MONTREAL POINT--THE GOVERNOR AND THE IROQUOIS--THE HERD OF DEER--OMINOUS
SOUNDS--PACKS OF WOLVES--THE FIERCE BATTLE--WELCOME REINFORCEMENTS--THE
VICTORY--PLAYING "POSSUM".
As Mr Ross was anxious to get news from Sagasta-weekee and hear how his
family and home had fared during the cyclone, Alec and the Indians
started on their return trip early the next morning, taking with them a
new canoe to replace the one that had been destroyed by a falling tree.
They tarried not on the way, except to shoot a few ducks that were
directly in their route. The result was they arrived early in the
forenoon at the Old Fort, and were glad to bring the good news that all
were well at Sagasta-weekee, and that the storm had passed by several
miles away from them.
Of course the story of the destruction of the cache by the wolverine,
and then his being killed, had to be told, much to the delight of Frank
and Sam, as well as to the satisfaction of the older members of the
party, who all rejoiced that at length that cunning fellow, that had so
long been a terror and a nuisance, had been destroyed.
As the storm had completely died away, and the weather seemed fine and
settled, it was decided to have an early dinner, then push on to Spider
Islands, and there camp for the night. The rearrangement of their
outfit was soon completed and the journey commenced.
Lake Winnipeg is nearly three hundred miles long, and about eighty wide
in its northern part. It is thus like a great inland sea. Great storms
sweep over it at times with tremendous fury. It has many shallows and
sunken rocks.
The result is, it requires careful navigation for vessels that need any
considerable depth of water.
There are some laughable stories afloat about the nervous, excitable
captain of the first schooner, who carefully came up to the northern end
of the lake from Manitoba and pushed on as far as Norway House. He had
secured as a guide an old Hudson Bay voyageur, who had piloted many a
brigade of boats from Fort Garry to York Factory, on the Hudson Bay. Of
course the small boats to which he was accustomed did not draw nearly as
many feet of water as this three-masted schooner. Still he imagined he
knew where all the rocks and shoals were, and quickly accepted the
offered position as guide or pilot for the first schooner.
In spite of his skill and care several times the vessel bumped against a
rock, much to the terror and alarm of the captain, but all the
satisfaction he could get out of the imperturbable old native was, as
they repeatedly struck them:
"Ah, captain, I told you there were many rocks, and there is another of
them."
Fortunately these rocks are very smooth, and as the vessel was moving
along very slowly, she was not at all injured by the merely touching
them. When, however, she had, in passing over some sunken ones, nearly
stranded on one or two, the peppery old captain could stand it no
longer, and so he shouted to the guide:
"Look here, old fellow, I'll not have my ship's bottom scratched any
more like this."
All the answer he could get from the stolid man was:
"Um, bottom all right, only a few more rocks."
And these few more rocks they managed to get over, much to the delight
and amazement of the Indians, who had never seen such a large vessel
before.
With birch canoes, our friends had no such troubles among the rocks. As
the wind was fair the clever Indians fastened two paddles and improvised
a sail out of a blanket for each canoe, and they were able to sail along
at a great rate. But it requires careful steering, as the canoe is a
cranky vessel at the best, and only those thoroughly accustomed to them
ought to try to sail them.
The trip across to the Spider Islands was safely accomplished. The boys
were pleased with their run, which was most exhilarating. Those who
travel on the water only in great ships miss much of the healthful
excitement and delight that is the portion of those who are brave and
adventurous enough to take some of these trips in the light canoes of
the Indians.
The boys were charmed with the few picturesque islands, and had a joyous
time of it, for the weather was most glorious. Yet, as there was no
game, except some passing ducks that lit at times in the little
indentations that served as harbours, it was decided to push on to
Montreal Point, which is the first landing stage on the mainland on the
east side of Lake Winnipeg. The point derived its name from the fact
that in the old days of long trips made by Sir George Simpson, in the
birch canoes manned by the famous Iroquois Indians, this was the first
stopping place from Norway House on their return voyage to Montreal,
some two thousand miles away. Marvellous are the stories told of the
skill and endurance of those matchless crews of Indians. Sir George
Simpson was a hard master, and pushed them to their very utmost. No
dallying along the road was allowed when he was on board. He would put
his hand over the side of the canoe into the water, and if with a swish
the water did not fly up perpendicularly before him he would reprove in
language that could not be misunderstood.
