WISE ECONOMY OF INDIAN HUNTERS--GAME NEVER ALL KILLED--BEAVERS' TAILS--
THE BOYS INTERESTED IN THEM--PREPARATIONS FOR THE RETURN TRIP--LOADS
PACKED--WOLVERINES--THEIR CUNNING THEFT OF FIVE BEAVERS--DOGS AND MEN ON
THEIR TRAIL--SURVIVING BEAVERS ALREADY AT WORK--THE RETURN OF THE
HUNTERS--CAPTURED WOLVERINES--JOURNEY RESUMED--THE CAMP--THE CRY OF
"WOLVES!"
Allowing a number of the beavers to escape was the almost universal
custom of those northern Indian hunters. They never killed all the game
of any kind. Thus where they alone hunted, the forests continued to
yield their yearly supplies. But when the white trapper enters with his
steel traps and poisons he kills all before him, if possible, even if he
does not secure one half of it. The result is that great regions once
rich in valuable fur-bearing animals are now as completely denuded of
them as are the prairies of the once countless herds of buffalo.
Pathetic is the picture of the last of the buffalo!
The call, loud and clear, was sent by the far-reaching voice of one of
the hunters to the watchers at the camp, and speedily in answer came a
couple of trains of dogs. These were attached to the two now well-
filled sleds, and the whole party, flushed with triumph at their
success, returned to the camp. They are all in good trim for their
dinner, and speedily is it dispatched, for all these beavers must be
skinned, if possible, before they freeze.
The Indian servants of Mr Ross aid the hunters, and so the work is
rapidly done. As the flesh of the beaver is very much prized as an
article of food, the carcasses were carefully prepared. The tails were
left attached to the bodies, with the exception of a half dozen, which
were left out for the evening meal. These tails very much interested
and amused the boys, not only on account of their odd appearance, but
because of the many queer tales they had heard about them. The tail of
the beaver serves as a rudder to its owner when he is swimming. It aids
him in various ways when he is building his cozy house and marvellously
constructed dam. Next to his powerful teeth it is his best weapon of
defence, as with it he can strike a very heavy blow. Thus it was no
wonder that the boys were interested in these half dozen tails, on which
they expected to dine that evening.
The process of preparation was very simple. The tails were from twelve
to fifteen inches long and from six to eight inches in width, and about
an inch thick. They were oval-shaped, somewhat resembling in appearance
a mason's trowel. They were covered with close-fitting, fishlike
scales. The first thing necessary in preparing them for the table is to
hold them so close to a hot fire that the scales will speedily blister
off. The next thing is to boil them for a long time, especially if they
are the tails of old beavers. Then it is best to allow them to get
thoroughly cold, as they taste very much better then, than when eaten
hot. On carving them the correct method is to cut the meat in long
strips from the powerful central bone. These are then to be served up
and eaten with a little salt. Beavers' tails thus prepared make a very
dainty dish. Indeed, it is one of the great delicacies of the country,
prized alike by both Indians and travellers. The other two great
delicacies of the country are the moose's nose and the bear's paws.
"That looks queer to me," said Sam, "that the delicacies of a country
should be the beaver's tail, the bear's paws, and the moose's nose. If
such is the case, you see that when here eating even the delicacies of
the land you are reduced to extremities!"
"A very good one, Sam," shouted the boys. "Old Ireland forever!"
The beavers' tails, although never tasted before by the boys, were very
much enjoyed by them. They racked their brains and memories to try and
think of some article of food that had a taste somewhat similar, but had
to give it up. So they had to agree with Alec that if you wished to
know just how beavers' tails tasted--well, you must eat one.
As the evening promised to be a calm and beautiful one, Mr Ross said
that they had better start not long after midnight. They could travel
on the back trail until they reached the camp where the storm had struck
them without much difficulty; after which in all probability they would
have to make a fresh trail. A blizzard storm in that land quickly
obliterates a trail, and thus the return journey is often made without a
single evidence of any other trip ever having been made in that region
of country. Their great success in capturing so many beavers meant a
large additional weight on their sleds. However, against that was the
fact that their vigorous appetites had very considerably reduced the
weight of their outfit, and in addition their dogs had, since they left
home, devoured about a thousand-weight of fish. Forty-seven beavers
weigh a good deal when they have to be drawn many scores of miles on
dog-sleds, and so, in spite of the lightened loads, it was no easy
matter to arrange them on the sleds.
