IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 7 :/- Ml ILs % f/ .<9 1.0 I.I lU 1^ 1^ "- IIIIIM ill 1.8 11*25 ■ 1.4 jiii 1.6 '/¥/ e //, /a M^ ''t V Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 '^ iV o^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographic,u(*3 Th< to t The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D n D D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture jndommag6e Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurde et/ou pelliculie I I Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bieue ou noire) □ Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur □ Bound with other material/ Relii avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intirieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es lors d'une restauration apparairsent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela Atait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmies. Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplimentaires: L'institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de sb procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mithode normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur □ Pages damaged/ Pages endommag^es □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaur6es et/ou pelliculdes |~7] Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ D Pages d6color6es, tncheties ou piquies Pages detached/ Pages d6tach6es Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Quality inigale de I'impression Includes supplementary materii Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire I I Pages detached/ I I Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ Th« pot oft filn Ori bet the sioi oth firs sioi or i The sha TIN whi Mai diff enti beg righ reqi met I I Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been ref limed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6ti filmdes A nouveau de fapon A obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X tails du odifier une mage The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: University of Victoria McPherson Library The images appearing here are the best quality possibk considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in ke'>ping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire filmi fut reproduit grflce A la g6n6ro8it6 de: University of Victoria MrPherson Library Les images sJvantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de l'exemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printei. paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending oii the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol —^(meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimis sont filmds en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreiiUe d'impression ou d'illustration. soit par le second plat, selori le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film6s en commandant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: ie symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as requi''ed. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds A des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film6 A partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire ' es diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. rrata to pelure. a 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 CANADIAN TRAPPER Page J05. LOS T IX TlIE BACKWOODS. /X. Tale of the CTimabian X^vOrcst. 3 /7j .J/A-j-. TRAILL, Author of " /;, the Fonst," .i-V. 9) rr )^'2TH Thirty-Two ^ngravings. X^oulion: T. XELSOX AND SOXS, PATEIIXOSTER ROW. EntXBlRflH; AM) XKW YOUK. i8y2. 'F;>rcfiuc, The intercstitig talc contained in this volume of romantic adventure in the forests of Canada, was much appreciated and cjijoyed hy a large circle of younf^ readers when first published, under the title of "The C-anadian Crusoes." After being many years out of print, it will now, we hope and believe, with a new and more descriptive title, prove equally attrac- tive to our young friends of the present time. EDiNBunuH, 1882. ^i0t of 'illustrations. A CANADrAN TRAPPER, TIIK WOODPElKKIl, LOUIH CONrESSlNd HIS DECEPTION, THE KIltST nRKAKFAST, .. THE SENTINEL WOLF, CATHARINE FOIINK BY THE OLB DOCI, WII.n BEES, THE (IHAV SgUlllREL, TIIK WOLVERINE, THK ATTACK ON THE DEER, I'KCCARIES, RAFTS ON THE ST. LAWitESCE, THE WOUNDED DOE, HECTOR IIRINOINO THE INDIAN OIKL, COB OK INDIAN CORN, A MOCCASIN, SHOOTINd WILD FOWL, DEATH OF THE CHIEF'S SON, CANADIAN LAKE SCENERY, CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF THE PRESENT DAY A SNOW-SHOE, Frontispiece 21 .. 27 43 76 02 ., 100 . . 105 . IOC .. Ill .. 118 .. 125 .. 142 .. 151 .. 160 .. 104 .. 181 .. 190 .. 201 .. 213 .. 222 vm LIST OF ILLl'STRATlONA CIIITMISKM, AT WOHK IV THE FOHEST, A KOllEST ON FIIIE, VISIT OK THE INIJ.A.N FAMII.V, CATHARINE CAIinlEI) OFF, KINOFISIIEK AND DIlAliONFI.V, AN INDIAN CUADI.E, AN INDIAN CAMI", INDIANA llEFOnE THE llALU EACILE, INDIANA AT THE HTAKE, .. THE RETURN HOME, 220 231 23& 245 252 200 208 271 294 2i)!» 310 LOST IN THE liACiaA'OODS. CHAPTER I. " The inorninn; h.irt shot her briRht streHmcrs on hlgli, O'er Ciiiiaila, opciiiriK all piilc; t(i tlip sky ; Still (liizzlinK nnil white was the nilie that she wore, Kxcept where tho ocean wave lashcil on the shore." JneitbUe Soiiij. [PIERE lies, between tlie Rico Lake and the Ontario, a deep ami fertile valley, sur- rounded l)y lofty wood - crowned liilLs, clothed chiefly with groves of oak and pine ; the sides of the hills and the alluvial bottoms display a variety of noble timber trees of various kinds, as the useful and beautiful maple, beech, and hemlock. This beautiful and highly pictui-e,si(ue valley is watered by many clear streams, whence it derives its ap}»ropriate appellation of " Cold Springs."' At the period my little history counnences, this now highly cultivated spot was an unbroken wilder- ness, — all but two clearings, where dwelt the only occupiers of the soil, — which previously owned no 10 I'AST AND PHESENT. other possessors than tlio \vanclerin<]f hunting tribes of wiKl Indians, to whom the right of the liunting grounds north of Rice Lake appertained, according to their forest hiws. I speak of tlie time wdien tlie neat and flourishing town of ('')]»ourg, now an important port on Lake Ontario, Avas but a village in endnyo, — if it contained even a log -house or a block-house, it was all that it did, — and the wild and picturescjue ground upon which the fast increasing village of Port Hope is situated had not yielded one forest tr(>e to the axe oi" the settler. No gallant vessel spread lier sails to waft the abundant produce of grain and C'anadian stores along tlie waters of that noble sheet of water; no steamer hawly come emigrant feels comparatively few of the physical evils that were endured by the earlier inhabitants. The first seed-wheat that was cast into the ground -% u THE FRENCHMAN AND THE SCOT. by Duncan and Pierre was bronj^'ht with infinite trouble a distance of fifty miles in a little skiflf, navigated along the shores of Lake Ontario by the adventurous Pien-e, and from the nearest landing-placo transported on tlie shoulders of himself and Duncan to their homestead. A day of great laboiu' but great joy it was when they deposited their precious freight in safety on the shanty fioor. They wei'e obliged to make two Journeys for the contents of the little craft. What toil, what privation they endured for the first two years ! and now the fruits of it began to appear. No two creatures could be more unlike than Piei're and Duncan. Th(^ Highlander, stern, steady, per- severing, cautious, always giving ample I'easons for his doing or his not doing. The Canadian, hopeful, lively, fertile in expedients, and gay as a lark; if one scheme failed, another was sure to pi'esent itself. Pierre and Duncan were admirably suited to b'^, friends and neighbours. The steady perseverance of the Scot helped to temper the volatile temperament of the Frenchman. Th(>y generally contrived to compass the same end l»y different means, as two streams descending from opposite hills will meet in one broad river in th<> same valley. Years passed on : the farm, carefully cultivated, began to yield its increase ; food and warm clothing were not wanting in the homestead, ('atharine had become, in course of time, the happy mother of four healthy children ; her sist(H*-in-law had exceeded her in these welcome contributions to the population of a new colonv. A PATTERN OP AFFECTION. 