not help breaking
out into hearty laughter over it, as they hurried on
their clothes.
" What a pity somebody hadn't been on hand
with a Kodak to take an instantaneous photo of us
as we raced after that villain ! " exclaimed Arthur
in a well-simulated tone of regret. " It would be
such an interesting memento of the occasion, you
know."
" I'm afraid our friends would think there was
too much of the naked truth about it," said Bruce,
with a quiet smile ; " as it is, I'm only too glad that
there were no spectators, for certainly we were
never in so absurd a position before in our lives.'*
"I wonder who the fellow was that tried to
make off with our precious garments," soliloquized
Arthur, " and what he took us to be. I imagine if
he knew that these were all we had in the world
nearer than Regina» Ue'd be considerably sur-
prised."
" I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he was an
Indian, or half-breed, or something of that kind,"
suggested Bruce. "The trick was worthy that
kind of a creature."
: ii
p
1
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190
THE BOY TRAMPS.
■;l 1,1'
They were on tl^.eir way oack, and had got with-
in half a mile of the city when the figures of three
men showed dimly ahead of them, and a gruff
voice called out :
" Hold up there I You've got something we
want."
The boys gave a simultaneous start, and pressed
close together, Bruce saying in a whisper :
" Get your revolver ready, Arthur. These fel-
lows mean mischief."
Then, speaking in a clear, firm tone, he replied
to the ominous summons :
" Stand aside there, or we'll shoot you."
In answer to this came a rude, mocking laugh,
and a challenge to the boys to show their " guns,"
if they were not simply trying to put up a bluff.
The clicking of the revolver was the boys' reply,
and it sounded remarkably distinct on the still
evening air.
" Eh ! " sneered the man who alone of the
three had spoken. " So ye have got guns. Well,
in that case we bid ye good-evenin', as we was
just taking a little walk for our health, and don't
feel any particular hankerin' for lead."
Neither of the boys made any response to this
sally, although Arthur found it very hard to hold
his tongue, and indeed would have blurted out
something but for a warning nudge from Bruce,
who, realizing that they now had the whip-hand of
the would-be footpads, did not want to imperil
their advantage by further irritating them.
y 1
BY FOOT AND BUCKBOARD.
19]
»>
^ly
'ell,
)n't
Ithis
LOld
out
Lce,
of
teril
There was a moment's awkward silence, and then,
with a murmuring of muttered curses, the foiled
Bcoundrels slunk away into the darkness, carrying
with them Artliur's explosive, " Avaunt, ye vil-
lains I Vanish into the womb of night," which he
gave forth with an exaggerated stage accent as
the best way of expressing his relief at their wel-
come retirement.
Keeping a sharp lookout to right and left, and
holding their revolvers in hand ready for use, if
need be, the boys hurried toward Portage La
Prairie, determined to be more careful in future as
to the place they chose for an evening swim.
On their telling the hotel-keeper about their ad-
venture he had an explanation ready at once. It
seemed that the city was fairly invested with the
worst kind of tramps, beating their way across the
continent, stealing rides on the brake-beams and
axles of the cars when they could, and using
" shanks' mare " when they could not.
"These three rascals were tramps, without a
doubt, and you were very lucky to have your re-
volvers or they would have taken everything of
value you had. They're mostly a bad lot, those
fellows."
" Are there many of them about here ? " Arthur
asked.
" Why, the woods are full of them, as the
saying goes," replied the hotel-keeper. " Hardly
a train pulls out from Winnipeg without some of
192
THE BOY TRAMPS.
k.
I
' '»
them hanging on hy their eyelids underneath, and
you'll see them at 'most every station along the way.
They're an everliusting nuisance. The Government
ought to do something to i)Ut an end to them."
The idea of often encountering such characters
on their journey was very displeasing to the boys,
and they had a good deal to say to each other
about it, but without coming to any conclusion in
the matter except the resolve to be very much on
the alert for these suspicious customers.
The glorious weather continued as thoy set out
from Portage La Prairie next morning, but the
country through which they passed was not at all
so pleasing as it had been, a few miles of walking
bringing them to a region of rough and brushy sand-
hills, — the old braches of Lake Agassiz, — which
they found utterly uninteresting and monotonous,
so that they were especially glad to reach Austin,
and the end of these sand-hills, ere the evening
shadows closed about them.
Beyond Austin it was the real prairie again, and
very pleasant walking indeed. For the first time
they came across the genuine article of "tramp,"
not the amateur affair like themselves. It was a
small party of four, two being men of middle age,
and the other two mere youths.
Without being positively ragged, their clothes
were much the worse for wear, and their faces be-
trayed great economy in the use of soap and the
razor.
I
BY FOOT AND BUCKBOARD.
198
and
They at once accosted the boya, and asked a
Dumber of questions as to who they were, whence
they came, and whither they were going.
At Brace's recjuest Arthur left altogether to him
the answering of these inquiries, and he did it
with such discretion as to prevent the tramps from
being much wiser in the matter.
But wliile it was comparatively easy to foil their
curiosity, it was a more diiBcult matter to part com-
pany with them, as they e^'idently i tonded to lu-
flict tlicir society upon the boys, wiiether the latter
desired it or not.
It was out of the question to provoke nn open
rupture, so they plodded along together for some
miles, both Bruce and Arthur with admirable suc-
cess adopting a tone of good-fellowship that pui
the tramps at their ease, so that they became very
communicative, and told a number of stories of
their experiences that were decidedly amusing,
albeit at times somewhat coarsely expressed.
There was no shaking off their uncongenial
fellow-travellers, until late in the afternoon they
all came to Carberry, a thriving town of about a
thousand inhabitants, on the outskirts of wliich
Bruce handed the oldest member of the quartet
a dollar to get supper for them all, and then the
two boys made haste to the hotel.
That evening "'S they were lounging restfuUy on
the hotel piazza they overheard a conversation be-
tween some men, in the course of which one of
J
194
77'.'? liOV TliAMPS.
'i
tluMU stiitod lliat he was goinf]^ to drive over to
Brandon the following iiiurniiig. Tliis gave Biuce
an idea that he at once snbniitted for Arthnr's
approval.
'■'• We're sure to see more of those wretched
tramps to-morrow," said he, ''if we go right on,
and I I'ertaiidy don't want to have them hanging
on to us. What do you say to asking that man
who is going to drive over to Brandon, which is
ahout thirty miles ahead, if he'll take us with him?
We'll pay him properly for it, of eor.rse."
"The very idea!" assentetl Arthur heartily.
"And we'll not only get rid of the ti'anips, hut
we'll be as far on by mid-day as we shouhl be by
night, if we walkeil all the way. So we'll have
the afternoou to spend in Branthui, which is quite
a big plac(», they say."
15eing thus supported Bruce at the first op])or-
tunity addressed the man, and presented his re-
quest.
" And who may you be, young chap?" was the
respouse, uttered in a tone of curiosity rather than
suspicion. " And what may l)e your business iu
Brandon ? ''
" Oh, we're just travellers goinj across the con-
tinent," answered Bruce frankly. " And we've
been walking a good part of the way just for fun.
But we want to ride from here to Brandon."
" There's a good many folk," began the man,
looking the boys over narrowly, and then hasten-
BY FOOT AND BUCKBOARD.
196
cou-
e've
fun.
man,
iten-
ing to add, " but not, perhaps, just of your kind, who
walk a good part of tlio way, too, thougli tliey don't
do it mostly for fuu, and they're not exactly popu-
lar in these parts."
" Oil, yes, we've seen some of them," exclaimed
Artliur brightly, anticipating Bruce. " And it's
just because we want to get rid of their society
that we'd like to be allowed to drive over with
you. We'll pay you, of course, whatever you may
charge."
'' Wliy, now," said the man, with an exaggerated
air of comprehension, " that's sometliing like busi-
ness you're talking; and how much do you feel like
giving for the lift?"
" Would two or three dollars be enough ? " Bruce
asked.
The man laughed, and his face relaxed into an
expression of entire friendliness as he brought his
heels down with a thud on the floor of the piazza,
and rose up from his chair.
" It would be just two or three dollars too much,
young fellow," he replied. " I'm satisfied you're
all right, and you're welcome to oome along with
me for nothing. I'll be starting at eight o'clock
sharp, and you be on hand just here."
The boys joined in thanking him warmly, and
promised to be ready for him when he came in the
morning, and he went off seeming well pleased at
the arrangement.
Some time before the hour aj)pointed they were
1 •
■ i
196
THE BOY TRAMPS.
%..
awaiting the wagon, and when eight o'clock pasaed
without its appearing Arthur began to get anxious
and to wonder if the man were going to disappoint
them.
But a few minutes later he drove up, calling out
pleasantly :
" Hope you ain't tired waiting. I had to fix a
bit of my harness. Will this outfit suit you?"
It was the first buckboard the boys had seen,
and they examined it with interest. A better style
of carriage for driving across the prairies could not
be imagined. It was as admirably adapted to its
purpose as the canoe and toboggan to theirs.
The wheels were placed far apart, and joined
together by three thin, hard-wood boards, elastic
enough to reader springs unnecessary. Upon these
boards were placed two ordinary wagon-seats,
leaving sufficient space at the rear for a couple of
trunks or bags of grain to be tied on.
The strong, supple boards yielded readily to all
the irregularities of the road ; but there was no risk
of their breaking, no matter how severe a shock
they might be exposed to, so that even with a
heavy load one had never to stop to consider the
vehicle.
The driver, who now introduced himself as Joe
Edwards, invited Bruce to take a seat beside him,
saying in an apologetic way to Arthur :
" Ye can have the other seat to yourself until we
oatcli up to some pretty girl going our way, and
BY FOOT AND BUCKBOARD.
197
then, I reckon, ye'U not object to having her for
company ? "
The improbability of finding a pretty girl tripping
over the vast prairie alone was so patent that the
boys saw through the joke at once, and laughed
heartily over it, Arthur responding briskly:
" Object I no, indeed. I'll be only too happy.
But do you really think there's much chance of
our seeing any ladies out here ? " This last with a
fine pretence of eagerness.
It was now Mr. Edwards's turn to laugh, and an
easy footing being thus established at the start,
the drive began most auspiciously under an un-
clouded sky, and with a pleasant breeze blowing
from the west.
As they passed through the outskirts of Carberry,
the boys saw their frowsy companions of the pre-
vious day loafing along the road, and a thrill of
joy went through them as they realized that they
were rid of their undesirable society.
The tramps recognized them at once, and the
oldest of them snarled out viciously after them :
" Oh my, ain't we fine a-riding in our kerridge !
Won't yer ask yer coachman to give us a lift?"
Mr. Edwards's response to this was to toss the
reins into Bruce's lap, saying, " Just hold them a
minute," and then to leap to the ground, flourish-
ing his long, heavy whip, and swearing roundly at
the tramps.
Lazy as they certainly looked, they were not too
198
THE BOY TRAMPS.
'it
lazy to save their skins from the stinging lash.
They stood not upon the order of their going —
they went at once ; and as they skedaddled over
the prairie in different directions, the boys almost
rolled off their seats for laughter at the ludicrous
sight they presented.
Having chased them until he was out of breath,
Mr. Edwards returned, his anger, which had been
aroused at the tramp's insulting remark, appeased
by the completeness of their rout.
" The consarned trash ! " he panted, as he
climbed into his seat and set the horse off at a
canter. "If they had more of the whip they
wouldn't be the everlasting nuisance that they are
around here."
The horses were strong, spirited, and speedy,
the buckboard ran smoothly over the soft prairie
road, the air was just pleasantly warm, and the
boys fairly revelled in the enjo3''ment of their drive.
Mr. Edwards had been a good many years in the
Northwest, having been engaged upon the con-
struction of the railway, and presently he began to
talk of the days when the iron road was being
built at a rate never equalled in any other part of
the world.
"Those were great times, I tell you, young
fellows," said he enthusiastically. " We beat
everything that had ever been done in the line of
railroad-making, and we were mighty proud of
our job. I was foreman of a gang of Scotchmen,
BY FOOT AND BUCKBOARD.
199
of
of
big chaps every one of them, mostly from Glen-
garry county, in Ontario, and we weren't going to
let any other gang give us the go-by in our work.
" Of course it was like child's play, building tlie
line across these prairies, compared with what it
was along the north of Lake Superior, and I had a
pretty good taste of that, too, before I settled down
here. But there was lots of hard work in it all the
same.
" You see this prairie ain't all level, as the city
folk think it is. It's all up and down hill when
you come to look at it, and in laying the track
we had to keep the rails on a level, and put the
line out of reach of the winter snow. And do
you know, it took nearly twenty thousand cubic
yards of earthwork in every mile to fix it all
right.
" Then, you understand, we were building a road
that had to last, not a temporary track, and we
made everything as solid as we knew how. The
line was laid from one end only, full tied and full
spiked as we went, and the rails were laid one
right after the other. They were never hauled
ahead by teams.
" That being so, now how fast do you think we
built this railroad ? '*
Having propounded this question Mr. Edwards
paused for a reply, and Bruce, seeing that he was
expected to hazard a guess, said tentatively :
"I don't know much about building railways,
'Si
:ii
IK-:
rl
200
THE BOY TRAMPS.
*'* i«i,
''1 1^1 1
but it seems to rae that if you got ahead at the rate
of a mile a day you did splendidly."
Mr. Edwards laughed long and loud. Bruce's
modest estimate evidently tickled him immensely.
" A mile a day ! " he shouted, with a vigor that
made his horses jump so that Arthur nearly per-
formed an involuntary somersault over the back
seat. " Wouldn't my gang laugh to hear that I
Just listen, now, and I'll make your eyes open.
" In 1882, in seven weeks the construction com-
pany laid no less than one hundred and thirty-four
miles of main track, or an average of three and
one-fifth miles a day, not counting sidings."
"Phew!" came from the boys simultaneously.
" Just think of that I "
" But we did better still the next year," con-
tinued the ex-railway builder exultingly. " In
forty-eight working days one hundred and sixty-six
miles were put down, five and a half miles a day,
and one day we actually laid six and one-third
miles, requiring six hundred and forty tons of
steel rails."
The boys were silent, these astounding figures
taxing their credulity to the utmost. Yet they felt
full confidence in the truthfulness of the narrator,
who went on to put the marvellous progress of the
railroad in another way.
" Work was begun in the month of May, 1881,
and before the end of that year trains were run-
ning one hundred ana sixty-five miles westward
f- '
BY FOOT AND BUCKBOARD.
201
from Winnipeg. Next year four hundred and
nineteen miles more were done, and in 1883 anothe/
three hundred and seventy-six, the whole distance
between Winnipeg and the Rockies being com-
pleted in three seasons' work.
" I don't think any railroad-building in the world
ever beat that," concluded Mr. Edwards trium-
phantly, " and there's no man deserves more credit
for the same than him that's now president of the
road."
"We know him," exclaimed Arthur, jumping
up in his seat. " We saw him in Montreal, and
he was very nice to us, and he had our tickets fixed
so that we can ride on the cars whenever we don't
care to walk."
