PRESERVING MEAT--CUNNING PARTRIDGES--CELESTIAL PHENOMENON--THE FEARFUL
HURRICANE--CAUGHT IN THE STORM--DISASTER--THE MISCHIEVOUS WOLVERINE--
ALEC'S SHOT.
The sun was shining brightly next morning ere the musical "Koos-koos-
kah" rang out, calling them from their slumbers. When the boys arose
they found the big bear already skinned, and some portions of his hams,
cut as steaks, were being broiled, while his spareribs were skidded on a
couple of sticks, and were being roasted a nice brown colour, in front
of the fire which burned so brightly on the rocks. The savoury odour of
the cooking breakfast was welcome to the boys.
A hasty plunge in the fresh water of the lake was a refreshing bath, and
soon they were ready for their morning meal. Indians, if they have the
chance, are not bad cooks, especially when working for those whom they
respect; and so here, under the eye of Mr Ross, whom they so loved,
they did their best. With some of the supplies from home, added to the
fish, duck, bear steaks, and spareribs, they had a breakfast of which
any hunters might be proud. The delicious bracing air, the wild
romantic surroundings, the congenial friendship, the picturesque,
attentive red men, gave to this meal on the rocks under the blue sky
such an exhilaration of spirits to the boys that they were fairly wild
with delight.
Even Sam had forgotten in some degree his exciting race and fright in
the rare enjoyment of the hour. Soon after, preparations were begun for
continuing the journey. The question was, what was to be done with all
the bear's meat, as there was too much to carry in their canoes, with
the other supplies considered more necessary. So the Indian plan of
preserving meat fresh and sweet was adopted. A hole was dug in the
fresh earth to a depth of three or four feet, and here the meat, well
wrapped up in the bear's skin, was deposited. Meat will keep fresh and
good in this way for many days. The hole was then carefully covered up
and packed down by the Indians. Then on the top a large fire was
kindled, and then allowed to burn itself out. This was done to destroy
the scent and thus save the "cache" from being discovered by prowling
wolves and wolverines that would in all probability visit the camp not
long after the hunters had left.
Nothing of much importance occurred during the trip to the Old Fort.
Their favourite camping ground was reached in due time, and the boys had
a couple of hours' duck and partridge shooting ere they sat down on the
rocks to dinner. Each had something to say, but Frank most amused the
party by a description of an old partridge that kept tumbling down ahead
of him and acting in the queerest manner possible. In fact, so amused
was he in the queer antics of the bird that he could not find it in his
heart to shoot her. When Mr Ross heard Frank's story he said he was
delighted to hear that he had not tried to shoot that partridge, as it
was undoubtedly a mother bird with a brood of little ones not far off.
Then he went on to tell not only of the cleverness he had often
witnessed in the old mother birds themselves, but also how cunningly the
little ones acted when suddenly disturbed. They would apparently make
themselves invisible. Some would quickly disappear in little openings
or under leaves, others would cleverly catch up old brown leaves in
their mouths and suddenly turn over on their backs, and then lie still
and quiet thus hidden under the leaves. Mr Ross said he had seen them
do this so quickly that he could hardly believe his eyes until he went
and picked up the brown leaf and the little partridge that had so
cleverly hid itself out of sight, and not until the little bird was in
his hands did it show any sign of life. Then, indeed, it was wild
enough.
During the afternoon the sky became hazy and slightly overcast. The
boys were treated to one of the peculiar phenomena not unfrequently seen
in those high latitudes. First, a great circle surrounded the sun, and
at the east, west, and top and bottom in it were seen very vivid mock
suns. Shortly after another ring appeared inside this first one, and
then another one on the outside of all, and in each circle there
appeared four mock suns, clear, distinct, and startling. In all there
was the sun himself, in a beautiful halo in the centre, and around him
were visible no less than twelve mock suns.
While this sight very much interested the boys, the older Indians were
somewhat troubled, and at once proposed to Mr Ross the removal of their
camp to a sheltered spot where some dense forests of balsam and spruce
would be a barrier against the coming storm, which they said was not
more than an hour off. Marvellously clever are these Indians in reading
these signs in the heavens, and very rarely do they make mistakes.
To the boys there was not in these beautiful visions in the heavens
anything that portended a storm, and they were somewhat disappointed
when told that in all probability there would be but little hunting for
perhaps some days. While this was not pleasant news, they willingly
fell to work and did their share in removing to the place appointed.
