Midnight mass--Little Mary--Foot-races--Dog-races, etc.--Reach my
twentieth birthday--End of this book.
I found that the Roman Catholics had a church built in the fort, and
Mr. MacDonald and I went to the celebration of midnight mass on
Christmas eve. Our conduct was respectful and reverent. Indeed,
graceless as I may have been, I always from early boyhood have
respected the religious services of others. Often in the conjurer's
camp, and at thirst and sun dances, I have preserved most perfect
decorum and attention, and that night at Edmonton my friend and self
behaved; but because someone saw MacDonald pass me a peppermint, it
was noised abroad that we were mocking the passing of the wafer.
Quite a _furore_ was caused by this, and the Catholics came to the
Chief Factor to demand our expulsion from the fort, but he very
justly refused to interfere, and the storm passed away without
hurting us. But I was amused and delighted with my friend, Mr.
Woolsey. Said he to me, while drawing himself up and squaring off,
"I never yet struck a man, but if I did, it would be a mighty blow."
Mr. Woolsey held service on Christmas morning, which was largely
attended.
In the afternoon, Mr. Hardisty and myself went for a drive on the
river with our dog-trains. Mr. Hardisty took the little daughter of
the Chief Factor with him, and we drove up the river, but when
turning to come home, his dogs took a sweep out into the river and
left him, and the course the dogs took was dangerous. There was a
long stretch of open current. There sat the child perfectly
unconscious of her danger. Hardisty was winded, and he shouted to me
to catch his dogs. I saw that if I drove mine after his it would
make matters worse, for his dogs would run the faster; so I left mine
and ran after his, and here the constant training of the season did
me good service. I had both wind and speed, but the time seemed
dreadful. The dogs were nearing the current, and if the cariole
should swing or upset, the child was doomed. If ever I ran, it was
then, if ever I was thankful to be able to run, it was then. Little
Mary was a favorite of mine, and her peril filled me with keen
anguish; but I have always been thankful that my whole being
responded as it did. Steadily I came up, and presently, before the
dogs knew it, I was on the back of the sleigh; then, gripping the
ground lashing, I let myself drag as a brake, and with a mighty
"Chuh!" which made the leader jump quickly to the left, then a loud
stern "Marse!" straight out from the danger the strong train drew us.
[Illustration: STRAIGHT OUT FROM THE DANGER THE STRONG TRAIN DREW US]
After we came home, I felt weak and exhausted because of the nervous
strain; but the reward of having been instrumental in saving the
little darling's life was sweet to me.
The next day we had dog-races, and foot-races and football, and the
fun was fast and furious. This social and pleasant intercourse with
my fellowmen was especially agreeable to me after the isolation of
the last few months. Then my new-found friends were exceedingly
kind, and I was heartily glad Mr. Woolsey had brought me with him to
Edmonton. The second day after Christmas was my birthday. I was
then twenty years of age, and thus have reached the limit given to
this book.
As the reader will have noticed, I began life on the frontier, and
here, after twenty years, am to be found on the still farther
frontier. Then it was lake-shore and forest, now it is highland and
prairie.
Trusting the reader will have been interested sufficiently in this
simple narrative to follow the author on into the more stirring
recital of experiences on the plains during the "sixties,"
I remain,
Yours truly,
JOHN McDOUGALL.
* * * * * * * *
BOOKS ON THE WEST
By the Well-Known Frontiersman and Writer
JOHN McDOUGALL
The author, John McDougall, was born on the frontier in 1842 and has
had a lifetime on the frontier full of strange experiences and
adventures such as fall to the lot of few men.
These books give in graphic style an account of the early days of the
Canadian North-West.
FOREST, LAKE and PRAIRIE
Twenty years of Frontier Life in Western Canada, 1842-62. Cloth.
With 27 full page original illustrations. $1.00 net.
SADDLE, SLED and SNOWSHOE
Pioneering on the Saskatchewan in the Sixties. Cloth. Fully
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PATHFINDING ON PLAIN and PRAIRIE
Stirring scenes of Life in the Canadian North-West. Cloth. With 12
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IN THE DAYS OF THE RED RIVER REBELLION.
Life and Adventure in the Far West of Canada. 1858-1872. Cloth.
With 5 illustrations and 2 portraits. $1.00 net.
ON WESTERN TRAILS in the EARLY SEVENTIES
Frontier Pioneer Life in the Canadian North-West. $1.25 net.
WA-PEE-MOOSTOOCH or WHITE BUFFALO
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WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher
29-37 Richmond Street West - TORONTO
End of Project Gutenberg's Forest, Lake and Prairie, by John McDougall