THE GREAT BEAR HUNT
There were many tribes of Indians scattered over Acadia--Abenakes,
Etechemins, Micmacs, Openagos, and so forth, in whom Constance de la
Tour took a very deep interest. She was full of zeal to teach them the
Christian religion, and how to improve their way of living; and she
went about from village to village, and from wigwam to wigwam, with
wonderful patience striving to reach the hearts of the pagans, and help
them to better things; so winning their love that she came to be
esteemed as the guardian angel of their children.
Raoul usually accompanied her on these journeys, and strange enough
were many of the places they visited. Now it would be a mere huddle of
huts that looked like inverted wash-tubs, or again what seemed a
cluster of large-sized hen-coops, or perhaps a big shed a hundred feet
long with sleeping stalls below, and a loft above for the children,
having neither windows nor chimney, and inclosed by a heavy oak
stockade.
Whether big or little, these odd dwellings swarmed with squaws and
children, and while his aunt was speaking to the elder folk, Raoul
would always find amusement with the youngsters.
Many useful things did Madame de la Tour teach her dusky pupils--the
way to bake bread, how to raise corn, pumpkins, and melons, the mode of
preserving the fruit that was so plentiful in the autumn, and the art
of making maple-sugar, all of which helped to benefit them, no less
than the Gospel message she never failed to give also. She was the
first missionary to these wild children of the forest in Acadia, and
her memory is still enduring and fragrant because of the good she
wrought amongst them. Raoul, vastly as he admired his aunt's devotion,
could not of course be expected to share in it to any great extent, but
since his idea of life was to have as good a time as possible--and he
much preferred going on these expeditions to being cooped up in the
fort--it suited him all right that she should be so zealous as she was.
Tramping through the vast green forests, or paddling in birch canoes
over the clear water of smooth-running streams, there was always
something new to be seen, and at any time an adventure might happen.
In the autumn after their coming to Fort St. Louis, a great bear hunt
was arranged to take place at the Tusket River, and Raoul was full of
excitement about it. The plan was certainly as daring as it was novel,
for the bears were not to be killed when found, but driven with clubs
and switches towards the village, where arrows and spears and sharp
appetites awaited them.
"I do hope there'll be plenty of bears," exclaimed Raoul to his aunt
the evening before the hunt. "Won't it be exciting when they get them
started, and they try to escape? I think I'll go out after the bears,
and not wait at the village for them to come--that will be too
tiresome."
"Whatever you do, Raoul, take good care of yourself," said Madame,
patting him upon the shoulder. "You are my boy, you know, and I should
be very sorry if anything were to happen to you."
Raoul smiled confidently as he drew himself up to his full height.
"Oh, there's no fear of me. I've had too much to do with bears to let
any of them hurt me."
Madame smiled fondly back at him as she responded:
"You certainly look as if you ought to be able to take care of
yourself. You are a fine big fellow, Raoul, and I pray God your life
may be a long and happy and useful one."
The bear hunt was well organized under the direction of Madame, who had
a genius for command. Raoul preferred going into the forest with the
beaters to remaining at the village, and set off in high glee, the
party being chiefly composed of the young men of the tribe.
It was the season of grapes, and the vines, which climbed in wild
profusion to the very tree-tops, were laden with the luscious fruit
which Bruin dearly loved. The hunters, therefore, were in no doubt as
to where to seek their prey. Armed only with light clubs and supple
switches, they dashed into the forest, darting this way and that, each
one eager to be the first to find a victim. Raoul joined forces with
an Indian lad of his own age named Outan, and it was understood that
they were to stand by each other. Beside his club Raoul had a good
hunting-knife in his belt, but he carried no fire-arms.
Pressing forward with reckless haste, they came to a place where the
grape-vines fairly smothered the trees which supported them.
"Ah-ha!" exclaimed Outan exultantly. "Plenty bear here, for sure!" and
the words had but left his lips when he gave a cry of joy and pointed
excitedly to a tree, whose leaves were shaking, although there was not
a breath of wind.
Raoul gazed in the direction indicated, and his heart gave a bound when
he caught sight of a dark body that the leaves only half concealed.
"There he is! I see him!" he cried; "a great big fellow, and he's
coming down!"
Running to the foot of the tree, the boys began to shout up to the
bear, calling him names, and daring him to come down.
But, instead of obeying them, the big black fellow, one of the largest
of his kind and in superb condition, turned about, and proceeded to
climb higher.
"Hullo! that won't do," said Raoul in a tone of disappointment. "We'll
never get him down that way. Let us throw stones up at him."
Accordingly they began to bombard the animal with stones, Raoul, who
was a capital shot, succeeding in hitting him more than once. Yet this
did not help matters at all. On the contrary the bear only climbed the
higher. Then Outan proposed to climb an adjoining tree, taking some
stones with him, and then to drive the creature down. Raoul thought
the idea an excellent one, and took up his station at the foot of the
tree with his club in readiness for immediate use. Outan went up the
tree with the ease of a monkey, and gaining a good position above the
bear shouted fiercely at him, while he threw the stones with accurate
aim. Thus assailed from this unexpected quarter, the bear was
panic-stricken, and started down the tree at utmost speed.
"Look out! bear's coming!" yelled Outan, and Raoul, with every nerve
quivering, and his muscles as tense as bow-strings, grasped his club
until his knuckles went white.
Tail foremost, the heavy animal shuffled down the tree-trunk with
astonishing agility, and, reaching the ground on all fours, turned to
face Raoul.