16 Between the children of Pierre and Catharine the most charming harmony pievailed ; they grew up as one family, a pattern of affection and early friendship. Though different in tempers and dispositions, Hector Maxwell, the eldest son of the Scottish soldier, and his cousin, young Louis Perron, wore greatly attached: they, with the young Catharine and M.ithilde, formed a little coterie of inseparables ; their anmsements, tastes, pursuits, occupations, all blended and harmon- ized delightfully ; there were none of those little envyings and l)ickerings among them that pave the way to strife and disunion in after-li^e. Catharine Maxwell and her cousin Louis were more like brother and sister than Hector and Catharine ; but Mathilde was gentle and dove-like, and formed a contrast to the gi-avity of Hector and the vivacity of Louis and Catharine. Hector and Louis were fourteen — strong, vigorous, industrious, and hardy, both in constitution and habits. The girls were turned of twelve. It is not with MathiMe that our story is connected, but with the two lads and Catharine. With the gaiety and im'ivete of the Frenchwoman, Catharine })ossessed, when occasion called it into action, a thoughtful and well-regulated mind, abilities which would well have repaid the care of mental cultivation; but of book- learning she knew nothing beyond a litth^ reading, and that but imperfectly, acquired from her father's teaching. It was an accomplishment which he had gained when in the ainiy, having been taught by his colonel's son, a lad of twelve years of jige, who had 16 HOME TRAIXING. taken a groat fancy to liini, and had at parting given liim a few of his school-books, among wlucli was a Testament without cover or title-page. At parting, the young gentleman recommended its daily perusal to Duncan. Had the gift Iteen a Bihle, perhaps the soldier's obedience to his priest might have rendered it a dead letter to him ; but as it fortunately liappened, he was unconscious of any prohiljition to deter him from becoming acquainted with the truths of the gospel. He connnunicated the power of perusing his books to his children Hector and Catharine, Duncan and Kenneth, in succession, with a feeling of intense reverence ; even the labour of teachin-' was regarded as a holy dtity in itself, and was not undertaken without deeply impi'essing the obligation he was con- ferring upon them whenever they were brought to the task. It was indeed a precious boon, and the children leai-ned to consider it as a pearl beyond all price in the trials tluit awaited them in their eventful career. To her knowledge of religious truths young Catharine added an intimate ac(|uaintance with the songs and legends of her father's romantic country ; often would her plaintive ballads and old talcs, related in the hut or the wigwam to her . ;ntive auditors, wile away heavy thoughts. It was a lovely sunny day in the flowerj' month of June. Canada had not only doffed that "dazzling white robe" mentioned in the songs of her Jacob- ite emigrants, but hvA assumed the In-auties of her loveliest season; tne last week in ^lay ami the first three of Junt; being parallel to the English May, (721) ..j## 15 THE FLOWERY MONTH OF JUNE. 17 full of buds and flowers and fair promise of ripening fruits. The high slopmc,' hills stirrounding the fertile vale of Cold Sprin;^ were clothed with the blossoms of the gor<;:i-«us jicarlet castilegia cuccinca, or painted cup ; the lai^-, pnre, white blossoms of the lily-like trilliunj grandiflonim ; the delicate and fragile lilac wraniuui, wh^j(T#'^ cTace ful Howers woo the hand of the flower-gatb<(-r',T only to fade almost within his grasp: the golden cypripedium or moccasin flower, so singular, ^t lovely in its colour and formation, waved heaxaly its yellow blossoms as the breeze shook the ^t*--m.s ; and there, mingling with a thou- .sand variou* floral b^'auties, the azure lupine claimed its place, sh<:*lding almost heavenly tint upon the earth, Tliou^amd-s of roses were blooming on the more level groond, sending forth their rich fragivance, mixed with ther delicate scent of the feathery ceano- thus (New J(c-rs*ry tea). The vivid greenness of the young leav<.'~f of the forest, the tender tint of the sijringing CK^ym, was contrasted with the deep dark fringe of waving pines on the hills, and the yet darker floom of the forest shade. What handfuls of flowers of all hues, red, blue, yellow, and white, were gathered, onl}- to be gazed at, carried for a while, then cast aside for others fresher and fairei\ Anil now they came to cool rills that flowed, softly mvu'muring, among mossy limestone, or blocks of red or gray granite, wending their way beneath twisted njots and fallen trees; and often Catharine lingered to watch the eddying dimples of the clear water, to note the tiny bright fragments of quartz or crystallized limestone that formed a shining pavement below the stream. And often she paused to watch the angry movements of the red .s(iuirrel, as, with feathery tail erect, and sharp scold- ing note, he ci'osscd their woodland path, and swiftly dartinix up the rutxued bark of some neicjhbouriu'T pine or hemlock, bade the intruders on his quiet haunts defiance; yet so bold in his indignation, W00i)..ANU SOUNDS 21 i he scarcely condo- sconded to ascend beyond tlicir reach. The long - con- tinued, hollow tap- ping of th(! large red - headed wood- pecker, or the sin- gular Kuhterranean sound caused by the drunnuing of the partridge strik- ing his witigs upon his breast to woo his gentle mate, and the soft whispering- note of the little tree-creeper, as it flitted from one hemlock to anothei', collecting its food between the fissures of the bark, were among the few sounds that broke the noontide still- ness of the woods ; but to such siijhts and sounds the lively Catharine and her cousin TlIK WdOIlPECKini 22 WAITING FOR IIF.CTOH. wcro not indifferent. And often they wondered that Hector gravely pursued his onward way, and seldom lingered as they did to mark the hright colours of the flowers, or the sparkling of the forest rill, or the hurrying to and fro of the turkeys among the luxuriant grass. " What makes Hec .so grave ? " said Catharine to her companion, as they seated themselves upon a mos.sy trunk to await his coming up; for they had giddily chased each other till they liad far outrun him. "Hector, sweet coz, Is thinking perhaps of how many bushels of corn or wheat this land would grow if cleared, or he may be examining the soil or the trees, or is lookinif for his stick of blue beech for your broom, or the hick(n'y for his axe handles, and never heeding such nonsense as woodpeckers, and squirrels, and lilies, and moss, and ferns ; for Hector is not a giddy thing like his cousin Loui.s, or — " " His sister Kate," interrupted Catharine merrily, " But when shall Ave come to the Beaver Meadow ? " "Patience, ma belle, all in good time. Hark ! was noi that the ox-bell ? No ; Hector whistling." And .soon they heard the heavy .stroke of his axe ringing among the trees; for he had found the blue beech, and was cutting it to leave on the path, that he miglit take it home on their return : he had also marked some hickory of a nice size for his a.xe handles, to bring home at some future time. The children had walked several miles, and wore not sorrv to sit down and rest till Hector ioined them. HEAVER MEADOW. 