That they might be ready to make the desired start in good time, it was
thought best that Mr Ross and the boys should go to bed in their camp
outfit as has been described, while the men should load up the sleds as
far as possible, just leaving sufficient room in the deerskin wrappings
for the packing away of the bedding and the other essentials required at
the midnight meal. This meant that the Indians would have at least two
hours' less sleep than the whites. This would be no unusual occurrence.
As a general thing the Indians sleep very little when travelling, in
summer or winter. This is especially the case when they are employed as
canoemen or dog-drivers. They are so alert and watchful and anxious
that everything should go right, that often white men have travelled for
weeks together with several of these red men in their employ, without
ever having once seen one of them asleep. They seldom think of lying
down until long after their employers have gone to sleep, and then they
are up long before them in the mornings. And yet how few there are who
have given these most vigilant and faithful of comrades or servants
their due meed of praise!
To the music of the few quiet whispered words of the men, as they
actively attended to the work of packing up the sleds, Mr Ross and the
boys quickly fell into dreamless slumber. When the men had finished
packing and fastening up the loads they dragged them out in line on the
homeward trail, leaving sufficient space between the sleds for the dogs
when they should be harnessed to them. The result was that the whole
line of sleds, when thus stretched out, extended quite a distance from
the camp.
Loud were the shoutings and many were the indignant utterances which
quickly aroused Mr Ross and his young bedfellows from their slumbers.
"What is the matter?" demanded Mr Ross.
"Wolverines!" was the quick response.
Great indeed was the excitement, and at first the boys could hardly
realise how the mention of that one word could cause such commotion.
Even Mr Ross was about as much excited as anyone else. While guns were
being loaded, and other preparations were being made for a speedy hunt,
the cause of all the excitement was soon told. It was that, in spite of
the presence of so many persons and dogs, the wolverines had crept up to
the sleds, and had stolen away five of the best beavers, and in addition
had so badly scented with their horrid odour more than a dozen others
that they were absolutely worthless.
"How was it possible that none of the dogs detected them?" asked Mr
Ross. "They are generally sleeping in various places around the camp.
I am sure I cannot understand how those brutes, cunning as they are,
could play such a trick upon us."
In response to this one of the men explained that after they had
finished arranging their loads they went out and brought into the camp
all of the dogs, so as to have no trouble in finding them when they
would be required. They stated also that, during the brief time they
tried to get a little sleep, some of the dogs were very restless, and
they had to speak sternly to them to induce them to be quiet. Then he
added:
"The dogs most uneasy were those of Sam's train. Several times they
growled, and were very uneasy. Spitfire was the worst, and acted like a
dog ready for a fight."
The stupid drivers, instead of calling the hunters, who were very sleepy
from the fact that they had had hardly any sleep for several nights
past, sternly threatened the dogs, and thus succeeded in quieting them
down. After a time some disagreeably tainted air reached the sensitive
nostrils of one of the Indian hunters. He did not require a second
sniff to tell him what it indicated. With a bound he was up. Suddenly
rousing his comrade, they rushed out into the gloom of the forest.
Unfortunately for them, the fire was about out, and so at first it was
impossible to see how great had been their loss from these stealthy,
cunning animals. It was when they had rushed back to the camp, and were
rousing up the other men and rebuilding the fire, that the commotion was
made which had so suddenly called up Mr Ross and the boys. A casual
glance had enabled them to see, as we have mentioned, something of the
nature of their loss. On a closer investigation it was found that the
damage was even much greater.
What was to be done? This was the question now discussed, and quickly
was a decision arrived at. It was to organise a party, and have them
get on the trail of the wolverines, and follow them up until they were
reached. It was decided that those dogs which manifested any great
eagerness to pick up and follow on the trail should be the ones
encouraged to push on as rapidly as possible, while the hunters with
their guns should follow as speedily as it could be done in the dense,
gloomy forest.
Spitfire and the rest of Sam's train were the first when taken to the
place to immediately pick up the scent, and, as soon as they were
encouraged by Sam to do so, away they dashed in the gloom. Bruce and
his comrades were equally as eager, and as Alec's cheery voice rang out
his dogs quickly responded, and away they sped on the hot trail of the
audacious, cunning thieves. The two hunters and a couple of Mr Ross's
best men, with their guns well-loaded and with their snowshoes on their
feet, as rapidly as was possible strode after them.
