Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03
IN CANADIAN WOODS.
Incidents of Camp Life in the Moose
Country.
AN ISLAND WITH ALEC END.
The Way An Indian Told the story-Scenes
About a Hunters Camp-A Shot at a Big
housekeeping Specimen for the Mu-
scum.
Written for The Evening start


ATE IN The AFTERNOON of a dreary
lLday in the last week of September. 1Ss-. nv
son John and l. with our Indian Gabriel. step
ped ont from the thick brush through which
We had been making our final trip over the last
portage for that days journey. and throwing
down our packs upon the firm white sand
beach locked out over the beautiful lake before
Us 1t beautiful even as we saw it, with
the dark clouds driving across the sky above it,
its frame Of softly rounded hills. here covered
entirely with hard wood. elsewhere with spruce
and balsam, looking a velvet ~ blue black in the
fading light. while the water in repose of a
singular and startling clearness. row rolled
upon the beach before like the surf Of
miniature ocean, and away to our left dashed
its little white caps against projecting point
Of rocks. casting showers of spray among the
overhangfng foliage. About quarter of
mile to our front and right lay lovely oval
shaped island of considerable size. wooded to
The waters edge.
John. a tall. straight. square-shouldered.
active boy of thirteen. looked at it with delight
81 want 10 camp on the islandr' he exclaimed.
cant We camp there?'' he added, looking at
me.
We'll you couldn't camp on dat island now"
said Gabriel as he filed his pipe. You could
camp dere a good while ago. but it isn't good
place any more; dere's no wood"
No wood On that island Why. look at
II; its covered with trees. and il would be
beautiful place to camp. DOlet us camp there.
We can easily get enough wood
We'll. of course deres trees dere: plenty of
trees. but you cOuldnt burn dem trees. Don't
you want no supper! Well. den. we must have
some.dry wood to cook your supper
NURSING THE CAMP FIRE.
The first time one who is used to camping in
the Aleghanies or Adirondaeks goes moose
hunting with one of these northern Canadian
Indians he misses the traditional camp fire and
the accustomed beech. black birch or hard
maple back log. Except in cold winter weather
they rarely Use more fire than. made of little
dry wood, VIII suffice for cooking letting that
go out or covering 1t with ashes before turning
in Wrapped from head 10 foot in a heavy
lumberman : blanket they will sleep soundly
until time TO get up rOuses them in the morn
Ing. and you can tel by the sound the mecca
Sins give forth as they are handled in the put
ting on what the temperature has been in the
night During the latter part of September
and IN October the moccasins are generally
stlf with cold when morning comes.
had never been on this lake and knew moth
Ing OF Its surroundings or capabilities but
few words from Gabriel gave me enough infor-
nation 10 select a place for our nights camp
and we padded TO the other end of the lake,
where we landed on a beautiful white sand
beach IN little bay, and pitched our tent
few steps from the waters edge in the timber
John vas somewhat cOnsoled for the loss Of the
island when he found We were encamped on an
''otter portage
In the night IL began to snow and as the storm
continued We stayed there all the next day and
night The day passed uneventfully. John
and walked over the portage to another pond
and aftervard took a cruise in the canoe to
look for otter and mink signs. Then read
aloud for while and spent some time put
ting lot OF our things in order. After tea
Gabriel and lit our pipes, some dry wood was
thrown on the fire and the cheerful blaze
showed John eurled up on soft pile of blankets,
his mOccasined feet catching the warmth of the
IRE. his head covered by a bright blue toque,
With a scarlet tassel dangling over his shoulder.
Presently he produced his mouth organ and.
as was his wont on nights like this amused us
with AL on Account of Eliza and other lively
airs. Then he began TO ask questions.
Gabriel. what IL Ii like on that island we saw
last night: what is there TO see?'
Deere isn't much dere to see now IL was
pretty good place To- camp one time but dere's
nothing dere now but green wood and faint
good place any more"
Did you ever camp there?'
"Oh. Yes i camp dere sometimes didn't
camp dere dis year II You go deere now YOU
could see where dem Injuns was
What Indians!H
Dem bad lnjuns- Oh. dey lived long time
ago; guess before my grandfather knowed any