The fact that they had the acquaintance of the
great man who ruled over the Canadian Pacific
evidently caused the boys to rise in their com-
panion's respect, and he asked a number of ques-
tions about him and about Montreal, which gave
them a chance to do the talking, of which they
fully availed themselves.
Steadily and swiftly over the undulating road
the horses trotted hour after hour, passing an
occasional solitary rider, or a buckboard with a
single horse, whose driver responded cordially to
the greeting Mr. Edwards never failed to give.
There were some good farms along the way
whose grain-fields spread out on the flats in the
bends of the Assiniboine river, and swept up the
mm
202
THE BOY TRAMPS.
i
sloping sides of the hills to the level of the plateau.
The river itself, although nearly one hundi'ed yards
in width, was hardly visible througli the dense
growth of Cottonwood, willow, and maple trees
that lined its banks, and made a welcome break in
the monotony of the prairie.
Soon after mid-day tall elevators ^ame into sight
ahead, and half an hour later the buckboard came
to a stop before the chief hotel in Brandon, the
second larjjest city in Manitoba.
Enjoyable as they had found both the drive and
Mr. Edwards's companionship, they were very glad
to get to their destination, for they were as hungry
as bears, and needed no sauce in order to whet their
appetites for the excellent dinner soon set before
them.
After dinner Mr. Edwards went off to attend to
his business, and left them to their own devices.
Having been '' on the go " steadily for several days,
it quite fell in with their inclinations to " take a
loaf " that afternoon, and they strolled about the
well-kept streets of the prosperous little city,
looked in at the elevators, went over the big flour-
mill, sipped ice-cream at the confectioner's, and
thus whiled away the hours very pleasantly.
They saw nothing more of Mr. Edwards until
late that evening, and then it was under circum-
stances which enabled them to do, him a service
that made a good return for his kindness to them.
They had been roaming about the streets in an
BY rOOT AND BUCKBOARD.
203
aimless fashion, the night being too fine and warm
to spend in the hotel, wlien their attention was
attracted by the sound of men's voices raised to
so angry a pitch that the coming to blows could
not be far off.
" Let's see what the row is," said Arthur, hurry-
ing off in the direction whence the voices came.
Bruce would have protested had Arthur given
him time, but he had darted away so quickly as to
leave Bruce no other alternative than to follow
him.
They were in one of the lower streets of the city,
where bar-rooms abounded, and before one of these
they saw their friend of the morning in fierce alter-
cation with a big shaggy-bearded ranchman.
Both men had evidently been indulging too freely
in strong drink, and were just in the mood for a
fight, their furious dialogue flaming with fierce
oaths, and their fists being clenched ready to
strike.
J
V
204
THE BOY TRAMPS.
CHAPTER X,
CREE AND CONSTABLE.
ti
ll
H
Fascinated by the exciting scene, and stirred tc
fervent sympathy for their friend, whose side they
as a matter of course espoused, the boys stood not
far from him, wondering in what manner they
could be of assistance to him.
Mr. Edwards's opponent was unmistakably his
superior in size and strength, but lacked his agile
frame and knowledge of the noble art of self-
defence, and when at last they did come to blows
the big ranchman soon found that the task he had
undertaken was by no means so easy as he had
imagined.
Making no pretence of parrying his opponent, he
struck out furiously with both right and left fists,
swinging his long arms around like the sails of a
wind-mill.
In this way he did get in some heavy blows at
Mr. Edwards that made the boys wince, and utter
horrornstricken murmurs, but the railroad-builder
was as tough as he was active, and he returned
these favors with more than interest.
In the meantime, although there were no signs
m
CREE AND CONSTABLE.
205
at
tter
der
:ned
of the police, a crowd of deeply interested specta-
tors had gathered, who evidently thought it a pretty
fight, and a welcome bit of amusement for a fme
summer night.
Not 80 the boys. It was all horrible to them,
these two strong men smiting one another and
besmearing their faces and hands with blood, and
they would have put a stop to it at once if they had
the power to do so. Only anxiety for their friend
kept them among the on-lookers, and but for this
they would gladly have huj'ried away.
Presently the two men came to close quarters,
they clinched, they strained for a moment in a
fierce wrestle, and then with a sudden pitch the
big ranchman went over Edwards's shoulder head-
long to the ground, while the crowd broke into a
roar of applause at the latter's clever tactic.
Filled with murderous fury at being thus igno-
miniously worsted to the manifest approval of the
spectators, the giant sprang to his feet, and draw-
ing his revolver levelled it at Edwards, while the
startled crowd scattered to right and left, thinking
more of keeping their own skins whole than of pro-
tecting their endangered fellow-being.
But if they had no generous impulse to interfere,
there were others present who had. Like a flash
Arthur darted forward, and struck up the ranch-
man's hand with a smart blow of his fist just as the
trigger was pulled, the bullet flying harmlessly
over the roofs of the houses ; and when the foiled
iU^\
I
206
THE nOY TRAMPS.
i
,«•
ruffian turned madly upon the daring boy, Bruce,
who had followed close, threw out his foot so deftly
that he tripped heavily over it, and measured his
length on the ground.
At that moment the police put in an appearance,
and the crowd vanished like spectres, leaving
Edwards and his prostrate antagonist with the
two boys to explain what was the matter.
The ranchman, being already down, made an easy
capture, and Edwards, stating that he would quietly
accompany the officers to the station, the boys ac-
companied him, resolved not to desert him until
they knew what would befall him.
As they walked along Edwards thanked them
warmly for their timely interference in his behalf.
" It was a pretty close call for me, young fellows,"
he said. " That cha[) can shoot straight even when
he's drunk, and he was just in the humor to kill
me, although he'd have been sorry enough when
the liquor was out of him again."
On arriving at the police-station the sergeant in
charge made a preliminary investigation into the
affair, as the result of which Edwards was released
on his promising to appear before the magistrate
in the morning, while the ranchman was locked up,
as he had fought the officers every inch of the way,
and given them any amount of trouble.
Having washed off the marks of the fight, Edwards
returned to the hotel with the boys, and there re-
lated to an admiring audience how they had rushed
ii
CREE AND CONSTABLE.
207
Int in
the
sased
Itrate
up,
|way,
rards
re-
Isbed
to his rescue, and saved him in all probability from
death, so that they found themselves the object of
(piito a botliorsomo amount of attention, receiving
many pressing invitjitions to " have something," or
at least to take a cigar.
The next morning they went with Edwards to
the court, and were called as witnesses in the case.
It was their first appearance in that capacity, but
thoy botl icquitted themselves very well, although
Arthur was inclined to say too much, and Bruce
to say too little.
The magistrate's judgment was that both Edwards
and the ranchman should bo fined, the hitter's im-
post being much heavier than the former's, and
should also be bound over to keep the peace for six
months. They were then discharged ; and both by
this time having forgotten their anger at the other
they shook hands heartily, and came away together,
quite reconciled.
Having parted from Edwards with many expres-
sions of mutual esteem, the boys set out from Bran-
don in the best of spirits, and quite ready for some
more walking.
The railway, Lhe course of which they followed
closely, although they preferred the prairie turf to
the ties, now drew away from the Assiniboine river,
which had been in sight so long, and rose from the
valley to a rolling prairie over which the eye could
sweep unchecked clear to the horizon.
The weather, which had been so fine and favor-
208
THE BOY TRAMPS.
ifii#
i^
able ever since they left Winnipeg, took a sudden
cliange for the worse as they tramped along.
Heavy clcuds darkened the sky, and the wind be-
gan to blow in angry gusts that betokened a near-
ing storm.
" I'm afraid we're in for a wetting," said Bruce,
glancing apprehensively at the sky, " and there's no
shelter in sight, so we'll have to grin and bear it."
" I suppose we'll have to bear it, but I'm blest
if I'll do any grinning," responded Arthur. " It's
bad enough to get a soaking without pretending to
like it."
The rain at first fell in stray drops, which soon,
however, thickened into a heavy pour, and, quite
unprotected as they were, it did not take long for
the boys to become thoroughly drenched.
" Dearie, dearie me ! " sighed Arthur as he wiped
the teeming drops off his rain-beaten face, " what
a time we are having I Is this just your idea of
fun, old chap ? "
Bruce laughed, and shrugged his shoulders.
" Not quite," he replied. " I'd rather have the sun-
shine, hot as it was sometimes. But keep your spirits
up, chum. If my poor, damp eyes don't deceive me,
that's a station ahead, and we shall be able to get
shelter there until the storm is over."
Cheered by the sight of the house, they plodcjed
resolutely on until they reached it. They looked
so disreputable in their dripping and bemired con-
dition, that the station-master evidently hesitated
CREE AND CONSTABLE.
209
\
ilders.
le sun-
jpirits
re me,
to get
lodc]ed
looked
Id con-
iitated
about offering them any hospitality. But wlien
they showed their railway tickets and their well-
filled purses in proof of their not being ordinary
tramps all his suspicions vanished, and he was
ready to do his bout for them.
Their clothing was so thoroughly soaked that in
order to dry it properly they had to strip completely,
and, the station-master kindly lending them some
of his spare garments, they lolled about, looking
very absurd, but feeling thoroughly comfortable,
while the woman of the house dried their own
things in the kitchen.
As the rain showed no signs of letting up, the
station-master suggested that they take the west-
bound train, which was due at four o'clock, and by
which they could get to Broadview, one hundred
and twenty miles ahead, by ten o'clock in the even,
ing. Then, if they felt like it, they could resume
their tramp the next morning.
The suggestion approved itself at once, and their
clothes being fit to put on again in good time before
the train appeared, they paid the station-master lib-
erally for his hospitality, which had included a
substantial dinner, and got on board, well pleased
to be able to progress in spite of the rain.
They did not take places in the Pullman, as they
would be on board the train so short a time, but
were content with seats in the first-class car.
Having no books to read, and finding nobody to
interest them, they wandered into the colonist car,
- - p
1 .
came down on the ground with a thud like that of
a pile-driver.
The shock that went through the boys' bodies
at this made them feel as though their spines were
being driven up through the back of their head
It was more than electric — it was well-nigh pan -
lyzing.
" Oh, heavens ! " gasped Arthur, gripping the
front of his saddle to save himself from an igno-
minious tumble, " this is awful."
Bruce said nothing, but his face whitened, and a
thin, red line running down his chin told that his
teeth had been driven into his lip.
Yet both of them held their seats, and the cow-
boys shouted approvingly :
" Well done, boys ! Stick to them. You'll get
the better of them soon. Give them the whip."
In their right hands the boys held stout rawhide
riding-whips called " quirts," which they had not
let drop in spite of the horses' struggles, and, act-
ing upon the advice given, they began to ply these
vigorously.
Again and again the animals bucked, but their
BEAR AND BRONCHO.
239
tLe
9»
hide
not
act-
-hese
riders refused to budge, and responded to each
vicious effort with fresh blows of the quirts, until,
at last, stung into forgetfulness of everything but
their own suffering, the bronchos put up their
heads, and dashed off at a mad gallop down the
street.
Putting spurs to their own horses, Cochrane and
Harper made after the boys, and thus the quartet
vanished from the town in a cloud of dust, if not
of glory.
The runaway bronchos were happily going in
the right direction, so their owners, seeing that the
boys held their seats firmly, gave themselves little
concern, knowing that the burst of speed was only
temporary, and that they would soon be able to
catch up.
As it proved, the boys' animals only went about
a mile at top speed, and then came under control
sufficiently to enable their riders to bring them
down to a moderate canter, which made the riding
easy and comfortable.
When the cow-boys came up they congratulated
Bruce and Arthur warmly on the way they had
stuck to the bronchos through all their antics.
" No one who saw you would ever think of call-
ing either of you a tenderfoot," Cochrane said.
" I don't think I ever saw fellows who were new
to bucking keep their saddles as well as you did.
You were certainly cut out for cow-boys, both of
you."
240
THE BOY TRAMPS.
i«<-L^
"You're just right," assented Harper heartily.
" They did us proud, and no mistake, and " —
turning to the boys — " if you'd like a job at look-
ing after cattle, just say so, and I know a rancher
that'll hire you right off on our recommendation.
Isn't that so, Cochrane ? "
As Cochrane nodded affirmatively, Bruce, with a
well-pleased smile, replied :
" It's ever so good of you to say such kind things
about us, and I'm sure we'd both like to try it for
awhile, anyway, but we couldn't spare the time.
We've got to be in Shanghai by the end of Octo-
ber at the latest, you know."
" Oh, well," responded Harper, " perhaps you'll
be along this way again some time, and if you do
come, be sure and look us up at Fort Macleod.
Shall probably be there for some years yet."
The long ride to Fort Macleod was rendered
very delightful by the pleasant companionship, and
the beautiful country through which the little
party passed.
The prairie was not so monotonous as it had
been between Regina and Medicine Hat. Many
streams diversified its character, while ponds and
lakes, much resorted to by wild-fowl, were not
uncommon.
The bronchos the boys bestrode having realized
the futility of attempting to get rid of their riders,
behaved very well, and proved most comfortable
mounts.
BEAR AND BRONCHO.
241
had
[any
ilized
iders,
[•table
One feature of this region, that was new to the
boys, interested them keenly, to wit, the antelopes,
of which small bands were visible from time to
time. Arthur was full of the idea of chasing some
of them, and although the more experienced cow-
boys laughed at him, saying that he might as well
try to catch his own shadow, he kept hankering after
the making of at least an attempt, until finally his
ardor would no longer be restrained, and a band of
four suddenly springing up from a hollow just a
little in front of his horse he dashed oft' in hot
pursuit.
Bruce shouted to him to come back, but the
ranchmen said:
"Oh, let him alone. He'll soon find out that
he's on a wild-goose chase."
Away over the prairie the antelopes flew in long,
light bounds as if they had wings to help them,
while Arthur galloped after, his horse entering into
the spirit of the chase, and putting forth its utmost
speed.
As it happened the course taken by the antelopes
was in the very direction the party was travelling,
so that even though Arthur got nothing for his
pains he would not be going out of his way to have
his sport.
Quickening their pace so as to keep Arthur in
sight, the ranchmen watched the progress of the
chase with amused interest, but Bruce felt a little
anxious.
242
THE BOY TRAMPS.
%|
. i't
i«»^
The prairie was by no means as smooth as a
tennis-lawn. There were lots of holes into which
if a horse should put its foot a tremendous tumble
would be inevitable, and Arthur was at the best of
times anything but a careful rider.
However, for a time it seemed as if his fears were
groundless. Arthur kept bravely on, and indeed
seemed, so far as could be made out, to be posi-
tively gaining on the antelopes. His horse certainly
was a good one, and was doing its level best.
' - Why, look ! " Bruce exclaimed. " He's catching
up to them, isn't he ? Do you think he'll run them
down ? "
" Not much," laughed Cochrane. " They're only
fooling with him. They'll let out a few more links
in a minute, and then you'll see how they'll leave
him."
Sure enough just as he spoke the antelopes mani-
festly increased their speed, while Arthur could be
seen digging his heels into his horse's sides and
plying his quirt with unstinted vigor.