Very strange does it now appear when we read of those days, or talk to
old men who were participants in those events when the officials of the
fur-trading company, from the despotic governor himself down to the
lowest clerk, travelled over half the continent in birch canoes, manned
by Indians or half-breeds, looking after the interest of the greatest
fur-trading company the world has ever seen. It is after all no wonder
that they worked in a hurry when the weather was favourable, as there
were times when storms swept over the lakes with such fury that, in
spite of all their skill and anxiety to push on, they were detained for
days and days together. The wonder ever was that more lives were not
lost in the daring recklessness that was often displayed. A
characteristic story of Sir George Simpson, so long the energetic
governor of the company, is still repeated at many a camp fire.
It seems that on one of his return voyages to Montreal from Norway House
he was, if possible, more arbitrary and domineering than ever, and
especially seemed to single out for his spleen a big burly fellow, a
half-French and half-Iroquois voyageur. This half-breed, who was making
his first trip, stood all this abuse for time good-naturedly, and tried
to do his best; but one day at one of the camping places, where Sir
George had been unusually abusive and sarcastic, the big fellow turned
on him and gave him one of the handsomest thrashings a man ever
received. The rest of the canoemen pretended to be so horror-stricken
that they could not, or would not, interfere until the thrashing had
been well administered to the governor, and then they made a noisy show
of delivering the tyrant out of the clutches of their enraged comrade.
When the governor recovered his voice, and was able to get the better of
his anger and indignation at the fact that he, the great Sir George
Simpson, had been treated with such indignity by a miserable voyageur,
he vented in not very polished French his threats upon his assailant.
He said:
"Just wait until we reach Montreal, and I will soon clap this villain
into prison, and have him kept there until the flesh rots off his
bones."
With this and other threats of what he would do, the governor worked off
his passion. The imperturbable canoeman, having obtained his
satisfaction in the thrashing administered, returned to his duties, and
paid no more attention to the threats of Sir George. What cared he? It
would be many days ere Montreal was reached, and there were many rapids
to run and portages to cross, and so there was no need of worrying about
what was distant. But the governor, although he had ceased to scold,
became very glum and distant, and the voyageur began to think that
perhaps it would go badly with him and he would have to suffer for his
doings. His fears were not allayed or lessened any by his chums, who
conjured up all sorts of dire calamities that would befall him, and
invented any amount of stories of pains and penalties that had been
inflicted on others who had dared to resent his tyrannies.
Thus the days passed, and at length they reached Lachine, at the end of
the Ottawa River, not very far from Montreal. Here the company had in
those days a large trading establishment. Shortly after they landed,
and Sir George, who had been met by the officials of the company there
stationed, went with them into the principal building and was in close
consultation, while the feelings of the voyageur were not enviable. As
was feared, the big men were not long in consultation ere his name was
called in a loud, stern voice. There was nothing for him to do but
obey, and so he marched up into the building and met the officials and
Sir George.
To his surprise and astonishment Sir George reached out his hand and
there made a full apology for his hasty words and petulant temper, and
stated that the thrashing he had received he had richly deserved, and
that it had done him good, as it had opened his eyes to see that he had
grown tyrannical and overbearing and was expecting more than
possibilities of the men. Then, to show the genuineness of his apology,
he ordered the clerk to give to this man the best outfit of clothing and
other handsome presents, and to charge the whole to his, Sir George's,
private personal account.
A couple of hours were quite sufficient to take the boys and Indians
across the wide open expanse of lake that lay between Spider Island and
Montreal Point on Lake Winnipeg. When drawing near the coast they were
pleased to see some deer sporting on the shore. It is a peculiarity of
some animals when on the edge of a lake, that while they are exceedingly
alert and watchful against surprises from the land, they seem to have no
idea of danger from the water side. The result is, the experienced
Indians can, by cautious stalking, get quite near to them.