They were very much interested to see how skillfully the Indians cut
poles, and, taking the oilcloths from the canoes, improvised a
watertight roof over a "lean-to," as they called it, against the storm
that they said would soon be on them from a certain point indicated.
Large dry logs were cut and rolled into position to make a fire in the
front of this improvised tent, under which they would have to find
shelter. Kettles, food, and blankets were brought up to this camp, and
then the canoes were carried to a sheltered spot and turned over and
fastened down with heavy logs and stones.
Very busily were the men employed, and yet more rapid were the changes
that were taking place in the heavens above and around them. One by one
the circles with the mock suns disappeared. Dark clouds began to arise
up in the north-west horizon, and rapidly they came up in the heavens.
Vivid flashes of lightning were seen and the rumbling thunder was heard
from the rapidly darkening clouds all around. The birds that had been
singing now seemed to fly off to dense coverts, and uttered only
frightened cries. A dense, stuffy sensation seemed to be in the air,
and there for a few moments every sound was hushed, and a calm, the most
profound and ominous, seemed to fall upon the whole face of nature. Not
a blade of grass or a tall reed in the marshy places near the shore made
the slightest movement. Nature was absolutely still. It was the dead,
weird quiet before the awful hurricane; the quietude of death before the
elemental war.
Only for a short time did it last, and to judge by the feverish haste
with which the Indians, under Mr Ross's stern orders, worked, it was
evident they knew the danger of this ominous calm, and what would
speedily follow. Large logs were piled up as a barrier behind the
improvised tent, while every rope available was used to tie down the
poles which held up the roof of canvas and oilcloth. Poles were lashed
across the top, and tied down with the fishing nets, which had to do as
substitutes for something better. Guns were well wrapped up in the
oilcloth covers, and, with the axes, were placed at a distance from the
camp.
"Get under cover, and hold on to something fixed and strong!" shouted
Mustagan, who had been on the lookout, and saw that the storm was close
at hand.
And it _was_ a storm! A strange greenish appearance came into the
north-west sky, and then suddenly there was heard and seen the oncoming
tornado. The clouds that during the calm had apparently become
motionless in the heavens for a time suddenly became strangely broken
and twisted, and then, as though impelled by some irresistible impulse,
started with a speed that seemed incredible on their wild career. There
seemed to roll up before them the strange green colour in the sky, which
now appeared like a great monster on the crest of the coming clouds.
Blacker, denser, and darker, on they came. Far away the sound of the
storm could be heard, while now the forked lightnings and peals of
thunder were almost incessant.
Crouching under the shelter was our party. Mr Ross and the three boys
were in the centre, while the stalwart Indians took the outside
positions, each man with a grip of iron upon the poles and canvas.
Very strange and very different were the sensations of the boys. "This
is glorious!" said Alec, who had often, with his Highland friends, been
caught in storms amid the hills of his beloved Scotland.
"Wait until it is over," said the other boys, "and then we will tell you
whether it is `glorious' or not."
"Hold on!" shouted Mr Ross. For, in almost an instant, a dark as like
as midnight was on them, broken only by a vivid flash of lightning,
while the very ground seemed to shake under the awful thunder. Then the
storm in all its fury was upon them. How they escaped seemed a miracle.
Great trees all around them were bent and twisted and broken, and went
down in scores, until the air seemed full of the falling trunks and
branches. Large branches fell upon the frail roof under which they were
sheltered, but fortunately, while some holes were made, none of them
were large enough to break through or injure them, and those that did
fall on them were really a benefit, as they helped to hold down the
canvas over them.
Fortunately these tornadoes are not of long duration. With a speed of
perhaps over a hundred miles an hour they sweep along with irresistible
power in their wild career.
Their fury is soon spent, and years may pass ere they occur again. As a
very heavy fall of rain immediately followed this hurricane or tornado,
our party were obliged to remain under their frail tent, which, in spite
of the fury of the winds, thanks to the strong arms of the Indians,
skillfully directed by Mustagan, had been kept from being blown away.
However, some of the larger branches that had fallen upon it had pierced
the roof in some places, and now, like out of a huge funnel, about a
gallon of water suddenly struck Alec on the back of the neck, and caused
him to change his position, while he fairly howled from the suddenness
of the dousing.