23 He was well pleased with his success, and declared he felt no fatigue. " As soon as we reach the old Indian clearing, we shall find strawberi'ies," he said, " and a fresh cold spring, and then we will have our dinner." " Come, Hector, — come, Louis," said Catharine, jumping up, " I long to be gathering the strawberries; and see, my Howcrs are faded, so I will throw them away, and the basket shall be filled with fresh fruit instead, and we must not forget petite Marie and sick Louise, or dear Mathilde. Ah, how I wish she were here at this minute ! But there is the opening to the Beaver Meadow." And the sunlight was seen streaming through the opening trees as they approached the cleared space, which some called the " Indian clearing," but is now more generally known as the little Beaver Meadow. It was a pleasant spot, green, and suiTounded with light bowery trees and flowering shrubs, of a diflferent growth from those that belong to the dense forest. Here the children found, on the hilly ground above, fine ripe strawberries, the eai^liest they had seen that year, and soon all weariness was forgotten while pur- suing the delightful occupation of gathering the tempting fruit ; and Avhen they had refreshed them- selves, and filled the basket with leaves and fruit, they slaked their thirst at the stream which wound its way among the bushes. Catharine neglected not to reach down flowery bunches of the fragrant wliitc- thorn, and the high-bush cranberry, then radiant with nodding umbels of snowy blossoms, or to wreathe the 24 IN PEUPLKXITV. handle of tlio little basket with th(> graceful trailing runners of the lovely twin-flowered plant, the Linna^a borealis, which she always said reminded her of the twins Louise and Marie, her little cousins. And now the day began to wear away, for they had lingered long in the little clearing ; they liad wandered from the path by which they entered it, and had neglected, in their eagerness to look for the strawberries, to notice any particular mark by which they might re- gain it. Just when they began to think of returning, Louis noticed a beaten path, where tliere seemed recent prints of cattle hoofs on a soft spongy soil beyond the creek. " Come, Hector," said he gaily, " this is lunky ; wo are on the cattle-path; no fear Init it will had us directly home, and that by a nearer track." Hector was undecided about following it; he fancied it bent too much towards the setting sun ; but his cousin overruled his objection. " And is not this our own creek ? " he said. " I have often heard my father say it had its rise somewhere about this old clearing." Hector now thought Louis might be right, and the}^ boldly followed the path among the poplars, thorns, and bushes that clothed its banks, surprised to see how open the ground became, and how swift and clear the stream swept onward. " Oil, this dear creek," cried the delighted Catharine, "how pretty it is! I shall often follow its course after this ; no doubt it has its source from our own Cold Springs." And so they cheerfully pursued their way, till the HKWIIiDERKD. 80 sun, sinking beliind the range of westerly hills, soon left them in glooin ; but they anxiously hurried for- ward when the stream wound its noisy way among steep stony banks, clothcfl scantily with pines and a few scattered silver-barked poplars. And now they became bewildered by two paths leading in opposite directions; one upward among the rocky hills, tho other through tho opening gorge of a deep ravine. Here, overcome with fatigue, Catharine seated her- self on a large block of granite, near a great bushy pine that grew beside the path ])y the ravine, unable to proceed ; and Hector, witli a grave and troubled countenance, stood beside her, looking round with an air of great perplexity. Louis, seating himself at Catharine's feet, surveyed the deep gloomy valley before them, and sighed heavily. The conviction forcibly struck him that they had mistaken the path altogether. The very as])cct of the country was different ; the growth of the trees, the flow of the stream, all indicated a change of soil and scene. Darkness was fast drawing its impenetrable veil around them ; a few stars were stealing out, and gleaming down as if with pitying glance upon the young wanderers ; but they could not light up their pathway or point their homeward track. The only sounds, save the lulling murmur of the rippling stream below, were the plaintive note of the whip- poor-will, from a gnarled oak that grew near them, and the harsh grating scream of the night hawk, darting about in the higher regions of the air, pursu- ing its noisy congeners, or swooping down with that 26 A CONFESSION. peculiar hollow rushing sound, as of a person blowing into some empty vessel, when it seizes with Avide- extended bill its insect prey. Hector was the first to break the silence, " Cousin Louis, we were wronij in followinit the course of the stream ; I fear we shall never find our way back to- nisfht." Louis made no reply ; his sad and sid)dued air failed not to attract the attention of his cousins. " Why, Louis, how is this ? you are not used to be cast down by difficulties," said Hector, as he marked something like tears glistening in the dark eyes of his cousin. Louis's heart was full ; he did not reply, l)ut cast a troubled glance upon the weary Catharine, Avho leaned heavily against the tree beneath which she sat. " It is not," resumed Hector, " that I mind passing a summer's night under such a sky as this, and with such a dry grassy bed below me ; but I do not think it is good for Catharine to sleep on the l)are ground in the night dews, — and then they will be so aiixious at home about our alxsence." Louis burst into tears, and solibed out, — " And it is all my doing that she came out with us; I deceived her, and my aunt will l)e angry and much alarmed, for she did not know of her going at all. Deai* Catharine, good cousin Hector, pray foig-ivc me ! ' But Catharine was weeping too much to re]ily to his i)assionate entreati(>s ; and Hector, who never swerved from the truth, for which he had almost a IIKCTORS INDIGNATION. ho ur be ed lis ast •ho she ith ink md oiis IH'll, )eav y to ever st a LOITS ((IVl'K.ssINil 111^ IT' l:l'T|ii\". stern I't'veivnce, liardly rcpivs.sei I liis iiidin-natiou at what appoarcil to liim a most culpahle act of deceit on the part of Louis. The sight of her cousins grief ami solf abasement touched the tender lieart of Catharine; for she was 28 CATHARINE INTERCEDES. kind and dove-like in hci- disposition, and loved Louis, with all his faults. Had it not been for the painful consciousness of the grief their unusual absence would occasion at home, Catharine would have thought nothing of their present adventure ; but she could not endure the idea of her high-prin- cipled father taxing her with deceiving her kind indulgent mother and him. It was this humiliating thought which wounded the proud heart of Hector, causing him to upbraid his cousin in somewhat harsh terms for his want of truthfulness, and steeled him against the bitter grief that wrung the heart of the penitent Louis, who, leaning his wet check on the shoulder of Catharine, sobbed as if his heart would break, heedless of her soothing words and affectionate endeavours to console him. " Dear Hector," she said, turning her soft pleading eyes on the stern face of her brother, " you must not be so very angry with poor Louis. Remember it was to please me, and give me the enjoyment of a day of liberty with you and himself in the woods, among the flowers and trees and birds, that he committctl this fault." ' Catharine, Louis told an untruth, and acted deceitfully. And look at the consequences: we shall have forfeited our parents' confidence, and may have some days of paii A privation to endure before we regain our home, if we ever do And our way back to Cold Springs," replied Hector. "It is the grief and anxiety our dear parents will endure this night," answered Catharine, " that dis ■■ ■■1 A CALL TO WORK. 29 tresses iny inind ; l)ut," slic added, in more cheerful tones, " let us not despair, no doubt to-morrow wo sliall bo able to retrace our steps." With tlie young there is ever a mngical spell in that little word to-rnorrotv, — it is a point which they pursue as fast as it recedes from them ; sad indeed is the young heart that does not look forward with hope to the future! The cloud still hung on Hector's brow, till Catha- rine gaily exclaimed, " Come, Hector! come Louis! we must not stand idling thus ; we must think of pro- viding some shelter for the nitj'ht: it is not barn ; and much her mother marvelled what could have induced her good, dutiful Catharine to have left her work and forsnken her household duties to go ramblini; away with the bovs, (72t) 3 34 NO TiDixas. for she never left the house when her mother was absent from it without her express permission. And now she was gone, — lost to them perhaps for ever. There stood the wheel she had been turning ; there hung the untwisted hanks of yarn, her morning task ; and there they remained week after week, and month after month, untouched, — a melancholy memorial to the hearts of the bereaved parents of their beloved. It were indeed a fruitless task to follow the agonized fathers in their vain search for their chil- dren, or to paint the bitter anguish that tilled their hearts as day passed after day, and still no tidings of the lost ones. As hope faded, a deep and settled gloom stole over the sorrowing parents, and reigned throughout the once cheerful and gladsome homes. At the end of a week the only idea that remained was, that one of these three casualties had befallen the lost children, — death, a lingering death by famine; death, cruel and horrible, by wolves or bears ; or, yet more terrible, with tortures by the hands of the dreaded Indians, who occasionally held their councils and hunting-parties on the hills about the Rice Lake, which was known only by the elder Perron as the scene of many bloody encounters between the rival tribes of the Mohawks and Chijipewas. Its localities were scarcely ever visited by the settlers, lost haply they should fall into the hands of the bloody Mohawks, whose merciless disposition made them in those days a by-word even to the less cruel Cliipjiewas and other Indian nations. It was not in the direction of the Rice Lake that TIIK PAXfiS OP DOtJBT. 