. 
 
 
MAX DAKTED FORWARD WITH UPLIFTED ARM, AND STRUCK WITH 
 ALL HIS MIGHT. P. 270. 
 
JACK IN THE BUSH 
 
 A SUMMER ON A SALMON RIVER 
 
 BY 
 
 ROBERT GRANT 
 
 AUTHOR OF "JACK HALL," "FACE TO FACE," "THE CONFESSIONS 
 OF A FRIVOLOUS GIRL," ETC. 
 
 BOSTON 
 JORDAN, MARSH & COMPANY 
 
 1888 
 
COPYRIGHT, 1888, 
 BY JORDAN, MARSH & CO. 
 
 BAND AVERY COMPANY, 
 
 ELECTROTYPERS AND PRINTERS, 
 
 BOSTON. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 G-- 
 
 
 CHAPTEK I. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 OFF TO THE WOODS 9 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP .30 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 " HIM BRIGHT SALMON " ...... 70 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 SETTLING DOWN 11 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 THE FOURTH OF JULY 149 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE 199 
 
 7 
 
 M578544 
 
8 CONTEXTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 THE RIVALS 242 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 " INJUN FALLS " 297 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 WHO WON THE RIFLE ... , 347 
 
JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 OFF TO THE WOODS. 
 
 IF you will look at the map, and observe the 
 course of the St. Lawrence River, you will see 
 that, after passing the City of Quebec, as it 
 grows broader it gradually bends to the east ; 
 and that where it empties into the gulf of the 
 same name, the whole right-hand coast falls 
 away, describing a curve which does not cease 
 until it unites with the eastern shore line of 
 the Dominion. The tongue of land thus formed, 
 lying between the St. Lawrence on the north 
 west, and the Bay of Chaleur on the southeast, 
 and. shaped not unlike the end of a hockey, is a 
 part of the Province of Quebec, and is, save for 
 the occasional fishing villages on the coast, an 
 
 9 
 
10 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 unsettled tract of country, almost uninhabited, 
 and covered with forests, among which perpetual 
 snow reigns from October until June. 
 
 Yet, uninviting as it seems from the stand 
 point of civilization, the sportsman can find in 
 this domain many of the wild creatures, both 
 birds and fish, which avoid the neighborhood of 
 man. Throughout it arid the northern portion 
 of New Brunswick, the Canadian province adjoin 
 ing on the south, bears and caribou and many 
 varieties of small game are abundant. But that 
 which distinguishes the region more especially 
 is the presence of the salmon. This splendid fish 
 makes its summer home in the rivers which 
 empty themselves along the curving shore from 
 the banks of the St. Lawrence to the Straits of 
 Northumberland. Apart from the attractions of 
 sport, there is magnificent scenery in these Cana 
 dian woods, pine-clad mountains, cascades and 
 stretches of foaming water adapted to try the 
 skill of canoe-men ; and, to interest one who sails 
 along the coast in search of a harbor, bold head 
 lands and tall precipices, against which the sea 
 dashes itself viciously, even when smiling. 
 
OFF TO THE WOODS. 11 
 
 Mr. John Holt, a college graduate of thirty- 
 five, in looking out for a site for his summer 
 school, happened to apply to his old friend and 
 chum Randolph Russell, whose splendid physique 
 and bronzed skin were in keeping with the repu 
 tation he had won as a hunter of big game in 
 many lands. 
 
 44 1 wish," Mr. Holt said, " to find some place 
 where I can take half a dozen boys to spend the 
 summer, with a prospect of bracing air and good 
 sport. I have a plan for a summer school." 
 
 "A school in summer!" ejaculated Colonel 
 Russell. " Don t they get study enough during 
 the rest of the year?" 
 
 " I don t wonder you are not prepossessed in 
 its favor at first blush," answered his friend. 
 44 Neither were the boys until it was explained 
 that the term 4 school in this case did not imply 
 lessons in the usual sense. I ve, had the idea for 
 some time that there are a great many parents 
 at a loss how to provide their sons during the 
 holidays with healthful occupation. If one were 
 going to Europe or to some fashionable watering- 
 place, or were obliged to spend the summer in 
 
12 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 town, or a child were delicate and needed some 
 invigorating change, it seemed to me as though 
 it would certainly be a boon to have a young 
 man like myself come and say, 4 Let me take your 
 boy for eight weeks into the back-woods. He 
 will have pleasant companions, the best of air, 
 simple food, and whatever discipline he needs. 
 I will bring him back to you brown as a berry, 
 and in excellent condition to resume his studies. 
 Accordingly I acted upon my theory, with the 
 result that I have six pupils engaged for the 
 season, and could have more were I willing to 
 undertake the responsibility of a large number. 
 Now, I ve come to you to tell me where to go to." 
 
 " Quite right. I must consider," said the Col 
 onel. " Six boys together in the woods ! You 
 will have your hands full, my dear fellow." 
 
 u Perhaps ; but I shall enjoy the experience. 
 I trust we shall all enjoy it, and if I can hit on 
 the right spot I feel sure we shall have a capital 
 time. The difficulty is to find a camping-ground 
 which combines fresh air and beautiful surround 
 ings with sport. I can think of half a dozen 
 places where we should have beautiful scenery 
 
^ TO THE WOODS. 13 
 
 and plenty of ozone, but the boys would come 
 home next to empty-handed in the way of fish 
 and birds. I don t want to go to a place which is 
 fished out and shot out." 
 
 " Precisely, and it is not very easy to find now 
 adays a place such as you have in view. But I 
 happen to know of an excellent one if you don t 
 object to going some distance from home." 
 
 " What do you mean by 4 some distance, 
 Central Africa or the jungles of India? " 
 
 " If you like ; but I had especially in mind a 
 salmon river in the wilds of Canada." 
 
 " A salmon river ! That sounds well." 
 
 " I happen to be the lessee of the fishing-rights 
 on one of the rivers in the county of Gaspe*, in 
 the far northeastern corner of the Province of 
 Quebec," continued the Colonel, "and I should be 
 very glad to have you and the six boys enjoy 
 them with me this summer. It takes about three 
 nights and three days to get there ; but I can 
 promise you fine sport unless there is an unusually 
 poor run of fish." 
 
 " The very thing, I should say. But are you 
 not rashly flying in the face of Providence in 
 
14 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 making such a proposal? As you said yourself 
 just now, think of six boys together in the woods ! 
 You will not have a moment s peace." 
 
 " I guess I can stand them if you can." 
 
 " You forget that it is my profession to stand 
 them," answered Mr. Holt. 
 
 " And you forget that I have faced nearly every 
 variety of formidable creature the world over, 
 lions, tigers, orang-outangs, and what not." 
 
 "I give in, then; for I can guarantee, I think, 
 that my boys are not so formidable as all that. 
 Indeed, I believe them to be very good fellows. 
 Before accepting unequivocally, however, I should 
 like to make the condition that we rough it a 
 little. I imagine that an old sportsman like your 
 self does not surround himself with superfluous 
 assistants, but I should like to have as few as it is 
 possible to get along with. My idea is that the 
 boys should do their own tent-building and row 
 ing and cooking, with a woodsman or two to show 
 them how." 
 
 " With all my heart," said the Colonel, puffing 
 at his pipe by way of vigorous approbation of this 
 sentiment. " The river is a bit steep in spots, but 
 
OFF TO THE WOODS. 15 
 
 if you re ready to take hold and do some poling 
 yourself we ought to get on capitally with the 
 help only of William Patterson, who looks after 
 my traps at Gaspe Basin, and his son Jimmy." 
 
 " I m game for any amount of work," said Mr. 
 Holt. 
 
 " I ll write to-morrow and tell William that we 
 are coming. Who are your bovs, by the way ? " 
 
 " There s Jack Hall from Boston, whom you 
 know already, I think, and a friend of his who 
 rejoices in the nickname of 4 Dubsy Perkins, 
 though he was christened .Samuel. Then there s 
 a St. Louis lad named Haseltine who is at the 
 same boarding-school as Jack, two New Yorkers 
 Max and Joe Fearing, and Tom Binney from 
 Philadelphia, a very manly appearing set, take 
 them all together, though my knowledge of them 
 is necessarily superficial. The younger Fearing is 
 about fourteen, and the others not far from 
 sixteen." 
 
 "Well, we ll make men of them," said the 
 Colonel. 
 
 " If I had known I was to have your co-opera 
 tion, my dear Randolph, I should have charged 
 
16 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 a larger tuition fee. When my pupils hear that 
 they are to go into camp with one who has killed 
 bears and tigers in hand-to-hand combat, the 
 expedition will become very popular." 
 
 As a result of this conversation, the two gentle 
 men and the six boys, whose names you have 
 been told, set out one evening in the latter part 
 of June for Gaspe* Basin, the village close to 
 which Colonel Russell s river emptied into the 
 sea. A night in a sleeping-car brought them to 
 Montreal. There they spent the day, and in 
 the afternoon they took the boat down the St. 
 Lawrence as far as Quebec, where the boys were 
 thrilled at the approach in the early morning 
 to the magnificent heights towering above the 
 river, at the base of which the city is built, 
 one of the grand views of the world. There 
 was no time, however, to spend in roaming about 
 the picturesque old place, for the train was in 
 Waiting ; and away they went flying farther north, 
 following the curving right bank of the river, 
 past French Canadian towns, each consisting of 
 a bevy of cottages nestled about a vast church 
 with a tall spire, the tin covering of which glis- 
 
OFF TO THE WOODS. 17 
 
 tened in the sunshine. In the afternoon the train 
 branched off to the east, and immediately they 
 were travelling through what had been but a 
 few years before virgin wilds, and where even 
 now the engine was the sole explorer. At sunset 
 time the scenery became more attractive. Moun 
 tains appeared, and through the windows of the 
 cars they looked down on a spirited river winding 
 its way along, here calmly, and at the next glimpse 
 alive with foaming rapids. 
 
 " The Metapedia," said the Colonel. " It and 
 the Restigouche, with which it unites a few miles 
 below, are two of the finest salmon rivers in 
 Canada." 
 
 Presently they came in sight of a canoe with 
 three men in it, the middle one of whom was 
 fishing, while the two others held the boat steady 
 with long poles. 
 
 "See, see," Colonel Russell cried, " he has a 
 fish on." 
 
 " A salmon ? " ejaculated several of the boys. 
 
 "Certainly. A lively one, too, by the way 
 he acts." 
 
 Sure enough, the angler s rod was bent at a 
 
18 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 considerable angle, and the line seemed to be 
 running out at an exceedingly lively pace. All 
 of a sudden, just as they were abreast of the canoe, 
 something jumped out of the water and flashed 
 for a moment nearly a hundred yards ahead. 
 
 "Did you see him jump?" cried the Colonel. 
 " Ah, he has lost him ! " 
 
 " Where ? how ? " exclaimed the boys excitedly ; 
 but the canoe was no longer in sight. 
 
 u The salmon leaped out of water, as they often 
 will ; and I could tell by the way the line slack 
 ened that he was off. He must have broken the 
 hook, or fallen on the casting-line and snapped 
 it," the Colonel explained. " Either is a very 
 frequent occurrence/ 
 
 An hour later they reached Campbellton, a 
 small railroad town at the western extremity of 
 the Bay of Chaleur, and on the dividing line 
 between the provinces of New Brunswick and 
 Quebec, where they passed the night ; and early 
 in the morning they went on board the propeller 
 " Admiral," which plies between Campbellton and 
 Gaspe* Basin, a sixteen -hour trip in average 
 summer weather, with allowance for half a dozen 
 
OFF TO THE WOODS. 19 
 
 stops at the fishing-villages along the coast. It 
 was a beautiful day, and the boys were at first 
 absorbed in looking out for white porpoises, 
 which are to be seen in large schools through 
 the Bay of Chaleur ; but, though they failed to 
 catch sight of any, they speedily forgot their 
 disappointment in listening to the account which 
 the Colonel gave them of the hard existence led 
 by the fishermen, and the wives and daughters 
 of the fishermen, who inhabit the grand but iron 
 shore along which the steamer passed. Long 
 years before, he said, merchants from the far 
 distant island of Jersey had erected hereabouts 
 a series of establishments for the catching and 
 cure of cod, herring, and mackerel, affording a 
 pitiful livelihood to the natives, upon whom 
 Nature smiles but for a brief spell in summer, 
 and who for the greater part of the year are shut 
 out from intercourse with the rest of the world. 
 Nevertheless, the villages of Port Daniel, Pabos, 
 and Paspebiac, at which the " Admiral " stopped 
 for a few moments, looked attractive in the balmy 
 June sunshine, with their big storehouses outlined 
 against the green hills. 
 
20 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 "Well, boys," said Mr. Holt, looking at his 
 watch, " we ought to be at Gaspe* in about four 
 hours ; and I shall take this opportunity, when 
 we are all quietly seated together, to make you 
 a little address. As you know, your parents 
 have intrusted you to me with the wish that 
 you should be brought back refreshed for another 
 year s work at school. I expect that our life in 
 camp will strengthen ^our muscles, teach you to 
 wait upon yourselves, and to be energetic and 
 courageous. If it doesn t, I shall be disappointed. 
 I know something about camping out myself, and 
 our friend here, Colonel Randolph Russell, knows 
 all that is worth knowing on the subject : so it 
 will be any boy s own fault who does not return 
 at the end of the summer a thorough back 
 woodsman. But though I hope you will all enjoy 
 yourselves mightily, 7 he continued, u you mustn t 
 suppose that every thing will be easy as rolling 
 off a log, as my old guide used to say. Although 
 there will be no lessons in the ordinary sense 
 of the word, except an occasional lecture from 
 me or Colonel Russell on the natural history, 
 for instance, of the fish and birds that may be 
 
OFF TO THE WOODS. 21 
 
 killed by you, I shall regard you all as scholars 
 to the extent that I shall expect you to keep 
 up to the mark in whatever you undertake, 
 whether it be angling or poling or gunning or 
 cooking. For, boys, we shall have to cut down 
 trees, and build our own fires, and cook our own 
 dinners, and propel our own canoes. That may 
 sound like fun, and I have no doubt it will be 
 fine fun ; but there will be times, you may depend 
 upon it, when you will feel that you d rather be 
 doing this, that, "or the other than the especial 
 thing which it is your turn to do, and at those 
 times, Jack and Tom and Max and Joe and 
 Frank and Sam, you must show yourselves to 
 be the manly, unselfish boys I believe you to be. 
 That s all I have to say at present." 
 
 The silence which followed was broken at 
 length by Colonel Russell s remarking, " I ve got 
 something to show you, boys ; " after which he 
 arose, and, going below, reappeared presently 
 with a fine double-barrelled shot-gun. 
 
 " There," he said, " since this is a school, I am 
 going to put up a prize. The boy who makes 
 the best record shall have this." 
 
22 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 A murmur of satisfaction ran through the 
 group. 
 
 " My eye ! " ejaculated Haseltine. 
 
 "Do you mean the boy who catches the most 
 fish?" asked Jack Hall eagerly. 
 
 u Or who shoots a bear ? " said Tom Binney. 
 
 " Or the boy who cooks best ? " said Dubsy 
 Perkins. 
 
 The Colonel pursed up his lips and looked wise. 
 kk What I said was the boy who makes the best 
 record," he remarked slowly. " That may be the 
 boy who catches the most fish, or it may be 
 the boy who shoots a bear, or the one who cooks 
 the best, and it may be none of them. There are 
 lots of things that go to make up a good record 
 as a sportsman. One must show nerve and grit 
 and prudence and agility and common-sense and 
 handiness and a great many other qualities ; and 
 all I can say is, that the boy in this party who 
 exhibits most of them during the time we are in 
 the woods together is to have this gun, and it may 
 be, too, he will not have shot or caught a single 
 thing. One may be unlucky and yet a far better 
 sportsman at bottom than a fellow who goes out 
 
OFF TO THE WOODS. 23 
 
 walking and stumbles on a moose, or who runs 
 across fish in the rising mood and fills his canoe. 
 Give me the angler who can make fish rise when 
 they don t want to. Hulloa," he added, breaking 
 off, " there s the Perce Rock." 
 
 Every one followed the direction of his finger. 
 The steamer was approaching an enormous pic 
 turesque crag towering above the sea at a 
 short distance from the shore, remarkable from 
 the fact that there was an archway through 
 it large enough to afford a passage to a 
 moderate sized skiff without peril to sail or 
 spar. 
 
 "It has been gradually eaten through by the 
 action of the waves and weather on the stone," 
 said the Colonel. "Is it not interesting? Do 
 you see those dark specks which cover the top ? 
 They are all birds. When you get a little nearer, 
 you shall see something curious." 
 
 Thereupon he went forward and said a few 
 words to the captain, and ten minutes later, when 
 the " Admiral " was but a short distance from the 
 rock, boom ! rang the noise of a cannon at the 
 steamer s bow. 
 
24 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Instantly the whole army of birds, of which 
 there were hundreds, arose in a white flapping 
 mass and soared above their eyrie with wild 
 screeches. The air seemed alive with them. 
 
 u What are they ? " asked one of the boys. 
 
 " Gulls, gannets, and cormorants chiefly, an 
 swered the Colonel. " Birds that live on fish. 
 That broad, flat top is a famous place for their 
 nests, as it is very difficult of access. People 
 have climbed up there, however, but it is now 
 forbidden on the ground of peril from the crum 
 bling rock. See, they are beginning to settle 
 down again." 
 
 Some of the feathered tribe seemed more slow 
 to become tranquillized than others ; but since 
 there was no repetition of the disturbing roar, 
 the whole colony was at rest once more before 
 many minutes had elapsed. 
 
 Not long after the " Admiral " entered Gaspe* 
 Bay, which is about twenty miles in length, and 
 at nine o clock came to anchor in the Basin. 
 Gaspe* Basin, in one corner of which lies the town 
 of the same name, is a land-locked sheet of water, 
 four miles long and averaging half a mile across, 
 
OFF TO THE WOODS. 25 
 
 a veritable salt lake shut in by mountains and 
 verdant slopes, affording a perfect harbor to 
 vessels seeking shelter from the high seas of the 
 Gulf of St. Lawrence. The little town has one 
 of the most charming situations to be found on 
 the continent, and the entire party was in trans 
 ports with the view, which in spite of the lateness 
 of the hour was still apparent, so long is the 
 twilight in this longitude during the early weeks 
 of summer. 
 
 They were met at the wharf by a wiry, active- 
 looking man with a brisk eye, who shook Colonel 
 Russell heartily by the hand, and was intro 
 duced by him as " George Coffin, one of the best 
 fellows in the world." 
 
 " And your servant, gentlemen," said the Cana 
 dian, who, be it said, had much of the Yankee 
 in his build and manner. 
 
 " What are the chances for fish, George ? " 
 asked the Colonel. 
 
 " There s a terrible sight of salmon in the 
 river," was the answer. 
 
 This sounded encouraging. Leaving George 
 Coffin to collect the traps, and load them on a 
 
26 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 cart which he had brought for the purpose, the 
 Colonel led the Way up the wharf, past a line 
 of villagers, for nearly every one of whom he 
 had a word of greeting, stopping for a minute to 
 exchange salutations with a red-faced old man 
 with a pleasant, though somewhat leering smile, 
 whom he addressed as Joe Eden. 
 
 "How has your health been, Joe?" 
 
 "Well, I m not what I used to be, Colonel. 
 But you ought to have come by the last steamer. 
 We ve had the governor-general here. He left 
 only last night in his steam-yacht." 
 
 " Governor-general of what ? " whispered Jack 
 Hall to Mr. Holt. 
 
 " Of Canada." 
 
 "I am sorry I missed him," responded the 
 Colonel. 
 
 " Ah, yes, " said the old man ; "it is a 
 pity! 
 
 "He was down to my shop," he added, indi 
 cating by a jerk of his thumb over his shoulder 
 a low shanty-like building a few yards distant, 
 " and he says to me, Joe, if you ever come to 
 Ottawa, don t go to a hotel and wait for an 
 
OFF TO THE WOODS. 27 
 
 invitation, but come right up to Rideau. That s 
 what I call hospitable." 
 
 This speech seemed to amuse the Colonel, who 
 restrained his mirth by proceeding to introduce 
 the whole party. "Mr. Eden is the collector of 
 port of Gaspe, boys," he added. 
 
 "What s Rideau?" inquired Max as soon as 
 they were out of hearing. 
 
 "The governor-general s residence at Ottawa," 
 explained the Colonel, bursting into laughter. 
 " Old Joe s a great character. Dickens would 
 have found him a gold-mine." 
 
 At the top of the road leading down to the 
 wharf was the main, and, in fact, the only street 
 of the town, which followed the shore of the 
 basin. Turning to the left, the Colonel soon 
 branched off, and, after ascending a short lane 
 bordered by green fields, knocked a moment 
 after at the door of a comfortable-looking farm 
 house. 
 
 "It s you, Colonel, is it?" said the pleasant- 
 voiced woman who came to the door. " Welcome 
 to GaspeV 
 
 " Glad to see you, Mrs. Dumaresque. I ve 
 
28 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 brought you an army of boys to eat you out of 
 house and home. This is my friend Mr. Holt. 
 Can you take care of us all?" 
 
 " There s always room for one more here, 
 Colonel, if you ll put up with what we ve got/ 
 
 So saying, the calm but smiling hostess ushered 
 them through the entry-way, which was orna 
 mented with a huge pair of caribou horns, into 
 a room where a table was spread for supper. A 
 fine wood fire roared up the chimney at its 
 further end. The blaze was welcome after the 
 exposure to the cool night air. The boys gath 
 ered about the capacious hearth, and patted 
 admiringly a large greyhound that rubbed against 
 their legs in friendly fashion. Mrs. Dumaresque, 
 who had vanished into the adjoining kitchen, 
 reappeared presently with a dish of boiled salmon, 
 followed by a maid with another of smoking cods 
 tongues and sounds. 
 
 " Supper is ready," she said. 
 
 Appetites were not wanting, and with good 
 reason, for the fresh fish was supplemented by 
 honest bread, new-laid eggs, and milk and cream 
 such as only Jersey cattle can give. The Jersey 
 
OFF TO THE WOODS. 29 
 
 merchants, in seeking an inhospitable shore, did 
 not leave all their cows at home. 
 
 "Make the most of this, young gentlemen," 
 said the Colonel, glancing around the table. "By 
 this time to-morrow we shall be dependent on 
 our own exertions for our daily food." 
 
 "Not quite so bad as that, surely," answered 
 Mrs. Dumaresque with a quiet laugh. " You ll 
 take a few Gaspe* loaves and a basket of eggs, 
 just to guard against accidents, you know. It 
 wouldn t do to have you starve." 
 
80 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 
 
 THE six boys were about the same age, be 
 tween fifteen and sixteen. Jack Hall and Frank 
 Haseltine were half way through their course at 
 a large boarding-school in the country, concern 
 ing the advantages of which they were never 
 weary of talking to the other four. Jack, who 
 was a compactly built, sturdy-looking fellow, had 
 ambition to win laurels as an oarsman, while 
 " Hasy," as everybody called him, was already 
 regarded as a base-ball player of great promise. 
 In appearance Hasy was tall and rather lanky ; 
 but he had a bright, intelligent face and quaint, 
 Western ways, that easily won him popularity. 
 Dubsy Perkins was an old crony of Jack s, who 
 in the days before Jack went to Utopia School 
 had fought side by side with him in snow-ball 
 fights in the streets of Boston, shared the glories 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 31 
 
 and disasters of the sports and pranks in which 
 they were mutually engaged, and had ever been, 
 and was still, one of his most ardent admirers. 
 Max, the elder of the two Fearings, though the 
 largest of the six, was rather fat and flabby look 
 ing. Neither he nor his brother had seen much 
 of other boys in the past, having been educated 
 until recently abroad. Joe, the younger, was a 
 sunny little lad, and both of them had excellent 
 manners; but their lack of knowledge on the 
 subject of sports had prevented them from be 
 coming immediately intimate with the rest, who, 
 moreover, criticised them in private as stuck up, 
 and molly-coddled. Lastly, Tom Binney from 
 Philadelphia completed the party, the happy 
 possessor of Bingo, a fox-terrier of minute pro 
 portions. Tom had a fondness that amounted 
 almost to a passion for creatures, whether birds, 
 beasts, fish, reptiles, or insects ; and he excited 
 much envy and admiration by announcing that 
 he had at home a bee-hive, eight rabbits, four 
 guinea-pigs, another pup, a parrot, a bat, three 
 snakes, a pony, an old hornet s nest, and an aqua 
 rium. As for Bingo, he was a prodigy : he would 
 
32 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 stand on his legs for an indefinite period when 
 ordered, jump through one s hands, pretend to 
 be dead, and, apart from these interesting accom 
 plishments, was a sworn foe of cats, and a nimble 
 pursuer of squirrels. 
 
 The next morning was fine, and George Coffin 
 was on hand immediately after breakfast with 
 two buck-boards, on which to carry them about 
 five miles, to where they were to take the canoes. 
 On the vehicle which George drove himself were 
 Jack, Haseltine, Tom Binney, and Max. 
 
 " Clck," said George, and the raw-boned white 
 horse started off at a rattling rate, which soon 
 caused the boys to hold on tight, while they 
 wondered how such an ill-favored looking beast 
 could be a trotter. The road followed the edge 
 of the Basin ; and along the way stretched a suc 
 cession of small cottages, each with its few acres 
 of land, which in most instances the farmer who 
 owned it was tilling, seeking to make the most 
 of the short season. Every thing looked green; 
 and the sheep and the cows, though stunted and 
 draggled by the hard winter, were evidently 
 enjoying themselves. 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 33 
 
 "What are those?" asked Haseltine, pointing 
 to a row of stakes connected by net-work, which 
 ran out from the shore. 
 
 "A stand of nets," said George. "You ll see 
 em right along every half mile or so. They re 
 to catch the salmon with as they go up. The 
 Government leases em to different parties." 
 
 " How do they catch them ? " asked Tom, who 
 was interested in anything that suggested a trap. 
 
 " The meshes are about the color of the water, 
 and the fish in running up poke their noses into 
 em, and get cotched by the gills when they try 
 to back out." 
 
 " Doesn t it kill them ? " asked Max with a 
 shudder. 
 
 " No ; it only holds em until some one comes 
 along, and it doesn t hold em always, neither, 
 for they break through sometimes. The critters 
 are cute, too, about avoiding the nets. I ve seen 
 em smell their way through a two-foot passage, 
 and I believe some of em would get through if 
 the river was barred clear across." 
 
 " I d like to take a live salmon home with me 
 for my aquarium," said Tom. 
 
34 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 "He d die," said Jack stoutly, "for you said 
 your aquarium is a salt one." 
 
 "Salt water wouldn t hurt a salmon," said 
 George Coffin, "for they live in the salt water 
 half the year. Salmon leave the river about Sep 
 tember, and no one knows exactly where they go 
 to. Some think they go into deep water, and 
 some that they cruise about the coast. But come 
 the last of May, and the ice out of the river, 
 they re back running in by hundreds; and the 
 curious thing is, they never make mistakes. 
 There s three salmon rivers emptying into Gasp6 
 Bay, and it s easy to tell the fish apart ; but all 
 the years I ve been hauling nets, I never see a 
 fish that belonged in one river in one of the 
 other rivers." 
 
 "That s mighty funny," said Tom. "What 
 do they ever leave the river for ? " 
 
 " To find food. When a salmon runs into the 
 river, he s fat as butter, and bright an lively. 
 But from then on he eats nothing, and gets 
 more and more logy, until after spawning time 
 he s peakish as a Gaspe* sheep." 
 
 " Pshaw ! Of course they eat something. How 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 35 
 
 could they live if they didn t eat anything?" 
 exclaimed Jack incredulously. "You can t fool 
 us." 
 
 "That s so!" said Haseltine. 
 
 " Gospel truth, young gentlemen. I ve seen 
 five hundred salmon cut open in this river if 
 I ve seen one, and I never found anything 
 more n a little yellow liquid inside any one of 
 em. Take em now fresh run and you ll come 
 across small fish and crabs, but after they ve been 
 in the river twenty-four hours there s nothing 
 left in their stomachs." 
 
 " What do they rise at flies for ? " asked Jack 
 triumphantly. 
 
 "The only flies I ever see em eat is the 
 artificial ones yon anglers put on, and they re like 
 no flies hereabouts. What makes the salmon 
 rise to them s the strangest part of it. Some 
 say it s anger, and some say it s curiosity. The 
 trout, now, are different. There s no giving em 
 enough to eat. Many s the greedy beggar I ve 
 caught, with a minnow most as big as himself in 
 his gullet." 
 
 The boys pondered over these statements for 
 
36 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 some moments; then Tom, winking at Jack, 
 said, 
 
 "I ve got a puzzle I d like to show you, Mr. 
 Coffin, to see if you d guess it." 
 
 Whereupon, Tom took a piece of paper and a 
 pencil from his pocket, and proceeded to draw 
 a large square, which, by a line across and a line 
 down the middle, he divided into four smaller 
 squares of the same size. 
 
 " There," he continued ; " you ll have to pay 
 close attention." 
 
 " Whoa ! " said George Coffin to the trotter ; 
 and having pulled up the horse he turned round 
 to inspect the diagram which Tom, who was on 
 the back seat between Jack and Max, wished 
 him to look at. 
 
 "A man had sixteen animals, horses, cows, 
 sheep, and donkeys, four of each kind, and 
 he had four plats of ground such as you see here. 
 Into the first he put the four horses," said Tom, 
 making as he spoke four marks with his pencil 
 in the upper left-hand square to indicate the 
 animals in question. 
 
 u The four horses," repeated George Coffin 
 after him. 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 37 
 
 " Into the next he put the four cows, into the 
 next the four sheep," continued Tom, making 
 marks accordingly, " and into the fourth the four 
 donkeys." 
 
 "Stop a minute," exclaimed George as Tom 
 paused. " You have only put down three 
 donkeys." 
 
 " Because you re the fourth," he answered 
 gleefully ; and the words were followed by a 
 burst of laughter from the other boys, in which 
 the victim joined as soon as he realized the 
 situation. 
 
 "That beats anything I ve heard this long 
 time," said George, chuckling convulsively. "I 
 rose for it greedy as a fresh run fish, and 
 swallowed hook and all. I ve got to look out 
 for you boys, that s evident." 
 
 " We caught Max on it yesterday," said Jack. 
 " H fell into the trap as easily as you did." 
 
 A few minutes later they stopped at a small 
 house, from which a short, broad-shouldered man 
 dressed in homespun came out to meet them. 
 He invited the boys into his cabin, where his 
 wife refreshed them with fresh milk and delicious 
 
38 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 bread and butter, arid where they were presently 
 joined by the rest of the party. 
 
 "Is it true, Colonel Russell," asked Jack 
 between two mouthfuls, " that salmon eat nothing 
 after they come into the river? George Coffin 
 says so," he added, waggishly regarding the 
 worthy Gasp man. 
 
 " Perfectly true ; and, moreover, you may 
 believe everything that George tells you. He s 
 too honest to deceive willfully even a baby. 
 You see these boys are accustomed to have jokes 
 played on them at school," added the Colonel to 
 his henchman, " and so are apt not to trust all 
 they hear." 
 
 " And a fine joke they have just played on me," 
 George replied, grinning from ear to ear. 
 
 Explanation caused renewed laughter, and then 
 they set off for the river, which was but a few 
 hundred yards from the house. George Coffin 
 and William Annette brought down the lighter 
 traps, which they arranged in two canoes in 
 waiting, while the boys made the acquaintance of 
 William Patterson, the Colonel s old guide, and his 
 son Jimmy, a brawny, bushy-whiskered fellow. 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IK CAMP. 39 
 
 George was to carry the main luggage into camp 
 on a cart, and two of the boys were to go with 
 him, as the canoes could not accommodate the 
 whole party. Lots were drawn, and it fell to 
 Haseltine and Dubsy to accompany George. 
 
 In the first canoe to start were Jimmy Patterson 
 and Mr. Holt at bow and stern respectively, in 
 order to paddle, and Jack arid Tom side by 
 side in the middle. The river at this point looked 
 like a lagoon, being broad and sluggish, and inter 
 sected by strips of marshland on which horses 
 and cows were feeding. The water was smooth 
 as a mill-pond, and they passed a number more 
 stands of nets, reaching out sometimes from one 
 bank and sometimes from the other, so that it 
 seemed as though the poor salmon would have to 
 be very cunning to escape capture. Some of the 
 nets had wings, as they were called, being exten 
 sions running at right angles down stream in 
 order to cut off any fish that should see the 
 danger and turn aside. 
 
 But after a time the river began to twist and to 
 grow narrower and shallower. There w^ere no 
 more nets, and the farms were fewer in number 
 
40 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 and meaner in appearance. The land was cov 
 ered with stumps of trees only partially burned 
 away. Ahead the mountains loomed up in the 
 distance. The air was softer, and the savor of 
 the sea was gone. The current had become so 
 strong that Mr. Holt and Jimmy, instead of con 
 tinuing to paddle, turned the canoe in shore and 
 took to poling. 
 
 Have you ever tried to pole a canoe ? It may 
 look easy, but it requires both muscle and knack 
 to make a success of it on a salmon river. Mr. 
 Holt evidently understood that he was in for 
 warm work, as he stripped himself down to his 
 flannel shirt before beginning. The poles were 
 some eight feet long, and capped with iron points. 
 They thrust them against the bottom on one side 
 of the gunwale, and leaning on them shoved the 
 canoe ahead by main force. At first it was a 
 simple affair enough, but presently they came to 
 places where the rocks below the surface caused 
 the water to foam. These were rapids, and to get 
 the canoe over them was no easy matter. Jack 
 and Tom felt a little nervous at first, for fear of a 
 ducking, but soon got used to the bumping and 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 41 
 
 wobbling incident to climbing up stream. Mean 
 while they asked all sorts of questions, which 
 Jimmy Patterson was very amiable in answering. 
 
 "Are there bears in these woods?" asked Jack 
 at the first opportunity. " I d give anything to 
 shoot a bear." 
 
 " Or catch a live cub," said Tom, whose fond 
 ness for live-stock was always uppermost. 
 
 " There s bear in plenty, and you might see one 
 if you re lucky," answered Jimmy. " But winter s 
 the time to come here hunting. The hills are full 
 of caribou." 
 
 Just then they heard a whir, and a bird resem 
 bling a duck started up from the water ahead 
 and flew past them, protruding its long neck and 
 uttering a dismal squawking. 
 
 "If we d only a gun handy, I d make short 
 work of you, my lady," said Jimmy, as he watched 
 her scoot down the river for a few hundred yards 
 and then alight. " Those ere noxious birds do 
 more harm to the salmon in a season than fifty 
 stand of nets," he added, turning the head of the 
 canoe, and making a sudden but ineffectual dab 
 with his pole. 
 
42 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 " Oh, catch one, catch one, do ! " cried Tom, 
 who was the first to spy the brood of yellow fluffy 
 ducklings struggling to reach the shore as fast as 
 their feeble legs would carry them. 
 
 " Don t hurt them, Jimmy," urged Mr. Holt. 
 
 But the ducklings, despite their callowness, 
 were nimble. Scattering in every direction they 
 buried themselves in the underbrush at the margin 
 before the canoe was able to overtake them. 
 
 " What were they ? " asked the boys eagerly, 
 when the last had disappeared. 
 
 " Shell-drakes. They live on the young salmon. 
 If I were Colonel Russell, Fd offer a reward for 
 every one that was shot, and clear the river," 
 answered Jimmy. 
 
 " What made the mother bird desert them ? " 
 asked Tom. 
 
 " She thought in noticing her we should not see 
 her brood until they had time to get out of the 
 way, as was the case," said Mr. Holt. 
 
 As they proceeded, the rapids became more fre 
 quent and steeper, and sometimes the river ahead 
 looked broken up into a foaming torrent. At 
 these patches Jimmy and Mr. Holt hugged the 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 43 
 
 shore pretty closely, and the clatter of their iron- 
 shod poles against the rocks showed that progress 
 was difficult. Every now and then the guide 
 would call attention to some stretch of calmer 
 water at the foot of a rough place as a pool where 
 the fish lay. All these pools had their names. 
 There was Miller s Landing and Gros Bouleau 
 (which is French for Big Birch), and the Basket 
 Pool and Dan s Hut, the last so styled from a 
 bark shanty on the bank in which the guardian of 
 the river was in the habit of keeping look-out. Tn 
 one or two of these Jimmy said that he could 
 perceive salmon, and Jack and Torn were able to 
 make out sundry dark streaks which he assured 
 them were salmon. The boys were eager to begin 
 fishing at once, but Mr. Holt declared that it was 
 out of the question, for the rods were not unpacked, 
 and every moment of time was needed in order to 
 get the camp to rights before dark. 
 
 " You forget," said the master, " that there are 
 trees to be cut down, and fires to be built, and 
 tents to be pitched, and supper to be cooked." 
 
 " May I cut down the trees, Mr. Holt ? " asked 
 Jack. 
 
44 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " As many as you like, young man. But don t 
 be too confident as to being able to supply us 
 with fire-wood for the night by your unaided 
 efforts. One has to learn even to cut down 
 trees." 
 
 "I guess I ve muscle enough," Jack answered 
 with self-reliance, exhibiting his arm bent up, and 
 patting the biceps. 
 
 They had started from Annette s at ten, and 
 about four they came in sight of a low one-storied 
 cabin, a few rods from the water, some thirty feet 
 in length, surmounted by a flag-pole. 
 
 " There s the camp," cried Jimmy, to the great 
 delight of the boys, who had been inquiring at 
 intervals of five minutes during the past hour, as 
 to when they would arrive. As they drew nearer, 
 they perceived George Coffin and Dubsy and 
 Haseltine awaiting them, the two last named 
 waving their arms by way of welcome. Jack and 
 Tom were delighted to step ashore, and to stretch 
 their cramped legs in running up the slope to 
 examine the little cabin, into which they were 
 jubilantly ushered by their companions. There 
 were two rooms, one supplied with bunks, and 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 45 
 
 the other intended for a dining-room. The walls 
 were covered with maps and fishing-scores and 
 various newspaper cuttings of interest to sports 
 men. Outside the prospect was very attractive. 
 They were in the heart of the woods, and 
 surrounded in the near distance by pine-clad 
 mountains. 
 
 Over a circumference of several yards around 
 the cabin the trees had been thinned out and the 
 underbrush cleared away. There were rustic 
 seats, and a table with a surface of smooth birch- 
 bark surmounted by a rustic canopy, not far from 
 which an accumulation of blackened stones 
 marked the site of a fire-place. Beyond, as 
 Dubsy, who had already made investigations, 
 explained, was an ice-house full of frozen snow, in 
 which George had bestowed the butter and eggs 
 that had been brought in the cart. 
 
 The other canoe had arrived by this time, and 
 the Colonel, accompanied by Max and Joe, came 
 up the bank, followed by old William, who was 
 grinning with pleasure at the sight of the six 
 boys re - united. After a short consultation 
 between Colonel Russell and Mr. Holt, it was 
 
46 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 decided that Mr. Holt and two of the boys should 
 occupy the shanty, and that the rest of the party 
 should be quartered in tents. 
 
 " I holloa to sleep in a tent," cried Jack. 
 
 " So do I," said Dubsy. 
 
 " The fairest way is to draw lots," suggested 
 the Colonel ; " though I warn the boys who sleep 
 outside that it may be damp when it rains, to say 
 nothing of the flies." 
 
 These did not seem to them very appalling con 
 siderations, though old William remarked casually, 
 with a glance at the mosquito netting which 
 protected the windows of the shanty, " The flies 
 is awful wicked this time of year." 
 
 There were already a good many mosquitoes 
 humming about their ears ; but the boys were so 
 intent on the plans for pitching camp, that they 
 slapped their cheeks and brushed away the tor 
 mentors without much ado. Mr. Holt plucked 
 six pieces of grass, which he clinched in his hand 
 so as to let only the ends protrude. Whoever 
 drew the shortest two were to remain in the cabin. 
 Dubsy and Joe Fearing proved to be the unlucky 
 ones, as it was so popularly considered. George 
 
THE FIRST X1GHT IN CAMP. 47 
 
 Coffin had unloaded the tents from the cart. 
 There were three, one for the Colonel, and the 
 other two for the four boys. William Patterson 
 and Jimmy were to sleep under a lean-to, where 
 they would be protected from the rain and have 
 the fire-place at their feet. As for George, he 
 would spend the night in camp, but be off early 
 in the morning. 
 
 The boys were much absorbed in trying to 
 assist old William and George remove the tents 
 from the bags in which they were packed, and 
 select favorable sites for them. 
 
 In the mean time Mr. Holt was unstrapping the 
 valises and untying the larger rubber bags con 
 taining their belongings, in order to get at the 
 blankets which ought to be aired while the 
 sun was still up. All was bustle and eagerness 
 among the youthful helpers. 
 
 Of a sudden there came a distant hollow sound, 
 repeated at regular intervals, which made them 
 prick up their ears. 
 
 " What s that ? " cried Jack. 
 
 "It s Colonel Russell and Jimmy chopping," 
 said old William. " They be gone for logs." 
 
48 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " O Mr. Holt," cried Jack, " may I go and see 
 them ? You said I might cut down a tree." 
 
 " You may try certainly, Jack," was the answer. 
 " But two of you are enough," Mr. Holt con 
 tinued, as the whole six were on the point of 
 taking advantage of this permission. " Jack and 
 Hasy may go. I need the rest of you to help 
 here. We should have a pretty state of things, 
 if every time you saw or heard anything interest 
 ing you were all to drop work and go off in a 
 body." 
 
 The two boys followed the direction from which 
 the ringing of the axes proceeded, and in a few 
 moments came in sight of the choppers, just as a 
 magnificent maple was tottering. 
 
 "Look out look out," cried the Colonel, who 
 spied them, pointing as he shouted to the side to 
 which they were to run. 
 
 The tree quivered irresolutely, as if hesitating 
 which way to fall, and then came crashing down 
 at a comfortable distance from where the two 
 boys were standing. The Colonel and Jimmy 
 leaning on their axes looked flushed and happy, 
 as though they had enjoyed the exercise. 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 49 
 
 " Let me try," said Jack resolutely. 
 
 " You ? " said the Colonel with a laugh. 
 
 " Mr. Holt said I might." 
 
 " All right, Mr. Man," he replied, proffering the 
 axe. 
 
 Jack received it with dignity, feeling a little 
 nettled at the flippant tone manifested by his 
 questioner. " Which one shall I cut down ? " he 
 inquired coolly, as he swayed the weapon. 
 
 " You have the forest to choose from." 
 
 Jack put his left foot forward, and swinging the 
 blade back over his shoulder, after a moment s 
 hesitation in order to take aim, let drive with vim 
 at a handsome mate to the prostrate maple. 
 Somehow the effect produced was disappointing. 
 The bark was wounded ; but the blade, instead of 
 cutting a deep gash, glanced off without doing 
 further mischief. 
 
 Jack examined the edge critically. " Is it 
 sharp ? " he inquired. 
 
 " I ground her last evening," said Jimmy, who 
 also looked a little jocose. 
 
 Again Jack s foot went forward, and he smote 
 with an air of determination, and with such effect 
 
50 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 that the blade at the end of the stroke was fast in 
 the wood. Quickly extricating it, he braced him 
 self firmly, and let drive once more. But so great 
 was his energy that he must have misjudged his 
 aim ; for the axe merely grazed the trunk, and 
 Jack went toppling over among the underbrush, 
 to the great amusement of the others. 
 
 "Let s see you try," said the victim ruefully, as 
 he picked himself up, addressing Haseltine. 
 
 But Haseltine shook his head. Like most 
 American boys, he was not ashamed to admit 
 that he could not do a thing. Both of them 
 stood attentive while Jimmy, at the Colonel s 
 suggestion, showed how a tree should be felled. 
 Iii the first place, more muscle was needed than 
 either of them at present possessed in order to cut 
 down such a huge specimen as Jack had picked out 
 except after much exertion. Then too there was 
 knack about it, which became obvious as they 
 watched the series of short, swiftly wielded 
 strokes that made the chips fly. Little b}^ little, 
 Jimmy hewed out a great gap in the side of the 
 maple. Then the Colonel put in a few alternate 
 blows ; and under the joint work of demolition, it 
 
HE SMOTE WITH AN AIR OF DETERMINATION. P. 49. 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 53 
 
 was not many minutes before the noble tree lay 
 alongside its companion. The next thing was to 
 lop off the boughs and strip away the branches. 
 Out of the trunks they hewed famous logs for the 
 fire-place and to serve as a frame-work to which 
 to fasten the canvas stretchers provided for those 
 who were to sleep in the tents. A few saplings 
 supplied the best of tent-poles. 
 
 Jack and Haseltine assisted to carry the 
 wood back to camp, and there was so much 
 of it that they had to return for another load. 
 Meantime a transformation scene was taking 
 place. Sites had been chosen for the three 
 tents a few feet from one another ; and holes 
 had been dug, in each of which an upright 
 forked pole was fixed. There was a pole in 
 front and a pole behind, and between the 
 forks another cross pole, as it was called, was 
 laid. Over this the canvas was spread, and 
 fastened down at intervals of a foot or so 
 to pegs driven in the earth. Old William 
 appeared with his arms full of hemlock boughs, 
 which he proceeded to strew over the ground 
 inside of the tents, making a cool, green, and 
 
54 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 deliriously aromatic carpet. For the beds, first 
 a rubber blanket was laid to keep out the 
 damp, and then a sort of bedstead, manu 
 factured from four logs placed at right angles, 
 to which the stretchers referred to were tied; 
 and on the stretchers one could lay hemlock 
 and wraps to suit his fancy. By the time the 
 tents were ready for occupancy, twilight was 
 at hand, and every one was feeling hungry. 
 Old William was to cook the supper this first 
 evening, with Tom and Max as his assistants, 
 or, more properly speaking, pupils. The others 
 gathered about the Colonel, w r ho was undoing 
 some of his fishing-tackle. But interesting as 
 was the exhibition, the boys found difficulty in 
 keeping still, owing to the persistent torture 
 of the mosquitoes and flies. 
 