"Is that sousing `glorious,' Alec?" asked Frank, who was doing his best
to dodge the little streams that through some other rents were trying to
reach him.
"Well, no, not exactly," was Alec's answer;--"this beats anything I ever
saw or heard of in the Highlands; and now that the worst is over I would
not have missed such a thing for a good deal."
"What do you think of it, Sam?" said Frank.
Sam had cuddled down between Mr Ross and Mustagan, and, at the advice
of the latter, had taken the precaution to double up a blanket like a
shawl and throw it over his head and shoulders. Very little wet had
reached him, yet he had to confess that he had been terrified by this
storm, which had excelled any dozen ever witnessed before in his life.
"Think of it!" said, he; "faith, I have just been thinking which is the
worst, being chased by a fierce old bear or frightened out of a year's
growth by a tornado. Next time, if I am to choose between the two, I'll
tackle the bear."
This answer caused a hearty laugh, and even the Indians, who had
remained so quiet, yet alert to watch for any change in the storm,
smiled at it and exchanged significant glances, and said that the boy
would yet redeem himself.
After a time the rain ceased, the blue sky appeared, and the sun shone
out again. But what a change met their gaze as they came out from under
their quickly improvised tent and wandered about! The beautiful forests
seemed about ruined. In one direction, like as though a great reaper
had gone through a splendid meadow, and cut clean to the ground a great
swath of grass, so had this cyclone gone through the forest. In the
centre of its path, not a tree had been left standing. Every one had
gone down before this irresistible force. Fortunately it had swerved a
little to the right as it passed by our friends, or they would not have
escaped so well. As it was, great trees had fallen all around, and it
was a providential escape that had been theirs, and for this they were
more than grateful as they saw by investigation more and more of the
fury displayed by the effects of the tempest as it passed. The spot
where the canoes had been hid away was, of course, one of the first to
which their steps were directed. A great tree had fallen across one of
them, that had not been placed low enough in the hollow between the
rocks, and it was so crushed and broken as to be absolutely worthless.
The others, however, had escaped, and were none the worse of the storm,
although fallen trees were all around them.
Blankets, supplies, and other things were overhauled, and everything
that had caught the rain was soon drying in the warm sun, which was now
smiling serenely upon them. The mock suns, or "sun dogs," as they were
commonly called, all disappeared with the storm of which they seemed to
have been the harbinger. Beautiful as had been their appearance, the
boys all agreed that if their coming was to be so speedily followed by
such a storm they would gladly dispense with them in the future; nor did
they see them again until when, in the depth of winter, they showed up
in their weird splendour and heralded forth a blizzard storm which
played its wild pranks upon the boys most thoroughly. But we must not
anticipate.
Mr Ross and the Indians quickly shifted the camp to a pleasant place.
A fire was kindled and a hot meal was cooked and eaten, and then there
was a consultation as to the future. One canoe was destroyed; could the
whole party go in the other two, or had they better return to Sagasta-
weekee? Mr Ross was anxious to hear whether the cyclone had done any
damage at home, although he had not much fear, for it had apparently
come from another direction. However, it was eventually decided that
three of the Indians should return home, and bring along with them
another canoe, as well as news from the home. They were also to call at
the camp to take home the bear's robe and meat, which had been cached in
the ground as we have described. Very soon were they ready to start,
and, to the surprise of Mr Ross, Alec asked to be permitted to go with
them. This request was readily granted, and soon in one canoe, with
their four paddles at work, they were speeding along at a great rate.
They pushed on without stopping, until they began to round the point of
a narrow tongue of land, which would bring them into full view of their
camp, although it was still some hundreds of yards away. The instant
the point was turned and the distant camping place came into view the
Indian in the front of the canoe suddenly ducked down his head and
whispered a sharp, quick "Hist!" and at once arrested the forward
movement of the boat. Noiselessly and quickly was the canoe paddled
back out of sight.
"What is the matter?" said Alec, who was surprised by the suddenness of
this quick retrograde movement and of the quiet, suppressed excitement
of the Indians.
"Wolverine!" was the only word he heard, which was whispered from one
Indian to the other. The utterance of this one word made Alec no wiser
until one of the men, who understood a little English, said, "Wolverine
find the camp; smell the meat; dig him up; carry him away; we kill him."