33 Maxwell and his brotlior-in-law souj^lit their lost children; and even if they had done so, among the deep glens and hill passes of what is now commonly called the I'iains, they would have stood little chance of discovering the poor wanderers. After juany days of fatigue of liody and distress of mind, the sorrowing parents sadl3' relin(piished the seai'ch as utterly hope- less, and mourned in hitterness of spirit over the disastrous fate of their Hrst-liorn and heloved chil- dren. " There was a voice of Avoe, and lamentation, and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her chil- dren, and refusing to lu' coniforted, because they were . The miscrahle uncertainty that involved the fate of the lost ones was an aggravation to the suflerings of the mournei's. C'ould they but have been certified of the manner of their deaths, they fancied they should be more contented ; but, alas ! this fearful satisfaction was withheld. " Oh, were their tale of sorrow known, 'Twori' snnii'thiiit,' to tho lircakiiiLC luart; The pane's (if (loiilit woiihl tlicn he i,'oi>(', Ami faiK'y's finllcss (h'caiiis driKut."' Ihit let us ([uit the now mom-id'id settlement of (Jold Springs, aiul sec how it really fared with the young Avanderers. When they awoke, the valley was tilled with a wliite creamy mist, that arose from the bed of the stream (now known as Cold (/reek), and gav(^ an indistinctness to the whole landscape, investing it with an appearance perfectly ditterent to that which 36 THE I-OST OXKS. it had worn by the bri^jht, clear light of the moon. No trace of their footsteps remaintMl to guide them in retracing thoir jiath ; so hard and (hy was the stony ground that it left no impression on its surface. It was V ith some difficulty they found the creek, which was concealed from sight by a lofty screen of gigantic hawthorns, high-bush cranberries, poplars, and birch trees. The hawthorn was in blossom, and gave out a sweet perfume, not less fragrant than the "May," which makes the lanes and liedgerows of " merrie old England " so s\\eet and fair in }.Iay and June. At length their path began to m'ow more dilUcult. A tangled mass of cedars, balsams, birch, black ash, alders, and tamavdch (Indian name for the larch), with a dense thicket of bushes and shrubs, such as love the cool, damp soil of marshy ground, warned our travellers that they must ([uit the banks of the friendly stream, or they might become entangled in a trackless swamp. Having taken copious and re- freshing draughts from the bright waters, and bathed their liands and faces, they ascended the grassy bank, and, again descending, found themselves in one of those lonij; valleys, enclosed betNveen lofty sloping l)anks, clothed with shrubs and oaks, with here and there a stately pine. Through this second valley they pursued their way, till, emerging into a wider space, they came among those singularly picturesque groups of rounded gi'avel hills, where the Cold Creek once more met their view, winding its way towards a grove of evergreens, where it was again lost to the eye. m HICK LAKK 37 This lovoly spot was known as Sackville's Mill- ) l>at raised the indignation of the tidy Catharine, whose ideas of economy and neatness were greatly outraged, especi- ally as she had no seA\'ing implements to assist in mending the rent. Louis thought nothing of that; it was a part of his character to think only of the present, little of the past, an(.l to let the future pro- vide for itself. Such was Louis's ixrc&t failinir, which had proved a fruitful source of trouble lioth to him- self and others. In this respect he bore a striking contrast to his more cautions companion, who pos- sessed much of the gi'avity of his father. Hector was as heedful and steady in his decisions •■'•= (jku's was rash and impetuous. After many futile attempts, and souw. sk.i K- jcked off their knuckles thiough awkward handling o'" the knife and flint, a good lire was at last kindled, as there was no lack of diy wood on tlx^ shore. ( \'»tharine then triumpiianl-ly jji'oduced her tin pot, anre boiled, greatly to the satisfaction of all parties, who were by this time sufficiently hungry, having eaten nothing sin« the previous evening more substantial than the . i> berries they had taken fluring the time they were guuiciing them in the morninir. A N'ATUliAI. liOWKK. 43 Catliavino had selected a pretty, cool, shady recess, a natural hower, under the overhangini;- growth of TiiK riiisr iiKi-.AKrAsr et'dars, poplars, ;iiiil liircli, which were wreathed together by the llexible ln'anehes ot" the wild grape vine and hittei'-swect, MJiicli elindHMl to a hei'dit of 44 FOREST FARE. fifteen feet* among the branches of the trees, which it covered as with a mantle. A pure spring of cold, delicious water welled out from l»eneath the twisted roots of an old hoaiy-barked cedar, •and found its way among the shingle on the Ix-ach to the lake, a humble but constant tributary to its waters. Some large blocks of water-worn stone fonned convenient seats and a natural table, on which the little maiden arranged the forest fare ; and never was a meal made with greater appetite or taken with more thankful- ness than that which our wanderei-s ate that mor-n- ing. The eggs (part of which they reserved for another time) were declared to l>e better than those that were daily produced from the little hen-house at Cold Springs. The strawlxirries, set out in little pottles made with the shining leaves of the oak, ingeniously pinned together by Catharine with the long spurs of the hawthorn, wore voted delicious, and tlie pure water most refreshing, that they drank, for Jack of better cups, from a large mus.sel-shell wliich Catharine had picked up among thj weeds and pebbles on the beach. Many children would have wandered about weep- ing and disconsolate, lamenting their sad fate, or have imbittcrcd the time by useless repining, or, perhaps, by venting their mieasiness in reviling the principal author of their calamity — poor, though tles.s Louis; but Rucii were not the dispcjsitions of our young Canadians. Early accustomed to the hardships inci of their lives they had often been compelled to -^nj^tnist for days and weeks upon roots and herbs, wUd fruits, and game which their fathers had learne\v defile; and here they prepared to pass their seco id niglit on tlie Plains. A few boughs cut down and interlaced with the .shrubs round a small space cleared with Hector's axe, formed shelter, and leaves and grass, strewed on the gi'ound, formed a bed — though not so smooth, perliaps, as the l)ark and cedar bouglis that the Indians spread within their summer wigwams iov carpets and couches, or the fresh heather that the Highlanders gather on the wild Scottish liills. While Hector and Louis were preparing the .sleep- ing-chamber, Catharine busied herself in preparing the partridge for their supper. Having collected some thin peelings from the rugged bark of a birch tree that grew on the side of the steep bank to which she gave the appropriate name of the " Birken Shaw," she dried it in her bosom, and then beat it line upon a big stone, till it resembled the finest white paper. This proved excellent tinder, the aromatic oil con- tained in the bark of the birch being highly inflam- inalile. Hector had prudently retained the flint that they had used in the morning, and a flre was now lighted in front of the rocky stone, and a forked 48 I'KNSIONEKS ON GODS I'ROVIJJENCE. stick, stuck in the ground, and bent over