 " Jiminy ! " cried Jack, dancing from one leg 
 to another. He had thrust his hands deep 
 into his trousers pockets, and had wound a 
 handkerchief about his neck, but there were 
 plenty of vulnerable spots left. 
 
 "What s the matter, Hall?" asked Colonel 
 Russell, who was taking his best salmon rod 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 55 
 
 out of its case with much the air that a young 
 mother contemplates her baby. 
 
 "The mosquitoes are dreadful." 
 
 "I m being eaten alive. It s agony," cried 
 Dubsy, in confirmation of his friend. 
 
 "They ve bitten through my stockings," said 
 Haseltine. 
 
 "You should take off your low shoes, then," 
 replied the Colonel, in answer to the last 
 exclamation. " You can t expect the flies not 
 to bite your feet if you don t take proper 
 precautions. They are pretty wicked though 
 to-night, that s a fact," he continued, making 
 a pass with his hand to interrupt a mosquito 
 that was feasting on his forehead. " You boys 
 wait a minute, and I ll fix you all right. Here, 
 Jimmy," he cried, "start up a smudge." 
 
 "What s a smudge?" asked Jack, in whom 
 the appetite for information was not dulled by 
 present discomfort. 
 
 "A fire of damp wood and leaves or bark, 
 that ll make a smoke. It drives away the 
 flies," said the Colonel, who was unstrapping 
 his fishing-box. 
 
56 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 "I feel as if red-hot little pins were being 
 stuck into me all over," cried Jack, waving 
 his arms savagely to drive away the pests. 
 "Get away, oh, get away!" 
 
 " Them s sand-flies," said Jimmy. " 4 Bite 
 em no see em, that s what the Injuns call 
 em, because they re so small." 
 
 The boys looked at their hands. "What! 
 those little black specks?" 
 
 " Yes, those are sand-flies," said the Colonel, 
 who had produced a round tin can, " and 
 they re terrible torments, too, more so than 
 even the black fly or mosquito. They are 
 worst at sunset or sunrise. But put on some 
 of this, and the whole tribe will fight shy of 
 you," he continued, removing the cover of the 
 can, and revealing some sticky looking stuff 
 about the color of molasses, and the consistency 
 of liquid glue, a dab of which he proceeded 
 to rub over his cheeks, along his nose, around 
 his neck, and behind his ears, with considerable 
 gusto. 
 
 " It looks very nasty," said Mr. Holt, who had 
 just then joined the group. 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 57 
 
 "It smells like tar," said Jack, taking a sniff 
 at the can. 
 
 " There s tar in it, and oil and pennyroyal, and 
 it is rather nasty until you get used to it ; but 
 there s nothing like it for keeping off the flies," 
 said the Colonel, exhibiting his face which was 
 now several degrees darker than usual, giving 
 him much the appearance of an oily Indian. 
 "Next?" 
 
 "No, thank you. I ll put up with the flies a 
 little longer," exclaimed Mr. Holt. 
 
 " I ll give you just five minutes after the sand- 
 flies fairly get to work, and at the end of it 
 you ll be begging for some, on your bended 
 knees, my dear fellow." 
 
 " You forget that I ve been in the woods 
 before." 
 
 " But not in these woods. Just mark my 
 words, that s all I ask of you." 
 
 " How do you put it on ? " asked Jack, after 
 another cautious sniff. 
 
 "Dip your fingers in, and take some. What 
 are you waiting for, a silver spoon ? " 
 
 Jack obeyed the instruction, and began to 
 
58 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 anoint himself, to the intense interest of the 
 others, who, one by one, followed his example. 
 
 "There," said the Colonel, surveying the cop 
 per-colored quartette complacently, "with the 
 fishing-gloves which Mr. Holt has brought you 
 to protect your hands, I think you ll do." 
 
 By this time the smudge was smoking finely, 
 and the boys were just being initiated in regard 
 to rods and reels, when the cry of "supper!" 
 reminded them that they had forgotten they 
 were hungry. As the twilight was so pleasant, 
 it had been decided to have it served on the 
 table out of doors, whither Max and Tom, in 
 the proud capacity of embryo waiters, were 
 bearing the variety of tempting edibles which 
 they had helped to cook. Despite Mr. Holt s 
 remark that to eat salmon which none of them 
 had caught was unsportsmanlike, every one, he 
 included, consumed with a rousing appetite the 
 piece of fine fish Mrs. Dumaresque had provided 
 them with in order that they need not starve. 
 There were fried potatoes, too, and fried eggs, 
 and the same Gaspe* bread and butter which had 
 tasted so well the night before, and hot tea 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 59 
 
 with real cream, so that they might not at one 
 fell swoop be separated from the luxuries of 
 civilization ; and, last but not least, large, doughy 
 flap-jacks, which Jimmy not inappropriately spoke 
 of as " choke-dogs." How good everything 
 tasted, and how heartily they ate ! Not only 
 the boys, but Mr. Holt and the Colonel, too, 
 showed themselves such famous trenchermen, 
 that Max and Tom were glad to be released 
 from the fear that, if they were kept waiting 
 much longer, there would be nothing left. 
 
 Before the meal was over, it was growing 
 dusk, and jimmy lighted two lanterns, which cast 
 quaint shadows around the banquet board, but 
 encouraged the mosquitoes to even greater energy 
 in the way of getting mixed up with the food, 
 and drowned in the tea. Thanks to the Colonel s 
 mixture, every one but Mr. Holt was enabled 
 to keep the humming torments at a respectful 
 distance. He, poor man, having affected for a 
 long time to be indifferent to their attacks, at 
 last, in a sudden burst of suppressed irritation, 
 sprang up, exclaiming, " Where s the nasty stuff? 
 I can t endure this torture any longer." 
 
60 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 This complete triumph of the Colonel, as well 
 as of the mosquitoes, set every one laughing. 
 The boys all followed their master into the 
 shanty to behold the smearing process. He took 
 his revenge upon them, however, as soon as he 
 was anointed, by suggesting overcoats. The 
 air had become decidedly chilly ; and even the 
 Colonel, after lighting his pipe, directed his steps 
 toward the crackling fire of logs which the guides 
 had started. Jack and Dubsy were deputed to 
 learn the mysteries of dishwashing, but the rest 
 of the party composed themselves around the 
 blaze. The boys, sitting in a row with their 
 knees drawn up to their chins, put one in mind 
 of a detachment of wolves. They were, one and 
 all, entranced with their surroundings. On every 
 side the tall trees, shrouded in shadow, supplied 
 a mysterious gloom, the weird effect of which 
 was heightened by the melody of the rushing 
 river. High above their heads the sky was 
 bright with stars. Old William and George and 
 Jimmy had each some interesting anecdote to 
 tell of former experiences, either in the way of 
 salmon fishing or canoeing or hunting expedi- 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 61 
 
 tions in the winter-time after caribou ; in return 
 for which the Colonel recalled wonderful adven 
 tures with wild boars and tigers that aroused 
 every one s enthusiasm. It required, indeed, old 
 William s query, " At what hour will you start 
 in the morning, sir ? " to remind them of time 
 and the present. 
 
 " Yes, we must see about that," said the 
 Colonel. " What are we to do to-morrow, Holt ? 
 You are the chief cook and grand master here. 
 We have two canoes and six boys. How are 
 we to manage?" 
 
 "We shall have to take turns about fishing, 
 of course, 1 said Mr. Holt. " Some of us must 
 look after the camp. I suggest that you and 
 old William and one of the boys go up or down 
 river as you see fit, and that Jimmy take two 
 more with him, and go in the opposite direc 
 tion. The boys that go with Jimmy are to 
 be taught how to pole as well as how to fish. 
 I and the other three will look after things 
 here." 
 
 "That sounds well," said the Colonel; and after 
 some further talk it was. arranged that little 
 
62 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Joe Fearing was to go with him, and Jack and 
 Haseltine with Jimmy. 
 
 It was ten o clock by this time, which was 
 very late for camp, Mr. Holt declared, and the 
 boys were consigned to bed, to which, in spite 
 of their fatigue, they were loath to go. Tom and 
 Max were to sleep in one tent, and Jack and 
 Haseltlne in another. By Mr. Holt s advice, 
 they had all been fitted out before starting with 
 so-called Norfolk jackets, which as most of you 
 know are plaited blouses belted round the waist. 
 Under these were waistcoats and colored flan 
 nel shirts worn over thin under-flannels. Most 
 of them had knickerbockers instead of ordinary 
 trousers, and strong laced boots. For the night, 
 although it seemed a little shivery proceeding, 
 they took off everything and donned pjamahs. 
 Each of them was supplied with a famous pair 
 of blankets in which to roll himself, and from a 
 framework of saplings a mosquito-netting hung 
 down so as to cover each stretcher. 
 
 "Now, Jack," said the Colonel, who, in com 
 pany with the master, was superintending the 
 housing of the boys in turn, u you d better make 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 63 
 
 sure there are no flies under your canopy before 
 we put out the light. The beggars are sly, and 
 know enough to keep quiet and hide themselves 
 in the corners of the netting. I ve always found 
 the best way to prove that there are none left is 
 to place the lantern beside your bare big toe, 
 and wait." 
 
 This suggestion appealed immensely to Jack 
 and Haseltine, who had just crept under the net 
 ting as circumspectly as possible, after having 
 removed the fly-oil from their faces and hands by 
 dint of somewhat laborious scrubbing, and who 
 were therefore in an unprotected condition. They 
 proceeded accordingly to follow the directions 
 given, first, however, making a preliminary search 
 with lanterns all over their prison -cells, during 
 which they succeeded in detecting and slaying 
 several low-lying, able-bodied mosquitoes. But 
 now each lay still, with one of his big toes 
 exposed to attack close beside the light of the 
 candle. The Colonel and Mr. Holt with smiling 
 faces stood looking on in silence in the open space 
 between the two stretchers. For some moments 
 there was perfect stillness in the tent; but just 
 
64 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 as Jack was beginning to think that the enemy 
 was entirely shut out, a large fellow stealthily 
 descended from the top of the netting, and after a 
 gyration or two above the tempting lure alighted. 
 Quick as a cat, Jack leaned forward, and by a 
 clever clap of the hands ended the existence of 
 the miniature vampire, which, startled from its 
 feast, was seeking to escape by flight. In the 
 vehemence of his movements he managed, how 
 ever, to upset and extinguish his lantern, which 
 suggested to the seniors the advisability of bring 
 ing the still hunt to an end. They went out, 
 carrying with them the other lantern. 
 
 " Good-night, boys. 1 
 
 "Good-night, Mr. Holt. Good-night, Colonel 
 Russell." 
 
 During several minutes Jack and Haseltine 
 chatted merrily, discussing the events of the day ; 
 but by degrees the conversation flagged, and 
 Jack on his part became fascinated by the still 
 ness of the woods. Every sound was strangely 
 distinct. The river was rushing on with the 
 same hoarse murmur, and every now and then 
 there came cries from afar, which he associated 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IX CAMP. 65 
 
 with beasts and birds. The noise of a charred 
 log falling in the smoldering fire sounded like 
 a thud. Instead of being sleepy, he felt wide 
 awake. Little by little the camp noises died 
 away. All the party had gone to bed, and 
 near at hand only the embers kept up a low 
 sputtering. He wondered if the river never got 
 tired of running on and on without a pause. 
 How pleasant the smell of the hemlock boughs 
 was! He raised himself on his elbow, and lis 
 tened. 
 
 He could hear his companion s regular breath 
 ing. " Hasy," he whispered ; but Haseltine was 
 in the Land of Nod. So he lay down, and com 
 posed himself in his blanket. He was warm and 
 comfortable ; why did he not sleep ? Perhaps 
 it was the tea. He began to wonder what a 
 bear would do if it should run across the camp. 
 Hark! what was that? He raised himself again 
 to listen. There was a loud crackling of the 
 twigs close at hand, and he could hear the stamp 
 ing of feet. How his heart was beating! The 
 creature, whatever it was, was perambulating 
 around the tent. Now it was on Haseltine s 
 
66 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 side. Could it be a bear, or a caribou, or a 
 wildcat? It must be large, for it made a terrific 
 tramping. If he only had a gun ! What ought 
 he to do ? To call for help seemed cowardly. 
 The noise had stopped now, and everything was 
 still. Where could the beast be? All of a 
 sudden a cold tremor seized him, and he shook 
 like an aspen. Right in the doorway of the 
 tent, where the flap was folded in a little so as 
 to leave an opening, were two fierce, blazing 
 eyes fixed upon him. That was all he could 
 see. 
 
 Jack dared not stir. Thank heavens ! he was 
 not unarmed. Instinctively he reached out for 
 his sheath-knife, which from an impulse of 
 caution he had laid beneath his stretcher 
 before getting into bed. He remembered to 
 have read that wild beasts will quail under 
 the steady glance of man, and he resolved that 
 no shrinking on his part should be an incen 
 tive to the animal to leap upon him. He stared 
 into the fiery eyes with all his ability. They 
 were a greenish yellow. They must belong to 
 a wildcat. " Cats " old William had called 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 67 
 
 them, in a blood-curdling tone, in speaking 
 after supper of their treacherous qualities. Of 
 a sudden he heard his companion stir. 
 
 " Hasy," he murmured again hoarsely. 
 
 44 What is it?" 
 
 " Look see there." 
 
 The consciousness that an ally was close at 
 hand gave Jack courage, and, as he spoke, he 
 started to get out of bed, knife in hand; but 
 he had forgotten the mosquito - netting. His 
 progress was rudely barred, nd before he 
 could extricate himself the eyes had vanished. 
 
 "What is it?" Haseltine was asking. He 
 had seen nothing. 
 
 But Jack, having crawled out of his bed, 
 proceeded valiantly to throw aside the tent- 
 flap and step outside. He clasped his knife 
 firmly, with the intention, and almost with the 
 hope, of engaging in a hand-to-hand encounter 
 with the disturber of his rest. He looked 
 stealthily about him. It was lighter than when 
 he had gone to bed, for the moon though on the 
 wane was up, and the open expanse which lay 
 between him and the river was clearly ill u mi- 
 
68 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 nated. He could see nothing, nor could he 
 hear a sound except the beating of his own 
 heart. 
 
 " What are you up to, Jack ? " he heard 
 Haseltine inquire. 
 
 Just then there was a stirring to the left, 
 a repetition of the same tramping noise. He 
 looked eagerly in the direction from which it 
 proceeded. The tramping ceased, and he per 
 ceived sitting on its hind legs erect and motion 
 less in the moonlight a large hare. For a 
 moment the twain exchanged contemplative 
 glances, then the quadruped by a series of 
 bounds such as had served to excite its adver 
 sary s keen apprehension a little before dis 
 appeared in the underbrush. 
 
 " Swanny ! " said Jack under his breath. 
 
 " What s the matter ? " asked Haseltine, who, 
 having also had a tussle with the mosquito- 
 netting, had only just got upon his feet. 
 
 " I thought T heard a bear mousing round 
 the tent," answered Jack reflectively, "but I 
 guess it must have been my imagination." 
 
 "Did you see anything?" asked Haseltine. 
 
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP. 69 
 
 "I saw what looked like a pair of eyes, but 
 a fellow is always liable to be mistaken." 
 
 "Perhaps it was a nightmare." 
 
 " Yes, I guess on the whole it must have 
 been," Jack answered eagerly. "Those choke- 
 dogs must have disagreed with me. Good-night." 
 
70 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 SALMON fishing, unlike some other kinds of 
 fishing, does not require particularly early rising ; 
 that is to say, it is not necessary to get up before 
 the sun in order to be successful. One can defer, 
 indeed, with advantage reaching the fishing- 
 ground until the lamp of day has climbed above 
 the tree-tops sufficiently to light up the dark 
 pool ; for the salmon are chary about rising, in 
 the piscatorial sense of the word, until certain 
 that night is gone. If one begins to cast by 
 eight o clock on a bright morning, it is time 
 enough for an angler content to take life easily. 
 
 Colonel Russell was of this sort. There was 
 no one more ready to be up with the lark (since 
 authorities unite in fixing on that bird as the 
 earliest of all risers), if by so doing he could gain 
 any advantage in the way of sport ; but, as he 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON. 71 
 
 explained to the party at breakfast, he had never 
 been able to see the advantage of a very early 
 start merely from bravado. He was in excellent 
 spirits, as was indeed every one. The day was 
 clear, and gave promise of not being too warm. 
 The boys had slept soundly, and were loud in 
 their praises of camp life. Even Jack had passed 
 a comfortable night, all things considered; but 
 he was feeling a little anxious this morning as to 
 what Haseltine might let out regarding the bear. 
 They had been waked at six, and a sponge bath 
 at the river brink had proved very refreshing, 
 although the sand-flies took advantage of so favor 
 able an opportunity to do some savage biting, 
 and the water was still icy in consequence of the 
 but lately melted snows. Several of the boys 
 were eager to plunge into the river in order to 
 prove their ability to defy the current after the 
 manner of Horatius; but Mr. Holt issued a 
 general order to the effect that no one should 
 venture beyond his knees, which put a stop to 
 such aspirations for the time being. Breakfast 
 was prepared by Mr. Holt and Dubsy, while 
 Max was taken under Jimmy s wing to receive a 
 
72 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 lesson in wood-chopping. No one was to be 
 idle. Those who fished to-day would work on 
 the morrow. Meanwhile, the fortunate ones 
 were absorbed in arranging the tackle, concerning 
 which Jack, Haseltine, and Joe were equally and 
 profoundly ignorant. Mr. Holt had provided 
 them each with a rod, a reel, a silk line one hun 
 dred and fifty yards in length, and a book of 
 flies. With eager eyes they watched the Colonel 
 put together his split bamboo, smearing the fer 
 rule of each joint with soap, in order that it 
 might come apart easily when he should wish to 
 take it to pieces. 
 
 " That s a stunning pole," said Jack. 
 
 " A what ? " asked the Colonel. 
 
 " A stunning fishing-pole." 
 
 " Call it a rod, young man call it a rod. 
 When you go perching or pickereling with clams 
 or mummy-chunks for bait, you may call the 
 stalwart instrument by means of which you yank 
 the fish out of the water a fishing-pole if you like. 
 But this," he said, exhibiting with pride his 
 seventeen-foot bamboo, which, as he swayed it, 
 looked all nerves and sensibility "is a rod, if 
 you please." 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 73 
 
 Every one laughed ; but Jack s mortification 
 was only momentary, so much interested was he 
 in the preparations. He, as did the others, took 
 the rod into his hands to see how beautifully it 
 was balanced. It was of a straw color, well 
 polished and in four joints, including the tip, 
 which appeared very delicate and flexible. 
 
 "I should think a big fish would break that 
 off snap," said Hasy. 
 
 "Many s the thirty-pound salmon I ve landed 
 with it," said the Colonel. " I never broke but 
 one tip, and that was because the fish only a 
 small one, too, ran under the canoe. You see 
 the strain is regulated by the reel. Very little 
 pressure will start it," he said, producing a large 
 rubber reel which he proceeded to fasten on just 
 above the butt. Then he gave a pull at the line, 
 which ran off with a whir that thrilled the 
 boys. 
 
 " There s no music more pleasant to a sports 
 man than that," he continued, as he passed the 
 oiled silk line along the rod through the rings 
 provided for it, and brought it down again to 
 within a yard from his hands, after which he 
 
74 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 rested the rod against one of the tent-poles, and 
 asked Joe to fetch him a cup of water. While 
 this was being brought, the Colonel took out a tin 
 box from one of the partitions of his fishing-case, 
 which was subdivided with a view to holding his 
 tackle conveniently. This proved to contain a 
 number of flat square paper packages. In the 
 upper one of these was a collection of coils of 
 white cat-gut. 
 
 " Casting-lines," he said, forestalling a question. 
 He picked out three of these, and after undoing 
 the kinks dropped them into the cup of water 
 which had just arrived. " They have to be 
 soaked before they re used, or they re liable to 
 snap," he continued. 
 
 In the other package there was an assortment 
 of artificial flies which the Colonel opened for in 
 spection. These were of different sizes, according 
 to the size of the hook, but the few which the 
 Colonel selected to put in his fly-book were not 
 larger than big trout flies. They were made up 
 of various colors, some gaudy and others modest, 
 not to say dull ; and they had curious names such 
 as "Jock Scott," "Silver Doctor," "Fairy," 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 75 
 
 " Butcher," and " Cock Robin," to the enumera 
 tion of which the boys listened with wide-open 
 mouths. 
 
 "Which shall you fish with to-day?" asked 
 little Joe. 
 
 " A Jock Scott to begin with. That s about 
 the best fly in the long run. If they won t take 
 that, they re very apt to refuse everything." 
 
 The " Jock Scott " was one of the prettiest and 
 most brilliant, having a black and orange body, 
 and a wing made up of feathers from the jungle- 
 cock, the blue macaw, the golden pheasant, and a 
 number of other birds. 
 
 The Colonel after waiting a few moments took 
 one of the casting-lines out of the water. It was 
 soft and flexible now. Putting its loop through 
 the eye of the Jock Scott, he fastened them 
 together. Then he picked up what looked like a 
 brass thermometer with a great hook at the end 
 of it, and interlocking it with the barb of the fly, 
 said to Jack, 
 
 " Take the other end of the casting-line in your 
 hand, and after it is taut pull on it gently until I 
 tell you to stop." 
 
76 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Jack obeyed orders. 
 
 " A little harder." 
 
 The gut was stretched tightly now, and the 
 others, who were looking at the scales in the 
 Colonel s hand, could see the indicator move. 
 
 " A little harder." 
 
 " It s up to seven," said Hasy impressively. 
 
 " A little harder." 
 
 Again the indicator moved a trifle, and then 
 suddenly re-acted with a click. Jack found him 
 self with a piece of the casting-line in his grasp, 
 staring in bewildered surprise. It had snapped 
 in two. 
 
 " Bah ! " said the Colonel. " It ought to stand 
 eight pounds, though it would never have such a 
 strain. It s a very difficult matter to get first-rate 
 gut." The next proved to be a better piece ; and 
 the Colonel as he fastened it to the silk line 
 explained, in answer to an inquiry on the part of 
 Joe, that the casting-line was used because it was 
 so nearly the color of the water that it escaped 
 the notice of the fish. Just then Jimmy appeared 
 with some fine twine which he was waxing vigor 
 ously. This proved to be for Jack s rod, which 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 77 
 
 was a spliced one ; that is to say, the joints, instead 
 of fitting into one another in socket fashion like 
 those of the Colonel s, had to be laid over one 
 another and tied together. It was of green-heart, 
 which many consider even more springy and satis 
 factory than the bamboo, while very much more 
 inexpensive. Splicing is quite a lengthy process, 
 for the twine has to be wound exactly and tightly ; 
 and while Jimmy was showing Jack how to do it, 
 the Colonel and Mr. Holt put together the rods 
 for Hasy and Joe, which were of lancewood. All 
 the rods had been selected by Mr. Holt under 
 Colonel Russell s supervision, and the Colonel, 
 upon examining each with a critical eye after they 
 were ready for use, pronounced himself unable to 
 say which seemed the best, they were all so well 
 proportioned and supple. He even declared that 
 there was very little to choose between any one 
 of them and his own precious bamboo, though 
 to be sure they were all a foot shorter, in order to 
 suit the stature of the boys. 
 
 " There s only one disadvantage about a spliced 
 rod," he added, as he manipulated Jack s, "the 
 trouble there is in taking it apart, or rather in 
 
78 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 putting it together, which is sometimes inconven 
 ient. But for the balance and limber action, there 
 is nothing to surpass it. That s a beautiful rod, 
 young man, not pole, please take notice." 
 
 By the time all was ready for departure, it was 
 eight o clock. Old William and Jimmy had each 
 cut a stout stick, and firmly set into it one of the 
 gaffs produced by the Colonel from his tent, 
 vicious looking steel hooks, whose sharp points 
 were protected by corks for the time being. Mr. 
 Holt and the three boys who were to stay behind 
 went down to the water s edge to see the anglers 
 off. 
 
 " Good-by. Good luck." 
 
 A moment later the swiftly gliding canoe passed 
 round the bend in the river, leaving the Colonel 
 and Joe on the point of coming to anchor at the 
 Camp pool, which they were to fish before going 
 up. 
 
 " Isn t it fun ? " said Jack, as they flew along on 
 the swift current. 
 
 " Glorious !" murmured Haseltine. 
 
 After about ten minutes Jimmy stopped pad 
 dling abreast of a high bank on one side of the 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 79 
 
 stream just at the foot of a steep rapid, and lifting 
 the stone tied to a rope which he had beside him 
 for an anchor dropped it softly into the water. 
 
 " Is it a pool ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Yes, the High Bank, and a likely place to get 
 salmon," the guide replied as he paid out the 
 necessary slack. 
 
 The boys grasped their rods eagerly ; but, as 
 Jimmy explained to them, it was out of the ques 
 tion for both of them to fish at the same time. 
 They must cast turn and turn about, each for 
 a little while and then the other. He would show 
 them how, for casting was no easy matter to learn. 
 So Jack relinquished his green-heart, and watched 
 Jimmy unwind a few yards of line by holding the 
 tip close to the water after the current had taken 
 the fly, and jerking it gently until the reel started. 
 When some six or eight yards had been thus freed 
 and carried down river, he suddenly flung the 
 rod with both hands, so that the point went 
 straight up into the air a little over one shoulder, 
 and the line flew far behind ; then after a scarcely 
 perceptible pause brought the rod back again by 
 a quick yet deliberate sweep and turn of the wrist, 
 
80 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 in such a way that the fly came shooting forward 
 and alighted on the surface first as lightly as a 
 feather. 
 
 " You should cast across the current, not dead 
 ahead. In that way your fly 11 be carried down 
 so as to look natural." 
 
 After the line had swung round so that it 
 was running straight down stream, Jimmy let 
 out another few inches from the reel, and cast 
 again. This, he repeated at intervals of about a 
 minute. 
 
 " Feel a bite ? " asked Hasy. 
 
 " Salmon rise, they don t bite," observed Jack 
 sententiously. 
 
 kt How do you know? " 
 
 " Because I heard Colonel Russell say so." 
 
 " You needn t talk, anyway, with your l fishing- 
 pole. " 
 
 " Ancient history," retorted Jack. He was 
 pleased to have an opportunity to get even with 
 Hasy ; for, devoted friends as they were at board 
 ing-school, there was naturally a generous rivalry 
 between them. But it was scarcely prudent of 
 him, all the same, in view of the episode of the 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 81 
 
 night before. " Let sleeping dogs lie," to say 
 nothing of bears, is an excellent motto. 
 
 " You wait, that s all," said Hasy enigmatically 
 after a pause, too intent evidently in watching 
 Jimmy cast to indulge in further repartee, yet 
 wishing to give warning that he reserved the right 
 of renewing the colloquy at some future time. 
 Meanwhile, although the line flew out famously, 
 and the fly lighted noiselessly as one could desire, 
 there was no sign of a fish. 
 
 " Let me try now," said Jack. " I guess I can 
 cast all right." 
 
 "I ll reel in some first. You d better begin 
 with a short line," said Jimmy. 
 
 Jack stood up with his legs a little apart as he 
 had seen Jimmy do, and grasped the rod with 
 both hands, one above the reel and one below it. 
 
 " Be careful now not to tumble over and upset 
 the canoe," said Jimmy by way of caution. 
 
 The experience with the axe had given Jack 
 somewhat less confidence in his ability to accom 
 plish wonders off-hand in untrodden fields, but 
 pride forbade him to suggest the possibility of 
 failure. 
 
82 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 "How shall I know when a salmon bites I 
 mean rises?" he added hastily. 
 
 " Smarty ! " observed Haseltine with a short 
 laugh. 
 
 " You ll know fast enough. Be careful not to 
 jerk the fly out of his mouth, though, when you 
 feel him. He ll hook himself nine times in ten, 
 but it s just as well to turn your wrist a bit at 
 first. Easy, easy, or you ll scare every fish in the 
 pool," Jimmy added, as line, casting-line, arid fly 
 fell in a bunch on the surface with a splash. 
 Jack had lashed with the rod as though it were 
 a base-ball bat, so anxious was he to make a long 
 cast. The second time he was much more delib 
 erate, and though the line and fly alighted simul 
 taneously it was without noise. He followed 
 Jimmy s directions to let the current take the 
 fly as far as it would, and to undulate the rod 
 slightly in order to produce the effect of an insect 
 moving. He then made several casts, which were 
 so far successful that the fly reached the water in 
 the end, which without elating him gave him a 
 little self-reliance. After every one of these casts 
 he let out a few inches more line, until there was 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 83 
 
 now almost as much out as Jimmy had used. 
 There was still no sign of a fish. 
 
 " Cast across a little farther. They may be 
 lying on that side of the pool," said Jimmy. 
 
 Jack loosened another bit of line, and clinch 
 ing his teeth cast with some vim, intending to 
 cover new ground ; but as he started to propel 
 the fly forward after the upward sweep he was 
 suddenly all but pulled off his feet, and the tip of 
 his rod was bent violently backwards. 
 
 "You ve got a big fellow this time," said 
 Jimmy with a laugh. 
 
 Jack certainly had. His fly was caught in one 
 of the branches of a tree that projected out from 
 the shore overhead. " That s a bite, not a rise, I 
 guess," said Haseltine with a chuckle. 
 
 Jack was so nettled by the misadventure that 
 he began to pull and jerk somewhat roughly on 
 the line , but Jimmy took it from his hand, 
 and after a few moments managed to shake it 
 free. 
 
 "All right now," said Jimmy, throwing the fly 
 overboard. 
 
 But our hero was doomed to further discomfiture. 
 
84 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Scarcely had he got to work again, than, in an 
 attempt to be deliberate, his Jock Scott came in 
 contact with the water behind, which caused 
 although he tried his best to overcome the extra 
 drag on the tip the line to fall in a tangle about 
 his ears, and the hook to catch in the side of the 
 canoe. This was too much for his patience. He 
 ground his teeth, and perceiving a provoking 
 smile on Haseltine s face exclaimed, 
 " If you think it s, so easy, try yourself." 
 It was rather a new experience to Jack to be 
 foiled in a matter of this sort. He was naturally 
 handy and clever at sports, and he and Haseltine 
 were beginning decidedly to be cocks at the great 
 school to which they belonged, on account of their 
 prowess. Perhaps this had begotten an idea in 
 their minds that they could do anything with 
 very little trouble. Certainly, the dual experi 
 ence of wood-chopping and casting must have 
 shaken that theory somewhat in Jack s mind at 
 least. He now beheld, moreover, Haseltine manip 
 ulating the rod in a much more facile manner 
 than he had done, casting quite with an experi 
 enced air, as became one who had caught many a 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 85 
 
 brook trout by dint of a tree branch, a thread, 
 and a pin tipped with worm. Jack s piscatorial 
 exploits, on the other hand, had been confined to 
 salt water, requiring a much bolder style of angling 
 and coarser materials. As Jimmy endeavored 
 to impress, force is a quality that needs to be 
 use,d very charily in fly-fishing, and Haseltine 
 seemed to appreciate that from the start. He 
 used a short line, and after a few moments of 
 difficulty succeeded in making the fly trip grace 
 fully forward just in time to forestall the line and 
 drop deftly on the water. He handled his rod 
 knowingly, too, and did not seem to be discoun 
 tenanced by the reel, which is not a very easy pro 
 tuberance to get accustomed to. He brought the 
 tip round so as to make the fly move entirely to 
 the satisfaction of Jimmy, who was now keenly 
 on the lookout for a rise. 
 
 All of a sudden, just as Haseltine started to 
 make a cast, there came a whir from the reel, and 
 the tip bent toward the water. 
 
 " What did I tell you?" cried Jimmy. 
 
 " Is it a salmon ? " asked Hasy, who, trembling 
 with excitement, threw up the point of his rod 
 
00 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 as he had been directed to do, and began to reel 
 in the line. 
 
 Somehow, the fish was exceedingly tranquil 
 after the first haul. The line had become taut, 
 owing to the reeling ; but whatever was at the 
 other end of it chose to make no further demon 
 stration. There was something there, however, 
 which seemed to Hasy very unyielding. 
 
 " Is it a salmon ? " he inquired again feverishly, 
 in answer to which Jimmy, whose expression had 
 gradually changed to a sickly grin, responded 
 laconically, "You re fast to the bottom of the 
 river." 
 
 As may be imagined, this was delightful news 
 to Jack, who had been perhaps rather nettled at 
 his rival s skill, and who was now able to laugh 
 until his side ached. 
 
 "You want the earth, Hasy. You ve got it 
 this time, ha, ha ! " 
 
 Examination proved that the hook had caught 
 in a snag, an old root sticking up from the 
 bottom. 
 
 "You let your fly sink too deep; that was 
 the trouble," observed Jimmy. "I thought you 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 87 
 
 had a whale by the way it took hold at first. 
 I reckon we ll quit this, and try Dan s hut for a 
 spell. Funny, too, there ain t no fish here this 
 time of year. We d ought to have had one 
 landed by this time." 
 
 The boys felt a little gloomy, for they also had 
 expected better things. Jimmy hauled up the 
 stone, and as they glided across the pool peered 
 over the edge of the canoe. 
 
 "There isn t one of the beggars there," he 
 said. 
 
 It was only a short run to Dan s hut. As they 
 came abreast of the shanty, they perceived lying 
 on the bank in front of it a yellow-skinned 
 looking fellow, smoking a pipe, who had much 
 the aspect of an Indian. At sight of him, Jimmy 
 gave a significant grunt. 
 
 "Who s that?" asked Jack. 
 
 " Pete Labouisse." 
 
 " Is he an Indian ? " 
 
 " His mother was a squaw. He s a half-breed." 
 
 Jack had seen Indians before, having visited 
 their encampments in summer to buy straw 
 baskets and bows and arrows ; but that was a 
 
88 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 very different affair from beholding the red man 
 in his native forest. A vision of tomahawks, 
 scalps, and war paint, arose vividly before his 
 imagination, the completeness of which was some 
 what marred by the consciousness that Pete was 
 attired very much like other people at Gaspe, 
 except more shabbily. 
 
 " What s he doing here ? " inquired Haseltine. 
 
 " No good, you may be sure of that," answered 
 Jimmy wisely. 
 
 " Say, he continued, shouting through his 
 hands to the object of his criticism, " seen a one 
 jump?" 
 
 "Ya, ya ! " responded the Indian guttu rally, 
 between the puffs. "Bright salmon." 
 
 " Copper-colored fox ! " muttered Jimmy. " I d 
 wager something he s had a slice of one for 
 breakfast. Some day, old boy, we ll catch you 
 at your tricks, and then look out." 
 
 " I don t see his rod," said Hasy innocently. 
 
 "What would he be doing with a rod? No 
 sirree, a pine knot and a spear are good enough 
 for him ; and he d catch more n a single night 
 than the Colonel with his whole book of flies in 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 89 
 
 a week. That s what they call flambeauing, and 
 it s death on the fish." 
 
 "What is it he does ? " asked Jack, curious as to 
 the precise nature of the wickedness in question. 
 
 "Does?" echoed Jimmy, who was letting down 
 the stone. " Why, he waits for a dark night, and 
 goes sneaking over the pools with a torch. The 
 salmon come swimming up to see what the light 
 means, and it s easy enough then to stick a spear 
 through em. It weren t many years ago that 
 the rivers all over Canada were nearly emptied 
 of fish because of the flambeauing; and it costs 
 a good spell in jail if one gets caught at it now. 
 But what s to prevent a chap like Pete from 
 saying he s going up river trapping, and then 
 biding his time ? " 
 
 This explanation was cut short by a cry from 
 Jack, who pointed eagerly ahead of the canoe. 
 A silver gleam embodying a fine fish was for a 
 moment perceptible, followed by a splash which 
 sent the ripples flying. 
 
 " So you re there, are you ? " exclaimed Jimmy. 
 " Pete hasn t got em all, anyhow." 
 
 At the same moment the half-breed gave vent 
 
90 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 to another guttural utterance, as much as to say, 
 "I told you so." The boys were in a fever of 
 excitement ; and Jack, who it had been agreed on 
 the way down from the High Bank pool should 
 be the first to cast, was trembling so that he 
 could hardly hold the rod. 
 
 " Wasn t he a beauty ! " he ejaculated. " What 
 did he weigh, Jimmy ? " 
 
 "Close on thirty pounds." 
 
 " What made him jump out of the water ? ? 
 
 "Playing. They often do." 
 
 "Do you believe he ll take my fly?" 
 
 " There s no telling. When they act like that, 
 they ll sometimes take a fly, and sometimes not. 
 Let your line out gradual now. Don t be in a 
 hurry to reach him," Jimmy added. 
 
 For some minutes there was rapt silence. 
 Jack cast and cast again with all the care and 
 skill he could muster, but not a sign of a fish 
 appeared. He combed the pool, as anglers say, 
 from top to bottom, until all the anchor rope 
 was exhausted. Jimmy got the canoe back to 
 the starting-point as quietly as possible, and sug 
 gested putting on a Silver Doctor in place of the 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 91 
 
 Jock Scott. By this time the boys were looking 
 rather sombre. They had felt confident of hook 
 ing the salmon that had jumped. What could 
 the matter be ? The fly must have passed over 
 his nose a dozen times. However, it would never 
 do to despair so early, and Jack began to cast 
 again with a determined manner ; but the Silver 
 Doctor appeared to be as little appreciated as 
 the Jock Scott. Not a fish rose, and even 
 Jimmy wagged his head, and said, " It beats the 
 Dutch." 
 
 Just as he spoke, Jack cast again wearily. 
 The fly now reached to the farthest extremity 
 of the pool, and there seemed little use in watch 
 ing it. An instant later there was an exclama 
 tion from Pete on the bank, who pointed eagerly 
 at the water ; and simultaneously Jimmy cried, 
 "You ve got him. Don t jerk." 
 
 Jack, following the Indian s gesture, had seen 
 a large swirl close to where his fly might well 
 be ; and, as he heard Jimmy s voice, he felt the 
 line tighten. Obeying the caution given, he 
 simply held his rod firm. It was apparent to 
 him that the fish was going down. The next 
 
92 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 moment his reel was whirring violently, and his 
 line running out at a tremendous rate. 
 
 " Keep the point of your rod up, keep the 
 point of your rod up, or you ll lose him," he 
 heard Jimmy cry excitedly ; and he tried to do 
 so, though the fish was making such a stir that 
 it was not very easy. At last he got it up at a 
 tolerable angle, with the result of checking the 
 violent rush, owing to the greater purchase thus 
 acquired. The fish had come to a halt, though 
 he was pulling so steadily that the tip was bent 
 well down. Jack could feel a sort of thrumming 
 or vibration along the line, which thrilled him 
 with satisfaction. 
 
 u ls it a salmon?" he asked. 
 
 "It s a salmon, and a big one," answered 
 Jimmy. 
 
 "Hooray," cried Haseltine. 
 
 Delighted as he was, Jack felt almost helpless. 
 He was in utter ignorance as to what he should 
 do. Ought he to reel or to pull harder? How 
 much strain would the rod stand ? 
 
 " Am I doing all right ? " he asked feverishly. 
 
 "Yes. Give him the butt, though." Then, 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 93 
 
 seeing that Jack looked puzzled, he added, " I 
 mean keep the butt of your rod out, and the tip 
 up. The moment he weakens, reel on him." 
 Jimmy had pulled up the stone, and was holding 
 the canoe by means of his pole, evidently pre 
 pared for whatever might happen. 
 
 "Am I to go ashore?" Jack asked. 
 
 " Not yet," said Jimmy grimly. " Look out." 
 
 Just then, as a consequence of receiving the 
 butt, the fish started on another rush more vio 
 lent than the first, which made the reel sing 
 shrilly, and broke down Jack s guard completely. 
 Then to the left, but not twenty yards away, 
 something leaps a foot out of water. What 
 is that? his fish? It cannot be. Yet is not 
 Jimmy crying, " Lower your rod ! lower your 
 rod"? 
 
 " Him bright salmon, him bright salmon," shouts 
 Pete, wakened to enthusiasm. 
 
 But Jack scarcely heeds the tidings. He has 
 lowered his rod, and, after doing so, realizes that 
 the line, instead of being taut, is slack and loose; 
 it has ceased to run out. The rod is wobbling. 
 Is the salmon lost? is he off? As the terrible 
 
94 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 thought suggests itself, he feels a hollow sinking 
 of the stomach unlike any thing he has ever felt 
 before. Then he hears close at hand, 
 
 " Reel reel reel." 
 
 He reels with all his might. Surely the fish 
 is gone. Where can he be ? There is no strain 
 on the line. But still he reels, while Jimmy 
 hastily shoves the canoe up river and toward 
 the shore, .in order, as Jack later learns, to 
 prevent the salmon from running under it : 
 for the sly monster has dashed up stream, as 
 is immediately manifest by his leaping out of 
 water again, and this time nearly abreast of the 
 canoe. 
 
 "Him bright salmon him bright salmon." 
 
 Still again he leaps ; and this time Jack gets 
 a good glimpse of him, and realizes what has 
 happened. It is his fish. 
 
 " Reel reel reel," reiterates Jimmy. 
 
 Is he not reeling as hard as he can? espe 
 cially now that he understands that the salmon 
 is still on. What a splendid fellow he is! How 
 silvery and beautifully shaped ! Oh, he must 
 save him ! Where is he now ? He can feel him 
 
LOWER YOUR ROD ! LOWER YOUR ROD ! " P. 93. 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 97 
 
 distinctly, for the line is getting taut. Ah, 
 yes, he is pulling steadily, and taking another 
 breathing spell ! Hurrah ! he is not lost. 
 
 Now that Jack feels again the steady strain, 
 and is conscious of the thrumming, he too has 
 a chance to take breath, of which he is quite 
 as much in need as the salmon. The per 
 spiration is streaming down his cheeks, and 
 he tastes tar oil in his mouth. His hands, 
 too, are slippery from the same causes, and 
 he reflects that he ought to have worn his 
 fishing gloves as advised by the Colonel. It is 
 impossible to put them on now without passing 
 his rod to Jimmy or Haseltine, which he would 
 not do for a five-hundred-dollar bill, although 
 the end of the butt seems to be wearing a hole 
 in the pit of his stomach. The sun is well 
 above the tree-tops, and pouring down his rays 
 without stint. He blinks to clear his eyes from 
 hot mist, and looks at Jimmy, who still stands 
 pole in hand. 
 
 "He s a big fellow, isn t he, Jimmy? Jack 
 inquires with a gasp. 
 
 "A whale." 
 
98 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " He s pulling now, I tell you. Did I do all 
 right when he jumped?" 
 
 "You ought to lower your point the moment 
 he starts to jump. If he should fall on your 
 casting-line when it s taut, he d snap it off 
 short." 
 
 "He s twitching now; what does that mean? 
 Tell me tell me ! " Jack cries, as the salmon 
 begins to make a series of frantic tugs, which 
 pulls the tip violently down, and then relaxes it. 
 
 Jimmy shakes his head ominously. "I don t 
 like to see em do that." 
 
 " What does it signify ? " asked Hasy. 
 
 " It s generally a sign they re not well hooked. 
 He s trying to work the hook out of his mouth." 
 
 Jack trembles. The idea of losing him now 
 is too terrible to contemplate. 
 
 " Give him all the butt he ll stand," says 
 Jimmy. 
 
 "I m doing it." 
 
 Once more the salmon is motionless. Only 
 the strain and the perpetual thrumming tell 
 he is there. Five minutes pass ten minutes 
 and he never budges. 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 99 
 
 "He s sulking. Saw on him a little." 
 
 Jack saws, but without producing any im 
 pression. 
 
 "Step ashore and reel all you can, so as to 
 draw him in slowly toward the canoe, and I ll 
 try to get the gaff into him," continues Jimmy. 
 
 After some difficulty, owing to the necessity 
 of walking backwards, Jack manages to clamber 
 ashore, and to make a few steps up the bank, 
 while the guide, having seized the gaff, creeps 
 to the bow. By putting on a little more strain, 
 Jack " succeeds in reeling in a foot or two of 
 line. It is wonderful to him to see how much 
 strain his green-heart will stand. The tip is 
 curved almost like a barrel-hoop. With all the 
 might he dares to use, he endeavors to drag the 
 fish toward Jimmy. The water is deep, and 
 the current swift, however. The guide shakes 
 his head again, evidently realizing that it is an 
 undesirable spot for gaffing. 
 
 "Can t you reel a little more?" 
 
 " Look at my rod," says Jack ; still he gives 
 a fraction more butt. 
 
 Jimmy peers into the water, holding the gaff 
 
100 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 just above the surface, ready to plunge it at a 
 favorable opportunity. He tells Jack to move up 
 river a step or two, and to slant the rod so that 
 the line shall not come between him and the fish, 
 in order to avoid entanglement with the gaff. 
 There is a pause, during which Jimmy seems 
 half a dozen times just on the point of strik 
 ing ; then suddenly he makes a strenuous dab. 
 
 " Missed him," he ejaculates, and simultane 
 ously the frightened fish makes a desperate rush. 
 Whir, whir, whir goes the reel, and Jack in an 
 agony of dismay is forced to the water s edge. 
 Again the salmon jumps, this time falling appar 
 ently flat on the line, but still he is on. Off 
 he dashes. Whir, whir, whir, whir. He is just 
 tearing. 
 
 " Get into the canoe," says Jimmy hastily. 
 
 "What s he going to do?" 
 
 " At this rate, he ll go over the rapid. We ve 
 got to follow him, if he does." So saying, Jimmy 
 pushes off. " Sit down," he cries to Jack. But 
 this is easier said than done, it seems to the young 
 angler. With the butt planted against his stom 
 ach, he stands holding the rod as high up as he 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 101 
 
 can, from which depends the long stretch of line 
 separating him from his would-be victim, already 
 on the edge of the foaming water which marks 
 the beginning of the rapid some fifty yards ahead, 
 and still making the reel fly. In front of Jack 
 stands Jimmy, pole in hand ; and behind sits Hasel- 
 tine, grasping both sides of the canoe, and trem 
 bling with excitement. Yes, there is no help for 
 it ; the salmon is going over, and they must follow 
 him. Already the canoe is moving swiftly. The 
 whir of the reel has ceased, and there is very little 
 strain on the line, which stretches from the tip of 
 the rod to a point midway in the rapid like the 
 rope which runs from the foremast of a vessel to 
 the bowsprit. Where it touches the water, there 
 is the salmon. 
 