This is true of some of the deer tribe, and here the boys had an
illustration of it. These deer are called in that country by the
Indians "wa-was-ka-sew." They are very graceful in their movements and
full of play. The canoes were halted two or three hundred yards from
the shore, and the movements of the small herd were watched with great
interest by the boys. Then Mr Ross quietly passed the word that an
effort would be made to get a successful shot or two. As the guns then
used were not to be depended upon to accurately carry a bullet more than
a hundred yards, it was decided to back up and make a long detour and
land some hunters ahead of the deer in a clump of timber toward which
they seemed to be moving.
Noiselessly the paddles were plied, and when they were several hundreds
of yards out they rapidly paddled on to the designated place, which was
perhaps half a mile ahead of the deer. As Alec had had such a
successful time with the wolverine, it was decided that this was Frank
and Sam's opportunity, so they, with one of the younger Indians from
each boat, under the leadership of Mustagan, were cautiously landed,
each one with his gun, knife, and hunting hatchet. Then the boats put
out again from the shore to watch the progress of events.
Not long were they kept waiting, for hardly had they reached a position
where they imagined their presence would not be observed before they saw
that the deer had become very much excited, and at first had all huddled
close together on the shore. Mr Ross and the rest at first thought
that they must have observed the canoes or had caught the scent of those
who had landed. A moment's observation revealed that this was not the
case. The very position of the deer showed that the fears were caused
by enemies behind them, and they had not long to wait ere they were at
first heard and then seen. Faintly coming on the wind were heard the
blood-curdling howls of a pack of wolves.
To judge by the movements of the herd of deer it looked as though the
beautiful creatures seemed to think of defence. The bucks formed a
compact line, with their antlered heads down toward the point, from
which the rapidly increasing howls were coming, while the does and young
deer crowded in behind. Not long did they there remain. A louder
chorus of horrid sounds reached them, which seemed to tell of their
triumph at having struck the warm scent of their victims. These
dreadful howlings were too much for the timid deer, and so with a rush
they were off with the speed of the wind, running directly toward the
point where Mustagan had placed the two boys and the Indians. It was
very fortunate for them that in this hour of peril they had the cool-
headed and courageous Mustagan in command.
He had been watching the deer from his hiding place and had observed
their sudden fear and precipitate retreat. His long experience at once
came to his help, and so, before his acute ear had caught the sound of
the distant howlings of the wolves, he was certain of their coming.
With a celerity most marvellous he gathered in the boys and Indians and
quickly explained how matters stood, and told them that their bullets
would probably be required for other game than deer.
Taking a hasty survey of the ground along which he was sure the deer
would fly, pursued by the wolves, he arranged his men, keeping the boys
with himself.
His instructions were to let the deer go by unharmed by them; then, as
the wolves followed, for each to pick out one and fire. Then, if
attacked by the rest of the pack, they were to close in together and
fight them with their axes and their knives. If, however, they were not
attacked after they had fired, they were to again load their guns as
quickly as possible.
"Down to your places!" sternly spoke Mustagan.
And hardly a moment passed ere the herd of deer flew by, some of them so
close to the hidden hunters that they could almost have touched them
with their guns.
"Steady, boys!" were Mustagan's whispered words to the white lads, who,
crouching down near him with their fingers on the triggers of their
guns, had caught his cool, brave spirit; and although the blood-curdling
howls of the wolves were now distinctly heard they flinched not in the
strain of those trying moments.
As Frank and Sam's guns were on this excursion only single-barrelled,
while the rest were double-barrelled, Mustagan said:
"When first wolf reach that stone, Frank, kill him. Then Sam hit the
next one. Then I kill some. Then other Indians fire. Perhaps other
wolves run away. Perhaps not, so have axes handy."
This advice was not neglected, for each axe, keen-edged and serviceable,
was at the side of its owner.
"Now here they come!" shouted Mustagan.
Nothing can be more trying to brave hunters than was such a position as
this. The travellers in Russia and elsewhere who have been assailed by
packs of these fierce wolves, sending out their merciless, blood-
curdling howlings, can appreciate the position of Frank and Sam. Yet
they were true as steel, and when the word was given by the old Indian,
in whom they had such implicit confidence, the guns were raised, and
with nerves firm and strong they fired with unerring accuracy, and two
great grey wolves fell dead, pierced through by the death-dealing
bullets.