Mr Ross and the boys waited until the last sounds of the dogs were lost
in the distance, and then, by the light of the now brilliant camp fire,
made a more careful inspection of the sleds, and so were able to see the
full extent of the depredations made by these most cunning of all
animals in those regions. There they not only saw the full extent of
their destructiveness, but, under the guidance of the Indian now keeping
watch over the sleds, they were able, by following back on their tracks,
to see how five wolverines had outwitted the whole of them, dogs
included.
When they returned to the warmth and cheer of the camp fire they found
that old Memotas and others had prepared for them a good warm breakfast.
While it was being partaken of, Frank turned to Memotas and said:
"How is it that you, who are so great a hunter, are not off in the woods
with those other men?"
With a grim, sarcastic smile he replied: "Better some one stay in camp
for fear wolverines come in on other side and steal what is left."
This answer was at first quite a riddle to the boys. But the fact was,
he was so thoroughly disgusted at the remissness of those whose duty had
been to have watched that night, that he felt that a great disgrace had
come to them all. The idea of allowing five wolverines to thus steal
such a march upon them was too much for even the patient, kind-hearted
Memotas.
"Why," said he, "it will be the story at every camp fire this winter--
yes, and for long years to come. We all know that wolverines are
cunning animals, but when the fact is known that there were so many of
us in the camp at the time that five beavers were stolen from our
sleds--why, great will be their ridicule and contempt for us."
It was indeed a long time since Memotas had made such a long speech of
this kind, and so, when he stopped, there was an awkward silence. Even
Mr Ross had nothing to say. It was very evident, however, that he felt
that there had been very great carelessness on the part of somebody, and
perhaps he chided himself that he had not interested himself in the
matter. However, he had his hopes that, in spite of the cunning of the
wolverines, the men would succeed in killing some of them, and as one
wolverine skin is worth four beaver skins, if they were successful there
would at least be some satisfaction in that.
As it was still a long time until daylight the boys were persuaded to
lie down in their bed, and Memotas carefully tucked them in. Refreshing
sleep speedily came to them again, and when they awoke it was to hear
Mr Ross giving some final instructions to three dog-drivers who were
just about to start on the trail made at midnight by the wolverines,
barking dogs and angry, indignant hunters. Wrapped securely upon their
sleds was a liberal supply of food, with kettles, axes, and other things
that might be required.
As they started the eastern sky almost suddenly became illuminated with
the brightness of the coming day. So beautiful was the morning that the
boys longed to go with the departing trains. It was thought best,
however, owing to the uncertainty and probable hardships that might have
to be encountered, not to run the risk. To pleasantly and profitably
pass the time it was suggested that some of them go out on a tour of
investigation on the trail of the wolverines, and see in what direction
they came and how it was that they had so well succeeded in their
movements. Dear Old Memotas, disconsolate as he was, was persuaded to
go along and explain the various movements of these clever animals to
the boys. This he could well do, as he had hunted them for many years
and knew much about them, although he always declared that there were
some of them that could outwit any Indian.
They all first went to the spot where stood the sleds, from which the
beavers had been stolen. Then, with Memotas leading, they followed back
on the tracks, and soon they found, as they went on, that the cautious
animals had completely crept around the camp, ere they had begun their
depredations. Continuing on their trail, still going back, they found
that the wolverines had come directly from the spot on the dam where the
beavers had been captured, as has been described.
While so near the beaver house Memotas said to the boys that it might be
interesting to try and find out if the surviving beavers had as yet gone
to work again. That anything could be found out seemed impossible to
the boys, but the experienced eye of the old Indian saw evidences of
their industry very close at hand. Of course the intense cold had again
frozen up the water where from it the ice had been cut and thrown out.
This newly formed ice, of course, firmly held up the row of strong
stakes which with so much trouble and care the men had driven so solidly
in the ground. Drawing his hunting axe from his belt, Memotas struck
the projecting ends of the stakes a few smart blows, just sufficient to
loosen them from the new ice. Then said Memotas to the boys:
"Try and see which of you is strong enough to pull any of them up."
Eagerly they each seized hold of one, and, expecting that the other end
was still securely stuck in the mud, they pulled with such vigour that
the three of them nearly fell over on their backs. To their
astonishment they found by the appearance of the short sticks in their
hands that the beavers had cut them off just below the ice.
