THE FIRST SIGNS OF SPRING--THE EAGLE MOON--EXPRESSIVE INDIAN NAMES FOR
SOME OF THE MONTHS--CHATS AMONG THE BOYS ABOUT THE PHENOMENA OF THE
NORTH LAND--POWER OF THE FROST--CUNNING OF ANIMALS--CLEVERNESS OF THE
GUIDES--INVITATION TO A MUSKRAT HUNT GLADLY ACCEPTED--HABITS OF THESE
LITTLE ANIMALS--METHODS OF CAPTURE--THEIR MANY FOES--THE QUEER BATTLE
BETWEEN WILD CATS AND WOLVERINES.
Thus rapidly and pleasantly passed the winter months at Sagasta-weekee.
Cold they were, and at times the blizzards had howled around, but as a
general thing the days had been full of sunshine and the nights of
wondrous beauty. Wretched days of fogs and mists and damps were almost
unknown. The air at all times was full of ozone, and knew no taint of
fever or malaria. There was a luxury in living where the skies were
nearly always bright and the air was always absolutely pure.
For long months the Frost King had reigned supreme, but now there were
indications that his grip was lessening and that his power was coming to
an end. In sunny, sheltered spots the snow began to soften and then to
disappear. Then tiny little rivulets in the warmest hours of the day
began to make sweet music, gathering strength and courage and hurrying
on to play hide and seek as they dashed under the great icy coverings of
the still frozen lakes. Strong south winds blew frequently, and under
their magic influences the great snowdrifts rapidly lessened and then
disappeared. From underneath the still hard, dry snow some mysterious
melting influence was at work, and the great masses sank down, and soon
all flitted away under the wondrous but unseen influences of the coming
spring.
"I saw a great golden eagle," said Alec, as one day he came in from a
short hunting trip with Big Tom.
"Did you see it first?" said Sam.
"No, indeed," replied Alec; "Big Tom's eyes were more alert, and so he
first saw it and then pointed it out to me as it was flying in graceful
circles far up in the blue heavens."
"The Indians will be all saying that spring indeed has come," said Mr
Ross. "As the appearance of the eagle is, as I think I told you, the
beginning of spring, Mikisewpesim, the eagle moon, is the first spring
month."
"Is it not," said Frank, "a very uncertain way of marking the seasons?"
"The variation is not as great as a person would at first imagine," was
Mr Ross's reply. "We talk about an early spring or a late spring, and
March with us is sometimes like April. Then some other years it is just
the reverse. So the Indians' methods of marking the months by the
arrival of the birds, or other events in nature, is not generally much
out of the way."
"What birds follow the eagles?" asked Sam.
"The wild geese," replied Mr Ross, "and as they do not come until the
great marshes, which are their early feeding grounds, are partially
bared of snow, they are about a month behind the eagles."
"Then is there a goose month also?" asked Alec.
"Yes, indeed," replied Mr Ross, "and it is a very important one to the
Indians, and I anticipate that we, too, will have our share of
excitement in it. It is called Niskepesim, from `niska,' goose, or
`niskuk,' geese, and `pesim,' month. The Niskepesim, goose moon, which
corresponds with our April, is followed by Unekepesim, frog moon, as
then those denizens of the swamps and ponds begin their croakings. In
our North Land frog moon corresponds with May. Then comes `Wawepesim,'
egg moon, as in June the birds are nesting and hatching out their young.
So it is with all the other months, each has some equally expressive
name."
"I am sure we are thankful for all this information," said Frank.
"It is a pleasure to get information, even if it sometimes has to be
acquired under difficulties, and it is equally pleasing to impart it to
those who will make use of it," was Mr Ross's reply.
"I am sure," said Sam, "we will have a deal to talk about when we return
home next summer. The only thing that is bothering me is that lots will
say that it is only a pack of lies that I am trying to cram down their
throats."
"Well, then," replied Frank, "we will not be the only returned
travellers whose veracity will be questioned. Don't you remember, Sam,
about the first ambassadors to England from a tropical country in the
south of Asia, that when they returned home they were rash enough to say
that in England sometimes in winter the water became hard enough to walk
on. Then the king was so mad at them for telling such monstrous lies
that he immediately handed them over to the executioner and had them
shortened by the length of their heads."
"I wonder what he would have done with me," said Sam, "after I had
enlightened him on some of the facts of this country, for that mere
trifle of a statement about ice forming on a river in England was a
mighty small incident, in comparison with what I have here discovered."
"What would you tell him," asked Alec, "supposing the old rascal were
still alive, and should ask you to visit him and then set your tongue a-
wagging?"