This was no easy matter, as the wolverine is, without exception, the
most cunning animal in the woods. He far outstrips in this respect the
fox or wolf or bear. What these Indians were going to do must be done
quickly. The first thing was to see that their guns were well-loaded
with bullets. The next was to find out if his quick eyes had seen them
when for the few seconds they must have been visible when they rounded
the point. The wind was in their favour, as it was blowing from him to
them. The oldest of the crew was appointed the leader, the rest were to
follow his directions. First of all he quietly went ashore, and,
noiselessly crawling through the underbrush across the point, he was
able to see that the wolverine was still at work. It was evident that
he had not the slightest suspicion that his enemies, the hunters, were
near him. Returning to the canoe from this inspection, the leader gave
orders that they were to paddle back into the deep bay so that there
would be a possibility of their landing and getting in behind him, as
their old camp which he was robbing was close to the shore.
Very noiselessly and yet rapidly did they hurry back, and then as
quietly as possible they landed at a suitable spot. It was here decided
that three of them, with their guns, should try and get into the rear of
the camp, while Alec, who had not yet the ability to travel with the
speed and quietness here essential to success, was to take his place
just across the neck of land where, with his gun, he could command the
shore if the wolverine, disturbed by those in the rear, should attempt
to escape over the rocks in that direction. Before leaving, the leader
said to Alec:
"Do not fire until you see the whites of his eyes, and then hit him, if
possible, between them; or, if it is a side shot, strike him behind the
foreshoulders."
Alec was excited, but he soon conquered his nervousness, and prepared to
play his part as well as possible. His instructions were to wait for a
few minutes ere he began to crawl to his assigned position. He thus had
an opportunity of witnessing the cleverness and alertness of the three
Indians starting on their critical work. Making a deep detour, they
were soon out of sight in the forest, without making as much noise as
the breaking of a single twig beneath their moccasined feet. More like
phantoms they seemed, as so quietly they flitted away. When he thought
it was time for him to move he began, Indian-like, to advance to his
assigned position, imitating as far as possible the movements he had
witnessed in the Indians. To his great satisfaction, he reached the
designated spot without any trouble.
Carefully looking over the rocks and through some underbrush, he was
able to see, through a pocket telescope which he fortunately had with
him, the busy wolverine still at work. Very interesting it was to watch
him, even if it meant the destruction of all the meat. The wolverine is
about as large as a first-class retriever dog. His legs, though short,
are exceedingly muscular, and he has quite a bushy tail. These animals
are very powerful, and in breaking into an Indian's "cache" can remove
logs and stones much larger and heavier than one man can lift. They are
very destructive when they find a "cache" of this description. They not
only have an enormous capacity for devouring the meat cached by the
Indians, but they will carry away, and cunningly hide, large quantities.
Over the whole they emit an odour so pungent and so disagreeable, that
neither hungry Indians nor starving dogs will touch it. The Indians
simply detest the wolverine on account of its thievish propensities and
its great cunning. There is always great rejoicing when one is killed.
As Alec, through his telescope, watched the mischievous, busy animal he
became very much interested in his movements. He was amazed at the
strength which enabled him to dig out from the ground a hindquarter of
the bear and easily carry it away to another place, where he cunningly
hid it. His next effort, which much amused Alec, was to take the bear's
skin in his mouth and attempt to climb up into a tree that he might hide
it among the branches. It was laughable to see the skin slipping under
his feet, and thus causing him to lose his grip, so that, with it, he
fell heavily to the ground. Failure, however, was not in his
vocabulary. Again and again he seized the robe in his mouth, and
endeavoured to carry the awkward thing up that tree. But, alas for him,
his very determination proved his destruction. So absorbed had he
become in his efforts to succeed that he was, for once in his life,
caught off his guard. The three Indians had succeeded in getting behind
him, and had thus cut off his retreat into the forest. The first
consciousness he had of his enemies was when three simultaneous shouts,
from different parts of the forest behind him, told him of his danger.
Cunning as he was, the Indians had clearly outwitted him. They knew
that the loud shouts from different parts at the same time was about the
only way by which he could be puzzled, and this plan they had
successfully adopted.