the coals, served as a spit, on which, gipsy-fasliion, the partridge was suspended, — a scanty meal, hut thankfully par- taken of, though they knew not how they should breakfast next morning. The children felt they were pensioners on (Jod's providence not less than the wild denizens of the wilderness around them. When Hector — who by nature was less sanguine than his sister or cousin — expressed some anxiety for their provisions for the morrow, Catharine, who had early listened with trusting piety of heart to the teaching of her father, when he read portions from the holy Word of (Jod, gently laid her hand upon her brothers head, which rested on her knees, as he sat u})on the grass beside her, and said, in a low and earnest tone, " ' Consider the fowls of the air : they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into Imrns-, yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they ? ' Surely, my brother, God careth for us as much as for the wild creatures that have no sense to praise and glorify his holy name. God cares for the creatures he has made, and supplies them with knowletlge where they .shall find food when they hunger and thirst. So I have heard my father say ; and surely our father knows, for is he not a wise man, Hector ? " "I remember," .said Louis thoughtfully, "hearing my mother repeat the Avords of a good old man slie knew when she lived in Quebec. ' Wh^n you are in trouble, Mathilde,' he used to say to her, ' kneel down and ask God's help, nothing doubting but that he has FAITH AND WORKS. 49 the power as well as the will to serve you, if it be for your good; for he is able to bring all things to pass. Jt is our own want of faith that prevents our prayers from being heard.' And, truly, I think the wise old man was right," he added. It was strange to hear grave words like these from the lips of the giddy Louis. Possibly they liad the greater weight on that account. And Hector, look- ing up with a serious air, replied, " Your mother's friend was a good man, Louis. Our want of trust in God's power must displease him. And when we think of all the great and glorious things he has made, — that blue sky, those sparkling stars, the beautiful moon that is now shining down upon us, and the hills and waters, the mighty forest, and little creeping plants and flowers that grow at our feet, — it must, indeed, seem foolish in his eyes tlmt we should doubt his power to help us, who not only made all these things but ourselves also." " True," said Catharine ; " but then. Hector, we are not as God made us ; for the wicked one cast bad seed in the field where God had sown the good." " Let us, however, consider M'hat \ve shall do for food ; for you know God helps those that help them- selves," said Louis. " Let us consider a little. There must be plenty of fish in the lake, both small and great." " But how are we to get them out of it ? " rejoined Catharine. " I doubt the fish will swim at their ease there, while we go hungry." " Do not interruj)t me, ma chore. Then, we see the (721) 4 50 FOREST DAINTIES. track of deer, and the holes of the wood-chuck ; we hear tlie cry of squirrels and chitmunks, and there are jilenty of partridges, and ducks, and quails, and snipes ; — of course, we have to contrive some way to kill them. Fruits there are in abundance, and plenty of nuts of different kinds. At present we have plenty of fine strawberries, and huckleberries will be ripe soon in profusion, and bilberries too, and you know how pleasant they arc ; as for raspberries, I see none; but by-and-by there will be May-apples {Podophyllum peltatum) — I see gi'eat quantities of them in the low grounds ; grapes, high-bush cranberries, haws as large as cherries, and sweet too, squaw-berries, wild-plums, choke-cherries, and bird-cherries. As to sweet acorns, there will be bushels and bvishels of them for the roasting, as good as chestnuts, to my taste, and butter- nuts, and hickory -nuts, with many other good things." And here Louis stopped for want of breath to con- tinue his catalogue of forest dainties. " Yes; and there are bears, and wolves, and raccoons too, that will eat us for want of better food," inter- rupted Hector slyly. " Nay, Katty, do not shudder, as if you were already in the clutches of a big bear. Neither bear nor wolf shall make mincemeat of thee, my girl, while Louis and thy brother ai'e near to wield an axe or a knife in thy defence." "Nor catamount spring upon thee, ma belle cousine," added Louis gallantly, " while thy bold cousin Louis can scare him away." " Well, now that we know our resources, the next thing is to consider how we are to obtain them, my A PnOVOKINO HOY. 51 dears," said Catharini!. " For fisliing, you know, we must have a liook and line, a rod, or a net. Now, where are these to be met witli ? " Louis nodded his liead sagaciously. " The line I think 1 can provide ; the hook is more; difficult, hut I do not despair oven of that. As to tlx; rod, it can he cut from any slender sa})ling on the shore. A net, ma chore, 1 could make with very little trouble, if 1 had but a piece of cloth to sew over a lioop." Catharine laughed. " You are very ingenious, no doubt, Monsieur Louis ; but where are you to get the cloth and the hoop, and the means of sewing it on ? " Louis took up the corner of his cousin's apron with a provoking look. " My apron, sir, is not to be appropriated for any such pui'pose. You seem to covet it for everytliing." "Indeed, ma petite, I think it very unbecoming and \ery ugly, and never could see any good reason why you, and mannna, and Ahithildc; should wear such frightful things." " It is to keep our gowns clean, Louis, when we are milking, and scrubbing, and doing all sorts of house- hold duties," said (Mharine. "Well, ma belle, you have neither cows to milk nor house to clean," replied the annoying boy; "so there can be little want of the apron. I could turn it to fifty useful purposes." " Pooh, nonsense," said Hector impatiently ; " let the child alone, and do not tease her about her apron." " Well, then, there is another good thing I did not 52 MATERIAL POK KISIUNO-LINKS. think of before — water nms.sel.s. I have heart! my father and oUl Jacob the lumberer say that, roasted in their shells in the ashes, with a seasoning of salt and pepper, they arc good eating when nothing better is to be got." " No doubt, if the seasoning can be procured," said Hector ; " but, alas for the salt and the pepper ! " " Well, we can eat them with the best of all sauces — hunger. And then, no doubt, t^ 're are crayfish in the gravel under the stones; but nust not mind a pinch to our fingers in taking th. " To-morrow, then, let us breakfast on fish," said Hector. " You and I will try our luck, while Kate gathers strawberries ; and if our line should break, we can easily cut those long locks from Catharine's head and twist them into lines." And Hector laid his hands upon the long fair hair that hung in shin- ing curls about his sister's neck. " Cut my curls ! This is even worse than cousin Louis's proposal of making tinder and fishing-nets of my apron," said Catharine, shaking l)ack the bright tresses which, escaping from the snood that bound them, fell in goklen waves over her shoulders. " In truth, Hec, it were a sin and a shame to cut her pretty curls, that become lier so well," said Louis. " But we have no scissors, ma belle, so you need fear no injury to your precious locks." " For the niattcr of that, Louis, we could cut them with your couteau de ehasse. I could tell you a story that my father told me, not long since, of Charles Stuart, the second kinir of that name in Enij- IIKCTOK S HTOHY. 53 land. You know he was the grandunclo of the young chevalier, Charles Edward, that my father talks of, and loves so much." "I know all ahout him," said Catharine, nodding sagaciously ; " let us hear the story of his granduncle. But I shoidd like to know what my hair and Loui.s's knife can have to do with King Charles." " Wait a bit, Kate, and you shall hear — that is, if you have patience," said lier brother. " Well then, you nuist know, that after some great battle, the name of which I forget,* in which the king and his handfid of brave soldiers were defeated by the forces of the Parliament (the Roundheads, as they were called), the poor young king was liunted like a part- ridge upon the mountains ; a large price was set on his head, to be given to any traitor who should slay him or bring him prisoner to Oliver Cromwell. He was obliged to dress himself in all sorts of queer clothes, and hide in all manner of strange, out-of-the- way places, and keep company with rude and humble men, the better to hide his real rank from the cruel enemies that sought his life. Once he hid along with a gallant gentleman,-!