"Sure," replied Sam, without any hesitancy, "if his Satanic majesty--I
beg his pardon, that Siamese king--wanted any more water information, I
would say to him, `Sire, your majesty, once, in a fit of indignation at
the doing of a stable man, called Pasche, I seized a bucket of water,
just drawn, and up with it to throw over the fellow, and, wonderful to
relate, it just hit him in chunks of ice as dry as marble.'"
"Well, we know that is true," said Alec; "but supposing the old fellow
still left your head on your shoulders, what next would you tell him?"
"If the old questioner still wanted anything more about liquid matter, I
would just inform him that we carry the milk of our cows wrapped up in
old newspapers, and that it keeps that way for months, as solid and tidy
and handy as a brickbat in the end of a stocking."
"If he could stand that and let you survive, what next?" said Frank.
"I fancy I would confound his intellect by telling him that the breath-
laden air of the church, one bitterly cold Sunday, where some hundreds
of Indians worshipped, so froze up that the whole of it fell to the
floor in beautiful snow so plentifully that in one place, near a cold
window, it was over a foot deep."
"Supposing he survived that, or rather let you survive, what next would
you cram him with?" said Frank.
Sam, glib of tongue and ever ready, at once answered:
"Well, if that son of the sun, or whatever his Oriental title may be,
wanted any more information about our liquids, I would enlighten him
with the information that here, as a pastime or scientific experiment,
we take quicksilver or mercury and cast it into bullets that become as
hard and solid as lead, and then shoot them through stable doors."
"Anything more?" said Mr Ross, who had been an amused listener, and had
been much pleased with Sam's ready answers, which showed how well he was
gathering up the facts of the country to use them in other lands in
years to come.
"Well, yes," said Sam, "I would tell his bibulous majesty, if he were in
the habit of imbibing moisture of a fiery kind, that on one of our long
journeys with our dogs I had with me on my sled, for purposes that need
not concern his majesty, a bottle of the strongest wine. One day, when
no eyes were on me, for good and honest purposes I made a visit to the
aforesaid bottle, and to my horror and grief I found the bottle burst
into a hundred pieces. Feeling carefully around--for it was in the dark
when I had made this visit--I discovered that the wine itself was frozen
into a solid mass exactly the shape of the bottle. I carefully wrapped
it up in a handkerchief, and thus carried it along. Suffice to say,
none of it was lost."
"Well," said Frank, "if just about water, milk, mercury, and wine we
will be able to tell such things, shall we not have lots of fun when we
talk of our dogs and their doings, and of many other things that at
first seemed so marvellous to us, but are now everyday occurrences and
have in a measure lost their force and novelty?"
"I fancy," said Alec, "that some of the things we can also tell them
about the cunning and cleverness of the wild animals we have been
hunting, or seeing the Indians hunt, will open their eyes."
"After all," said Frank, "the cleverness of the Indian guides in finding
their way through the pathless forests, day or night, where there was
not the least vestige of a trail, sometimes for hundreds of miles, and
often when blizzard storms howled around them for days together, was to
me as wonderful and unaccountable as anything I have witnessed."
"Yes," said Mr Ross, "that is indeed wonderful. I have been studying
it all my life, and am just as much puzzled to-day as I was at first
with these first-class guides. They are not all thus gifted, but there
are some who never blunder, or even hesitate, under the most difficult
circumstances. The sky may be leaden with clouds all day, and an
ordinary person get so bewildered that he does not know north from
south, or east from west, but the guide never hesitates for an instant,
but on and on, with unerring accuracy, he pushes day after day, or even
night after night."
"That is wonderful indeed," replied Alec, "but the cleverness with which
the wolves tried to get ahead of me by cutting across the necks of land
in the river, and their other deviltries, are what I will never forget."
Here this most interesting conversation was ended by the arrival of
Paulette and Mustagan, with the word that the melting snow had exposed
the houses of the muskrats, and that they were off on a hunting
excursion to a great pondlike swamp where these animals were known to be
very numerous. At once it was decided that a party would be made up to
join them at a designated spot in the forest on the edge of this great
swamp. The distance was between twenty and thirty miles, and as the
greater part of the route would be on the ice, it was decided not to
start until the chill of the evening had hardened the snow, which now
nearly every day softened in the midday sun. Travelling with dog-trains
in half-melted snow, or even when it is just soft enough to stick, is
very heavy, laborious work. However, as soon as the sun ceases to shine
upon it, at this season, it hardens up again very quickly.
Arrangements were made for a three or four days' trip, so a regular camp
outfit was taken along on the dog-sleds. In addition to their guns the
boys were each supplied with a long, lancelike barbed spear for
effective use when securing the muskrats. Two or three Indians were
taken along by Mr Ross, who remarked to the boys, when he decided to
accompany them himself, that perhaps this was the last hunting trip of
the season with the dogs, with perhaps the exception of the one to the
goose hunt, which would not be long distant.