Then Mustagan fired. He was too wise a hunter to waste a bullet on a
single wolf, if with it there was a possibility of killing two; and so,
as the two leaders who had been a little in advance of the pack had
fallen, he fired at two who were running side by side. His bullet first
went through the body of the one nearer to him and then broke the back
of the second.
In a second or two there rang out the reports of the other guns, and as
many more of the wolves lay dead or dying on the ground. Now was the
uncertainty of the battle. Wolves are the most treacherous and erratic
animals to hunt. Sometimes they are the most arrant cowards, and will
turn and run away at the slightest appearance of resistance or attack.
At other times they will continue to advance against all odds. Their
courage and ferocity seem to increase with their numbers, and are of
course greatest when they are half-famished for food. Gaunt and half-
starved those fierce ones seemed to be. And so, when the guns suddenly
rang out and numbers of them fell, the others were at first somewhat
disconcerted; but the hot scent of the deer was close, and the fact that
their enemies were invisible made them determined not to yield at this
first alarm.
With a rush the survivors, perhaps about twenty in number, dashed into
the thicket, into which the deer had disappeared, and from which their
enemies had fired upon them. Sudden as was this rush it was not quicker
than the movements of the hunters, who had closed in together, and with
axes in hand were ready for their wild, mad attack. Mustagan and his
three Indians were in front, while the two boys were placed a little in
the rear.
As the pack came on some of them seemed disconcerted by the appearance
of the hunters, and especially by the loud shouts which, at Mustagan's
orders, they now made. All wild animals seem to have a dread of the
human voice. And thus it was on this occasion. Some of the wolves were
startled and fell back, but numbers of them resolutely dashed on to the
attack. Then it was axe against teeth, and one wolf after another fell
dead or badly wounded under the heavy, skillful blows. Frank and Sam
each had the satisfaction of finishing off some of the wounded ones.
But the conflict was a fierce one; and how it would have gone with them
eventually is hard to say, but it was victoriously ended by a welcome
arrival of additional forces. Mr Ross and the others in the canoe had
also been watching the deer, and had seen their startled movements and
sudden flight. This had caused them to use their paddles as vigourously
as possible and make for the shore. Ere they reached it the howling of
the wolves fell on their ears. Then they had seen the rapid flight of
the herd, and soon after the wild rush of the wolves not far behind
them. So, as speedily as possible, Mr Ross and the party had landed in
the rear and had hurried on.
The firing of the guns of Mustagan and his party plainly told them of
danger, and also indicated the position of their friends. So they
cautiously hurried along, and were in good time to pour, from the side,
a volley into the wolves, that were now making a fierce attack on the
men and boys.
This second attack was too much for the wolves, and so with howls of
baffled rage they turned to the east, and soon disappeared in the
forest, to be seen no more.
Many and sincere were the congratulations of all at their success and
deliverance.
This was the largest pack of wolves that had been seen or heard of in
this part of the country for years. The great northern wolves do not,
as a general thing, hunt in very large numbers, as do the smaller wolves
of the prairies or of the steppes of Russia, or as the brown wolf used
to do in the new settlements of Canada and in some parts of the United
States. A pack of eight or ten of these big, fierce northern wolves was
considered by the Indians as many as generally hunted together; although
sometimes, when a few got on the trail of a large moose or reindeer,
that led them for a long time, they were apt to be joined by others
until they mustered quite a number. So Mustagan's idea was that a
number of small, separate packs had been on the trail--it may have been
for days--of the different deer, which had at length gathered in this
herd. All they could do, of course, was thus to conjecture; but here
was the startling fact--they had encountered the largest pack of great
northern wolves seen in that land for years at least.
There was still something to be done. While a number of dead wolves lay
where they were shot, others badly wounded were making desperate efforts
to escape. These had to be killed, and while some were being dispatched
with axes by the Indians, to the boys was given the pleasure of sending
the deadly bullets into others, and thus quickly putting them out of
misery.