After some further interesting investigation they returned to the camp,
for very naturally they were all anxious to get some word from the
hunters and the dogs. Fortunately they had not long to wait, for very
soon after their return the expected ones dashed into their midst. On
their sleds they had three dead wolverines. The dogs had returned
panting and tired. They were all in good shape, except Bruce and
another one of Alec's train. These, in battle with the wolverines, had
each received a couple of severe flesh wounds, but they seemed to think
nothing of them, and in a short time they completely healed up.
Everybody was, of course, anxious to hear their story, and so one of the
hunters was asked to be the spokesman for the whole, and here is about
what he said:
"You all know how we started. You boys set your dogs on the tracks, and
away they went and we after, as fast as we could follow. The dogs could
travel much faster than we could, and so it was not long before they
were out of hearing. The wolverines must have got a good start, as it
was a long time before we found any trace of them. But we pushed on as
fast as it was possible for us to do in the darkness. Sometimes the
northern lights shone out, and then we made very much better time. By
and by we came to a half-eaten beaver that had been dropped by one of
the thieves. This told us that the dogs must be driving them very
close, for a wolverine will make a big fight, before he will give up
what he has secured. Still on we hurried, and it was not long after
this before we heard the dogs again. Then we found another of the
skinned beavers, and now the barkings of the dogs told us that the fight
was on in good earnest.
"We had been so much hindered by the dense woods, that was the reason we
were so far behind, but now, as we came out from a bad piece of the
forest, right there before us was a sight to please us for our anger at
the loss of the beaver. The dogs had driven one wolverine up into the
branches of a large tree, while others were barking furiously at two
others which they had chased up among some steep rocks. It was at this
time, just as we reached them, that some of the dogs got cut and
wounded. They seemed to be so glad to see us coming to their help that
they made a furious attack upon the two that were upon the rocks, and
some of them were taught that wolverines have sharp teeth and know well
how to use them.
"We speedily shot these three animals, and then began at once to look
for the tracks of the other two. After some time we found them, and in
following them up we soon saw that they had reached the great cliffs,
among which are their dens. We could not then hope for much more
success. So we returned to the spot where we had left the three dead
ones, and were just about beginning to skin them when the sleds arrived,
and it was thought best, after we had had something to eat from the
supplies Mr Ross was so good as to send us, for us all to return, and
here we are."
This was the story, and it showed quick, sharp, thorough work on the
part of both men and dogs. This long delay had caused quite a break in
their plans. Mr Ross, however, decided that just as soon as the
wolverines could be skinned, and dinner prepared and eaten, the home
journey must be resumed. Some of the party would have preferred to have
remained until the next day before starting, but Memotas sarcastically
remarked that they had better go on for fear some more wolverines might
come and carry away the rest of the beavers! It is a remarkable fact,
and one interesting to study, that the Indians are much more bitter and
sarcastic on each other for any act of carelessness in capturing or
securing their game, than for any other defect or folly.
The homeward journey was soon resumed, and after travelling about twenty
miles the winter camp was prepared. Fortunate was it for them that they
were able to find a favourable place in the very midst of a large
quantity of dry trees. So warm and invigorating was the work of cutting
down these tall dry trees that not only did the boys, but several of the
men, as they said, for the fun of it, slash away until an unusually
large number had thus been made ready for the fire.
The owners of the beavers were not to be caught napping again, and so
they erected a kind of a staging near to the camp, on which the valuable
loads of meat and furs were safely placed. Memotas had to have another
drive or two at them, and so he ironically congratulated them on their
late precautions. Sam said it looked like the old proverb of locking
your stable after the horse was stolen. Alec's more charitable remark
was, "It is best to be made wise by the loss, and then strive to save
the rest."
Yes, indeed, it was a wise precaution, for even now, while the men were
thus hard at work and others were thus discussing their actions, far
back on the trail hungry and cruel enemies have caught the rich scent of
the beaver, and with long, louping strides are rapidly drawing near.
Supper and prayers were over, and the men had nicely tucked in the boys
in their warm bed. Before lying down themselves they had as usual lit
their pipes and were having a quiet chat over the usual incidents of the
day. With a sudden start they were all on their feet in an instant, for
coming down on the wind, in the direction in which they had so recently
travelled, they heard a sound so blood-curdling and so ominous that it
has chilled the very heart and caused the cheeks to blanch of many a
stout-hearted traveller, the howlings of a pack of wolves!