The whole party left Sagasta-weekee about sundown, and as it was a
crisp, cold, beautiful moonlight night, everybody enjoyed the trip
exceedingly. The boys, however, could not help remarking the great
change in the temperature from midday. Then the sun was so hot that the
snow was melting at a marvellous rate; now everything was as hard and
firm as though it were still January. Through the portages and over the
frozen ice expanses they hurried, and some time before midnight they
reached a splendid camp already prepared for them by Paulette and
Mustagan. A great roaring fire looked very attractive to all, even to
the boys, as they had become quite accustomed to these wintry resting
places when the heavy day's work was done. Kettles were quickly filled
and a late supper was eaten, and then all lay down to sleep. Nothing
disturbed their rest except the distant mournful screeches of the wild
cats and some other wild animals, that were already, now that spring was
coming, like themselves, on the lookout for muskrats.
In the morning, after an early breakfast, the whole party set off for
the great pondlike morass that extended for miles. Numerous tracks of
wild animals were seen, and Mustagan pointed out to the boys not only
those of some wild cats, but also a number of those made by the great
feet of the wolverines, as these latter animals are as fond of muskrats
as are any other. When the edge of the shore was reached the boys were
surprised to see how rapidly the snow had disappeared from the surface
of this lakelike pond. On it they noticed a large number of what seemed
like bundles of straw, as though a farmer in a great loaded wagon had
driven over the surface and had here and there in many places pitched
out large forkfuls and left them to decay.
"It looks," said Sam, "as though some farmer hereabouts had been drawing
out the contents of his barnyard to enrich his fields."
"Just what I thought," said Alec.
"All those little hillocks of marsh hay and reeds are muskrat nests,"
explained Mr Ross. "They were made last summer on the little mossy
hillocks that everywhere abound in all of these great marshes. Being
then entirely surrounded by water, they are fairly safe from the
prowling wild animals that hunt them as their prey, as wolverines and
wild cats dislike the water. Then in the winter they are completely
covered by the deep snow, and so are as safe as beavers' kitchens. But
in the early spring, when the snow melts off the ice, they are at the
mercy of their foes. The ice remains solid for another month or so, and
on its hard surface these water-hating enemies travel and tear open
these nests and devour those that have not deep enough burrowings in
which to hide themselves away. Of course, as soon as open water comes
they are safe, as they are thoroughly amphibious animals."
The boys were each armed with long, lancelike spears, while the Indians
had in addition to these some axes and guns. At the first nest the boys
found that the wild cats and wolverines had been there before them and
had cleared out every muskrat. However, as under the guidance of the
Indians they pushed out further on the ice, they found many nests or
little houses undisturbed. A few blows with the axes knocked the house
to pieces, and then there was quick work in spearing the almost helpless
animals. In the houses near the channel of the stream, or where there
was deep water, very often the clever muskrats had a channel dug from
their little straw houses to the water. These "runs," as they are
called, serve as a line of retreat whenever their home is attacked. In
other places the muskrats contented themselves with merely having a
well-like place under their little houses. While some of them were deep
enough to save them from the wild cats or wolverines, they were not
sufficient to save them from the spears of our boys and Indians. It
seemed at first cruel to thus stab the helpless animals, but their flesh
was food for the natives, and their furs were sold to the traders for
things essential to the Indians' comfort. So numerous were the nests in
this extensive morass that there was work enough for the hunters for
days. The boys, however, soon became tired of killing the poor
muskrats, and so only remained at the work with the Indians for the one
forenoon. After that they left their long spears at the camp, and
taking a dog or two with them, and their guns, had some good sport among
the partridges, which were fairly numerous.
The second morning the boys were aroused very early by a couple of the
Indians who had been on the watch during the night guarding the now
large pile of muskrats and skins. Paulette and Mustagan were too clever
to let their game be stolen from them, as were some beavers earlier in
the winter from other hunters, as we have described elsewhere.
"Get ready soon, and get your guns and come with us, and we will show
you something that will please you."
It did not take them long to respond, and so they were soon on the trail
with Mr Ross, while the two old Indians noiselessly led the way. The
other Indians had orders to remain in the camp and keep the dogs with
them, and as quiet as possible. They had not travelled more than half a
mile before the boys heard the most discordant screeches. Still they
had not the slightest idea of what sort of an experience was before
them. Louder and louder were these sounds, as they came directly with
the wind toward them. When they reached a little depression in the
trail they found that Mustagan and Paulette had stopped and were
awaiting their arrival. It was now so light in the eastern sky that the
boys could see as they approached that the Indians were making signs for
perfect quiet. So, as noiselessly as possible they, with Mr Ross,
joined them. Then they were informed that just over the brow of the
steep hill before them a couple of wolverines had chased a couple of
wild cats up into a large tree. The cats had each captured a muskrat,
and were making off with them when the wolverines came along and tried
to rob them of their prey. However, the wild cats had succeeded in
getting up into this solitary large tree with their game, and although
the wolverines can climb trees they did not like to do so to attack
these fierce cats, as their being already above them in the tree would
give them such an advantage.