"Be careful," said Mustagan, "as you move around among the apparently
dead ones. Wolves are most treacherous brutes, and sometimes badly
wounded ones will feign to be dead when very far from it. By doing this
they hope to escape the extra bullet or fatal blow of the axe that would
quickly finish them. Then when the hunters are off their guard, or
night comes on, they hope to be able to skulk away."
This cunning feigning of death when wounded or captured is not confined
to wolves. There are several other animals that often try to play
"possum" in this manner.
This warning advice of the old Indian did not come too soon, and
fortunate indeed it was for one of the party.
The skins of some fur-bearing animals are not considered _prime_ when
they are killed in the summer months; the bitter cold of winter very
much thickens and improves the fur. However, sometimes the bears and
wolves are almost as good then as in the colder months, and bring nearly
as high a price in some foreign markets. As soon as the work of killing
the wounded ones was apparently over, Mr Ross began feeling the fur of
them as they lay around, ere the Indians commenced the work of skinning
them. To the boys, who were closely following him, he explained the
difference between what they called in the fur trade a _prime_ skin and
one of inferior value. After several had been tested in this way, and
all signs of movements on the part of any of the wolves had ceased, they
happened to come to one very large fellow, settled out flat on his
belly, apparently stone dead.
"Here is the finest one we have seen thus far," said Mr Ross, as he
stooped down and began pulling at his dark grey fur, while the boys
stood around with their guns held by the barrels in their hands with the
butt resting on the ground.
While listening to Mr Ross's explanations in reference to the different
grades of skins, Sam's sharp eyes fancied they detected a slight quiver
in the eyelids of the fierce brute, that was apparently unconscious of
the thorough way in which Mr Ross was pulling his fur and testing it in
various places. Not wishing to be laughed at, Sam said nothing about
his suspicions that life was still there, but he nevertheless, without
attracting attention, so changed the position of his loaded gun that it
would not take him long to fire if necessity arose. And very soon the
occasion came. As Mr Ross moved around to the front of the animal he
stooped down to feel the thickness of the fur that grows between the
short ears. No sooner had he done this than with the fury of a demon
the wolf sprang up at him, and made a desperate attempt to seize him by
the throat.
Mr Ross was completely thrown off his guard, but fortunately as the
brute sprang at him he threw up his arm, and thus saved his throat. But
the arm was pierced by the sharp teeth, that seemed to penetrate through
the clothing and flesh to the very bone. However, that was his last
spring and his last bite, for before even Mustagan or anyone else could
seize a weapon the report of Sam's gun rang out, and the wolf fell, dead
enough this time. Sam had put the muzzle within a yard of his side, and
the charge had fairly torn its way through him.
So savage had been the attack, and so viciously had the wolf fastened
onto the arm of Mr Ross, that, when the brute fell over dead, the jaws
remained set with the teeth in the flesh, and so Mr Ross fell or was
dragged to the ground by the weight of the animal. Mustagan and the
others had to use the handle of an axe to force open the jaws before the
wounded arm could be released.
"Well done, Sam," was the chorus that rang out from all. After Mr
Ross's arm had been stripped, and some decoction of Indian herbs, which
were quickly gathered, had been applied, Sam told of his suspicions when
the eyelids quivered, and of his precaution in getting his gun ready.
Of course it would have been better if he had mentioned it at the time,
but he feared to be laughed at, and he said that he thought at the time
that perhaps the wolf's eyelids had the same habit as a snake's tail, of
moving for some time after the animal is dead.
The dead wolf was examined for other wounds, and found to be shot
through the body, behind the ribs, where no vital organ had been
touched. This shot had given it a momentary paralysis, which had caused
it to drop so flat upon the ground. The Indians' idea was that it
recovered itself while they were all around it, and so it cunningly lay
still, hoping to get away when they left, but Mr Ross's handling was
too much of an insult to be ignored, and so it suddenly sprang at him as
described.
Of course this wounded arm must be promptly attended to more thoroughly
than it could be on this wild spot, and so every Indian was set to work
to skin the wolves, and then the home trip began.