The next moment the broncho dropped as if he
had, been shot, and Bruce gave a cry of horror as
Arthur described a long parabola in the air, and
landed violently upon the prairie sod, where he lay
motionless.
la t
i:i
FROM THE PLAINS TO THE PEAKS. 243
CHAPTER XII.
FROM THE PLAINS TO THE PEAKS.
Putting their horses to the gallop the three were
soon beside Arthur, and while Cochrane and Bruce
sprang to the ground to lift him up, Harper went
after the horse, which had scrambled to its feet
again, and seemed disposed to bolt.
Arthur lay as still as though dead, the faot
being that the shock had knocked both the wind
and the senses out of him.
Bruce felt greatly alarmed, but Cochrane re-
assured him. To be thrown in that fashion was
no uncommon experience for a cow-boy. He had
been in precisely the same situation himself more
than once.
" Just get your cap fuU of water," said he, point-
ing to a pond near by, "and if there are no bones
broken I'll bring him to in no time."
Bruce ran off and got the water, which Cochrane
dashed vigorously into Arthur's face, and almost
at once the latter revived sufficiently to ask in a
faint voice full of bewilderment and pain :
" What has happened to me ? My head hurts
so."
244
THE BOY TRAMPS.
"You're all right, old chap," responded Coch-
rane cheerily, for Bruce somehow could not find
his voice at first. " You've had a bad toss, thafs
all. Just stay where you are until you feel better."
Arthur lay still a little longer, and then he
woke up completely, saying brightly :
"I did have a toss, didn't I? Serves me right
for not taking your advice and letting the ante-
lopes alone. But I'll know better next time, I tell
you.';
With Bruce's assistance he got on to his feet,
and it was a relief to all to find that he had not
even a sprain, let alone a broken bone, and that
after the dizziness passed away he would be none
the worse for his tumble.
" You may thank your stars you lit on a nice
soft bit of our prairie, and not on the hard ground,
my boy," said Harper, as he led up Arthur's horse
for him to remount.
" Yes," replied Arthur, " that's so. But if I had
been riding on hard ground my horse wouldn't
have put his foot in a hole and pitched me over his
head, you see."
The ranchmen laughed at the ready response,
and Arthur, having got into his saddle, the party
set off again, and in due time reached Fort Mac-
leod without further mishap.
The cattle-ranch to which Cochrane and Harper
belonged lay to the westward of the settlement,
almost in the shadow of the foot-hills, and after a
( ^
i|i
FROM THE PLAINS TO THE PEAKS. 245
he
)nse,
)arty
[ac-
irper
lent,
Iter a
couple of hours' stay at the fort they pushed on
thither, arriving at their destination in time for
supper.
" Here we are," cried Cochrane, throwing him-
self off his horse. " This is Bachelors' Hall. You
mustn't expect any of the luxuries of a first-class
hotel here. We'll give you the best we've got,
but you mustn't be too hard to please."
" You needn't worry about that at all," said
Bruce, looking about him with a pleased smile, for
he was delighted to be at a real ranch. " Don't
take any trouble on our account. We'll just
share pot-luck with you."
There were four other young men at the rancli,
to whom the boys were duly introduced, and then
they all sat down to a plain but bountiful meal,
for which they had rare, good appetites.
Two very happy days were spent with their
kind hostfj, during which the boys were in the
saddle nearly all the time, riding over the ranges
to see the cattle as they were scattered in bunches
here and there, and visiting some of the neighbors,
if that term could be accurately applied to people
living from five to ten miles distant.
It was during the second afternoon that Bruce
had an adventure which made a deep impression
upon him. They had been away off to a distant
range, and on the return he had fallen behind the
others, because his interest in flowers moved him
to study them more closely than was possible while
riding rapidly.
■il
246
THE BOY TRAMPS.
*^hi
i«'i
In a little dell he caught sight of a flower he had
not seen before, and determined to pick some
blossoms. So he dismounted, and slipping the
bridle rein over his arm was walking towards the
flowers when his horse suddently started, and, jerk-
ing the rein free, ran off a little distance, then
stopped, and looked back at him, as though to say :
" Catch me now, if you can."
Bruce glanced in the direction of the others, but
they had disappeared beyond a swell of the prairie,
and even his vigorous hail fell short of them, so,
with an exclamation of vexation, he started after
his horse.
The provoking animal, without running far from
him, would not permit him to approach near
enough to grasp the reins, and kept moving towards
a large herd of cattle that were grazing quietly a
couple of hundred yards away.
" You miserable sinner ! " cried Bruce angrily,
"once I get on your back again, I'll make you pay
for playing me such a trick."
But his threat of punishment had no effect upon
the horse, which certainly laughed, or, at all events,
curled its lip in derision at his vain efforts to over-
take it, although he pursued it almost to the edge
of the herd, around which it circled in manifest
enjoyment of the situation.
Bruce was not many yards away from the herd,
or " bunch," as the ranchmen call it, when some of
the big steers lifted their heads from the buffalo-grass
n .
III
FROM THE PLAINS TO THE PEAKS. 247
le had
some
^ the
Is the
, jerk-
then
say:
rs, but
)rairie,
jm, so,
1 after
ir from
1 near
Dwards
ietly a
tigrily,
)U pay
t upon
vents,
over-
e edge
anifest
3 herd,
ome of
3-grass
)
they were lazily munching, and looked at the in-
truder with wonder in their big, dark eyes. They
were not accustomed to seeing human beings on
foot, and the sight aroused their curiosity.
They presented so fine an appearance that Bruce
paused in the pursuit of his horse for a moment to
look at them, and then he became aware that the
interest was mutual. The cattle were all return-
ing his stare, and, more than that, were moving
towards him as if for a closer inspection.
They had come within ten yards of him, moving
slowly yet steadily, before Bruce realized his danger.
Alone and on foot with that great mass of cattle,
full of curiosity concerning him, unless he got
away from them at once he must inevitably be
borne down by their irresistible advance, and
crushed out of all life and recognition beneath their
heavy hoofs. They would not mean him harm, but
in their ponderous ignorance they would kill him
as surely as if they thirsted for his blood.
" Heaven help me ! " the poor boy cried as this
flashed into his mind. " How can I escape them ? "
There was but one way — to run for his life,
with the certainty of starting a stampede among
the cattle, and then having to keep ahead of it
until some avenue of escape presented itself.
Ejaculating a prayer he began to run in the direc-
tion of the ranch, bending his head, and putting
forth his whole energy. He had run many a race
before, but never anything approaching this one.
if
248
THE BOY TRAMPS.
«*-!,.
H>
\i\
for, the moment he started, the cattle quickened
their pace until they broke into a gallop, and, with
tossing horns and flying tails, came thundering
after him.
He had the advantage of the start, and gained a
clear fifty yards by it ; but once the cattle were fully
under way they got through the long grass far more
quickly than he did, so that it could be only a ques-
tion of time when they must over-run him.
Bruce could see them gaining upon him as he
cast anxious glances over his shoulder, and the fear
of death fell coldly on his brave young heart.
To attempt to evade the great creatures' onset
by a sudden dodge to one side was out of the ques-
tion. As they ran they had broadened out so that
they presented a broad front which could not be
thus avoided. He could do nothing but keep
straight on, praying for deliverance he knew not
how.
It was difficult running, the grass being rank and
strong, so that more than once he narrowly escaped
a tripping, and soon his breath came short, and his
head seemed as though it were nigh to bursting.
Nearer and nearer drew the mob of catt'e, excited
by their own foolish action, until its original cans.'
was forgotten in the frenzy of their charge. 1
were not really pursuing Bruce now. They wer^
running, simply, because having got started they
knew not how to stop until exhausted by their pre-
posterous efforts. But Bruce was right in their path^
^1 :
kened
., with
lering
ined a
e fully
r more
1 ques-
as he
he fear
t.
' onset
e ques-
so that
not be
t keep
Lew not
,nk and
iscaped
and his
ting,
excited
caiii
1
jy Wore
)d they
eir pre-
irpathf
FROM THE PLAINS TO THE PEAKS. 249
and that meant an awful death for himunless he could
get out of their way.
Jle felt his legs failing beneath him, and his lungs
refusing their office, when there came a shout from
the swell of the prairie just ahead, and Harper and
Cochrane appeared galloping at full speed toward
him.
Another minute and they would have been too
late. They had just time to race up and jilace
themselves between Bruce and the herd, waving
their hats and shouting with all their might, before
the bovine regiment thundered down on them.
The horns of the front rank were almost touching
the horses' breasts before the brutes swerved aside,
and those behind following their example, a lane
was opened through the mob wliich then swept on,
leaving Bruce and the horsemen unscathed.
" Oh, what an escape I've had ! " panted Bruce,
looking the gratitude to his rescuers that he felt
no words could adequately express. " It was per-
fectly awful to have all those cattle rushing down
on me, and not to be able to get out of their way.
It was like a dreadful nightmare."
" You had a close call for it, certainly," said
Cochrane. " They're clean crazy when they get
running like that, and if they'd got on you they'd
have trampled you as flat as a pancake. I saw
on^^ man that had been disposed of that way, and I
teii you I never want to see such a sight again."
Bruce shuddered at the idea, and, Harper hav-
250
THE BOY TRAMPS,
{
. 'A
ing brought his horse up, remounted, and rode on
for some time in silence. The flowers had for the
time lost all interest. His thoughts were engrossed
with the thrilling experience through vhvch he had
just passed.
The boys would have been glad to spend some
time at the ranch, where they were being so hos-
pitably treated, but felt bound to make further
progress in their journey, so the following morning
they bade " good-by " to their kind friends and set
off for Calgary, mounted upon horses which they
were to leave there at an appointed place for the
ranchmen to get them back subsequently.
The road ran along the valley at the edge of
the foot-hills, and allowed distant glimpses of the
higher peaks of the Rocky Mountains. I'he pict-
ure was very beautifully illuminated by the full
rays of the summer sun, and the boys' hearts grew
full of eagerness for a closer acquaintiince w ith those
glorious mountains.
" We must take our time going through the
Rockies," said Arthur. " I don't want to be whisked
along in a railway train at the rate of thirty miles
an hour. We'll walk it, won't we, Bruce ? "
" I'm quite agreed," responded Bruce. " We
still have three weeks before we take the steamer
at Vancouver, and we can't do better than spend
the time among the mountains."
Being thus of one mind they la^d out their pro-
gram as follows: Starting from Calgary they ,
FRO^[ THE PLAINS TO THE PEAKS. 251
I" We
tamer
jpend
pvo-
they
would foot it as far as Banff without delaying on
the way, and there spend several days, proceeding
thence by easy stages, according to the interest of
the route, until their tramp ended at salt water.
" We'll find the walking a good deal harder
through the mountains than it was anywhere else,"
said Bruce ; " but we needn't hurry, and there'll be
plenty of places to stop at when we an tired."
They rode to Calgary without mishap or advent-
ure, left the horses at the stables appointed, and,
having got their trunks from the station, went to
the hotel, for general refitting.
Having the evening on their hands they spent it
looking about the city, and were much impressed
by the many signs of wealth and prosperity. The
streets were lined with fine stores and handsome
residences ; they were well paved and brilliantly
illuminated by electricity, and were filled with
throngs of well-dressed, well-mannered people,
among whom the boys felt thoroughly at home.
" Who would ever have thought of seeing such
a fne city as this away out on the prairies ? " said
Arthur. " Before we came out here I used to think
that the people lived in tents and little log-huts.
Wouldn't they laugh at us if we were to tell them
tiiat ! "
"You may be sure they would," replied Bruce,
" if the idea of it didn't make them angry. We
certainly are getting our eyes opened on this trip
in a way that I never imagined."
: ^'
252
THE BOY TRAMPS.
MS)*:-,:,
It was a perfect morning when they set forth
from Calgary with their faces toward the wliite
peaks of the Rockies, which would thenceforth
dominate their route for many a long mile. In the
clear, calm air the mountain range seemed lar
nearer than it really was, and Arthur, in his usual
sanguine way, predicted that they would be at the
base of the great barrier, which lifted itself so
proudly above the plateau, before nightfall, if they
put in a good day's work.
But Bruce took a more cautious view.
" There are more miles between us and the
mountains than you imagine, Arthur," he said.
" My own idea is that we will do very well if we
get to them by mid-day to-morrow."
Arthur laughed jauntily, and stepped out as
though he would keep right on to the Rockies
without stopping ; but, as the sequel showed, both
he and Bruce were out in their estimate of the
distance, for it was not until the evening of the
second day that they reached Kananaskis station,
where the mountains really began.
The scenery through which they had passed was of
exceeding beauty and remarkable variety, and they
appreciated it all the more after the vast monot-
ony of the plains.
Each mile they tramped they were getting
higher up in the world, passing through the region
of rounded, grassy foot-hills, and up the river
" benches " or terraces where the ranchmen with
forth
,vhite
forth
n the
i tar
usual
it the
jlf so
f they
d the
said,
if we
Dut as
.ockies
I, both
f the
of the
tation,
was of
they
lonot-
jetting
[region
river
with
FROM THE PLAINS TO THE PEAKS. 253
their multitudinous animals held sway ; great herds
of horses grazing in the lower valley, thousands
of cattle upon the terraces, and tiocks of sheep
sprinkling the hilltops, every creature of them
looking well-fed and contented, although they
spent the year round in the open air, and had
never fed from crib or stall. •
Just beyond Cochrane station they crossed the
Bow river, a rushing mountain stream in which
they would have liked to have taken a bath but
that its waters were so turbulent, and, had they
known it, too icy-cold to be endured for more than
a moment.
Presently they reached the top of the first ter-
race, and got a glimpse of the glorious panoramas
in store for them, as, looking toward their left,
they saw the foot-hills rise in successive tiers of
sculptured heights to the snowy range beyond.
It was at this point that Arthur developed a
taste for landscapes that he had not previously
manifested. He liked to halt from time to time
and look around him, taking a comfortable seat on
a bowlder or tree-trunk for the purpose.
Bruce, who had hitherto shown the most interest
in the beauties of nature, was very glad to recog-
nize this new phase of his companion's character,
yet his exultation over it was somewhat dampened
by a lurking question in his mind as to whether
a desire to rest a bit had not somethmg to do
with it.
I '4
t
254
THE BOY TRAMPS.
In fact, he could not help gently hinting as
much to Arthur, who therefore fired up, and
asserting that he was not tired in the least, strode
away at a pace that would soon have left Bruce
far in the rear had he kept it up for any length of
time.
But he didn't. After a mile or so of rapid walk-
ing he came upon a lovely little spring of water
bubbling clear and delicious from the breast of
the cliff, and it gave him an opportunity to cool
his indignation, and to wait for Bruce to catch
up.
At Morley station, where they stopped for dinner
on the second day, tliey saw something of the red-
men in what was to them a new relation ; namely,
as tillers of the soil. It was the headquarters of
the Assiniboine reserve, and under the teaching
of Wesleyan missionaries, and the fostering care
of a considerate government, these roamers of the
plains had settled down to the prosaic occupations
of farming and stock-raising.
Arthur could not conceal his feeling of disap-
pointment at seeing the Indians thus domestic.
They did not look at all so natural or interesting
in red woollen shirts and gray homespun trousers
as in feathered buckskin and brilliant blankets.