Very distinctly now could be heard the growls of the wolverines, and
then the defiant snarls of the cats. With their guns loaded with ball,
they all began the cautious crawl up the hillside, with the Indians in
the advance. Fortunately for them, the top of the hill was studded with
short, stunted spruce trees. By each person keeping one of these well
in front of him, they were all able to crawl up to positions where they
could distinctly see the tree with the wild cats ensconced on its large
branches and the wolverines at the foot of it. The tree was not an
evergreen, and so every branch was distinctly visible. For a time they
watched the various manoeuvres of the animals. They noticed that when
the wolverines were not active in their movements the wild cats kept
eating bits off the muskrats. This seemed to anger the furious brutes
on the ground, and so they would one after another make the attempt to
get up the hard, smooth trunk. How the cats had succeeded was a mystery
to the boys. Wolverines are fairly good tree climbers, but they had no
show at all here, for when one of them succeeded in getting well up the
almost smooth, bare trunk, a fierce blow from the unencumbered paw of
one of the wild cats, securely seated on the large lowest limb, which
ran out almost parallel from the trunk of the tree, quickly caused him
to loose his grip and fall helplessly to the ground. Then, with
apparent satisfaction, the wild cat would take another bite or two of
his muskrat. Several times, as though on purpose, the wild cats dropped
small bits of meat or half-picked bones to the ground. The taste or
smell of these fairly drove the wolverines furious, and so they would
desperately make fresh attempts to get at their enemies, but without
success.
It was fortunate for our party that the wind was blowing toward then,
and also that the air was so thoroughly tainted with the musky smell of
the muskrats. Under ordinary circumstances they would have been
detected long ere they had reached the top of the hill. So,
unsuspected, they watched the strange antics of these animals, until
suddenly the reports of a couple of guns rang out, and then up sprang
both Mustagan and Paulette and dashed down to the foot of the tree,
loudly calling to the rest of the party to quickly follow. Following
Mr Ross, the boys speedily obeyed, and when they reached the tree they
found that one wolverine was dead and the other was hobbling off, as
speedily as he could, on three legs. The other had been broken by the
ball of one of the Indians. The frightened wild cats had dropped what
was left of the muskrats, which was not much, and had found their way
much higher up in the large tree, where they vainly tried to hide
themselves by stretching out on a couple of large branches. Quickly
loading his gun again, Paulette hurried off after the wounded wolverine,
that, in spite of his broken leg, was rapidly making for the distant
dense forest. But vain were all his efforts, for behind him was an
Indian who, although now well up in years, was one of the fleetest
runners in the tribe. Soon the gun rang out and another wolverine was
dead.
It was decided that the boys should have the work of shooting the wild
cats. So close and flat did they crawl down on the big branches that
the boys had to move back to a considerable distance from the tree to
get a good aim. Sam and Alec were to fire first, and if either cat
failed to drop, then Frank was to bring it down. Mr Ross and Mustagan
with loaded guns stood ready for any emergency, for wild cats are
uncertain animals, and are not to be trifled with. They are very
fierce, and will sometimes, when thus treed, if furious with hunger, or
driven from their young, spring down into the midst of the hunters and
fight like tigers. When the boys had secured a good position, and each
knew which wild cat he was expected to kill, Mustagan gave the signal,
and together the reports of their guns rang out. The cat at which Sam
had fired at once dropped to the ground, stone dead. The other did not
move, much to the chagrin of Alec, who could not understand how he
should have missed him. Just as Frank raised his gun to fire Mustagan's
quick eye saw what the boys did not, and so before Frank could fire he
stopped him by saying:
"That cat is dead; do not waste another bullet on it. You only more
injure his skin."
And so it was; when the body was at length obtained it was found that
Alec's bullet had hit him squarely behind the fore shoulder and had gone
clean through his body, of course killing him so suddenly that there was
not even that muscular quiver which generally causes animals, when thus
killed, to fall to the ground. This was what actually happened to the
one that Sam shot.
Paulette soon after made his appearance, dragging the wolverine. They
were all delighted with the morning's work. Mr Ross and the boys
hurried back to the camp and speedily dispatched an Indian with a dog-
train and empty sled for the game. While some skinned these animals,
others spent the day in killing additional muskrats, and then after
supper, as soon as the snow had frozen hard again and the glorious moon
was well up in the heavens, the home trip was commenced. Loaded down as
they were, they did not travel as fast as they had done in the outward
trip, and so it was about daybreak when they reached Sagasta-weekee.