 The danger now is of going too fast and over 
 taking the fish; and while Jimmy snubs the canoe, 
 as he calls it, with his pole, Jack has to do some 
 more active reeling. It is not very easy to keep 
 one s balance in the midst of the choppy water, but 
 Jack is afraid to divert his attention even so far as 
 to try to sit down, lest he lose his precious fish. 
 
 The rapid was steep, and a couple of hundred 
 
102 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 yards long, being caused by a series of rocks close 
 to the surface, which transformed the current into 
 foaming hillocks and furrows. Jimmy had to be 
 constantly on his guard to prevent the canoe from 
 striking, and once or twice they took in a little 
 water over the bow. All the while the salmon 
 was slowly forging ahead. 
 
 " Give him all the butt you can, so as to hold 
 his mouth open," Jimmy kept saying. " He can t 
 stand this long without drowning/ 
 
 "I guess he must be well hooked, or he d have 
 been off before now," said Jack, as they neared 
 the end of the rapid. 
 
 Here they came upon a stretch of still and 
 rather shallow water, in which the salmon halted 
 again, much to Jack s satisfaction, who was himself 
 glad of another breathing spell. 
 
 " I must have had him on a good while," he 
 observed reflectively. 
 
 " Two hours," said Hasy, looking at his watch. 
 " It was three minutes of ten when you got him 
 on, and it is just twelve." 
 
 " Whew ! Do they usually take as long as that 
 to land, Jimmy ? " 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 103 
 
 " Not often," answered the guide with a grin. 
 " The Colonel would have had him ashore an hour 
 ago ; but you re doing first-rate. Stick to him, 
 and you ll come out all right. The world weren t 
 made in a minute." 
 
 " How far would he run ? " asked Hasy. 
 
 " If nothing breaks, he may get to the Basin 
 before dark." 
 
 "Nonsense, Jimmy," said Jack with a laugh. 
 "Oh, there he goes again, there he goes again ! " 
 
 True enough the salmon seemed disposed to 
 continue on his way down river. Whir went 
 the reel, and out of the water he sprang once 
 twice. 
 
 " Let him go let him go," cried Jimmy. 
 " Don t try to check him too sudden. He s lively, 
 and no mistake." 
 
 In spite of all that Jack could do, the fish 
 ran slowly through the quiet stretch and reached 
 another rapid. It was a short one, and below it 
 was a dark pool. After reeling in the slack, there 
 was still a good deal of line out, which showed 
 that the water was deep. 
 
 " How does he feel ? " asked Jimmy. 
 
104 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " Just as strong as ever." 
 
 " And how do you feel, tuckered ? " 
 
 " No," answered Jack stoutly. " That nasty 
 tar oil will trickle into my mouth, though," 
 he added, with a touch of despondency in his 
 tone. 
 
 "You re not much to look at, Jack," said Hasy, 
 laughing. " I d say you were an Indian, if I met 
 you in the woods." 
 
 Meantime Jack was feeling the salmon, who 
 showed no disposition to move. Sawing proved 
 again of no use. He was down in a deep hole, 
 and declined to be dislodged by ordinary methods. 
 Jack felt mortified and once more helpless. He 
 said to himself that clearly he did not understand 
 how to put on the proper strain or manage the rod 
 cleverly. Instead of controlling the fish, he was 
 himself dancing attendance on the good pleasure 
 of his piscatorial highness. But what could he 
 do ? If he should exert more than a certain pres 
 sure, he might break the casting-line. Jerking 
 would be equally dangerous. Jimmy suggested 
 his stepping ashore and walking backwards again ; 
 but this did not help him much, for the salmon 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 105 
 
 still stuck to the hole. He ventured to steady 
 the rod with one hand, and to wipe the perspira 
 tion off his face with the other. In spite of his 
 declaration to the contrary, he was beginning to 
 feel fagged. Bah ! he had forgotten the tar oil, 
 and here was his handkerchief a mass of brown 
 stickiness ! Jimmy and Haseltine were laugh 
 ing at him, too, as a consequence. It was con 
 foundedly hot, too, and he was getting faint for 
 want of something to eat. A sandwich would 
 taste remarkably good. 
 
 This idea of luncheon grew upon him the 
 longer the salmon persevered in inactivity, and 
 took shape at last in a request for food. 
 
 Leaning up against a tree, he conveyed to his 
 mouth with one hand bread and butter and 
 potted tongue, while with the other he kept 
 the point of his rod at a proper angle. Jimmy 
 had built a fire and made himself a cup of 
 tea, without which he declared that no meal 
 was complete for him. After this refreshment, 
 although there was no change in the status of 
 the salmon, Jack felt much more disposed to 
 take the initiative, even at the risk of losing 
 
106 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 the prize. This sulking must be put an end to 
 somehow, and after consultation the expedient of 
 hurling a large stone into the river close beside 
 where the scaly brute was supposed to be was 
 selected. The privilege of throwing the missile 
 was claimed by Haseltine, who, standing by the 
 water s edge, let fly. 
 
 The stone acted like magic. The salmon made 
 a wild dash, excelling in impetuosity any he had 
 hitherto indulged in, and, seeking the surface, 
 leaped twice in quick succession. As he fell 
 back the last time, Jack felt the line slacken, 
 and cried bitterly, " He is off." 
 
 "No, he isn t," shouted Jimmy, and as he 
 spoke the big fish leaped out of water right 
 under their very noses close in shore, and a 
 moment after still again beyond them up river. 
 
 " Let him go up," said Jimmy. " He ll kill 
 himself against the current twice as quick." 
 
 But the salmon, thinking better of this plan, 
 suddenly darted down again ; and before many 
 minutes the canoe was following him through a 
 third rapid. 
 
 This passed, they reached another tranquil 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 107 
 
 shallow stretch; and here for the first time, as 
 Jack tightened the line, the fish was visible near 
 the surface, showing evident signs of fatigue, 
 and now and then lolling over so that they saw 
 the white of his belly. 
 
 " He s done for," said Jimmy. 
 
 Nevertheless, despite this assertion, the gamey 
 creature presently gathered himself together, and 
 made another smart rush toward the opposite 
 bank. But Jack found it easy to check him 
 now, and to guide him as he reeled him in, 
 bringing him once more to the surface. Then 
 Jimmy put Jack ashore on the sandy beach, 
 which was a better place to land the fish than the 
 bank where he had made the first attempt to gaff, 
 and proceeded to wade out over his ankles. Jack 
 had reeled in so that the casting-line was very 
 near the ring of the tip. Accordingly, he had 
 now to step backwards in order to pull the fish 
 toward Jimmy, who cautioned him against reeling 
 further. The salmon floated sluggishly, wagging 
 his tail, and lolling more and more. As he caught 
 sight of the gaff, however, he made still another 
 struggle to escape, but only to be reeled back 
 
108 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 again the few feet that he had gained. Then he 
 shook his head two or three times, and started 
 to rub his gills against the bottom ; but at this 
 moment Jimmy extended the hook of the gaff 
 across his back, and, dropping it into the water, 
 drew it in with a quick motion, and lifted the 
 silver beauty ashore. 
 
 "Hurrah," cried Jack, "hurrah, hurrah, hur 
 rah ! " and in a transport of delight he dropped 
 his rod and cast himself on his knees beside the 
 gasping fish. 
 
 Jimmy had picked up a stone to knock the 
 salmon on the head, to prevent his wriggling back 
 into his native element ; but seeing him lying 
 motionless he turned to the boys and said, laugh 
 ing, 
 
 " He s stone dead. You wore him out, Jack." 
 
 " I ve got him, anyhow. Oh, I wouldn t have 
 lost him for any thing! Isn t it splendid? O 
 Hasy, I hope you ll catch one ! " 
 
 "Tell him, Hasy, that the Colonel would say 
 4 kill one, " said Jimmy with a wink. 
 
 But Haseltine was too much carried away by 
 the glorious result of the struggle to take advan- 
 
"HIM BRIGHT SALMON." 109 
 
 tage of the opportunity thus offered to revenge 
 himself. 
 
 " Oh, what does he weigh ? " was his fervent 
 inquiry. 
 
 44 Guess," said Jimmy, as he reached for the scales. 
 
 "I ve no idea," said Jack. " He s a big fellow, 
 though, isn t he?" 
 
 " I guess twenty pounds," said Haseltine. 
 
 " He ll pass thirty," said Jimmy. 
 
 " Really ! " the boys exclaimed together. 
 
 The guide having inserted the hook of the 
 scales in one of the salmon s gills lifted him from 
 the ground. "What did I tell you?" he said. 
 " Thirty ? It s a good thirty-two." 
 
 "Hurrah! " cried Jack. "He s a buster. And 
 how long was I in landing him ? " 
 
 "Just five hours and four minutes," answered 
 Haseltine. 
 
 " Five hours and four minutes ! That ll make 
 a great fish story," said Jimmy, bursting into 
 laughter. "But it s true, all the same. It was 
 nip and tuck between you, Jack. You wore him 
 out, though, may I never pole another stroke, if 
 you didn t." 
 
110 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SETTLING DOWN. 
 
 WHILE Jack and Haseltine were thus busy 
 down river, the home guard was by no means 
 idle. It consisted, you will remember, besides 
 Mr. Holt, of Dubsy Perkins, Max Fearing, and 
 Tom Binney. There was Bingo, too, who was 
 rejoicing quite as much as any of the others in 
 the freedom of the woods. The lively fox terrier 
 had come in the cart with George Coffin the day 
 before, much to the dissatisfaction of his owner, 
 who had wished to have him in the canoe ; but 
 the chances of his jumping overboard had seemed 
 so considerable that Mr. Holt had issued a fiat 
 compelling him to journey by land. Both he and 
 his master Tom were in grand spirits this morn 
 ing, being alike imbued apparently with the desire 
 to ferret out something in the nature of bird, 
 beast, or reptile .from every suggestion of a hole 
 
SETTLING DOWN. Ill 
 
 in the ground or in the tree-trunks that met the 
 watchful eye of either of them. And with some 
 success, too, at least as far as Bingo was concerned ; 
 for the terrier, by dint of his keen smelling powers, 
 hit upon the abodes of sundry chipmonks very 
 early in the day. 
 
 " Seek him, Bingo, seek him," Tom would cry, 
 as the little dog, barking vociferously, pawed at 
 or sniffed before some significant orifice. But 
 happily for the inmates, they were generally pro 
 tected by the smallness of the holes from worse 
 evils than a thorough shock to the nervous system. 
 
 Welcome as chipmonks would have been at 
 home, here in the heart of the forest Tom s aspira 
 tions took a more ambitious form. Visions rose 
 before him of deer and even bear trapped by his 
 skill, and tamed by his discretion until they would 
 follow his footsteps and feed out of his hand. 
 But though these larger specimens were not likely 
 to be run across in a ramble within ear-shot from 
 camp, one might readily come upon a rabbit or an 
 owl or a wasp s nest. As he very properly rea 
 soned, one could never tell, until one looked, what 
 was inside a hollow trunk or underneath a stone. 
 
112 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Either a woodpecker or a snake would be ample 
 reward for any number of fruitless investigations. 
 Therefore, whenever Tom s services were not re 
 quired in other ways, he and Bingo went mousing 
 round the neighborhood to see what they could 
 find. 
 
 Dubsy, on the other hand, revealed great prac 
 tical qualities. To chop wood, build up the fire, 
 preside over the frying-pan, soup-kettle, and grid 
 iron, gather fresh hemlock for the bunks, or 
 manufacture rustic chairs to make the camp 
 more cosey, each and all seemed to him fascinat 
 ing and highly desirable occupation. Mr. Holt, 
 in perceiving this, was pleased. He had been 
 anxious, as far as possible, to let the boys follow 
 their respective bents, yet at the same time 
 had intended that the drudgery of the camp 
 should be performed by each in turn. But 
 here was a boy with a genuine taste for cutting 
 down trees, and broiling fish ; who demurred 
 neither at the heat of the fire, the dirtiness of 
 the ashes, nor the stickiness of the pine-boughs; 
 and whose sole grievance was that he was not 
 allowed to do every thing in the domestic line 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 113 
 
 himself. Clearly, if Dubsy preferred cooking to 
 hunting for chipmonks, there seemed very little 
 object in calling upon Tom to sacrifice the pos 
 sibilities of meeting a bear, in order that he 
 might do his share of camp work. The great 
 thing was to have them enter heart and soul 
 into something, and Mr. Holt felt that his duties 
 were lightened by the fact that each of this pair 
 knew what he wanted to do. 
 
 But poor Max Fearing had found the woods 
 thus far not much of a paradise. Although the 
 biggest of the six, he was inclined to be fat, and 
 he was not strong in proportion to his size. His 
 education abroad had separated him from other 
 boys, so that he was unfamiliar with their ways, 
 and he had never been accustomed to roughing it. 
 Consequently his skin was very delicate, and his 
 muscles limp from lack of vigorous exercise. 
 To add to his discomfort, the black flies poi 
 soned him, as they do some people, and his 
 cheeks and eyelids were so swollen from bites 
 that he could scarcely see. Of cooking he knew 
 absolutely nothing, not even enough to set the 
 kettle boiling ; and contact with the raw mate- 
 
114 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 rials, like butter, lard, fish-scales, or flour, incident 
 to the preparation of food, disgusted him. In 
 trying to slice a loaf of bread to make toast for 
 luncheon, he cut his left hand, upset a teapot of 
 hot water over one of his legs, and while gath 
 ering boughs filled his fingers with splinters. 
 Yet in spite of all these ills, as they seemed 
 to him, he made no complaints, bearing with 
 equanimity and good humor the taunts cast at 
 him by Tom and Dubsy on account of his awk 
 ward ways and what they considered his want 
 of manliness. At heart, however, he was morti 
 fied. For his wounds, he cared little : they 
 smarted, but far more painful was the discovery 
 of his own deficiencies. Here he was a sort of 
 Miss Nancy, with what Jack had called that 
 morning " lady-like behavior ; " and, moreover, 
 he had not the least idea as to how he was to 
 become like the rest of the boys. They could 
 climb trees, talked knowingly already of poling 
 and their ability to bake bread, and were keen 
 for encounters with wild beasts ; but he, Max 
 Fielding, was utterly ignorant of all these mat 
 ters, and would be apt to feel the inclination to 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 115 
 
 run away at sight of a bear or wildcat. What 
 use were books now? He did know something 
 of them, and had a volume of poetry concealed 
 in the rubber bag which contained his traps ; but 
 his principal dread was that it might be discov 
 ered by one of the others. As the sum and 
 substance of it all, he felt very much like sitting 
 down and crying ; and the fear lest he might do 
 so caused him to perambulate the camp with 
 gritted teeth beneath a deceptive smile. 
 
 Mr. Holt, who was on the alert, was happily 
 quick to perceive both Max s inability to cope 
 with the others, and his determination not to give 
 in. While the master believed that ridicule is 
 a tolerably wholesome means of curing molly 
 coddled boys, and was therefore disposed to leave 
 Max in a certain measure to his own reflections, 
 he determined to aid and abet him in his efforts 
 to make a man of himself. He noticed with 
 satisfaction Max s good nature when jeered at, 
 and the unflinching way he plunged his white 
 hand into the butter-firkin during the lesson in 
 breadmaking given him during the afternoon, 
 although it was not difficult, for one used to 
 
116 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 reading character, to appreciate the boy s agony 
 of mind. 
 
 About five o clock Dubsy and Tom and Bingo 
 were all so far tired out by the exertions of the 
 day as to be disposed to squat down under a 
 tree and remain comparatively passive. Mr. 
 Holt took this opportunity to read aloud a book 
 treating of the remarkable cleverness of ants, in 
 the course of which Tom suddenly remarked, 
 
 " I say, Max, did you ever see Bingo do arith 
 metic ? " 
 
 "Really?" asked Max, who, having listened to 
 the reading with absorbed attention, was in a 
 receptive frame of mind. 
 
 "Why, certainly. He s great at it, especially 
 at addition. Isn t he, Dubsy?" Tom added with 
 a wink. 
 
 u I never saw his equal," Dubsy answered 
 diplomatically. 
 
 " Come here, Bingo. Now, I want you to do a 
 sum. Put down three, and carry one." 
 
 In obedience to his master s order, the terrier 
 drew up one of his legs, and limped with 
 gusto. 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 117 
 
 " There you have it," said Tom. " He put 
 down three legs, and is carrying one." Where 
 upon he and Dubsy burst out laughing at Max s 
 evident discomfiture. 
 
 Max thought he would really do the sum in 
 his head. Ho, ho ! " was Dubsy s comment. 
 
 "Well, laugh away. I don t care," was the 
 reply. But Max looked a little shamefaced. 
 
 " How could a dog do a sum ? The trouble 
 with you, Max, is that you re fresher than paint," 
 observed Tom with the air of a sage. " I should 
 think you d be afraid of coming off on the 
 bushes." 
 
 "Never mind, Max," said Mr. Holt. "These 
 boys think they know everything; but I shouldn t 
 be at all astonished if there were some surprises 
 in store for them, before we break up camp. If I 
 were going to make a prediction as to who 
 would win the Colonel s rifle, I m not sure that 
 I shouldn t fix on you." 
 
 Max flushed and looked grateful. The expres 
 sion of the other two was sardonic and evidently 
 incredulous. 
 
 " You see," continued Mr. Holt, " because you 
 
118 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 two are proficient at base-ball and rowing, and 
 have callous hands and hard muscles, you re 
 inclined to look down on any one of your own 
 age who can t say the same. Now, Max and Joe 
 have been brought up in a different way ; and, 
 though I m not prepared to state that I don t 
 consider your way the better, I am very sure that 
 they would be able to put you to the blush in 
 more ways than one." 
 
 " Oh, Joe s all right ! " said Dubsy with some 
 what brutal frankness. 
 
 " I m glad you approve of him ; and let me tell 
 you that Max is all right too, so far that he is able 
 to talk French and German as well as his native 
 tongue, has a fine taste for music, and is remark 
 ably clever at his books. Those may not seem 
 very important acquirements in the woods here ; 
 but they convince me that he has only to devote 
 his energies a little in another direction, in order 
 to become your equal as a woodsman. I don t 
 mean to say," Mr. Holt added, looking at Max, 
 " that he is going to find it altogether easy to 
 overcome the timidity which I rather think he feels 
 in matters which a manly boy ought to take to as 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 119 
 
 a fish does to the water ; but I am confident, that, 
 if he keeps up his pluck, the day will soon arrive 
 when you will not be able to stump him, as you 
 boys call it, in many ways." 
 
 Tom and Dubsy, having listened in silence, 
 continued to chew the cud of reflection while 
 engaging in a game of stick-knife, which required 
 no remarks, and was moreover a pastime calculated 
 to awaken the envious admiration of Max. Just, 
 however, as Tom had reached the interesting 
 stage of holding the point of the blade on the 
 crown of his head, preparatory to tossing the knife 
 backwards, he was interrupted by a shout from 
 Mr. Holt, who was looking towards the river. 
 
 " Canoe ahoy ! " 
 
 Sure enough it was the Colonel. The boys 
 rushed to the water s edge to peer into the canoe. 
 But, sad to relate, there was nothing to be seen 
 except one poor little pound trout, whose silver 
 side had been dulled and parched by the sun. 
 Old William had a disappointed look, and was 
 shaking his head in a woeful manner. 
 
 "Where are your fish, Randolph?" asked Mr. 
 Holt. 
 
120 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 "Don t hit a man when he s down, my dear 
 fellow. I ve had only one rise this blessed day," 
 answered the Colonel as he stepped out of the 
 canoe. 
 
 " It beats anything I ever see," said old Wil 
 liam, "this time of year too." 
 
 "I ve thrashed every pool as far up nearly as 
 Mississippi, and tried every fly ; but it was no 
 use. The brutes wouldn t rise. There were 
 plenty of them too." 
 
 "How do you account for it?" asked Mr. 
 Holt. 
 
 "If you ll explain to me why salmon do rise 
 on some days, I might be able to tell you why 
 they don t on others. However, it s not the first 
 time in my life I have come home skunked ; and 
 we must make the best of it. If an old sportsman 
 such as I sets out to grumble, what can one 
 expect of the rest of you?" 
 
 " But you re not wholly skunked : you ve got 
 the trout," said Tom, holding the parboiled fish 
 up by the tail as he examined it with interest. 
 
 "True, I forgot the trout. That was Joe s 
 handiwork. Come here, Joe," the Colonel said, 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 121 
 
 nodding at the chunky little fellow, whose good- 
 humored face had lost none of its cheerfulness in 
 consequence of the day s ill luck. " Come here 
 and tell these boys that if any one of them 
 expects ever to be the owner of my rifle, he can t 
 afford to leave you out of the reckoning." 
 
 " That s not unlike what I have been saying to 
 them regarding his brother, said Mr. Holt, lay 
 ing his hand on Max s shoulder. 
 
 " Ah ! " said the Colonel, casting a scrutinizing 
 glance at the elder Fearing. " All I can say is, 
 as I said the other day, the best sportsman wins. 
 And there s no greater mistake than to feel cock 
 sure before! land that this, that, or the other boy 
 won t get it." 
 
 " Here comes the other canoe," broke in old 
 William at this moment. "And may I never 
 gaff another salmon, if the two lads are not 
 poling," he added, as he shaded his eyes. 
 
 A moment later the canoe was in full sight, 
 being propelled by Jack and Hasy, who, in spite 
 of frequent splashing, were making slow but sure 
 progress. It was five minutes before they were 
 within hailing distance ; and then the Colonel, 
 
122 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 making a trumpet of his hands, shouted, "Any 
 luck ? " 
 
 There was no answer. 
 
 " I guess they re skunked too," said Tom. 
 
 "W-h-a-t 1-u-c-k?" It was Mr. Holt who 
 holloaed this time. 
 
 But, though the inquiry must have been heard, 
 those in the canoe saw fit not to make response. 
 On they came, gaining inch by inch against the 
 steep current, until at last old William had 
 the canoe by the bow and held her fast. 
 
 " You don t say so I " exclaimed the Colonel, as 
 he caught sight of the heap of alder bushes 
 strewn over the bottom of the canoe. " How 
 many ? " 
 
 His inquiry was almost simultaneous with the 
 murmur of congratulation and pleasure occa 
 sioned by Jimmy s removing the foliage with a 
 proud sweep, and disclosing a brace of monsters. 
 
 " Well done, well done." 
 
 "Who caught them?" 
 
 " Hurrah ! A salmon at last ! " 
 
 " Two of them." 
 
 " But this one s a slink," said the Colonel, 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 123 
 
 completing the round of exclamations, as old 
 William, lifting the fish separately from the 
 canoe, laid them on the bank. 
 
 " Him no bright salmon him slink, as Pete 
 would say," responded Jimmy. 
 
 " That s a shame, Hasy," said Jack, breaking 
 silence for the first time. " I hoped they wouldn t 
 be able to tell the difference." 
 
 "Not tell a slink from a fresh-run fish?" 
 exclaimed the Colonel with a laugh. "Thank 
 you, youngster." 
 
 " It s too bad. Them slinks is a pesky nui 
 sance," said old William. 
 
 " What is a slink ? " asked Mr. Holt, express 
 ing the general desire for information on the 
 subject, which the four other boys were restrained 
 by pride from putting into words. 
 
 " A slink is a salmon that s been in the river 
 all winter, until he has become long and lean 
 like this fellow. Don t you see how different he 
 is from the other? Instead of being fat and 
 shiny and full-bodied, he s shad-bellied and dark 
 colored. Some call them black salmon or kelt," 
 the Colonel added. " In the early summer 
 
124 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 they re apt to be a nuisance, as William says, 
 for they re ravenous, and after being hooked 
 are easy to kill. I ve seen some of them make a 
 pretty good fight, though. How was it with this 
 one, Hasy, as I judge from Jack s words that he 
 fell to your rod ? 
 
 " He had him on just half an hour by the 
 watch," exclaimed Jimmy ; " and, by the way 
 he acted at first, I thought he was a bright 
 salmon." 
 
 u Well, I don t see that there s much to com 
 plain of, then," said the Colonel. "And you 
 killed the other one, Jack? He must weigh 
 very nearly thirty pounds." 
 
 " Thirty-two," replied Jack with a pardonable 
 air of triumph, and, inserting his fingers in the 
 salmon s gills as he had seen the guide do, lifted 
 him up for general inspection. 
 
 There was another murmur of applause. 
 
 " Isn t he a beauty? Bully for you, Jack,* 
 cried Dubsy. 
 
 " I d like to have him stuffed," said Tom. 
 
 " How long did it take to land him ? " asked 
 Mr. Holt. 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 125 
 
 Jimmy snickered at this inquiry, and looked 
 delighted. 
 
 " A good while," answered Jack, who, having 
 found it impossible, even by the use of two 
 hands, to hold up the fish for more than a 
 moment, had laid him down again. "Five 
 hours and four minutes." 
 
 "What!" exclaimed the Colonel. 
 
 " Gospel truth," said Jimmy. 
 
 "But what were you doing all the time, for 
 goodness sake? Five hours and four minutes? 
 Impossible ! " 
 
 " It was the salmon that was doing, not I. 
 He sulked in a hole for two hours, and he 
 jumped out of water twelve times. But I got 
 him in the end, didn t I, Jimmy?" 
 
 Jack s enthusiasm was contagious, and he was 
 plied with questions concerning the capture of his 
 prize. The Colonel seemed immensely amused, 
 and every now and then would ejaculate, " Five 
 hours and four minutes ! That s the best I ever 
 heard ! " and then burst out laughing. But no 
 amount of merriment could have disturbed Jack s 
 satisfaction. He was radiantly happy, and would 
 
126 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 gladly have recounted the details of the encounter 
 so long as any one would listen to him. But 
 Mr. Holt, insisting that he must be fairly worn 
 out, sent him to his tent to get ready for supper. 
 
 In spite of having cooked during the greater 
 part of the day, Dubsy claimed the honor of 
 broiling the slices of the bright salmon that were 
 served at the evening meal. The fish was in 
 prime condition, and fairly melted in the mouths 
 of the hungry sportsmen. Jack thought he had 
 never tasted any thing so good in his life, though 
 he was rather distressed at having the salmon 
 used for food, as he would have liked to send it 
 home to his mother. But there was nothing else 
 except canned things for supper. 
 
 " We run across that fellow, Pete Labouisse," 
 said Jimmy, in the course of conversation, after 
 they had gathered round the fire late in the 
 evening. 
 
 Old William growled. "No wonder the salmon 
 won t rise," he said. 
 
 u He d better not let me catch him lighting 
 any flambeaux," said the Colonel. "Poor devil, 
 I don t grudge his helping himself to a fish now 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 127 
 
 and then, in order to keep soul and body together, 
 but this wholesale spearing must be put a stop 
 to." 
 
 " To whom do the salmon belong ? " asked 
 Max. 
 
 " It s rather difficult to answer that question in 
 a single sentence," the Colonel replied. " Salmon 
 are included under what the law calls t ferce 
 natures ; that is to say, colloquially, creatures 
 which are not tame ; and therefore strictly they 
 belong to no one. But being game and fit for 
 food, the Government, here the Canadian Gov 
 ernment, claims the right to regulate the manner 
 in which they shall be taken, and to a certain 
 extent who shall take them. Below tide-waters 
 no one, except by express license, is allowed to 
 net or otherwise capture salmon, and the same 
 rule used to be until recently in force regarding 
 the portion of the river above tide-waters; so 
 that even if you or I owned all the land along 
 the bank, and lived here from one year s end to 
 the other, we should not have been permitted 
 to cast a fly, on the ground that the Government 
 had the right to make such laws as it chose 
 
128 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 regarding game. But a suit was brought a few 
 years ago to test the question, and the Court 
 decided that the Government had no power to 
 prevent owners of land above where the tide 
 flowed from fishing as much as they chose. But, 
 unless one has the title to the land on both banks, 
 it is permissible to fish only up to the middle of 
 the stream, for that is as far as any one s property 
 extends. Rather a lengthy explanation, Max, but 
 I could scarcely put it into fewer words." 
 
 So passed the first day of camp - life. The 
 following morning it was Mr. Holt s turn to fish ; 
 and he went down river, taking with him Max, 
 while Dubsy and Tom went up to the Little Salmon 
 Hole and the pools beyond, lying within three 
 hours poling distance from camp. The others 
 stayed at home. The Colonel had requested 
 George Coffin to send up an extra canoe, in order 
 that the boys guarding camp might take lessons in 
 poling and paddling. 
 
 The first day proved to be less satisfactory as 
 regards the score made than any of the following 
 seven. Mr. Holt, who, though no novice at trout- 
 fishing, had never killed a salmon, came back with 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 129 
 
 three beauties, captured at Miller s Landing, a pool 
 below where Jack and Hasy had fished the day 
 before, and having lost two others, one owing to 
 the breaking of the hook, occasioned by jumping, 
 and the other through the rottenness of the cast 
 ing-line. Max had hooked a famous fish, which 
 had carried him half a mile down river, and finally 
 broken the tip of his rod by running under the 
 canoe. Tom and Dubsy also returned with one 
 apiece. There was general rejoicing at so much 
 good fortune, and every one declared salmon-fish 
 ing as a sport to be far in excess of his wildest 
 anticipations. For the next week there was a 
 continuation of the same luck. One day the 
 Colonel killed five, averaging twenty-three pounds, 
 one of which tipped the scales at thirty-four. 
 With the exception of this last-named, there had 
 been none caught so large as Jack s. By the end 
 of ten days there was not one of the party who 
 had not killed a salmon, and most of them could 
 boast of two or three. Moreover, there was fine 
 salmon-trout fishing, some of the trout running up 
 to five pounds, beautiful silvery fellows with red 
 spots, the same fish as the ordinary brook-trout, 
 
130 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 according to the Colonel, but modified in appear 
 ance by the influence of salt water and climate. 
 How lively they were ! The boys found it almost 
 as much fun to fish for them as for salmon, if they 
 used a very limber rod and light line. There were 
 one or two rods among the collection that would 
 bend at the slightest pressure, and they were 
 greatly in demand. 
 
 44 If you happen to hook a grilse with one 
 of these, you ll have your hands full," said the 
 Colonel the morning he produced them. 
 
 44 What s a grilse ? " three of the boys inquired 
 at the same moment. 
 
 " A young salmon that has been to the salt 
 water once. They run anywhere from three 
 to eight pounds. I tell you, those fellows are 
 lively." 
 
 It was not many days before several grilse were 
 taken ; and then the idea occurred to Jack, that the 
 crowning feat in the piscatorial line would be to 
 kill a big salmon with the lightest rod. Accord 
 ingly, one afternoon after lunch, while Mr. Holt 
 was taking a siesta prior to resuming fishing, he 
 pushed out in the canoe alone, under the semblance 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 131 
 
 of casting for trout. It was at the Little Salmon 
 Hole, and Jack selected the most likely spot in the 
 pool. As it happened, the moment after his fly 
 struck the water, he saw a swirl. Whir, whir, 
 whir, whir, went the little reel, as if protesting by 
 the shrillness of its tone against being employed 
 to check such brute force. 
 
 " Caesar s ghost ! " muttered Jack, as the rod 
 bent almost double under the feeble pressure which 
 he ventured to put upon it. Out went the line at 
 a terrific rate. There was only some fifty yards of 
 it in all, and soon Jack saw that there was very 
 little left on the reel. What should he do? 
 What could he do ? He looked toward the shore. 
 Mr. Holt and old William were both still 
 dozing. 
 
 Whir, whir, whir, whir, whir snap ! Then 
 Jack realized that the tip of the delicate rod was 
 dangling down in a shattered condition, and that 
 the salmon was on his way to Gaspe Basin with all 
 but a short piece of the Colonel s silk line. There 
 had been one brief moment of extreme tension 
 after the last inch of line had run out, and this 
 was the result. 
 
132 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 He had to listen to a lecture that evening. 
 " Do you consider you acted like a sportsman, 
 young man, in trying to land a thirty-pound fish 
 with a twig of a tree and a skein of thread?" 
 asked the Colonel. " Thought you could stop 
 him ? Nonsense ! It was sheer bravado. You 
 might as well have tried to kill a bear with a toy 
 pistol." 
 
 The culprit hung his head. The taunt of un 
 sportsmanlike behavior nettled him ; for he prided 
 himself on being a thorough woodsman, and was 
 determined that no one should outstrip him in the 
 competition for the rifle. Yet here he had shown 
 himself without doubt a silly fellow. Why had he 
 yielded to the impulse ? He had known well 
 enough that the chances were ninety-nine out of a 
 hundred he would not be able to check the salmon. 
 He had not shown skill or ingenuity ; he had 
 simply been mischievous. 
 
 During these ten days the camp had been trans 
 formed into a veritable establishment. Chief 
 among the improvements was a smoke-house, 
 so called, a hole in the ground filled with 
 smouldering fire, surmounted by an arrangement 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 133 
 
 of bark and boughs, in shape not unlike a circular 
 tent, by means of which the smoke was confined. 
 Smoked salmon such as one ordinarily buys from 
 the grocer has been freely salted as well as dried, 
 and is a very different affair from that treated to 
 be eaten on the spot or within a comparatively 
 short time. u Kippered " is the technical term, and 
 a delicious adjunct it makes to the ordinary camp 
 food. There was also a variety of benches, chairs, 
 and tables, the result of experiments in carpentry 
 by one or another of the boys. The lean-to for 
 the guides had been enlarged to a log cabin, and 
 from the flag-pole in front of the main house the 
 stars and stripes flapped on the breeze. But what 
 interested the six youthful spirits most was 
 the pit which had been dug some three or four 
 hundred yards from camp, and covered with 
 boughs so as to produce the semblance of firm 
 ground. Into this it was the hope of all, and 
 especially of Tom, that some wild animal might 
 tumble, in the course of trying to discover the 
 meaning of so many signs of civilization in the 
 heart of the forest. 
 
 Mr. Holt s plan was to remain about a fortnight 
 
134 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 at Camp No. 1, and then to push on to the Big 
 Salmon Hole, a day s journey either by water or 
 by land, as there was a path through the woods, 
 more or less blocked up by windfalls, but still 
 that could be followed, leading up to it. At the 
 Big Salmon Hole was another house, smaller, and 
 not quite so comfortable as that below. Here 
 the party was to pitch camp again ; and after the 
 pools in the vicinity had been exhausted, another 
 five miles would bring them to the Narrows, as 
 it was termed, a point where the river diminished 
 materially in width, and flowed between towering 
 precipices. Here also was the first stopping- 
 place of the salmon in any considerable numbers, 
 their farther progress up river being checked by 
 a small cataract. According to the Colonel, 
 hundreds of fish could be seen in the line of pools 
 stretching below the fall by any one who looked 
 down from the over-hanging trees when the water 
 was low and clear. But many of the salmon, he 
 said, chose their spawning-beds up farther, and 
 after remaining at the Narrows for a while made 
 nothing of ascending the fall. Night was the 
 favorite time for them to attempt the leap, but 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 135 
 
 it was no uncommon thing to see them by day 
 light climb up the roaring cascade by balancing 
 themselves on their tails and swimming stoutly. 
 Now and then a leap in the air, followed by a 
 splash, told the story of mistaken aim ; but it was 
 only a question of perseverance when all who 
 desired it reached in safety the upper pools lying 
 at intervals along the ten or twelve miles which 
 remained of the river before it was lost in a lake 
 deeply buried in the woods. 
 
 One afternoon about the middle of the second 
 week it was the day before the Fourth of July, 
 which was to be celebrated as became sons of 
 independence Joe Fearing, who was at Miller s 
 Landing, happened to perceive a salmon within 
 a few feet of the shore. He was standing on a 
 sand beach where the water was clear, and the 
 fish was so close to him that by moving forward 
 a step he could have touched him with his hand. 
 His first impulse was to call Dubsy Perkins, 
 who with old William was getting lunch ready ; 
 then he thought what a fine thing it would be 
 to haul the fish ashore unaided. The gaff was 
 lying in the canoe near by: so he stole quietly 
 
136 JACK IN THE HUSH. 
 
 away, and having supplied himself with the mur 
 derous weapon, which was very nearly as tall as 
 he was, returned to the spot. The salmon was 
 still there, comparatively motionless, and revealing 
 life only by the slow vibration of his fins and 
 tail. It seemed to Joe that here was an oppor 
 tunity for distinction not to be neglected. To 
 capture a salmon by main force ought to improve 
 considerably his chances of being named the best 
 sportsman of the party, and therefore of winning 
 the rifle. So he reasoned ; nor did it seem to him 
 that he ought to abstain from wading the neces 
 sary steps because of not having on his rubber 
 boots. Did old William or Jimmy ever hesitate 
 to go up to their waists if there were occasion 
 for it ? And surely here was an occasion if there 
 ever was one. Here at last was a chance to 
 prove, that, though brought up abroad, he was no 
 less enterprising and muscular than the other 
 fellows. They should realize that only the 
 opportunity had been lacking. 
 
 Joe had seen old William and Jimmy gaff 
 salmon, and understood that it was important 
 to let the hook sink well over the fish s back 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 137 
 
 before drawing it toward him, so as to reach 
 the spine. The salmon was a big one, not far 
 from twenty-live pounds. Would he be very 
 difficult to lift? Would he splash much? These 
 were minor considerations, and not worth thinking 
 about. How still he kept! Could he possibly 
 be dead? Dead? Does a dead fish move his 
 fins? Reassured by this reflection, Joe reached 
 out, and after a pause jabbed the hook with 
 all his strength into the salmon s side, and 
 began to pull. He was up to his calves in the 
 water, and the frantic struggles of the fish 
 forced him forward in a moment up to his 
 knees. There was such a terrific splashing, 
 that his eyes were blinded. He had the monster 
 on the surface, but it was all he could do with 
 both hands to keep him there. The handle 
 of the gaff seemed inconveniently long. 
 
 "Dubsy," he suddenly shouted, without exactly 
 meaning to. u Du-b-sy!" 
 
 " O William, Joe s overboard ! " 
 
 Such was Dubsy s agonized ejaculation. 
 Startled by Joe s second cry, he had looked 
 just in time to see his comrade, who seemed to 
 
138 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 be engaged in a terrible hand-to-hand encounter 
 with something or somebody, lose his balance, 
 and topple into the river. 
 
 " Into the canoe quick ! " exclaimed William. 
 
 What had happened? Joe was overboard 
 indeed, and, despite his frantic struggles to 
 recover himself, was being carried down stream 
 by the current at a lively rate. For the first 
 moment or two he seemed to be turning somer 
 saults, and then some feet ahead appeared the 
 handle of the gaff above the surface, bobbing 
 in a wonderful way, and moving even still more 
 rapidly than he. 
 
 44 What has got him ? " asked Dubsy, confident, 
 apparently, that Joe had fallen prey to some 
 huge river creature. 
 
 44 Shove off," said William, without answering 
 the question, and the canoe shot forward in 
 pursuit. 
 
 Meanwhile, Joe s sensations may be said to 
 have been mixed. Unable to pull the salmon 
 out, or rather, while in the very throes of the 
 tussle, his foot had slipped, and he had pitched 
 forward. But conscious that his reputation was 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 139 
 
 at stake, he had still retained his hold on the 
 gaff. Then had followed a series of involun 
 tary gymnastics on his part, performed midway 
 between the surface and the bottom of the 
 river, which ended somehow in his grasp being 
 ruthlessly torn away. As blinded and gasping 
 he rose above water, the instincts of self-pres 
 ervation neutralized temporarily the bitterness 
 of defeat, and he strove to gain a footing. For 
 a moment he was unable to do this, for the 
 river, though but moderately swift at this point, 
 was deep. But, being able to swim, he did not 
 lose his head, and almost immediately he was 
 swept beyond the pool to where he felt his toes 
 touch bottom. Twice he slipped on the stones 
 and was submerged, but dragged himself ashore 
 just before the canoe reached him. Then the 
 smart of humiliation became superior to every 
 other feeling, and in the hope of still redeeming 
 himself, he cried to his would-be rescuers, 
 
 "Where is he? Where is he?" 
 
 Old William, who had divined the situation 
 and explained it to Dubsy, pointed ahead to 
 the still bobbing gaff, and, sympathizing with 
 
140 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 the little fellow s desire to recapture if possible 
 his late antagonist, shoved off the canoe with his 
 pole, and followed after. 
 
 The frightened salmon, in his efforts to shake 
 out the cruel hook, was dashing from one side 
 of the river to the other. 
 
 " We ll get him yet, 1 said Dnbsy. 
 
 Only a few thrusts with the pole sufficed to 
 send the canoe alongside of the struggling fish. 
 After one or two ineffectual attempts to seize 
 the handle of the gaff, William got hold of 
 it at last, and amid a thundering splashing, 
 which threatened to upset the canoe, lifted 
 the salmon out of water, and dumped him 
 inside. 
 
 "Hurrah," shouted Dubsy. "We ve got him, 
 Joe." 
 
 "Bully for you," was the grateful answer, 
 and a few moments later the thoroughly soused 
 salmon-spearer had the satisfaction of gazing 
 upon his victim. Joe was fairly wringing with 
 water, but his ardor was in no whit dampened. 
 
 " How much does he weigh ? " he asked tremu 
 lously. 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 141 
 
 Dubsy produced the scales. " Twenty-six and 
 a half," he said, as William held him up. 
 
 " Blind fish," observed William. "I thought 
 as much." 
 
 Such was certainly the case. It was easy to 
 see, on examination, that the salmon had lost the 
 sight of both eyes. A sort of film was spread over 
 each of them. Moreover, there were white streaks 
 which looked sore in places about his head. 
 
 " He s been into the nets," said William. " He 
 must have got caught in em, and was cut trying 
 to get away." 
 
 " Poor fellow ! " said Dubsy. 
 
 " That explains his letting me get so near him," 
 said Joe. " I could almost touch him. I tell you 
 he pulled, but I think I d have got him ashore if 
 my foot hadn t slipped." 
 
 " You look like a drownded rat," said William, 
 breaking into a guffaw as he surveyed the drip 
 ping lad. " The best thing you can do is to pole 
 for a spell, so as not to catch cold." 
 
 This seemed sensible ; and Joe had just stepped 
 into the bow, preparatory to heading the canoe 
 for home, when old William added, 
 
142 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 44 What you going to do with the fish ? " 
 
 " Take him home, of course," Joe answered 
 with evident surprise. 
 
 " Well, the dog ll eat him, I suppose." 
 
 " Bingo eat him ? Not much. I intend to 
 have him for supper to-night," answered Joe 
 stoutly. 
 
 44 Eat a blind salmon?" 
 
 44 Why not ? " the boys asked simultaneously. 
 
 44 Joe Eden used to tell of how he d been into 
 the woods with a party that 1 had seen a man die 
 from eating blind salmon. I wouldn t take a bite 
 of one for a fifty-dollar bill," answered the guide 
 with deliberation. 
 
 Here was food for reflection, at any rate. 
 44 But I thought he got blind running into the 
 nets," said Dubsy presently. 
 
 44 He s been into the nets, it s easy to see from 
 them white patches on his head ; but maybe he 
 got blinded there, and maybe not." 
 
 44 He might have been sick," said Joe. 44 1 
 don t think I d be scared to eat him, anyway. 
 Would you, Dubsy ? 
 
 " You might be dead men to-morrow," observed 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 143 
 
 old William impressively, " and I wouldn t bet a 
 herring against it, neither." 
 
 It was difficult to answer such conviction as 
 this, and a silence ensued which was scarcely 
 broken until camp was reached. But so keen was 
 Joe s satisfaction in his exploit, that the sight 
 of Jimmy on the shore made him forget all but 
 glory. He eagerly exclaimed, "I gaffed a live 
 salmon. He pulled me overboard, but William 
 saved him. He s blind in both eyes." 
 
 Jimmy cast a glance into the canoe. 
 
 "There ain t much luck in gaffing a blind 
 salmon," was his comment. "Pretty moist you 
 be, Joe." 
 
 This was scarcely an enthusiastic welcome. 
 Indeed, so depressing was its influence, that 
 before making any explanation of what had 
 occurred, the two boys accosted Mr. Holt, who 
 came up a. moment later, with the questions, 
 
 " Is blind salmon poisonous ? " 
 
 " Would you eat blind salmon ? " 
 
 The master naturally inquired why they wished 
 to know. Thereupon, the adventure was set forth 
 by them, and old William s observations repeated. 
 
144 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " Let s see the salmon," said Mr. Holt ; so they 
 went down to the waters edge and examined the 
 fish, which had been left lying on the bank by 
 the guides. 
 
 " He s a beauty to look at, certainly," con 
 tinued Mr. Holt, " Wi-1-l-i-a-ni ! " 
 
 The guide approached. 
 
 " Please cut this fish open." 
 
 William did so. " Blind fish," he said. 
 
 "The flesh looks in first-rate condition. He 
 lost his sight in the nets, I imagine." 
 
 Old William shook his head ominously. 
 " Blind salmon no salmon. I didn t see him get 
 blinded, sir." 
 
 " Well, you may cook him for supper to-night. 
 If we are sick to-morrow, you ll be able to say, 
 I told you so/ At any rate, we can t complain 
 we were not warned," said Mr. Holt with a 
 laugh. 
 
 But it was no laughing matter to William. 
 He nodded vehemently as Dubsy remarked, " He 
 says we may be all dead men to-morrow." 
 
 " Nonsense," answered the master. " That 
 salmon is just as wholesome as any of those we 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 145 
 
 have killed, you may depend upon it. We ll let 
 him lie here until the Colonel returns, and see 
 what he says." 
 
 Colonel Russell on his arrival half an hour later 
 burst out laughing on being informed of the fears 
 of William and Jimmy, and besides ordering the 
 salmon to be served for supper insisted on eating 
 heartily of it, in order that there need be no doubt 
 as to its harmlessn ess. By and by, when they 
 were sitting round the fire, he suddenly said to 
 Joe, 
 
 " I suppose you think you did a pretty smart 
 thing to-day, } r oung man ? " 
 
 "Nothing extra," responded Joe modestly. Be 
 sides, there was a touch of sarcasm as it seemed to 
 him in the Colonel s tone, that put him on his 
 guard. 
 