But Bruce took a more practical view of the
matter.
" If they hadn't taken to farming, they'd just be-
come extinct like the buffalo," he said. " There's
g a3
and
brode
Jruce
■th of
walk-
water
ist of
) cool
catch
linner
LC red-
imely,
,ers of
ching
care
f the
ations
I disap-
lestic.
jesting
lousers
bts.
)f the
ist be-
Ihere'a
FROM THE PLAINS TO THE PEAKS. 255
hardly anything left for them to hunt, and who
was going to support them in utter idleness ? "
"That's so, assented Arthur, recognizing the ir-
resistible logic of his chum's argument. " But it
seems a pity all the same that they've had to choose
between dying out, and turning into such scare-
crows as that," and he pointed at two Indians who
certainly might have done good service in a wheat-
li Id.
Bruce laughed, and the Indians, noticing this,
smiled and bowed in return, their dusky counte-
Hances lighting up so pleasantly that Arthur felt
quite ashamed of having spoken in such disparag-
ing terms of them.
As they drew near Kananaskis, the mountains
towered right up before their face, and seemed to
pffer an impenetrable barrier to further progress,
looking very grand and beautiful, Avith their pur-
ple-tinted bases, and their white and gold flecked
flanks, while high above, dimly showing through a
veil of mist, soared their snowy peaks.
" This alone is well worth coming all the way
to see," said Bruce, with a deep sigh of content, for
his eye was one that lost nothing of nature's varied
beauty ; *' and if the beginning is so tine, what must
it be like in the heart of the mountains ? But
hark ! what is that deep roar coming from below
there ? It sounds like a big water-fall. I should
like to have a look at it."
They were just crossing the Kananaskis river on
256
THE BOY TRAMPS.
a high, iron bridge when Bruce said this ; and Ar-
thur, being always ready for anything that offered
variety, they followed the sound, which led them
away from the Kananaskis, and up the Bow river
for half a mile, where they were rewarded for their
tramp by getting a view of the great falls of the
Bow, vouchsafed to none of those who travel by
train.
" Do you happen to see any ferns growing any-
where out of reach that you'd like to have a try
for ? " asked Arthur, giving Bruce a roguish look.
"No, thank you, my boy," responded Bruce,
smiling back at his companion, "no more Mont-
morency experiences for me, if you please. Once
is quite enough. But these falls are grand, aren't
they ? I suppose we shall see lots of cascades in
the next two weeks.''
The falls deserved their warmest admiration, but
they could not linger long beside them, for the sun
was setting, and they had to arrange for accommo-
dation for the night at the station.
In this they had no difficulty, finding both board
and bed very comfortable and welcome, weary and
hungry as they were.
Making an early start the next morning, they
soon came to the Gap, where the railway, taking
advantage of the portal prepared for it by the Bow
river, ran boldly in between two almost vertical
walls of dizzy height, and keeping steadily along
on the track, which indeed offered the only path-
^M
FROM THE PLAINS TO THE PEAKS. 257
'
they
Jaking
Bow
jrtical
[along
I path-
way, they presently passed through this glorious
gateway into the precincts of the Rocky Moun-
tains.
It took them all that day to get to Banff, and
when they reached the big hotel there, which
the railway company maintained so luxuriously,
their eyes were as tired as their legs, for every
turn of the track had opened up some fresh vista
of grandeur and beauty.
Wind Mountain, its summit wreathed in writh-
ing clouds, and bearing on its shoulder that pro-
jecting spur so strangely resembling the bull's
head, after which it is called ; the Three Sisters,
rising into the azure side by side, and over] .nging
the valleys in terrific precipices laden with snow
that was ever melting yet never lessened ; Cas-
cade Mountain, its', perpendicular massive front
streaked with a multitude of varied tints glowing
in the sunshine, and marked by a slender water-
fall, glacier-fed, trailing almost from brow to base ;
the tongues of tree-growth creeping up the gulches,
the broken outlines of the ledges, and the snow-
white torrents splashing down the ravines, — of
these, and a thousand other wonders, the boys
missed nothing as they tramped along, Arthur
finding it delightfully easy to call a halt whenever
he felt disposed, for Bruce could not get enough of
the ever-changing panorama of nature's magnifi-
cence.
i
I
258
THE BOY TRAMPS,
CHAPTER XIII.
BY MOUNT AND STREAM.
»«it
1':h
The boys had not been an hour at Banff before
they were both entirely of one mind as to remain-
ing for several days. The hotel was the acme of
comfort, the views in all directions were superb,
there were mountains to be climbed, rivers to be
boated upon, lakes to be sailed over, and fish to be
caught to their hearts' content. Their portman-
teaus had come on all right from Calgary, and they
could dress like gentlemen or like tramps, accord-
ing to their humor. They had ample funds in
their purses, having drawn on their letter of credit
at Calgary. Therefore, they had nothing to pre-
vent them from putting in a thorough good time,
and this they were very determined to have.
" We must see all there is to be seen, and do all
there is to be done, before we leave this place," said
Arthur, " and then we can hurry over the rest of
it if we want to."
And this way of putting it expressed Bruce's
idea as well as his own.
The first thing, of course, was to map out some
sort of a program, and with the assistance of Mr.
BY MOUNT AND STREAM.
259
before
eraain-
cme of
iuperb,
; lo be
li to be
)rtman-
id they
accord-
nds in
credit
to pre-
time,
do all
.," said
I rest of
truce's
It some
)f Mr.
Mark, the hotel manager, this was presently accom-
plished to their satisfaction.
In accordance therewith, their first undertaking
was a trip to the Vermilion lakes. Going down
to the boat-house in the Bow river, they came near
to having a serious falling out over the question
as to what kind of craft they would take.
Bruce wanted to take one of the boats. They
were light, graceful affairs, easily rowed and safe to
manage, and the current running swiftly, and the
course of the stream being entirely unknown to
them, his natural caution declared in favor of the
boat.
But Arthur would have none of it.
" Why, Bruce," he exclaimed, " the very idea
of taking anything but a canoe! Isn't this the
country of the canoe, and aren't we right out in the
midst of it? We can have boats anywhere, but
this is the place for canoes, and we'd be just disgrac-
ing ourselves to take anything else."
It was all very well for Arthur to adopt this ex-
alted line of argument, but the simple truth was
that the taste of canoeing that he had enjoyed at
the Nepigou had been so pleasing that he was de-
lighted to have another opportunity of wielding a
paddle, and the question of the risk involved
counted for nothing.
The canoes were not the broad, deep birch-bark
affairs of the Nepigou. They were of the wooden
variety, lighter, stronger, and prettier than their
Ill' i
200
THE BOY TRAMPS.
■^l
»;■;'■ "
w>
m
'^i\
bark prototypes, but quite as crauky, if not indeed
more so.
" That's all well enough, Arthur," responded
Bruce, " but let us take a boat fii*st, anyway, and
if we get along all right, then we can try a canoe."
But Arthur was obdurate. He must have a canoe
at the start, and the boat-keeper supporting him
(for the excellent reason, which, of course, he kept
to himself, that he charged more for the canoes
than for the boats), Bruce reluctantly yielded, tak-
ing his place in the ticklish craft with a good man}''
misgivings.
Fitted out with cushions and paddles, they
pushed off from the platform into the stream, and
at once realized that, as the saying is, they had
their work cut out for them, if they wanted to go
far up the river.
The current of the Bow ran strong, swift, and
silent, and to propel a light canoe against it meant
the expenditure of much elbow-grease.
Bruce, who had the stern paddle, being the heav-
ier of the two, smiled grimly as he plunged his
blade in deep, and put his whole strength into each
stroke.
" I guess Arthur will soon get tired of this," he
said to himself, "and then he'll be quite williag
to take a boat."
But Arthur did not get tired, or rather, if he
did, he successfully concealed the fact, toiling away
resolutely, stroke after stroke, wliile the perspira-
BY MOUNT AND STREAM.
261
indeed
bonded
ly, and
3anoe."
I canoe
ig him
he kept
canoes
ed, tak-
1 many
s, they
im, and
ley had
i to go
ift, and
meant
heav-
jed his
I to each
liis," he
I willing
if he
Ig away
jrspira-
tion poured down his face, and his breath went
out In sharp pants like those of a high-pressure
steamer.
Of course such exertions had to tell. Steadily,
if slowly, the canoe crept up stream, Bruce hold-
ing her straight in her course, and pres< utly they
came to a point where there were two courses to
choose between. On tlie left lay a long stretch of
river like that over which they had passed, while
on the right was a narrower stream, flowing more
slowly.
"Which way do we go, Arthur? " asked Bruce.
" Did you ask the boatman ? "
In some confusion Arthur answered that he
had not done so, and Bruce was about to poke fun
at him when he joyfully cried :
"Oh! there are the directions. See!" and he
pointed out a wooden arrow stuck upon a tree, and
bearing the legend, " To the Vermilion lakes."
Obeying this sign they turned to the right, and
found themselves in a narrow but deep stream,
whose water was as clear as crystal, that of the
Bow river having been turbid and milky.
" What beautiful water ! " Arthur exclaimed.
"I must have a drink of it."
There was a tin cup in the canoe, and, picking
this up, he leaned over the side to fill it, when, in
some way or other that Bruce did not understand,
he overbalanced, and, with a cry more of vexa-
tion than of fright, plunged head first into the
2H2
rilE BOY TRAMPS,
8 1
KM:^'
miN.,j
water, almost overturning the canoo, which Bruce,
however, by a sort of miracle, kept from altogether
upsetting.
As soon as Arthur's mouth appeared above the
surface, there issued fortli from it a wail whose
sincerity could not be doubted.
" O-o, 0-0 ! " he groaned. " It's awfully cold.
It's regular ice-water. Help me out quick, or I'll
have the cramps, sure."
Bruce could not forbear laughing a little,
although it did seem somewhat cruel. But, tlien,
Arthur had been so obstinate about the canoe that
this being tumbled out while Bruce was left in had
such a look of just retribution.
" Oh, you needn't laugh," gasped Arthur, who
was making his way towards the canoe, which the
current had carried from him ; " it's no joke, I can
tell you. Keep her steady, now, till I get hold of
her."
When he did grasp the gunwale, the temptation
came upon him strongly, for a moment, to tip his
companion out, so that he might feel for himself
how cold the water was. But he magnanimously
resisted it.
" Paddle to the bank, now, as hard as you can,
Bruce," he directed. " I can't climb in without
upsetting you, so you have to tow me ashore."
A mere tyro as Bruce was at canoeing, he found
it no easy task to do as he was bid, with Arthur
hanging on to the side, and the current running
lii! Ill i
BY' MOUNT AND STREAM.
263
strongly against him. But by dint of heroic exer-
tions he worked into shallow water, and as soon
as Arthur could touch bottom, he scrambled out of
the icy flood and threw himself down on the grass,
saying :
" That's the coldest dip I ever had in my life."
Beaching the canoe, Bruce jumped ashore, and,
with an amused glance at Arthur's dripping condi-
tion, asked :
"Shall we go back to the hotel ?"
Arthur at once fired up. The suggestion of de-
feat touched him to the quick.
" You may, if you like," he shouted, springing to
his feet ; " but I'm going right on to the lakes, if
it takes me the rest of the day to get there."
It was well for the boys that they were the oppo-
sites of one another in disposition, for, had they
both been as hot-tempered as Arthur, they must
certainly have had a quarrel then and there that
would have cast a serious cloud over their friend-
ship.
But one of the finest features in Bruce's char-
acter was this : his spirit was ever most under con-
trol when the temptation to anger was strongest.
He could be angry enough at the right time and
place, but he understood perfectly how to remain
cool when to be irritated was inexpedient.
And so, instead of flinging back at Arthur some
sharp retort that would only have inflamed him
further, he Wiis silent for a moment, looking
1^1
1'^
(fl^l
I
264
THE BOY TRAMPS.
i
thoughtfulij^ westward, where the Vermilion lakes
lay, before he said, quietly :
" You're satisfied to be your own clothes-horse,
then ? "
" What do you mean ? " asked Arthur, in a puz-
zled, suspicious tone, still tliinking that his chum
was having fun at his expense.
" Why, that you're going to let your clothes dry
on you, and not get fresh ones at the hotel," re-
plied Bruce, with unruffled placidity.
" Oh, as to that," laughed Arthur, his wonted
amiability all coming back to him, as he realized
that he was quite misjudging his friend, " I don't
mind being wet on this lovely, warm day, and it
won't hurt the clothes, so we'll go right on, if you're
agreed."
They accordingly relaunched the canoe, and
followed up Forty-mile Creek, into whicli they had
turned from the Bow river, until another sign-board
directed them to turn to the left into a narrow
waterway, almost choked with wild rice and over-
hung by low bushes, which they would otherwise
have passed unnoticed, and yet which was the only
passage into the lakes of which they were in
search.
Any child could have managed the canoe in
these still, smooth waters, and they were able to
give themselves up to the full enjoyment of the
romance and grandeur of their surroundings as
they paddled lazil}^ along through a path so nar-
BY MO [TXT AND STREAM.
265
le-
an d
m
to
the
as
nar-
row at times that they could touch either bank
with their blades.
" Do you know, Arthur," said Bruce, whose
clear, far-seeing eyes had been ranging north, south,
east, and west with ever-growing wonder and
appreciation, " this is neare:; to being in Para-
dise than anytliing in my life before. If we coulil
only spend a whole summer here, and leave not a
single one of those glorious mountains unsealed I "
They had reached the first lake now, and, lloat-
ing on its placid bosom, the whole marvellous
panorama was open to their vision.
On their left rose the green terraces of Sulphur
and Bourgeau mountains ; northward, the wide
slopes of Squaw mountain were over-topped by
the crags of Cascade and by the broken turrets
of Hole-in-the-Wall, while westward was the most
inspiring prospect of all.
There, stretching in superb array, the monarchs
of the Rockies .«tood before them robed in a royal
ermine of snow, and crowned with coronets of ice.
Rising in domes, pyramids, cubes, and spires of
every shape, " tinted and shaded by pencils of
air," the sharply cut summits in front showing
firm against the remoter peaks revealed behind,
they composed a picture that was a miracle of
beauty, and stirred the admiratior jf the boyish
travellers so profoundly that they were silent from
sheer inability to express; their feelings.
*' Poor, dear old Scotland ! " Bruce murmured
266
THE BOY TRAMPS.
\ i
f
presently, as if speaking to himself ; " how would
your P^en Nevis and Ben Macdhui look beside
these giants? Little better than foot-hills, and
yet, Arthur, do you remember how proud we were
the day we reached the top of Ben Nevis ? "
"Indeed I do," responded Arthur; "but I'll be
a good deal prouder when I get to the top of that
big fellow," pointing at Mount Rundle, whose
bare limestone ridge glowed golden-brown in the
sunshine.
" We must try that to-morrow morning," said
Bruce. " We'll take our lunch with us, and give
the whole day to it."
" That's the idea," assented Arthur, to whom the
plan at once approved itself.