- ""'^' ^^ ^'^^ own brave officers, in the l)ranches of a jxreat o;>k. Once lie wa.s hid in a mill ; and another time he was in the house of one Pendril, a woodman. The soldiers of the Parliament, who were always prowling about, and popping in unawares wherever they suspected the poor king to be hidden, were at one time in the very room where he was standing be.side the tire." ' Hattlc of Worcester. t Colonel Careless. 54 III'X'TORS STOltY. " Oh ! " exclaimed Catliavinc, " that was frightful. And did they take him prisoner ? " "No; for the wise Avoodnian and his brothers, fea.ring lest the soldiers should discover that lie was a cavalier an sou of his brave colomd, who knew a great deal about the history of the Stuart kings ; for our colonel had been with Prince Charles, the young chevalier, and fought by his side when he was in IIKCTOUS STORY. 55 Scotland. Ho loved him dearly, and after the battle of CuUoden, where the prince lost all, and was driven from place to place, and had not where to lay hi.s head, he went abroad in hopes of better times. But those times did not come for the poor prince ; and our colonel, after a while, tlu^ough the friendship of General Wolfe, got a commission in the army that was embarking for Quebec, and at last commanded the regiment to which my father belonged. He was a kind man, and my father loved both him and his son, and grieved not a little when he parted from In am. " Well," said Catharine, "as you have told mo such a nice stoiy, Mister Hec, I shall forgive the affront aliout my curls." " Well, then, to-morrow we are to try our luck at fishing, and if we fail, we will make us bows and arrows to kill deer or small game ; I fancy we shall not be over-particular as to its (juality. Why should not we be able to find subsistence as well as the wild Indians ? " "True," said Hector; "the wild men of tlie wilder- ness, and the aninsals and birds, all are fed by the things that He provideth ; then wherefore should His white child on fear;'" " I have often heard my father tell of the priva- tions of the lumberers, M-hen they have fallen short of provisions, and of the c(mtrivances of hiuiself and old Jacob Morelle when tliey were lost for several days, nay, weeks I beliexc it was. Like the Indians, they made themselves l>ows and arx'ows, using the 56 LOUIS S STORY. sinews of the deei", or fi^esli thongs of leather, for bow-strings ; and when they could not get game to eat, they boiled the inner bark of the slippery elm to jelly, or birch bark, and drank the sap of the sugar maple when they could get no water but melted snow only, which is unwholesome : at last they even boiled their own moccasins." " Indeed, Louis, that must have been a very un- savoury dish," said Catharine. "That old buck -skin vest would have made a famous pot of soup of itself," added Hector, "or the deer-skin hunting shirt." " They might have been reduced even to that," said Louis, laughing, " but for the good fortune that befell them in tlie way of a half-roasted bear." "Nonsense, Cousin Louis; bears do not run about ready roasted in the forest, like the lambs in the old nursery tale." " Kate, this was a fact ; at least it was told as one by old Jacob, and my father did not deny it. Shall ^ tell you about it ? After passing several hungry days, with no better food to keep them alive than the scrapings of the inner bark of the poplars and elms, which Avas not very substantial for hearty men, they encamped one night in a thick dark swamp, — not the sort of place they would have cliosen, but they could not helj) themselves, having been enticed into it by the tracks of a deer or a moo.se, — and night came upon them unawares, so they .set to work to kindle a fire with spunk, and a Hint and knife ; riHe they had none, or maybe they would have had game to eat. LOUIS S STORY. 57 Old Jacob fixed upon a hugo hollow pine that lay across their path, against which he soon piled a glorious heap of boughs and arms of trees, and what- ever wood he could collect, and lighted up a fine fire. The wood was dry pine and cedar and birch, and it blazed away, and crackled and burned like a pine- torch. By-and-by they heaml a most awful groAvling close to them. ' That's a big bear, as I live,' said old Jacob, looking all about, thinking to see one come out from the thick bush. But Bruin was nearer to him than he thought; for presently a great black l)e was all in a Maze in a moment. No doubt the li- , i of the fire liad penetrated to the hollow of the log, wlnix' he iiad Iain himself snugly up for the winter, and w.-Ju-ned him. Jacob seeing the huge black brute all in a. Hame oi fire, roared with fright; the bear roared with pain and rii ■,'('; and my father roared with laughing to .sec Jacob s terror. But he did not let the bear laugh at him, for ho seized a thick \)oh\ that he; had used for closing in the brands and logs, and soon demolished th<- bear, who was so blinded with tlu? tin^ and smuKr ''.at he made no fight ; j.nd they fcastcil on roast i 'car's fiesh for many days, and got a capital skin to cover them beside." " What, Louis ! after the fur was all singed i " said Catharine. " Kate, you are too particular," said Louis; "a story never loses, you know.' 58 A SCANTY MEAL. Hector laughed heartily at the arlventurc, and en- joyed the dilemma of the lK?ar in his winter quartei's; but Catharine was souicwhat shocked at tlie levity displayed by her cousin and brother when recounting the terror of old Jacob and the .suflerings of the poor bear." "You boys arc always so unfeeling," she said gravely. " Indeed, Kate," said her brother, " the day may come when the sight of a good piece of roast bear's Hesh will be jio unwelcome sight. If we do not find our way back to ('()]<] Springs l»efure the winter sets iu, we n)ay be reduced to as bad a state as poor Jacob and my uncle were in the pine swamps on the banks of the St. John." "Ah !" said Catharine, trcmlding, "that would be too bad to happen." "Courage, ma belle; let ns not despair for the morrow. Let us sec what to-rnoiTOW will do for us ; meantime, avc will not ne'dect the blessings we still possess. .See, our partridge is ready ; let us eat our supper, and l»e thankful; and for grace let us say, * Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.' " Long exposure to the air had .sharpened their appetites. Till' hungry wanderei-s needeil no further invitation. The scanty meal, equally divided, was soon despatched. It is a common saying, but excellent to be remem- bered by uiiy wanderers in our forcst wilds, that those who travel by the sun travel in a circle, and usually find themselves at niglit in the same place A BITTTER DISAPPOINTMENT. 59 from whencK' thtrj .startert»'d at noon. They liad imagined tliemsehes niiilcf'^f di.'stant from it : tliey were griev- ously ilisajijM.niimitfML They hud encouraged each other with dn-*- ocinHrk'nt hope that they were di'aw- ing near tu slan" end of their bewildering journey: they wei-e a-* far from their home as ever, without the slightK;;!st dnai--- to guide them to the right path. Despair is mjit at ff:f:;Iing which takes deep root in the youthful br4-a.-iL TTie young are always hopeful ; so C(jnfideijt in t3i)«-^ir nwn wisdom and skill in averting or conquerirjiT "iaUKg^r; so trusting; so willing to be- lieve that ih'-rir in a peculiar Providence watching over them. Vmrr eiuldreii ! they had indeed need of such a Ixdief t«> strengthen their minds and encourage then'j to froJa K-x-^rtions, for new trials were at hand. The broa<3 jiiiK)*>n had airfjidy Ht)oded '.he recesses of the glen w'nh light, and all looked fresh and lovely in tlj<.* "k-w wliich glittered on tree and leaf, on herb anJ !