 " At that rate, there ll be no chance for the rest 
 of the boys. You ll get the rifle, sure." 
 
 There was no doubt now that the Colonel was 
 being a little humorous at Joe s expense, but the 
 other boys could not understand why. To them 
 Joe s exploit seemed praiseworthy, and a decided 
 feather in his cap. 
 
146 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Joe made no reply, and there was a pause before 
 the Colonel said, 
 
 " You and Pete Labouisse would make a pretty 
 strong team. The fish don t get much chance 
 when either of you are round. * 
 
 " I didn t think there was any harm in it," 
 faltered Joe. 
 
 " Pete would say the same thing." 
 
 " He showed pluck in holding on, at any rate," 
 remarked Mr. Holt, observing Joe s unhappy 
 expression. 
 
 "Pete also is apt to hold on to any thing he 
 gets his spear into," said the Colonel with a laugh. 
 u I don t wish to be hard on you, Joe ; but, if you 
 expect to be considered a sportsman, you must 
 learn to give creatures some slight chance for life. 
 I remember once seeing a man who was out gun 
 ning let a flock of birds sail past him without 
 drawing trigger. c Why in the name of all pos 
 sessed didn t you fire ? 1 asked. k I was waiting 
 for them to light, he answered. That man was 
 too grasping. You certainly did show grit after 
 you had gaffed the salmon, but I don t think you 
 have any great reason to be proud of creeping up 
 
SETTLING DOWN. 147 
 
 to a blind fish and giving him a death-blow. It s 
 too much like stabbing a man in the dark." 
 
 " I didn t know he was blind." 
 
 " But you did your best to prevent his seeing 
 you." 
 
 " Don t you think it s rather cruel to kill fish, 
 anyway ? " asked Haseltine. 
 
 At this question Mr. Holt chuckled slightly. 
 
 "There is a nut for you to crack, Randolph, * 
 he said. 
 
 " Yes, I appreciated that I was exposing myself 
 to some such inquiry," responded the Colonel. 
 "Your frank question, Hasy," he added, "deserves 
 a frank answer; and mine is that, personally, 
 1 do not consider shooting birds and beasts and 
 killing fish as cruel, provided the canons of sport 
 are not disregarded. I suppose every humane 
 man is conscious at times of feeling qualms while 
 observing the struggles of a fish on the hook, and 
 made to reflect that he is inflicting needless tor 
 ture. But, on the other hand, there is no denying 
 that there are few things more adapted to make 
 men healthy, vigorous, and manly, than hunting 
 and fishing conducted in such a way that skill, 
 
148 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 energy, perseverance, and endurance are called 
 largely into play. If one sees a partridge sitting 
 on a tree and bangs away at him, or knocks him 
 down with a stone or club, as I have seen men 
 who called themselves sportsmen do, it is in my 
 opinion animal murder, unless one is absolutely in 
 need of food. Think, though, how many valuable 
 qualities are put in training by legitimate hunting 
 or fishing, patience, alertness, courage, vigi 
 lance, good temper, and a host of others. It is 
 their development, it seems to me, which justifies 
 acts which viewed coldly by themselves might 
 fairly be called cruel, and so unmanly. That is 
 my view on the subject, Hasy." 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 149 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE FOUJRTH OF JULY. 
 
 THE dawn of the glorious Fourth, which is 
 heralded on all Yankee soil by the tooting of 
 horns, and the bursting of Chinese crackers, 
 broke calm and still. The party in camp was 
 enjoying the sound refreshing slumber peculiar 
 to those who have been all day in the open air. 
 Doubtless, the younger spirits were dreaming of 
 how the anniversary might be spent in the woods 
 were there no check on the use of powder, for 
 there had been whispered suggestions made the 
 foregoing evening over the camp-fire, to the effect 
 that the day must not pass without some appro 
 priate demonstration. There had been a time, 
 only a year or two before, when Jack Hall and 
 Haseltine would have gloried in plotting to pro 
 duce explosions. They had been members of a 
 so-called " Big Four " at Dr. Meredith s school, 
 
150 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 a mysterious combination, whose offenses against 
 order had resulted in the end rather disastrously 
 for its members. Moreover, the two boys had 
 been led, by the influence of the Doctor, to appre 
 ciate to some extent the error of their ways, and 
 were therefore disposed to be cautious in origi 
 nating or abetting mischief. But, as Tom had 
 suggestively inquired, what objection could there 
 be to waking up the woods a little? There 
 were no neighbors whose property could be in 
 jured, and the wild creatures need scarcely be 
 consulted. 
 
 It was this same Tom, who, just as the eastern 
 horizon was becoming luminous, started up from 
 his bunk and listened. Was not that Bingo 
 barking, and barking excitedly? Tom reached 
 forward and felt at the foot of his stretcher, 
 where the little dog ordinarily slept, but he 
 was not there. It was certainly Bingo. What 
 could the matter be ? He must have found 
 something, and was waiting for his master to 
 come. 
 
 " Hi there, Max," Tom said, in a hoarse whis 
 per. " Do you hear Bingo ? " 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 151 
 
 " What is it, Tom ? " answered Max, in a 
 bewildered fashion. 
 
 " Bingo s barking, and I m going out to see 
 what s up." 
 
 Tom was already out of bed and slipping on his 
 clothes. " May be something has fallen into the 
 trap," he continued. " I hope it s a bear/ 
 
 " Are you going to call Jimmy ? " asked Max. 
 
 "No, indeed." 
 
 " I guess I ll go too." 
 
 " Hurry up, then." 
 
 As Max threw off his blankets, he felt himself 
 trembling all over. He had decided that if there 
 was any chance of an encounter with a large 
 animal, he ought not to miss it, and yet he did 
 not exactly hanker for anything of the sort. He 
 shivered a little as he thrust his bare feet into 
 his boots, in response to Tom s suggestion not to 
 mind his stockings, and put on his great-coat. 
 
 " Come on. Got your knife ? " 
 
 Max had not. With fumbling fingers he drew 
 it from the sheath of his belt-strap, which was 
 hanging beside his head, and thus armed fol 
 lowed Tom outside. No one else was stirring, 
 
152 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 but Bingo was barking louder and more fiercely 
 than ever. 
 
 "He must be close to the trap," said Tom. 
 
 It was barely light enough to see ahead when 
 they were under cover of the trees. The pit 
 was some three hundred yards from the limits of 
 the camp, and the way to it was indicated by 
 blaizes, which were difficult to distinguish at this 
 early hour. But Tom simply went in the direc 
 tion indicated by his dog s barking, pushing 
 through the underbrush, and clambering over 
 fallen trunks. Max followed close behind, trying 
 not to mind the scratches, and rather fearful of 
 stabbing himself with the bare knife. 
 
 " If there was anything in the trap, you wouldn t 
 be able to distinguish it," he said, as he picked 
 himself up after tripping on a root. 
 
 " That s a fact," said Tom, stopping short. u I 
 guess I ll go back and get a lantern. You wait 
 here." 
 
 "All right," answered Max. He spoke non 
 chalantly, but he would have preferred company. 
 Tom had started off, and the only thing for him 
 to do was to sit down on a fallen log arid wait. 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 153 
 
 For a few moments he was kept in countenance 
 by the sound of Tom s retreating movements ; then 
 there was nothing to break the stillness of the 
 woods but Bingo s barking, which ceased only 
 for sufficient intervals to let the little animal 
 recover breath. 
 
 All of a sudden, however, he heard in front of 
 him, but proceeding from a direction to one side 
 of where the pit was, a crackling of twigs. Some 
 thing was approaching. It could not be Bingo. 
 The creature or creatures for, judging by the 
 noise, there might well be more than one were 
 moving slowly but steadily. 
 
 Max peered through the gloom. His heart 
 beat very fast, and he felt an inclination to 
 retreat. But that would never do. If it should 
 turn out to be only a rabbit, for Jack s experi 
 ence had been made public by Haseltine, he 
 would be laughed at more than ever, and he 
 was constantly being held up to ridicule on ac 
 count of his inaptitude as a sportsman. Would 
 it not be better to call Tom ? No, Tom would 
 be certain to return as soon as he could, at any 
 rate, and a cry might well seem pusillanimous. 
 
154 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 Here might be a chance at last to show himself 
 to advantage. 
 
 Nearer and louder came the trampling, until he 
 presently beheld what looked like a small New 
 foundland dog appear from behind the nearest 
 tree, snuffing the ground, and moving at a leis 
 urely, waddling gait, a circumstance which he 
 did not especially notice, so relieved was he to find 
 that the beast was only a puppy. But how in 
 the world could a dog be here, and whose dog was 
 it ? While revolving these conundrums, Max 
 plucked up courage so far as to murmur, 
 
 " Poor fellow ; nice fellow ! Come here, sir." 
 
 But the animal thus apostrophized paid no 
 attention ; merely keeping on his way, which lay 
 apparently off to one side of where Max was 
 standing. 
 
 4k Nice old doggy ; pauvre petit chien," con 
 tinued Max, in his efforts to be conciliatory. 
 
 Either because of the French or because he 
 spoke louder, the beast stood still, and fixed his 
 eyes on him. 
 
 " Nice fellow ! " Max held out his hand. 
 
 But doggy was evidently not sociably inclined, 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 155 
 
 for he stood stupidly staring at Max out of eyes 
 that struck him as strange looking. The guides 
 had spoken of wild-cats. Were there wild dogs 
 also, he wondered. Just then he heard Tom s 
 welcome footsteps, and a moment later could 
 perceive the glimmer of the approaching lan 
 tern. Bingo was still barking. The little 
 terrier seemed not to enjoy the proximity of 
 another of his kind. 
 
 44 Max," uttered Tom in a deep whisper, hav- 
 ing evidently suppressed his voice so as not 
 to alarm whatever might be ahead, " are you 
 there?" 
 
 44 Yes ; it s only a dog." 
 
 44 Sugar ! whose dog ? " 
 
 44 A Newfoundland pup." 
 
 44 How do you know ? " Tom exclaimed breath 
 lessly, as he put one leg over the tree-trunk in 
 front of which Max was standing. 
 
 44 There he is." Max pointed with his knife- 
 blade. 
 
 Tom looked, and for a moment gazed in a sort 
 of brown study, then, with a repetition of the 
 same whisper, but fifty-fold intensified, exclaimed, 
 
156 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " Newfoundland pup ! Great Caesar s ghost ! 
 it s a bear cub." 
 
 "Is it?* ejaculated Max. 
 
 Tom s eyes were fairly glowing with excite 
 ment as he stood for a moment reflecting on 
 the situation. The idea had at once occurred 
 to him of capturing the beast alive. 
 
 "I say, Max," he said, "you stay here, and 
 I ll creep round behind so as to cut him off. If 
 he starts forward, grab him." 
 
 " And put the knife into him ? " 
 
 "Of course not. I tell you it s only a cub. 
 Fling your coat over his head, if you re afraid 
 of his biting you. He s a buster. Just the 
 right size to tame." 
 
 " Oh ! " said Max, beginning to understand. 
 
 The little bear, as if divining the stratagem, 
 was showing signs of beating a retreat. Away 
 went Tom, stealing circuitously. The victim 
 suddenly hastened his movements, and disap 
 peared from Max s view. Then there came 
 various sounds indicative of a struggle. 
 
 " I ve got him ; I ve got him," shouted Tom, 
 but in such a tone as rather to convey the im- 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 157 
 
 pression to an unprejudiced listener that the 
 matter was not fully settled. 
 
 " Oh, oh ! stop him, Max ! Look out for 
 him." 
 
 These exclamations were almost simultaneous 
 with the re-appearance of the cub making straight 
 toward the other guard. It was no time for 
 hesitation. Remembering Tom s suggestion, Max 
 stripped off his overcoat, and, throwing it at 
 the creature, cast himself on top at full length 
 at the same moment. 
 
 " Good on your head," he heard Tom shriek 
 from behind, and he clung to the furry strug 
 gling mass with all his strength. But by this 
 time Tom was down beside him, and was holding 
 on too. 
 
 ".Can you manage him alone for a minute?" 
 asked Tom. 
 
 "I guess so." 
 
 " Look out he doesn t nip you. He bit me 
 when I had him by the tail, and it hurt like 
 fury," continued Tom, drawing a cord from his 
 pocket, and watching his opportunity to slip a 
 noose round the cub s head. "Let him go now, 
 
158 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Max. He s all right," he added gleefully, when 
 this was accomplished. 
 
 Despite his struggles, small Bruin was a 
 prisoner. 
 
 " Hooray ! " Tom cried with a jubilant caper. 
 "Now, let s see what Bingo is barking at. 
 Whoa, Emma!" he added to the struggling 
 whelp. "You take the lantern, Max, and go 
 ahead and see if there s anything in the pit, 
 and I ll hold this fellow until you get back. 
 Isn t he a beauty? What ll you sell him for?" 
 
 " He s yours, isn t he ? " answered Max, looking 
 puzzled. 
 
 " No ; it was you who caught him. If it 
 hadn t been for you, he d have got away, sure 
 pop," said Tom stoutly. " I suggested the over 
 coat, though, didn t I ? " 
 
 " He s yours as much as mine. I should never 
 have thought of stopping him but for you." 
 
 "Well," said Tom, "if you think it s fair, 
 we ll go snacks on him. Won t it be fun 
 training him? Hurry up now, and I ll wait 
 here." He looked radiant. 
 
 Max, who was feeling pretty proud, picked up 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 159 
 
 the lantern, and marched on. Three or four 
 minutes later there came a cry. 
 
 " Tom ! " 
 
 " Holloa." 
 
 " Tom, Tom ! Hurry up." There was conster 
 nation and excitement in the tone. 
 
 " I m coming," Tom shouted. " Here you," he 
 added to the cub ; and then realizing that the 
 bear would not budge, he ended by fastening the 
 rope to a bough, and plunging ahead. Bingo 
 was still barking, but much less vigorously. 
 
 " What is it ? " Tom cried, as he came up, 
 
 Max was standing at the edge of the trap, the 
 covering of which had been broken in ; and 
 Bingo stood beside him, railing evidently at 
 something within. " There s another fellow in 
 there. And, Tom, if you had been here just 
 before I called, you d have seen a bear, a big 
 one, I mean, a monster," added Max, in an awe 
 struck tone. 
 
 "Where?" asked Tom with no less impres- 
 siveness. 
 
 "Right here. Close by the trap. He was on 
 one side, and Bingo was barking at him on the 
 
160 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 other. The moment he saw me he got up on 
 his hind legs." 
 
 "Really?" 
 
 "Yes, and I thought he was going to run for 
 me ; but he changed his mind, and got down 
 again, and trotted off in that direction/ 
 
 u How do you know it was a bear ? " Perhaps 
 remembrance of the Newfoundland pup prompted 
 Tom to be incredulous. 
 
 " Je le savais bien," said Max with earnestness. 
 " He was just like those 1 have seen at 
 menageries." 
 
 " If only you had had a gun ! " 
 
 Max glanced at the bare knife which he still 
 held. " Would you have gone for him, Tom ? " 
 he asked with an anxious air. 
 
 " A stab with the knife in a fatal spot would 
 have finished him," Tom answered with prompt 
 indirectness. " He might have hugged you, 
 though, or knocked you senseless with a blow 
 from his paw. They often kill hunters in that 
 way, you know. But if you had happened to 
 nail him, it would have given you a walk over 
 for the rifle. I wonder where he is now. He 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 161 
 
 may be close by still. It s probably a female, 
 and the little ones are her cubs. This fellow s 
 a dandy," continued Tom, holding up the lantern, 
 and peering into the pit. In his excitement over 
 Max s experience, he had almost ignored the 
 second prize, but his interest was re-awakening. 
 "He s bigger than the other. Now, we ve each 
 one." 
 
 After some further talk, the boys decided to 
 leave the new captive where he was for the 
 present, and to rouse the rest of the party. On 
 the way back, number one was found safely 
 tethered. Tom, having regained his hold on the 
 cord, began his first lesson in discipline, and 
 dragged young Bruin in triumph into camp. The 
 only one stirring was Jimmy, who looked up 
 from the fire he was building in astonishment. 
 
 " O Jimmy ! " cried Tom, " we ve seen a bear ; 
 that is, Max did. I was just too late. But he 
 may be there still. You must get a rifle, and 
 wake the Colonel." 
 
 " Seems to me you have him there," said the 
 guide, as Tom paused in his excited address. 
 
 " He s a cub, and we ve another in the trap. 
 
162 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Max thought he was a Newfoundland pap, and 
 
 caught him by falling on top of him, after I had 
 grabbed him by the tail and he had got away. 
 He bit me, too, and left the marks of his teeth. 
 But there s a big one, the mother, I guess. 
 Max ll show you the direction in which she 
 went." 
 
 " What is all this ? " cried a voice, and the 
 Colonel s head appeared between the flaps of his 
 tent. " Well, well," he added, as he perceived 
 the cub, " you boys have done a fine morning s 
 work already, I see. And you say there s a big 
 felknv by the trap? I ll get my gun, and we ll 
 look him up. 
 
 " I heard Bingo barking," said in his deliberate 
 fashion old William, who had joined them, "but 
 I thought he d only treed another woodchuck. 
 He s a regular babby. And you caught him all 
 by yourselves, I want to know ! " 
 
 "Step this way, Samivel, and let s have a look 
 at you," said Jimmy, giving a playful jerk to the 
 cord. 
 
 A few minutes later, the entire party was 
 assembled; and, after rapturous inspection of the 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 163 
 
 prize, all hands set off to extricate the other 
 cub, and to try to discover the old bear. The 
 Colonel and Mr. Holt had their rifles, and Jimmy 
 carried an axe over his shoulder. On arriving at 
 the spot, Jimmy jumped down into the pit, and 
 after a slight tussle succeeded in tying a cord 
 around the second cub s neck. The cub was 
 then hauled up, and proved to be uninjured by 
 his fall. He looked a trifle larger than his 
 companion. 
 
 " Which do you want, Max ? " asked Tom, 
 anxious to have the question of ownership 
 decided. 
 
 " I don t care. I ll give } r ou first choice. Can 
 we take them home?" he inquired doubtfully, 
 glancing at Mr. Holt. 
 
 " You bet I m going to take mine home," 
 interposed Tom. "I ve seen lots of tame bears. 
 I can keep him in the stable at our country- 
 place." 
 
 "We ll see," answered Mr. Holt judicially. 
 
 Tom selected, as his especial property, the cub 
 that had been left at camp. 
 
 " Now tell us where the old bear disappeared," 
 
164 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 said the Colonel, turning to Max. " You re sure 
 it wasn t a horse or a cow ? " 
 
 This sally, suggestive of Max s mistake regard 
 ing the pup, made every one laugh. 
 
 "Never mind, Max," said Mr. Holt. "The 
 Colonel is envious, that s all." 
 
 " It s no horse or cow that made these marks," 
 said old William, calling attention to a series 
 of footprints round about the pit. 
 
 The Colonel stooped to examine them. " Right 
 you are ; and you too, Max. He was a big 
 fellow. It s only fair, my boy, to take you 
 along with me, though it s not very likely we 
 shall get a shot at him. Too many cooks spoil 
 the broth : so if the rest of you expect bear-soup 
 for your Fourth of July dinner, you had better 
 go back to camp." 
 
 This seemed sensible, though disappointing. 
 Accordingly, the rest of the hunting-party re 
 traced their steps, Mr. Holt having kindly 
 resigned his gun to the delighted Max, who, it 
 must be confessed, handled it so awkwardly as 
 to amuse the others. However, it was not to be 
 denied that he had acquitted himself with credit 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 165 
 
 in the capture of the cub, and was, moreover, 
 the only one who could boast of having actually 
 seen the parent bear, so that he was decidedly 
 to be envied, even though they were able to 
 laugh at him. In the matter of guns, by the 
 way, the Colonel and Mr. Holt had decided 
 before leaving home that it would scarcely be 
 prudent to allow six boys free use of fire-arms ; 
 and thus the intention of several of them, to 
 come armed to the teeth, had been nipped in 
 the bud. Dubsy and Tom, who already owned 
 shot-guns, had been permitted to bring them ; 
 but an armory had been straightway established 
 in one corner of the Colonel s tent, to which 
 they had been consigned. Pistols had been 
 entirely interdicted; and, indeed, the only death- 
 dealing weapon which the boys were at liberty 
 to bear perpetually about their persons were 
 their sheath-knives. As the chances of securing 
 many animals and birds were small, these pre 
 cautions against shooting one another had seemed 
 advisable. But, on the other hand, Mr. Holt 
 was in the habit of granting leave to any one 
 or two of them to go off in search of game or 
 
166 JACK IX THE RUSH. 
 
 to fire at a mark. The result of the expeditions 
 had been, up to this time, a few woodchucks, 
 a rabbit, and an owl. The marksmanship of the 
 party, however, had been materially improved by 
 the target practice. Several of them, noticeably 
 Haseltine, were able to pick off bottles at a con 
 siderable distance with great accuracy, and conse 
 quently confidence of hitting so large a surface as 
 the body of a bear had been engendered. The 
 Colonel had brought an excellent rifle and a 
 breach-loading shot-gun with him, in addition to 
 the prize-rifle, which was occasionally taken out 
 of its case for general inspection, but was never 
 fired. 
 
 On the way back to camp, after parting from 
 the Colonel and Max, Tom asked for suggestions 
 as to a name for his cub. 
 
 " You might call him Fourth of July, in 
 honor of the day," suggested Dubsy. 
 
 " Or Roderick Dhu," said Jack, who had a 
 partiality for that hero. 
 
 Mr. Holt thought Castor and Pollux might be 
 appropriate names for the pair. 
 
 Tom shook his head. None of the suggestions 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 167 
 
 satisfied him. " I guess," he said, u that I ll call 
 him Dandy. I had a pony named Dandy once, 
 and he died." 
 
 This pathetic reminiscence seemed an excellent 
 excuse for the selection, if any were needed, and 
 would have been gladly accepted by everybody, 
 had not old William observed laconically that 
 Tom s cub was a female. For a moment the 
 owner s brow became clouded ; then he exclaimed 
 with some vivacity, 
 
 " I ll raise cubs by her, then." 
 
 "You might," said William. "T other one s 
 a mate for her." 
 
 "If Max ll call his Dandy, I ll call mine 
 Daisy," continued Tom, after a reflective pause. 
 
 All applauded this alliterative choice as highly 
 appropriate. They had now reached camp, and 
 the question was how to spend the day. It 
 promised to be excessively hot, but Mr. Holt s 
 proposal that they should go on a picnic to the 
 St. John River, a five-mile tramp through the 
 woods, met with favor. Jimmy was deputed as 
 guide, and old William was left to guard camp. 
 It seemed inexpedient to wait for the Colonel and 
 
168 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Max, as they had not returned when breakfast 
 was finished; so, after being ferried across the 
 river, they followed in Indian file the narrow path 
 through the woods, which was really very little 
 of a path after all, owing to the frequent wind 
 falls, and the encroachment of shrubs and foliage. 
 Before long they came upon an abundance of 
 green moss, curious gnarled fantastic roots, huge 
 toad-stools, and other fungus growths apt to be 
 met with in a forest ; and, with the morning s 
 experience in mind, each of the boys was on 
 the alert for game. Mr. Holt had yielded to the 
 urgent request that Dubsy be allowed to carry 
 his gun, merely remarking that the would-be 
 hunter had better walk first in the file. 
 
 " Of course he should," Jack said with eager 
 ness. " Otherwise the bear or the caribou might 
 escape before Dubsy could get a shot." 
 
 " Ah, yes," drily responded Mr. Holt ; " and 
 he would not be so likely to shoot any one 
 else ! " 
 
 After they had gone about three miles, they 
 came to a large lake. Just before reaching the 
 edge of it, Dubsy, who was still in advance, 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 169 
 
 stopped short, in consequence of a cautioning 
 exclamation from Jimmy at his heels. 
 
 " What is it ? * he whispered, as he squatted so 
 that the tall reeds almost hid him from view, a 
 proceeding in which he was immediately imitated 
 by the rest. 
 
 " Loons, three of them. Right ahead/ 
 
 By crawling on their hands and knees, the boys 
 were enabled to get a little nearer, so as to obtain 
 an excellent view of the birds without exposing 
 themselves to be seen. 
 
 "They re a stunning shot, aren t they? said 
 Jack. 
 
 " How perky they look ! " said Mr. Holt. 
 
 This was an excellent description of the loons 
 demeanor. Unconscious of danger, they sat com 
 fortably on the tranquil water, proudly arching 
 their long necks, or now and again protruding 
 them with sudden energy to snap at insects on 
 the surface. 
 
 Dubsy got his gun ready, and, recalling the 
 Colonel s remarks as to being too grasping a 
 sportsman, said tremulously, but with some dis 
 content in his tone, 
 
170 JACK IN TUP: BUSH. 
 
 " I d better wait for them to fly, I suppose." 
 
 "If they will," 1 responded Mr. Holt "They re 
 hard birds, though, to hit sitting, for they dive at 
 the flash." 
 
 The loons were about one hundred yards off. 
 They kept swimming slowly and without obvious 
 purpose, bat their general drift was rather away 
 from shore. To Jimmy, who was accustomed to 
 bag game in the most convenient manner, it 
 seemed an unnecessary refinement not to fire 
 at once ; but Mr. Holt preferred to let the seed of 
 the Colonel s criticisms bear fruit. 
 
 "They re a drake and two hens," said Jimmy. 
 "There s one way to start em," he remarked a 
 moment later, as they took a decided slant in the 
 opposite direction, "and that is to heave a rock 
 among em. It may make em dive instead ; if so, 
 there s an old scow yonder on the spit that we 
 can follow em in. Be ready to blaze away the 
 moment I let drive," Jimmy added, picking up 
 a large stone and poising it above his shoulder. 
 
 The loons were now moving more rapidly, and 
 keeping to the right, but parallel with the shore, 
 which curved outwards on either side of where 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 171 
 
 the party lay in ambush. To the left of the little 
 bay thus formed, a strip of land well covered with 
 underbrush, in the midst of which towered up a 
 single large, overhanging tree, ran out into the 
 water. This was the spit referred to by Jimmy, 
 and the boys could plainly perceive one end of 
 the scow protruding from the tall grass at the 
 water s edge. 
 
 Jimmy threw back his arm, and hurled the 
 stone forward. There was a vigorous splash, 
 followed by a momentary flapping of wings, and 
 then a loud report. This was almost immediately 
 succeeded by another report, which proceeded 
 from the spit of land. As the smoke cleared 
 away, two of the loons were to be seen flying at 
 full speed across the lake, but where was the 
 third? 
 
 " One s down," cried Jack. 
 
 " There he is, there he is," added Tom, pointing 
 to a black object floating on the water. 
 
 " Yes, hurrah ! " cried Dubsy, as he recovered his 
 balance, which had been slightly disarranged. 
 
 But Mr. Holt and Jimmy, apparently uninter 
 ested in the result of Dubsy s shot, were staring 
 
172 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 blankly toward the spit of land over which the 
 smoke of the second discharge still floated. 
 
 "It s that snake - in - the - grass Pete, I ll be 
 bound," said Jimmy. 
 
 " What s the matter ? " asked Jack. 
 
 "Didn t you hear the other shot?" said Mr. 
 Holt. 
 
 It was the boys turn to stare blankly now. So 
 absorbed had they been in Dubsy s performance, 
 they had not noticed it. All eyes were now 
 directed toward the half-breed, who, in confirma 
 tion of Jimmy s words, rose at that moment from 
 the tall grass in which he had been lying, and 
 began to shove the flat-bottomed scow into the 
 water. 
 
 " The black - hearted scoundrel ! " ejaculated 
 Jimmy, divining at once the Indian s purpose. 
 " He s after that bird." 
 
 " But it s mine," cried Dubsy. " I shot it, 
 didn t I, Jimmy ? " 
 
 " Shot it ? Of course, you shot it. I saw it fall 
 with my own eyes. Say you there, Pete," he 
 shouted, stepping forward so as to show himself, 
 " that s our bird." 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 173 
 
 Pete looked up, and shook his head. He was 
 in the boat, which was headed in the direction of 
 the floating loon. 
 
 " Are you sure that Dubsy shot it ? " asked Mr. 
 Holt. 
 
 "Not a doubt of it. The skunk didn t fire 
 until after the bird had dropped," exclaimed the 
 guide in high dudgeon. " Here," he continued, 
 turning to Dubsy, " give me that gun, and I ll 
 drop him if he touches a feather." 
 
 "No, no," interposed Mr. Holt, "that won t do, 
 Jimmy. It s our bird, I tell you," he shouted, in 
 his turn, to Pete. " One of these boys killed it." 
 
 Again the half-breed shook his head. He was 
 plainly steering straight for the bird, which was 
 drifting away from him, and toward the shore. 
 The boys were speechless with consternation and 
 excitement. 
 
 "If I could only swim," cried Jimmy, shaking 
 his fist as spoke, " I d pull you out of your boat, 
 and duck you in the lake, Pete Labouisse." 
 
 " I can swim," exclaimed Jack. 
 
 " Swimming is a happy thought," said Mr. Holt 
 suddenly ; arid, as he spoke, he stripped off his 
 
174 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 coat, and began to free himself from his other 
 garments. You are sure, Jimmy, that the loon is 
 ours?" 
 
 " May I never draw another breath if it isn t ! " 
 
 " Oh, what are you going to do ? " cried several 
 of the boys. 
 
 "Try to get there first. Perhaps it would be 
 more sensible to let Pete have the bird, but it s a 
 little too galling to see one s property carried off 
 under one s very nose without an effort to save 
 it." 
 
 By this time Mr. Holt was naked, and without 
 delay he plunged into the water. The distance 
 from the spit to the dead bird was some four 
 hundred yards, of which the enemy had traversed 
 about half. Mr. Holt had one hundred yards to 
 swim. 
 
 " Go for him," cried Jimmy, who had an idea 
 perhaps that the master purposed to carry out the 
 programme that he had suggested. 
 
 Jack had stripped off his coat too, but a decided 
 " one s enough" from Mr. Holt had suspended 
 further proceedings on his part. On went the 
 swimmer, launching forward, hand over hand; and 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 175 
 
 simultaneously Pete, who had been taking matters 
 easily, bent to his paddle. 
 
 Mr. Holt was a strong swimmer, but he had 
 underestimated the swiftness with which his an 
 tagonist could propel even so clumsy a bark as 
 the old scow. For a moment the struggle seemed 
 from the shore tolerably even ; but just as Mr. 
 Holt was reaching out for the prize, the boat shot 
 in between him and it, and his competitor, stoop 
 ing quickly as he passed, snatched the dead loon 
 out of water. For a moment Mr. Holt felt 
 inclined to dispute the possession of the bird by 
 seizing the nose of the scow, and if needs be 
 upsetting her. But the victor, expecting perhaps 
 some such manoeuvre, sent his craft flying for 
 wards by a series of deft strokes, then put her head 
 to the shore, and the moment after she had touched 
 the beach, picked up his gun, and disappeared in 
 the thicket ; turning his head at the last moment 
 to utter a guttural note of triumph, and waving 
 his dripping trophy above his head. 
 
 " I d have sent a shot after him, if I d been 
 allowed," growled Jimmy, as he realized that 
 Pete had won the day ; though, as the gun was 
 
176 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 still unloaded, it may be doubted whether this 
 bloodthirsty avowal was entirely sincere. 
 
 There was nothing for Mr. Holt to do, under 
 the circumstances, but to swim back after the 
 manner of the sometime king of France, who 
 marched up the hill and then marched down 
 again. Although worsted, he was feeling pleased 
 on the whole that the affair had ended without 
 a fray. A tussle in the water with a red man 
 of the forest would scarcely have been consistent 
 with his position as an instructor of youth, how 
 ever satisfactory from the standpoint of adven 
 ture. Needless to say, his pupils were sorely 
 disappointed, not only at the loss of the loon, 
 which seemed to Dubsy serious, but at the 
 humiliating termination of what had promised to 
 be a thrilling encounter. 
 
 " Oh, why didn t you upset him ? " exclaimed 
 Jack, expressing the common sentiment of the 
 five. 
 
 " He was too quick for me, Jack. You saw me 
 make one grab for him, but it was no use. It is 
 much better as it is, though. Supposing I had 
 grappled with him, the dispute might have become 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 177 
 
 very serious, involving great injury to one or 
 both of us And for what? Merely the posses 
 sion of a dead duck, which, after all, Pete 
 may really suppose he shot. You see, if one 
 thinks of it coolly, and I am certainly able 
 to now, " he said, as he wrung the water 
 from his fingers, "though I admit that the 
 bath was refreshing, there was certainly not 
 much worth fighting for- I was led away, as 
 we are all apt to be, by the indignation of the 
 moment." 
 
 " But the principle was the same," said Jack 
 with a martial air. 
 
 " Yes. I suppose that is so," replied Mr. Holt, 
 smiling. " We may fairly submit, however, with 
 out serious loss of dignity, it seems to me, to have 
 one s rights trampled on to such a limited extent. 
 I m aware that it is the Fourth of July, and 
 that all of us except Jimmy are free-born 
 Americans ; and yet, notwithstanding, I do not 
 feel disappointed that I did not get my fingers 
 on Pete." 
 
 The boys found difficulty in accepting this 
 rational view of the matter, and they had a firm 
 
178 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 abettor in Jimmy, whose muttered denunciation 
 of the half-breed boded ill for the future welfare 
 of that worthy. Mr. Holt having dressed him 
 self, the line of inarch was taken up again. 
 The heat had increased materially, and though 
 the foliage protected them from the glare of the 
 sun, the air was dense and oppressive. 
 
 " It wouldn t surprise me if we got a thunder- 
 shower before night," said Jimmy, squinting at 
 the sky. 
 
 On reaching the camp at the St. John, where 
 there was a cabin similar to their own, every one 
 was ready for lunch, which was devoured with 
 avidity. After this, Mr. Holt, who had brought 
 his rod, set out to try such of the nearest pools 
 as could be fished from the shore. The boys 
 expressed delight at the transparence of the 
 water, which, unlike that of the York, was in 
 many places clear as crystal, and of an apparent 
 greenish hue, induced by the color of the stone 
 bottom. But, though there were fish to be seen, 
 not even a trout would rise. Jimmy declared 
 that it was useless to cast during such heat. 
 The salmon seemed scarcely to notice the fly 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 179 
 
 as it sailed down over their noses. By climbing 
 a tree overhanging one of the pools, a bevy of 
 them were to be seen resting in small detach 
 ments a few inches from the bottom, wagging 
 their tails indolently. Once in a while, a fellow 
 would cock one eye up, as though slightly 
 interested ; and there was a solitary fish at the 
 farthest end of the pool, who, after taking notice 
 in this manner a number of times, displayed 
 curiosity so far as to swim half-way to the 
 surface. But he either became disenchanted, or 
 the exertion proved too burdensome ; for he 
 languidly turned tail, and whisked back to his 
 former station, from which nothing was able 
 thereafter to allure him. Mr. Holt became con 
 vinced at last that he might as well be casting 
 over empty pools, and took apart his rod. 
 
 " There ll be great fishing after we get a 
 shower to freshen up the pool a bit," said 
 Jimmy. 
 
 As this could prove advantageous only to the 
 anglers to whom St. John belonged, and who 
 were expected to arrive on the morrow, the boys 
 were but little cheered by the announcement. 
 
180 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 As it seemed more sensible to wait until the sun 
 was lower in the heavens before retracing their 
 steps, a spot as shady as possible was selected as 
 a shelter. Here both Mr. Holt and Jimmy, 
 with a view to comfort, stretched themselves out, 
 and speedily fell asleep. But to the junior por 
 tion of the party, the idea of slumber in the 
 daytime, and especially on the Fourth of July, 
 seemed an impious waste of time. To tell the 
 truth, they felt rather restless. What with 
 the associations awakened by the day, and the 
 adventure with the loon, their faculties were on 
 the alert, so to speak. There was a certain reflec 
 tive gravity in their individual expressions as 
 they sat around, which would have put one 
 accustomed to observe youthful physiognomy on 
 his guard. 
 
 " Of course they don t think much of the 
 Fourth of July here," said Jack, breaking a 
 spell of silence, jerking, as he spoke, a pebble 
 into the water. 
 
 " Jimmy didn t know anything about it. He d 
 never heard of the day," observed Haseltine. 
 
 " I believe, though, that an American ought to 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 181 
 
 celebrate it just the same when he s away from 
 home, don t you ? " continued Jack. " Patriotism 
 oughtn t to depend merely on where you happen 
 to be." 
 
 " That s so," said Dubsy emphatically. 
 
 " But what can a fellow do ? " inquired Tom, 
 giving a less impersonal turn to the conversa 
 tion. " We haven t got fire-crackers or rockets 
 or a tar-barrel, and the only powder we have is 
 in Dubsy s cartridges. It s a poor lookout, so 
 far as I can see." 
 
 " There s one thing we might do," said Jack. 
 "It wouldn t amount to much, but it would be 
 better n nothing." 
 
 " What s that ? " asked several together. 
 
 "Build a bonfire. What would be the harm?" 
 he added, to disarm criticism. 
 
 "None that I know of," said Hasy, casting 
 a glance at the sleepers. " There s an axe up 
 at the camp: so it wouldn t take long to get 
 enough old stumps together to start her with." 
 
 "Let s have a big one while we re about it," 
 said Jack, rising to lead the way up to the cabin, 
 a few hundred yards distant. Confident as they 
 
182 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 professed to be that there could be no objection 
 to the plan, there was no unnecessary noise made in 
 taking their departure. In fact, an unprejudiced 
 observer might have said that they slipped away. 
 
 There was plenty of good material at hand, 
 dried underbrush, and decayed trunks that 
 yielded to the first strokes of the axe ; and in a 
 few minutes they had erected an impressive pile. 
 
 "Seems to me I smell smoke already," said 
 Haseltine, sniffing the air, as a lighted match 
 was being applied by the patriot Jack. 
 
 But his remark failed to interest the group, 
 whose entire interest was centered, for the time 
 being, on the bonfire, which speedily became 
 splendid with crackling flames. Five diligent 
 boys, with a forest at their back, were surely 
 qualified to produce a grand conflagration. They 
 had, however, pitched it in a comparatively clear 
 spot, so as to confine it within moderate bounds. 
 They could certainly boast of a success ; and, 
 as they stood watching the blaze, the only draw 
 back seemed to them to be a lack of spectators. 
 Mr. Holt and Jimmy were too sound sleepers. 
 Why did they not wake up? And yet no one 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 183 
 
 of the boys saw fit to rouse them. Assuredly 
 either would be glad to forego the remainder of 
 his nap to behold such a splendid sight. Why 
 did no one see fit to give them the opportunity ? 
 They could not possibly object; at any rate, it 
 would be useless to do so now. Besides, they 
 would have to know sooner or later what had 
 been going on. This seemed indisputable reason 
 ing, and yet no one stirred. Could it be, that, 
 though the boys had selected the safest spot for 
 their bonfire, there was a secret hope in the 
 hearts of each of them that it might spread, in 
 spite of their most strenuous efforts, so as to 
 include at least a copse or two of trees, or an 
 acre of underbrush ? If this were the case, each 
 of the conspirators, nevertheless, conscientiously 
 stamped out each indication of extending which 
 the stealthy element displayed by creeping along 
 the grass. If they were buoyed by any such 
 hope, each kept it to himself, and gave no sign. 
 Still they were preter naturally grave. 
 
 In the glade below, one of the sleepers stirred 
 at last and woke, woke, and, sniffing the air 
 suspiciously, sprang to his feet. It was Jimmy. 
 
184 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " The woods are on fire ! " he ejaculated ; then, as 
 he caught sight of the column of smoke ascending 
 from the bonfire, added, " Humph ! It s them boys." 
 
 His exclamations served to awaken Mr. Holt, 
 who, rousing himself, inquired sleepily, " What s 
 that you are saying, Jimmy?" 
 
 "They ve made a big fire up to the camp. 
 Pesky dangerous this time of year, when every 
 thing s so dry," answered the guide, looking back 
 over his shoulder. 
 
 The master followed. Although the blaze was 
 prodigious, there were no serious indications of 
 it s spreading; and Jimmy had to content himself 
 with grumbling a little, and keeping a watchful 
 eye on the grass. It was certainly a fine sight, 
 and the satisfaction of the boys was now tolerably 
 complete. Any hope they might have entertained 
 that the woods would catch had been too remote 
 to mar their serenity. 
 
 " Pesky dangerous, though," muttered Jimmy 
 from time to time. And Mr. Holt, in more spe 
 cific language, called attention to the risks of 
 building so huge a fire in the present parched 
 condition of the underbrush. 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 185 
 
 " We were very careful," answered Jack ; " and 
 it didn t seem right that the Fourth should pass 
 without some sort of celebration." 
 
 A good half-hour elapsed before the fire ex 
 hausted itself after they had ceased to heap on 
 fuel. Jimmy declared that he wished to see the 
 embers quenched before setting out for home: 
 otherwise, a wind might arise and scatter them. 
 The effect of the conflagration had naturally been 
 to make them all even hotter than before, which 
 was saying a great deal, and, moreover, the air 
 seemed to be impregnated with the aroma of burnt 
 logs. This odor did not diminish after they had 
 begun to retrace their steps, which evidently 
 struck Jimmy as strange ; for when they had pro 
 ceeded half a mile, and it was still noticeable, he 
 snuffed the air two or three times vigorously. 
 
 "Why do you snort like that?" asked Hasy, 
 who was next behind. 
 
 "I don t understand it," said the guide, with 
 out paying heed to the question. " Whatever 
 wind there is, is dead ahead. I should say from 
 the smell there was a fire burning here some 
 where." 
 
186 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 "Perhaps it s Pete cooking his dinner," said 
 Dubsy. 
 
 "Pete s up to no good, whatever he s doing, 
 you may be sure of that," Jimmy replied, by way 
 of answer. 
 
 On they went in silence for about a mile, while 
 the smell of burning wood grew more and more 
 distinct. There seemed to be a sort of haze in 
 the atmosphere. Jimmy sniffed no more ; but he 
 kept inciting Dubsy, by keeping close at his heels, 
 to travel at a lively pace. 
 
 " Here, you d better let me take that gun. It s 
 too heavy," exclaimed the guide at length, reach 
 ing out and seizing the barrel. 
 
 " No, no ; I ll take it. I m not tired." 
 
 " Step along, then. Don t waste time talking." 
 
 " What s your hurry, Jimmy ? " 
 
 "You won t have much chance to talk about 
 hurrying, if the fire catches us." 
 
 "The fire?" 
 
 " Yes ; the woods are on fire." 
 
 As he spoke, Jimmy stopped, and waiting for 
 Mr. Holt to come up repeated the announce 
 ment. 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 187 
 
 " The woods are on fire ahead." 
 
 " Ahead?" 
 
 "Yes; and it s my belief that Pete Labouisse 
 could tell who set em. There s no time to be 
 lost if we expect to get to the river. This is no 
 place for a lame man." 
 
 " Moses ! " ejaculated Hasy, as an outlet for his 
 emotion. 
 
 Mr. Holt looked grave. "If the fire is across 
 the path, there ll be no use trying. We d better 
 turn back." 
 
 " It s six of one and half a dozen of t other, 
 according to my figuring, whether we turn back 
 or keep on," answered Jimmy. "The smoke 
 seems to be coming from there," he said, pointing 
 at an angle about half-way between the path 
 ahead and the extreme right ; " and with the wind 
 in our faces it s sure to gain on us if we turn, and 
 we may get round it by keeping on. It s the 
 same distance either way." 
 
 His speaking of smoke caused them to look up. 
 Above the tree-tops the murky haze was more 
 perceptible, and made the sky look dingy. There 
 was no time for indecision. 
 
188 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 "Whatever you say, Jimmy. You know best. 
 Remember, though, these boys are under my care." 
 
 "Keep on, then. But you must run for all 
 you re worth," the guide said, sweeping his glance 
 around the youthful group. " I ll lead the way." 
 
 Instinctively the boys girded their loins by 
 tightening their belt-straps, and as Jimmy darted 
 off with the gun over his shoulder, which Dubsy 
 had given up in response to a second demand for 
 it, followed as best they could in single file the 
 swinging pace set by the leader. Mr. Holt 
 brought up the rear. The heat was forgotten, 
 oppressive as it was. Now the chief concern was 
 to clear at a bound fallen trees, and to guard one s 
 footing against the roots and other impediments 
 in the path. There were about two miles between 
 them and the river. 
 
 Presently a sudden breeze fanned the foliage, 
 bringing a denser quality of smoke into their 
 faces. The tree-tops swayed, and Jimmy, turning, 
 exclaimed, 
 
 " The wind s rising and shifting in our favor ! " 
 
 A few minutes later this became obvious ; 
 although still in front of them the draught was 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 189 
 
 blowing now more from the left of the path, tend 
 ing to keep back the conflagration which was on 
 the right-hand side. Almost a gale seemed to 
 have taken the place of the sultry calm. The 
 odor of the burning forest had become pungent 
 and rasped the throat. Then, as they reached a 
 portion of the path where the growth was but 
 moderately thick, a blaze met their view in the 
 near distance. A wall of fire, the crackle and 
 roar of which startled them into renewed energy, 
 rose like a huge wave threatening to ingulf them. 
 Simultaneously, the cries of animals and birds 
 were audible. Three caribou, a doe, and two 
 fawns, lashed by fear, plunged madly across the 
 path between Jack and Hasy, causing them to 
 utter expressions of bewildered regret at the 
 loss of such an opportunity, which even the 
 seriousness of the situation could not check. 
 
 On the party tore, individual members now 
 and again pitching headlong or rolling over, but 
 righted as often as needs be by the rear guard, 
 who well might feel anxious at so perilous an 
 experience. Nearer and nearer the wave of flame 
 was creeping, so near that the tossing branches 
 
190 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 seemed to be fiery arms stretching out to snatch 
 at them. They could feel its heat, and the smoke 
 choked them. At last Jimmy gave a warning cry, 
 and turned sharply from the left out of the path. 
 Those behind perceived that a large tree bordering 
 it was already in flames. The path was no longer 
 free, and they had now to plunge along, fighting 
 their way through brake and bramble. The 
 master held Joe s hand. The little fellow s 
 plumpness made so long a run exhausting. The 
 others dashed ahead as best they could. 
 