Paddling to the south end of the lake they
landed for a ramble on shore, and while roaming
about, Bruce found himself on the banks of the
Bow river, which just there came close to the
Vermilion lakes. The current was sweeping
swiftly downward, and the thought flashed into
his mind — why not make use of the very force
that had at first opposed their progress, to help
them homeward. They had only to portage the
canoe across the meadow that separated the lake
from the river, and then, launching it on the rapid
stream, to glide back to the boat-house at their
ease.
The moment he mentioned his thought, Arthur
gave a whoop of delight.
BY MOUNT AND STREAM.
207
vould
Deside
, and
) were
['11 be
if that
whose
in the
," said
.d give
Lom the
:e they
oaraing
of the
to the
^veeping
ed into
y force
to help
tage the
the lake
lie rapid
lat their
Arthur
"■ Why, what a genius you are, clium ! " he
cried, clapping his companion enthusi'istically on
the back. "AVe'II get even with tliat provoking
river now, and I'll forgive it for all the bother it
gave us, not to mention the dousing it gave me."
It was an easy task to transport the light canoe
from the lake to the river, and once launched in
the milky current of the latter, no further exertion
on their part was required than an occasional stroke
of the paddle to keep the graceful craft in its course.
" Isn't this the very poetry of motion ? " said
Bruce, as they glided with the smoothness of a
dream past the low green banks with their almost
unbroken palisade of trees, whose cool shadow came
far across the water.
Silently and swiftly the canoe slipped down-
stream until all too soon the boat-house came into
sight, and the end of their delightful voyage was
at hand.
" Oh ! it's too soon to land yet," protested Arthur.
" Let us go down to the bridge, and paddle back."
The carriage road crossed the river by an iron
girder bridge a couple of hundred yards below the
boat-house, and Bruce had no objection to pi olong-
ing their paddle that far.
There was no one at the boat-house when they
passed it, but on the bridge were several people
who watched the boys with evident interest, for it
must be confessed a glance was sufficient to show
that they were but inexperienced canoeists.
268
THE BOY TRAMPS.
^►Kf :
The rapidity of the current took a decided
increase below the boat-house, and Bruce was con-
gratulating himself that he had not consented to
go any farther than the bridge, when a man who
was standing at the middle of that structure called
out :
" Say, young fellows, you'd better turn round.
The current's mighty strong about here."
Believing the counsel good, Bruce gave a stroke
that was intended to turn the canoe up-stream, but
for lack of skill he overdid the thing, and the canoe
veered suddenly from its course in such a way as
to swing her bow perilously close to one of the
abutments of the bridge.
" Look out, Bruce ! What are you doing?" cried
Arthur, making a fierce stroke with his paddle so
as to avoid the danger.
But the canoe was now in the full lorce of the
current, and only an expert canoeist could have
kept it under control. Swaying this way and that,
it rushed right at the abutment, and in desperation
Arthur thrust out his paddle to P^^oid the collision.
In some way the blade got caught between the
how and the abutment, so that the handle was torn
from his grasp, and the paddle fell into the water
beyond his reach.
" Good heavens ! my paddle's gone ! " he groaned.
" What am I to do ? "
What was he to do, indeed ? In a trice the canoe
had been swept under the bridge, and was speeding
BY MOUNT AND STREAM.
269
of the
have
that,
ation
ision.
n the
torn
water
aned.
janoe
jding
on as lightly as a chip, Bruce being powerless to
restrain or direct it with his single paddle.
" Make for the shore ! malve for the shore I "
shouted the man on tlie bridge, as he dashed across
it to the riglit bank of the river in order to follow
after the canoe.
The direction was easy to give, but, so far as
Bruce was concerned, impossible of being carried
out. He could do nothing at all with the canoe,
which went dancing down with ever-increasing
speed toward a series of rapids tliat began not far
below the bridge, and grew more and more turbu-
lent, until they ended in a roaring water-fall, to go
over vs^hich meant inevitable death.
" Stop her, stop her, or you'll go over the falls I "
shrieked the man, who was racing along the bank,
in benevolent though unavailing sympathy.
At this warning the faces of both boys blanched.
They knew notliing of the falls, but they could
easily understand how such rapids as their canoe
was now tossing in would lead to something of
the kind.
" Oh, Bruce ! " exclaimed Arthur despairingly,
" this is awful. How can we save ourselves ? "
" Keep as steady as you can, Arthur," Bruce re-
plied, his countenance firm though pallid, and lii
eyes looking steadfastly ahead. " There are plenty
of chances yet."
Although he could not check the speed of the
canoe he did manage to direct its course suffi-
270
THE BOY TRAMPS,
1!^
Wft-jtis .
ciently to keep it heading with tlie current, and at
the same time to work it a little nearer the bank
along which the man was running.
The rapids were growing rapidly rougher, and
the light craft bobbed about in them most vi-
vaciously ; but the motion was far from giving
pleasure to the imperilled occupants, whose ears
already caught the roar of the falls toward which
they were being borne against their will.
" The falls ! do you hear them, Bruce? " shrieked
Arthur, in terror. " They must be just ahead."
"Be still, Arthur, it's our only chance," was
Bruce's reply, given in a tone whose steadiness
astonished himself.
By taking a short cut through the trees the man
had got some distance ahead of the canoe, and as
it turned a bend in the river the boys saw him
standing knee-deep in the water, and stretcliing
out his hands toward them.
At the same moment they saw beyond him the
snow-wliite billows which marked the beginning of
the fall,
" The rope ! throw me the rope ! " the man
shouted at the top of his voice. " It's your only
chance."
By desperate strokes of his paddle Bruce forced
the canoe towards the man, while Arthur gathered
together the rope at the bow of the canoe, which
fortunately was of a good length, and prepared to
tiing it.
BY MOUNT AXD STREAM.
271
and at
) bank
r, and
ost vi-
giving
>e ears
which
irieked
id."
," was
idiness
lie man
and as
\v him
tching
im the
[ling of
man
only
[forced
Lhered
I which
:ed to
" Now I Tlirow it now ! " cried Brnce, when he
had got tho canoe within five yards of the man.
Arthur flung the rope, which was indeed no
more than a stout cord, so straight at the nian that
its loose end struck him full in the face. But he
did not flinch, and caught it fast in both hands,
bracing himself for the strain when the rope
tightened.
So great was the impetus of the canoe that the
jerk of its sudden stopping nearly dragged the man
off his feet, and the boys had a narrow escape from
being tumbled into the water.
But happily they held on to their seats, and the
man to the rop;, and in another moment they had
sprung ashore, and all danger was over.
" By Jupiter ! but that was an escape I " ex-
claimed Arthur; "and but for you, sir," turning to
the man and holding out his hand, " we VI have
been over those falls, sure. You've saved our
lives."
" Yes, indeed," said Bruce, holding out his hand,
"and I don't know how we can thank you enough.
We had no business to go past the boat-house
when we're such poor hands at managing a canoe."
The man smiled pleasantly as he returned the
grateful hand-shakes.
" I was thinking ye hadn't much practice at it
as I was watching ye from the bridge. No doubt
ye've had a close call, but a miss is as good as a mile,
ye know, and ye'll just have to be more careful
272
THE BOY TRAMPS.
\,A
■-'■5 •
j
next time. How's ye goin' to get your canoe back
to the boat-house ? "
"I suppose we'll have to carry it," answered
Bruce.
*' That'll be rather a tough job," said the man.
" Jest leave it here a little, and I'll bring my cart
down, and tote it back on that."
This suggestion suited the boys admirably, and
so, having rewarded their friend in need for his
timely services, and settled with the boat-keeper
for the hire of the canoe, they returned to the hotel,
which they reached just in time for lunch.
Having had their fill of excitement and adventure
for the day, they spent the afternoon quietly at the
natural sulphur baths, which were one of the
wonders of the place.
They first visited the cave, a beehive-shaped
pit in the limy deposit that had grown up through
the ages around the spring, and which was formerly
entered by a hole in the top. But some years pre-
viously a short tunnel had been driven from tlie
outside right into the cave, and it was through this
they made their way, hardly able to see for the
steam that filled the atmosphere.
The tunnel brouglit them into a grotto some
thirty feet high, and twice as wide, the domed roof
of which was adorned with glittering stalactites,
while the floor was of water, clear as crystal, and of
an exquisite aquamarine tint ; from the rippled sur-
face the steam was rising in unceasing whiffs.
i
BY MOUNT AND STREAM.
273
Isome
roof
ttites,
Ul of
sur-
A plank-walk extended around the wall, and from
it steps led down into the water, which was not more
than five feet deep at the most. Pure quartz sand
lined the bottom of the pool, and looking down
carefully, the water could be seen bubbling up with
constant vigor.
The temptation to have a plunge in so novel a
bath was not to be resisted, and the boys wasted no
time in doffing their clothes and donning a bath-
ing-suit.
They entered the water gingerly, fearing it might
feel too hot at first, but soon were rolling and splash-
ing about in its luxurious deptks, for they found
the temperature just right, and the taste not un-
pleasant, charged with suljjhur though it was.
" Isn't this perfectly delicious ! " exclaimed
Arthur, floating lazily on his back. " I'd like to
stay here all the afteiiioon, wouldn't you, Bruce ? "
" I'm afraid we should be pretty limp creatures
if we did that," replied Bruce ; " and then, we've
got the Basin to see yet, you know."
" That's so," assented Arthur, with a sigh ; " but
we needn't hurry over there. It can't be much
better than this."
When, however, after dressing again, they did
goon to the Basin, Arthur was inclined to modify his
opinion. Here was the same circular pool of pel-
lucid water, that came bubbling up through the
same white quartz sand, but instead of being closed
in by high walls of limestone that permitted only
274
THE BOY TRAMPS.
a glimpse of the sky, it was wide open to the sky,
so that the steam escaped at once, and the atmos-
phere was entirely free from it. Thus, flooded
with sunlight, it was a veritable Naiads' bath, and
looked so irresistibly attractive that although his
hair was not yet dry from his sousing in the cave,
nothing would satisfy Arthur but that he must
have a dip in the Basin also.
Bruce would not be bothered undressing again,
and lounged comfortably on a bench, while Arthur
amused himself trying to stand on the places where
the water gushed up, the force of the springs being
sufficient to send him floating off in spite of all his
efforts.
The afternoon was well spent before they came
away from this enchanting place, and the idea of
being able to have such a bath every day if they
liked increased their desire to spend at least a month
in this wonderland, had it been at all practicable.
The next morning they set fortli to scale Mount
Rundle, whose massive front filled half the land-
scape as one looked from the rear balcony of the
hotel.
They prepared for a day's outing, and, on the
advice of the hotel-manager, took with them as
guide an Indian boy rejoicing in the nickname of
" One Cent," probably because of the coppery tint
of his complexion.
Mr. Mark guaranteed that One Cent knew the
easiest way to the top of the mountain, and his
e sky,
itmos-
ooded
h, and
Th his
! cave,
1 must
again,
Vrthur
where
\ being
all his
Y came
dea of
f they
month
able.
Mount
land-
|of the
)n the
L as
ime of
ry tint
iw the
id his
BY MOUNT AND STREAM.
275
services were well worth the half-dollar he de-
manded for tliem, so the boys were only too glad
to have him.
In his impatience to reach the mountain's foot,
and beofin the climbinG:, Arthur started off at a
lively pace, that caused One Cent to shake his head
sagely and murmur :
"Better go slow. Get plenty tired soon, you
bet."
"Good advice that, Arthur," said Bruce, smil-
ing. "He knows what he's talking about. There's
more work ahead of us than you imagine, per-
haps."
And so it 2-)roved, indeed. In tlie first place the
mountain turned out to be a great deal farther
from the hotel than it luoked, and in the second
place its lower slopes were much steeper than they
appeared.
At first they had to make their way through
dense masses of scrub pine, which grew thinner as
they ascended, until they disappeared altugether I
over wide spaces, leaving the rock bare, to be
beaten upon by the rays of the hot summer
sun.
The heat was trying enough, but the mosquitoes
were worse. They came in clouds, blowing their
tiny trumpets for joy at having such fine, fresh
victims, and leaving One Cent almost untouched,
while they devoted themselves with striking unan-
imity to his white brothers.
1^
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
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Photograpbic
Sdences
Corporation
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. )4S80
(716) 872-4503
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276
THE BOY TRAMPS.
The hoy^ had not accomplished more than one-
half of the ascent before they realized that the un-
dertaking was no mere holiday task, but one that
would test their endurance and strength to the
utmost.
As might be expected, Arthur was the first to
cry out for a halt. A tiny stream of water, gush-
ing cool and clear from a gray crag, furnished a
good excuse, of which he was not slow to take
advantage.
" Let's stop and liave a drink," he suggested.
"I'm as dry as a lime-kiln."
The pause gave them a chance to look back
over the way they had come, and to take in the
view from their elevation. They could com-
mand the whole valley of the Bow, and the
grandeur of the picture inspired them to renewed
effort.
" If it's so fine fi'om here, Arthur," said Bruce
enthusiastically, " what must it be like from the
top?"
The remaining portion of the climb proved ex-
ceedingly difficult, in spite of the intelligence
shown by One Cent in picking out the most prac-
ticable wa}'.
There was no pretence of a path, but the Indian
instinct for the right direction never failed him;
and althougli their line of progress was much after
the manner of a cork-screw, they had the constant
satisfaction of realizing that, if the top was not
BY MOUNT AND STREAM.
211
drawing rapidly nearer, the bottom was certainly-
falling farther beneath them.
The mosquitoes contested every inch of the way.
It seemed as if they must be the guardians of the
mountain, commissioned to oppose intrusion upon
its solitary state. Arthur was driven nearly frantic
by their stings, and his hands were going contin-
ually in furious, though futile, endeavors to pro-
tect himself.
Higher and higher the three boys worked their
way until only the curious saddle-back which
forms the topmost ridge of Mount Rundle was
left to be conquered.
" Must take plenty care now," said One Cent,
looking very grave. " Heap easy get bad fall."
The difiBculty was that the steep slope which
led to the crest of the mountain was composed of
a soft rock that crumbled and broke away under
the foot, and the footsteps had to be planted
slowly and with much circumspection.
At the last the boys had to crawl painfully on
their hands and knees, One Cent setting them the
example. But when they did reach the summit,
and, seating themselves upon it, were able to sweep
the whole superb amphitheatre of mountain peaks
with unchecked vision, they at once forgot all the
toil and torment of the ascent.
One Cent knew the name of every mountain
within sight, and pointed them out one after
another, pronouncing their names in his quaint
;i
• I
278
rilE BOY TRAMPS.
mm
Indian way that was not always entirely in-
telligible.
Right across the valley of the Spray the broad
tree-clad flanks of Sulphur Mountain were bathed
in sunlight, while at the right the round shoulders
of Tunnel Mountain showed gray and bare.
Northward, the huge mass of Cascade Mountain
was streaked with snow-drifts, and farther away
Mount Inglesmaldie and Mount Peechee towered
above all their fellows, the one falling a little
short of, and the other exceeding, ten thousand
feet in height.
Away below them lay the hotel, looking little
larger than a summer cottage ; so close beneath
them, it seemed, that Arthur pretended he could
throw stones upon its roof, and wished he had a
parachute to try a flying descent to it, after the
manner of the aeronaut at the exhibition.