For an instant only he waited, and then, as rapidly as possible, he
started along the only route that seemed open to him, which was the one
from which no sound had come. This was the way that led him exactly in
the direction where Alec was waiting for him. This was what the Indians
were anticipating. Their hope was that Alec would make the successful
shot; then, even if he failed, so narrow was the tongue of land on which
the wolverine was running that they felt that by spreading out they had
him so securely hedged in that it would be impossible for him to escape.
In the meantime Alec had been watching him through his glass, until
there fell upon his ears the shouts of the Indians. When he saw the
effect upon the wolverine he was amused at the sudden change. While
busy robbing the "cache" he seemed the monarch of all he surveyed, by
his saucy appearance. Now he looked and acted as a craven coward, whose
one thought was in reference to his escape. Alec, watching him, saw him
spring upon a fallen log, and for an instant look in different
directions toward the deep forest. The prospect did not seem to satisfy
him, for, springing down, he at once began his journey directly toward
where Alec was in hiding. When Alec saw this movement, he quickly put
up his telescope, and, seizing his gun, prepared for his opportunity.
It was fortunate that the distance over which the wolverine had to
travel was considerable, as it enabled Alec to get his nerves steady and
his hands firm. When the wolverine had come about half the distance his
cunning suspiciousness seemed to return, and, fearing some danger ahead,
he stopped and acted as though he would like to retrace his steps and
try some other plan. Fortunately for Alec, the wind was still blowing
toward him, and so the wolverine had not caught his scent. While thus
halting and undecided about his movements he was startled by another
shout, which told him that his retreat was cut off, and so he quickly
resumed his journey. Knowing the cleverness of these animals, Alec had
taken his position behind a rock, and there, with trigger drawn back, he
awaited his oncoming.
"Wait until you can see the white of his eyes," had been his
instructions, and faithfully did he obey.
With his strange, slouching gait, along came the treacherous, cunning
brute until he reached a point where he stood fairly exposed on the
lower one of some steplike rocks. With eye keen and nerve firm, Alec
stepped out from behind his cover, and ere the animal could get over the
start of his sudden appearance the report of the gun rang out and the
wolverine fell dead, struck by the bullet fairly and squarely between
the eyes.
Alec's shout of triumph brought the Indians to him on the run, and they,
in their quiet way, congratulated him on doing what but few white
hunters have ever done--he had had the honour of shooting one of the
largest wolverines that had been killed in the country for a long time.
While one of the Indians hurried across the tongue of land for the canoe
and paddles it around to the camp, the rest of the party dragged the
dead wolverine back to the scene of his depredations. Here they had an
opportunity of seeing the destructiveness of this animal. Every pound
of meat had been removed from the "cache," and so cunningly hid away
that not one piece could be found except the one which Alec had seen him
hide as he watched him through his telescope, and this piece was so
permeated by the offensive odour that it was worthless. Fortunately,
the bearskin was none the worse for its overhauling. While waiting for
the coming of the canoe the men set to work and speedily skinned the
wolverine. The fur is not very valuable, but, to encourage the Indians
to do all they can to destroy them, as they are so destructive on
hunters' traps as well as supplies, the Hudson Bay Company always gives
a good price for their pelts.
A few hours' paddling brought them to Sagasta-weekee. Here they found
all well. Fortunately, the cyclone had passed some miles to the west of
them, and so they had escaped its fury. Hunters, however, had come in
who had been exposed to its power, and had some exciting tales to tell
of narrow escapes and strange adventures.
Mrs Ross had become alarmed when, from some Indians, she had learned
that the march of the cyclone, was in the direction, in which Mr Ross
and his party had gone. She was pleased and delighted to welcome Alec,
and to hear from him and the Indians the story of their deliverance and
escape from accidents during the great storm.
The skins of the bear and wolverine were opened out and much admired,
and then handed over to some clever Indian women to carefully dress for
their home-going. The story of Sam's race from the bear very much
amused them all. Nothing, however, so much delighted the Indian hunters
who gathered in as the destruction of that old wolverine. It seems that
same fellow had haunted that region of country for some years,
destroying traps, robbing fish scaffolds and meat "caches," and playing
with all the steel traps that the cleverest hunters could set for him.
Now, however, his reign was over, and here was his hide--and a big one
it was. Alec was the hero, and, although he modestly disclaimed all the
honour except the first-class shot, the Indians were very proud of him,
and showed it in various expressive ways.