}l«>»vr. (.'atharine, who, though weary with her faitigfinDiiig wanderings, could not sleep, left the little Ijuit ■'xf it>n;ghs her companions hail put up near the t steep side formed a lofty elitl-likc proinontor}'. at tlwr extreme verge of which the roots of one tall spn-ai'Img oak formed a most inviting seat, from whenoe tin*- eraveller looked down into a level tract, wliich rtretehed away to the edge of the lake. 60 AN APPARITION. This flat had been the estuary of the mountain stream wliich had once rushed down between the hills, forming a narrow gorge ; but now all was changed : the watei-s had ceased to flow, the granite bed was overgrown and carjietcd with deer-grass and flowers of many hues, wild fruits and bushes, below, while majestic oaks and pines towered above. A sea of glittering foliage lay beneath Catharine's feet ; in the distance the eye of the young girl rested on a belt of shining waters, which girt in the shores like a silver zone ; beyond, yet more remote to the north- ward, stretched the illimitable forest. Never had Catharine looked upon a scene so still or so fair to the eye ; a holy calm seemed to shed its influence over her young mind, and peaceful tears stole down her cheeks. Not a sound was there abroad, scarcely a leaf stirre,-re too valnaltle to he lost, so they roused tL-- -^let-per, and slowly recommenced their toilsome wav, following,' the same path that they had made i© tiie nioming. Fortunately, Hector had taken tJ*e precaution to bend down the flexile branches ■ down upon their eyelids— (loop, unbroken sleep, which lasted till the broad sunlight, breaking through the leafy curtains of their forest-bed, and the sound of waving bou'dis and twittering birds, once more awakened them to life and light, recalling them from hapi^y dreams of home and friends to an aching sense of loneliness and desolation. This day they (lid not wander far from the valley, but took the precaution, as evening drew on, to light a large lire, the blaj^e of which they thought would keep away any beast of prey. They had no want of food, as the fish they had caurce of the rushini; waters, that carried away the Iiel than the foinner one, and, like it, is emuanked by a rid»;e of distant hills. Both have ravines 1* ' ' 'ig dow i to the Rice Lake, and may have beer clie sources from whence its channel was filled. Some convulsion of nature at a remote period, by raising the v, ^-icrs above their natural level, might have caused a dis- ruption of the banks, and drained their beds, as they now api^ear ready for the ploughshare or the spade. In the month of June these fiat< are brilliant with Jl (fiARDE^ OF NATlltES OWX PI.AXTI.NU. 87 the spltdnk'ii'l blas.sonis of tlie Castlhujia coccinea, or painted-e'ipv the azure lupine (Lu2)lniiS2^erennis), and snowT Tif-iUku.ra ; dwarf roses {Rom, hlavda) scent the evemiEi^ air. and grow as if planted by the hand of tart-e. A aaijii^ung of the small downy saxifrage (Saxi- fnujniu.i scrken. The blue berries of this shrub are eaten by tlie partridge ami wihl ducks ; also by the pigeons, and other birds There are several species of tliis blirub uomnion to tlie Kice Lake. I 90 DUEAMINCi UK HO.Mi;. them a luxury a.s great as if it liad been taken from the looms of Persia or Turkey, so liajipy and con- tented were they in their ii^norance. I'heir beds of freshly f^^athered grass and leaves, raised from the earth by a heap of branehes carefully arranged, were to them as pleasant as beds of down, and the rude hut of bark and polos as curtains of damask or silk. Having collected as much of these materials as she deemed sufficient for the purpose, Catharine next gathered up the dry oak branches, to make a watch- fire for the night. This doni', weaiy and warm, she sat down on a little hillock, l)eneath the cooling shade of a grove of young aspens that grew near the hut. Pleased with the dancing of the leaves, which fluttered above her head, and fanned her warm cheek with their incessant motion, she thought, like her cousin Louise, that the aspen was th(.' merriest tree in the forest, for it was always dancing, dancing, dancing. She watclied the gathering of the distant thunder- clouds, which east a deeper, more sondn'e shade upon the pines that girded the northern shores of the lake as with an ebon frame. Insensibly her thoughts wandered far away from the lonely spot whereon she sat, to the stoup * in front of her father's house, and in memory's eye she beheld it all exactly as she had left it. There stood the big spinning-wheel, just as she had set it aside ; the hanks of dyed yarn sus- pended from the rafters, the basket filled with the carded wool ready for her work. She saw in fancy ' The Dutch word for veranda, which is still in coinnion use among Uio Canadianb. A .)OYKl?L AWAKKNIXG. 91 lier father, with his line atliletic ujn'iglit %ure, his sunhiirnt cheeks Jind chistering sable hair, his clear energetic hazel eyes ever beauiiny upon her, his favoiu'iti! child, witli looks of lo\'e and kindness as she in(jved to and fro at lier wheel.* Tliere, too, was her niothei', with her light step and sweet cheer- ful voice, singing as she pursued her daily avoca- tions; and Donald and Kenneth driving up the cows to he milked, or chopping firewooil. And as these images, like the figures of the magic-lantern, passed in all their living colours before her mental vision, lier head drooped heavier and lower till it sank upon her arm ; and then she started, looked round, and slept again, her face deeply Ijuried in her young bosom, and long and peacefully the young girl slumbered. A sound of hurrying feet a])proaches, a M'ild cry is heard and joanting breath, and the sleeper, with a startling scream, springs to her feet : she dreamed that she was struggling in the fangs of a wolf — its grisly paws were clasjjed about her throat ; the feel- ing was agony and suffocation : her languid eyes open. Can it l)e ? — what is it that she sees ? Yes, it is Wolfe ; not the tierce creature of her dreams by night and her fears by day, but her father's own brave, devoted dog. What joy, what hope rushed to her heart ! She threw herself upon the shaggy neck of the faithful l)east, and wept from fulness of heart. * Such is the method of working iit tlii> Urge wool-wlieel, unkiio-Au or obsolete in England. 92 ( ATI I. \ I! INK AM) Wol.l'i;, " Yos," sill' JDyfullv ci'*K'il, '■ I knew that I .should see liiin again. My own iloar, dear, loviiij;- t'atlier ! i«gpL;- <&? -. cV^J rATllMlIMv rcHNTi I'.V Tlir, cil.l) IlOO Fatlicr ! father! ilear, dear father, liere are your cliihh'en 1 Come, come (juiekly!" and .she liurried to the head of the valley, rai.sing her voice, that the Dr.rKITIML SOI-\l)S. 93 beloved parcTit, who slic now eoutitlcntly liclieved was appvoachiii^i;-, m\'j;]\i Ix- i;uiilc(l to tlio spot l>y the well-known sound of her voiee. I'oor ehild ! tlie echoes of thy ea^-er voice, pro- lonijfed hy every projecting iicadhand of the valley, i'('])lii'd ill mocking- tones, " ( 'oiiie (piickly !" Bewildered she paused, listened hreatldcssly, and ai^^ain she called, " Fathei', come (piiekly, come !" and again tlu' deceitful sounds were repeated, " Quickly come !" The faithful do,l,^ who had sueeeeded in trackinj,' the stt'ps of his lost mistress, I'aist^d his heat I and erected his ears as she called on her father's name ; hut he i;-iive no joyful hark of reco.g'nition as he was wont to do when lu; heard his master's step appi'oach- in<'. Still Catharine; eoidd not hut think that Wolfe had only huri'ied on hefore, and that ln'r father must be very neai\ The sound of her voice ha, ^%' y 4 P Photograpliic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 A^ iV '^^ » in search of game and to explore the neigh Ixjurin';^ hilk and valleys, and sometimes it was sunset liefouTt he made his appearance. Hectijr had luade HSi f;%iaiMfi;nt strong bow, like the Indian bow, out of a tougfu pierce of liickory wood, which he found in one of Kw rambles, and lie made arrows with wood itJ^tt he seasoned in the smoke, sharpening the hta'k with great care with his knife, and hardening llii«tini hj exposure to strong heat, at a certain distaiiiiw from the fire. The entrails of the woodcliuck. trtratehedj and scraped, and dried, and rendered pliaUt' W rob- bing and drawing through the hands, an^'x^iTi'A f-jr a bow-string ; but afterwards, wlnm tljey t'o?, the sinews and hide of the deer, they used theui),|>ro|i»*rIj dressed for the purpose. Hector also made a cross-bow, which h*; nawri'! with great effect, being a true and steady Juafffaman. Louis and he would often amuse them«;lviw with * From the abundance of this fruit, the Indians have piitai aim atuurt nf Whortleberry Phim to the lands on the south hhorc. Uurmp Uii imur.ii. .