They remained for over an hour at the summit,
Arthur being in no hurry to leave it, because there
was a most refreshing breeze up there, and, more-
over, the mosquitoes had ceased from troubling,
having been parted company with some hundreds
of feet below.
When they did set out upon the return journey
Arthur would not consent to retracing their steps.
" No, sirree," he exclaimed emphatically, " I'm
not going to let those jiestiferous mosquitoes have
another feed off me. I'll let a fresh lot have a
chance, if there's no help for it. But I believe if
1.1 ;
BY MOUNT AND STREAM.
279
we go down the side of the mountain where the
wind's blowing we shan't be bothered half so
much. It's worth trying, anyway."
As they were not pressed for time Bruce had no
objections to taking another way down, but One
Cent shook his head, saying :
" Better go back same way. Other side plenty
steep."
" Oh, come now. One Cent," responded Arthur
in a bantering tone, " you're just lazy, that's all.
You're anxious to get back to the hotel. But
you're not going to do it, so start ahead down this
other side and we'll follow."
With a decidedly glum look One Cent did as he
was bid, but so slowly and reluctantly that Arthur,
growing impatient, pushed . .ist him, saying rather
roughly :
" Tut ! you're slower than a funeral. Let me
show you how to move along."
This he did so recklessly that Bruce had for the
second time warned him to be more careful, and
was just hastening forward to lay a restraining
hand upon him when the rock crumbled under-
neath Arthur's feet, and, uttering a shrill cry of
terror, he went sliding down a sharp declivity
which led towards a tremendous chasm.
280
THE BOY TRAMPS.
\
CHAPTER XIV.
BANFF, AND BFA'OND.
A''
Had it not been for the timely interposition of
One Cent Bruce would have gone sliding down
after Arthur. But the sharp-witted Indian laid
hold of liim just as his feet were slipping, and by
a quick, strong jerk threw him back in a sitting
posture that enabled him to retain his place.
" Plenty fool chap tliat," said the Indian with a
significant shrug of the shoulders as he watched the
unfortunate Arthur making frantic though futile
endeavors to stay his fall.
" But we must save him," cried Bruce in a tone
of agonized anxiety. " Oh, what can we do ? "
Down went the boy, stirring up a small avalanche
of loose stones in his descent, and it seemed as
if nothing could save him from the fatal plunge
over the precipice, when happily liis course was
arrested by a projection of harder rock than the
debris which composed the slope.
He came upon this projection in such a way that
one leg went on each side of it, and he got astride
of it, so to speak.
The instant he felt the firm rock underneath him
BANFF, AND BEYOND.
281
his self-control, which had deserted him in the first
fright of his fall, came back to him, and, clasping
the friendly pinnacle firmly, he turned his head
towards where he had left Bruce, and shouted
back:
" I'm all right I This thing s solid."
" Thank God ! " exclaimed Bruce fervently.
" He says he's all right. Now, how can we get
him up out of that?"
One Cent had no suggestion to offer. He was
glad Arthur had not gone over the precipice, but,
that danger being past, he felt no especial concern
about getting him out of his uncomfortable, if not
dangerous, situation. Bruce could see about that.
And Bruce did proceed to see about it without a
minute's delay. His clear, active brain quickly had
a scheme of action devised.
" Look here. One Cent," said he impressively,
laying his hand upon the Indian's arm, " I'm go-
ing to stay here to keep A^^thur company, and you
must hurry back to the hotel and get help. Bring
back a good strong rope and a lantern, for it may
be dark before we all get away from here. Hurry
up now, and be back as quick as you can."
One Cent looked sulky. The idea of racing
down to the hotel, and toiling back again, was not
at all attractive, and he hung back in e\4dent re-
luctance to start.
Bruce's first impulse on noting this was to wax
wrathy, and express his indignation at such cold-
282
THE HOY TRAMPS,
blooded indifference to another's peril in no meas.
ured terras.
But he checked himself promptly ; a more politic
method of dealing with the phlegmatic red man
was imperatively necessary. He therefore adopted
a different style of argument. Taking out his
purse he extracted a two-dollar bill, and waved it
before the Indian's avid eyes, saying:
" See, now, One Cent. Bring me what I told you
as soon as you possibly can, and this money is
yours."
Not anotlier word was necessary. After a long-
ing look at the note. One Cent darted off, descending
the mountainside in long leaps from ledge to ledge
which no white man would lipve dared attempt.
When he had started Bruce shoul-ed cheeringly
to Arthur :
" You'll be all right soon, chum. One Cent has
gone back to the hotel for a rope, and we'll pull
you up out of that before long. Keep a tight hold
there, and be as patient as you can."
" You'll stay there, won't you, Bruce ? " Arthur
called back in a most pitiful tone. " It would be
awful to be left here alone."
" Of course I will," responded Bruce heartily,
"if I have to stay all night; and, say, Arthur,
couldn't 3''ou manage to turn round so as to be
facing up this way ? It'll be more sociable than
having your back to me."
" I'U try," said Arthur, and he began to squirm
i
iii'
BANFF, AXD nEVOXD.
2r.3
aeas.
clitic
man
opted
t his
d it
»^e
d you
ley is
I long-
snding
) ledge
mpt.
ringly
snt has
[11 pull
it hold
Lithur
\\i\d be
iartily,
Lithur,
to be
le than
Isquirm
around very carefully, moving only a few inches at
a time, for the loose stones liad a startling way of
getting dislodged, and making mimic avalanches.
After some minutes of anxious work lie sncceeded
in changing his position, so that liis face wiis turned
towards Bruce.
'• Ah ! " said his companion, " that's better now.
We can talk to one another properly."
It was certainly a curious situation in whicli
to sustain a conversation, and little wonder if it
flagged during the long minutes that dragged
themselves on so slowly, while One Cent was on
his mission.
Arthur's position was both awkward and weari-
some, and he gave many a groan of tribulation as
the afternoon slipped by, and still there was no sign
of One Cent.
" Do you think he'd leave us here, and not come
back for us at all ? " Arthur asked with pathetic
anxiety in his voice.
" Not a bit of it," replied Bruce in his most posi-
tive tone. " He hasn't a chance to make a couple
of dollars very often, and he'll be here before
another half-hour's gone."
Nor was Bruce's judgment in the matter at fault.
The half-hour had about elapsed when One Cent
appeared, his face shining with perspiration and
pride, and over his arm a coil of rope, while in his
right hand was a lantern.
Me get 'em all," he panted, as he put the
((
284
THE BOY TRAMPS.
i '
■i»(i1 '.
i\
m,i.
lantern down at Brace's feet, and let the coil of
rope drop from his shoulder.
"Well done, One Cent! " cried Bruce, not until
tluit moment realizing how terribly anxious he luid
been, the load being now lifted from his mind.
" You couldn't have done it better. Here's your
money. You've earned it nobly."
One Cent's dusky fingers closed exultantly over
the note, but with not a whit less joy did I»ruce's
lay hold of the precious rope which meant his
companion's release from peril.
" Here's the rope, Arthur ! " he shouted gleefully
as he gathered it in a coil, and then flung it down
the slope.
The first throw fell short, but the second carried
it within Arthur's reach, and lie grasped it with a
hearty " hurrah I " that showed he had plenty of
vigor still left.
" Now, then, Arthur," Bruce called out, " take
a turn of the rope around your waist, and grip it
with all your might. We'll have to pull you up
slowly, for fear of your starting an avalanche."
Settling themselves firmly against the rock so
that they could not possibly overbalance, Bruce
and One Cent joined forces, and proceeded to haul
Arthur up hand over hand.
It was slow work, but, with characteristic caution,
Bruce would not allow of any haste, and all in good
time Arthur was brought back to safety, with only
Bome slight injuries to his hands, and a big rent in
1
:iili '
BANFF, AND BEYOND,
285
il of
until
e liatl
tnintl*
your
y over
;ruce's
ut lii«
eefuUy
t down
carried
: with a
enty of
" take
grip
it
you up
he.
Irock so
, Bruce
to haul
Icaution,
in good
[ith only
rent in
his trousers, to show how narrow an escape from
death had been his.
After resting a little while they set out for the
hotel, and before the journey was more than half
completed Hruce's foresiglit in having One Cent
get the lantern was amply justified, as it grew so
dark that without it even the Indian could not
have kept the trail, and they would have been
compelled to remain out all night.
When they did reach the hotel they found Mr.
Mark and many of the guests awaiting their return
with a good deal of anxiety. In fact, a volunteer
relief expedition was already in process of organi-
zation, some of whose members seemed rather to
regret that this op[)ortunity to distinguish them-
selves was not allowed them.
When the story of the escape had been told, the
general opinion was that Arthur had been extremely
fortunate, as if that projection had not stopped his
fall he must infallibly have gone over a precipice
hundreds of feet in height, to be dashed to pieces
on the pitiless bowlders below.
The interest this incident awakened, combined
with the novelty of the boys' method of travelling,
led to their receiving an invitation for the follow-
ing day which they were not slow in accepting.
Among the guests at the hotel was a prominent
member of the Canadian Parliament, and the in-
spector of the jNIounted Police in charge of the
National Park at Banff had offered to take the
286
THE BOY TRAMPS.
member and a limited number of his friends for a
drive to Devil's Lake in a four-in-hand turnout.
The member, having taken a fancy to the boys,
was moved thereby to offer them seats in the big
wagon, and they, of course, jumped at the chance,
which was one that fell to few of the many tourists
visiting Banff.
They were sitting in the shade of the veranda
the following morning when the four-in-hand
appeared, and as it came up the hill at full galloi),
and swung round in the narrow space before the
door, coming to a stop at exactly the right spot,
they could not refrain from expressing their ad-
miration aloud, it was such a superb piece of
driving.
" Wasn't that splendidly done ? " cried Arthur,
clapping his hands. " It will be grand fun having
a drive with a man who can manage his horses like
that."
The driver was the officer in command of tlie
Mounted Police, Inspector Taylor, a magnificent
specimen of manh ■ ^d, to whom the control of four
strong, spirited horses was a mere holiday task.
The conveyance, which was a kind of long, heavy
express wagon with four seats, quickly filled up,
the boys being put in the rear seat with the mem-
ber's daughter, a bright, attractive young lady, with
whom they were soon on excellent terms.
The seat of honor beside the whip was given to
a bride spending her honeymoon at Banff, while
BANFF, AND BEYOND.
287
for a
ut.
boys,
be big
liance,
)uri8ts
eranda
n-hand
gallop,
)re the
it spot,
leir ad-
iece of
Arthur,
having
ses like
of the
Inificent
of four
[ask.
r, heavy
[led up,
le mem-
Ly, with
liven to
[, while
the other seats aeconimodated the member of Par-
liament and his friends.
It was a merry, noisy party, and without any
antieipation of the exeiting time in store for them
they rolled away amid a cloud of dust, and a round
of cheers from the other people wlio were not lucky
enough to be with them.
" Tliey say we go over some roads tliat will
make your hair f:t{ind up, ^.aid Bruce. " I suppose
we've got a good, stronr/ i-rake on the wagon."
"Oh, you may be sure of that," replied Miss
Montague, with a sunny f mile. " It's a Govern-
ment turnout, and nv father's a member, you
know, and they're bound to take the best of care
of 7i/wi."
The boys both laughed, as it was evident their
fair companion was speaking more in jest thru
earnest.
" Your father, then, is our guardian angel," said
Bruce, "and we shall be all safe so long as we
keep close to him — is that it?"
" If you like," returned Miss Montague. " He's
my guardian, anyway, and he'll take good care that
nothing happens to me that he can help."
As they were thus pleasantly chatting the heav-
ily freighted carriage rattled down into the valley,
crossed the iron bridge, and began the series of
ascending curves by which the height of Tunnel
Mountain was scaled.
The road, admirably built, albeit somewhat nar-
288
THE BOY TRAMPS.
i I
%\i
i I
Hi'
•*»iii
t.
row, made long loops in the mountain-side, and it
was collar-work for the horses every inch of the
way, but the glorious views that successively
opened out made the passengers content with the
slow progress.
Indeed, as they climbed higher and higher, and
yawning declivities opened out on their right, they
were glad enough to creep along rather than hasten,
since a slight diversion from the road might be at-
tended with such disastrous effects.
They had all but completed the ascent, and were
just turning a sharp bend where the road was built
out by trestle-work on a shoulder of the mountain
in such a way that one had a clear look into the
rapids of the Bow river hundreds of feet below,
when the bride, who had been evincing a good deal
of nervousness, gave a shrill cry, and, throwing up
her hands, would have pitched forward out of the
carriage in a dead faint had not Mr. Taylor, rap-
idly sliifting all the reins into his right hand,
cleverly caught her with his left, and held her
firmly.
It was a critical moment, not only for the help-
less woman and the inspector, but for the other
occupants of the wpS t
M
314
THE BOY TRAMPS,
•vt •
So soundly were the boys sleeping that they
did not awaken until Mr. Ashdown shook them,
saying :
" Wake up, gentlemen, and I'll show you the
way back to the house."
When they did get their eyes open, they both
felt somewhat reluctant to leave so romantic a
sleeping-place, but in view of Mr. Ashdown's kind-
ness in coming for them, and of the attractions of
a good dinner, followed by a more comfortable bed
than the best of turf, they decided to go back
with him. Guided by his lantern, the descent of
the mountain was made rapidly and safely, and
they got to the Chalet in fine fettle for the sub-
stantial repast Mrs. Ashdown had awaiting them.
They amused their host very much by an
account of the day's adventures, and he congrat-
ulated them warmly upon their rare success in
getting a good view of the wild creatures of the
mountains.
" I can tell you, my young friends, that many a
chap has come up here with a full climbing and
hunting outfit, mid has gone away again without a
sight of a horu oi hoof. The goats and sheep are
getting shyer every year, and soon they'll disappear
altogether, I suppose."
The boys slept late the following morning, for
they were thoroughly tired, and the sun had got
well on its way toward the zenith ere they left
Laggan behind. But this did not matter seriously,
1
Seven miles stead v xv.Ti • , "''^ ^'8"'^^.
^he^t point re, h cl I ';^: '"■"l'-^'" "^-'^o the
"o-n gnule unt Z ~' ' '!{ "''""^ '- - ".^
was begun. ^'''"' "^ "i" Selkirk Kange
belSfwaSar;;™""' "^ey ea.e to the
tor Station, where thj .e e .L?"^'" ^^ «--
tory lunch. Fron, thil ^Ztt I '"' ' T^'^^^^"
almost terrible in its subHn f , '""'^ '^''''■■"''e
giad that they had noTtlTZ Z "t '°^'^ ^^-
a panting engine ^ """"S'' 't behind
sidr:tt7eV:tn - ^-o ^ .ouutai.
dropped sharp,; ajj ^ th Ih/t' ^ ^^"«^
"ver foaming furious J- at the ott '^'"^""°''»«
«g a ribbon of snowy whU ^^ "'l""' '"^•'^^-
g-en of the eiose-set pi:;'".'^ """"^'^ *« ^art
Hou"tCt:r;rf':^t--^-owof
™'ghty dome, glowing Jf *''" '"^"ff''' whose ,
high above the fearer 1 k^a.^r^' ''°'°"' ^°'-'«n to the
chosen a
d-car, for
le famous
gineering
1 the ex-
y nature
side, and
ing rails,
the left,
d across
as ton-
like that
Tunnel
lie.
the Ross
bhe base
In itself
stone's
seeping
around to the left, it brushed Cougar Mountain on
the other side of the lUecilliwaet river, and, cross-
ing again to the left, went on down the valley,
parallel with its former course.