 " Only a little farther," shouted Jimmy. " We 
 shall soon be there." 
 
 " Run, boys, run," Mr. Holt cried, spurring them 
 on from behind. 
 
 The whole forest seemed alive with the jabber 
 and screams of the frightened denizens. 
 
 " Hear the bears howl," said Jack to Tom, as 
 they forged along abreast. 
 
 " It s awful," was the answer, expressing the 
 young trapper s sense of the whole situation. 
 
 Just then Jimmy shouted at the top of his 
 lungs, 
 
 " Holloa-a-a ! Holloa-a-a ! " 
 
THERK SEEMED TO BE A RING OF FIKE AROUND THEM. P. 193. 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 193 
 
 Almost immediately there came a similar cry 
 in response, which seemed to proceed from close 
 at hand. 
 
 " Thank God ! " ejaculated Mr. Holt. 
 
 " It s the Colonel," said Jack. 
 
 Again Jimmy darted aside. The underbrush 
 beneath his feet was crackling, and dense black 
 smoke was pouring around him. 
 
 " Keep together," he shouted excitedly. " Hol- 
 loa-a-a ! " 
 
 " Holloa-a-a ! " came the answer back. 
 
 They were close to the river now. That was 
 certain. 
 
 " Oh, oh ! " ejaculated Hasy and Jack at the 
 same moment, as a fringe of fire fell down upon 
 them from a blazing birch. But, though scorched, 
 they managed to shake off the brands. 
 
 " My feet," cried Joe, hopping in pain. 
 
 " Steady, my boy. Be brave a moment more," 
 said Mr. Holt. 
 
 There seemed to be a ring of fire around them. 
 Jack seeing Dubsy pitch headlong at this moment 
 believed their last hour had come. Then followed 
 a vigorous shout. He saw his friend lifted up 
 
194 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 and dragged forward, and felt himself grasped by 
 strong arms. That was all he knew until he 
 opened his eyes and became aware that he was in 
 a canoe. Before him sat Colonel Russell, black as 
 an Indian with smoke, and minus some of his beard 
 and his eye-brows, paddling. Beyond, as far as he 
 could see, the woods were buried in smoke and 
 flame. 
 
 The Colonel nodded encouragingly. 
 
 "Where s Dubsy?" asked Jack, half raising 
 himself. 
 
 "Sit still. He s safe. You re all safe. But it 
 was a terribly close call." 
 
 Jack shut his eyes again, and sank back 
 exhausted. His throat felt like molten lead, arid 
 his eyes parched. Beside him, in a similar condi 
 tion, lay Tom and Joe. Jimmy was in the bow, 
 still grasping Dubsy s gun with hands from which 
 the skin was off in many places. Old William 
 was convoying the rest of the party ; and in a few 
 moments they were all reassembled on their own 
 side of the river, none the worse for their hazard 
 ous experience beyond a few burns, painful, but 
 not important. 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 195 
 
 The spectacle they now beheld was most im 
 pressive. The dusk was coming on apace, and the 
 whole forest, so far as the eye could reach, was 
 wrapped in a blaze of glory, lighting up the sky 
 and hills obscured by the approach of night. The 
 carnival of creature sounds had increased, and. 
 the cries of fright and dismay were answered by 
 sympathizing notes from across the river. 
 
 " You never saw such fireworks as that, boys," 
 said the Colonel. " It beats any Fourth of July 
 show that any of us will ever see." 
 
 " I m glad we didn t set it, though," said Jack a 
 moment after, reflecting doubtless on what might 
 have been. 
 
 "And if it ain t murder that Pete ought to be 
 tried for, it s something mighty close to it," 
 observed Jimmy. 
 
 " There s no evidence that Pete set the fire," 
 answered the Colonel. 
 
 " I guess he done it all the same," said old 
 William slowly. 
 
 There was not enough confidence in any one s 
 mind that the half-breed had not been concerned 
 in the matter to induce further opposition to the 
 
196 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 view taken by the guides. The Colonel contented 
 himself by remarking that it was riot wise to jump 
 at conclusions without sufficient data, and then 
 called attention to the heavy cloud overhead 
 rapidly overspreading the illumined sky. 
 
 " A thunder-storm," said Jimmy. 
 
 Just then a streak of lightning ran zigzag 
 through its midst, followed after an interval by a 
 deafening peal, that rumbled among the hills, and 
 came echoing back. At the sound, the energies 
 of the beasts and birds, which had become more 
 quiescent, burst forth in redoubled volume. Even 
 Dandy and Daisy lifted their voices in unison with 
 the universal wail. 
 
 The huge black cloud as it advanced grew 
 molten with the vivid reflection of the sea of 
 flame beneath. Twice and thrice the thunder 
 bolts leaped from it, as though eager to unite with 
 their kin, and the earth trembled with the uproar. 
 Then came the rain ; at first in large single drops, 
 then fast and faster, until it poured a deluge. 
 
 " That s the talk," said old William with satis 
 faction. " The woods won t burn long if that 
 keeps up." 
 
THE FOURTH OF JULY. 197 
 
 His words were cut short by a flash and a 
 tremendous clap that made the boys fairly jump. 
 It seemed as though the bolt must have struck 
 within a few yards of the shanty, so soon did the 
 report follow the lightning. After it came wind in 
 violent gusts, and floods of water. The cabin was 
 the only shelter ; for, though the tents might be 
 waterproof, there was no certainty that they would 
 not be blown down by the fast rising tornado. 
 For hours the rain fell in torrents, and the thunder 
 crashed about their ears. Through the window 
 they could see the glow of the fiercely burning 
 conflagration gradually fade in intensity, until at 
 last at midnight, when the storm had moderated, 
 there was only a faint glimmer in the sky. A 
 gentle drizzle was still falling, which promised 
 to quench the last flicker before morning. On 
 inspection prior to turning in, a tree about a 
 hundred yards from camp was found to have been 
 struck and splintered by lightning, and the tent 
 occupied by Max and Tom had been overturned 
 by the wind. Altogether it had been a day of 
 adventure, and as much out of the ordinary run 
 of days as a Fourth of July at home. All were 
 
198 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 weary, and the soles of Tom s feet were decidedly 
 painful. His roommate Max felt likewise foot 
 sore. He had tramped most of the day in pursuit 
 of Mama Bruin, but without seeing more than 
 her tracks, which had vanished at last. 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 199 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 
 
 NEXT morning, although the sky was clear and 
 fine, an expanse of gray smoke overhung the 
 hills ; and across the river, as far as the eye 
 could penetrate, a melancholy vista of charred 
 and blackened stumps was disclosed. It seemed 
 a fitting time to change the scene ; and imme 
 diately after breakfast camp was broken, and 
 the canoes were laden for the expedition to the 
 Big Salmon Hole. The spirits of all were some 
 what dampened, however, by the fact that old 
 William and Jimmy were not to be of the party. 
 The Colonel and Mr. Holt had come to the 
 conclusion that the services of the guides were 
 no longer necessary, and that the boys would 
 become better sportsmen by being obliged to 
 depend upon their own exertions. 
 
 The Big Salmon Hole was distant a full day s 
 
200 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 journey in the canoes. As the guides predicted 
 that the rapids would be getting shoal, on 
 account of the fall of the water during the last 
 few days, it was important to dispense with all 
 luggage not absolutely indispensable to comfort. 
 
 " You boys will have a chance now to rough 
 it a little, and to understand what life in the 
 woods really is," said Colonel Russell, who seemed 
 to feel more than commonly good-humored at 
 the idea. " You ve been feasting on the fat of the 
 land down here ; but where we re going to you ll 
 get no fresh butter, bread, eggs, and cream, I 
 can tell you. After this it ll be salt pork for 
 breakfast, salt pork for dinner, salt pork for 
 supper." 
 
 " That doesn t frighten us a mite," said Jack 
 nonchalantly. 
 
 The only bones of contention were the cubs. 
 The idea of parting with them was too painful 
 to be entertained by the boys without remon 
 strance, and after much argument passports were 
 obtained for the youthful Bruins. By half-past 
 nine all was ready, and the Colonel and Mr. 
 Holt led the way in the first canoe, which was 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 201 
 
 freighted with the heavier portion of the luggage. 
 Then came Max, Hasy, Joe, and Dandy, and 
 bringing up the rear the other three, Daisy, 
 and Bingo. 
 
 " Good-by, William. Good-by, Jimmy." 
 " Good-by and good luck, and I hope you ll 
 come down with your gunwales under water 
 cause of the fish," cried the younger guide, in 
 reply to the chorus of farewell shouts , while old 
 William grinned, and waved his hat. Then the 
 iron sockets clattered against the bottom, and the 
 crews were off. Jack stood poling in the bow 
 of his canoe, and Tom in the stern ; while Max 
 and Hasy filled the corresponding positions in 
 the canoe ahead. The other two boys had made 
 a pillow of Daisy and Dandy respectively, and 
 were comfortable. 
 
 Thus far the party could boast of fine sport. 
 In the past fortnight, forty-two salmon had been 
 taken, averaging twenty-three pounds ; twenty 
 more had been played, but lost, owing to a 
 variety of mishaps. This one had wriggled off 
 the gaff; the hook had worked out of another s 
 mouth just as he was ready to be landed ; a third 
 
202 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 had twisted the casting line around a snag, and 
 broken it; in the case of a fourth, the head 
 of the fly had parted without apparent reason ; 
 and a fifth, so one might go on through the 
 category. It is better to record the simple fact 
 that in each case the fish got away, leaving the 
 unfortunate angler to experience, as he felt his 
 line relax, that terrible sinking sensation in the 
 pit of the stomach, which only those who have 
 lost a salmon can perfectly realize. 
 
 Now they were going still farther into the 
 wilderness in pursuit of the fish that had pushed 
 on to the pools near the head of the river. The 
 fresh air and invigorating exercise had tanned 
 the complexions of all, and given to every one 
 of the six boys a greater appearance of robust 
 ness. Mr. Holt, as he looked back at the youth 
 ful strugglers against the current, smiled with 
 satisfaction at so many evidences of the benefit 
 already worked by their outing. Nor did he 
 believe that the benefit was merely physical. 
 Can the mind of an energetic, full-blooded boy 
 of sixteen fail to be quickened and stirred and 
 interested by the beauty of unredeemed nature ? 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 20-\ 
 
 While lie is breathing into his lungs the pure 
 atmosphere of the woods and mountains, does 
 not his heart thrill at moments with a keener 
 sense of living, realize the exalting consciousness 
 that life should be broad not cramped, pure not 
 defiled ? As he feasts his eyes on the sparkling, 
 foaming water-course winding out from stately 
 hills, whose slopes reflect in turn the majesty 
 of dawn, noon s luxuriance, and the reverie- 
 begetting shadows of the evening hour, does not 
 his inner vision now and then catch glimpses of 
 life s deeper meanings, which bring the queries 
 to his lips, "What am I doing? What is the 
 purpose of my days ? " There is nothing like 
 severing completely for a time one s relations 
 with human beings as they ordinarily live, in 
 order to escape from ruts, and readjust one s 
 perspective. Those of us who are grown up 
 realize this ; and though the hobble-de-hoy of 
 sixteen, either from false shame or some kindred 
 cause, may be less willing to admit his suscepti 
 bility to Nature s influences, you may feel certain 
 that nine times in ten (I could almost say ninet}^- 
 nine out of one hundred), the poet in him what 
 
204 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Will Shakspeare calls the part of his mother that 
 every man has in himself is all awake and 
 quivering. While he seems to be caring merely 
 for killing more fish or shooting more birds than 
 any one else, do not take it for granted that 
 he is not making good resolutions as to what he 
 will do when he gets home. There is many 
 a boy who has returned at the beginning of the 
 new school year a metamorphosed being.- He was 
 indifferent once, listless, mischievous, a mere hand- 
 to-mouth sort of living lad. Now he is alert, 
 eager, ambitious, with eyes that tell of some new 
 power at work within him. We all know what 
 that means; the man in him is awakened. But 
 if you seek the cause which has wrought the 
 change, which has kindled the sacred fire, many 
 a time you will find that the trees and the water 
 falls and the birds and the presence of the 
 ever varying hills have had their share in it. 
 Nature is God s best interpreter. 
 
 Jack s canoe had been the last to get away, 
 and almost immediately the consciousness that 
 the others were ahead became disagreeable to 
 him. Boating was a specialty of Jack s. Already 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 205 
 
 he was one of the best oars at Utopia School, 
 and he had made up his mind long ago that 
 before graduation he would become its champion ; 
 therefore it nettled him to see so inferior a crew 
 as he set down Max and Hasy to be in the 
 lead. Accordingly he proposed to pass them ; 
 and he hoped, after doing so, to be able at least 
 to press the Colonel and Mr. Holt also. He 
 said nothing to Tom, but gave a series of vicious 
 shoves with his pole, that sent the canoe flying 
 forwards. A moment later its bow almost lapped 
 the stern of the one in front. Max and Hasy 
 turned their heads, and Joe, who assumed, per 
 haps, that because he was doing nothing, he was 
 captain, saw fit to remark, 
 
 "Now, don t waste your energies in trying to 
 pass us, Jack, for you can t." 
 
 As Joe finished speaking, his crew, evidently 
 seized by a determination not to renounce the 
 lead without a struggle, bore energetically upon 
 their poles. They had just reached the foot of 
 the first rapid, and now ensued much clattering 
 caused by the contact of the iron sockets against 
 the rocks in the river; and not only clattering, 
 
206 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 but spattering also. The canoes swayed and 
 wobbled ; and Jack and Max respectively, in their 
 positions at the bow, found difficulty in not 
 falling overboard. I can tell you, boys, poling 
 against the rough waters of a salmon river is no 
 child s play ; and if you hurry, you are pretty 
 sure to come to grief in one way or another. 
 Before they had proceeded more than a hundred 
 yards on the rapid, each of the two bow-oars 
 if we may so style them was forced to 
 the conclusion, that, unless he moderated his 
 efforts, the water would be soon pouring into 
 his canoe through a hole in her side. Bumpety, 
 bumpety, bump, was the not exactly pleasant 
 music that rung in their ears at every attempt 
 to force the pace. Evidently, to make headway, 
 the path must be picked with deliberation. 
 
 This irked Jack, who would fain have shown 
 the superiority of his biceps by a continuation 
 of the savage pushes in which he had indulged 
 at the start ; but he saw that he must control 
 his ardor if he hoped to win, to say nothing of 
 not smashing the canoe, against which he had 
 been cautioned in express terms by the Colonel 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 207 
 
 just before leaving camp. The only course to 
 adopt at the moment was to tag on behind the 
 other, and wait for a favorable moment to get 
 by. The difficulty though was, that Jack had 
 to keep his whole attention fixed on the water, to 
 avoid banging into rocks. The moment he diverted 
 it, he was sure to be rudely admonished by a 
 bump, followed by Tom s cautioning, " Steady 
 there, or you ll have a hole in her." Jack felt 
 that he would have to wait until they reached 
 a smoother place before he could gain the 
 lead. 
 
 It was slow work fighting against the stubborn 
 current, which often brought them to a standstill 
 before they were able to find a passage past some 
 dangerously protruding boulder. The river-bed 
 was a mass of rocks both big and little, up one 
 side of which, and down the other, the water 
 rushed, surging and foaming. At last, however, 
 they came to an end of this rapid, and Max s 
 canoe shot stanchly forward into a clear stretch, 
 closely followed by its rival. Jack said to him 
 self, that now was the time to settle the matter. 
 He need no longer worry about rocks ahead. 
 
208 JACK IN THE BUSiL 
 
 The water was unruffled, and the bottom was 
 of firm shingle. He threw all his weight into 
 every shove with his pole ; and, perceiving that 
 the opponents were making good headway, he 
 turned his head, and said, 
 
 " Now s the chance to hit her up a little, 
 Tom." 
 
 So resolute was the spurt that followed, that 
 Joe, who sat facing down river, and could keep 
 his eye on Jack, evidently cautioned his crew to 
 redouble their efforts. Jack realized with pride 
 that he was gaining ground, and began to con 
 sider making a final rush. What he tried to do 
 was to creep in between the others and the shore, 
 and crowd them out. But they were quick 
 to perceive his design, and hugged the bank 
 tenaciously. 
 
 " No you don t," shouted Hasy with a grin. 
 "Do you take us for countrymen?" 
 
 Jack made no reply to this fling. He merely 
 altered the direction of his canoe, so that now it 
 threatened to lap the enemy on the off side, and 
 shoved vigorously. 
 
 " Let her go, Gallagher ! " cried Joe, who, 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 209 
 
 though educated abroad, was rapidly learning the 
 vernacular ; and Max and Hasy, who had not been 
 making so serious exertions as their rivals, were 
 able to respond nobly to this urgent appeal. For 
 some minutes the canoes maintained the same 
 position, dashing on at a famous pace. Both 
 crews were on the right-hand bank looking up 
 river, and were poling on the left side of the 
 canoes. This last-mentioned circumstance obliged 
 Jack to avoid fouling the poles of his adversaries 
 with his bow, in seeking to pass, as it would have 
 impeded him no less than them. But when, in 
 attempting a final rush, he diverged sufficiently 
 for this purpose, he perceived that he was get 
 ting into deeper water. Undismayed, however, 
 he leaned upon his pole with such vim that he 
 could feel it bend, and brought himself abreast 
 of Haseltine, who was in the stern. 
 
 " Now, gallant Saxon, hold thine own! " he 
 hissed in the ear of his opponent, indulging in 
 a quotation which he knew was familiar to 
 Haseltine. 
 
 Not only Hasy but Max heard the warning, who, 
 looking behind him, realized the peril they were 
 
"210 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 in, and suddenly turned the head of the canoe 
 outward so as to force the other farther from 
 the shore. 
 
 Struggling madly for the lead, and conse 
 quently blind as to his course, Jack found himself 
 in deep water, which paralyzed his endeavors. 
 He lunged wildly, seeking still to hold the 
 bottom. These unsteadying motions on his 
 part served to divert his canoe still further, and 
 in another moment he and Tom were beyond 
 the depth of their poles and in the middle of the 
 stream. 
 
 "Look out, or you ll have her over," cried Tom, 
 as Jack in his frantic efforts to regain a hold 
 thrust down to right and left. 
 
 " Good-by, sweet-heart, good-by," shouted little 
 Joe in delight, kissing his hand as his canoe, 
 turned toward the shore again, darted on. 
 
 Poor Jack, boiling with wrath, was quick to 
 appreciate how ludicrous he must appear, vainly 
 pawing the water with his pole, and being carried 
 down stream instead of advancing. The laughter 
 of his rivals, who were all grinning at his plight, 
 was bitter as wormwood. 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 211 
 
 " Can t you stop her ? " he said fiercely to Tom, 
 as the head of the canoe swung across the stream, 
 exposing a broadside to the current. Tom made 
 an ineffectual dab with his pole, realizing the 
 fruitlessness of any such attempts. 
 
 " That s no use," shouted Jack. " I ll show 
 you." He plunged his pole eagerly, until only the 
 tip protruded above water. " I ve got bottom ! " 
 So he had for a moment ; but though he held on 
 like a vise, and knelt down so as to bring his arm 
 as near the water as possible, the swift current 
 carried the canoe down in spite of it so as to 
 change the angle of the pole. 
 
 " You ll have her over ! You ll have her over ! " 
 shouted the other two. 
 
 This prophecy would immediately have been 
 fulfilled, had not Jack, perceiving that the water 
 was pouring in as a consequence of his leaning 
 over the edge of the canoe, let go the pole to 
 avoid capsizing. He ground his teeth, and seized 
 the paddle beside him as lie should have done at 
 first. In this he was imitated by Tom, and a few 
 sweeps enabled them to recover the floating pole 
 and escape from the deep pool. 
 
212 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 The boys looked at one another sheepishly. 
 " They ve got the laugh on us, that s sure," said 
 Tom. 
 
 " Let them laugh ; we re not at the Big Salmon 
 Hole yet," was Jack s answer. He could see the 
 victors just disappearing around a bend in the 
 river, after having waited to make sure that no 
 serious mishap had overtaken their victims. 
 Somehow, the only one he felt vindictive against 
 was Max. Not merely because Max had been the 
 immediate cause of his discomfiture, but from a 
 general sense of his own superiority, as Jack would 
 have called it, but which if analyzed was begin 
 ning to be closely akin to jealousy. He had made 
 up his mind from the start that Max was beneath 
 notice as a competitor for the rifle, and had dis 
 missed him from his calculations ; and yet every 
 day since he had been forced to acknowledge 
 secretly that " the softy " was not quite so despi 
 cable as he had at first supposed. It is not agree 
 able to have to change one s settled convictions, 
 especially when it involves admitting that one 
 assumed to be of no account may possibly become 
 a rival. 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 213 
 
 " That was a mean trick, I call it," he said, as 
 they resumed their course. 
 
 " What ? " asked Dubsy. 
 
 " Shoving us out into deep water like that. It 
 was just worthy of a tenderfoot." 
 
 " That s so," said Dubsy. 
 
 "I shouldn t like to have him win the rifle, 
 should you?" Tom remarked after a pause. 
 
 "Max?" asked Dubsy. 
 
 Yes." 
 
 " Pooh ! He hasn t any show. What makes 
 you think he has ? " exclaimed Jack sourly. 
 
 " He s not so fresh as he was, for one thing," 
 said Tom. 
 
 " He s jolly fresh, though, still. A tenderfoot, 
 that s what I call him." 
 
 " He stands being knocked round pretty well," 
 continued Tom reflectively. " Did you ever see 
 his hands? They re all cuts and bruises and 
 bites ; but he doesn t talk about them." 
 
 " That s not much to brag of. Neither did you 
 complain about your feet when you scorched 
 them yesterday." 
 
 " No ; but then, I ve been used to cuts and 
 
214 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 burns all my life. I once nearly killed myself 
 with arsenic stuffing a bird." 
 
 " I don t see," said Jack, after poling for a few 
 moments in silence, "how a fellow who only 
 knows about books, and can scarcely tell the 
 difference between a base-ball bat and a rifle, and 
 whose skin is as delicate as a girl s, yes, and 
 isn t able to distinguish a bear cub from a New 
 foundland pup, can be a better sportsman than 
 you, Tom, or Hasy or Dubsy." 
 
 "No-o," replied Tom doubtfully. "Only you 
 know the Colonel said everything would count. 
 
 " Well, if he means that a fellow has got to be 
 able to repeat poetry and do sewing, I ll give up 
 at once." Jack spoke bitterly, having in mind 
 that a day or two before Colonel Russell had 
 spoken in praise of Max s ability to fasten a button 
 on a pair of trousers. 
 
 In spite of this professed contempt, Jack was 
 conscious of brooding and of feeling irritated. 
 Although he chose to style the device by which 
 he had been left behind in the race a trick, he 
 knew that Max had really done nothing unsports 
 manlike. Indeed, the cleverness of the act 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 215 
 
 increased his humiliation. But one point was 
 clear in his mind, he would give the tenderfoot 
 plenty of occupation to retain his lead to the 
 end. If Max could prevent him from getting by 
 during the whole day, he could afford to crow. It- 
 was a little early to do so yet. Thus reflecting, he 
 bent himself to his work again, sturdily seconded 
 by Tom, while Dubsy endeavored to bail out the 
 water that had got in at the time of their catas 
 trophe. As they came round the bend at which 
 the rival canoe had disappeared from view, they 
 came in sight of it once more, not very far ahead. 
 
 " What are they trying to do ? " said Dubsy, 
 who was the first to notice that it had come to a 
 stand-still. 
 
 " Look at that, now," said Jack. " Max is 
 tuckered out already, and Joe is changing places 
 with him. That fellow has no sand." 
 
 "I ll take your place, if you re tired," said 
 Dubsy, addressing Tom, whose partial defence of 
 the tenderfoot prompted him to this solicitous 
 inquiry. 
 
 " No, thank you, dearest. I ll let you know 
 when I need your assistance." 
 
216 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " It s what I call pusillanimous," continued 
 Jack with indignation. " He keeps the lead by 
 a fluke, and as soon as we get in sight again, 
 backs out of the race. A fine sportsman your 
 friend is." 
 
 " I didn t say he was a sportsman," said Tom, 
 resenting the shaft thus directed at him. 
 
 " Well, you needn t get mad about it." 
 
 " Mad ? It s you who are mad. Come, now, I 
 don t see anything very pusillanimous in Max s 
 letting Joe try his hand for a while, if he s tuck 
 ered. You re free to do the same, and none of us 
 are fresh as we were. We ve got the day before 
 us, and the best crew is the one that comes in first 
 at the Big Salmon Hole. Here, Dubsy, I ll accept 
 your offer," Tom added, putting down his pole ; 
 " you take hold, and I ll keep company with Daisy 
 for a mile or so." 
 
 " All right," said Jack disdainfully. To tell the 
 truth, he was secretly conscious that Max was very 
 wise. His own exertions had made him feel, as 
 Tom had well expressed it, not as fresh as he had 
 been, and they had many miles to go. However, 
 he would not have admitted it for a hundred 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 217 
 
 dollars. " Hit her up, Dubsy, and we ll pass 
 them," he added. 
 
 They started off in fine style, but before Dubsy 
 had made more than a dozen strokes, he managed 
 by ill luck to wedge the point of his socket in 
 between two rocks. Jack, who did not see this, 
 gave the canoe another shove ahead before warned 
 by his companion s cry that anything was wrong. 
 
 44 Stop her ! stop her ! Oh ! " cried Dubsy, 
 clinging stanchly to the upright pole, and trying 
 by movements from side to side to free it. Just 
 as he was on the point of abandoning it in order 
 not to be pulled out of the canoe, there was "an 
 ominous sound and out it came. But, on inspec 
 tion, the point of the pole proved to be badly 
 cracked just above the rim of -the iron socket. 
 
 " Bother ! " said Dubsy, exhibiting the result to 
 the others. 
 
 " How stupid of you ! " said Jack in disgust, 
 realizing that the accident would involve making 
 a new point for the socket before they could go 
 on. 
 
 "I couldn t help it, Jack," answered Dubsy 
 deprecatingly. 
 
218 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " It was fearful clumsy." 
 
 "That isn t true, Jack," said Dubsy quietly, 
 but in such a tone as to show, that, though submis 
 sive, he would not put up with more than a certain 
 amount of abuse. He pulled out his jackknife, 
 and cutting off the crushed point began deliber 
 ately to scoop out the wood from the socket. 
 
 Jack, after an unintelligible growl, turned the 
 canoe to the bank, where lie moodily held her 
 during the ten minutes of delay. Not only was 
 he sore against Max, and beginning to despair of 
 being other than a poor third in the race, but he 
 was conscious from the existing silence of having 
 strained his relations for the moment with Tom 
 and Dubsy by his own ill-nature, and so shut him 
 self off from sympathy. He asked himself why 
 he had been so foolish. But still he could not 
 make up his mind to change his tactics. 
 
 " All ready," said Dubsy at length, laconically. 
 
 Off they started, and for half an hour, while 
 not a word was spoken, made grand progress. 
 Jack s own determined efforts were ably seconded 
 by the faithful Dubsy, who, in spite of the affront 
 put upon him, was true. They had soon caught 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 219 
 
 sight of their opponents ; and, though Max was 
 still resting, it gave Jack some satisfaction to see 
 the gap between the canoes diminish. Moreover, 
 the Colonel and Mr. Holt were not so hopelessly 
 in the van as to preclude the possibility of coming 
 up with them. On they went, fighting valiantly 
 against the frequent rapids, until they were fairly 
 dripping with perspiration and nearly exhausted. 
 
 " Ready to swap places with either of you 
 fellows," said Tom, breaking the silence. But 
 there was no response save the hard breathing 
 of the polers. 
 
 Another quarter of an hour passed, and they 
 were not more than three hundred yards from the 
 canoe ahead, when it stopped again to let Max 
 reassume his post, and Joe change places with 
 Hasy. The sight of this whetted Jack s somewhat 
 panting energies. He buckled to his work, and 
 in a few moments had materially lessened the lead, 
 so that Joe s taunts again became audible. 
 
 " Comment vous portez-vous, messieurs? We d 
 given you up. Thought you d drifted down to 
 Gaspe* Basin by this time. We ll report you as on 
 the way." 
 
220 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Max set a swinging gate for his brother to 
 follow, and for some little while Jack and Dubsy 
 could gain no further advantage. Then a low 
 branch served them by knocking off Max s cap. 
 By the time it had been fished out, there was not 
 more than a length between the canoes. Jack felt 
 weary in every joint, and was puffing like a gram 
 pus ; yet he was resolved to make one desperate 
 effort to pass, if he dropped in the attempt. But 
 now the question arose, as to how to prevent a 
 repetition of the tactics that had foiled him before. 
 
 Max was carefully hugging the shore, and a 
 glance at the stream satisfied Jack that it was by 
 no means shallow farther out. As he looked, an 
 idea suddenly occurred to him, upon which he 
 immediately began to act by turning the head of 
 the canoe away from the bank, much to Dubsy s 
 astonishment, who cried, " What are you trying 
 to do, Jack ? " 
 
 " Cross over to the other side. Then they can t 
 play that dodge on us again." So saying, Jack 
 sat down, and seizing his paddle sent the canoe 
 flying across the current by a few deft strokes, 
 before his comrades had fully appreciated his 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 221 
 
 intention. Then, without losing a moment after 
 reaching the opposite bank, he gave the signal to 
 Dubsy, and on they went poling with new vim. 
 
 Sagacious as was the scheme, Jack had not 
 taken into account that the two banks of a salmon 
 river are not always equally easy of ascent. The 
 rapid by which he was at once beset teemed on 
 their side with ugly rocks and boiling cascades in 
 miniature, while the other canoe, apparently, was 
 finding an easy passage. But on they struggled, 
 taking in water, bumping the canoe, and now and 
 again nearly toppling over themselves, in spite of 
 every effort to use care, and finally brought her 
 through without losing materially on their rivals. 
 Here there was a long piece of still, straight river, 
 at the end of which Jack perceived the Colonel 
 and Mr. Holt hauling up their canoe. It had 
 been given out that they would eat luncheon near 
 a brook called the North Fork, and this was 
 evidently the place. 
 
 " It s our last chance," said Jack. " Hit her up 
 lively now." Dubsy nodded, and responded with 
 a will. But the most generous and ambitious 
 spirit cannot avail beyond a certain point. Dubsy 
 
222 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 had been working hard, and he was by no means 
 Jack s equal in physique. Although he plied his 
 pole with all his remaining energy, he could not 
 add much to the pace. Still every little was of 
 service, especially as Jack himself, bare-armed and 
 bare-headed, his shirt loosened at the neck and 
 hanging down, was ramming, with set teeth, his 
 socket against the river-bed, and bending on it all 
 his sinewy weight, still not quite exhausted, and 
 eying now the goal and now his adversary. Less 
 demonstrative in their style, but straining every 
 nerve, Max and Joe were pressing on, fully alive 
 to the necessity of making every stroke tell. The 
 canoes fairly leaped through the water. Thanks 
 to his almost superhuman efforts, Jack had unde 
 niably gained a little, was still gaining. Looking 
 across the river, he could appreciate this himself. 
 The enemy s stern almost shut off the other bank 
 from his view. He caught sight of Hasy, an 
 interested spectator of the contest, and could tell 
 from his face that he regarded the victory of the 
 Fearing pair as by no means assured. 
 
 "Hit her up, Dubsy, once more, and we ll get 
 there," Jack murmured excitedly, while just then 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 223 
 
 he heard the encouraging shouts, and perceived 
 the waving hats, of the Colonel and Mr. Holt, who 
 evidently understood what was going on. The 
 halting-place now was not more than two hundred 
 yards away, and he was only abreast of Joe. He 
 must pole faster yet, or he would be beaten. 
 Shutting his eyes, he lunged so energetically that 
 his body was almost doubled up. 
 
 " Go in, Max ; go in, Jack ! Well done ! The 
 best crew wins." 
 
 Max heard the shouts, and they set his blood 
 on fire. He, too, was tired to the bone and scant 
 of breath. His sight was dim with moisture, and 
 his hands raw with blisters ; but he knew that he 
 was still ahead, and that there was little farther to 
 go. To beat Jack would be a triumph as sweet 
 as unexpected. Before the race he would have 
 deemed it impossible. If only he could hold out 
 a moment longer, victory was his. Like Jack he 
 shut his eyes, and made half a dozen stalwart 
 shoves, the last of which sent the canoe past the 
 pole which the Colonel had hastily planted upright 
 at the water s edge as a winning-post. He had 
 won. 
 
224 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Jack, beaten by about a length, crossed the river 
 in grim silence. The Colonel and Mr. Holt, who 
 had been congratulating the victors, now came 
 forward to greet the vanquished with smiles 
 slightly sardonic, inasmuch as they knew that 
 Max had hitherto been rated low by the others 
 as an adversary. However, they were not dis 
 posed to increase the bitterness of defeat by 
 jibes. 
 
 " A close race," said the Colonel judicially. 
 
 Jack bit his lip to keep the tears from coming 
 into his eyes. 
 
 " They beat us from the start," he managed to 
 utter. The words cost him exertion, but he was 
 glad when they were, spoken. 
 
 " We shouldn t have come in first, if you hadn t 
 met with so many accidents," said Max. "You 
 know," he added, addressing the elders, "they got 
 into deep water once, where they couldn t pole, 
 and afterwards something else happened." 
 
 " Dubsy broke his point," explained Tom. 
 
 Jack looked gratefully at Max. He had not 
 expected such magnanimity from a tenderfoot. 
 " What you did was all fair enough," he blurted. 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 225 
 
 " I d have forced you out in the same way, if you d 
 given us the chance." 
 
 " Then we rested by turns," said Max. " That 
 made a great difference." 
 
 "Yes, you rested," Jack answered slowly. 
 " Dubsy changed places with Tom, too. T feel 
 pretty well tuckered, though," he added. 
 
 This last admission was one that Jack would 
 never have made, but from the desire not to be 
 outdone in generosity. 
 
 " And so do I," said Max. 
 
 " I think you all have rather a dilapidated air," 
 said Mr. Holt. 
 
 " I tell you what, though," said Jack pensively ; 
 "I ll race you any other day you say, Max, for 
 an equal distance, you and I alone, each to pole 
 his own canoe ; and I ll give you choice of sides 
 of the river." 
 
 " I m willing to try." 
 
 " Speaking of dilapidation," broke in the Colo 
 nel, who had been examining the canoes, " seems 
 to me the boats have fared worst of all. You 
 boys have got a half hour s work before you in 
 the way of calking, if you expect to get to the 
 
226 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Salmon Hole to-night with a dry skin." Where 
 upon he pointed to the numerous indentations 
 and scars on the bottoms of the canoes. 
 
 The truth of this comment was very apparent ; 
 and while luncheon was being got ready, those 
 not employed in its preparation procured a 
 supply of gum from the spruce-trees, which they 
 melted at the fire, and rubbed over the most 
 serious-looking seams. All the party found re 
 freshment in laving their faces and hands in 
 the ice-cold water of the North Fork, the broad 
 musical brook which at this point empties into 
 the main river. Then, after taking off the 
 edges of their appetites by a meal of tea, 
 pilot-bread, and potted tongue, the canoes were 
 launched again. 
 
 " Now, no more racing, to begin with," said 
 Mr. Holt, 
 
 " I was just going to make the same remark 
 myself," said the Colonel. " You re the color 
 of a Stilton cheese, Max ; and you needn t 
 look so cocky, Jack, for you re not a bit better. 
 It ll be all you can do, as it is, to get to camp 
 without spurting." 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 227 
 
 To tell the truth, this was not an unwelcome 
 order to the boys ; for, now that the excitement 
 was over, none of them were feeling inclined to 
 repeat the exertions of the morning. Moreover, 
 .they found, as the Colonel had foretold, that they 
 needed all their remaining energy to ascend the 
 river in a very leisurely fashion. Although Jack 
 got away from the North Fork before the rival 
 canoe, and saw fit out of pride not to let one of 
 the others take his place at first, it was not long 
 before he gave up, and plumped down beside 
 Daisy. Indeed, there was a general sigh of relief 
 when House No. 2 appeared in sight. This cabin 
 was considerably smaller than the one below, but 
 large enough to afford shelter to all in case heavy 
 rain or the flies should drive them indoors. In 
 front of it lay a long bubbling stretch of dark 
 water, which was the Big Salmon Hole. To fish 
 it one stood on a projecting curve of the bank 
 which overhung the pool, the conformation of the 
 shore here being higher and more rocky. The 
 mountains seemed nearer than before, and shut 
 them in on every side. The walls inside the 
 little house were decorated with the scores of 
 
228 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 former anglers, inspiring testimony as to what 
 might be hoped for in the way of fish. 
 
 It may well have been that the boys secretly 
 yearned for the assistance of old William and 
 Jimmy to assist them after the hard day s jour 
 ney ; but, nevertheless, they set to work indus 
 triously to make tent-poles, collect firewood and 
 hemlock, and perform the various tasks incident 
 to pitching camp. The sun had set and the 
 twilight was deepening into darkness before 
 supper was on the table. The half of a salmon 
 brought from below staved off for another day 
 at least salt-pork fare ; and after they had eaten 
 every scrap of it, in addition to some hot canned 
 soup which tasted uncommonly good, all sought 
 and encircled the grand fire which Mr. Holt and 
 Joe had built to neutralize the chill, which, at 
 this higher altitude, is apt to come over the 
 atmosphere of the woods in midsummer. It 
 seemed quite frosty, in fact, so that overcoats 
 felt very comfortable to the overheated boys. 
 
 44 Well," said Mr. Holt, casting his eyes up at 
 the clear heavens now studded with stars, and 
 sniffing the air odorous with the aroma of the 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 229 
 
 tall pines that towered up on every side, " this 
 is what I call camping out. I don t like the idea 
 of paying a man to do what one really ought to 
 do for himself, in order to be a thorough woods 
 man. Now there are no masters and no servants." 
 
 " No, only masters and boys," said Max with 
 a laugh. 
 
 " I don t think the distinction is a very marked 
 one," said the Colonel. "For the matter of that, 
 we re all boys out here in the woods. At least, I 
 claim to be. We ll let the Big Medicine Man 
 speak for himself." 
 
 " Pray don t let the distinction be made on my 
 account," said Mr. Holt, " if I am the person 
 referred to. Indeed, I am the most of a boy of any 
 in the party ; for the rest of you take life so 
 seriously, fishing, hunting, and poling as if vital 
 interests depended on the result of your individual 
 powers: whereas I am, so to speak, volatile, con 
 tent to cast a little, and smoke a little, and paddle 
 a little, and read a little, and watch the clouds a 
 little, and eat a great deal, each as the humor 
 seizes me. Consequently, I suppose, the Colonel 
 will claim that I don t enjoy myself." 
 
230 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 " It isn t my way of enjoying myself, certainly," 
 exclaimed Colonel Russell, " and Well, go 
 on. Let s hear what you were going to say." 
 
 " I know it isn t ; and, of course," continued the 
 master, relighting his pipe, "I" puff " don t 
 wish for a moment" puff ki to say a word 
 against the so-called genuine sportsman" puff 
 
 " You d better not," said the Colonel. " Had 
 he, boys ? " 
 
 " No ! " was the unanimous cry, which showed 
 where the sympathies of the audience were for 
 the moment. 
 
 "You boys wait until I m through," said Mr. 
 Holt, " aiid then you may shout as much as you 
 please. As I was going to say, when interrupted, 
 the Colonel is an admirable character, a thorough 
 going sportsman in every sense ; and as such it 
 behooves him, and I can understand why it should 
 interest him, to pursue indefatigably salmon or 
 bear or whatever the game of the region where he 
 happens to be is, up early, and returning to camp 
 late, regardless of rain, heat, flies, and never idle 
 a moment. That is the programme to be followed 
 by the man or boy who wishes to make a large 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 231 
 
 bag, and be spoken of as a Mighty Hunter 
 (accept this epithet in return for Medicine Man). 
 I am the last person to regard otherwise than with 
 profound admiration the triumphs of such un 
 wearying ardent spirits ; and in claiming toleration 
 for the less energetic clan, of which I am in a 
 certain sense representative, let me acknowledge 
 frankly, that the angler who gives up after casting 
 over a pool once or twice in an airy fashion, and 
 passes on to the next one, or hands his rod to his 
 boatman to try with while he reads a novel, must 
 renounce all claim to being looked on as a first-rate 
 fisherman." 
 
 "I should think so, forsooth," cried the Colonel. 
 " The only thing to be said in favor of such fair- 
 weather individuals is, that by their failure to 
 comb the pools for fish, and beat the bushes for 
 birds, there is more chance for the persevering 
 kind to kill the game that would have fallen to 
 them had they been diligent." 
 
 " Precisely. We acknowledge our degradation ; 
 and all we ask is that we be permitted to enjoy 
 ourselves in our own way, and that you sporting 
 swells do not keep telling us forever that we are 
 
232 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 not enjoying ourselves. Incredible as it may 
 seem, there are many excellent people who derive 
 more satisfaction from the surroundings of camp- 
 life than from the sport itself. Men s tastes differ 
 as much in the woods as in the midst of civiliza 
 tion ; and, while one is keen in pursuing game, 
 another would scarcely walk a mile to kill a bear 
 or a moose, might even think it a bore, and 
 yet delight in the woods all the same." 
 
 " Hear him ! " said the Colonel disdainfully. 
 " Ye gods and little fishes, think it a bore to kill a 
 moose ! Show me the man." 
 
 "The woods are full of them," was the imper 
 turbable answer. " There is many a busy man 
 whose only escape from the worries of business 
 is to plunge into the forest primeval, where no 
 telegram or letter can find him, and there luxuriate 
 doing nothing; letting fish, if they will, fasten 
 themselves on to his hook, or birds peep into the 
 barrel of his gun, but not taking it much to heart 
 if they fail to do so. Or, again, there is the clergy 
 man or quiet scholar-, to whom the use of gun or 
 rod is wholly unfamiliar, and to whom paddling 
 or wood-chopping or botanizing furnishes recreation 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 233 
 
 more congenial than tracking bears or following 
 twenty-pound salmon over rapids." 
 
 " Ah, yes ! " said the Colonel. " But the clergy 
 man or quiet scholar would be all the more of a " 
 man for learning how to use a rod or gun, and the 
 business man had better let the fish alone, and not 
 stir up the pools, if he doesn t care whether he 
 kills any or not." 
 
 The boys laughed at this sally. 
 
 " But supposing they prefer not to follow your 
 advice, though I dare say it would be well if 
 they did, in many cases, what I maintain," said 
 Mr. Holt quietly, u is that they who lead this lazy 
 life are as able to appreciate the beauties of Nature 
 quite as much, if not more, than 3^011 other fellows 
 who will follow a deer from sunrise to sunset. 
 You genuine sportsmen are cranks in a certain 
 way. You believe that no one can enjoy himself 
 except by imitating you. There, put that in your 
 pipe and smoke it. Mine has gone out from too 
 much talking." 
 
 " A crank, eh ! Do you hear that, my young 
 Nimrods ? This ease-loving master of yours calls 
 us cranks. Well, then, we are cranks enthu- 
 
234 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 siasts whatever you choose; but, in that case, 
 so were Isaac Walton and Humphry Davy. Do 
 you believe that either of them would have 
 admitted for a moment that the forest and the 
 stream and the birds and the hues of morning 
 and evening are as intelligible to one who fishes 
 merely to kill time, and knows nothing of tackle 
 and flies, as to an ardent follower of the sport 
 they loved so well ? " 
 
 " Very likely not," puff, " but that doesn t 
 alter my opinion." 
 
 " Bah ! I disown you," said the Colonel. 
 " Boys, henceforth you have to choose between 
 your master and me. Under which king, 
 Bezonian ? " 
 
 " Hurrah for Colonel Russell," cried Jack. 
 
 " That s so," said Dubsy, and a cheer that 
 seemed general followed. 
 
 " I m sure," said Hasy, who had been lost in 
 thought, u that when I m playing a base-ball 
 match I always enjoy a fine day or a beautiful 
 sky more than at other times." 
 
 Every one laughed loudly at this pertinent 
 testimony to the point of the discussion, and 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 235 
 
 the Colonel exclaimed with rapture, " Of course 
 you do, Hasy." 
 
 " I seem to be in a decided minority," said Mr. 
 Holt, when the mirth had subsided. " But I m not 
 at all disconcerted thereby. You boys are quite 
 right to model yourselves on the Colonel. His 
 theory is more inspiriting than mine. But I shall, 
 in spite of his and your displeasure, reserve the 
 right as Medicine Man to enjoy my own opinion as 
 to the capabilities for enjoyment which those of my 
 less persevering disposition possess. Moreover, I 
 will take my revenge upon you all at the moment, 
 by breathing the mystic word bed-time." 
 
 In spite of some little outcry, none were averse 
 to being reminded that the day had been exhaust 
 ing, and not many minutes after the boys had 
 separated to their quarters. The cabin was un 
 occupied, as there seemed to be a general opinion 
 that the tents were less stuffy. Mr. Holt shared 
 one with the Colonel, who as soon as they were 
 out of hearing remarked, 
 
 " What should you think of our letting two 
 of the boys go up to the Narrows, and camp by 
 themselves for a few days ? " 
 
236 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " Alone ? " 
 
 u Yes," said the Colonel. "It seems to me 
 that it might be a good experience for them, 
 and that they would scarcely run a greater risk 
 by themselves than if with us. To tell the 
 truth," he added, "there is not enough fishing 
 below here to keep us all busy, and the pools 
 above are sure to be full of salmon. There s 
 a rough log cabin a little way below the falls, 
 in which they could live, as, owing to the low 
 condition of the river, they couldn t get a canoe 
 up even as far as the Indian Falls: so they 
 wouldn t want to carry a tent or any other 
 luggage not absolutely necessary. There s an 
 old canoe of mine up there that would answer 
 their purpose for fishing. I ll go up with them, 
 it s only four miles, but Gaspe* miles with wind 
 falls every hundred yards, and get them estab 
 lished. How does it strike you?" 
 