-if July and the early part of August, large i)arties tome to the tavi iUiit IPluisw to gather huckleberries, which they prescrs'e by drying, lor »uiV.!i uw These berries iiiako a delicious tart or pudding, mixud with Ulbtsnitik iiulack .squirrels never were to Ih- found very near each other. It is a common belief that the iey liad been accustomed very sensibly. One d;iy, while Hector and Louis wei'c i lOG AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. busily engaged with tlieir assistant, Wolfo, in un- earthing a woodchuck, tliat had taken refuge in THE WOI.VKUINE. his burrow, on one of the gravelly hills above the lake, Catharine anmsed herself by looking for flowers. She had tilled her lap with ripe May- apples,* but fimling them cumbersome in climbing the steep Avooded hills, she deposited them at the foot of a tree near the boys, and pursued her search ; and it Avas not long Itefore she perceived some pretty grassy-looking plants, with heads of bright lilac Howers, and on plucking one pulled up the root also. The root was about the si;:e and shape of a large crocus ; and on biting it, she found it far from disayreeable — sweet, and sliu'litly astringent. It seemed to be a favourite root with the woodchucks, • The fruit of the Miiy-iii)i)le, in lidi, moist soil, will iittiiin to tho size of the miiKmiin bonuiii, or (;g),'iiluiii, wliidi it ruseinbles in colour and shape. It makes a delicious iircservo, if seasoned witli el( ■ or >;inger. When eaten un- I'ooked, tlie outer rind, wliicli is tliick and llcshy and has a rank taste, should bo llirown aside; the tine acid pulp in wliicli tlie seeds are embedded alone should be eaten. Tlie root of tlu' |iodopl)yllum is used as a cathartic l>y tlie Indians. The root of this plant is rcticulali'd ; and when a lar(;e body of them are un- covered, they i)re.'-iriiii(f>irT(iW, 1 do not think that either you or I could msam^- one," said cautious Hector. " I could soon learn as others ha\e done ^jfdfj^r^ me. I wonder who first taught the Indian* Pn make canoes, and venture out on the lakes msA ^^iream.s. Why should we be more stupid than tL^i* imnttanght heathens ? I have listened .so often to my father's stories and adventures when he was (mi lffliinniij*;Tini' on the St. John River, that I am as familiar -Rrith the idea of a boat as if I had been bom in fmfr. Only think now," he said, turning to CatljarijuK; :. "just think of tlie fish, the big ones, we could ''^^ii if we had but a canoe to push out from the j»J vrs- Iw^yond those rush-beds." 118 AN INDIAN lirNTIN(i-(ilU)l NU. "It strikes me, Louis, tlmt tlioso rush-beds, as you call thom, nmst l)e the Indian rice tliat wo have seen the squaws luake their soup of." "Yes; and you renienihcr old Jacol) used to talk of a tine lake that he called Rice Lake, somewhere to the northward of the Cold Sprinavily, and the mists fill the valleys till the sun has risen with sufficient heat to draw up the vapours. It was a good tiling that the shanty was finished so soon, or the exposure to the damp air might have been productive of ague and fever. Every liour almost they spent in making little additions to their household comforts, but .some time was necessarily passed in trying to obtain provisions. One day Hector, who had been out hoin dawn till moonrise, 128 l'HEPAUIX(S WINTKU STORKS. returned with tlie welcome news that he had shot a young deer, and required the assistance of his cousin to bring it up the steep bank (it was just at the entrance of the great ravine) below the precipitous cliff near the lake : he had left old Wolfe to guard it in the meantime. They had now plenty of fresh broiled meat, and this store was very acceptable, as they were obliged to be very careful of the dried meat that they had. This time Catharine adopted a new plan. Instead of cutting the meat in strips, and drying it (or jerking it, as the lumberers term it), she roasted it before the fire, and hung it up, wrapping it in thin sheets of birch bark. The jiiices, instead of being dried up, were preserved, and the meat was more palatable. Catharine found great store of wild plums in a beau- tiful valley not far from the shanty ; these she dried for the winter store, eating sparingly of them in their fresh state. She also found plenty of wild black currants and high-bush cranberries, on the banks of a charming creek of bright water that flowed between a range of high pine hills and finally emptied itself into the lake. There were great quantities of water- cresses in this pretty brook ; they grew in l)right, round, cushion-like tufts at the Ijottom of the water, and were tender and wholesome. These formed an agreeable addition to their diet, which had hitherto been chiefly confined to animal food, for they could not always meet with a supply of the bread-roots, as they grew chiefly in damp, swampy thickets on the lake shore, which were sometimes very difficult of NECESSITY AND IXVENTION. 12a access. However, tliey never missed any opportunity of increasing tlieir stores, and laying up for the winter such roots as they could procure. As the cool weatJier and frosty nights drew on, the want of warm clothes and bed-covering became more sensildy felt ; those they had were beginning to wear out. CJatharinc had managed to wash her clothes at the lake several times, and thus preserved them clean and wholesome; but she was often sorely puzzled how the want of her dress was to be supplied as time wore on, and many were the consultations she held rt'ith the boys on the important subject. With the aid of a needle she might be able to manufacture the skins of the small animals into some sort of jacket, and the doe-skin and deer-skin could be made into garments for the boys. Louis was always suppling and rubbing the skins to make them soft: they had taken off the hair by sprinkling it with wood ashes, and rolling it up with the hairy side inwards. Out of one of these skins he made excellent moccasins, piercing the holes with a shai'pened bone l)odkin,and passing the sinews of the deer through, as he had seen his father do, by fixing a stout tish-bone to the deer-sinew thread. Thus he had an excellent substi- tute for a needle ; and, with the aid of the old file, ho sharpened the point of the rusty nail, so that he was enabled, with a little trouble, to drill a hole in a bone needle for his cousin Catharine's use. After several attempts, he succeeded in making some of tolerable fineness, hardening them by exposure to a slow, steady degree of heat till she was al)le to work with them, (721) 9. 130 A MIMATrRF PUNA. and even mend her clothes with tolcrahle expertness. By degrees, Catharine contrived to cover tlie whole outer surface of her honiespiui woollen frock with squirrel and mink, nuisk-rat and woodch ick skins. A curious piece of fur patclnvork of many hues and texture^ it presented to the eye, — a coat of many colours, it is true ; but it kept the wearer warm, and Catharine was not a little proud of her int^enuity and industry, — every new patch that was added was a source of fresh satisfaction ; and the n^occasins that Louis fitted so nicely to her feet were j^reat comforts. A fine skin that Hector l)rou<:,dit triumphantly in one diiy, the spoil from a fox that liatl been caught in one of his dead-falls, Avas in due time converted into a dashing cap, the brush remaining as an ornament to liang down on one shoulder. Catharine might have passed for a small ]Diana when she went out, with her fur dress and 1)0W and arrows, to hunt with Hector and Louis. Whenever game of any kind was killed, it was carefully skiinicd, and the fur stretched upon bent sticks, being first turned, so as to present the inner part to till! uis had gone out to tish at the lake one autumn nioiiiing. During Ids absence a sudden stiuall of wind came on, acc(Mn])anicd witli luavy rain. As lie stayed longer than usual, Hector hegan to feel uneasy lest some accident had hefallen liim, knowing his adventurous spirit, and that he liad for some days previous been busy constructing a raft of cedar logs, which he had fastened togetlier with wooden pins. This raft lio had nearly finislied, and was even talking of adventuring over to tlie nearest island to exjilore it, anil see what game anm open, and drie.l the tlesh for a future day. A fox or raccoon, attracted by the smell of the bir.ls, came one night and carried them off, for in the morning they were gone. They '^aw U2 wolfj:'.s discovery. several herd of door crossing the plain, and one day Wolfe tracked a wounded doe to a covert under '■^^ 'f/^^'^^ ^ -^ TiiK woryDKi) n