" Look, Arthur, look I " exclaimed Bruce, as the
car spun around the final curve ; " that's the way
we came down. Isn't it wonderful?"
It did indeed seem wonderful, for far above
them were two long gashes in the mbuntain-side
showing plainly against the splintered crags, and
running parallel to each other, that were the handi-
work of man, indicating where he had ventured to
build the iron road down which the car had swiftly
sped.
The ride over the Loops was a memorable ex-
perience. Seateel comfortably at the front of the
hand-car, and having absolutely nothing to do but
to hold on and gaze about them, the boys were
enabled to enjoy it all to perfection. So smoothly
and steadily did the car roll along that they took
no thought of the distance traversed, and when
they reached the end of the descent, and ran into
lUecilliwaet Station, they were no less surprised
than sorry.
"I wish we could do it all over again," said
Arthur, after they had paid and thanked the
section-men. " It didn't last half long enough."
" That's so," responded Bruce. " But it was
splendid while it did last." Then, glancing back
over the way they had come, he added with a quiet
340
THE BOY TRAMPS.
IH8:
I
smile, " But just think, Arthur, what a job it
would be working back again! I'm afraid it
would take us as many hours as we were minutes
coasting down."
Arthur shook his head very decisively. Such an
undertaking had no attraction for him, even to
walk up that steep grade would have more than
contented him.
Losing no time at Illecilliwaet, they kept on until
they reached Albert Carion, the most striking of
several deep fissures in the mountain whose edges
the track skirted.
Here they halted for a good look at this remark-
able rift in the solid rock, many hundreds of feet
deep, and at the bottom holding the river within
such narrow limits that it boiled and foamed like a
caldron as it forced its way through into larger
space.
As they stood near the edge of the chasm, Bruce
challenged Arthur to a contest in stone-throwing.
The other side of the canon seemed within easy
range, and there was plenty of small stones lying
at hand.
" Do you think you could throw a stone across
there ? " said Bruce, indicating the widest part of
the chasm.
" Of course I could," answered Arthur con-
fidently. " I believe I could jerk one over," and
he stooped to pick up a stone.
" Don't be too sure," rejoined Bruce. " The dis-
tance is greater than it seems."
:* t
■'.&^..
>. w , Hi w rt r iy i ir
t job it
fraid it
[ninutes
nich an
;ven to
re than
)n until
nng of
e edges
•emark-
ol feet
within
I like a
larger
Bruce
twing.
easy-
lying
cross
lart of
con-
[' and
dis-
DOWN THE GLACIER.
341
They had some difficulty in finding just what
they wanted, but soon were suited, and after
Arthur had made a couple of vain attempts to jerk
a stone across they both threw with all their might.
To their great chagrin the missiles fell short,
Bruce's hitting the clift far down, and Arthur's not
going even that distance.
This naturally roused them to greater efforts,
and in iiis eagerness to accomplish the feat Bruce
forgot his wonted caution, and went so near the
edge of the cliff where it was scaly and soft that a
piece of it broke away beneath him, and with a
wild cry of fright he disappeared.
Arthur had his back turned at the moment, being
engaged in looking for a stone, but, hearing the cry,
he wheeled around just as Bruce's head vanished.
Uttering an exclamation of horror he rushed to
the spot, fearing nothing less than the sight of his
companion falling headlong into the boiling tor-
rent far below.
But, happily, Bruce's case, though desperate
enough, was not so hopeless as that. By a mar-
vellous piece of good fortune his fall had been
arrested by a stunted spruce tree which was mak-
ing a brave struggle for life on a narrow ledge, and
he was clinging to this precarious hold with the
strength that is born of despair.
" Oh, Bruce I " cried Arthur, with a sob of relief,
" can you hold on there till I help you up ? "
" I can hold on all right," was the calm reply,
342
THE BOY TRAMPS.
4N)t'
fur in spite of liis appalling situation the boy had
not lost his self-control, "but I'm not so sure
about this little tree. Get help as quick as you
can.
♦»
Arthur looked around with anxious eyes. Bruce
was too far down to be reached without a rope or
a long pole, and neither was at hand. He hated to
leave him for an instant, but he must do it if he
would help him.
" Hold on tight, Bruce, dear, and I'll try and
hunt up something," he said, and darted back to
the railway track.
Not a human being was in sight, nor could his
sharp eyes discover anything to suit his purpose.
His anxiety was intense. He was desperate enough
to attempt the impossible, if it would do poor
Bruce any good.
A little way up the track there was a railed plat-
form erected by the railway company to enable the
passengers to get a good view of Albert Canon,
the trains always stopping a few minutes for that
purpose.
The sight of this gave Arthur an idea. Darting
to it he strove to wrench off the rail. It would
not budge. But he was not to be foiled. Taking
a short run he hurled rimself p^ai' st it with all
his force. His shoulder got ;; . bruise, ' ut his
expedient succeeded. With a ash the rail broke
away from the posts, and, shoutmj f( joy, Arthur
dragged it over to the chasm, calling out :
l_
the boj had
not so sure
uick as you
eyes. Bruce
Jt a rope or
He hated to
do it if he
'^I try and
3cl back to
could his
s purpose,
ite enough
^ do poor
ailed plat-
nable the
"t Canon,
' for that
Darting
t would
Taking
with all
^nt his
ii broke
Arthur
DOW.y TIIK GLACIER.
343
" I've got it, Bruce ! I've got it ! "
The rail was amply long, and letting go his hold
on the tree, which, indeed, could not have borne hin,
many moments longer, Bruce grasped it firmlv
and strove to pull himself up.
But now a new peril presented itself. The side
of the cliff was too perpendicular to allow him to
get any sort of a purchase for his feet, while
Arthur had not strength enougli to pull him up
to the top, Bruce being much the heavier of the
two.
All that poor Arthur could do wa^ to keep
Bruce suspended against the cliff side, and this for
but a few minutes, the strain being too great to be
longer endured.
Neither of the boys spoke, but they looked into
each others face with a pitiful expression of pas,
sionate anxiety. ^
Arthur's strength was waning, and it seemed as
If he would have to let go, or himself share his
companion s doom, when there broke upon his ears
the whistle of an approaching train.
. *' ^^"?;^^' ^^^^^ • " ^^ gasped, for he was vr^ll
nigh exhausted, - there's a train coming. Keen
your grip, and you're aU right."
'Ij!
'I
344
^'///^ BOY TJUMPS,
if . "I
1
CHAPTER xviir.
It was well for h^fi i,
toth.s circu«sfance don 2 n ''''■* ^^°°"'«inee
<"«pe from an awful death fh ™"' "'^^ ^is es-
« ^-J «-ado. over ttu ^ Lr' ' "^^^ "^
-*^ 'iG moment fh ^ *^^c.
began to sh„m forlZ^anf ' '^^'^"''''^ Arthur
»d conductor were rTn'nf ' T" f' •'™'^«««"
, They did not requir?«^ "^^"^^ >>'».
f '"«d. They took' I ' r/'^r""" *° b« «-
'»g tie exhausted boy of thl /'"'"' ""^^ «liev.
- nobly, and encourajn' tfT > ''-d borne
fe— ," they drewSil'^ ^ '""'' <>" "like
to he top of the cliff, where hf '''"'' ^''^<'f""7
feet h„,p, and almost fSlL?' ^^"^ ''°-« -' their
^"dver^ hearty the con "rltr ^'"^ '° ""^^-^^
both boys at the for fu'l'f °"^ ^'>°^ered upon
adventure. ""'^ termination of their
"^ '5 Srr S ;:^:T- -^^--n. that day
- tr..m ere u.taned again and
; '
III
THE END OF THE TRAMP.
345
assenger
3n, since
I his es-
thrown
Arthur
akemen
be ex-
reliev-
borne
"like
'efullj
their
Imany
Iswer,
[upon
Itheir
|day,
land
went with it as far as Sicamous Junction, which
they reached shortly after sundown, remaining
there for the night.
Thoroughly set up again by a good night's rest
they took to the road in good time, and for the
following two days had most delightful walking
along the south shore of the great Shuswap Lake.
This superb sheet of water, which, as Bruce
aptly said, was just like a Scotch loch magnified
many times, lay among mountain lidges, filling
the intervening valleys with its placid, pellucid
waters, and the builders of the railway had thought
it more economical to run around the numerous
arms than to bridge them.
The road, therefore, turned and twisted like a
mighty serpent, but always had the lake on the one
side and the mountain on the other, and the view
was ever changing, as point after point was rounded
and new vistas opened up.
The boys did not hurry. Twice each day they
halted for a bathe in the inviting water, and
frequently they came upon flocks of wild ducks,
which they amused themselves by scaring with
stones, sending them off with a wild whirr of beat-
ing wings.
They were always able to obtain some sort of a
meal when they got hungry, and they met a good
many people by the way with whom they would
stop and chat for a little while.
And so they came to Shuswap Station, where, to
846
THE BOY TRAMPS.
save time, for they now had not many days left,
they took the train as far as Savona's, thus getting
through the Thompson valley, where the scenery
was least remarkable, at a rate that left them more
time for tlie wonders which were to follow.
Just beyond Savona's the mountains drew close
to the railway, and the series of Thompson-river
canons was entered, which led westward through
marvellous scenery.
Their first day's tramp ended at Ashcroft, a busy
little town, which was the point of departure for
the Cariboo and other goldfields in the northern
interior of British Columbia.
Here they were much interested by the big
freight wagons, di'awn by six, eight, or even ten
span of sturdy oxen, which took the place of the
railway train over the difficult mountain roads ; and
where there was no road at all, but merely a trail,
the patient, sure-footed mules bearing heavy prcks
went in long trains which were made up at Ashcroft.
And then there were the Chinamen, met with for
the first time in numbers, who worked away as
busy as bees, and quite as oblivious of the curiosity
with which the two boys studied them.
"They're funny little fellows, Bruce, aren't
they ? '* said Arthur, after watching their ceaseless
activity, and listening to their incomprehensible
chatter. " They don't seem to be quite the same
kind of beings as we are. They're more like some
eiort of educated monkeys."
[ays left,
3 getting
) scenery
em more
r.
•ew close
son-river
through
b, a busy
rture for
Qortheru
the big
jveu ten
of the
ids ; and
a trail,
y prcks
shcroft.
ith for
way as
riosity
aren't
laseless
msible
same
some
THE END OF THE TRAMP.
ur
Bruce laughed, for a similar train of thought had
been running through his mind.
" I must say I don't feel much inclined to call
them my brothers," he responded. " Although, of
course, they are all the same. But they know
how to work, don't they, and to talk, too?
Wouldn't you like to be able to make out what
they're saying to each other? Perhaps they're
making remarks on us."
" I'd be inclined to pound their pig-tailed heads
if I thought so," exclaimed Arthur with assumed
indignation. " Come along, or they'll think we're
admiring tliera."
Leaving Ashcroft the boys kept on steadily, and
presently came to Black Canon, a winding gorge cut
by the Thompson river, of almost terrifying gloom
and desolation, by which they were reminded of
Albert Canon.
The marvellous skill and daring shown by the
builders of the road in combating with the tremen-
dous difficulties of tins canon, called fortli their
constant admiration. They felt glad they were on
foot, if only to get a full view of what had to be
done to make a smooth, solid bighway.
Emerging from the cafion they saw before
them, arising rank upon rank, and peak upon peak,
the glistening pinnacles of the Cascade Kange, the
last mountain barrier between them and the Pacific
Ocean, and they gave a loud liurrali, and waved
their caps at the sight, for they were growing
weary of their long journey.
348
THE BOY TRAMPS.
A little beyond Black Canon they got their
first sight of the famous old wagon-road built in
the days of the Cariboo gold rush to connect the
mining camp with the coast, and as soon as
Arthur's eyes fell upon it he exclaimed :
"Look here, Bruce, let us take that road. It
will be ever so much better fun than this tiresome
track. Don't you think so ? "
Bruce looked long and carefully at the road, ^t
certainly had an attractive appearance, as it wouna
along the rocky bank of the rushing stream, and,
knowing nothing of its ruinous condition farther
on, he said :
" All right, Arthur. We can try it for a while,
anyway, and if we don't like it, we can come back
to the track by one of the bridges."
So they deserted the railway for the road, and
were delighted with the change, the old highway,
although considerably the worse for wear and neg-
lect, still affording excellent walking, even if
entirely unfit for the four-horse coach that used to
be driven over it at a reckless rate in by-gone
days.
The scenery of this part of the Thompson valley
was full of interest. The river whirled down its
winding course as green as an emerald, when not
lashed into snowy foam, and on either side of it the
hills were carved into infinite variety of form, and
decked with constantly changing colors.
Sometimes the banks were rounded crsam^white
THE END OF THE TRAMP.
849
got thoir
id built in
)nnect the
I soon as
i:
road. It
J tiresome
) road, """t
3 it wouna
ream, and,
Dn farther
)r a while,
iome back
road, and
highway,
and neg-
even if
t used to
by-gone
)n valley
|down its
^hen not
of it the
)rm, and
Im-white
slopes; then came cliffs of richest yellow dashed
with maroon, followed by masses of rust-red clay
or slopes of brilliant olive-green grass.
As the mountains drew together, and the valley
deepened into another canon, the scenery grew
wild beyond description, so that the boys marvelled
at men having the daring to run a wagon road, not
to speak of a railway, tln'ough such a place.
Yet there, just across the gorge, was the iron
highway cut into the face of the crags hundreds of
feet above the struggling river, and by means
of tunnels bored through the solid rock, or iron
bridges flung across yawning ravines, or abutments
of massive masonry so securely fastened to the
cliffs as to become part of itself, overcoming every
obstacle stern nature had presented.
Nor was the road upon which they were walking
much less worthy of admiration. Twisting and
turning around the corners of the cliffs it some-
times descended to the river's edge, and then
climbed again far up the inhospitable crags, seem-
ing rather to beg its way along ratlier than force it,
as did the railway.
No portion of their long tramp made so deep an
impression upon the boys as tliis, and had they not
been so near the end of their time limit they would
gladly have lingered over it instead of pressing on.
At the small trading town of Lytton, whose pop-
ulation seemed to consist chiefly of Indians and
ranchmen, they put up for the night, and the next
r I!!
350
THE BOY TBAMPS,
morning's walk took them into the famous Fraser
Caiion, where that greatest of British Columbian
rivers, coming down from the north between two
great lines of mountain peaks, had cut for itself a
strangely jagged and contorted passage through
the rocky barrier.
The clear green waters of the Thompson were
exchanged for the turbulent yellow flood of the
Fraser, which surged and splashed its way down-
ward with fearful velocity.