 "I see no objection," answered the master. 
 " Indeed, it strikes me as altogether a sensible 
 plan. Have you any two of the boys especially 
 in mind ? " 
 
 The Colonel shook his head. 
 
AT THE BIG- SALMON HOLE. 237 
 
 " Then T think it would be a good idea if we 
 let Jack and Max be the two," said Mr. Holt. 
 " You may not have noticed that there is a quiet 
 rivalry between them, which I think is having a 
 good effect on both. Jack began, in common 
 with the others, by looking down on Max, and 
 he is, I judge, still trying to persuade himself 
 that he is justified in doing so ; but one or two 
 such experiences as he had this morning will 
 open his eyes, if they are not open already, to 
 the fact that he has no nonentity to deal 
 with." 
 
 "Max is improving, certainly," said the Colonel. 
 " I was, as you know, rather tempted to share 
 Jack s opinion of him at the start ; but he is not 
 lacking in grit, I will do him the justice to say, 
 however much in need of experience he may be. 
 He handled the gun yesterday as if he didn t 
 know the butt from the muzzle, and yet he 
 tramped right along for six hours without utter 
 ing a word of complaint." 
 
 " Jack is likely to learn from him that one 
 may be scholarty and book-loving in his tastes 
 without being a 4 softy or a weakling," con- 
 
238 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 tinued Mr. Holt. "On the other hand, he will 
 derive, from competition with Jack, a stimulus 
 to become more manly, and needed training for 
 his muscles. If it seems best to you, we will 
 let them be companions at the Narrows ; and, as 
 they are the biggest two of the party, we can 
 give that as our reason for the selection, in case 
 of general competition for the privilege." 
 
 The plan thus decided on was laid before the 
 boys next morning, and met with general approval, 
 inasmuch as the chances for fish for those remain 
 ing at the Big Salmon Hole would be improved 
 by the departure of two such keen anglers as 
 Jack and Max. Jack himself, while delighted 
 at the opportunity offered, did not regard with 
 enthusiasm the choice of his associate. Forgetting 
 or regardless of the episode of the previous day, 
 he made the reflection that Max, to keep pace with 
 him, would have to alter his ladylike ways, and 
 show more gumption. Tf not, he would have to 
 shift for himself. Jack had no idea of playing 
 nurse, and endeavored to convey an impression to 
 this effect by a few hints which lie dropped when 
 the elders were out of hearing. 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 239 
 
 The two boys were not to start until the 
 following day, in order that they might explore 
 the present surroundings. The Colonel went out 
 before breakfast, and, standing on the projecting 
 ledge referred to, landed in quick succession three 
 fine salmon, which relieved all present anxiety on 
 the score of fresh food. 
 
 " There was a time, boys," said Mr. Holt, as 
 they settled down fifteen minutes later to some 
 slices cut from one of the shining beauties, " when 
 salmon were so plentiful in the State of Maine, 
 which was then a part of Massachusetts, that 
 factory apprentices used to stipulate in their 
 contracts that they should not be obliged to eat it 
 more than a certain number of days in the week." 
 
 " Here it is Hobson s choice," said the Colonel. 
 " But if none of you ever have to eat anything 
 worse than salmon, you may count yourself lucky. 
 I ve sucked buffalo skin on the plains, and been 
 grateful for roast horse." 
 
 After the meal was over, the Colonel resigned 
 his post to Mr. Holt, and piloted all the boys but 
 Dubsy and Joe, detained by camp duties, down to 
 the pools below, the Still Pool, the Dog Pool, 
 
240 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 and Maitland s, out of which respectively two, four, 
 and three salmon were taken by him, Tom, and 
 Hasy, the allotted anglers of the day. The sport 
 was excellent. The fish not having been disturbed 
 before this season were in rising humor, and 
 snapped at whatever fly one chose to cast, be it 
 Jock Scott, Cock Robin, Prince of Orange, Black 
 Dose, Silver Doctor, or Faiiy. 
 
 All the boys were by this time excellent anglers, 
 and Hasy had the good fortune to land at 
 Maitland s a thirty-five and a half pounder, the 
 largest fish yet taken, in sixteen minutes, a vivid 
 contrast to Jack s five hours experience. But, as 
 the Colonel remarked at the time, the largest 
 salmon in a river are apt to be more logy than 
 those five or ten pounds lighter. Indeed, Hasy 
 confided to Jack disappointment that the monster 
 had not pulled more. 
 
 The description of the capture of one salmon is 
 to a certain extent that of all, but to the angler 
 there is variety in every fish encountered. He 
 who starts after breakfast, and returns at nightfall 
 with two or three, has had a successful day; 
 and there are few sensations more agreeable than 
 
AT THE BIG SALMON HOLE. 241 
 
 the consciousness that the heap of alder-bushes at 
 one s feet in the canoe conceals a noble twenty 
 pounder landed after a gallant struggle for life and 
 liberty. In a good year, there are days when one 
 may bag five, six, seven, eight, or nine, and lose 
 two or three more, and even then be in no danger 
 of breaking the record of a single twelve hours 
 sport; but this is exceptional good fortune. As 
 the Colonel observed on returning to camp this 
 evening, the aggregate for the day of fourteen fish 
 to four rods Mr. Holt had killed three besides 
 the others enumerated was a record of which 
 any party had a right to be proud. 
 
 Indeed, it is to be said, that he who kills one 
 fine salmon in a day has no just cause to murmur ; 
 he is a happy being. Let him recall the number 
 of blank days he has experienced. And those" 
 blank days are very blank, blankety, blankety, 
 blank, to quote our friend Jack s expression 
 regarding one of them. Patience at such times is 
 a virtue of the noblest order, as indeed it ought 
 always to be regarded. And a first-rate sportsman 
 is always patient. 
 
242 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE RIVALS. 
 
 THE path to the Narrows led through thick 
 woods, though it could be called a path only by 
 courtesy. Large trunks had fallen across it, grass 
 and moss had grown over it, and the blaizes on 
 the trees had become obscure. It was made use 
 of only by a few anglers in summer, and the 
 Gaspe* men who in winter-time went up to the 
 hills to shoot caribou. The Colonel tramping 
 first with axe in hand did some strenuous clearing 
 of the underbrush, and knocked out splinters in 
 an occasional pine or birch along the way, so that 
 Nature might not be able to boast of having oblit 
 erated every trace of civilization. Behind him 
 stalked Jack and Max, proud of their coming 
 liberty ; and all three were laden with the indis 
 pensable paraphernalia for a week s outing, 
 blankets, a kettle, a gun, a gaff, the rods, a rubber 
 
THE RIVALS. 243 
 
 bag containing a change of clothing for each boy, 
 and another into which had been stuffed sundry 
 stores and an accumulation of necessary odds and 
 ends (such as matches, twine, soap, towels ; a knife, 
 fork, and spoon apiece ; some tin plates and two 
 tin cups, and a lantern). .The kit had been made 
 as small as possible ; otherwise, the young sports 
 men would have fallen by the way under the press 
 of their burdens. But, as it was, they were able 
 to march along with tolerable comfort. 
 
 Though the distance was said to be but four 
 miles, they were certainly the genuine Gaspe* 
 miles the Colonel had foretold them to be, equal, 
 at least as far as one s impressions were concerned, 
 to six of the ordinary sort. Jumping over or 
 climbing round windfalls, when one is laden like 
 a mule, is not the most exhilarating form of exer 
 cise. But, while Jack had no high opinion of it 
 as sport, he took good care not to let Max suspect 
 that he felt in any way hampered by what he was 
 carrying. He whistled, and now and then ran 
 a few yards, to show how indifferent he was to his 
 load. In attempting, however, to clear a fallen 
 tree at a bound, instead of going round it, he 
 
244 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 came so near pitching headlong, that he was re 
 minded of his recent fiasco, and resolved to confine 
 within less dangerous limits his inclination for 
 display. 
 
 " How do you like it as far as you ve got ? " he 
 inquired patronizingly of his companion, down 
 whose face the perspiration was streaming as a not 
 unnatural result of wearing a knapsack across his 
 back, and carrying one of the rubber bags swung 
 over one of his shoulders, and the bundle of rods 
 in the other hand. 
 
 " Rather warm work, isn t it ? " 
 
 "Not especially. I feel first-rate. Want me to 
 take those rods for you ? * 
 
 Max smiled and shook his head. Though he 
 appeared grateful, he would have been very slow 
 to avail himself of the offer. 
 
 The path was pretty straight in spite of its 
 difficulties, whereas the river wound in and out, 
 so that they rarely were within sight of it; but 
 they could from time to time hear the murmur of 
 the rapids, which presently became so loud that 
 the Colonel exclaimed, 
 
 " We ll have a look at the Indian Falls, boys." 
 
THE RIVALS. 245 
 
 Whereupon he dropped the various articles 
 which he was carrying, and led the way at right 
 angles from their course in the direction of the 
 river. The boys, having imitated his example, 
 followed, and, after struggling through the intri 
 cacies of the forest for a few moments, they 
 reached the bank. In front was an expanse of 
 seething foam, the first-fruits of the cascade, which 
 but just above fell in a swift tawny deluge some 
 eight feet high. Farther up, as far as they could 
 see, the river came tearing down, billowy and 
 churning. 
 
 u How should you like to run that, Jack ? " 
 asked the Colonel. 
 
 " In a canoe ? Golly ! I should think it would 
 smash her all to pieces." 
 
 " The chances would be decidedly that way," 
 was the dry answer. 
 
 For a few moments they all watched the water 
 fall without speaking. There was a fascination 
 in the smooth way in which the galloping flood 
 slipped over the verge and dropped in a shimmer 
 ing wall below. 
 
 " I should think it would get tired," said Max. 
 
246 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " It does occasionally," said their guide. " That 
 is to say, the water becomes low in the river, and 
 the rocks begin to show themselves ; and, though 
 the fall always exists, it loses in force and 
 picturesqueness. 
 
 "Did anyone ever run it in a canoe?" asked 
 Jack, who had been brooding over the earlier 
 dialogue. 
 
 "I have never seen any one attempt it. The 
 men in former years have been fond of boasting 
 of their ability to do so ; but, when it came to the 
 point, I have noticed that they were apt to say 
 the water was either too low or too high." 
 
 "But how does one manage to come down, 
 then ? " asked Max. 
 
 " Carry round it," answered Jack with an air 
 of superiority. 
 
 "Yes," said the Colonel. "The canoes used 
 to stop a little piece above here, and the men 
 carried them on their shoulders the necessary 
 distance. But, owing to the inconvenience of 
 tnis, a canoe has for the last few years been kept 
 at the Narrows, so that no one often troubles the 
 falls nowadays." 
 
THE RIVALS. 247 
 
 After a few minutes of further inspection, the 
 onward march was resumed, not to be interrupted 
 again until they reached the log cabin. This 
 proved to be an unsealed and rather gaping- 
 looking affair, exposed, on account of crevices 
 between the logs, to the inroads of the man or 
 beast that might from curiosity or desire for 
 shelter seek an entrance. In fact, as the Colonel, 
 after unfastening the padlock, let in the light, 
 there was a clattering along the floor, and a 
 creature the size of a small dog was descried 
 in a corner of the single apartment. On the 
 approach of the visitors, it contracted itself into 
 a round ball, and appeared to be bristling all 
 over with quills. 
 
 " A hedgehog," said the Colonel. " Lucky for 
 Bingo that he is absent, or he would stand a 
 chance of carrying off some arrows in his snout. 
 These fellows are very clever at eating their 
 way into houses in the woods," he added, calling 
 the attention of the boys to a hole that had been 
 gnawed in the flooring. 
 
 By means of prodding with the butt of the gaff, 
 the prickly beast was banished from the cabin 
 
248 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 without injury either to it or its ejectors : and 
 after tidying the place a little, and bestowing 
 their belongings, Jack and Max put their rods 
 together, and set off with the Colonel to learn 
 the positions of the pools. The canoe, a birch- 
 bark one, was found in the loft, and in it a pair 
 of paddles. Two poles were soon manufactured, 
 and shod with sockets. As the canoes they had 
 been using hitherto were of wood, the boys 
 found themselves for the first few minutes a 
 little at sea, but they soon got accustomed to 
 the somewhat different action of the new skiff. 
 After leaving the house, the river began to grow 
 narrower and narrower, running swiftly between 
 bold, sheer precipices on either side, now thickly 
 wooded and now bare, but skirted usually at 
 the base by a narrow beach of sand, until at 
 last the banks were not more than thirty feet 
 apart. At this point, there was a roaring rapid, 
 at the head ol which the walls opened out into 
 a broad, expansive pool, the sanctuary of hun 
 dreds of salmon, so said the Colonel. It was a 
 beautiful spot; its surface a dark, placid mirror, 
 flecked here and there with patches of snowy 
 
THE RIVALS. 249 
 
 foam which had sailed down from the fall a 
 little way above. 
 
 " Whoever hooks a fish in that pool has to kill 
 him there," said the Colonel. "If he gets into 
 the rapid, he bids you good-by." 
 
 This was not difficult of belief, especially as 
 the boys had just had all they could do to 
 force the canoe through the torrent in question. 
 After a few moments delay, keeping close to 
 the shore so as not to disturb the fish, they 
 passed on through a chain of pools one of 
 them of unusual length to the graceful fall 
 half a mile above, under which the salmon were 
 accustomed to congregate in large numbers prior 
 to taking the daring leap that gave them access 
 to still more distant spawning beds. As a 
 waterfall, the cascade was not very imposing, 
 much less so, the Colonel said, than those in 
 many other salmon rivers ; but the volume of 
 water was high and broad enough to cause Jack 
 and Max to wonder how the finny aspirants 
 could manage to ascend it. They crept up to 
 within a few yards of the cataract, where they 
 held the canoe steady with their paddles, so 
 
250 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 close to it that they could feel the light spatter 
 of the spray. As, spell-bound, they were watching 
 the translucent down-pour, a salmon suddenly 
 jumped out of water just ahead, quivered for 
 a moment in mid-air, and fell back again into 
 its native element with a splash. 
 
 " That fellow was taking a look to see how 
 high it was," said the Colonel. 
 
 Soon after they had the good fortune to wit 
 ness a successful attempt on the part of another 
 fish, which, keeping close to the wall of rock, 
 using a ledge here and a ledge there as a breath 
 ing-place, and obtaining impetus by standing on 
 its tail, swam up the cataract. Max, as the 
 triumphant climber darted forward out of sight, 
 inquired, 
 
 " What is there beyond, farther up river ? " 
 
 "Very much the same sort of thing you have 
 seen below, for twenty miles or so, and then the 
 lake." 
 
 " Could we go up ? " asked Jack. 
 
 "There would be no difficulty after you had 
 carried the canoe round this fall, but the trip 
 would scarcely pay you. I went up some years 
 
THE RIVALS. 
 
 ago, and found the fishing only tolerable, and the 
 scenery not especially fine. The salmon are more 
 scattered and congregate less in pools." 
 
 "But wouldn t there be a better chance of 
 seeing big game ? " asked Jack. 
 
 "Not a bit. Max s old adversary is just as 
 likely to learn of your being up here alone as if 
 you were to go up farther. You d better be on 
 your guard, by the way ; for, if she should happen 
 to get wind of it, she might take it into her head 
 to organize a prowling party to make reprisal for 
 the loss of her cubs." 
 
 "I wish she would," said Jack, and Max nodded 
 approval of this bold sentiment. 
 
 Before returning to the Big Salmon Hole, the 
 Colonel cast a fly over the long pool, and in less 
 than an hour had landed two large fish, and lost a 
 third. Then the boys prepared him a lunch, after 
 which he bade them good-by for a fortnight, as he 
 said. 
 
 Two persons alone in the woods cannot escape 
 each other s society. Fishing side by side, sitting 
 together by the same fire at night, and sharing the 
 same tent, with no one else to speak to, opens 
 
252 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 one s eyes wonderfully, alike to the blemishes and 
 the fine points in a companion s character. Jack, 
 as we know, had come away with an indeterminate 
 idea of setting a very lively pace for Max to follow, 
 so as to put him in the shade or tire him out 
 by his own activity and energy. He began accord 
 ingly to devote himself with the utmost assiduity 
 to his rod, rising early, and ceasing to fish only 
 when lack of daylight rendered further casting 
 useless. Moreover, he cut down trees and cooked 
 with equal enthusiasm, seeming to scorn fatigue, 
 and to wish to take upon his shoulders all the 
 work. In the evening he led the conversation to 
 the various sports of which his companion was 
 ignorant, hinting at his own proficiency therein, 
 and singing the praises of rowing and base-ball, 
 and the manly art of self-defence, in a way adapted, 
 as he thought, to make Max experience shame and 
 envy, and ask himself, "Am I not a flub-dub?" 
 This was an expression Jack had applied to him, 
 not openly, as he had no excuse for a row, but 
 covertly in his own thoughts. 
 
 Meantime Max disappointed him by not appear 
 ing in the least exhausted by the daily routine of 
 
THE RIVALS. 253 
 
 pleasure and duty, and in nowise inclined to faint 
 by the wayside, or to allow himself to be out 
 stripped either in fishing or in work. The flub 
 dub, so called, certainly made no complaints, but 
 was perfectly willing to get up in the morning as 
 soon as it was light, insisted on taking part in 
 collecting fire-wood and preparing breakfast, and 
 gave him no opportunity to make a bigger score 
 on the river by idling or ceasing to fish before he 
 did ; and with it all was thoroughly good natured, 
 listening to the accounts of rowing and base-ball 
 exploits with friendly interest, and yet without 
 seeming disheartened thereby. Jack had hardly 
 bargained for this. 
 
 As they had but one canoe, and as neither was 
 skillful enough as yet to gaff his own fish while 
 holding the rod, as they had seen the Colonel do, 
 the boys kept near each other while fishing ; the 
 one casting from the beach where it was possible, 
 while the other cast from the canoe. The salmon 
 rose wonderfully. On the day after the Colonel s 
 departure they took four apiece, and on the next 
 the fishing was fairly grand. Jack landed seven, 
 and Max lost his seventh from its wriggling off 
 
254 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 the gaff. They had agreed that when a fish was 
 ready for gaffing, the one whose fish it was should 
 pass his rod to his companion, and perform himself 
 the delicate operation of gaffing. So it w T as none 
 of Jack s fault that this fish was lost ; and, as it 
 would have tied his score, Jack could not help 
 feeling a little secret satisfaction. But two days 
 later the salmon was found floating dead in an 
 eddy, and it seemed to him as though fate were 
 opposed to his shaking off Max. 
 
 After the third day the fish rose less keenly, 
 and the boys were not sorry on the afternoon 
 of the fifth to see the sun go down behind a 
 bank of clouds. Rain followed before morning, 
 a drenching drizzle at first, which increased by 
 breakfast time into heavy showers. Jack per 
 sisted in fishing, to which Max made no demur 
 beyond remarking that the Colonel had told them 
 that salmon rarely would take the fly during a 
 storm. 
 
 " You can never be sure until you try," said 
 Jack laconically. 
 
 Accordingly they tried for three hours, attired 
 in rubber coats and boots, without getting a rise. 
 
THE RIVALS. 255 
 
 Moist and clammy, for it was hot, they returned 
 to the log cabin. Here the time went slowly, 
 especially for Jack. Max had his volume of poetry 
 with him, from which he offered to read aloud ; 
 but our hero would none of it. After sunset 
 the rain ceased, and later on the moon broke 
 through the clouds. As it had not been possible 
 to make a fire, they had lived on cold rations 
 during the day, and now Jack had curled himself 
 in his ulster and laid down. Max wandered down 
 to the water s edge. The night was rapidly be 
 coming fine. A favorable breeze had banished the 
 scud, and was driving the cloud-bank, through 
 which the moon had pierced, down behind the 
 tree-tops. The river, showing already the effects 
 of the severe rain, was running fiercely, and 
 reflected the alternate light and shade of the 
 heavens. 
 
 " Jack ! " called Max, inspired to share the 
 spectacle. 
 
 " What ? " came the drowsy answer. 
 
 " You ought to see the sky. It s very fine." 
 
 There was no response. Evidently the subject 
 did not appeal to him within doors, or he was not 
 
256 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 disposed to humor his comrade s poetical proclivi 
 ties. A few moments later Max called again, but 
 this time his tone expressed importunity and 
 mystery combined. 
 
 " Jack, come here quick." 
 
 The drowsy sportsman jumped to his feet 
 straightway, and ran out into the night; but 
 seeing Max standing at the water s edge, seem 
 ingly unperturbed, he changed his gait to a 
 saunter, and said a little querulously, 
 
 " Well, here I am." 
 
 " Come quick," repeated Max, in a low tone. 
 
 Jack, again impressed, hastened his footsteps. 
 
 "Do you see anything?" Max asked, pointing 
 across the river a little up stream. " I have lost 
 it now," he added, "but I could almost swear 
 I saw a canoe close to the opposite bank." 
 
 " A canoe ! Whose canoe ? " 
 
 " I don t know. It crossed one of those bright 
 streaks, and I saw it as plainly as could be. 
 Then it passed beyond, and I have not seen it 
 again. There was one man poling." 
 
 "Going up stream?" 
 
 Yes." 
 
THE RIVALS. 257 
 
 Jack was shading his eyes with one hand, and 
 staring fixedly. Some thin clouds had partially 
 obscured the moon, so that the light on the river 
 was fitful and less effulgent. 
 
 " I can t see anything," he said decidedly. 
 
 " Very possibly it was imagination," said Max. 
 "Though I saw the canoe for a moment with 
 perfect distinctness," he added, evidently reluctant 
 to admit that he had been deceived. "I don t 
 suppose there are such things as phantom barks, 
 do you?" 
 
 " Pshaw ! no," answered Jack. " You ve been 
 reading a lot of that silly stuff, which has made 
 you fancy you saw something, I guess." 
 
 "Poetry, do you mean?" asked Max, surprised. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 In spite of his disdainful disclaimer of a 
 disbelief in the supernatural, Jack seemed reflec 
 tive, and after gazing up river for a few minutes 
 longer inquired, 
 
 " What did the canoe look like ? " 
 
 " Like any other canoe." 
 
 " It s queer, certainly, if you weren t dreaming." 
 
 " I was just as much awake as you are now, 
 
258 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Jack. It may have been an hallucination, of 
 course. But it s what I call weird." 
 
 As there was no way of solving the mystery, 
 bed seemed the best place. In the morning they 
 found the fish quite eager to rise, owing doubtless 
 to the discoloration of the water by the rain. 
 The river was manifestly swollen, and had risen 
 at least a foot during the night. After killing 
 four salmon, and losing one or two others, they 
 drew the canoe ashore at the Narrows pool, and 
 prepared lunch. Just as they had finished, Max, 
 who was looking across the river, suddenly 
 whispered, 
 
 "Look, Jack." 
 
 "It s a bear," was the awe-struck, delighted 
 answer. 
 
 Sure enough, on the opposite bank, busily 
 engaged in gnawing the end of a log, was a 
 splendid brown specimen of the ursine tribe. 
 The boys were in the shade, and not directly 
 exposed to the creature s view ; but they could not 
 reach their canoe, in which lay the gun, without 
 running the risk of attracting its attention. 
 
 "We must get a shot at him," said Jack, and 
 
THE RIVALS. 259 
 
 he began to creep on all fours down the bank. 
 By stealthy movements, he managed to reach 
 the shore without disturbing the bear, and had 
 reached out his hand for the gun, when there 
 came a sudden quawk, quawk, quawk, and a 
 shell-drake started up from the sedge a few feet 
 beyond, and stretching out its long neck went 
 screeching down the river, so startling Jack that 
 he jumped, and joggled one of the poles which 
 lay across a thwart. Bruin heard the clatter, 
 and looking up spied Jack. Rising, he pawed 
 the air for a moment, but dropped to earth and 
 disappeared in the thicket, before Jack, who 
 had grabbed the gun, could draw a bead on 
 him. 
 
 " Come on," cried Jack, in a guttural whisper, 
 and immediately leaped into the canoe, and seized 
 a paddle. 
 
 Max was at his side in an instant, and they 
 glided swiftly across the pool. 
 
 " We d better pull her up high and dry, and 
 tip her over. No telling when we may get back," 
 said Jack feverishly, as they landed. He had 
 usurped the leadership, and he had also seized 
 
260 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 the rifle, which was in their joint custody. If 
 it passed through his mind that this was ungen 
 erous, he did not choose to think of it. " Come 
 on," he reiterated, after they had disposed of the 
 canoe, and he plunged into the underbrush. 
 
 But there was nothing to be seen. The woods 
 were still. At first they were dismayed; then, 
 remembering their former experience, they set to 
 work to examine the ground, which, soft after the 
 storm, would be likely to reveal tracks. These 
 were found after a search of a few minutes, 
 and followed enthusiastically. Carried away by 
 excitement, they hurried through the forest, not 
 knowing whither, and careless as to how they 
 should get back. So long as the traces of the 
 hunted animal could be discerned on moss or 
 leaves, the pursuers thought of nothing else. 
 Their energies were devoted to preserving the 
 trail, and finding it again when lost. For a 
 moment it did occur to Max that they might be 
 losing themselves, and he gave vent to the 
 unavailing regret, 
 
 " I wish we had an axe with which to blaize 
 some of these trees." 
 
THE RIVALS. 261 
 
 u If only we find the bear," answered Jack, " I 
 don t care what happens." 
 
 " Neither do I." 
 
 On they trudged, deep into thickets, up wooded 
 knolls and down into morasses, across patches 
 of open country rough with charred stumps, and 
 again into almost gloomy pine groves where tall 
 and spreading trees did their best to shut out the 
 blue sky, and fungus growths ran riot at their 
 feet. Jack still led the way, and Max followed. 
 Suddenly our hero stopped short, and exclaimed 
 in the tone of one aghast, 
 
 " Thunder ! Have you any cartridges ? " 
 
 Max turned pale. " No," he faltered. 
 
 " That s a pretty mess to be in, isn t it ? Idiot 
 that I am, I left them in the canoe." 
 
 "But she s loaded," said Max. 
 
 " Yes, we can have one shot, anyway. Feel in 
 your pockets." 
 
 Each did so, but the search was fruitless. The 
 charge in the gun was their only ammunition. 
 Max looked at his watch. It was half-past three. 
 They had been tramping more than two hours. 
 
 On they went, until the slanting rays and the 
 
262 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 increasing somberness of the shade warned them 
 that darkness was not far off. But w T hat manly 
 boy would the prospect of a night in the woods 
 without food or shelter appall, if such a prize as 
 Bruin could be secured thereby? Yet where 
 was Bruin ? Even his tracks were found and 
 lost and found again ; and still no glimpse of his 
 brown hide was caught, no growl rewarded the 
 alert ears of his untiring pursuers. From time to 
 time Jack shifted the rifle from one shoulder to the 
 other, but this was their only tribute to fatigue. 
 
 Where could Bruin be ? 
 
 They reached at last a bosky bourn, as a poet 
 would say, a dell deeply shaded, out of which a 
 quiet brook bubbled, scarcely perceptible at times, 
 so overgrown was it with green things, but deep 
 enough to dampen the ardor of one who trod 
 therein disdainfully. The trickling water was 
 perceived by Jack just in time to enable him to 
 pause upon the margin. Thirst fully as much as 
 discretion bade him do so. He fell upon his knees 
 and lapped the cool rill, beast fashion, boy fashion, 
 and dipped his perspiring brow twice and thrice. 
 Max did the same. Then, as their gaze diverged 
 
THE RIVALS. 263 
 
 in search of the precious trail, it was seen that 
 Bruin had paused likewise to drink, and that his 
 claws had left their imprint in such a fashion as to 
 show that he had dallied and dawdled. 
 
 " He may be round here," said Jack ; and while 
 speaking his face was illumined by hope. 
 
 The tracks were on both banks" of the spring. 
 They ran along it in one direction upon the hither 
 side, ran back again still farther in the opposite 
 way, crossed it and kept close to the edge for two 
 hundred yards, until opposite the point from which 
 they had originally started. Here Bruin had 
 pawed up the ground over a small area, from mere 
 sportiveness apparently, and incident to wallowing 
 to some extent in the cool water. Then the foot 
 prints led off obliquely through the wood again. 
 
 "He has rested, so we must have gained on 
 him," said Max. 
 
 As he uttered the words, a dull tearing sound 
 was audible, which seemed to proceed from behind 
 a large decayed tree-trunk a short distance ahead. 
 The boys listened intently, and immediately the 
 noise was repeated, resembling that produced by 
 rudely rending rotten wood. 
 
264 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " It s him," said Jack, no less oblivious of gram 
 mar than the monks who detected the Jackdaw of 
 Rheims. "You stay here," he continued, "and 
 I ll reconnoiter." 
 
 So saying, he stalked circuitously, on his belly 
 or on tiptoe, from tree to tree, until he reached a 
 point which commanded a view of the reverse of 
 the decayed trunk. It was decayed, certainly, 
 rather, it was hollow, and standing upright, with 
 teeth buried in the punk-like timber near the 
 top, was the big bear. Bruin s head reached just 
 about on a level with the height of the broken 
 tree, so that he was concealed from any one 
 standing on the other side. At his feet was a 
 mangled piece of carcass, which looked like the 
 remains of a deer. On this he had evidently 
 been lately feeding. What was he doing? In 
 vestigating to discover suitable sleeping quarters ? 
 
 Jack was in no state of mind for conjecture. 
 He squatted down behind his own tree, and beck 
 oned vigorously to Max, who succeeded in joining 
 him without giving notice of their presence to the 
 enemy. The next move required serious consid 
 eration. Their single shot spent in vain, what 
 
THE RIVALS. 265 
 
 could they do? From where they were, a good 
 marksman ought not to miss; but, on the other 
 hand, could either of them be called a good marks 
 man? Jack did not believe Max to be, and at 
 heart he felt grave doubts as to his own ability. 
 But something must be done. To have come 
 such a distance, and not to make an attempt to 
 slay so grand a prize, was out of the question. 
 Jack nervously fingered the rifle, and went so far 
 as to cock it. 
 
 "Are you sure you can hit him from here," 
 Max asked. 
 
 "I m not certain exactly which is a mortal 
 spot," answered Jack evasively. 
 
 The bear was still busy with its investigations. 
 But just after Jack s remark it stopped and sniffed 
 apprehensively. 
 
 " I guess he smells us." 
 
 "He s a big fellow, isn t he? He could chew 
 us into mince-meat if he got hold of us," said 
 Max. 
 
 " I don t mean to let him get hold of us. See 
 here," Jack continued resolutely, "I m going to 
 try to creep up on him, and get close enough to 
 
266 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 fire before lie sees me. I don t dare to risk it from 
 here." 
 
 Thereupon he stepped cautiously from behind 
 the tree, and began to advance. The distance 
 from him to the bear was about eighty yards, and 
 there was nothing but open space between them. 
 The ground, however, was so mossy, that by tread 
 ing lightly footfalls need not be audible. With 
 his rifle cocked and grasped before him, ready to 
 aim at once if the beast should turn, Jack trav 
 ersed successfully half the space, and then stood 
 still. To come to very close quarters with such 
 a monster would be scarcely prudent, if he could 
 be sure of doing equal execution farther off. 
 Even Jack s stout spirit recognized this. With 
 the idea of testing how sure an aim he could get 
 at the present distance, he dropped upon one 
 knee. 
 
 But just then Bruin began to move, and to let 
 himself drop upon all fours by slipping down the 
 trunk; not apparently because suspicious, for 
 after his sniffing fit he had placidly resumed his 
 labors, but doubtless for the reason that he had 
 now finished them. 
 
THE RIVALS. 267 
 
 Jack felt himself quivering all over. He took 
 rigid aim at the shaggy bulk ; but the backing and 
 turning process which Bruin was indulging in was 
 confusing, and convinced him that this was no 
 moment for one with but a single rifle-ball at his 
 disposal to fire. Round wheeled the bear, uncon 
 scious of danger, and presenting for a moment a 
 tempting flank. But, though Jack s finger half 
 contracted on the trigger, he could not satisfy 
 himself that he had just the right aim before it 
 was . too late. Then he beheld facing him two 
 yellow eyes arid a huge snout, and a mouth which 
 afforded a flashing glimpse of white, savage teeth, 
 as the brute, apprised of peril, opened it to express 
 its feelings in a blood-curdling growl. If unwise 
 to fire before, it was surely so now, with his enemy 
 standing head on in such a way that an experi 
 enced marksman might well fail to hit a vital spot. 
 In the awful moment of suspense that followed 
 the growl, during which each surveyed the other 
 and made no movement, he could not help wishing 
 that he had fired when the chance had been given 
 him to get a shot at the creature s broad side. 
 It seemed an eternity to Jack. The yellow eyes, 
 
268 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 dilating as they gazed, were fixed upon him with 
 ominous scrutiny, which he, remembering that 
 animals are said to quail before a resolute human 
 stare, endeavored to return. There came another 
 growl, louder and more menacing than the first, 
 and Bruin rose upon his hind legs with the 
 evident design of advancing to seize the rash 
 intruder on his privacy. Jack felt that the time 
 for action on his part had come. Still crouching, 
 with one knee on the ground, he put the rifle to 
 his shoulder, took aim at the heart, and, as the 
 bear danced angrily forward, pulled the trigger. 
 He heard what seem to him half a scream and 
 half a roar. He sprang to his feet, confused a 
 little by the report and smoke. Was Bruin dead, 
 he asked himself, or had he missed? The next 
 moment he was conscious of two yellow eyes 
 become balls of fire, and that a hairy mass was 
 sweeping down upon him. He sprang back, 
 putting out instinctively his gun before him as 
 a barrier between him and destruction. It was 
 torn from his grasp by terrible violence, at the 
 same moment that two rows of white, savage teeth 
 gleamed cheek by jowl with him. Seeking to 
 
THE RIVALS. 269 
 
 escape, Jack threw himself away from them with 
 
 all his power ; and as he did so his heels caught 
 
 
 in a creeping vine, and he fell heavily backwards. 
 
 " Max ! " he screamed, in the agony of despair ; 
 and at the moment thoughts of home and his 
 mother and all the panorama of his past life rose 
 before him. Even in that brief spell he had time 
 to reflect that if he were spared he would try to 
 become a better fellow. 
 
 There was no need of that cry to warn Max 
 of his comrade s frightful peril. Breathless and 
 trembling with excitement, he had beheld from 
 his post behind the tree, without stirring, the 
 first scenes in the drama which led to the bear s 
 perception of his enemy. Instinctively, as he saw 
 Bruin rise from the earth in growling majesty, 
 he had clutched and unsheathed his knife, and 
 stepped forward. Why did not Jack fire ? Then 
 had come the flash, cutting short his quivering 
 mood, followed by a shriek of pain. Peering 
 forward in the full belief such was his con 
 fidence in Jack s powers that the bear had 
 fallen, he was suddenly confronted by a sight 
 that thrilled him with horror. The monster, 
 
270 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 instead of lying prostrate on the ground, stood 
 erect and rampant, and was advancing, apparently 
 uninjured, in full fury upon his adversary. 
 
 Max s impulse was to fly for self-preservation ; 
 but, though he drew back, the fascination of 
 horror rooted his feet. Spell-bound, as it were, 
 he saw the maddened beast snatch at, and beat 
 down, the interposed rifle, and Jack himself fall 
 over backwards in a futile effort to escape, utter 
 ing his name in an agonized cry. There was 
 no time for indecision. In another instant the 
 infuriated animal would have his teeth in its 
 vanquished enemy s throat. With a swift glance 
 at the knife in his hand, the blade of which, 
 thanks to the supervision of the Colonel, was no 
 apology for a weapon, but a long sharp piece of 
 steel, Max darted forward with uplifted arm, and 
 struck the bear with all his might and main 
 before the creature, too devoted to its desire for 
 vengeance to regard a new antagonist, could 
 ward off the blow aimed at its exposed left 
 breast. Such was his impetus, that, as the blade 
 buried itself, he was brought into close contact 
 with the bear s body, then fell slipping down 
 
THE RIVALS. 271 
 
 upon both knees, still stanchly clinging to the 
 handle of the knife, which was thus twisted 
 upwards. Cut to the quick, Bruin screamed 
 again with anguish, and vibrated his paws, and 
 gnashed his teeth, preliminary, as it seemed, to 
 folding this new-found foe in a cruel embrace. 
 Max felt the hot breath, and shrank in dread. 
 But the blow had been well placed. Before its 
 purpose could be carried out, the fatally wounded 
 animal, staggering for an instant while its strength 
 ebbed, fell sideways heavily, dragging Max with 
 it. As it lifted its head once more to snap at its 
 conqueror, Jack, who had got upon his feet, struck 
 it vigorously a series of blows with the butt of 
 the rifle. Then, with a great gasp, it died. To 
 make matters sure, Jack bent over and cut its 
 throat. 
 
 "Are you hurt?" he said earnestly, as Max 
 picked himself up in a bewildered fashion. 
 
 "I don t think so. Is he dead?" 
 
 " Yes ; but your jacket is torn. Your left hand 
 is bleeding. Did he bite you ? " 
 
 Max glanced at his sleeve, from underneath 
 which some blood was trickling. "I think he 
 
272 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 grabbed me once with one of his paws, but it 
 doesn t amount to much." 
 
 " O Max, Max, you saved my life! If it hadn t 
 been for you, he d have torn me to pieces. Take 
 off your coat. Oh, I am so sorry!" 
 
 Max obeyed, smiling. " See, it is nothing," he 
 said, exhibiting his bared arm, which was some 
 what scratched, though not severely. " It is only 
 on the surface. How I am trembling! My teeth 
 are chattering." 
 
 " I should think they would. But you killed 
 him. You re sure of the rifle now." 
 
 Jack had taken out his handkerchief, and was 
 binding it round the wounded arm. " I thought 
 I was a goner," he continued. " How his eyes 
 glared ! You are trembling, poor fellow, that s 
 a fact. There, that ll hold, I guess. I wonder 
 if I hit him." 
 
 They both stooped down to examine the prize. 
 The bear was lying in a pool of blood. On 
 rolling him over, the knife appeared sticking out 
 a few inches below the heart, and there w r as 
 another wound higher up, between the left breast 
 and shoulder, which had been bleeding profusely. 
 
THE RIVALS. 273 
 
 "I did hit him," said Jack. "See," and he 
 pointed to the orifice. " But he wouldn t have 
 died from that, would he ? " 
 
 "I don t know," said Max. "I know very 
 little about bears." 
 
 "Except how to kill them. O Max, it s splen 
 did ! What will Colonel Russell say ? Tell me, 
 how did you feel ? Did you think you were 
 going to kill him ? " 
 
 " I didn t have much time to think about any 
 thing. I don t understand how I managed to 
 do it." 
 
 "Well, you did it; and you saved my life. 
 The blade must have gone straight through his 
 heart. Shall I pull it out ?" 
 
 " If you like." 
 
 It was no very easy matter. Jack had to rest 
 one foot on the body of the bear, and haul with 
 a vim. " You re a great deal stronger than I 
 thought you were, Max," he said, when he had 
 drawn it out. " How much do you suppose this 
 fellow weighs ? He s fat as butter, isn t he ? You 
 know the skin s worth a lot, Max, if it s in good 
 condition. I do hope it is." 
 
274 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " I m glad I haven t got to kill him over again," 
 said Max with a shiver, receiving and returning 
 to its sheath the knife which Jack had been clean 
 ing on the grass. 
 
 Jack looked at him in rather a puzzled manner. 
 " It ll teach us one thing," he said, " and that is 
 not to go about without spare cartridges in our 
 pockets. Golly ! " he added suddenly. " How 
 dark it is getting ! " This was certainly the case. 
 In their excitement they had failed to notice that 
 the sun had gone down, and that night was upon 
 them. 
 
 " What are we to do ? " said Max. 
 
 " We can t find our way back until to-morrow. 
 We shall have to sleep here so far as I can see. 
 Have you the least idea where we are ? " 
 
 " Not the least." 
 
 " We must have tramped a good many miles," 
 said Jack. " I hope this fellow s mate doesn t live 
 anywhere near here. We d better look round a 
 little before we turn in." 
 
 It was not a bad place for a night s rest, thanks 
 to the velvety moss which overspread the forest 
 floor. After his cautionary speech, Jack had gone 
 
THE RIVALS. 275 
 
 to examine the hollow tree, but found no signs 
 of other bears. Apparently it had never been 
 occupied. 
 
 " How about a fire ? " asked Max, as Jack 
 returned. " Have you any matches ? " 
 
 " Jer-us-alem ! " Jack fumbled anxiously in his 
 pockets. All those in his coat arid trousers he 
 turned inside out to no purpose, and hope was 
 rapidly on the wane, when his face suddenly 
 became radiant, and he produced from his vest- 
 pocket a single match. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 " What luck ! " said Max. 
 
 " One bullet and one match. Fine sportsmen 
 we are. And if I don t turn the match to more 
 account than I did the bullet, we shall have to go 
 to bed supperless." 
 
 "I don t see but that we shall have to, any 
 way," said Max. " What is there to eat ? " 
 
 "Eat? The bear, of course." 
 
 Max laughed. " I had forgotten him." 
 
 "Bear s meat is first rate, T believe. It ll 
 save us from starving, at all events. We d have 
 been in a nice pickle if we had not killed him, 
 
276 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 even supposing we had not been inside of 
 him." 
 
 By means of searching a little, the boys col 
 lected a considerable quantity of twigs and bark 
 that would be serviceable for starting a fire, includ 
 ing some of the decayed wood torn off by Bruin. 
 They came across a number of logs of more or 
 less size within a small radius, so that ample mate 
 rial for a blaze was assured, provided that all went 
 well at the start. Jack made a little pile, and, 
 after altering its arrangement several times, said, 
 holding out the match, 
 
 " I want you to light it, Max." 
 
 "No, go ahead." 
 
 "I shall only make a mess of it." There was a 
 decided touch of ruefulness in Jack s tone. 
 
 But Max shook his head. "I d rather have you 
 light it." 
 
 "You mustn t blame me, then, if it goes out." 
 So saying, Jack, having critically ascertained the 
 direction of the wind, set his back to it, and 
 having taken off his hat, and dropped it in front of 
 him, seized the match firmly, and struck it on a 
 stone. Immediately he darted it within the hat, 
 
THE RIVALS. 277 
 
 and bent down protectingly. It was an ordinary 
 lucifer; and for a moment, as the ignited sulphur 
 eat its way down the head, the boys held their 
 breath. A flicker of blue fire followed, and the 
 wood burst into flame. Still guarding it from the 
 wind, Jack conveyed it in safety underneath 
 the pile. Here there was another critical period. 
 The bark and leaves seemed an eternity in catch 
 ing. Jack held the blazing match until his fingers 
 were smartly scorched, then tucked the remnant 
 well into the midst of the heap. But it was 
 already lighted, as the crackling of the dry twigs 
 and the curling thread of smoke attested. 
 
 " Good enough, Jack," said Max. 
 
 To avoid all chances of a catastrophe, Jack 
 fanned with his hat the mounting flame until the 
 entire pile was in a roar. 
 
 "Now, if we re careful, she ll burn until morn 
 ing," he said triumphantly. 
 
 The friendly blaze attractively lit up the gloom 
 of night that had closed in upon them, opening 
 vistas between the giant trees, bringing into 
 prominence quaint protuberances on their sides, 
 and mammoth toadstools springing from their 
 
278 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 roots. The boys were glad of the warmth, too, 
 and stretched out their hands to the glow. More 
 over, they were well nigh faint with hunger. 
 Accordingly, as soon as the fire was roaring to his 
 entire satisfaction, Jack gat down on his knees, 
 and attacked the carcass with his knife. As 
 cooking utensils were lacking, the only feasible 
 method of getting a square meal Avas to cut strips 
 of meat, and spitting them on twigs expose them 
 to the heat until they were palatable. The 
 example thus set was speedily followed by Max, 
 and the experiment proved diverting, as well as 
 successful in the way of appeasing hunger. The 
 fat meat sizzled until it frizzled, giving out an 
 odor that suggested excellent ham. They cut 
 scraps just large enough to be popped into their 
 mouths when cooked, and delectable morsels many 
 of them were. The neighboring brook supplied 
 them with limpid water, so that as regards food 
 and drink they felt highly content. 
 
 When their appetites were sated, they set to 
 work collecting fire-wood, which, without an axe, 
 required diligent wandering with torches. But a 
 sufficient quantity for the night was procured at 
 
THE RIVALS. 279 
 
 last. Then they composed themselves, with their 
 backs against a large tree, and their feet extended 
 towards the crackling logs, arid discussed their 
 plans for sleeping. In the absence of blankets or 
 anything to lie on, it seemed more prudent to 
 divide the night into watches, so that the fire 
 should be kept alive. Besides, the idea that one of 
 Bruin s family, or some other dangerous inhabitant 
 of the forest, might be within prowling distance, 
 made unguarded slumber seem less attractive than 
 usual. By sleeping for two hours at a time, and 
 being waked by his companion, each would be 
 able to get a fair amount of unperturbed rest. 
 
 " I don t suppose there s really any danger, and 
 I don t know that it would help much if one of 
 us were awake, in case any creature should be 
 inclined to attack us," said Max. 
 
 " We have our knives," answered Jack. " We 
 should have a chance to get on our feet, at least. 
 Besides, the big fire, and one of us sitting up with 
 the rifle in his lap, would be likely to keep off any 
 single animal. He wouldn t know that the gun 
 wasn t loaded." 
 
 Careful search had enabled them, while collect- 
 
280 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 ing fuel, to discover some hemlock boughs. Of 
 these they had broken off a sufficient number to 
 make their couch less uncomfortable, and after 
 freeing them from dew they spread them on what 
 appeared the most desirable spot, under cover of 
 the tree and close to the fire. Although Jack was 
 anxious to give Max the first opportunity to sleep, 
 Max insisted on drawing lots, which was done by 
 tossing up a cent, a very useless possession to 
 have in one s pocket at such a time. The fates 
 decided in accordance with Jack s desire ; and he 
 prepared for his two hours vigil by sitting bolt 
 upright, with his back to the tree, ready to cry 
 " Who comes there ? " at the least hint of peril. 
 Max was asleep a moment or two after laying 
 himself down, and the sentinel was left with his 
 own thoughts and the sputtering fire as compan 
 ions. At first his senses were completely on the 
 alert. He listened intently, imagining every 
 sound an indication of an approaching enemy, and 
 that he saw animal shapes on the edge of the circle 
 which divided the fire-light from the darkness. 
 But the forest was noticeably still. Only occa 
 sionally did the cries of its inmates break the 
 
THE RIVALS. 281 
 
 tranquillity, and there was no river to murmur. 
 The snapping of the logs was rather a spur to 
 drowsiness. Indeed, it was not long before Jack 
 found his most serious concern to be keeping 
 himself awake. He had literally to pinch his legs 
 and arms. He felt too comfortable in every 
 position he took. At last he gave a great start, 
 realizing that there had been a gap in his con 
 sciousness. The fire had lost some of its brilliancy. 
 How long had he slept? He looked at his watch, 
 and found that it must have been, as well as he 
 could judge, ten minutes. This was terrible. To 
 sleep at one s post ! What if a watchful wild-cat 
 had taken advantage of these ten minutes to make 
 a dart for Max? Could he ever have forgiven 
 himself ! 
 
 So tragically did this view of the case strike 
 Jack, that he sprang up, and after replenishing 
 the fire saw fit to promenade in front of it, rather 
 than trust himself again in a recumbent position. 
 This exercise served to drive away his tendency 
 to sleep, so that when the two hours had elapsed 
 he concluded not to wake Max, who was lying 
 like a log. It was a glorious night overhead. 
 
282 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 The moon had not yet risen, but the stars were 
 clear and brilliant. He rehearsed the events of 
 the day, and trembled once more at his own 
 narrow escape. Somehow his feeling toward his 
 companion had completely changed. He felt 
 kindly, tenderly, in fact, toward him, and envied 
 him not at all his certainty of winning the rifle. 
 Jack did not put these sentiments into language, 
 but he was vividly conscious of them. Such a 
 place and time were well adapted for bringing 
 him face to face with what he was, and giving the 
 better part of his nature a chance to assert itself. 
 
 The breaking apart of a large log, which let the 
 pile resting upon it fall into the fire with a loud 
 sputter, disturbed his reverie, and caused Max to 
 sit up straight and look at his watch. 
 
 " Why, Jack, it is one o clock ! You were to 
 have waked me at twelve." 
 
 " Is it ? You looked so comfortable I couldn t 
 bear to disturb you." 
 
 " But that isn t fair," said Max. " You are just 
 as tired as I, and need your sleep just as much." 
 
 "I m not a bit sleepy." Jack squatted down 
 beside him, and looked pensively at the flames. 
 
THE RIVALS. 283 
 
 " Have you heard or seen anything? " 
 
 u No. v 
 
 " Lie down, then, and shut your eyes, or you ll 
 be used up to-morrow. We ve got a hard tramp 
 before us, lugging that bear." 
 
 Jack made no answer for a moment; then he 
 said, "I want to beg your pardon, Max, before 
 I go to sleep." 
 
 " For what, Jack ? " 
 
 "For everything; for well, you know how 
 I ve treated you ever since we left home. I d an 
 idea at the start that you were er a tender 
 foot" 
 
 "A what?" 
 
 " A tenderfoot er sort of soft, and not very 
 manly. Some of the others thought so, too. But 
 you re the manliest and pluckiest of all of us, and 
 the most of a sportsman, though you ve not been 
 used to roughing it as most of us have. Besides, 
 I d no more right than you to the first shot at the 
 bear. I stole it. And I wish to tell you how 
 sorry I am for being mean and disagreeable, and 
 I hope you ll forgive me." 
 
 Once started, Jack spoke fluently, as though 
 
284 JACK IN THE IJUSIl. 
 
 the words were the genuine overflow of his 
 heart. 
 
 " Forgive you, Jack ? Of course I will, if I ve 
 anything to forgive," said Max pleasantly. " But 
 you were all of you right about me. I am a good 
 deal of a tenderfoot ; at any rate, I was when 
 I started. I know nothing about games or any 
 thing that the rest of you are interested in ; 
 and when I saw you all so strong and active and 
 clever, it mortified me terribly. I saw you 
 considered me like a girl, and I ll admit that some 
 of your jests made me feel badly ; but I never 
 thought of blaming you for them, because I knew 
 they were deserved. But they spurred me on to 
 try to become more manly, and I m glad if you 
 think I ve succeeded. As for the bear, it was an 
 accident. I had to do something, for the next 
 moment he would have been eating you. But 
 I would have given a good deal at the time 
 if I could have run away." 
 
 " It isn t only the bear, it s everything," replied 
 Jack seriously. " You were ever so plucky in 
 that race the other day, and sensible, too. If I d 
 been willing to rest as you did, I might have 
 
THE KIVx\LS. 285 
 
 passed you, and I knew that that was the proper 
 thing to do, for I ve been used to rowing ; but I was 
 obstinate, and so I got beaten. I ve been thinking, 
 too, that I could tire you out since we came up 
 to the Narrows ; and yet even if I d been able to, 
 which I haven t, it wouldn t have proved any 
 thing except that I was a bully." 
 
 "You judge yourself too harshly, Jack," Max 
 interposed. 
 
 " No, I don t," he answered impetuously. 
 " What have I to boast of, anyway ? I m tolerably 
 strong and athletic, and all that, and I can row 
 and play ball better than the average ; but that s 
 the whole. And only think what you can do, 
 Max. You are a good scholar " 
 
 " How do you know ? " 
 
 " Mr. Holt says so. And you can speak no end 
 of languages, and are fond of books. I make 
 believe to despise books and poetry and such 
 things ; but I m not so big a fool as not to envy 
 those who are fond of them." Jack spoke as 
 if he were glad to make a clean breast of his 
 shortcomings. 
 
 " But you can do so many things I cannot," 
 
286 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 said Max. " Besides, it would be very easy for 
 you to learn in a short time all I know about 
 books." 
 
 " Could I ? " asked Jack earnestly. 
 
 " I am sure you could. And it was very kind 
 of you to speak so to me, Jack. I think we 
 shall always be friends." 
 
 " There s my hand on it," said Jack, extending 
 his brown fingers, which cordially returned the 
 hearty pressure they received. 
 
 After this the boys were silent, and presently 
 Jack dropped over on his side and fell asleep. 
 Max watched patiently until two hours were 
 passed, then waked him. By this time there were 
 indications of approaching dawn, which cheered 
 their hearts, and prompted Max to suggest that 
 they dispense with the vigil. Jack, however, 
 insisted on mounting guard again. At first he 
 continued his promenade, and took further pre 
 cautions against being caught napping by building 
 up the fire ; but as the light increased, beginning 
 to feel weary, he concluded to sit down for a 
 while. Although by struggling manfully he suc 
 ceeded in keeping awake until it was broad day, 
 
THE RIVALS. 287 
 
 his capacity for resisting temptation became ex 
 hausted at this point, and at five o clock any 
 stray animal might have helped itself to either 
 of the young hunters without fear of interruption 
 from the other. But if any such approached, 
 it chose to confine its proceedings to inspection ; 
 for they slept long and well, until the sunbeams 
 climbed up behind the tree-tops, and darted into 
 their eyes. Jack was the first to awake, which he 
 did with a great start, realizing at once what 
 he had been guilty of. It was nine by his watch. 
 With a sheepish air, which was tempered, how 
 ever, by perceiving Max still motionless, he arose 
 from his hard couch, and, after bathing his face 
 and hands in the brook, built up anew the 
 fire, and began to prepare breakfast, which, 
 of course, would have to consist of more strips of 
 bear s meat. By the time that a number of these 
 were duly sizzling, his companion regained con 
 sciousness, but revealed so bewildered and woe 
 begone a visage when the truth dawned upon 
 him, that Jack burst into laughter. 
 
 "Why, Jack, it s nearly half-past nine. Why 
 didn t you wake me ? " 
 
288 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Max s tone betrayed so much mortification, 
 that Jack confessed, after pretending for a few 
 moments that he had been awake since daybreak, 
 the real state of the case. Then they had another 
 hearty laugh together over their joint incapacity 
 as sentinels ; though Jack declared himself really 
 the one at fault in that he had failed to call 
 Max at the end of the third two hours because 
 asleep himself. But Max insisted that there 
 was no excuse for his having slept six hours 
 on a stretch. 
 
 The boys were not quite so enthusiastic over 
 the breakfast as they had been over their supper. 
 Perhaps now that the novelty of dropping bits 
 of meat into their mouths from a twig had worn 
 off, they would have been willing to return to 
 more civilized methods. Nevertheless, they ate 
 enough to satisfy hunger, and then rose the 
 important question as to how what remained of 
 Bruin should be transported to where they had 
 left the canoe. But, to begin with, neither felt 
 by any means ready to guarantee that he would 
 be able to find the canoe, or indeed the river. 
 Beyond the fact that they had crossed the brook, 
 
THE RIVALS. 289 
 
 they were considerably in the dark to as the 
 route by which they had reached their present 
 encampment. To retrace their steps by means 
 of the bear s tracks, suggested itself as a shrewd 
 plan, but on investigation these seemed to have 
 disappeared. Discouraged thereby, they con 
 cluded, after lugging for a few hundred yards 
 the bear s body, suspended between them from a 
 pole which they had picked up, to leave the 
 carcass, and return for it later. So, as best they 
 could, they scooped out a hole with their knives, 
 into which they put Bruin, covering him with 
 leaves, moss, and stones. They had already 
 cooked, and stuffed into their pockets, a suffi 
 cient portion of the flesh to save them from 
 fasting during the day. Then they marked a 
 tree in a peculiar fashion, to indicate the neigh 
 borhood of his resting-place, and started on their 
 journey, blaizing the forest to right and left from 
 time to time as they proceeded. 
 Jack had a general idea of where the river 
 lay with regard to the points of the compass, as 
 indicated by the sun, and they kept along in 
 accordance with his admonitions. But the wav 
 
290 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 seemed wholly unfamiliar to them, as indeed it 
 must, unless they had been fortunate enough to 
 return by exactly the same course that they had 
 come, which was improbable, if for no other 
 reason, because they had traveled in a zigzag 
 manner while pursuing the bear. Although there 
 was something ludicrous to them in the situa 
 tion, the prospect of wandering about the woods 
 indefinitely was by no means agreeable, and 
 there was no absolute certainty that they were 
 not getting deeper and deeper into the forest 
 every minute. A glimpse of two caribou served 
 only to increase their fears, as they had been 
 told that deer were rarely met with near the 
 river. At noon, it became hot. They stopped 
 for luncheon, feeling completely at a loss as to 
 their whereabouts. Jack exercised his lungs by 
 holloaing a number of times out of sheer des 
 peration, thinking, perhaps, that by some lucky 
 chance they might have wandered within hear 
 ing of the rest of the party. They hoped, too, 
 by listening, to detect the rush of the river, but 
 the woods were as still as the grave. 
 
 " It doesn t matter much which way we go. It s 
 
THE RIVALS. 291 
 
 all luck where we come out," said Jack, when 
 they were ready to start again. 
 
 "Not if your theory about the sun is correct. 
 It provokes me to think that I haven t the least 
 idea as to whether it was shining on our backs or 
 in our faces yesterday afternoon." 
 
 " I thought I was sure about it. But you see 
 where we are. It has all the look of the forest 
 primeval. Hollo-o-o-o-a," Jack cried again vocif 
 erously. " No use," he continued, after listening 
 intently for some minutes. "We sha n t starve, 
 anyway, for another twenty-four hours; and the 
 best way is to leg it as fast as we can, and trust 
 to coming out somewhere." 
 
 Acting on this suggestion, they tramped along 
 in a straight line for another two hours, Jack 
 leading the way. They traversed whatever lay in 
 the path, be it thicket, bramble, bush, or morass. 
 Their clothes were fuzzy and prickly with burrs 
 and briars. If it had been of any use to complain, 
 they would have acknowledged themselves foot 
 sore and weary. But to all appearances, when 
 they came to a halt once more, in order to recover 
 breath and listen for the river, they were just as 
 
292 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 far from it as ever. The sun was getting down 
 again behind the tree-tops, and the vistas ahead 
 looked gloomy. 
 
 " What had we better do ? " said Max. 
 
 "Keep on, it seems to me. It means kill or 
 cure." 
 
 "I am beginning to be reminded of the babes 
 in the wood. 4 The robins so red brought straw 
 berry leaves, and over them spread. 
 
 " I don t believe there are either robins or 
 strawberry leaves in this wilderness. Wild-cats 
 and toadstools will do our business. Are you 
 ready to go on ? " 
 
 " Oui, monsieur." 
 
 Lightly as they seemed to regard their plight, it 
 was undeniably getting serious. By husbanding 
 the supply of bear s meat, they would have food 
 enough for the night and part of another day ; but 
 supposing that they were tramping in the wrong- 
 direction, might they not go on indefinitely with 
 out arriving anywhere until they should literally 
 starve ? Since they had journeyed in vain for one 
 day, might .they not do the same for another and 
 still another ? 
 
THE RIVALS. 293 
 
 If such thoughts occurred to the boys, they 
 did not put them into words, but still struggled 
 onward, keeping up their spirits, as the afternoon 
 shadows deepened, with cheerful talk. 
 
 " Hard luck, wasn t it, that we should get within 
 range of those caribou, and not be able to fire at 
 them ? " said Jack. " One might trot up and peep 
 into the barrel of this gun with perfect safety, if 
 he only knew it." 
 
 "We should have had to bury them, though, 
 just as we did the bear, if we had got them. For 
 my part, I feel more inclination for a swallow of 
 water than for anything else just now." 
 
 " Then gratify your wish," said Jack. Curiously 
 enough, as Max spoke, he had caught sight of a 
 small brook, the first that they had met with since 
 morning. After delaying here long enough to 
 slake their thirst, and bathe their faces, they 
 plunged forward again, intent upon making as 
 much progress as they could before dark. Half 
 an hour later Jack suddenly stopped short, and 
 called attention to a plant, one branch of which 
 was hanging down half broken, as though some 
 one had stepped upon it. 
 
294 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " Who could have done that ? " he asked. 
 
 Together they examined it by the twilight. " It 
 must have been done by one of us yesterday," 
 said Max presently, in answer to the question. 
 
 " Whoever did it must have been coining 
 from there," continued Jack, indicating a direction 
 almost at right angles with that in which they had 
 been travelling ; " for, you see, it is bent down this 
 way." 
 
 " You clever creature ! That seems likely, now 
 that you mention it, but I should never have 
 thought of it myself." 
 
 Jack had stepped beyond the crushed plant, and 
 was endeavoring to make out if there were any 
 other similar indications ; but he could find none, 
 and it was too dark to decipher footprints. 
 
 "We d better follow this for a little," he said. 
 " It will do no harm, anyway. 
 
 Spurred by hope, they had tramped on in this 
 new direction for about fifteen minutes, when Jack 
 stopped again, and exclaimed eagerly, 
 
 " Listen, Max, do you hear anything ? " 
 
 Max obeyed. "It sounds like the rush of 
 water." 
 
THE RIVALS. 295 
 
 " It s the river ! " 
 
 " Hooray ! " 
 
 " We re not out of the woods yet," said Jack, 
 whom adversity was making cautious. But he 
 dashed forward at a lively jog, nevertheless, stop 
 ping every few moments to listen anew. 
 
 More and more distinct grew the sound, chan 
 ging hope to security, until at last, when they had 
 run quarter of a mile, their eyes were delighted 
 by a glimpse that set their hearts bounding still 
 faster. 
 
 "It s the Falls!" they exclaimed together in 
 amazement, as they came out on the bank. 
 
 So it certainly was. A hundred yards below 
 where they were standing the picturesque cascade 
 was leaping and tumbling into the river. They 
 could only see its crest, but they had no doubt as 
 to its identity. The last glow of the sunset 
 lingered on the water, and the sky was radiant 
 with promise for the morrow. The boys, glad to 
 be free from uncomfortable fears of being lost, sat 
 down on a stump to enjoy the tranquil scene. It 
 was half-past eight o clock. Another quarter of 
 an hour s walk down stream would bring them to 
 
296 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 where they had left their canoe, and it seemed 
 advisable to pass the rapid below the Narrows 
 before it became pitch dark. They found sitting 
 down, however, so agreeable, that the dusk was 
 nearly darkness before they got upon their legs 
 again. They were in the best of spirits. Such 
 an adventure as theirs they felt to be one that 
 would make the others green with envy. 
 
INJUN FALLS." 297 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 " INJUN FALLS." 
 
 JACK and Max, with the day s experience fresh 
 in mind, took care not to lose sight of the river as 
 they pursued their way to reach the canoe. By 
 the time they were close to where they had left it, 
 night had overspread the sky. The stars were 
 burning quietly and with no especial lustre, so 
 that it was pretty dark. But owing to the 
 peculiar shape of the pool, which widened out so 
 noticeably from the jaws of " the narrow place," 
 as the guides were wont to call it, they found no 
 difficulty in fixing the spot. There lay the canoe, 
 bottom up, just as she had been left by them 
 more than twenty-four hours before. 
 
 Jack, who was in advance, had stooped down 
 to examine her, when Max touched him on the 
 shoulder, whispering at the* same moment, 
 
 " Do you see that ? " 
 
298 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Jack looked. At the lower end of the pool, 
 close to the other bank, was what seemed to be a 
 low, flickering light. " What do you make it out 
 to be?" he asked, in a tone of awe. "It s too 
 small for a fire. See, it is moving this way." 
 
 As Jack spoke, the mysterious manifestation 
 glided a few feet out into the pool, and then 
 immediately darted back again. 
 
 " They may be hunting for us," said Max. 
 
 "But they wouldn t have missed us so soon. 
 Besides, why should any one be prowling round 
 at night in that fashion, if they were ? There are 
 no signs of a camp on the shore," 
 
 " You remember what I saw the other night ? " 
 said Max, after a pause. 
 
 " You mean the canoe ? " asked Jack, in rather 
 an uneasy tone. " What of that ? " 
 
 "Nothing only if there is such a thing as 
 an ignis fatuus " 
 
 "A what?" 
 
 " An ignis fatuus will-of-the-wisp whatever 
 one chooses to call it. I don t believe there are 
 such things. And yet, what can that be ? " 
 
 " It isn t imagination, anyway," whispered Jack 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 299 
 
 decidedly. "A light s a light, and we both can 
 see it with our two eyes." 
 
 " Would it do to hail it ? " 
 
 "No, no. Let s wait and see what it does. 
 Look, it is moving again." 
 
 The boys had instinctively crouched down 
 behind the boat, so as to see without being seen 
 in case of necessity. The strange illumination 
 now began to move steadily forward, until it 
 reached the middle of the pool ; then of a sudden 
 it flashed up, seeming to be lifted from the water. 
 
 " Je hos aphat ! " whispered Jack, in rather 
 a relieved tone. " I believe it s a torch, and that 
 there s a real canoe with some one in it." 
 
 " Who can it be ? " 
 
 " Give it up. Don t you see the outline ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes." 
 
 Jack s explanation was evidently the correct 
 one. The increased brightness of the flame 
 disclosed the distinct though dusky shadow of 
 a skiff, controlled by a single figure. Obviously 
 the individual, whoever he was, had just fastened 
 the torch at the bow in such a manner that it 
 extended over the water. The eyes of the boys, 
 
300 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 grown more accustomed to the night, could 
 discern him now standing up and peering into 
 the pool. Before him he held something which 
 they assumed to be a paddle. What could it 
 mean? What was this mysterious individual 
 doing in the middle of the river at such an 
 hour. 
 
 The wonder which was holding them mute was 
 broken by Jack. 
 
 "Why didn t we think of it before? It s Pete 
 Labouisse, of course." 
 
 " I shouldn t be surprised," whispered Max, in 
 a tone of conviction. " He s after fish, I suppose." 
 
 "He s flambeauing, and it s against the law. 
 I wish the Colonel were here." 
 
 Just then they perceived a swirl on the surface 
 of the water underneath the flame of the torch, 
 and simultaneously the figure in the canoe darted 
 forward the implement in his hand. There 
 followed a vigorous splashing, and they were able 
 to distinguish that a huge salmon was being lifted 
 over the gunwale. 
 
 " The villain ! " exclaimed Jack. " He speared 
 the poor creature. Did you see ? " 
 
"HE S FLAMBEAUING, AJSI> IT S AGAINST THE LAW." P 300. 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 303 
 
 " Isn t there any way to prevent him ? " asked 
 Max indignantly. 
 
 " We could frighten him off for the time being. 
 But wouldn t it be better to wait and see if 
 we can t get even with him somehow?" The 
 suggestion, though vague, was so far satisfactory 
 to Max that he replied with earnestness, 
 
 " If only we could ! " 
 
 The noise of further splashing was audible. 
 The Indian had taken another fish. His system 
 was simple enough. The vivid reflection of the 
 torch in the black water lured the poor salmon 
 up from the depths, and as they reached the 
 surface his lance was hurled with deadly precision 
 into their brains. While the boys sat straining 
 their eyes in following his movements, Pete 
 continued his operations with success, filching 
 salmon after salmon from the pool, over which 
 he glided noiselessly. This went on for more 
 than an hour. Nursing their wrath, and yet 
 uncertain what to do, Jack and Max watched him 
 without interruption. When the pool had become 
 thoroughly stirred up by the futile struggles of 
 the victims to escape, the marauder paddled to the 
 
304 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 opposite bank again. After remaining there some 
 little time, apparently, as well as the boys 
 could make out, for the purpose of depositing 
 his catch, he sallied forth again, and passed on 
 up river. 
 
 " He s going for the other pools, I guess," said 
 Jack. 
 
 The boys now held a council of war. The first 
 idea that occurred to them was to get possession 
 of the salmon already slaughtered, in case Pete 
 had left them on the other side. Therefore they 
 launched their canoe as noiselessly as possible, 
 and, after waiting until the glimmer of the torch 
 had vanished in the distance, stole across the pool. 
 On reaching the opposite bank, they disembarked 
 again, and finding nothing on the shore began to 
 grope among the bushes. It was very dark, and 
 their lack <3f matches was bothersome. But at 
 last Max gave a low cry of satisfaction. He had 
 discovered the whole hoard of fish underneath the 
 shadow of a pine, and covered with alder-bushes. 
 With eager fingers the boys took possession of 
 them, and brought them down to the water s edge. 
 There were fifteen salmon in all. Jack and Max 
 
INJUN FALLS." 305 
 
 were bitter in their denunciation of the cruel 
 butchery. 
 
 " What perfect beauties ! " said Max. " See 
 see this fellow; and here s one larger still." 
 
 "Regular whales. Those two must weigh at 
 least forty pounds each. It s a diabolical out 
 rage." 
 
 " It s murder midnight assassination ; that s 
 the name for it. There are three or four fish 
 among them bigger than anything we ve caught 
 yet." 
 
 "I know it," groaned Jack. "And we might 
 have caught them to-morrow. What let s do with 
 them ? " 
 
 This was a serious question, and required 
 thought. 
 
 " Suppose we run them down in the canoe, and 
 stow them in the icehouse," Max suggested. " Pete 
 would never dare to come after them there." 
 
 Jack assented to this plan. The prospect of 
 reaching camp again added attraction to the 
 scheme, for, though excited, they were well-nigh 
 worn out with fatigue and lack of sleep. The} 7 
 had eaten nothing but cold bear s meat all day. 
 
306 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " How good a slice of one of those fellows would 
 taste ! " said Max, as they were lifting the noble 
 fish into the canoe. 
 
 " I wouldn t eat one to to save myself from 
 starvation," exclaimed Jack fiercely. " They ve 
 had no chance for their lives, poor creatures, and 
 we ve no right to eat them." 
 
 "I ought to have thought of that. What, 
 though, can be done with them, if we don t eat 
 them ? " continued Max, after a moment. 
 
 This was rather a poser. " Bury them or 
 burn them. I don t mean to eat them, anyway," 
 said Jack, by way of settling the matter so far as 
 he was concerned. 
 
 The fifteen fish made a heavy freight; and 
 running the rapid at the Narrows was a decidedly 
 ticklish affair, requiring the utmost caution on 
 the part of Jack, who was in the bow, to avoid 
 disaster. This passed in safety, their course down 
 river was comparatively smooth, though necessa 
 rily slow on account of the darkness. The boys 
 chuckled gaily at the thought of the anger and 
 astonishment which the half-breed would experi 
 ence on discovering the loss of his splendid mess 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 307 
 
 of fish. On arrival at the camp, having hastily 
 consigned their cargo to the ice-house, and taken 
 off the edge of hunger by means of pilot bread and 
 some pieces of chocolate, they had to consider 
 what their next move should be ; for they were 
 agreed to balk Pete, if possible, of his entire 
 night s haul. All sense of fatigue was forgotten. 
 On reflection, the most sure plan seemed to be 
 that they should pole up again to the pool at the 
 Narrows, in the hope of forestalling Pete s arrival. 
 They could there lie in ambush, and be governed 
 in their actions by circumstances. Accordingly 
 they set off, well supplied this time with car 
 tridges, matches, and food, so as to be prepared 
 for every emergency. When they reached the 
 entrance to the pool, there was no appearance of 
 the torch or canoe. All was dark and still. 
 Stealing cautiously along the shore, the boys 
 landed at the spot where they had discovered the 
 salmon, and on investigation found that Pete had 
 apparently not yet returned, for there were no 
 more fish concealed in the bushes. Jack then 
 suggested that they cross over to their former 
 hiding-place and keep watch. 
 
308 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Here they remained patiently for about half 
 an hour without hearing or seeing anything of 
 interest. It was then nearly three o clock in the 
 morning. Max had dropped off into a doze, and 
 Jack was beginning to ask himself whether Pete 
 could have got wind of them and slipped away, 
 when suddenly there appeared above the tree-tops 
 across the river a strange light in the sky that 
 made him think that the sun was rising. But a 
 moment s thought convinced him that it was, too 
 early. What did the light mean, then? Were the 
 woods on fire? While he was wondering if this 
 could be the case, the illumination deepened into 
 golden sheen, and a few moments later the fiery 
 half moon rose into sight, lighting up the surface 
 of the river. Absorbed by the changed aspect of 
 the night, Jack was startled to perceive the long 
 anticipated canoe glide suddenly down into the 
 pool, headed for the opposite shore. The torch 
 was no longer burning, but it was easy in the 
 moonlight to make out the half-breed paddling 
 in the stern. His skiff rode deep in the water, as 
 though heavily laden. 
 
 Jack roused Max, and whispered to him that 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 309 
 
 Pete was going to land. With keen excitement 
 they watched him, just after stepping ashore, stoop 
 and scrutinize the ground, look about him as 
 though suspicious, and then ascend the bank 
 without unloading his canoe. 
 
 " He has noticed our tracks," said Jack. 
 "What had we better do? Do you suppose we 
 could slip across and cut loose his canoe before 
 he could get back?" 
 
 "It would be risky, for if we were to fail he 
 might make it hot for us," said Max. 
 
 " We are two to his one." 
 
 Pete s reappearance at this moment decided the 
 matter. He came stealing back like an angry cat, 
 glancing furtively to right and left and across the 
 river, in such a way that the boys held their 
 breath, and slunk down as much as possible 
 behind their canoe. He had evidently discovered 
 his loss, and was apprehensive of danger. He 
 threw the painter into his skiff, leaped inside, and 
 seized the paddle. 
 
 " What let s do ? " asked Jack feverishly. 
 
 " He s going down river," replied Max, without 
 answering the question. 
 
310 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " If he gets a start on us, we shall never catch 
 him. Let s follow him, Max, and try to get the 
 fish." 
 
 " Whatever you say, Jack. I m ready." 
 
 Pete was by this time at the head of the rapid. 
 Spryly, but seeking to be noiseless, the boys 
 sprang up, and pushed their boat into the water. 
 
 "Will you go bow, Max?" Jack asked, willing 
 to renounce the post of responsibility. 
 
 " No, no. You paddle much better than I." 
 
 " All right." Jack darted forward, and took 
 his position. "Are you ready?" 
 
 " Go ahead." 
 
 A half-dozen strokes sent them to the verge of 
 the rapid, mid-way in which their enemy was 
 visible tossing on the angry water. It was no 
 longer dark. There was a sort of twilight. The 
 effulgence of the old moon was mingled with the 
 first indications of dawn. As yet Pete had not 
 perceived that he was followed. He was moving 
 with no especial swiftness, being intent apparently 
 on steering clear of the dangerous boulders in the 
 rapid, which might readily knock a hole in a canoe 
 so much below the surface. Behind . him his 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 311 
 
 pursuers made all the haste that was consistent 
 with safety, appreciating that it was important 
 to take advantage of every moment before they 
 should be observed. 
 
 Was it intuition, habitual dread, or some de 
 tected noise that caused the Indian to turn his 
 head just as he had reached the foot of the rapid ? 
 It might well have been the last, for not more 
 than a dozen yards of foaming water separated 
 him from his pursuers at the moment. As he 
 realized the situation, they could not discern the 
 expression of his face. He uttered no cry, made 
 no gesture ; simply turned his head, and plied his 
 paddle with all his might and skill. 
 
 " Now for it, Max," cried Jack. " Let s go for 
 him." 
 
 " Look out ; snub her." 
 
 "Yes, I see." 
 
 The canoe ahead was gliding forward at a won 
 derful rate ; and, not to lose the advantage they 
 had already gained, they could not afford to be too 
 prudent. There was only a few feet of dangerous 
 water left. This safely passed, the river was 
 smooth and safe. 
 
312 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 "Snub her, Jack, snub her," Max yelled, as he 
 heard the canoe grind her nose, and felt himself 
 tilted to one side so that the water almost poured 
 in over the edge. 
 
 44 All right, Max." 
 
 It was a close shave ; but skillful manipu 
 lation of the paddle had sw r ept them past the 
 point of danger, and brought them into a swift, 
 unimpeded current. They had lost a little on 
 their enemy, yet not materially ; and had they not 
 four arms to his two? To be sure, he was an 
 Indian, accustomed all his days to paddling and to 
 this river ; but, on the other hand, his canoe being 
 full of fish was unfit to be handled rapidly by 
 one man. 
 
 On they went, neither canoe gaining on the 
 other, the consciousness of which doubtless caused 
 Pete every few moments to dart a glance behind 
 him, and afterwards to ply his paddle still more 
 rapidly through the water. But the boys, too, 
 having settled down to their work, were sending 
 their canoe spinning forward in famous fashion. 
 Another rapid was reached, and encountered 
 successfully ; and then they came in sight of the 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 313 
 
 log-cabin, past which they glided so swiftly, that, 
 ere they realized where they were, they had left it 
 behind. Still on, and neither canoe gaining, 
 neither losing. 
 
 Of a sudden the blade of Pete s paddle breaks 
 in his hand, serving to divert the canoe somewhat 
 from her course, and then to check her while the 
 Indian reaches forward for another which he 
 happens to have. Every foot is precious, and by 
 means of this misadventure the pursuers have 
 gained ground. Moreover, the new paddle is a 
 smaller, frailer one, ill suited for the strenuous 
 work that it must do in order that its owner may 
 maintain the lead. He evidently appreciates this, 
 for, beside looking behind him still more fre 
 quently, he glances now and again from right to 
 left as though scanning the banks. High cliffs 
 tower on either side for the most part, up which 
 any one seeking to climb must have the legs and 
 facility of a fly to be successful. But doubtless 
 the wily half-breed, acquainted with every foot of 
 the river, knows of places where the precipice 
 rises more gradually, affording to one who is 
 cat-like and sinewy opportunities for escape by 
 
314 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 swinging from a tree to a ledge, and thence to 
 some other shelter, until the height is won. 
 
 The boys are quick to appreciate his intention. 
 They would like nothing better than that he 
 should abandon canoe, fish, and all, and take 
 to the woods. Their triumph would then be 
 complete. With the idea of accelerating this 
 apparent disposition on the part of their enemy 
 to take refuge in flight, Jack cries to Max, 
 
 "Hand me the gun." 
 
 "You re not going to fire at him, surely, 
 Jack?" 
 
 "Only over his head, to scare him. It may 
 drive him ashore." 
 
 Max drops his paddle, and deftly reaches for 
 ward the rifle. For an instant their headway 
 is checked, while Jack, putting the butt to his 
 shoulder, aims deliberately many yards wide of 
 Pete s body, and pulls the trigger. The sharp 
 report echoes through the hills, while the Indian 
 turns with a look that is half terror and half 
 menace, and utters something that sounds jargon 
 to the boys. 
 
 " Do you suppose he has a gun ? " says Max. 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 315 
 
 "I guess not. Anyhow, he wouldn t dare to use 
 it, for he would have to hang if he shot us." 
 
 The discharge does not seem to produce the 
 result expected. On the contrary, as a conse 
 quence of it, and another which Jack has recourse 
 to a moment later, Pete seems to change his mind 
 in regard to escaping by means of the bank. 
 Doubtless he fears that while seeking to do so 
 he might more easily be pierced by a rifle-ball, 
 for he naturally imagines that the shots fired at 
 him are intended to kill. On he dashes, crouch 
 ing low in the canoe, and preferring to trust to 
 outstripping his opponents on the water, while 
 the east breaks into shafts of light that make the 
 moon paler and blot out the stars. 
 
 All at once Jacks starts, and exclaims almost 
 with horror, " Hark ! We re nearly at the Injun 
 Falls. I d forgotten them." 
 
 " So we must be. I can hear the roar," answers 
 Max. " What shall we do, Jack ? " 
 
 "What ll he do?" 
 
 "Do you suppose he ll try to run them?" 
 
 "He s likely to corne to grief if he does." 
 
 It was evident now, from the manner in which 
 
316 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Pete was straining every nerve to keep his lead, 
 that he, too, had recognized the murmur of the 
 dangerous cascade ahead, and was hoping to 
 devise therefrom some means of escape. 
 
 A moment more brought them in sight of the 
 foaming rapid, through which only the most 
 skillful canoemen could hope to pass in safety. 
 Pete, as he reached the border of the crested, 
 churning whirlpool, looked behind him once more, 
 arid, regarding his hunters with a smile of malice, 
 beckoned them on. If they wished his scalp, they 
 must follow where he chose to lead. Would 
 they dare to do so ? Or if they did, would they, 
 mere striplings as they were, be able to avoid 
 being upset in the midst of the rapid ? And 
 disaster there meant not merely a wetting. The 
 stoutest swimmer might well lose nerve and con 
 sciousness in that mad current, and be swept like 
 a feather over the tawny Indian Falls. 
 
 " Shall we keep on ? " asked Jack, looking back 
 with flashing eyes. The idea of Pete s escaping 
 through their unwillingness to follow, was galling; 
 but, whatever his own sentiments might be, Max 
 must be consulted. 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 317 
 
 "I ll do whatever you say, Jack." 
 
 " Come on, then." 
 
 No more was said. In another second the 
 canoe was battling with the wild torrent but a 
 few yards behind the desperate Indian s. Haste, 
 indeed anything but deliberate, Argus-eyed caution, 
 would assure destruction. To pick one s way 
 zigzag through a labyrinth of cruel rocks, was the 
 only chance for a safe passage. 
 
 "We d better take to the poles," said Max. 
 " We can hold her better if we do." 
 
 This was sound advice, and the example to do 
 so had already been set them by Pete. Laying 
 aside their paddles, they stood up over the frown 
 ing water, and gripped the bottom with the iron 
 sockets seeking an avenue. The boiling surf 
 made Jack feel giddy. To keep his balance, and 
 at the same time chose a path through the hell- 
 gate, was no easy matter. In front the other 
 canoe was plunging madly, taxing to the utter 
 most the skill of the half-breed, who stood a little 
 forward of the middle to keep her bow from 
 swinging. Jack ducked his head that he might 
 rub with his sleeve his eyes, which were so full of 
 
318 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 spray, caused by the constant spattering, that 
 he could scarcely see, and at the same moment 
 the canoe bumped savagely against a rock. 
 He fairly staggered, and in saving himself from 
 falling overboard let in a quantity of water. 
 Bumping past the rock, the nose of the canoe 
 jammed itself in between two boulders, in a sort 
 of gully where the water ran like a mill-race and 
 plunged forward in a small cascade at the end. 
 They were fast stuck, and in such a way that 
 the bow projected over the declivity at a decidedly 
 disagreeable angle. To extricate her without 
 coming to grief more seriously, was the work of 
 some moments, during which the boys nursed 
 the bitter consciousness that Pete was gaining on 
 them. At last, after having taken in a quart or 
 two more water, they were free and dashing once 
 more as fast as they dared toward the dreaded 
 falls. Pete had passed through three-fourths of 
 the rapid, and they were not far behind. Would 
 he dare to take the leap? Would they dare to 
 follow him if he did? The tumult of the river 
 made their brains whirl, making it impossible 
 almost to think, much less to talk. With eyes 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 319 
 
 fixed intently on the boiling water, with every 
 sinew strained, they plied their poles, not know 
 ing what would be the outcome, not seeking to 
 anticipate it. 
 
 Just then Pete s canoe gave a sudden cant, 
 owing doubtless to contact with some concealed 
 rock, which threw the half-breed off his feet down 
 upon the flooring, and buried her gunwale well 
 under water. 
 
 " See, see ! cried Jack, in almost agonized 
 accents. 
 
 The deeply freighted canoe remained for a 
 moment at a critical angle, as if hesitating 
 whether to tip over, then slowly righted herself. 
 Pete was on his feet again, using his pole vigor 
 ously, but unable to prevent her from exposing 
 her flank to the current, which twisted and 
 thwarted her course so completely, that before 
 he could bring her head round Jack was 
 thundering but a length or two behind, 
 
 Give us back those fish. You stole those 
 fish." 
 
 The spectacle of his enemy s plight had 
 prompted the boy to suggest terms that might, 
 
320 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 he thought, appeal to the fleeing Indian, and 
 thus avert more serious consequences while there 
 was still time. Pete turned his head at the 
 outcry. 
 
 " Give us back the fish, and we ll let you 
 go," repeated Jack, unable to believe that Pete 
 would dare to take the leap, and confident that 
 the salmon-spearer s only choice was between 
 surrender and destruction. 
 
 But his words seemed only to spur on to more 
 determined efforts the Indian, who, having brought 
 the head of his half-sunken canoe into position 
 once more, sent her driving forward, headed 
 straight for the roaring cataract. 
 
 " Great Csesar s ghost ! he s going to run it." 
 
 As he spoke, Pete turned again, smiling and 
 beckoning as he had done before, and then gave 
 vent to another jargon utterance, that sounded 
 like a note of triumph. He intended to go over 
 the fall. There could be no doubt of it ; for now 
 it was too late for him to avoid doing so, whatever 
 his desire might be. He was crouching low in 
 the canoe, having exchanged, at the moment that 
 he had emitted his challenge, his pole for his 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 821 
 
 paddle, and had directed her into the middle of 
 the stream where the current was swiftest. 
 
 Close behind, not more than half a dozen yards 
 distant, came his pursuers, growing conscious, as 
 they perceived that rocks no longer impeded them, 
 that they too were on a down slope, and moving 
 with terrible velocity. What was to be done? 
 Should they follow? Not a word was spoken 
 until Jack said suddenly, 
 
 "Get your paddle out." 
 
 An instant later he gave a great gasp. He had 
 seen the rival canoe give a wild leap into the air 
 and disappear. For an instant a sickening sensa 
 tion of dread took possession of him, and he v would 
 fain have turned aside. But it was impossible 
 now. He felt himself being swept down a terrible 
 smooth slide of water, that made him think of 
 pale green glass. 
 
 "Hold tight, Max; we re going over," he 
 uttered. Then for an instant a huge foaming gulf 
 yawned below him, and he knew that they were 
 pitching downward. He shut his eyes, and 
 gripped his paddle like a vise. There was a 
 moment of ghastly stillness, which seemed like 
 
322 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 an eternity, and then he felt the canoe strike the 
 surface with a force that drove the water over 
 him in clouds. He knew that floods were pouring 
 into her, and that he was well-nigh submerged; 
 and yet before he could decide what had hap 
 pened, the worst seemed to be over, for her nose 
 had reappeared above water. With a quick 
 glance behind him, he realized that they had 
 escaped serious injury. Max, pale as a ghost and 
 nearly as wet as he, sat in the stern unharmed, 
 though the canoe was full half-way to the brim. 
 Well behind them was the terrible cataract, on 
 the impetus from whose swift deluge they were 
 still being borne along at a mad rate. All this 
 Jack understood in an instant ; and appreciating 
 that they had made the leap in safety, his next 
 thought was for Pete. As he looked forward 
 again, he beheld almost abreast of him in the 
 foam-flecked turbulent river a human figure, 
 wildly and vainly struggling to obtain a foothold. 
 Of the other canoe there was no vestige. There 
 was only to be seen a black head and gesticulating 
 pair of arms, which suddenly disappeared as the 
 victim s feet were deprived even of a passing 
 
"HOLD TIGHT, MAX; WE RE GOING OVER. P. 321. 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 325 
 
 contact with the slippery rocks at the bottom, 
 owing to the increased depth of the galloping 
 water, which now rolled him over and over, 
 bringing him to the surface in another moment 
 several yards beyond, a confused, gasping mass, 
 uttering cries of terror, imploring help. 
 
 " He ll drown, he ll drown ! " Jack heard Max 
 exclaim in a tone of horror. The same thought 
 
 o 
 
 was in his own mind. Evidently the half-breed 
 could not swim, and was at the mercy of the 
 rapid current. His desire for retaliation had 
 been fully sated by the severe punishment which 
 his enemy had already suffered in the loss of 
 canoe and fish. Both the purloining of the loon 
 and the flambeauing were amply avenged ; and 
 the idea of Pete s being drowned, as a result of 
 the effort to recapture the salmon, struck him 
 as terrible. What could he do to save him ? 
 
 Instantly he plied his paddle, in the hope of 
 catching up with the unfortunate struggler, in 
 which attempt he was sturdily seconded by Max ; 
 but their canoe was so water-logged as to be 
 nearly unmanageable. Jack realized, moreover, 
 that if they were to bring it within grasping 
 
326 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 distance of the drowning man, they were certain 
 to be upset. The half-breed, who was bravely 
 struggling to keep his head above the surface, 
 turned toward him a ghastly face full of despair, 
 and reached out his arms as though begging for 
 assistance. 
 
 "What can we do, Max?" Jack cried. 
 
 " We must save him somehow, or he will drown 
 before our eyes." 
 
 Just then Pete went under for a second time, 
 uttering a choking cry as he sank. With an 
 impulsive movement Jack pulled his shirt over 
 his head, and kicked off his shoes. 
 
 " Look out for her, Max, and follow me close." 
 
 "You mustn t, Jack, you mustn t! You can t 
 do anything against that current." 
 
 Max s words of protest were cut short by a 
 splash. Jack had leaped from the canoe into 
 the river. He had resolved to save Pete, if 
 possible. He was a good swimmer for his years, 
 and he believed that he was equal to the emer 
 gency. If he could only keep clear of rocks, he 
 felt sure that he should not be overcome by the 
 current. These thoughts had been in his mind 
 
INJUN FALLS." 327 
 
 as he jumped, and he had selected an unob 
 structed, deep-looking spot into which to plunge. 
 As he emerged, he perceived Pete, who had 
 reappeared at the same moment. Fortunately 
 the half-breed was nearly unconscious, or he might 
 have questioned the motive of his pursuer in 
 seizing him. Remembering from what he had 
 read of the tendencies of drowning people, to 
 avoid being gripped in turn, Jack managed to 
 get his right arm under one of Pete s, in such 
 a way as to keep the half-breed s head above 
 water, and then tried to strike out for the shore. 
 He was conscious of being swept along by a 
 tremendous power, which twisted his legs about 
 in an alarming fashion, and prevented him from 
 moving otherwise than in the same way with it. 
 Plainly he was going down stream at a tremendous 
 pace. But fortunately again, the river, though 
 swift, continued deep, and only once did he come 
 in painful contact with the rocks. Before he 
 could collect himself, however, after grasping his 
 burden, he had been swept forward fifty yards. 
 
 Not far behind them followed Max, managing 
 with his paddle as best he could the unwieldy 
 
328 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 canoe, which had swung across the stream, and 
 was wobbling alarmingly. He kept his eyes fixed 
 on the valiant rescuer, eager to afford him aid, 
 and yet uncertain how to do so. 
 
 " I m coming, Jack, I m coming ! " he shouted. 
 
 Another fifty yards was passed, and the dead 
 weight of the unconscious Indian was beginning 
 to pull Jack down. His own chin was barely 
 above the Avater. Still he managed to keep 
 Pete s face from being submerged, and did his 
 best, while being carried on, to make some little 
 progress toward the shore with his unencumbered 
 right arm. Swift as the current continued, it 
 was less rapid than at first; and hopes of being 
 able to touch the bottom, and gain a foothold,"" 
 buoyed up his courage. But he was fagged, and 
 he ached. Several times the idea of letting his 
 burden go, and saving himself, occurred to him, 
 but still he held on. 
 
 At last, just as he felt that in another moment 
 his strength would be exhausted, one of his feet, 
 which were dragging lightly, touched a rock. 
 Trusting that a little farther toward the shore 
 the water might not be over his head, he made 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 329 
 
 one vigorous endeavor to escape from the mid 
 stream, and succeeded so far that he found, on 
 sinking both legs, that he was on the bottom, 
 though the river was still up to his lips. The 
 next instant the undertow deprived him of this 
 advantage ; but while treading water, he launched 
 himself again toward the bank, and this time 
 got a foothold where he was under water only 
 as far as his chin. But, owing to the great diffi 
 culty of keeping Pete s face above the surface 
 while in this process, he slipped and fell, so that 
 he and the drowning man went completely under. 
 But here again fortune favored him, in that he 
 fell toward the shore. He managed to pick him 
 self up again, and to recover, by dint of both 
 hands, the still senseless half-breed. The river 
 was now only up to his arm-pits ; and, by planting 
 his feet firmly apart, he was able to resist the 
 current sufficiently to look about him. In another 
 instant, Max Avas at his side with the canoe. 
 Using the edge of this as a means of steadying 
 himself, he reached a place where it was only 
 up to his knees, then staggered to the bank, 
 dragging Pete with him, and dropped exhausted 
 
330 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 on the beach. Max shot the canoe ashore, and 
 got on his knees beside him. Jack had shut his 
 eyes, but he opened them, and asked, 
 
 " Is he drowned ? " 
 
 " I don t know ; I wanted to be sure you were 
 not hurt," 
 
 " I m all right. Look after Pete," Jack mur 
 mured faintly. 
 