" Not much temptation to take a swim here,'*
said Bruce, as he stood watching the furious tor-
rent from a projecting point. " I suppose Captain
Boynton himself could not live in it many minutes."
" And to think that it's going as hard as that all
the year round," said Arthur musingly. " How
tired you would get of its everlasting noise if you
had to live close to it ! I'm sure I couldn't stand
it for a week."
" Oh, you'd get used to it in a little while,'* said
Bruce, " and then it would be a sweet lullaby for
you, to sing you to sleep. Don't you remember
how delightful it was at Banff to have the water-
fall just below our window? "
" Oh, yes, but that was very different," responded
Arthur. " There was music in that waterfall, but
there's none in this tremendous roar."
They were close by the river as they talked, but
Boon the road mounted again, and went on climb-
ing higher and higher, until at length it reached
THE END OF THE TRAMP,
861
us Fraser
Columbian
ween two
or itself a
) through
Dson were
Qd of the
ray down-
im here,'*
rious tor-
e Captain
minutes."
IS that all
. " How
se if you
n't stand
lie," said
laby for
member
e water-
sponded
all, but
|ed, but
climb-
[eached
an altitude of a thousand feet above the yellow
flood, being fastened to the face of a gigantic
precipice by a succession of timber trestles that
were fast rotting away, rendering extreme care
necessary in passing over them.
Their attention was now attracted by small
parties of Indians stationed on projecting rocks
at the water's edge, and spearing or scooping out
with dip-nets the salmon which abounded in the
eddies.
" That's a funny way to catch salmon, isn't it ? "
said Arthur. " I wonder if we could do anything
at it."
" I'm quite sure we cc .Idn't," responded Bruce
giO decidedly that it nettled Arthur sufficiently to
make him reply:
" Well, if you are, I'm not. It doesn't seem so
very difficult."
" If you think so, you'd better try it for your-
self," rejoined Bruce, with a smile.
" So I will if one of the Indians will lend me
his scoop-net," retorted Arthur. " I'll ask them, at
all events ; " and so saying he made his way down to
where a stumpy, swarthy Indian was balancing
himself in what seemed a very perilous position
upon a point of rock, and sweeping the boiling
whirlpool below him with a large scoop-net at the
end of a long, elastic pole.
Arthur watched his dexterous movements for
some little time in silent admiration before he
352
THE BOY TRAMPS.
••"•■i.
plucked up courage to proffer his request. Then
he said in a humble, hesitating voice, for the
Indian had anything but a prepossessing appear*
ance :
" Would you please lend me your scoop-net for
a few minutes ? I want to see if I could catch a
salmon with it."
The Indian's only response was to give Arthur
a suspicious, searching look, and with an expressive
" Ugh ! " to resume his fishing operations.
This put rather a damper upon Arthur's ardor,
but when he saw the brown-skinned fisherman
deftly land a big salmon he was stirred up to a
second attempt to get the scoop-net into his own
hands.
This time he bethought himself of trying the
effect of money as an argument, and putting a
quarter of a dollar in his palm, held it out, saying :
" I'll give you this if you'll lend me your net."
The aborigine's eyes sparkled in their circle of
dirt like stars in an ebony sky, and, making a quick
snatch at the quarter, he thrust the pole into
Arthur's hands, grunting out:
" Take him — try little while ; all right."
Arthur grasped the pole, his cheek flushing, and
his eyes flashing with excitement, and, taking the
Indian's place, plunged the net into the foaming
eddy fifteen feet or more beneath him.
It was no easy task to balance upon that narrow,
jagged point of rock, and to sweep the swirling
-i — iTT — m~-w
msm
THE END OF THE TRAMP.
853
t. Then
for the
I appear-
>p-net for
cl catch a
e Arthur
spressive
•'s ardor,
isherman
up to a
I his own
ying the
utting a
saying :
net."
circle of
a quick
le into
ig, and
fng the
)aniing
larrow,
drling
waters with the big scoop-net, which became so
heavy the moment it sank beneath the surface.
But when, by a strange freak of fortune, two
heavy salmon were enmeshed simultaneously, and
the strain upon the slender pole became so great,
that the Indian, fearing for the precious apparatus
by which he got his livelihood, sprang forward to
Arthur's assistance, the rashness of the boy's
undertaking was manifest.
The Indian, grown expert through long practice,
would have landed both salmon without much
difficulty, but the achievement was one beyond
Arthur's powers, and it would have been better for
him if he had given it up at once, and resigned the
pole to its owner.
To do that, however, was not according to his
nature. His blood was up, and he would at least
make a brave attempt at the feat.
In spite of Bruce's warning cry, " Take care,
Arthur, let the Indian have it," he took a firmer
grasp upon the pole, and, thinking he saw better
footing on a projection slightly below him, tried to
leap down to it.
Just at that moment the salmon gave a violent
bounce in the net, sufficient to impart a twist to
Arthur that made him miss the projection with
one foot.
Encumbered as he was he could not regain his
balance with the other, and down he went into the
whirlpool, just missing by a hair's breadth smash-
354
THE BOY TRAMPS.
■J
ing his skull against the ragged edge of a shattered
bowlder.
Both Bruce and the Indian uttered cries of
horror at the sudden accident. The latter, per-
haps, thought more of the scoop-net than he did of
the boy, but as they were equally imperilled he
was no less eager than Bruce to effect a rescue.
Poor Arthur had disappeared completely at the
first plunge, and the waters were so turbid, as well
as turbulent, that there seemed small chance of
his reappearing.
Indeed, full half a minute of harrowing suspense
passed before there was any sign of the boy.
Then his hand showed above the gray foam, fol-
lowed by his pale, frightened face, and he gave a
faint cry for help.
With a sure-footed agility, such as no white man
could have shown, the Indian had already leaped
down to the edge of the eddy, and by a happy
chance just at that moment the long handle of the
scoop-net, having been let go by Arthur, swung
toward him.
He made a gallant dash for it, and caught it
cleverly, his face lighting up with manifest relief
as he drew it in.
Seeing this gave Bruce an idea.
" Reach it to him ! reach it to him I " he shrieked
at the top of his voice,
For a moment the Indian hesitated. He had
already run one risk of losing his scoop-net.
««^c«n
I shattered
I cries of
itter, per-
he did of
Brilled he
rescue.
3ly at tlie
d, as well
chance of
suspense
the boy.
foam, fol-
tie gave a
'hite man
y leaped
a happy
e of the
^ s
wung
lught it
st relief
hrieked
[e had
)op-net.
THE END OF THE TRAMP.
856
Would he take another even to save a white boy's
life?
But the hesitation was only momentary. Reliev-
ing the net of its finny captives by one quick
turn he thrust it out again into the midst of the
eddy, where Arthur's lu.id was just showing as he
battled mightily for his life.
The drowning lad felt the touch of the iron hoop
and seized it with tlie grip of despair. Very care-
fully, just as though the net had won its usual
prize, the Indian drew it in, and thus was Arthur
brought safely to land, ere the merciless flood of
the Fraser could add hira to its long list of victims.
But he had not been permitted to get off
unscathed. When he >>^ lipped from the little
shelf of rock upon which he had endeavored to
jump he wrenched his right ankle so 1 ladly that he
could not put his foot to the ground, and in the
struggle with the whirlpool his head had come in
contact mth a jagged rock, causing a nasty cut
close to his left temple.
Thus disabled, it was with no little difficulty that
Bruce and the Indian succeeded in helping him
back to the road, and when that was accomplished
a fresh problem presented itself for solution.
How was the remainder of the tramp to be ac-
complished ? Arthur was suffering too severely
in his head to make any further progress that day,
even had he been able to walk. He must rest
until morning, anyway, and then — ?
356
THE BOY TRAMPS.
1
The disused road along which they had been
making their way was in worse condition from
this point on than it had been hitherto. In fact,
in many places it practically disappeared, leaving
hardly a trace of its former existence. No con-
ceivable kind of a conveyance, had such been
procurable, could be used over it. The most
sure-footed of mountain mules would have found
it a critical task to proceed along it with anything
of a load.
While Arthur was drying himself as best he
could before a fire made by the Indian, Bruce
deeply pondered over the situation, and at length
came to this conclusion:
They would remain at the Indian's camp that
night. Squalid and repellent as the accommoda-
tion was, thev must needs make the best of it.
Then in the morning they would resiune their
journey, engaging two Indians to help Arthur
along as far as the suspension bridge at Spuzzum,
where they could cross the river, and get the train
at the station.
Bruce had just got this program mapped out
when a question from Arthur aroused him to the
sense of a new course of concern.
" What day is it the steamer leaves Vancouver
for Shanghai ? " he asked.
" On Friday, according to the time-table," replied
Bruce. '
" And this is Thursday. Why, look here, Bruce,
T liad been
ilition from
o. Ill fact,
red, leaving
!. No con-
such been
The most
iave found
;h anything
as best he
ian, Bruce
I at length
camp that
ccommoda-
best of it.
lime their
p Arthur
Spuzzum,
the train
mped out
|im to the
[aucouver
|," replied
, Bruce,
THE END OF THE TRAMP.
367
we've got to catch the train to-morrow morning,
or we'll run a good chance of missing the steamer,*'
said Arthur, an expression of anxiety coming into
his face.
" That's so I " cried Bruce, springing to his feet ;
" and if we miss this steamer we shall have to wait
a whole month, and that would be dreadful."
The boys looked anxiously into each other's
faces as the full difficulty of their situation be-
came manifest to them.
By the time-table which Bruce had in his
pocket the train for Vancouver would pass Spuz-
zum at eight o'clock in the morning, and Spuzzum
was on the other side of the caiion, full ten miles
farther on.
Arthur was the first to speak.
" Bruce," said he in a resolute tone that was at
marked variance with his haggard look, " we must
catch that train."
" But how is it to be managed ? " asked Bruce,
with a glance at his companion's swollen ankle and
bandaged head.
"There is only one way," responded Arthur.
" We must hire a couple of Indians to help me,
and get along just iis fast as possible, and we must
start at daybreak."
" You're right," assented Bruce, after a moment's
reflection. " It's the only way it can be done, and
now you must rest as comfortably as you can for
the night.*
»»
368
THE BOY TRAMPS.
There was not much comfort to be had in that
squalid, dirty Indian camp, but Bruce made the
moat of what there was, and spent nearly the whole
night applying cold water to Arthur's ankle so as
to reduce the swelling and inflammation, in which
he succeeded remarkably well.
With the dawn of the day they began their toil-
some journey, the offer of a dollar apiece having
quickly secured the services of two sturdy Indians,
who agreed to act as crutches for poor crippled
Arthur, and help him on with the utmost possible
speed.
If ever the resolution, endurance, and courage
of two boys was put to the test, it was during that
fearful journey in the cool, calm hours of the early
autumn morning.
The condition of the old ruined road was bad
beyond description. At best it was sufficiently
rough and stone-strewn to give trouble to the
stoutest pedestrian. But in many places it had
been altogether carried away by winter avalanches
and spring slides, leaving only a treacherous slope
of dShris to serve as a means of passage.
Here it was necessary to descend right to the
edge of the roaring, foaming torrent, and there to
ascend high above it, and then, maybe, to cross a
deep gorge on a trembling bridge the rotten tim-
bers of which threatened to break asunder at every
step.
And through all this Arthur could put only one
THE END OF THE TRAMP.
S59
in that
lade the
le v/hole
:le so as
n whicJi
leir toil-
having
Indians,
[^rippled
possible
courage
ing that
lie early
vas bad
iciently
to the
it had
anches
s slope
ito the
liere to
koss a
in tim-
every
iy one
foot to the ground, having to lean heavily upon
his human crutches on the level places, and allow
himself to be practically carried by them over the
bad spots, Bruce being ever prompt to bear a hand
when his help would be of service.
What Arthur. endured cannot readily be de-
scribed, nor coiiil it have been estimated from his
own actions. Bent upon getting to Spuzzum be-
fore the train, he bore all the strain and suffering
with a degree of composure tliat was simply
heroic, only now and then would some spe-
cially acute pang extract from him a groan, and
yet, in response to Bruce's affectionately anx-
ious inquiry, he would always manage to say
cheerily :
" Oh, I'm all right. It does hurt a bit, you
know. But I'll not give in."
And he was as good as his word.
Thus toiling painfully yet persistently onward,
t^^he miles were one by one overcome, and at last
a glad shout from Bruce, who had gone on ahead
a little, announced that the suspension bridge at
Spuzzum was in sight, wliile nearly an hour of
their time still remained.
Pressing forward they soon reached the bridge,
which indeed was in little better condition thjn
the road had been.
But they did not ..-op to consider chances of
injury now. Creeping along the side supports
where the platform was broken away, hanging on
860
THE BOY TRAMPS.
by their eyelids almost at one or two points, they
succeeded in effecting a safe crossing.
Then caroe the rush for the station. Summon-
ing all his strength for one final effort, Arthur
bravely hopped along with the aid of his dusky
supporters, and reached the station platform just
as the engine appeared around the point not fifty
yards away.
It was a narrow victory, but it was sufficient.
The Indians were paid and thanked, the boys
clambered into the car, and Bruce had just time to
get Arthur to a seat when the poor lad, exhausted
as he had never been in his life before, collapsed
in a faint.
But he soon recovered from this, and was able
to share with Bruce the enjoyment of the wonder-
ful scenery which marked the remainder of the
run through the Fraser Caiion, the great river
being forced between vertical walls of sullen
sombreness, v/here, repeatedly thrown back upon
itself by opposing cliffs, or broken by ponderous
masses of fallen rock, it foamed out its fury with
unceasing thunder.
The railway was cut into the side of the cliffs
two hundred feet or more above the raging torrent,
and the jutting spurs of roek were pierced by
tunnels that followed so fast upon one another
that the boys got tired counting them.
On through the morning the train sped, flying
past Yale, the head of navigation on the Fraser
THE END OF THE TRAMP.
361
Dints, tliey
Summon-
rt, Arthur
his dusky
tform just
t not fifty
sufficient.
the boys
ist time CO
exhausted
, collapsed
I was able
le wonder-
I
er of the
reat river
3f sullen
ack upon
)onderou3
ury with
river, and Port Moody, which once hoped to be
the ocean terminus of the road, and at last coming
to a full stop at the fine new city of Vancouver,
which marked the end of its transcontinental
journey.
The railway station was on the pier, to the outer
side of which the superb white steamship " Empress
of China " lay moored, and the boys had only to
cross the wharf in order to change their quarters.
Having helped Arthur aboard, Bruce bustled
about, looking after their luggage, which was
found intact, and seeing to the securing of state-
rooms, and so forth, in all of which he found the
president's letter of immense assistance.
That afternoon the stately steamer began her
voyage to the far Orient, and as the boys sat on the
upper deck watching the Canadian shore recede,
they were glad that their long tramp was over,
but gladder still that in the main they had so
faithfully adhered to their program, and that they
had so interesting a story to tell to their parents
anxiously awaiting them beyond the broad Pacific.
the cliffs
torrent,
3rced by
another
d, flying
e Fraser