 Max turned his attention to the Indian, who 
 lay on his back, pale and apparently dead. But, 
 as Max bent over him in horrible uncertainty, 
 Pete gave a perceptible sigh. 
 
 "No, I think he s alive, thank God!" Max 
 cried ; and, though he had rather a vague idea as 
 to the proper treatment for nearly drowned people, 
 he began vigorously to rub the half-breed s hands. 
 
 " Turn him over on his face," said Jack ; and 
 he sat up himself, with the desire of helping his 
 friend, but sank back again exhausted. 
 
 " Don t stir. I can do everything," cried Max 
 beseechingly. " If you ll tell me what to do, 
 I ll do it. A nice sort of fellow I am to come 
 into the woods," he added, in disgust at his own 
 ignorance. 
 
" INJUN FALLS." 331 
 
 Jack, who knew something about such matters, 
 gave the necessary directions, arid almost imme 
 diately was able to rise and superintend the 
 process. After a few moments of rubbing, Pete 
 gave unmistakable signs of coming to life. Max, 
 who had pulled off his patient s boots, noticed, 
 in chafing his feet, that he groaned whenever 
 his right leg was disturbed. Apparently, it was 
 severely hurt. At last, after a copious amount 
 of water had trickled out of his mouth, and his 
 skin had become tolerably warm, Pete opened 
 his eyes. For an instant he looked dazed and 
 alarmed at the sight of the two boys bending 
 over him, and he made an effort as though to 
 spring up ; but the exertion destroyed his reviving 
 consciousness. When, a moment or two later, he 
 came to himselF again, he regarded his captors 
 with a half-sullen, half-astonished stare, appar 
 ently realizing what had happened, and at a loss 
 to understand such magnanimity. 
 
 " Feel better? " Jack inquired, as the half-breed 
 moved his head a little. 
 
 " Ya," was the guttural answer. 
 
 "Pretty close call you had." 
 
332 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 This idiom was obviously beyond Pete s intel 
 ligence. He stared stupidly, and in another 
 moment evinced a disposition to rise, which was 
 not interfered with. But, as he was attempting 
 to get on his feet, he suddenly groaned with 
 pain, and sank upon the ground. 
 
 " What s the matter ? " the boys cried together. 
 
 Pete s face had assumed the look of a desperate 
 wounded animal. There was fury* as well as 
 the symptoms of suffering in his eyes. Lifting 
 himself upon his elbow, he reached behind him, 
 searching evidently for his knife ; but Max, while 
 restoring him, had removed, and tossed to one 
 side, the belt to which it was attached. Still 
 angrier in consequence of being thus foiled, he 
 sprang up with the crafty elasticity, of a wild-cat, 
 and made a leap for Jack s neck. Jack, aston 
 ished, stepped hastily backwards ; and his would-be 
 assailant pitched headlong, and lay on his face 
 writhing. 
 
 The boys looked at each other in amazement 
 for a moment, then Jack exclaimed, " That s a 
 queer sort of return to make for having saved 
 your life. I m sorry if you re hurt, but you d 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 333 
 
 have been drowned if I hadn t jumped in after 
 you." 
 
 Max at the same time picked up the belt and 
 knife. 
 
 Pete made no answer, but lay groaning. It 
 was evident he could not stand. 
 
 "I guess he must have broken his leg," said 
 Jack presently. " I wonder what we d better do 
 with him." 
 
 " We can t be more than a mile and a half 
 from the Big Salmon Hole," said Max. 
 
 "Let s ask him what he d like us to do." 
 
 Max nodded. 
 
 " See here, your name s Pete Labouisse, isn t it?" 
 Jack began, stooping over the half-breed, but care 
 ful to be on his guard against any sudden clutch. 
 
 Pete looked up, and scowled. " Ya, ya," he 
 muttered. 
 
 "I thought I recognized you. I want to say 
 that we re ready to help you in any way we can, 
 only you must treat us as friends, and not jump 
 at our throats as you did just now. Your canoe 
 sank, I think, for there isn t any sign of her 
 anywhere." 
 
334 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 " Strike rock. 1 
 
 " That accounts for it. Well, if you say so, 
 we ll take you in ours down to where our friends 
 are. They sha n t hurt .you," Jack added, noticing 
 Pete s look of alarm at this suggestion. " You ve 
 had punishment enough already for spearing our 
 fish." 
 
 The Indian blinked, and looked rather non 
 plussed. Such generosity was novel to him. 
 Presumably he doubted its genuineness. 
 
 " What do you say ? Shall we take you with 
 us?" 
 
 " I stay here. You go, answered Pete. 
 
 "But you ll starve, interposed Max. 
 
 "Isn t your leg broken?" Jack asked. "If it 
 is, you ought to have a doctor look at it. You 
 needn t be afraid, he continued, divining Pete s 
 suspicions. "Well neither of us tell tales on 
 you, so no one will be able to put you in 
 prison." 
 
 The lad s tone and manner were so reassuring, 
 that, in spite of this allusion to possible legal 
 complications, the Indian s expression softened a 
 little. The idea of being left alone to shift for 
 
" INJUN FALLS." 335 
 
 himself in his present crippled condition was not 
 agreeable. 
 
 " Get ready the canoe, Max. We ourselves 
 ought to start, anyway/ 
 
 "You take me Basin?" queried Pete at this 
 moment. 
 
 "Where? Oh, Gaspe Basin! Yes, if it s 
 necessary." 
 
 The prisoner shook his head repugnantly. 
 
 " We re going to take you to the camp at the 
 Big Salmon Hole first ; that s only a mile below, 
 you know. When you re cured, you can go to 
 the Basin or not as you prefer," said Jack. 
 
 "Ya, ya. I go with you." 
 
 "All right." 
 
 "That s first-rate," said Max, who had tipped 
 the water out of the canoe by this time. When" 
 all was ready, the boys signified to Pete that if 
 he would put an arm around each of their necks 
 they would lift him into it. Before intrusting 
 themselves so completely within his reach, Jack 
 felt it prudent to remark with firmness, 
 
 " Now, you mustn t try any tricks on us, Pete, 
 for we re armed with knives and a gun, and 
 
336 JACK IN THE BUSH, 
 
 plenty of cartridges. We wish to be friendly 
 with you, if you ll let us ; but, if you show any 
 signs of treachery, we shall feel justified in 
 throwing you overboard." 
 
 Jack was surprised at his ability to make so 
 formidable an harangue to one who, in his normal 
 condition, was more than a match for them both. 
 As for Max, he felt at least two inches taller 
 with pride on hearing his friend address the 
 muscular, dangerous-looking half-breed in such 
 downright style. 
 
 " Ya, ya," Pete assented assuriogiy. 
 
 Accordingly the boys carried him to the canoe 
 in the fashion described, and laid him on his 
 back. He seemed to be suffering considerably. 
 Max, who sat in the stern facing Pete, took the 
 precaution to place the rifle b}^ his own side, 
 though Pete was scarcely in a condition to carry 
 out any evil designs. As soon as they started, 
 it became apparent that the canoe had suffered 
 considerably by her fall, in that the water began 
 to trickle into her through sundry cracks imper 
 ceptible to the eye ; but, by strenuous bailing, 
 they were enabled to keep it from making serious 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 337 
 
 progress, while, as regards comfort, the trio were 
 as wet as could be already. The particulars of 
 Pete s catastrophe were gleaned on the way by 
 means of a few questions. His heavily laden 
 canoe had struck a rock, and split in two ; and 
 the injury to his leg had been received at the 
 same moment. He had never learned to swim, 
 a strange circumstance, which -could be told 
 equally of a large number of men whose livelihood 
 is earned more or less upon the water. 
 
 It was about six o clock as they came in sight 
 of the Big Salmon Hole. No one appeared to 
 be stirring, and Jack suggested that Max should 
 fire the rifle in the air by way of announcing 
 their arrival. A moment after the explosion, a 
 number of heads were thrust out of the tents, 
 and Bingo began to bark vehemently. 
 
 "It s Jack and Max come back," cried several 
 voices, and the entire party came rushing down 
 to the water s edge, with surprise written on 
 their faces, which was doubly increased as they 
 realized who was the stranger reclining in the 
 canoe. 
 
 " Why, boys, what does this mean ? " cried the 
 
338 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Colonel, seizing the nose of the canoe, and 
 steadying it. 
 
 "Not very much," said Jack nonchalantly, as 
 he stepped ashore. " Except one thing, Max 
 shot a bear." 
 
 "Shot a bear?" 
 
 "Really!" 
 
 " Hoorah ! " 
 
 " Bully for you, Max ! A bear ! Max has 
 killed a bear, Mr. Holt," cried Tom, completing 
 the round of youthful exclamations that greeted 
 Jack s announcement. 
 
 " Well done, Max," answered the Colonel 
 gravely ; " but that does not explain why you are 
 both in this bedraggled condition, and who is 
 it with you?" 
 
 "Pete Labouisse, and I guess he has broken 
 his leg," Jack answered laconically. 
 
 The half-breed had turned himself, and was 
 surveying the party suspiciously from his dark 
 eyes, and listening to every word. 
 
 "How did that happen?" 
 
 Jack looked at Max and laughed. Having 
 given his word not to betray Pete, he felt it 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 339 
 
 necessary to speak guardedly. " Running the 
 Injun Falls. His canoe struck a rock, and got 
 upset, and and we followed him. 
 
 " Over the Indian Falls ! " interrupted the 
 Colonel. 
 
 " And are here alive to tell the tale ! " 
 exclaimed Mr. Holt, supplementing the Colonel s 
 expression of horror. 
 
 " We really did," said Max, " and Jack saved 
 Pete s life by jumping over after him." 
 
 The bewildered elders looked from one of the 
 lads to the other, while a murmur of astonish 
 ment spread through the group. The soaked 
 garments and generally exhausted appearance of 
 the pair was eloquent testimony to the truth of 
 their statement. Without asking further ques 
 tions at. the moment, the Colonel pulled up the 
 canoe, and addressing Pete said, 
 
 "You had better let us carry you up to the 
 house, and see how much you re hurt." 
 
 The half-breed made no remonstrance to this 
 proposal, recognizing doubtless that it was 
 kindly meant, and that he was in no condition 
 to resist his captors.. Accordingly the Colonel 
 
340 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 and Mr. Holt, who smiled at thus turning the 
 tables on his enemy, lifted the injured man, and 
 carried him up to the cabin, followed by the six 
 boys, whose tongues were becoming unloosened. 
 Pete was laid on one of the bunks ; and, after 
 an examination, it plainly appeared that his leg 
 was broken, and that he ought to be sent to 
 the Basin at once. The suggestion of this plan 
 seemed to alarm the victim excessively. He 
 shook his head, and protested in vivid patois. 
 
 " But your leg must be set," said the Colonel. 
 " If you stay here, inflammation will set in, and 
 you ll die." 
 
 " Ya, ya," said Pete, indicating by the panto 
 mime which accompanied this favorite ejaculation 
 a preference to take the chances of never getting 
 well, rather than go down to the village. 
 
 Jack and Max, who had been whispering 
 together, now made signs to the Colonel and Mr. 
 Holt to go out with them where they would be 
 unobserved by the prisoner. 
 
 " We want you to promise something," said Jack, 
 acting as the spokesman, "which is that Pete shall 
 not be put in prison, or punished in any way." 
 
"INJUN FALLS." 341 
 
 44 Why should he be punished ? " asked the 
 Colonel with a quizzical smile. "What has he 
 done?" 
 
 44 1 didn t say he had done anything. But you 
 will promise, won t you ? " 
 
 44 This is very mysterious. I don t know about 
 passing such a sweeping act of indemnity. Eh, 
 Mr. Schoolmaster ? " 
 
 " It seems to me that as Pete has been punished 
 pretty severely, we may safely do so, even to 
 the extent of neglecting to wreak vengeance for 
 the loss of the loon," answered Mr. Holt. 
 
 44 Well, you hear what the Big Injun says, 
 boys. I shall not stand in the way," answered 
 the Colonel. 
 
 44 That s first-rate," cried the petitioners. 
 
 44 But now that the pardon is granted, you 
 must let us into the secret," said the master. 
 
 Jack and Max saw no objection to this; and 
 the salmon-spearing episode was unfolded with 
 as much detail as the listeners would permit, in 
 view of the fact that the two boys were still in 
 wet clothing. Mr. Holt hurried them off as soon 
 as possible to effect the necessary changes in 
 
342 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 their toilet, while Dubsy was making elaborate 
 preparations for the relief of the inner man. 
 The remaining boys clustered about the tent 
 door, and put all sorts of questions regarding 
 the exciting expedition. But it was not until 
 the hungry heroes had broken their fast with 
 something more palatable than half-cooked bear s 
 meat, that their tongues wagged to the full 
 satisfaction of themselves and everybody. It was 
 difficult to say whether the killing of the bear 
 or the passage over the falls aroused the more 
 enthusiasm ; and when Jack declared he would 
 have been torn to pieces but for Max s courage, 
 Max called attention to the fact that Pete 
 would certainly have been drowned had not Jack 
 jumped overboard. 
 
 "All s well that ends well," said the Colonel 
 presently. u You have each of you shown him 
 self a very plucky fellow, and I haven t the 
 heart to indulge much in criticism, considering 
 the results you have to show. But it is cer 
 tainly a wonder that either of you is here alive. 
 And yet admitting that luck was on your side 
 when you put yourselves in peril by attacking a 
 
"INJUN FALLS/ 343 
 
 bear with a single cartridge in the heart of the 
 woods, and running falls that no boatman would 
 run, you have the right, Max, to boast of a 
 noble piece of daring when you risked your life 
 to save your friend s, and you, Jack, of equal 
 heroism when the instinct of humanity induced 
 you to leap into the swift river to rescue one 
 who had done you an injury. However rash, you 
 are brave boys, and I am proud of you." 
 
 "And so is the Big Injun," added Mr. Holt. 
 " When the Colonel praises, you may be sure that 
 it is deserved, my dear fellows. And, apart from 
 the courage displayed, I am glad to perceive that 
 you have come back such excellent friends. I 
 can see that all petty jealousies and mutual 
 mistrust have vanished into respect arid hearty 
 liking for each- other. Isn t that so? I don t 
 need to ask, for I can discern it in your 
 eyes." 
 
 " Whoever says anything against Max, will 
 have me to reckon with after this," exclaimed 
 Jack. " Though Max doesn t need assistance 
 from any one, I can tell you that," he added 
 significantly. 
 
344 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Max answered in a quiet tone, kk I owe every 
 thing to you, Jack." 
 
 " Not more than I owe to you," was the stout 
 answer. 
 
 " Each has received help from the other in the 
 ways in which he needed it," said Mr. Holt, 
 smiling contentedly. 
 
 The other boys, who had been awed into 
 silence by the serious turn which the conversa 
 tion had taken, were now delighted by the 
 proposal which the Colonel made, that three 
 cheers should be given for the heroes of the 
 hour. These were vented with a will, and must 
 have astonished Pete, who had been left to his 
 own devices on the bunk after having been 
 fortified by a hearty meal. Then Jack and 
 Max, weary perhaps of answering questions, began 
 to ask them, inquiring concerning the doings of 
 the rest of the party during their absence. In 
 reply they learned that the sport had been very 
 satisfactory, thirty-nine salmon having been killed, 
 arid eleven lost. Dandy and Daisy were reported 
 as having behaved themselves in a tractable man 
 ner, and were exhibited in sundry antics by Torn, 
 
" INJUN FALLS." 345 
 
 who was devoting himself to their education. 
 Nothing of great moment had occurred to vary the 
 daily programme of angling and poling, under 
 the influence of which healthy occupations one 
 and all looked brown as berries. 
 
 At the first opportunity, Jack returned to the 
 prisoner s bed-side, and explained to him that 
 Colonel Russell had pledged his word that no 
 mention should be made of what had happened 
 at the Narrows ; and by dint of assurances that 
 Pete would be free to take his leave the moment 
 he was well, and that he would be likely to lose 
 his leg were he to remain where he was, the 
 half-breed was induced to consent to the plan 
 that he should be conveyed to the Basin. This 
 accomplished, it became a question as to who 
 should accompany Pete. Jack and Max were 
 eager that some of the party should go up to 
 the Narrows in order to recover possession of 
 Bruin. After consideration it was agreed that 
 Dubsy and Haseltine should escort the half-breed, 
 and that the others should make a flying trip 
 up river. Accordingly, as it was desirable to 
 put Pete in a doctor s hands as soon as possible. 
 
346 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 the canoe was got ready at once, and before 
 noon Dubsy and Hasy bade good-by to the Big- 
 Salmon Hole. After their departure, Jack and 
 Max, who could scarcely keep their eyes open 
 from fatigue and drowsiness, were thankful to 
 creep under their mosquito-nettings, and go 
 to sleep. 
 
WHO WON THE RIFLE. 347 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 WHO WON THE RIFLE. 
 
 Two weeks more had passed, and camp was to 
 be broken up for the last time on the morrow. 
 The river was getting very low, and those salmon 
 which had not gone far up to spawn were so logy 
 that they would not even look at a fly. By most 
 persistent efforts the Colonel had been able to 
 capture but a single fish during the last four days, 
 and in the same period no one else had taken any. 
 The heat of midsummer was upon them, affecting 
 the sportsmen, as well as the game, with a lack of 
 energy. The total catch to date amounted to one 
 hundred and seventeen salmon, averaging about 
 twenty pounds, in fact, a fraction over that 
 figure, so that there was naturally no incentive 
 to remain longer from dissatisfaction at the score. 
 The majority of the fish were safely buried in 
 the ice-house. Those which had been killed at the 
 
348 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Narrows had been transported to the Big Salmon 
 Hole, and there were others which had been left 
 at camp No. 1. The boys were looking forward 
 to sending home to their families and friends the 
 finest specimens, and some had been " kippered " 
 to serve as smoked salmon after the fishing season 
 was over. 
 
 As a result of the second expedition to the 
 Narrows, Bruin had been found after a somewhat 
 protracted search. The bear s flesh was spoiled, 
 but the skin had proved to be in fine condition ; 
 and the operation of skinning the creature, which 
 the Colonel performed, had been watched with 
 intense interest by Jack and Max and Joe, who 
 were with him. Although the plan at first had 
 been that all should visit the scene of the hand-to- 
 hand encounter, the question suddenly presented 
 itself as to what should be done with Dandy and 
 Daisy. To lead them through the woods for so 
 long a distance, was not to be thought of for 
 a moment, especially as, owing to the fact that a 
 canoe had to be carried up to take the place of 
 the one in which the two boys had run the fall, all 
 would be heavily burdened. Mr. Holt had sug- 
 
WHO WON THE RIFLE. 349 
 
 gested, as what seemed to him a happy solution of 
 the difficulty, that the two pets should be allowed 
 to go free ; but the proposal was received with a 
 round of horrified exclamations. As for Tom, he 
 was very nearly moved to tears, and he had 
 declared his preference to remain at home as a 
 keeper rather than participate in the expedition 
 on such distressing terms. Finally it had been 
 arranged that Mr. Holt and he should accompany 
 the others to the Narrows, and return to the 
 youthful bears before night-fall. In this way they 
 had been able to see the upper river and the 
 famous cascade over which the two rash boys had 
 come so near being swept to a watery grave. As 
 the party stood together on the bank, and gazed 
 at the sheet of water dashing down, there had 
 been many expressions of amazement that the 
 canoe had made the leap without disaster, and 
 Jack and Max had fully realized for the first time 
 their foolhardiness. 
 
 The party had returned to the Big Salmon Hole 
 at the end of the fifth day without having met 
 with any important adventures. No more bears 
 had been seen, and the salmon at the Narrows had 
 
350 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 not been in the humor for rising. They had taken 
 only a few. On their arrival they found Hasy 
 and Dubsy, who had been at camp for forty-eight 
 hours, and who reported that Pete, after a tranquil 
 trip down river, had been safely deposited by 
 them in the doctor s hands, without disclosures as 
 to the evil doings which had been the cause of his 
 injury. But, though close-mouthed as to the 
 passage of the Indian Falls, the two voyagers had 
 been unable to remain silent as to the killing of 
 the bear, an event which had caused the greatest 
 excitement in the little village. 
 
 On the part of those who had remained at 
 camp, Tom had to boast of the killing of a mink, 
 a weasel-like creature, which he had detected in 
 the act of eating a hole in a freshly caught salmon. 
 Tom had described the affair with great gusto to 
 the Colonel and the other boys on their return. 
 
 "I was sitting eating my luncheon, when I hap 
 pened to glance in the direction of the fish, which 
 was lying under shelter of a shelving rock to 
 protect it from the sun ; and there was a curious 
 creature, like a rat, only three or four times as 
 long, feasting on the salmon. T would have liked 
 
WHO WON THE RIFLE. 351 
 
 to catch it alive, but I knew if I made any noise 
 it would escape. I didn t even dare to call Mr. 
 Holt, who was only a short distance off; but, after 
 watching for a while, I reached out for the gun, 
 and got a good aim. Then I fired, and the mink 
 rolled over dead as Chelsea. But the salmon 
 looked as if it had been bored out with an auger, 
 and we threw it overboard." 
 
 Beyond this there had been nothing to chronicle. 
 And now, on the following day, they were to 
 start for home. All hands had been busy during 
 the morning in building a large raft, on which the 
 salmon and trout collected in the ice-house were 
 to be fastened, and sent down to Gaspe Basin. 
 Luncheon was finished, and the boys had arranged 
 themselves in various comfortable postures to enjoy 
 the balmy summer afternoon, the last that they 
 were to pass in the woods. While they were 
 thus sitting, the door of the cabin opened, and 
 Mr. Holt and the Colonel, who had been closeted 
 together since leaving the table, appeared. The 
 Colonel carried in his hand the rifle which he 
 had put up as a prize for the best sportsman. 
 A hush of expectancy fell upon the group of 
 
352 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 boys. They felt that the interesting question, 
 as to which of them should become its owner, 
 was about to be settled. 
 
 The two seniors sat down on a rustic bench, 
 and the Colonel laid the untarnished rifle on the 
 table before him. 
 
 " Boys," said Mr. Holt, glancing pleasantly 
 around the circle, "of course you all remember 
 the handsome offer which Colonel Russell made 
 you on the afternoon that we were approaching 
 Gaspe*. He and I have been talking the matter 
 over since luncheon, for it seemed to us that the 
 time had come for trying to arrive at a decision 
 as to which of you is entitled to carry off the 
 prize. But our task has proved by no means an 
 easy one ; and, after much consideration, we have 
 finally decided to leave the matter to your own 
 decision. We prefer that you boys should select 
 by ballot the one among you who you think is 
 most deserving of the rifle. Before I go on 
 further, however," resumed the master, who had 
 paused for a moment after making this announce 
 ment, " I wish to tell you- all and the Colonel 
 has asked me to be his spokesman that we are 
 
WHO WON THE RIFLE. 358 
 
 thoroughly pleased with your behavior during 
 the weeks we have spent together. You have 
 surpassed our expectations in showing yourselves 
 manly, straightforward, good-natured fellows, and 
 you have the right to be proud of your record 
 as sportsmen. I don t mean that you have not 
 done some foolish, rash, and silly things. You 
 would scarcely be boys if you hadn t ; but, on 
 the whole, you have acquitted yourselves in such 
 a manner that it is with sincere regret on our 
 part that the time has come to part." 
 
 " Hear, hear ! " interjected the Colonel. 
 
 " I feel pretty sure that you have had a pleasant 
 vacation ; and it is very easy to see, from the 
 improved appearance of each one of you, that 
 the life in the open air has done you good. We 
 have had fine sport, and have been fortunate 
 enough to escape mishaps. If you are not expe 
 rienced salmon fishermen, you at least can land 
 your fish in less time than five hours. Eh, Jack ? " 
 
 A ripple of laughter ran around the circle at 
 this sally. 
 
 "And now," continued Mr. Holt, "before you 
 proceed to vote, I will make a few suggestions 
 
354 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 for your guidance. I wish to remind you, in the 
 first place, that in most affairs of life opportunity 
 and chance are factors that have to be taken 
 into account. Of two men who start with equal 
 abilities, one may have the offer of a position 
 that brings into play his talents, and makes him 
 a name ; while the other, with the same gifts, 
 remains obscure through lack of an occasion to 
 show what he can do. And yet, in estimating 
 these two men, one cannot withhold from him 
 who has done well his meed of praise because 
 the other might have deserved no less had the 
 opportunity been given him. Similarly, when 
 we came into the woods, you each had the same 
 chances of being put in positions which would 
 call forth your sportsmanlike qualities, and some 
 of you have been more fortunate in this respect 
 than others. It would surely not be fair that 
 the lucky ones should not have the benefit of 
 their luck. Then, again, while you ought cer 
 tainly to take into account and give credit for 
 zealous effort to do well against disadvantages, 
 you should not forget the claims of natural apti 
 tude. There is no reason that one who tries 
 
WHO WON THE RIFLE. 355 
 
 hard should be ranked with one who tries hard 
 and has proficiency at the same time. In like 
 manner, though one may admire a little fellow 
 for trying to do a big fellow s work, it is false 
 sentiment to let pluck and ambition take the 
 place of actual capacity. And now, if our plan 
 strikes you favorably, and you have no questions 
 to ask, you will each of you write on one of 
 these pieces of paper the name of whomever 
 you select ; and I will collect them in my hat, 
 and count them. The boy who has the most 
 votes shall have the rifle." 
 
 For a moment, the boys exchanged half-amused, 
 half-shy glances, then severally they came forward 
 to receive from the master one of the slips in his 
 hand. Thereupon each went a little apart by 
 himself to think. Haseltine was the first to 
 reach a conclusion. 
 
 " I ve finished," he cried promptly ; and folding 
 his ballot he dropped it in the hat. 
 
 "So am I," said Dubsy. "Who wants my 
 pencil?" 
 
 "Could a fellow vote for himself?" asked Tom 
 humorously. 
 
356 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 " Oh, yes, if he thought himself the best man ! " 
 answered the Colonel, who had stretched himself 
 beneath a tree, and was watching the ceremony 
 Avith interest. 
 
 " Well, I guess my modesty forbids," answered 
 Tom ; and writing a name on his piece of paper, 
 he deposited it at the same time that Max and 
 Joe presented theirs. 
 
 Jack was still standing pensively with the 
 pencil between his lips. What name should he 
 put down? His first thought had been to vote 
 for Max ; and then a voice had whispered that 
 Max was his most formidable competitor, and 
 that a vote for him was a vote against himself. 
 Why not vote for Tom or Hasy ? Both had done 
 finely, and, moreover, Hasy was his particular 
 friend. 
 
 " Come, Jack, we are waiting for you," said 
 Mr. Holt, in a tone which almost betrayed knowl 
 edge of the struggle which was going on in the 
 boy s mind. At its sound Jack started, realizing 
 in an instant the meanness which he had been 
 tempted to commit. With alacrity he wrote 
 down in large letters "Max," and handed it to 
 
WHO WON THE RIFLE. 357 
 
 the master. Then came a few moments of sus 
 pense, while Mr. Holt, having emptied his hat 
 upon the table, proceeded to scan the slips of 
 paper. The Colonel sat placidly smoking. 
 
 "I ll bet one Jock Scott against three, that I 
 can name the winner," exclaimed Haseltine , but 
 the wager found no takers. 
 
 "It s exciting, isn t it?" said Max, who was 
 leaning against a tree, close to Jack. His eyes 
 were sparkling in proof of his assertion. 
 
 " Yes. I think you ll win. You ought to win. 
 / voted for you." 
 
 " Thank you, Jack," Max said, in reply to the 
 blunt, sturdy sentences. " So did I for you/ 
 
 A rap on the table followed. Mr. Holt was 
 ready to announce the result. "Whole number 
 of ballots cast, six : Jack Hall, three ; Max 
 Fearing, three." 
 
 " A tie ! " exclaimed the Colonel. 
 
 " A tie ! " cried the rest, in appreciative echo. 
 
 "What are they to do?" asked Tom. 
 
 "We couldn t very well own it together," 
 said Jack laughingly to Max. How happy he 
 was that he had voted as he had ! He could 
 
358 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 not help reflecting that if he had won the rifle 
 by such a device he would have felt like casting 
 it into the sea. 
 
 "We might toss up for it," said Dubsy. 
 
 Jack shook his head. Leaving so serious a 
 matter to chance did not suit him. 
 
 " We ought to have provided for such a con 
 tingency," said Mr. Holt. " As Jack says, though, 
 you can t very well own it together." 
 
 "I have an idea," said the Colonel, who had 
 been puffing reflectively. " Suppose you shoot 
 for it." 
 
 "With the rifle?" cried Jack. 
 
 "Ay, ay." 
 
 "A capital plan," said Mr. Holt. "Neither of 
 the two has any advantage in point of experience. 
 How does it strike you, boys?" 
 
 The victorious pair looked at each other. " I m 
 willing if you are, Max/ 
 
 " It seems as fair a way as any." 
 
 The others approved highly of the scheme, and 
 after a short debate the following arrangements 
 were made : A target a foot square, consisting 
 of a piece of clean wood marked with a bull s- 
 
WHO WON THE RIFLE. 359 
 
 eye and another alternate black ring, was fastened 
 against a tree about twenty-five yards distant. 
 Each of the competitors was to have three shots ; 
 and the one who hit the center, or came nearest 
 to it, was to take the prize. No shot beyond 
 the outer black ring was to count ; and in case 
 neither of the marksmen succeeded in planting 
 a bullet inside of this, three more shots were 
 to be fired by each. 
 
 " It s a match between two cock-shots," said 
 Hasy, who, having had some practice in shooting 
 in the past, was pleased to jibe. "As you 
 couldn t hit a bear at a yard, Jack, you re not 
 likely to be able to hit a bit of wood at twenty- 
 five." 
 
 " I did hit the bear," was the answer. 
 
 " He didn t seem to mind it, though," exclaimed 
 Tom, taking his turn at chaffing. " I think, 
 Colonel Russell, that a barn-door would be the 
 most sensible thing for them to fire at. We may 
 not get away for a week, if we have to stay until 
 Jack or Max hits that bull s-eye." 
 
 "You should have spoken sooner," said the 
 Colonel, who had been busy marking the target 
 
360 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 by means of some blacking and some soot from 
 the fire-place. " This is just ready." 
 
 Although neither of the contestants had ever 
 practiced with a rifle before this summer, each 
 of them had acquired more or less proficiency 
 in shooting at objects during the past few weeks, 
 so that they were not entirely novices. They 
 were to fire alternately, and the choice of shoot 
 ing first or last fell to Jack. He decided to 
 have Max begin. 
 
 The Colonel loaded the new rifle deliberately, 
 and placed it in Max s hands. There was a hush 
 of intense excitement as he raised it to his 
 shoulder and took aim. Although each of the 
 boys, in voting, had been able to arrive at a 
 choice, there was not one of them who was not 
 glad to see the matter settled in this way. Joe 
 had voted for his brother, but he had been con 
 scious that Jack had serious claims on the prize ; 
 and similarly Dubsy and Haseltine, though faith 
 ful to their friend, could not deny that Max was 
 a close second. Tom, too, had finally selected 
 the slayer of Bruin in preference to Pete s rescuer 
 only after grave hesitation. 
 
WHO WON THE RIFLE. 361 
 
 There came a sharp report, and immediately 
 the whole party dashed forward to inspect the 
 result of Max s tirst shot. A score of eyes were 
 riveted on the target, but not one of them could 
 discern a trace of the rifle-ball. 
 
 " Cracky ! He hasn t even hit the tree," cried 
 Haseltine, convulsed with mirth. 
 
 So it certainly appeared. Neither the rings nor 
 the bark of the pine trunk were scarred. There was 
 much merriment, and poor Max blushed vividly. 
 
 "You were too nervous. You ll do better next 
 time," said Mr. Holt kindly. 
 
 All retraced their steps, and it was now Jack s 
 turn. He reflected that he could not do worse 
 than Max, but lie felt by no means confident of 
 being able to succeed better. However, he put on 
 a determined front. He would not, if possible, be 
 thwarted by nervousness. So he received the 
 freshly loaded rifle with studied calm, and began 
 to scrutinize the glittering barrel and the adroit 
 breech-loading action. 
 
 " Is it allowable to fire sitting ? " he asked the 
 Colonel. 
 
 " Yes. You may sit down or lie down, and you 
 
362 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 may rest the rifle in any way you choose, provided 
 you rest it against some part of the body." 
 
 " Oh ! " said Jack, as though he regarded this 
 sanction as a boon ; and consequently he pro 
 ceeded to test the advantages of various squatting 
 and recumbent postures. He even tried support 
 ing the muzzle upon his crossed knees, after the 
 manner of the methods of noted marksmen con 
 cerning which he had read. But somehow none 
 of these experiments inspired him with confidence. 
 By the time he had risen to his feet again, he had 
 decided to aim in the ordinary way, which he did 
 with precision. 
 
 -Bang!" 
 
 Away flew the reconnoiterers ; and again there 
 was blank staring at the target, which made Jack 
 feel decidedly uneasy. He was straining his own 
 eyes to discover a bullet -hole, but in vain. 
 Another shout of derision was uttered by Hasy. 
 He had missed, too, after all this preparation. 
 
 " No advantage on either side so far," said the 
 Colonel with a laugh. Both of the contestants 
 looked decidedly sheepish ; and Max, as he raised 
 the rifle for the second time, was the victim of 
 
WHO WON THE RIFLE. 363 
 
 numerous guying remarks, which Mr. Holt checked 
 by a considerate " Hush ! You may unsteady his 
 aim." 
 
 " It couldn t be worse than it is," said Torn, 
 below his breath. 
 
 Nevertheless, there was dead silence before 
 Max pulled the trigger. 
 
 A moment later Hasy, who had darted ahead 
 and was examining the mark, cried eagerly, 
 
 " He has hit it." 
 
 Such was the case. There were the evident 
 marks of a ball in the middle of the white ring 
 next to the bull s-eye. 
 
 " Not a bad shot, by any means," said the 
 Colonel. " You ll have to shoot well to improve 
 on it, Jack," he added. 
 
 "I fear that my goose is cooked," replied our 
 hero a little despondently. 
 
 "Nonsense," said Mr. Holt. "That doesn t 
 sound like you, Jack." 
 
 " It doesn t mean I m not going to try hard all 
 the same," was the answer. 
 
 " That s the right spirit," said Colonel Russell 
 pleasantly. 
 
364 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 Crack went the rifle again. 
 
 44 I saw the wood fly," crie cl Dubsy. 
 
 "Hurrah!" The cheer gladdened Jack s heart 
 as he reached the tree. 
 
 " You ve hit it. Same ring, but a little nearer," 
 exclaimed several voices together. 
 
 44 So I have," said Jack, as he scanned the target. 
 The ball had struck in the white on the opposite 
 side to Max s, and, though there was very little 
 difference between them, it was plainly the nearer 
 of the two to the center. 
 
 " Good enough, Jack," said Max. " 1 can t 
 beat that." 
 
 44 I m afraid you will, though." 
 
 There were no more remarks about cock-shots. 
 Ridicule had changed to absorbed attention, as 
 Max took his position for his final shot. 
 
 " I think I missed," he said, as the report echoed 
 through the hills. 
 
 " Bull s-eye ! " 
 
 " Is it, though ? Which is it ? Hurrah ! " 
 
 " Is it on the line ? Hard to tell, though. 
 Mighty close." 
 
 44 Just on the line, I should say." 
 
WHO WON THE RIFLE. 365 
 
 The last exclamation came from the Colonel, 
 and, as was apt to be the case, was decisive. 
 Careful scrutiny showed that the ball had 
 penetrated the line, dividing the center from 
 the inner circle. But, though not a plump 
 bull s-eye shot, it was an improvement on any 
 of the others, and could be beaten only by 
 one. 
 
 "What did I tell you, Max?" said Jack. 
 
 " T was lucky." 
 
 Despite this modest assertion, Max could not 
 help looking pleased, though he showed no undue 
 signs of elation; and it was pardonable that poor 
 Jack, who had set his heart on winning, should 
 feel a trifle galled. He resolutely bit his lip, 
 which was quivering despite his every wish to 
 seem cool and indifferent, and stalked silently 
 back to the spot from which he was to fire. But, 
 though well aware that the chances of victory 
 were very much against him, he took the rifle in 
 hand with the fixed purpose to strain every nerve 
 to win. There was an impressive stillness as he 
 aimed, and to those wiio were watching it seemed 
 as though the report Avould never come. 
 
JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 After firing, he stood still and let the others run 
 forward. He did not care to look. He had 
 waited before pulling the trigger until he had 
 covered the black spot precisely, and he felt that 
 he could do no more. 
 
 " Hurrah Jack Jack bull s-eye you ve 
 hit the bull s-eye rah, rah, rah bull s-eye 
 first-rate right in the center." A babel of voices 
 rang in his ears, and in another instant Hasy and 
 Dubsy were shaking his hands as though they 
 would pull them off. 
 
 " You ve won. You ve hit the bull s-eye plump 
 in the middle," one of them exclaimed, in answer 
 to his wondering expression. 
 
 There could be no doubt of it now. The 
 Colonel was advancing to meet him with out 
 stretched hand. 
 
 " Well done, well done, Jack. The odds 
 against you were enough to unsteady a practiced 
 eye, and you have won grandly." 
 
 Half laughing, half crying with excitement, he 
 made his way to the target to see with his own 
 eyes what he had done. Max was still smiling, 
 and his congratulatory grip was the heartiest of 
 
WHO WON THE RIFLE. 367 
 
 all, though one could see he was badly dis 
 appointed, as was to be expected. 
 
 " Well, you deserve the rifle, anyway, Jack," 
 he was generous enough to say. " You re natu 
 rally a sportsman, and I m only a manufactured 
 one. What Mr. Holt said about natural aptitude 
 was perfectly true." 
 
 Jack was too bewildered and excited at the 
 moment to dispute the point, but his glad look 
 assured Max of his gratitude. He put his finger 
 into the bullet-hole. As they had told him, the 
 ball had hit exactly in the center of the bull s- 
 ej e. 
 
 " The rifle is your property now," said the 
 Colonel. "It is a good one, I assure you." 
 
 " I ll shoot you a match for it, best three 
 shots in five," exclaimed Haseltine jauntily. 
 
 The victor laughed, and shook his head. 
 
 " Jack is willing to let well enough alone," said 
 the master, " and you can hardly blame him. With 
 due respect to his skill, he would not be likely 
 to duplicate that last shot in a hurry." 
 
 It is not agreeable to bid farewell to a pleasant 
 scene. Although, owing to the long absence from 
 
368 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 civilization, all felt that soft beds and home 
 cookery, and even brick sidewalks, would not 
 be uncongenial, there was no one of the party 
 on the following day who did not feel regret to 
 see the picturesque banks slip away on either 
 side, as the canoes glided swiftly down to Gaspd 
 Basin. The raft was sent ahead soon after break 
 fast, and they followed shortly. It was all down 
 hill work, so to speak, and the miles made sport 
 of the hours. It seemed but a very brief time 
 before camp No. 1 was reached, where a landing 
 was made to take a last glimpse at the familiar 
 sights. Perfect quiet reigned over the neighbor 
 hood of the little cabin, and there were no 
 evidences that the mother bear had returned in 
 search of her young. A few fish which had been 
 left in the ice-house were taken on board, and 
 then the paddles were resumed, and the canoes 
 sped again on their way. The fall in the river 
 since they had ascended it was very noticeable. 
 There were bare patches of stones where then 
 there had been a swift rapid. In some places the 
 middle of the bed was quite bare, and the water 
 flowed in a narrow channel on either side. Twice 
 
WHO WON THE RIFLE. 369 
 
 the raft was discovered aground and sent on its 
 way. 
 
 At last there were no more rapids ; the river 
 widened and became stiller, and the nets were 
 reached. The first house and the first horse 
 excited interest, and presently their nostrils 
 caught the savor of the sea. The air felt cooler, 
 too, so that those who were not paddling were 
 glad to put on their jackets. Their approach 
 had been heralded by the salmon, so that Annette 
 was at his landing waiting. 
 
 It was pleasant to the boys to stretch their 
 cramped limbs in a good run up the bank, and 
 across the fields green with the bounty of summer. 
 It did not take George Coffin long to learn of 
 their arrival, and to put in an appearance with 
 the trotter and his other team to take their 
 belongings down to the "Admiral," which was 
 to sail that evening, as they knew. And with 
 him came old William, one vast grin of pleasure, 
 and the stalwart Jimmy, eager to hear and see the 
 results of the expedition. Much of the news had 
 been gleaned from Pete s escort, so that congratu 
 lations were in order. 
 
370 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 " And so you killed a bear, after all ! " said 
 William to Jack. 
 
 " It was Max who killed him. I tried to, bu c I 
 didn t succeed." 
 
 " I know, I know. I heard all about it,* said 
 the old guide, nodding delightedly. 
 
 " There s something, though, you haven t heard," 
 said the Colonel, "which is that these two same 
 young scapegraces took it into their heads to 
 run the Indian Falls." 
 
 " The Injun Falls ! I guess not," exclaimed 
 Jimmy. " That s too tall a story even for us to 
 swallow, Colonel." 
 
 u They did it, though," said Mr. Holt ; " and, as 
 I ve repeated to them many times already, it s a 
 wonder they re alive to tell the tale." 
 
 " That s gospel truth," said Jimmy. " Run 
 them Injun Falls ! And you broke noth- 
 ing?" 
 
 " We took in lots of water," answered Jack. 
 
 " And she leaked afterwards," said Max. 
 
 " Yes, I guess she did," said the Colonel with a 
 laugh. 
 
 " You boys can t be beat," said old William, 
 
WHO WON THE RIFLE. 371 
 
 who, dazed by the astounding statement, had 
 been unable to utter a word. 
 
 "But what made you run em?" asked Jimmy, 
 still aghast. 
 
 " Oh, we thought we would ! " said Jack coolly. 
 " You told me once you thought they could be 
 run." 
 
 The guides, whatever their suspicions, had to 
 be satisfied with this explanation. Dubsy arid 
 Hasy, at the time they brought down the half- 
 breed, had obeyed instructions by stating simply 
 that he had been saved from drowning in one 
 of the rapids by Jack; and, though questioned 
 adroitly, they had managed not to betray their 
 prisoner. It was Hasy who now turned the 
 conversation by inquiring, 
 
 " How s Pete ? " 
 
 " He s mending fast," said George. "I see him 
 sitting at his shanty door sunning himself yester 
 day, and he wanted to know when I expected 
 you down river." 
 
 "He might have never come down himself, 
 and there VI have been mighty little mourning," 
 said Jimmy, in which caustic sentiment he was 
 
872 JACK IX THE BUSH. 
 
 supported by a growl from his father, that spoke 
 volumes. 
 
 There was no time for further conversation at 
 the moment, as the traps had to be stowed in the 
 cart, and preparations made for departure ; but 
 when the white horse had begun to trot, the ears 
 of George were delighted with abundant details 
 concerning the summer school, which were 
 repeated and supplemented when they were all 
 gathered around Mrs. Dumaresque s ample hearth 
 after supper. The guides were fairly entranced 
 by the description of the encounter with Bruin, 
 and the wonderful passage of the falls, the 
 occasion of which was kept shrouded in mystery 
 to the end. Pete was seen, and cheered by a 
 present of money, in return for which he gave 
 assurance that seemed genuine of a wish to 
 renounce salmon-spearing, and set up as an 
 honest cobbler. The guides boxed up for trans 
 portation, in quantities of snow-ice, a number of 
 the largest fish ; and Dandy and Daisy, having 
 been the recipients of much admiration, were 
 safely convoyed on board ship in advance of their 
 owners, who lingered to the last, loath to leave 
 
WHO WOX THE RIFLE. 373 
 
 such pleasant scenes. But all things delightful 
 must have their end ; and the whistle of the 
 " Admiral " warned the still prattling boys, who 
 had not half exhausted their adventures, that 
 the hour for departure was at hand. The leave- 
 taking was genuinely regretful on either side ; and 
 when the wharf was reached, old Joe Eden, to 
 whom a fine salmon had been sent, was there 
 to wish them a prosperous voyage, and to express 
 the general hope of the village, that they would 
 all return another summer. The second whistle 
 cut short his eloquence, and the Colonel turning 
 to George asked, 
 
 " Are- the fish aboard ? " 
 
 "Everything, Colonel. Fish, rods, bags, 
 nothing left behind." 
 
 " Well, time we were off." 
 
 But Mr. Eden detained him by the button. 
 " Great story that they re telling down at Camp- 
 bellton about one of your young gentlemen." 
 
 " What story is that, Joe ? " 
 
 " Why, they say he was twenty-four hours 
 landing that fish, and that he had three square 
 meals over him." 
 
374 JACK IN THE BUSH. 
 
 4fc Do you hear that, Jack Hall?" cried the 
 Colonel, as he burst into a peal of laughter, in 
 which every one joined; and before the merriment 
 had subsided, they were crossing the gang-plank 
 of the "Admiral." 
 
 " Good-by, Colonel Russell. Good-by, Mr. Holt. 
 Good-by, boys." 
 
 " Good-by, George, good-by." 
 
 " Good-by, William." 
 
 " Good-by, Jimmy." 
 
 Joe Eden, too, and many others are shouting 
 and waving. The smoke-stack puffs vigorously, 
 sending out a train of fiery cinders. The voices 
 grow fainter, the figures fade into the night, and 
 the summer school is steaming away from Gasp6 
 Basin. 
 
D1THA S 
 
 BURGLAR. 
 
 Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett. 
 
 15 ILLUSTRATIONS BY 
 
 Henry Sandbam. 
 
 HOUSEKEEPERS 
 AND HOMEMAKERS. 
 
 BY 
 
 Sallie Joy White. 
 
 JACK HALL; 
 
 OR, THE SCHOOLDAYS OF AN 
 AMERICAN BOY. 
 
 Robert Grant. 
 
YB 7453